Tag: podcast

Big ‘Higher Learning’ Fan? We Are Too. Rachel Lindsay Shares Why Video Is Such an Important Part of the Podcast

November 14, 2024

This week, talented creators traveled to Los Angeles to join Spotify for Now Playing, where we unveiled a series of new offerings aimed at helping them better monetize their video podcasts on Spotify and grow their audiences. It was an exciting event that spotlighted our biggest update to podcasts on Spotify—including an exciting evolution of the name and brand of our accompanying platform to Spotify for Creators—all to better serve the multiformat needs of our community.

One creator in attendance was Rachel Lindsay. The attorney, internet personality, author, and Bachelorette star is also the cohost of the Ringer podcast Higher Learning. On the show, Rachel and her cohost Van Lathan dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. At Now Playing, Rachel shared her experience and expertise in a panel titled “Fandoms Are Culture: How Creators & Content Grow on Spotify.”

For the Record caught up with Rachel to learn more about how her show comes together, as well as the creators and artists she’s currently listening to on Spotify.

What inspired you to start your show?

Sometimes other people recognize what is right for you before you can see it for yourself. I always wanted to be in the media but thought that only could be with television. I met Bill Simmons because I was doing some interviews with Juliet Litman on Bachelor Party. I ended up doing some other work with The Ringer, and eventually Bill asked me if I wanted to create a project that was purposeful and I could be proud of. He had an idea and introduced me to my cohost, Van Lathan. We immediately connected and had a brother-sister relationship. Originally we were supposed to start our podcast in March 2020, but COVID hit and changed everything regarding the production and launch of our podcast. We eventually launched in May 2020, which was a very pivotal and dark time for Black people in this country. We decided to change the direction of our podcast to be the pulse of the culture…the rest is Higher Learning history.

How do you select the topics you cover?

We have a topical show that is a reflection of what is happening in the culture. If something is happening in the world, we want people to know that you can find us covering it that week. We select topics by following the news, social media, reading articles, podcasts, and talking with friends. We don’t want to miss breaking news or viral moments. We share stories, ideas, and topics in a group chat and narrow down what is the most effective rundown for our show.

How has working with Spotify helped strengthen your connection with your fans?

Higher Learning was one of the first podcasts to have the video element. This allowed our viewers to feel as if they were sitting at the podcast table with us in an intimate way. Video brings the podcast to life in a different way. My favorite thing is to spot one of our listeners (aka Thought Warriors) in the wild. They will often tell me how they feel like they know us and relate to us, and it is because they can watch us on Spotify with video.

What advice do you have for emerging creators?

There is so much content available out there that covers every genre, topic, etc. What makes the content different is the creator. I would encourage you to find something that you are passionate about and then apply your unique voice and perspective to it because that is what will differentiate you. Do not try to emulate your favorite creator. Learn from them and use them as a guide to build something special.

Are there any Spotify features or tools that are especially helpful for you?

I cannot talk enough about Spotify video!

Who are some of your favorite creators to follow?

Everyone on The Ringer and Ringer Reality TV, Danny Pellegrino, Kid Fury and Crissle, and Natasha Parker.

What are you currently listening to?

Akeem Ali, Tyler, The Creator, Willie Jones, GloRilla, BigXthaPlug, Doechii, and Muni Long.

Rachel Lindsay, Van Lathan, and Mallory Rubin speak onstage during the “Now Playing” Event

Check out more coverage from Spotify’s Now Playing event.

Spotify’s New ‘Countdown To’ Vodcast Series Kicks Off With Artists Jelly Roll and mgk in Debut Episode

September 13, 2024

As fans patiently await their favorite artists’ new album releases, the anticipation often leaves them eager for something in the meantime. With Spotify’s first-of-its-kind vodcast series Countdown To, which launched today, artists are giving viewers an intimate behind-the-scenes introduction to their latest projects as the clock ticks closer to an album launch.

In July, Spotify expanded access to one of its latest tools, Countdown Pages, to help artists garner excitement for album releases. The feature, located on an artist’s page, lets listeners preview tracklists, watch Clips, purchase merch, and see a timer count down the actual seconds until launch.

Now we’re bringing listeners even more exclusive content with the artists themselves. In Countdown To, artists sit down with fellow artists, collaborators, family members, or friends to discuss the new music’s themes, inspiration, and more. So much goes into the creation of an album, and this series shines a light on that process.

“Countdown To is the latest effort in our ongoing commitment to spotlight artists and their new music on Spotify,” explains Sarah Patellos, Head of Spotify Music Studios. “Working with director Karam Gill and mgx creative, these intimate conversations are shot documentary-style to really get to the root of each artist’s creative journey.”

Clips from the interview-driven series can be found on the artist’s Countdown Page, and the full video will be available as a vodcast episode on Spotify and Spotify’s YouTube profile.

The debut episode features Jelly Roll in conversation with mgk about the release of Jelly Roll’s forthcoming album, Beautifully Broken. Fans may have to wait until October 11 to listen to all the new tracks, but this episode provides a deeper look behind the music, as well as the pair’s now-quelled artistic rivalry. “I got to sit down with mgk and give viewers a real window into a candid conversation between two artists as a part of Countdown To,” teases Jelly Roll.

Count down to the release of Jelly Roll’s album by watching the vodcast episode below. You can also presave Beautifully Broken on Jelly Roll’s official Countdown Page here.

In Her New Podcast, CultureCon Founder and CEO Imani Ellis Shares an Unfiltered Look at the Path to Success

August 29, 2024

In 2017, Imani Ellis revealed CultureCon to the world, a first-of-its-kind conference that spotlights culture, community, entrepreneurship, and diverse creatives. At the annual event, Black creative professionals convene to unpack topics like marketing, financing, and networking. Now, Imani is expanding the CultureCon universe with her new video podcast, CultureCon Uncut.

Spotify partnered with CultureCon Studios to develop the new series, in which Imani interviews Black culture shifters about how they forged their own paths to success. Guests include journalist and birthFUND founder Elaine Welteroth, actor and author Jay Ellis, beauty and wellness creative director Sir John, Uncle Nearest CEO and founder Fawn Weaver, and more.

“We’re so excited to collaborate with Spotify to amplify journeys of some incredible visionaries,” said Imani. “The vulnerability and rawness of each episode is sure to inspire the next generation of world-changing creatives.”

New episodes will be released every week leading up to CultureCon, which takes place this year in New York City on October 5 and 6.

We caught up with Imani to learn more about the podcast, including why it adds a new dimension to the IRL conference this fall.

What inspired you to start a podcast?

CultureCon has become the go-to destination where ambitious creatives can share their journeys with the next generation of culture shifters. We’re dedicated to creating brave spaces where our speakers are invited to center both their triumphs and their challenges. CultureCon Uncut is our most unfiltered conversation yet, and we knew a podcast was the perfect medium to tell these brave stories. Working hand in hand with Spotify on this project has been incredible—I’m so excited for our community to tap in.

Can you tease a specific guest or conversation?

Each guest taught me something new about the world and myself, so I enjoyed them all. I had a really great conversation with Jay Ellis where we talked about the fear of success and how you have to notice when your fear of something begins to evolve into self-sabotage. I found that topic so interesting, because we often talk about the fear of failure but don’t spend as much time discussing the fear of everything going right.

What makes this podcast the perfect primer to CultureCon 2024?

We cover so many different topics on CultureCon Uncut—from entrepreneurship to dating to overcoming self-doubt. It’s the perfect example of what our community can expect at our conference in October. We want to meet our community wherever they are and inspire them to keep chasing their wildest ambitions.

Dive into the first episode of the podcast, featuring guest Elaine Welteroth, below:

Explore the Complexities of Human and AI Connection in the New Science Fiction Podcast ‘Selección Natural’

August 27, 2024

What does the future look like when it comes to AI personalities interacting with humans? This fundamental question of our present day is explored in the new Spotify Original fiction podcast Selección Natural.

In this science fiction tale, Sofía, an advanced humanoid artificial intelligence robot, embarks on a scientific mission in Antarctica with climate change expert Ismael. Throughout the five episodes, listeners learn that Sofía is not just any AI. She develops feelings and complexities so human that one nearly forgets that Sofía is a machine, resulting in a variety of consequences.

The Spanish-language podcast is written by Julio Rojas, the creator and screenwriter of the acclaimed series Caso 63. “In Selección Natural, I am keen to explore a pressing question: What will the dynamics be like between a human and a self-aware, emotionally capable machine? What kinds of connections could form? How will power dynamics play out, and ultimately, who will make the decisions?” explains Rojas.

Danna

Sofía is brought to life by Mexican actress, singer, and producer Danna, and Ismael is voiced by Chilean actor Álvaro Rudolphy.

The series not only examines key questions about the use of artificial intelligence, but it also utilizes AI-based tools for various production aspects. While the script was written by Rojas, he used AI tools to adjust some parts of the protagonist’s content, making her sound more humanoid. Additionally, Sofía’s voice recordings were done in Spotify studios in Los Angeles and then introduced to an AI model to obtain the final voice. The aim of this creative approach was to have a realistic recording of what an AI would sound like. Finally, AI was also used for the podcast’s visual of Sofía. A digital artist and graphic designer specializing in AI design worked with a real portrait of Danna and subjected it to an AI program to create the final character.

Selección Natural is a captivating show that demonstrates the power of AI—both in storytelling format and for production tools. Discover this unique and exciting story of love and connection by listening to the first episode, below.

Selección Natural, el nuevo podcast de ciencia ficción que explora las complejidades de la conexión entre el ser humano y la inteligencia artificial

August 27, 2024

¿Cómo será el futuro cuando la IA interactúe con los humanos? Esta y otras complejidades se exploran en Selección Natural, el nuevo podcast original de ciencia ficción de Spotify.

En esta historia de ficción, Sofía, un robot humanoide de inteligencia artificial avanzada, se embarca en una misión científica en la Antártida con Ismael, un experto en cambio climático. A lo largo de los cinco episodios, los oyentes descubren que Sofía no es una inteligencia artificial cualquiera. Sofía desarrolla sentimientos y complejidades tan humanas que uno casi se olvida de que Sofía es una máquina, lo que provoca diversas consecuencias.

El podcast está escrito por Julio Rojas, creador y guionista de la aclamada serie Caso 63. “En Selección Natural me interesa explorar algo inminente: Cómo será la dinámica entre un humano y una máquina que tiene conciencia de sí misma y puede jugar a experimentar emociones. ¿Qué vínculos se generarán? ¿Cuáles serán las dinámicas de poder y por último, quién tomará las decisiones?,” explica Rojas.

La actriz, cantante y productora mexicana Danna da vida a Sofía, mientras que el actor chileno Álvaro Rudolphy pone voz a Ismael.

La serie no sólo examina cuestiones clave sobre el uso de la inteligencia artificial, sino que también utiliza herramientas basadas en la IA para diversos aspectos de la producción. Aunque el guión fue escrito por Rojas en su totalidad, utilizó herramientas de IA para ajustar algunas partes del contenido de la protagonista, haciéndola sonar más humanoide. Además, las grabaciones de voz de Sofía se hicieron en los estudios de Spotify en Los Ángeles y luego se introdujeron en un modelo de IA para obtener la voz final. El objetivo de este enfoque creativo era obtener una grabación realista de cómo sonaría una IA. Por último, también se utilizó la IA para el aspecto visual de Sofía en el podcast. Un artista digital y diseñador gráfico especializado en diseño de IA trabajó con un retrato real de Danna y lo sometió a un programa de IA para crear el personaje final.

Selección Natural es un podcast atrapante que demuestra el poder de la IA, tanto en la trama de la historia como en las herramientas de producción. Descubre esta historia única y emocionante de amor y conexión escuchando el primer episodio, a continuación.

Alexander Skarsgård Spotlights Innovative Solutions to Our Planet’s Biggest Challenges on the New Podcast ‘How We Fix This’

June 12, 2024

Our planet is facing some serious issues. And How We Fix This—a new podcast hosted and narrated by Emmy and Golden Globe awarded actor Alexander Skarsgård—offers some serious solutions. Co-produced by non-profit impact ecosystem Norrsken and Spotify, the series will spotlight eight pioneering startups that are building tools to combat some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.

Over 8 episodes, How We Fix This will explore a significant global dilemma and highlight the innovative approaches startups are taking to address them. The series not only features the founder’s journeys, but also includes insights from leading researchers and experts, including the World Wide Fund for Nature and Stockholm Resilience Centre.

“From Nigerian solar panel rentals and German chocolate made without cocoa to burping cows in Sweden, this project highlights the people out there who are building innovative and awe-inspiring solutions to the world’s greatest challenges,” said Alexander. “I am very excited to introduce these heroes to a global audience.”

By highlighting these role models selected from the Norrsken Impact/100 list—an annual ranking of the world’s most promising impact startups—How We Fix This hopes to inspire recent graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs, and business professionals who are passionate about affecting change through technology, innovation, and environmental sustainability.

“We can no longer celebrate companies simply for their growth and valuation, no matter if they destroy the planet. Instead, we need role-models like the founders on How We Fix This,” says Niklas Adalberth, founder of Norrsken Foundation. “They are part of a growing, global movement of purpose-driven entrepreneurs leveraging innovation and technology to tackle problems like climate change, sustainability and poverty. We need thousands more like them, and I hope their stories can inspire others to pursue their own ideas for how to positively impact the world.”

The startups featured on How We Fix This include:

Brimstone (USA): Developing deeply decarbonized cement.
Planet A Foods (Germany): Producing chocolate without cocoa.
Volta Greentech (Sweden): Seaweed-based feed supplements reducing cows’ greenhouse gas emissions.
Neoplants (France): Bioengineered plant systems designed to eliminate indoor pollutants.
SunFi (Nigeria): Helping consumers transition to solar power.
Commons (USA): A platform for individuals to track and reduce their carbon footprint.
Nilus (Argentina): Rescuing and redistributing food to combat food insecurity.
Plan A (Germany): Tools for corporations to measure and act on their carbon footprint.

“How We Fix This follows companies that provide tangible solutions to some of the world’s most pressing matters, and as a global audio platform we have a crucial role to play to amplify these,” says Hanna Grahn, Sustainability Lead at Spotify. “I’m thrilled to be able to collaborate with Norrsken, leading scientists, and Alexander to inspire more people around the world to get involved on these topics.”

Dive into the first episode of How We Fix This below, and look out for a new episode every Wednesday that explores a pressing new challenge our planet faces.

Nick Viall Dishes on Relationships, His Podcast, and How He Discovers New Music on Spotify

February 12, 2024

We love helping listeners discover new music on Spotify, and when it comes to features that guide them toward their next favorite songs or artists, personalization tops the list. With Spotify playlists like Discover Weekly and daylist; playlist-enhancing features like Smart Shuffle and Jam; and curated, AI-powered experiences like DJ; nearly 2 billion music discoveries happen on Spotify daily.

But it’s not just fans who love discovery. Creators around the world are constantly sharing their favorite playlists, products, and people with their followers, which in turn helps fans fall in love with the next best thing. And in For the Record’s ongoing Discovery Monday series, we connect with creators to pick their brains about recent finds, from new music to podcasts and beyond.

This month, we’re talking to author, podcaster, and former Bachelor star Nick Viall. Nick’s time in the spotlight started when he was a contestant on the love-driven reality television show The Bachelorette and continued when he was subsequently chosen to be the star of The Bachelor’s 21st season.

In recent years, Nick has expanded his platform beyond the reality TV realm with his podcast The Viall Files, on which he discusses dating, love, and romance. From “Ask Nick” segments to famous guest interviews, the show gives fans a chance to hear Nick’s—and others’—perspective as he tackles everything from friendship, relationships, and the situationships in between.

For the Record sat down with Nick to chat about his love of podcasting, what he discovers from his followers, and his latest favorite Spotify finds.

What have you been up to lately? What new things have you discovered that you’re enjoying right now?

Recently I’ve been focused on expansion. Everything about my life right now is expanding—my family, my team, my network. And so I’ve discovered the excitement and the hard work that comes with trying to grow the world around you. I truly love what I do and I feel very blessed to do it with the people and the team that I have.

One way you connect with fans is on ***The Viall Files*. What does the podcast format allow you to do that other mediums don’t?**

We work really hard to deliver quality, entertaining content and especially with the interviews that we get to do. A podcast, with it being of the long format that it is, it really gives you an opportunity to expand, and my goal is to have my audience feel like they’re sitting in the room with me.

And whether it’s interviewing or having our callers call in for our “Ask Nick” episodes to share their relationship stories and struggles, we get a chance to offer advice through the mistakes that we’ve made in the past. It’s all very rewarding and a lot of fun. I feel very lucky that I get to do what I do.

Your podcast covers all things dating and love. What is your favorite topic or segment that you cover on the show?

The relationship and dating space is always going to be a favorite of mine. I’ve always been really interested in social dynamics. Going back to school and becoming a therapist is a goal that I’ve stated that I want to do for the last chapter of my professional career, whenever that is…

And really, when it comes to that space, everything about our show aims to help people value themselves a little bit more than they sometimes do. And we try to steer people to just make good decisions for themselves. We don’t try to yuck anyone’s yum or criticize anyone for whatever type of lifestyle they want, and we’re just here to help them process the good and the bad in a more honest way because we don’t have anything personally invested in their outcome.

How would you say your experience on The Bachelor helped equip you to talk romance and share advice with your listeners?

Being a part of The Bachelor franchise certainly gives you an incredibly intense version of falling in love, dating, disappointment, and rejection. You also have to understand if your ego is driving your decisions or if you’re actually making decisions that are really sound for your heart. I think going through that experience further taught me how to handle my emotions. And I want to try to pass that knowledge along to the people I talk to to help them with their own relationship struggles.

When you’re on the hunt for inspiration or to discover something new, what tools or resources do you use?

I will definitely use my show from time to time to put something out there: “Hey, this is what’s going on, would love some feedback.” Google is always really great. And friends for sure. That’s how I definitely like getting referrals and references from people and mentors. Personal connections with people is probably my favorite way to learn. And for music, quite honestly, Spotify is where I discover all my music. Music and podcasts.

Any recent discoveries you’ve been listening to?

SZA is someone I’ve really enjoyed for a while now. And I’m obviously a big Taylor Swift fan. And sometimes I like looking for interesting, dramatic music that we can use for our show. I’ll use Spotify to discover random music soundtracks and things like that. I got into the country genre recently, so Zach Bryan is someone I’m a big fan of.

What about podcasts?

In addition to being a pop culture and relationship fan, I’m a big football fan—and specifically I like to discover new niche Packers podcasts on Spotify. I listen to them all. I can’t get enough of nerdy football analytics talk, so that’s what I do in my car and what I listen to when I want to unwind and decompress.

What’s your favorite way to discover new music or podcasts on Spotify?

I like to use Discover Weekly. I don’t consider myself a very knowledgeable music person, especially compared to some people. So I really rely on Spotify’s searches and various playlists to help me discover and find new music that I like or podcasts that I enjoy. That feature is great.

Discover more about Nick and his take on love and relationships on his podcast, The Viall Files.

Creators and Fans Celebrate Their Favorite Shows at the Spotify Podcast Festival in São Paulo

November 3, 2023

This weekend, creators are heading to São Paulo to celebrate storytelling at the Spotify Podcast Festival. Brazil is our second-largest podcast market for both listening and creating, and it’s filled with talented people using the medium to connect with others, share stories, and invent new scripted tales.

The festival will help creators and fans engage in new ways. Many personalities from Spotify Original and Exclusive shows, like Mano a Mano, É nóia minha?, and Para dar nome às coisas, will host live recording sessions, along with creators from podcasts including Um Milkshake Chamado Wanda, Modus Operandi, Bom dia, Obvious, Nerdcast, PODDELAS, gostosas também choram com lela brandão, Os Sócios, Inteligência Ltda., and TICARACATICAST.

Spotify is also working with the creators of Café da Manhã, PeeWeeCast, Thais Galassi, and Madame Broona’s Horoscopinho Semanal to host bonus sessions for fans, introducing them to new experiences that go beyond traditional podcast listening.

For the Record caught up with Natália Sousa and Mabê Bonafé, two podcast creators who are attending the festival, to learn more about their shows and what they are looking forward to most this weekend.

Natália is a journalist, writer, screenwriter, and the creative mind behind Para Dar Nome às Coisas. On her show, she shares honest stories about fear, failure, courage, starting over, pain, and more.

Mabê is a screenwriter, writer, and cohost of the podcast Modus Operandi. The supernatural show, which she cohosts with Carol Moreira, digs into stories about crime, serial killers, and supernatural cases.

How did you come up with the idea for your podcast?

Natália Sousa

Natália: The idea for the podcast started at a Carnaval barbecue. A close friend of mine suggested I do it, and my girlfriend, who works with visual design, loved the idea and we began to develop the concept. The funny thing is that that same week I had just failed a public reading of something I’d written, so I made an episode about failure. Then the podcast started to grow in a pretty crazy way. Feedback from listeners helped me realize that many could identify with the podcast.

Mabê: Carol and I were hooked on true crime documentaries! It all started with the documentary Making a Murderer, which tells the surreal story of a man wrongly imprisoned for 18 years who sues the state and is arrested again a short time later for a different crime. The documentary was full of twists and turns. People became obsessed, and so did we. The true crime genre has been around for a long time, but it seems to have gone through a boom since then, and more documentaries, series, books, and podcasts began to appear.

We didn’t know other people that we could talk about it with, so in 2018 we decided to create the podcast to allow us to talk about these cases and docs that were emerging. It took a long time to create the podcast, so it only premiered in January 2020.

What are some ways you try to deepen engagement with your fans?

Natália: I really enjoy talking to listeners on social media. I use Instagram the most, and I always post the cover of the episode the day before to raise anticipation about the week’s theme. The other tool that both I, as the creator, and the listeners who follow the podcast love is Spotify’s Q&A box, which helps people to comment on what they think about that specific episode in the app itself. It’s done in an easy and quick way, which increases the chance of them commenting. It’s also encouraging for me to read how the episodes are doing.

Mabê: Over the years we have created a very strong community. We consume a lot of content and also have other common interests. I interact in live streams, in comments, in the entire exchange with the community that allows me to understand more about the audience. There are also the events I attend, such as lectures, literature, and podcast events, which are a great opportunity to interact. It’s even cooler because this is when we have direct interaction [with fans] and we can see the faces of the people who listen to us.

What’s the most challenging part of podcasting?

Mabé Bonafé and Carol Moreira

Natália: I guess for me it’s the creativity of coming up with new topics every week. Sometimes it comes easily, other times—not so much. Since I have an editor and a designer who take care of the other parts of the process, it’s up to me to come up with the stories. That’s the most exciting, but also the most challenging.

Mabê: Modus Operandi is a podcast that requires research and careful attention to content that takes time, organization, and production, and that alone is very challenging. But when it comes to podcasts in general, I think the hardest part is getting the structure right so that the episodes always come out correctly. Each episode has a script, artwork, time to record, time to edit, time to review, time to adjust, and all that needs to meet the logistics to ensure that it comes out as frequently as it should.

What’s the most rewarding?

Natália: I think one of the things I say most often is that I have no control over who will stay listening, but they stick around. We created a real community. I’m very grateful to my listeners because that’s the magic of the podcast. From day one I knew I wasn’t alone. It has been healing me and giving me purpose.

Mabê: Making a podcast is basically becoming the soundtrack to many moments in people’s lives, so I think this part is amazing! The number of times people say that we’re their companion on the way to school or work, or that we’re the motivating factor for them to clean their houses! I guess we do help them keep their houses cleaner, then! But seriously, in our case, I believe that shedding light on many cases where the victims have become just a footnote in the story or that the crime was reported through a prejudiced or sensationalist bias and being able to rethink our behaviors as a society is very rewarding.

What are you most looking forward to at the Spotify Podcast Festival?

Natália: It is definitely an opportunity for creators to see people from all over the country who support their work, cheer them on, and it gives them the chance to share how the podcast they created has become a part of their lives. Recording is a solitary moment most of the time—you never know how you’re going to reach people. But at times like this you realize the magic that happens when you turn on the microphone.

Mabê: Podcasting is a solitary activity. We’re recording, just the two of us in a studio, so when we meet people who listen to us in person, it’s a great feeling to be in closer contact. It’s always nice to hear everyone’s story and their relationship with our work. I’m really looking forward to this gathering!

Criadores e fãs comemoram seus programas preferidos no Festival de Podcasts do Spotify em São Paulo.

November 3, 2023

Neste fim de semana, grandes nomes da podosfera brasileira irão se reunir para celebrar a arte de contar histórias no Spotify Podcast Festival. O Brasil é o nosso segundo maior mercado de podcasts, tanto em termos de ouvintes quanto de criadores, e está recheado de pessoas talentosas que usam essa mídia para se conectar com os outros, compartilhar histórias e inventar outras tantas mais.

O festival permitirá que criadores e fãs se conectem de forma especial. Os talentos dos programas Originais e Exclusivos Spotify, como Mano a Mano, É nóia minha? e Para dar nome às coisas irão apresentar sessões ao vivo, ao lado de outros grandes nomes da podosfera como Um Milkshake Chamado Wanda, Modus Operandi, Bom dia, Obvious, Nerdcast, PODDELAS, gostosas também choram com lela brandão, Os Sócios, Inteligência Ltda. e TICARACATICAST.

O Spotify também se uniu aos criadores dos Café da Manhã, PeeWeeCast, Thais Galassi e Madame Broona do Horoscopinho Semanal para trazer sessões bônus para os fãs, apresentando novas experiências que vão além de só escutar os podcasts.

O “For the Record” conversou com Natália Sousa e Mabê Bonafé – duas criadoras de podcasts que estão participando do festival – para saber mais sobre seus shows e o que mais esperam para este fim de semana.

Natália é jornalista, escritora, roteirista e a mente criativa por trás do Para Dar Nome às Coisas. Em seu programa, ela compartilha histórias honestas sobre medo, fracasso, coragem, recomeço, dor e muito mais.

Mabê é roteirista, escritora e co-apresentadora do podcast Modus Operandi. O programa sobre casos sobrenaturais, que ela apresenta com Carol Moreira, investiga histórias sobre crimes, serial killers e casos sobrenaturais.

Como surgiu a ideia do podcast?

Natália Sousa

Natália: A ideia do podcast começou num churrasco de Carnaval. Um amigo meu de infância sugeriu que eu fizesse e a minha namorada, que faz identidade visual gostou da ideia também, e começamos a estruturar. O curioso é que naquela mesma semana eu tinha fracassado numa leitura de algo que escrevi, então eu fiz um episódio sobre fracasso. Aí o podcast começou a crescer de um jeito muito maluco. E desde o primeiro dia eu entendi que as pessoas que estavam ali me escutando se identificavam com o podcast.

Mabê: Eu e a Carol estávamos viciadas em documentários de true crime! Tudo começou com o documentário Making a Murderer, que conta a história surreal de um homem preso injustamente por 18 anos, que processa o Estado e é preso de novo pouco tempo depois por um crime diferente. O documentário era cheio de reviravoltas. As pessoas ficaram obcecadas, e nós também. O gênero de true crime existe há muito tempo, mas parece que a partir daí foi um boom, e começaram a surgir mais documentários, séries, livros e podcasts.

A gente não conhecia outras pessoas para falar sobre isso, daí em 2018 decidimos criar o podcast para falar sobre esses casos e docs que estavam surgindo. Nós demoramos muito para colocar o podcast no ar, ele só veio em janeiro de 2020.

Quais são algumas das maneiras pelas quais você tenta interagir com seus fãs, talvez usando o Spotify para ferramentas de podcaster, como enquetes e perguntas e respostas?

Natália: Eu gosto muito de trocar com os ouvintes pelas redes sociais. O Instagram é o que eu mais uso. Eu sempre divulgo a capa do episódio um dia antes para estimular a expectativa sobre o tema da semana. Outra ferramenta que tanto eu, como criadora, quanto os ouvintes, que acompanham o podcast, amamos é a caixa de perguntas do Spotify, que é uma ferramenta direcionada, que ajuda a pessoa a comentar o que ela achou sobre aquele episódio específico no próprio app, de forma mais fácil e rápida, o que aumenta a chance da pessoa fazer. Para mim também é encorajador ler como os episódios chegam.

Mabê: Ao longo desses anos criamos uma comunidade muito forte. Consumimos diversos conteúdos e também temos outros gostos em comum. Interajo em lives, nos comentários, nessa troca toda com a comunidade que proporciona entender mais sobre a audiência . Também existem os eventos que participo, como palestras, eventos literários e de podcast, que são uma ótima oportunidade de interagir (com os fãs), e é ainda mais legal, porque é quando a gente tem o contato físico e vê a carinha das pessoas que nos ouvem.

Qual a parte mais desafiadora de ter um podcast?

Mabé Bonafé and Carol Moreira

Natália: Acho que para mim é a criatividade de pensar em novos temas toda semana. Tem épocas que flui mais fácil, em outras menos. Por ter um editor e uma design que cuidam das outras etapas do processo, a criação das pautas fica comigo. É a mais deliciosa, mas a mais desafiadora também.

Mabê: O Modus Operandi é um podcast que exige uma pesquisa e cuidado no conteúdo que demanda tempo, organização e produção e isso por si só já é bem desafiador. Mas falando de podcasts no modo geral, acho que a parte mais difícil é acertar na organização para que os episódios sempre saiam corretamente. Cada episódio tem roteiro, tem arte, tem tempo para gravação, tempo para edição, tempo para revisão, tempo para ajustar e tudo isso precisa atender uma logística que garanta que ele saia na frequência desejada.

Qual a parte mais gratificante de ter um podcast?

Natália: Acho que uma das coisas que eu mais digo é que eu não tenho controle nenhum de quem vai ficar, mas ela ficam. Você cria uma comunidade de verdade. Eu sou muito grata aos meus ouvintes porque essa é a magia do podcast, desde o primeiro dia eu senti que não estava sozinha. Isso foi me curando e me dando sentido.

Mabê: Produzir um podcast é basicamente se tornar a trilha sonora de muitos momentos da vida das pessoas, então creio que essa parte é incrível! A quantidade de vezes que as pessoas dizem que somos a companhia delas no trajeto para a escola ou trabalho, ou que somos o fator motivador para que limpem suas casas! Acho que ajudamos a manter as casas mais limpas, então! Hahaha Mas falando sério, no caso do Modus, creio que jogar luz sobre muitos casos onde as vítimas se tornaram apenas uma nota de rodapé na história ou que o crime foi noticiado através de um viés preconceituoso ou sensacionalista e conseguir repensar os nossos comportamentos enquanto sociedade é gratificante.

Por que você está animado para se reunir com seus fãs no Festival de Podcasts do Spotify?

Natália: Sem dúvida é a oportunidade de ver pessoas de todo o Brasil que acompanham seu trabalho, torcem por você, e estão ali para contar como o podcast que você criou faz parte da vida delas. Gravar é um momento solitário na maior parte do tempo, você nunca sabe como vai chegar nas pessoas, mas em momentos como esse você percebe a magia que acontece quando liga o microfone.

Mabê: O podcast é uma atividade meio solitária, estamos lá gravando só nós duas em um estúdio, então quando encontramos uma galera que consome fisicamente já dá uma sensação muito gostosa desse contato direto, é sempre bom ouvir a história de cada um e sua relação com o que produzimos. Tô muito ansiosa pra esse encontro!

New Spotify Original Podcast ‘What Now? with Trevor Noah’ Set to Launch November 9

October 18, 2023

Since announcing a new Spotify Original Podcast with Trevor Noah back in June, fans have waited anxiously to hear what’s next for the comedian, Emmy Award–winning talk show host, and best-selling author. They don’t have to wait in anticipation much longer. What Now? with Trevor Noah is set to launch on Thursday, November 9.

In this new Spotify Original podcast, listeners will get a chance to hear Trevor Noah like never before. In each episode, Trevor will go deep with a special guest, including entertainers, CEOs, actors, athletes, and thought leaders. He’ll bring the kind of conversations that happen behind the scenes to light, full of radical candor, authentic back-and-forths, and honest reactions, with Trevor bringing to bear his classic, effortlessly playful and equally probing style.

What Now? with Trevor Noah is executive produced by Trevor and Ben Winston alongside Jenna Weiss-Berman and Max Linksy; and produced by Day Zero Productions, Fulwell 73 Productions, and Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios.

The series is hosted and distributed by Spotify’s enterprise podcast platform, Megaphone, with Spotify serving as the exclusive sales partner. Presenting sponsors for the podcast include Amazon, Audi, Microsoft, Prize Picks, Smirnoff, and Starbucks.

As Trevor said back in June, “We’ll also probably fix every single issue humankind has ever faced, so you definitely want to join us for every episode.” Starting next month, you can.

Las mentes creativas de “Caso 63” regresan con un nuevo misterio de ciencia ficción: “Caso 63: Enigma

October 17, 2023

En 2020, lanzamos Caso 63, una audio serie con guión chileno que encabezó las listas de éxitos. El podcast original de Spotify fue tan popular que más tarde adaptamos la historia al Portugués, Hindi, e Inglés

Ahora Julio Rojas, el creador detrás del exitoso original, está de vuelta con una nueva historia ambientada en el mismo universo: Caso 63: Enigma. Y aunque los fans se encontrarán con un nuevo elenco de personajes, recordarán algo que se insinuó en la primera temporada de Caso 63: el 6 de agosto de 2042, Johana Flores, astronauta de una colonia marciana, hace un descubrimiento trascendental en un antiguo vestigio de una civilización madre conocida como “La Estructura”. Allí, Johana descubre un libro que contiene la clave para viajar en el tiempo. Pero, como sugiere el eslogan de la serie, “una cosa es encontrar un enigma y otra resolverlo”.

Caso 63: Enigma profundiza en esta historia, presentando a los oyentes a Isabel, una mujer mexicana encargada de resolver el misterio del libro, (también conocido como “El Enigma”). A lo largo del podcast, los oyentes experimentarán los pensamientos de Isabel, conversaciones con amigos, investigaciones y sueños recurrentes.

El talentoso elenco de actores y actrices del podcast está encabezado por la actriz mexicana Ana Valeria Becerril como Isabel y Diego Klein como Javier. La serie también cuenta con los actores chilenos Gabriel Urzúa como Gaspar, Alvaro Rudolphy como Miguel, Ignacia Baeza como Rebeca y Marcial Tagle como Alfredo.

“La historia está maravillosamente escrita, no deja cabo suelto, creo que es un universo súper basto, pero para mi lo más interesante es el formato de podcast”, comentó Ana Valeria Becerril. “Te pones tus audífonos, te sientas en un sillón, cierras los ojos y dejas que tu imaginación corra libre”.

Para los fans que devoran los episodios en poco tiempo y quieren escuchar aún más contenidos de Caso 63, pueden consultar Caso 63 – El Universo de Canciones, una lista de reproducción musical colaborativa creada por Julio Rojas, el compositor del podcast Mowat, y Ana Valeria Becerril. Esta colección de temas oscuros, melancólicos y futuristas de iconos de la música como Björk, Portishead, Radiohead, y Nick Cave sirvió de inspiración para la serie, y es el complemento perfecto para sumergirse aún más en su misterio.

Empieza escuchando la nueva serie, disponible ya en Spotify.

Love, Wedding Bells, Deception: Follow the Hunt for a Con Man in ‘The Wedding Scammer,’ a New Podcast from Spotify and The Ringer

October 12, 2023

a cartoon design of a con man standing on top of a three tier wedding cake

Whether you love to moonlight as a professional wedding guest or just love a good mystery, we have a new podcast that will keep you engaged: The Wedding Scammer.

Brought to you by Spotify’s The Ringer, this new show follows Justin Sayles, a man scammed during the process of working with a—as it turns out—fake media company. Determined to find justice, Justin works to uncover the con man. The culprit makes mistakes along the way, allowing Justin to track his schemes from city to city, scam to scam.

Justin soon learns that the scammer is not only conning people through this nonexistent media company, but he’s also scamming people out of large sums of money they’ve saved for the wedding of their dreams.

Throughout the seven episodes, listeners can follow along with Justin as he finds new leads that bring him closer and closer to unveiling the bold scammer.

The first episode drops on Tuesday, October 17, but you can get a sneak preview today by watching The Wedding Scammer trailer below.