Tag: guy raz

Podcast Lovers Around the World Can Now Play NPR Shows on Spotify

December 16, 2020

For almost 50 years, NPR has served as a daily source of wisdom and entertainment for its American listeners. Every day, millions connect with NPR and NPR Member stations across the country for everything from pop culture podcasts to the nightly news. In 2018 we announced that U.S. fans of NPR would also be able to stream select NPR shows on Spotify, making NPR’s offerings available in one convenient place. And starting today, some NPR shows will even be heard ‘round the world, as Spotify makes NPR podcasts available in most countries around the world.

This distribution deal between Spotify and NPR will allow us to distribute NPR’s content globally on Spotify, bringing NPR’s beloved podcasts to a global audience of 320 million Spotify users. Now, listeners outside of the U.S. can also stream:

To celebrate this partnership, we’re sharing the top 5 most popular NPR podcasts on Spotify to date. 

1. NPR News Now

2. TED Radio Hour

3. Up First

4. Short Wave

5. Planet Money

Not sure where to start? Check out this “Best Podcasts of NPR” playlist from NPR.

The Perfect Podcasts to Help You Stay On Track This New Year

January 16, 2019

Need a podcast pep talk today? You’re not alone. We looked at streaming data for several motivational and self-improvement podcasts and found that these shows — focused on financial responsibility, career goal setting, and inspirational success stories — more than double in listening every Wednesday.

Sure, these shows saw average daily listening rise 40 percent from the last couple months in 2018 (similar to how everyone hits the gym in early January). But what’s different is that listening to motivational podcasts is a routine people actually return to every Wednesday when they need a little extra boost.

Want to improve your chances of keeping a New Year’s resolution that might otherwise fade by February? Check out one of the below shows. Wednesday listening optional.

How I Built This with Guy Raz 

On this popular NPR show, host Guy Raz interviews entrepreneurs—such as the founders of Slack and Rent The Runway—to get the stories behind their successes. A recurring theme: How to overcome several early failed endeavors.

Imagined Life

Imagined Life is a narrated show that tells an immersive story of how someone—such as Elon Musk or Elton John—has overcome incredible barriers to achieve success. Here’s the twist: You don’t find out who the subject is until the very end of the episode. Part story, part celebrity trivia, totally inspiring.

Secrets of Saving and Investing

https://open.spotify.com/show/2RNlxtQsaTM9LnWquf4uWL?si=7cLQb3M2QOOvuYUEwp05cg

If you indulged in a little too much holiday spending, January is the perfect time to get back on track with your financial goals. This new NPR podcast shares advice from financial experts to show how investing like a pro doesn’t have to be difficult or confusing.

RISE Podcast 

Author and motivational speaker Rachel Hollis interviews business leaders to elicit real-life takeaways and practical advice. The episode length varies from 15 minutes to over an hour, so you can get a boost of inspiration no matter how busy your schedule.

10% Happier with Dan Harris 

If you’re working on your wellness, don’t forget about your mental health. Former TV news personality Dan Harris learned this the hard way, when he had a panic attack on the air. Now, on the “10% Happier Podcast,” Harris talks with successful people about how to balance ambition with peace and happiness.

The School of Greatness

Former pro athlete Lewis Howes interviews successful business leaders, athletes, and celebrities to find out what it is that makes them great. It’s inspirational listening, no matter your goals.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

For author Gretchen Rubin, happiness starts with good habits. In this podcast, Rubin shares practical, manageable advice to help you form a straightforward plan for an ambiguous goal.

The Tony Robbins Podcast 

As renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins likes to say, “Why live an ordinary life when you can live an extraordinary one?” In this podcast, Robbins offers tips and tactics for your business, relationships, finances, and health.

Goal Digger

Is 2019 the year you design your dream job? Host Jenna Kutcher offers tips, business hacks, inspirational stories, and strategies to help you build a better career path.

 

Whether for midweek goal setting or weekend relaxation, find the right podcast category for you here.

Jemele Hill is Unbothered

January 8, 2019

There are no shortage of podcasts to listen to on Spotify—from the hundreds of NPR titles now on our platform, to the release of the Amy Schumer, Guy Raz, and Joe Budden shows, there’s something for everyone.

So it’s only fitting that today at CES, our Head of Spotify Studios Courtney Holt sat down with Jemele Hill, former chief correspondent and senior columnist for ESPN’s The Undefeated and Emmy Award winning journalist, to discuss how creators are leveraging podcasts to build connections with new audiences, explore the creative spectrum, and reinvent their personal brands. They also chatted about the overall evolution of podcasting into a powerful, authentic storytelling device.

During the discussion, Hill announced that she’ll be telling her own story—and joining the Spotify lineup with her own original podcast, Jemele Hill is Unbothered.

Jemele Hill and Courtney Holt

Coming to Spotify on Mondays and Thursdays starting this March, Jemele Hill is Unbothered will feature Hill and her co-hosts along with a rotating cast of high-profile guests. On the podcast, Hill will explore the news of the week and the intersectionality between the worlds of sports, politics, music, identity and culture. Jemele Hill is Unbothered is an honest, thought-provoking, always-entertaining analysis of American life, discussed in real-time as it unfolds, only on Spotify.

Thanks to her 12 years at ESPN as a leading voice providing content and commentary for their digital, television and audio platforms, Hill is no stranger to to these topics.

“Spotify and I are very like-minded,” Hill says. “We both believe in being bold and authentic. I am thrilled to get the opportunity to stretch myself in a much different way, with a support system that I believe will bring out the best in me. I look forward to sharing my perspective and experience with Spotify’s many listeners across the world.”

Each 60-75 minute episode of Jemele Hill is Unbothered will delve into the issues that matter—from athletes speaking out about race, to Usher’s new perm. The conversations with current newsmakers will be personal and memorable.

“Jemele is an important voice in sports, race, culture, and politics, and their intersection in media,” says Holt. “She will bring her unique point of view to our platform with this podcast, which is sure to be a favorite of listeners with diverse interests and viewpoints.”

Spotify now has more than 200 million users worldwide, but with the ever-growing catalog of podcasts available, each one is sure to find a story that captivates them.

 

Hill is represented by Exit 39, CAA, and Jackoway Tyerman.

5 Inspirational Podcasts That Will Give You The Feels On World Kindness Day

November 13, 2018

Be nice. Be kind. Do good things for others. That’s the idea behind World Kindness Day on November 13. In honor of the day dedicated to lending a hand just ’cause, we put together a list of podcasts to get you in the mood to give back.

If you dig science and keep a daily gratitude journal, you’ll love: “The Science of Happiness”

Produced by Public Radio International and the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, this podcast shares research-tested strategies for a happier, kinder, and more meaningful life. The show explores the science of kindness, compassion, gratitude, and altruism through relatable real-life examples. Hosted by renowned UC Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner, the episodes zero in on the benefits of practicing kindness and gratitude, including: “3 Good Things,” “How Gratitude Benefits Your Brain,” and “Is There Someone You Need to Thank?”

If volunteering for charities fills your bucket, you’ll love: “Connect Kindness Podcast”

The mission of this action-oriented kindness podcast is to connect people with charities that make the world a better place, including groups addressing childhood abuse, food insecurity, human trafficking, helping underprivileged individuals gain access to higher education and career opportunities, and beyond. The show, co-hosted by friends Krystal Aziz and Tim Evans, features interviews with founders and directors of nonprofit organizations, and exposes listeners to causes they can give back to through acts of kindness and volunteering.

If you like your inspiration with a side of funny, you’ll love: “Your Daily Dose of Awesome”

Host Cyndi Liming, a mom and fifth-grade teacher, unpacks how kindness, humor, and optimism change lives for the better. Threaded with an underlying message of hope, Cyndi’s uplifting podcast episodes are packed with practical tips for overcoming negativity and, as she says, “spreading more awesomeness in a playful way,” one soul-satisfying act of kindness at a time.

If you’re a fan of TED Talks and on a quest to give back, you’ll love: “TED Radio Hour”

NPR host Guy Raz presents “TED Radio Hour,” a popular show that uncovers the emotions, insights, and discoveries that make us human—including how being kind to each other contributes to the greater good. Some of the episodes of the acclaimed podcast that highlight moving and heroic acts of kindness include “Inspire to Action,” “The Act of Listening,” “Crisis and Response,” and “Wired For Altruism.” PS: If you enjoy Raz in “TED Radio Hour” and “How I Built This,” you’ll love the acclaimed journalist’s new exclusive Spotify Originals series, “The Rewind With Guy Raz.”

If you relish a revealing interview and believe in the power of positivity, you’ll love: “The Kindness Project”

This fun father-daughter podcast imparts inspiring personal stories of kindness and the ways simply being nice to others makes positive changes in our world. The hosts, through giggle-filled conversations, heartfelt storytelling, and insightful guest interviews, cover how to be kind to others through everyday acts of kindness, charity fundraising, and more.

Looking for further inspiration? Check out more of our podcasts, ranging from Oprah’s “SuperSoul Conversations” to “Optimal Living” to “Modern Love,” and beyond.

Interviewing the Interviewer: Guy Raz on His New Spotify Podcast Series

November 1, 2018

Guy Raz. You know him from NPR’s super popular TED Radio Hour and How I Built This. Now everyone’s favorite podcast interviewer has a brand new series on Spotify.

The exclusive Spotify Originals series, called “The Rewind With Guy Raz,” takes you inside the minds of today’s biggest music stars, including David Guetta, Kelly Clarkson, and Shawn Mendes. The acclaimed host unpacks what they love. What they fear. The ways fame forever transformed their lives—all packed into this revealing limited podcast series.

In a fun twist, we turned the tables on Raz and interviewed the interviewer on why he’s so excited about “The Rewind.”

What do you most want people to know about “The Rewind With Guy Raz”?

Most people listen to an artist or go see a concert and they think of the performer in that very moment. But who was Kelly Clarkson, or Charlie Puth, or Wynton Marsalis before they got onto that stage? What was Shawn Mendes like in middle school? At some point they were all just like you and me. Maybe they had a better voice or they could dance a little bit better but, for the most part, they led normal lives. And while you may think you know who that artist is from their videos or an interview, “The Rewind” takes a deeper dive into their journeys to becoming superstars.

What lessons do you bring from your years of co-directing and hosting NPR podcasts to Spotify’s “The Rewind”?

Over the past two decades of interviewing, I’ve learned that by coming to the table without any expectations, with a spirit of generosity, and a sense of empathy, most people want to talk about their stories. With “The Rewind,” it’s no different. Their names may be up in lights, they may be some of the most famous people in the world, but they are human. They have stories. They have anxieties. They have dreams. And they have fears. This show is a journey into those worlds. It is a chance to understand what motivates these artists and how fame has changed their lives.

Where do you record “The Rewind’s” interviews, and how is it built for human connection and storytelling?

Some of my interviews are done face-to-face in Los Angeles or occasionally in New York. When I do those interviews right next to the artists, we’re usually sitting just a few inches apart. It usually takes 10 or 15 minutes before they are comfortable, and before they are prepared to fully surrender to the process. I want the person I’m interviewing to feel comfortable and safe because I find that in those circumstances they will often reveal more about who they are than in a controlled and managed environment. Some of my interviews can last as long as two hours and, oftentimes, by the end of it, both of us are wiped out.

What do you enjoy most about exposing your listeners to these journeys of inspiring musicians?

Human stories are the most compelling stories for obvious reasons. Even if you are not religious, just check out the Bible and you will find some of the most dramatic narratives ever told. Love, hate, kindness, jealousy, deception, rebirth … all of those story motifs are right there. It’s not surprising. Human lives are full of drama, and triumph, and failure and success. All of us—myself included—can find parts of ourselves in stories. It’s why I do what I do, because my job is to help people unearth the stories hidden inside of them.

What does this new podcast say about your evolution as a career storyteller and content creator—in a time when content platforms is also changing?

Most of my programs are listened to by people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s. On the radio, my listeners can be as old as 100. What excites me about the Spotify audience, and the artists I’m interviewing, is that I think we have a real chance of reaching much younger listeners—for example, teenagers and preteens who love this music but may not know a whole lot about the person singing the song.

I also think that nowadays, artists have very few opportunities to tell their stories in depth. FM radio and music magazines are no longer a place where in-depth interviews are featured. So for many listeners, particularly younger listeners, the stories you hear from your favorite artists will be revelatory.

Check out the first episode with David Guetta here:

David Guetta, Kelly Clarkson, Shawn Mendes, and Others Go Deep on Spotify’s ‘The Rewind’ Podcast With Guy Raz

October 25, 2018

From “undiscovered great” to “most-streamed,” each artist has a unique journey to success—and we want to help tell their stories. That’s why Spotify has teamed up with Built-It Productions and Guy Raz, host, co creator, and editorial director of three NPR programs (How I Built This, TED Radio Hour, and Wow in the World) to debut our exclusive new audio interview podcast series, The Rewind with Guy Raz.

In each episode, Guy sits down with some of the most inspiring artists across all genres in the music industry—including Shawn Mendes, Kelly Clarkson, Wynton Marsalis, Nick Jonas, and more—for a series of personal interviews. Going beyond the music, these candid conversations chronicle each artist’s remarkable origin story, in their own words. You’ll hear it all— the ambitions, achievements, shortcomings, setbacks, and everything else that made them the icons we know today.

Get excited for the debut episode, which features French electronic music producer David Guetta and the remarkable journey that led him to become one of the first superstar DJs—from teaching himself to scratch records to catapulting EDM into the mainstream and changing pop music forever.

Look out for new episodes of The Rewind with Guy Raz limited series premiering each week, exclusively on Spotify.