Tag: podcast

Fashion Icon Cynthia Rowley and Kit Keenan Discuss Mother-Daughter Podcast

July 11, 2019

Cynthia Rowley is more than a fashion designer. She aims to inspire—whether she’s mentoring America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway contestants as a guest judge or sharing lifestyle tips in her best-selling books. It’s only natural that she’s now taking her talents from the design studio to the sound studio. With Ageless, Cynthia explores a host of topics—ranging from fashion to motherhood—with her daughter, Kit Keenan.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Kit started her own fashion line, KIT, while she was still in college. And like her mother, she’s stitching life and work together into one big journey of discovery that shows no signs of slowing down.

We spoke with mother and daughter about their lives, their work, and their new podcast created in partnership with Spotify and powered by Anchor.

How does the creative process of podcasting compare to your other endeavors?

Cynthia: Just like any creative project Kit and I do, it’s very collaborative. We both have a strong point of view about most things, so we talk out the topics for days before. But when we go into the recording studio, we just have bullet points and try to let the conversation flow.

What is it about your relationship and your conversations with your mother that resonate with mother and daughter listeners from all walks?

Kit: I’m so lucky to have the type of relationship that I do with my mom. We build each other up, we challenge each other, and we like to make everything an adventure. This being said, we cover so many different parts of our relationship that there’s something for everyone to connect to.

In your Ageless conversations, both your and Kit’s independent spirits come through (especially in your episode-two discussion about college and finding your own path). What are some traits you think Kit got from you? Which are entirely her own?

Cynthia: She’s always been her own person, and my way of teaching has always been by example (I guess that means she rejected my bad habits!). I know she’s a hard worker, an inventive thinker, and loves to be social. I’m not sure, but I hope I can take credit for that.

You grew up with podcasts, and your mom didn’t. Are you teaching her about the medium? Also, what’s your favorite podcast?

Kit: I don’t need to teach my mom how to talk. She can go on forever—ha! Even though I’ve grown up with podcasts, we’re on this journey together. I think what makes our podcast stand out is how even though my mom and I work in the same industry, we have such different perspectives and experiences.

I have many different interests, so it’s hard to choose just one podcast, but I love Girlboss, Second Life, Goopcast, and The Ultimate Health Podcast, just to name a few.

Now we’d like to play a game to see how well you two actually know each other. You’re going to answer each question twice—once with your answer, once with the other’s (think “The Newlywed Game” format). Ready?

What do you think are the three keys to being a successful entrepreneur?

Kit: Charisma, organization, and adaptation.

My mom would say curiosity, risk-taking, and never taking no for an answer.

Cynthia: Original and authentic ideas, resourcefulness, and risk-taking.

Kit would say risk-taking, surrounding yourself with smart people, and never taking no for an answer.

We’ll call that round a tie.

What are the three essential things you always pack when you travel?

Kit: A pillow case, resistance bands, and a party dress.

My mom’s answers will be: A bathing suit, heels, and cut-offs.

Cynthia: Swimsuit, cut-offs or jeans, and shades.

Kit will answer: Swimsuit, one of her KIT hoodies, and a tiny bag of beauty products.

Nice—spot-on, Kit!

Final question: Who are your three favorite musicians or bands?

Kit: Travis Scott, Charlotte Lawrence, and Tame impala.

My mom’s favorites are The Kooks, Charlotte Lawrence, and Chance the Rapper.

Cynthia: Chance the Rapper, Eminem, and Iggy Pop.

Kit’s favorites are Charlotte Lawrence, Madison Beer, and The Beach Boys.

Perfectly answered or not, you both have great taste.

See just how well these two know each other by listening to the Ageless podcast. You can also follow them @cynthiarowley and @kitkeenan.

New True Crime Podcast Chronicles Woman’s Exploration of Dad’s Dark Past

July 11, 2019

The name April Balascio may sound familiar. She made headlines when she discovered that her long-estranged father, Edward Wayne Edwards, was a murderer. Now, the full story of her chilling realization, The Clearing, is captured in a gripping new true crime podcast from Pineapple Street Media in association with Gimlet, debuting on Spotify July 18.

Edwards was an eccentric, difficult, and often abusive dad. He was known for a criminal past that included offenses like armed robbery and even gained notoriety for his book about it. April long wondered if he hid darker secrets and called a detective in 2009 to tell him about her suspicions—a call that led to her father’s arrest and eventual conviction on multiple murders. But the story didn’t end there.

Three years ago, April met journalist and author Josh Dean, and the two formed an unusual partnership. They began to work together to dig back into her childhood, unravel the truth of her father’s life, and overturn a viral online narrative that had turned Edward Wayne Edwards into a kind of serial killer caricature.

Hosted by Dean and produced by Pineapple Street’s Jonathan Menjivar (formerly of This American Life), The Clearing tells the story of how April came to discover the full truth about her dad—as she visits with detectives, former neighbors, and victims’ families—and tracks April’s emotional journey along the way.

The first two episodes of The Clearing will premiere for free on July 18 on Spotify and wherever podcasts are available. New episodes will drop each week thereafter.

Learn more about The Clearing ahead of the show’s debut.

Spotify House of Are & Be Highlights Black Women in R&B and Podcasts

July 5, 2019

Essence Fest, held annually in New Orleans, LA, is the ultimate “Party with a Purpose.” The music festival serves to magnify the voices of Black female creators, and this year, Spotify’s House of Are & Be will help turn the volume up even higher.

The House of Are & Be celebrates Spotify’s Are & Be playlist hitting five million followers. The house is also a multi-storied tribute to Black women in R&B and podcasts that includes an art gallery showcasing musicians and podcasters, recording studio, and performance space.

Each of the six rooms on the first floor of the house are designed based on different eras in R&B. Album and podcast art on display tell the stories of true works of art from legends Patti LaBelle, Erykah Badu, Sade, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Destiny’s Child, H.E.R, and more.

In the Bar Room, find The Classics. Move onto the Red Room for Neo Soul, followed by Contemporary R&B in the White Room. Things heat up in the Pool Room, which is a tribute to the many ladies of 90’s R&B, followed by R&B Excellence in the Dining Room and New R&B in the Backyard.

Move from the first floor to the second and remember that Black women’s talents extend beyond music, with a podcasting studio and gallery showcasing six Black women-led podcasts including Jemele Hill is Unbothered, Dope Labs, The Nod, Still Processing, and Therapy for Black Girls. The focal point of the room is Jemele Hill is Unbothered, an honest, thought-provoking, always-entertaining weekly podcast that focuses on American life, culture, politics and more.

Beyond the installations, Spotify House will also host a live recording of Jemele’s podcast, featuring Kamala Harris, The Black Girl Magic brunch and day party with performances from Summer Walker and Ari Lennox as well as an evening Are & Be Jam Session curated by musician and producer Raphael Saadiq.

Black women have incredible stories to tell—and the Spotify House of Are & Be is handing them the mic.

Spotify and Funny or Die Announce New Original Scripted Podcast, ‘I’m Gonna Be Kevin Bacon’

June 28, 2019

The six degrees of Kevin Bacon just expanded into a whole new medium: podcasting. Spotify’s newest original podcast, I’m Gonna Be Kevin Bacon, produced by Funny or Die and created by Dan Abramson, stars the prolific actor as himself (sort of) in a new 12-episode comedy show—coming soon exclusively on Spotify.

Part fiction, part alternative reality, and completely unlike any podcast you’ve streamed before, I’m Gonna Be Kevin Bacon opens on a washed-up actor, Randy Beslow, 30 years after the release of Footloose, Bacon’s first starring role. Beslow has spent all that time lamenting his loss of the part of Ren to the one and only Kevin Bacon, and blaming the actor for how his life turned out. (Spoiler: Not well). After hitting rock bottom, Beslow snaps and embarks on a mission to hunt down Kevin Bacon and exact revenge.

Throughout Beslow’s journey, he encounters a cast of characters—both fictional and real-life people playing fictionalized versions of themselves—including Bacon, who plays a version of himself as well.

Coming on the heels of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground podcast announcement, I’m Gonna Be Kevin Bacon is reflective of the vast, eclectic, and expanding global slate of original audio content on Spotify. Like all Spotify podcasts, the show will be available to 217 million+ listeners in 79 markets on day one—so stay tuned for the show’s upcoming debut.

Spotify Launches Original Podcast ‘The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet’

June 27, 2019

As women navigate the ever-evolving social paradigms that shape our cultural discourse, there’s a need for clear, candid, and powerful voices to help society move forward. Amanda de Cadenet, host, photographer, and Girlgaze founder and CEO, has been one of those voices for over a decade.

With the 2011 launch of The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet on Lifetime, Amanda created a unique place on TV, one where women could feel safe to talk to each other about a wide range of important issues and shared experiences. Now Amanda is taking the conversation to the sound studio, with a podcast of the same name and mission.

Beginning on July 2nd and airing every Tuesday thereafter for nine weeks, Amanda’s Spotify exclusive podcast will feature one-on-one intimate and candid conversations with women and non-binary individuals who reveal their respective journeys and the wisdom they’ve gained along the way.

Guests will include actresses, activists, authors, politicians, filmmakers, providing a wide range of perspectives. Amber Heard, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Jameela Jamil, Olivia Wilde, Sophia Bush, and more will be joining Amanda on the show.

“I’m excited to launch The Conversation as a podcast format because it really lends itself to the long form, in depth conversations I like to have with my guests. The Conversation is a place for raw and honest discussions on topics that need to be addressed right now” said Amanda de Cadenet.

The launch of this podcast further showcases Spotify’s commitment to delivering interesting and unique original content to listeners, with a new generation of cultural and socially-minded podcasts. Spotify’s diverse, growing podcast slate includes: Stay Free: The Story of the Clash, Dope Labs, Jemele Hill Is Unbothered, Amy Schumer Presents, Riggle’s Picks with Rob Riggle & Sarah Tiana, Dissect and the newly announced partnership with President Barack Obama & Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Audio.

Check out the The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet trailer here.

Spotify presenta un podcast original sobre cultura geek: NRDWARE

June 25, 2019

La cultura pop es un universo en constante expansión. Por eso Spotify presenta NRDWARE, una podcast original que es una oda a todo lo geek y una guía para explorar las novedades en videojuegos, cine y series, cómics, juegos de mesa, juguetes coleccionables, comics y más.

Para esta producción original, Spotify reúne a cuatro amigos, pioneros en los ámbitos de gaming y tecnología, Lorenzo “Renzo” Grajales, Miguel “Asher” Sandoval, Claudio Quiroz y Mariano “Punisher” Latapí.

Los cuatro nerds regresan con una cobertura experta del evento que los reunió como amigos hace una década: la convención de videojuegos E3 en Los Ángeles, antes de viajar al parque temático de Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Hablamos con sus conductores sobre cómo ha evolucionado la cultura geek en la última década, cómo han cambiado sus hábitos de consumo de medios y qué se siente compartir una vez más micrófonos para un podcast.

¿Cuál es su historia de origen?

Lorenzo: “Nosotros grabamos podcast antes de que fuera mainstream hace una década. Después todos hemos hablado sobre videojuegos y cultura geek en muchos medios y formatos. Yo diría que hemos conocido la industria de arriba a abajo, como consumidores y como expertos.”

Asher: “En realidad, nuestro producto más exitoso de esa era del internet fueron los especiales de juegos como Metal Gear. Casi me daría pena admitir cuántas horas horas jugamos en línea en la noches Modern Warfare.”

Mariano: “No puedo describir el carrusel de emociones que ha sido volver a juntarnos después de tanto tiempo. Platicar de lo que más nos gusta es un verdadero placer.”

¿Cómo definirían NRDWARE?

Claudio: “Es un espacio para hablar de lo que nos apasiona: videojuegos, series, cine, cómics, juguetes. Habrá invitados cuando el tema lo amerite pero en general estaremos estos cuatro nerds de confianza.”

¿Cómo ha cambiado la cultura geek en una década desde que se conocieron?

Mariano: “La cultura geek ahora es el mainstream. Hoy el inadaptado es el que no ve Game of Thrones o no juega FIFA. Todos somos parte: no importa si son videojuegos, comics o Harry Potter; es una cultura que llegó para quedarse.”

Asher: “Yo diría que el cambio más impactante es el streaming. De hecho todavía no procesamos bien lo que está pasando. Parece inverosímil pensar que hace apenas diez años no existía Spotify o Netflix… ¿cómo pasábamos el tiempo?”

Mariano: “Por si fuera poco, el streaming y la demanda de contenido ha generado una proliferación de plataformas, productos y medios especializados en transmitir en tiempo real. Nosotros somos los viejitos que fuimos educados por las revistas y nos tocó la transición.”

Mariano: “Hay un estigma que apunta a que el nerd no es social, pero yo creo que de los “monstruos” más sociales son los gamers, los fans de series, los entusiastas de juegos de mesa.”

Claudio: “Hoy los fans tienen una forma muy fácil de sentir que pertenecen a una cultura y encontrar un punto de encuentro, ya sea una serie o un juego. Ahora se siente más el pulso de la cultura nerd. Todas las semanas hay algo que vale la pena.”

¿Cómo ha cambiado su consumo de medios en estos diez años?

Lorenzo: “Jugábamos más. Muchísimas horas a la semana. Ahora lo seguimos haciendo pero somos más quisquillosos con el uso de nuestro tiempo.”

¿Qué ha significado esto para nosotros en el plano personal?

Asher: “El cambio también fue brutal. Espacios como los foros y plataformas sociales, donde todos encontramos nuestra voz, eran como una segunda vida pero hoy no se percibe como algo distinto del mundo real. Es parte de una misma realidad.”

¿Qué se siente estar otra vez los cuatro haciendo un podcast?

Mariano: “Antes todo era mucho más casero: una consola y micrófonos de segunda mano, producir al mismo tiempo que hablábamos. De hecho lo hicimos en vivo durante mucho tiempo… luego nos dimos cuenta que no tenía sentido y valía la pena entregar algo más pulido.”

Claudio: “Queremos que la comunidad que lo escuche esté contenta y que vea a NRDWARE como un espacio en el que hablamos de fan a fan, tanto nuestros seguidores como una nueva audiencia a la que queremos llegar.”

Escucha NRDWARE aquí.

Higher Ground Announces Partnership with Spotify to Produce Podcasts

June 6, 2019

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, today announced a partnership with Spotify to produce podcasts exclusive to the platform. The Obamas formed Higher Ground to produce powerful stories to entertain, inform and inspire, and to lift up new, diverse voices in the entertainment industry. Spotify, which recently surpassed 100 million Premium subscribers and has more than 217 million monthly active users, will distribute the podcasts to audiences across the globe.

Under the Higher Ground partnership, President and Mrs. Obama will develop, produce, and lend their voices to select podcasts, connecting them to listeners around the world on wide-ranging topics. The multi-year agreement will be with Higher Ground Audio, an expansion of the Higher Ground production company that will oversee the move into podcasts.

When President and Mrs. Obama launched Higher Ground in 2018 with an initial partnership with Netflix, their goal was to create compelling content that entertains and inspires viewers. Recognizing that content is consumed in many forms, this new partnership will give them the ability to expand the conversation, educating and engaging Spotify’s diverse and extensive audience.

“We’ve always believed in the value of entertaining, thought-provoking conversation,” President Obama said. “It helps us build connections with each other and open ourselves up to new ideas. We’re excited about Higher Ground Audio because podcasts offer an extraordinary opportunity to foster productive dialogue, make people smile and make people think, and, hopefully, bring us all a little closer together.”

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to amplify voices that are too often ignored or silenced altogether, and through Spotify, we can share those stories with the world,” Michelle Obama said. “Our hope is that through compelling, inspirational storytelling, Higher Ground Audio will not only produce engaging podcasts, but help people connect emotionally and open up their minds—and their hearts.”

“President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are two of the world’s most important voices and it is a privilege to be working with them to identify and share stories that will inspire our global audience, which looks to Spotify for unique, breakthrough content,” said Spotify Chief Content Officer, Dawn Ostroff. “Connecting people with original and thoughtful creators — especially those with the ability to highlight underrepresented and indispensable narratives — is at the core of our mission and we are thrilled that not only will the Obamas be producing content, but that they will be lending their voices to this effort.”

10 Anchor Tools To Help You Make a Great Podcast

June 4, 2019

In February, Spotify announced that we acquired Anchor, a platform that makes quality podcasting easy and fun. We’re excited to increase the number of podcasts and diversity of topics available on Spotify and hope to inspire our users to start creating their own shows.

Luckily, podcasting has never been as simple—or accessible—as it is with Anchor. Whether you’re recording your fourth podcast or your first, check out 10 Anchor tools below that can ease you through the entire process.

1. Record from anywhere—literally.

Record episodes wherever you are by using the Anchor mobile app for iPhone, Android, or iPad. Or flip open your laptop and use the desktop website. No other equipment is required—unless you’re feeling fancy, in which case you can use a USB mic. You can also upload audio files to use in your podcast.
True story: People have used the mobile feature to record everywhere imaginable, including while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and from a boat in the middle of the ocean.

2. Record with anyone.

Anchor’s Record with Friends feature supports remote recording with up to eight people at once. Talk to people anywhere in the world and record in real time—distance never has to be an obstacle to making your podcast.

3. Edit your audio with a couple of taps.

Once you’ve recorded some audio, you can edit it by trimming out any unnecessary pieces or splitting it into multiple segments. Anchor’s editing tools are easy to use even when you’re on mobile.

4. Make it sound beautiful.

Anchor has a library of free background music that can be added underneath your audio. The app will even automatically adjust the music’s volume based on the sound of your voice, so it’s a great way to easily add texture to your podcast’s sound.

5. Customize your cover art.

Choose from a library of beautiful photos for your podcast cover artwork, thanks to Anchor’s Cover Art Creator (in partnership with Unsplash). Once you select the perfect image, you can add custom text to it right in the Anchor app.

6. Get your show heard everywhere.

Anchor takes care of distributing your podcast everywhere people are listening. With just one tap, you can get your podcast on Spotify and more.

7. Transform your words into social-friendly videos.

If you want to go beyond soundscapes, select a clip of two minutes or less to turn into a word video. It’s perfect for showcasing your work across social channels.

8. Make your listeners part of your podcast.

With Anchor’s Voice Messages, you can collect messages from your listeners and incorporate them right into your episodes. Some creators use this feature to share listener comments on a particular topic, host a listener-inspired episode, or create a Q&A-style show.

9. See how your show is growing.

Gain unique insights into when and where your podcast is being heard the loudest. On your Anchor dashboard, you’ll find detailed analytics so you can learn about who’s listening and how your episodes are performing. Analytics are available on mobile and web, so you can track your success no matter where you are.

10. Make money with your podcast.

With Anchor Sponsorships and Listener Support, you can make money from your podcast either by including custom ads (we’ll do the work of matching you with a sponsor and helping you record your own ads), or by collecting recurring donations from listeners.

Ready to get started? Sign up for Anchor today.

Everything You Wanted to Know about Podcasts But Were Afraid to Ask

May 28, 2019

Have you ever raved to a friend or family member about a podcast you’re bingeing (say, Stay Free: The Story of the Clash) only to have them ask, “Wait, what’s a podcast?” or even, “How do I listen to it?”

On the other hand, maybe you can talk all day about Game of Thrones finale theories or your feelings about the latest album drop, and you want to share your thoughts with the world. Good news: It’s easier than ever to get the word out.

Whether you’re a podcast aficionado looking to share your passion, or just looking to stay up on the latest trends, this straightforward and shareable Podcast 101 infographic is your one-stop shop for any podcasting questions.

Now that you can safely explain podcasts, why not find a new favorite? Or easily start your own by using Anchor or Soundtrap for Storytellers.

References:

Soundtrap for Storytellers Helps Podcasters Take Their Shows to the Next Level

May 14, 2019

Last year, seven million people in the US produced podcasts—and even more people consumed them. But the process of recording, editing, transcribing, and adding sound effects isn’t always easy. That’s why Soundtrap, a Spotify company, was inspired to create Soundtrap for Storytellers, a cloud-based one-stop shop for podcast creation that helps podcasters share their stories in a powerful and efficient way.

Soundtrap for Storytellers is a comprehensive podcast creation tool that offers recording, remote multi-track interviewing with video chat, smart editing of audio as a text document, full audio production, direct-to-Spotify publishing of the podcast, and transcript publishing to optimize SEO all in one service.

To celebrate the launch of Soundtrap for Storytellers, we brought the hosts of nine beloved podcasts together at Spotify’s NYC office for a hands-on “Pod Camp” demo of Soundtrap for Storytellers. We talked to the founders (and voices) behind favorites such as Berning in Hell, Girls Gotta Eat, Journey to Launch, and more about their favorite parts of podcasting—and what they’re excited for with Soundtrap for Storytellers.

Soundtrap demo at the Spotify office

Hannah Berner, Founder/Host: Berning in Hell

Favorite part of podcasting: “The freedom of speech. My podcast creates an opportunity for an extremely intimate experience between two people with no boundaries that I get to then share with the world.”

Why Soundtrap excites Hannah: “I think a lot of podcasters don’t have any knowledge about the importance of SEO, or getting found in unique ways, besides just promoting on our social media. So having a transcript of what you’re saying that also helps with SEO is incredible.”

Lindsey Metselaar, Founder/Host: We Met at Acme

Favorite part of podcasting: “I love getting to know someone. You can get away with asking a few questions when you first meet someone, but you can’t just sit there and grill them for an hour. As a curious person, it gives me an excuse to be able to literally do that.”

Why Soundtrap excites Lindsey: “The fact that you can record with someone when they’re not physically with you is huge. I’m not able to do that right now because the sound quality is just not the same with other programs or over the phone. But Soundtrap allows two computers to have the same recording situation set up. That’s huge for podcasting.”

Jamila Souffrant, Founder/Host: Journey to Launch

Favorite part of podcasting: “Connecting with the guests and interviewing. Honestly, when I’m in the moment interviewing, I’m just in it. So when I actually hear the final product, I’m like, ‘Wow. That was a good episode.’”

Why Soundtrap excites Jamila: “Right now, I record the interview on my computer. Then I’ve got to download the track, then upload it so my editor can take it. Soundtrap eliminates the steps and makes it easier for me just to record.”

The crew of The Need to Know Podcast

Savon, Steph, Alex, Co-Hosts: The Need to Know Podcast

Savon’s favorite part of podcasting: “I got into podcasting not just because it was innovative, but also because it was very personable. A lot of media is not personable, you know? So listening to somebody and feeling like you’re connected with them was the main draw for me. Also, just doing it with smart people whom you learn from.”

Why Soundtrap excites Steph: “Schedule-wise, we’re all super busy. Sometimes one of us might not be able to make it, or be physically there. So the fact that we can still record is very important. Listeners look for our content every week. And they will hunt us down.”

Rayna Greenberg, Ashley Hesseltine, Co-Hosts: Girls Gotta Eat

Rayna’s favorite part of podcasting: “We love conceptualizing the episodes, we love polling our audience for what they’re really looking for, and we try to pull in all of their advice. We love all the emails we get asking for certain topics, and we love trying to figure out who the next guest will be that’s so great for that, and how we can create a show around them that’s really interesting and different.”

Why Soundtrap excites Ashley: “I like that it normalizes the levels as it’s recording, and then again after. Because right now, it records all onto one track. So if someone was just way too quiet or too loud, I can go in there and do it manually, but it would take forever. So I have to use an external program. I like that Soundtrap is pretty much doing that for you.”

Try Soundtrap for Storytellers, available today online and on iOS and Android, with pricing starting at $14.99/month and an annual plan starting at $11.99/month. Or if you’re more of a listener, check out the rest of the podcasts on Spotify.

German Star Palina Rojinski Riffs on Podcast Interviews with Her Celebrity Friends

April 17, 2019

Visit Germany for a day, and it’ll be hard to miss Palina Rojinski. Known throughout the country as an actress, TV host, and DJ, Palina can now add top-ranked podcaster to her CV. After just a few episodes of Podkinski, the podcast already enjoys extreme popularity in Germany. The secret to her instant impact in audio is simple: Fans are drawn to Palina’s sense of humor and her approachable, conversational style.

She selects the guests for her show, guides the conversation, and keeps her subjects in the studio for as long as she feels necessary to create a compelling interview. No format is off-limits, whether that means improvising, using tarot cards, or playing memory games to get inside a guest’s head.

Palina’s first guests were actor Fahri Yardim, model Stefanie Giesinger (winner of Germany’s Next Topmodel) and Saudi Arabia-born actress and hip-hop artist Nura. Just after the release of the fourth episode of Podkinski, featuring German fashion designer and TV host Guido Maria Kretschmer, Palina spoke with us about her unique approach to podcasting.

Most Germans know you from TV and film. What has been the most interesting and different aspect of recording a podcast as opposed to working with scripted material for TV and movies?

It is very freeing to be invisible. I usually really enjoy getting ready for a film shoot, and I love makeup and fashion in general. But being invisible to the audience allows me to approach the recording in a very relaxed manner. The studio is a more intimate setting.

German TV and audio seem to have become more open, playful, and conversational, similar to your style, since you started out 10 years ago. How much of that can you take credit for, and how much is an evolution of technology and a change in how Europeans consume content?

I believe that everything changes all the time—with or without me. The German entertainment industry really looks up to America and tries to keep up. Also, Germany is looking at a comeback of the ’90s in style and fashion, and this means putting fun first. Also, maybe our society is looking for balance. If issues regarding the environment and politics are getting pretty serious, we long for fun in entertainment, art, and fashion.

How does your style of interviewing help guests share more personal or interesting information that they might not share with another podcast host?

It certainly helps that most of my guests are my friends. That makes it a bit easier to find the right start. I try to be myself—that’s a general rule of mine, being myself and inviting my guests to be themselves as well. I’m happy if that works out for both of us.

You’re one of the hosts of a new version of “Yo! MTV Raps.” What does hip-hop music mean to you, and why you do think Europeans, and Germans in particular, have such fondness of hip-hop?

It was the soundtrack of my teenage years—it means rebellion, it means adventure, and a certain kind of looking for an identity. Am I cool? Are you cool? The kinds of questions that we suffer with as teenagers. Hip-hop helped me a lot, lifted me up, and made me feel strong at times. It also creates a wonderful sense of community, which we are all in need of, I guess.

Talk about the games you like to play with your guests, such as “Ich packe meinen koffer” (I’m packing my suitcase). How does the game work?

You basically name an object that you would take along on a trip, and the other person has to repeat what you said and add one thing he or she would take along, and so on. Actually, it’s a good memory game, and I played it with a famous German actor. We tested how well our memory works (we have to memorize lines for acting), but also found out how he is packing his luggage either for a certain role or for a long-term filming away from home. Every guest gets a different game that suits his or her personality.

What podcasts and musicians do you enjoy listening to when you are not working?

My favorite podcast is Fest & Flauschig by my friends Olli and Jan, and I love a good mix of music. For example, I love classic bands like Talking Heads or Fleetwood Mac, and of course, some hip-hop like Cardi B, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and Drake, plus Ariana Grande.

Listen to the latest episode of Podkinski here.

Gynning and Berg Now Exclusively on Spotify

February 12, 2019

Swedish on-air co-hosts Carina Berg and Carolina Gynning, also close off-camera friends, have launched a new podcast on life’s absurdities—and learning to embrace them through laughter. Carina and Carolina, who’ve shared the screen for 15 years on the country’s local Idol and Stars on Ice, will release 40 weekly episodes of Gynning & Berg Find Themselves, exclusively on Spotify.

“I can never predict what she’s going to say,” says Carina of Carolina. “She is the friend who usually makes my jaw drop. It is such a gift to sit and talk about the big issues in life with her.”

No topic is too sensitive for these two. Expect hilarious discussions ranging from coping with aging to not seeing your children often enough, all examined with “thoughtful self-development and pure nonsense,” explains Carolina. “It will be exciting to hear what listeners think.”

More than just a show about exploring life’s big questions, “Gynning & Berg Find Themselves” represents Spotify’s commitment to offering differentiated and original podcast content around the world.

“We are proud and happy that Carina and Carolina chose Spotify to make their exclusive podcast debut,” says Johan Seidefors, our Nordic Content Manager. “They are two of Sweden’s funniest, most experienced and professional content creators. Carina and Carolina have incredibly dedicated fans, and we look forward to having all Spotify listeners follow their escapades.”

Gynning & Berg Find Themselves launches today. You can find the first episode here.

Stream On 2023

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