Tag: podcast

Two New German Spotify Original Podcasts Are Taking On Marriage—One Before and One After Saying ‘I Do’

March 1, 2021

From rom-com meet-cutes to tailored playlist exchanges, there’s a lot to love about love. Two new German Spotify Original podcasts are ready to bring their take on relationships, but from two different vantage points: One podcast follows a couple’s journey before saying “I do,” while the other takes a look at newlywed life.

First up, the before. While a wedding is often one of the most memorable days in a couple’s life, planning the event is often more stressful than blissful. So Laura Larsson, cohost of the popular show Herrengedeck, decided to document her lead-up to the altar in her new podcast Erstmal für immer. In the 10-episode series, she gives the audience an open and honest look at preparations for her wedding to her fiancé, Nils. “My favorite part of creating the show was talking to Nils,” explains Laura. “In our recordings together, I felt like I got to know a lot of new things about both him and us.” From the proposal to the walk down the aisle, listeners will follow the bride-to-be through the highs and lows of her entire planning process. Laura isn’t sparing any details. As she explains it, you can expect the journey to be “chaotic and emotional, but also quite beautiful.”

And when it comes to life after the vows? German comedians Hazel Brugger and Thomas Spitzer chronicle what happens next on their podcast Nur verheiratet mit Hazel & Thomas. After keeping their marriage a secret from the public for months, Hazel and Thomas give listeners a glimpse into their relationship, one date at a time. Over 17 episodes, the series lets listeners eavesdrop on the couple as they handle their marriage “firsts,” and learn what it’s like to date each other again.

Whether you’re recently engaged or a few anniversaries in, get a dose of relationship chatter with the Erstmal für immer and Nur verheiratet mit Hazel & Thomas podcasts, available now exclusively on Spotify.

New Spotify Original Podcast From Sound Up Alum Kacie Willis Pushes the Bounds of Creativity and Anonymity

February 18, 2021

It’s rare for two people to approach the creative process in the same manner. In the new podcast You Heard Me Write, listeners get a peek behind the curtain to hear how different sound designers bring to life the words of writers in an entirely unique way. The show, hosted by Sound Up 2019 participant Kacie Willis, is the latest podcast to come out of Spotify’s Sound Up program, which aims to empower the next generation of podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds through education, workshops, and support.

The first season of You Heard Me Write explores 30 original pieces of prose, music, and sound design. Each episode features artists collaborating on a multimedia group project without having any knowledge about the identities of their counterparts. Only after the project is done are the artists introduced to one another: in a roundtable discussion where they explore the roles of creativity, anonymity, and the power of connection between people from different walks of life.

For the Record sat down with Kacie to learn more about the podcast.

El podcast chileno “Weona Que Creici”, llega a diversificar el catálogo exclusivo de Spotify

February 9, 2021

Como parte del continuo compromiso por ofrecer el mejor contenido de audio, Spotify suma en exclusiva a su catálogo el podcast chileno de comedia “Weona Que Creici”. Además, anuncia el estreno de su nueva temporada este 9 de febrero. La adquisición del show afirma la estrategia de Spotify por potenciar talentos locales y llevar sus contenidos al mundo, permitiendo que millones de oyentes puedan descubrir nuevas historias y acceder a una programación diferenciada para cada tipo de público.

La Wilo y la María Fernando se conocieron en 2019, son sureñas y treintonas. A partir de entonces, nace una amistad cuya máxima expresión es la colaboración de la que nace este exitoso podcast que rápidamente se convirtió en uno de los contenidos de comedia más escuchados en Chile. La naturalidad y espontaneidad que los caracteriza, junto con la diversidad a la que apuntan sus contenidos, hicieron que este programa encontrara su lugar en la familia Spotify.

Weona Que Creici es una conversación cotidiana, espontánea y sin tapujos, donde los dos amigos incursionan en diversos y, muchas veces, controvertidos temas, comparten historias y experiencias, además de divertidos relatos de su vida personal. La invitación de los hosts es a incluir siempre la visibilización de la diversidad en todas sus caras, tratar las experiencias que vive la comunidad LGTBQ+, hablar de sexualidad sin rodeos, y resignificar muchas de sus propias vivencias.

La segunda temporada del show sólo se podrá escuchar en Spotify donde, cada semana, sus protagonistas se tomarán de la contingencia de Chile y del mundo, anécdotas, relatos y -especialmente-, de sus propias experiencias para compartir sus historias, dramas y diálogos únicos con la cuota de humor que tanto los caracteriza.

Expresar la creatividad

La idea del podcast nació cuando se afianzó la relación creativa entre los amigos y la excelente recepción que recibieron en sus redes sociales cada vez que generaban contenidos en conjunto, no sin antes cuestionarse si el formato era el más adecuado para el tipo de dinámica que establecieron.

“A Fernando le costó trabajo convencerse de que un podcast era el formato indicado para el proyecto que, desde hace tiempo, ambos soñábamos con realizar: tener un show juntos. Fernando insistía en que para Chile, en ese momento, el podcast no era un formato para inciar como creadores. Sin embargo, la experiencia evidenció lo contrario, porque fue en el periodo de emisión del podcast cuando nuestros perfiles como creadores de contenido experimentaron mayor crecimiento”, comenta Wilo.

El éxito del show ha estado marcado por la cercana relación que han forjado con sus oyentes, haciéndolos sentir parte de sus vidas, al tiempo que esperan también hacer más alegres y livianas las rutinas de quienes los escuchan: “creemos que ese voto de confianza ha sido clave en el lazo que mantenemos con nuestro público, nos sienten cercanos y es que, de cierto modo, lo estamos”, concluye Fernando.

Los dos host de Weona Que Creici ven con entusiasmo la alianza con Spotify gracias a la posibilidad que les entrega a los creadores de expresar su creatividad y llegar a un público más amplio, además de colaborar en diversificar las voces disponibles.

“Hay muchas propuestas interesantes, diferentes, creadores audaces que, aunque la mayoría de las veces con pocos recursos, se las arreglan para llevar un producto interesante a la audiencia… un poco como partimos nosotros. Creemos que paulatinamente el rubro se irá profesionalizando y que ya es una alternativa a otros medios más tradicionales. Puede que eso implique mejoras técnicas, algunas de logística, pero lo que siempre será el centro, es la creatividad”, enfatizan ambos.

La nueva temporada continuará con el estilo que caracteriza al programa que, en palabras de sus creadores, intenta ser “lo más fluido posible, asemejándose a una conversación de amigos en la que la audiencia se inmiscuye”.

Las nuevas aventuras y los delirantes diálogos de la Wilo y la María Fernando ya se pueden disfrutar desde tu dispositivo preferido y solo en Spotify.

‘Stream On,’ Q4 Earnings, and Our Launch in South Korea: Learn More on the ‘Spotify: For the Record’ Podcast

February 4, 2021

Our latest Spotify: For the Record episode dives into our biggest headlines of the week. Dustee Jenkins, Head of Global Communications, sits down with CEO Daniel Ek and CFO Paul Vogel to discuss yesterday’s fourth-quarter earnings results. The trio touches on the company’s outlook, our end-of-year Wrapped campaign, the continued rise in podcasts, and other Q4 highlights.

Dustee also queries Daniel about Spotify’s recently announced “Stream On” event. You can check out their full conversation in the episode, but in the meantime, find a brief behind-the-scenes preview of what will happen on February 22 below.

Finally, we travel from Stockholm to Seoul to discuss Spotify’s launch this week in the sixth-biggest music market in the world: South Korea. David Park, our Managing Director there, joins us as we talk about the magnitude of this expansion.

Ready to dig in? Check out the episode here.

‘Dissect’ Podcast Explores the Reclamation of Black Culture in Beyoncé’s ‘Black is King’

January 27, 2021

In April 2020, Cole Cuchna and Dr. Titi Shodiya (Dope Labs) came together to examine Beyoncé’s 2016 masterpiece Lemonade as the hosts of the Spotify Exclusive podcast Dissect. This week, the pair returns to the podcast for a surprise seven-episode miniseries that celebrates Beyoncé and commemorates her prolific summer 2020 project, Black Is King.

In this series, Cole and Titi dive into an in-depth academic exploration of the lyrical metaphors, historical anecdotes, and nods to African spirituality embedded all throughout the project—as well as the verbal and visual commentary on the reclamation of Black culture in Black Is King. For the Record spoke to Dissect host Cole Cuchna on the creation and impact of the surprise series.

Why did you want to dissect Black Is King?

Having learned so much from our analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade for Season 6, I think we were all very eager to unpack Black Is King for that same reason: education. Through the many symbols, themes, and lyrics of the film, you really get a substantial history lesson paired with a practical life philosophy. We originally planned to do just one bonus episode, but it ended up being seven episodes, just because there was SO much to discover in the film. It really is a work of art.

Given the landscape of 2020, can you elaborate on Black Is King’s impact?

For me, it provides important historical context to issues still affecting the world today and puts them into a narrative form that has incredible emotional impact. Stories and music are two of the most transformative forms to communicate and to inspire human beings to act. In an ugly time in our history, Black Is King was a refreshing presentation of the beauty, glory, and rich history of Africa—the place every human being can trace their lineage back to. It’s that sense of global and humanitarian unity that is desperately needed right now.

How long did it take to create this season, from listening to dissecting the lyrics to writing the script and recording?

We began working on the series the moment Black Is King was released on July 31, 2020, and we worked on it all the way up until the week of releasing our series. So almost six months. We had a great team on this, including writers Maggie Lacy and Femi Olutade. We were also able to speak directly to the film’s creatives, including co-director Kwasi Fordjour, stylist Zerina Akers, and music director Derek Dixie. That’s a first for Dissect, and they were able to lend incredible insight to the themes and process behind making the film.

What were some of the images, scenes, or songs that resonated with you most that you were excited to dissect?

For me, it’s the entire last act of the film, because that’s when many of the symbols and images from the beginning of the film show up again, creating this full-circle effect and tying directly into the “circle of life” theme that centers the film. Just the thought and execution of that kind of structuring shows how much attention to detail was given to this project, where seemingly everything we see and hear has an intended meaning, message, or purpose.

What was something you learned through dissecting Black Is King that surprised you or gave you an ah-ha! moment?

I think the biggest ah-ha moment comes when we see the basket floating down the Nile river in the song “Otherside.” It falls down a waterfall, and then the film cuts to adult Simba falling underwater. It’s there, underwater, that we see Simba grab the king chess piece that he lost earlier in the film as a child—symbolizing that he has rediscovered the kingship inside him from birth. That fact that this occurs underwater implies that this is a kind of baptism, a rebirth, which is the first thing that we saw in the film’s opening scene. So it comes full circle. It’s also during this moment that Beyoncé says the word “Bigger,” which is the first song we heard in the film, too. The layers! The connections! Ah!!

Black Is King is similar to Lemonade with the visual component. Did this have an impact on breaking down the music?

Yeah, I would say we actually spend more time dissecting the visuals in this series than the music. It’s really brilliant the way the music and visuals interact to tell the story. That’s what we tried to focus on most: how Beyoncé and her team were really creating a new storytelling medium where we see this unique interaction between not only the music and visuals, but also the ensembles, dances, set pieces, and colors. Everything contributes to the storytelling and theme. It’s really spectacular.

Stream the Dissect special series Black Is King below.

Conoce un Nuevo Lado de Mia Astral en el Podcast Original de Spotify, 99%

January 22, 2021

María Pineda, también conocida como Mia Astral por sus millones de seguidores en redes sociales, es astróloga, cabalista y life coach. Su visión práctica e integral del crecimiento personal la ha convertido en un referente y una voz femenina influyente para América Latina. Ahora, María muestra un nuevo lado de sí misma en el podcast original de Spotify: 99% con Mia Astral.

El podcast permitirá a los fans conocer a María de forma íntima. En el show comparte sus reflexiones más personales y muestra cómo conectarse con tu Yo interior.

¿Alguna vez te has preguntado por qué aceptas hacer algo que realmente no quieres hacer? O tal vez te has sentido inseguro ante la adversidad. María te invita a ahondar en estas preguntas y te enseña a reflexionar para que puedas dar un salto de conciencia, dejar atrás los viejos condicionamientos y conectar con tu potencial personal.

For the Record se sentó con María para discutir lo que los oyentes pueden descubrir en su nuevo show.

¿De dónde viene el título del podcast del 99%?

El 99% es de donde emana toda la energía que vemos manifestada en el 1%, que es solo la punta del iceberg. Se siente real porque es tangible, pero es pesado y está cargado de conductas y condicionamientos aprendidos. Este es un podcast de reflexiones claras, concisas y al punto de temas que parecen clichés o que escuchamos todo el tiempo, pero de una manera más profunda. Y creo que se trata mucho de mirar hacia adentro para dejar de mirar hacia afuera.

Tus seguidores te conocen mejor como astróloga. ¿Por qué decidiste presentarte ahora de una manera diferente?

Más que un astróloga, soy un ser humano. Todo lo demás son títulos, fases que uno tiene y formas en que uno ha aprendido a ayudar a otros. Si no cometiera errores o no sintiera tanto como lo hago, nunca habría estudiado ninguna de estas cosas y no sabría cómo ayudar a otros a encontrar su propio camino.

En mis clases y conferencias siempre hablo de mis experiencias y de lo que he aprendido de la astrología. Lo que pasó con “99%” fue que comencé a compartir, públicamente, reflexiones que también eran un poco más cortas y al grano, sin referirme a las alineaciones de los astros.

¿Qué pueden encontrar tus seguidores en este podcast?

Creo que en el mundo de hoy nos enfrentamos a una mentalidad de “ver para creer”. Todo lo que nos ha enseñado que lo que ves es lo que existe, lo que ves es lo que hay, es la mayor limitación del ser humano, que no sabe utilizar su gran potencial para crear. Y, con estos episodios, mi objetivo es que entiendas un poco más sobre cómo funciona el potencial humano.

2020 fue un año complicado. ¿Qué te dejó como aprendizaje?

Me parece que la pandemia del COVID-19 nos obligó a mirar hacia adentro. Personalmente, me obligó a lidiar con muchas cosas con las que no había lidiado durante años; es como la cita con el dentista que pospones durante meses. Y me ocupé de todo durante esos 12 meses, y me parece que ha sido uno de los mejores años de mi vida. Entiendo que ha sido un año muy difícil para muchas personas, pero para mí fue un año para cerrar muchas cosas que estaban pendientes y estoy muy satisfecha con eso.

Tanto como astróloga como personalmente, ¿qué crees que podemos esperar a partir de 2021?

No me parece que nadie pueda predecir exactamente cómo tomará el curso una alineación de las estrellas. Entonces, de esa manera, la única “predicción” que se puede hacer es que 2021 es un año marcado por el caos. Pero un desorden que nos lleva a ordenar posteriormente las piezas de forma más consciente. Entonces lo que necesitamos es, en lugar de prepararnos para algo que se avecina, prepararnos bien internamente, conocernos mejor y no dudar de nosotros.

¿Listo para aprender más? Escucha el podcast, 99% con Mia Astral, a continuación.

Spotify’s ‘Morning Coffee’ Franchise: A Daily Original News Podcast Brewed Especially for Latin America

January 19, 2021

Those who like to start their day with news podcasts look for intriguing and accurate stories served up by established journalists. So two years ago, Spotify started partnering with some of the most respected news outlets in Latin America to create country-specific news podcasts. Since then, our Morning Coffee podcasts have grown into a franchise that serves four different podcasts in four different countries—with listeners throughout the region streaming daily, perhaps with a hot cup of coffee in hand.

We started Café da Manhã in conjunction with Folha de S.Paulo in Brazil in January 2019. We followed with El Primer Café, first with La Nacion in Argentina (March 2019) and then with El Tiempo in Colombia (July 2019). In October 2020, we added El Café de la Mañana with REFORMA in Mexico to the franchise. As of January 11, these Spotify Original daily news podcasts combined have racked up millions of listeners and 32 million streams across Latin America. They’re streamed in over 20 countries globally—not only the four where they originated.

In celebration of our recent launch of El Café de la Mañana in Mexico and the two-year anniversary of the first Café, we sat down with Spotify’s Head of Studios, Latam & US LatinX Javier Piñol to hear how the idea for the franchise came to be and what it has become.

What’s the main idea behind the Café franchise?

We noticed a blank space in the Latin American market when it came to daily (Monday through Friday) news shows. So we seized on the opportunity of creating a daily news podcast hosted by the most respected voices. We believed we could do this in a unique way by partnering with the most respected news outlets in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia and by showcasing the voices of young journalists who could help us connect with younger audiences.

What is consistent among each of the four shows? What’s unique?

For starters, each of the shows has been among the top ten most-streamed podcasts in each of their respective markets at some point. There are two hosts, a young man and woman, at the same level, from the news outlet with enjoyable banter and an eye—and ear—for interviewing and telling stories. They each showcase the news you need to know to start your day. Individually, each show caters to its listeners. For example, El Primer Café in Colombia skews longer, with episodes lasting 40 to 60 minutes, while El Café de la Mañana episodes are often less than 20 minutes long. Some focus on one theme or topic, while others are more of a news roundup. Each podcast is recorded at the media outlet’s newsroom, which allows for unparalleled access to expert voices on each news subject.

How has the franchise made its mark in Latin America?

These shows—and therefore Spotify—have become a reference in the podcast sphere when it comes to news and ways of talking about the most important stories of the day. In creating these successful shows, we’ve also brought huge developments to the podcast industry in the region and incentivized podcast production from large media companies in a formerly nascent industry. Ultimately, the series has introduced new, young listeners to podcasting and invited them to create a podcast listening habit.

What are the benefits of having a news podcast franchise?

Thanks to feedback from the news outlets we’re partnering with, we’ve gotten great feedback regarding the show and have been able to build up a network of correspondents who can be tapped for further podcast ideas. With these individual market podcasts off the ground, we also now have the possibility of exploring investigative reporting stories that span the region, not only one country.

Why is it important to have news shows like these? Why do you think the franchise has become so popular?

The Café series became popular because there weren’t similar news shows with the credibility and rigor that the news outlets bring. But the format is what kept people coming back day after day. The format is designed for people’s current lifestyles. Users can listen as they start their day and know they’ll be prepared to really talk about what’s going on in the world that day. They want rigour; they want to start out learning and then want to continue to have access to news wherever, whenever, on demand.

What’s next for this franchise, or for podcasts in Latin America across the board?

We’ve started to share feedback and processes between the shows in order to bring our innovation between territories. For example, we are now implementing things that have worked well in the Brazilian and Mexican shows in the Colombian and Argentine ones. We also foresee that we will have more spin-off shows that could be specialized on specific themes, such as the ones we have already seen in Brazil, like Plantão Coronavirus during the pandemic and Eleição na Chapa for the last Brazilian presidential election in 2018. We’re excited to be able to bring so many new types of shows to so many listeners.

Fausto, Podcast de Crímenes Reales Original de Spotify, Regresa en una Segunda Temporada con un Caso Escalofriante

November 13, 2020

En octubre del 2019, Spotify estrenó el primer podcast original de crímenes reales en Latinoamérica: Fausto, con un éxito rotundo. Ahora, con la segunda temporada, llega otro caso real para desvelar: la historia de un asesinato frío, diestro y organizado.

En noviembre de 2004, la señora Elena desapareció de su casa en la Ciudad de México. Solo dos personas estuvieron con ella: su hija y su primo. Y versiones contradictorias sobre la presencia de un misterioso hombre abandonando la escena son sólo el principio de una sinuosa investigación. Desde la noticia del crimen hasta la cronología de los hechos es revelada, la segunda temporada de Fausto mantendrá a los oyentes en el borde de la silla.

Tal como sucedió con la primera temporada, el equipo de Spotify Studios recreó la historia con base en una detallada investigación, el acopio de los documentos del juicio y las declaraciones de los responsables del caso: fiscales, policías, peritos y testigos del proceso penal.

A diferencia de la primera temporada, que construyó la historia con base en expedientes judiciales, esta entrega se fortalece con el testimonio de personas muy cercanas al asesino. La inconfundible voz del actor Damián Alcázar y el estilo narrativo del guión, hacen de Fausto un podcast imprescindible. Incluso los más fanáticos del género de crímenes reales se sorprenderán con el desenlace.

“Narrar la realidad es la cosa más dura, pero Fausto nos propone una manera disfrutable de escuchar estas atrocidades, la ficción nos lo permite.”, dice Alcázar “Y es ahí donde yo me engancho con las historias que tocan la sensibilidad creativa de las personas”, comparte Damián Alcazar.

“La potencia que tiene la narrativa de hechos reales captura la imaginación, poniendo al oyente en esas circunstancias y adentrándose en la complicación de los seres humanos siempre es atractivo”, añade. “Y el audio es un medio muy poderoso para contar esas historias”.

“Estamos orgullosos de presentar una nueva temporada de Fausto, la serie de crímenes reales más escuchada de Latinoamérica y que el pasado año se convirtió en un referente del género y del formato podcast, gracias al trabajo de Damián Alcázar como narrador”, dice Javier Piñol, Head de Spotify Studios para Latinoamérica.

¿Estás listo para una aventura? Escucha la nueva temporada de Fausto aquí.

German LGBTTIQ* Podcasters Make Their Voices Heard Through SoundUp 2020

October 23, 2020

Every year, Spotify’s SoundUp program helps aspiring podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds gain the expertise they need to create their own podcast. The only criteria? A good idea and a big dream. This year in Germany, 20 aspiring LGBTTIQ* podcasters were chosen out of 300 applicants to take part. Those selected got a chance to start their podcasting journey through the seven-week virtual program, honing their skills in storytelling, designing a podcast, editing audio, and learning the business of the medium.

By the end of the program, three of the participants, Fabio, Taiina aka Maria Moschus, and Tai were declared the winners. Their podcasts consist of topics such as “tracing and connecting your identity as a queer Polish-German person,” “personal stories of drag artists around the world,” and “safe spaces for marginalized groups in nerd culture.” Over the next six months, they will each have regular check-ins as part of a mentorship program, and will eventually have the opportunity to pitch their format as a Spotify Original podcast.

Check out what each winner had to say:

Fabio: “I was able to learn a lot not only from the numerous experts in sound, technology, language and concept development, but also from the 20 absolutely horizon-expanding participants that Spotify brought together. For this experience a huge thank you to all of you—you have made the year 2020 a lot sweeter for me!”

Taiina aka Maria Moschus: “I am super happy to finally share these exciting stories with the world! There is still a lot of work ahead of me, but I am really looking forward to the day of release. Who knows, maybe we will celebrate it with a drag show!”

Tai: “My podcast idea was born shortly before the deadline out of frustration at the spaces I move around in. It’s incredible that I’ve gotten so much good feedback since my first application interview—which made me very proud again at the end of the pitch. This gives me confirmation as a person, because I put everything into my podcast idea that makes me special. Especially as a trans* person, working only with the voice makes me vulnerable.”

Three participants from SoundUp 2019 who already have their own podcasts on Spotify were also involved in the 2020 program, serving as mentors and sharing practical tips on creating a successful podcast. We asked them a little bit about what’s changed from SoundUp 2019 to now.

Madita

Podcast: Gay Mom Talking

“By now I have become a lasting part of the queer podcast world! Having produced 25 episodes made me get used to some kind of relaxed podcast routine and I am grateful for many loyal listeners. However, some interviews still make me a little nervous, but I usually feel very comfortable in my role of a podcast host which I have been for more than a year now.

In the last year I have learned a lot—both about podcasting and myself. My podcast project has even helped me to grow a bit personally. I can now make many new private and professional contacts and I am proud of having achieved what I intended with my podcast.”

Fabian

Podcast: Somewhere Over The Hay Bale

“My political opinion on queer life in the countryside becomes more clear and profound. My podcast does not only stand for visibility, but also for the constant demand of creating safety and safe spaces for “coming outs” and queer life in rural areas. Many people helped me share my point of view and I am very grateful for that. I enjoy being an advocate for these matters, receiving messages from people all over Germany—I have the feeling that my podcast and the inherent mission develops into more than just an audio file, which feels great.”

Sung Un

Podcast: BIN ICH SÜßSAUER?

“Before SoundUp 2019, I knew nothing about podcast production and what potential there was in the podcast world. Also, I was not sure if anybody would be interested in stories of queer Asian people living in Germany, since we are seldom visible in the media. Through the mentoring and lectures provided by SoundUp, however, I learned not only technical skills necessary to start my own podcast, but also developed the confidence in me that life stories of queer Asians do matter and my podcast would connect people across boundaries. As I produced the first interview of Bin Ich Süßsauer?, I stubbornly tried to stick to what I learned from SoundUp, especially regarding the length of the episode. Very soon, however, I learned that life stories needed more time to be told and people were ready to take time to listen to them. Today, I have a growing number of audience and I am grateful that they share their enthusiasm with me via mails and messages.”

Spotify’s SoundUp is held in the U.S., UK, Germany, Australia, and now Sweden and Brazil. The program assists aspiring podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds in gaining the expertise they need to create their own podcasts. Read more about it here.

In the German market, LGBTTIQ* stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer; the asterisk represents unnamed identities.

The Challenges and Opportunities in Transforming the ‘Song Exploder’ Podcast Into a Netflix Show

October 13, 2020

In 2014, Hrishikesh “Hrishi” Hirway first combined music and podcasts with Song Exploder, a biweekly podcast that explores a popular song through an intimate discussion with the track’s creator. Artists ranging from The Postal Service to Dua Lipa have taken to the mic to explain their craft and process. In 2016, Hrishi started fiddling with another combination—turning the podcast into a TV show. He partnered with Morgan Neville, a film producer, director, and writer best known for some of his documentaries about musicians and songwriters, like 20 Feet From Stardom and Johnny Cash’s America. They embarked on the task of turning an audio show into a visual one, a project that would take two years—and plenty of hard questions.

This October, their hard work paid off when Song Exploder landed on Netflix. Each of the four episodes explores a singular track from creators Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, R.E.M., and Ty Dolla $ign in a new visual fashion that keeps the Song Exploder podcast at its core.

Join Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Gimlet’s Alex Blumberg as They Discuss ‘How to Save a Planet’ in Their New Podcast

August 20, 2020

Anyone can search “10 things I can do to help save the planet.” And according to marine biologist, policy expert, and Urban Ocean Lab founder Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, that’s a problem. “People feel satisfied when they’ve bought their reusable bag and water bottle and ride their bike everywhere.” It’s not enough, she says. To mitigate the effects of climate change, we need to take collective action by transforming electricity, transportation, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and land use, to name a few.

So where to begin? That’s the question that Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Gimlet cofounder Alex Blumberg seek to answer in their new podcast, How to Save a Planet.

Nine months ago, the pair started talking about producing a podcast on combating climate change with expert-led, actionable solutions. Then they recruited a knowledgeable team that includes journalists Kendra Peirre-Louis and Rachel Waldholz, Gimlet producers Caitlin Kenney and Anna Ladd, and sound engineer Emma Munger to help in creating a podcast that will continue to evolve as people take systematic action on climate change

In creating the podcast, the team aimed to engage listeners, give them concrete, large steps to take part in during every show, and tell the stories of people around the world already mobilizing around climate change. So in addition to interviews with academic leaders like Kate Marvel and youth activists like Varshini Prakesh, Alex and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson will also talk to individuals like farmers and fishermen who’ve started to make changes after decades of not thinking about sustainability. And what they’ve found? It’s working for them—and the climate.

For the Record sat down with the cohosts to get the inside scoop on How to Save a Planet.

A lot of people feel that the issue of climate change is really out of our control. How do you think people can start to take the power back into their own hands when it comes to addressing the issue?

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: I think we need more journalism focused on solutions, because we’re finally at the point where we have the journalistic expertise and the media support for talking about climate science and how climate change is already impacting people. But we don’t have nearly enough media about what we should do about all the solutions that are already at hand and how people can be part of larger systematic change, instead of just being stressed out about their individual carbon footprint all the time.

Alex Blumberg: What we want to do is increase the range of options, because people are all different and you can probably engage in a way that leverages your particular skills and personality that isn’t just like a sort of one-size-fits-all solution. So hopefully, this podcast can provide more ways for people to plug into a more effective solution because it’ll be something that appeals to them particularly.

What have you learned about climate change in this process that you were not expecting? Anything that really blew your mind?

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: One of the things that’s really fascinating is how many people are working on climate solutions without ever talking about climate, even if it’s their motivation, because they just don’t want to complicate things or make them “political.” Whether that’s on how we manage the chemicals in air conditioners that are extremely potent greenhouse gases or how we transition agriculture or ramp up wind energy. There are often financial reasons for doing the right thing in terms of climate now, especially with how the technologies and the markets have evolved.

Alex Blumberg: The reason that people are actually taking action is because it’s usually better for them on a straight-ahead “what’s in it for me” calculation. And that’s what’s been sort of very surprising and very hopeful. Like, people who are doing regenerative farming are more profitable than when they weren’t doing it. There’s no downside. What’s been shocking to me is the more we talk to these folks, the more we realize there is literally no reason we shouldn’t make these changes, because they’re actually all-around better. I think people know that, but telling that story is really important.

How is making this podcast different from the podcasts you’ve made in the past?

Alex Blumberg: The aim is a little bit different. The aim of every other podcast that I’ve worked on is to share a story, share experience, create understanding, but not to like galvanize action. That’s new. I think we all want this podcast to be part of a solution itself.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: If part of our goal is to help people be part of real systems-level change, as opposed to stressing out about whether they’re allowed to get on an airplane or eat a hamburger, then we need to actually point people towards things they can be part of. One of my hopes is certainly that in one of these episodes, each of our listeners will find a place where they feel like they fit in, where they have something they can contribute. Not everyone wants to go to utility board meetings or start farming seaweed, but hopefully some people will raise a ruckus for their local utility boards to transition to renewables or rethink their farming practices.

Alex has said that he’s a big believer in the power of podcasts. What do you each think is the power of this podcast?

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: I think there’s a very simple power, which is to help people not feel so alone, right? This podcast can help nurture a community of listeners that feel like we’re all in it together and perhaps feel informed and motivated enough to deepen their involvement in climate solutions, to understand where they can actually plug in and then charge ahead with it, and hopefully report back to us and let us know how it’s going, because we’re really excited for those stories, too.

Alex Blumberg: In the moment that we’re in right now with climate, a lot of people are very terrified. Justifiably, it’s a scary moment, but people don’t have anything to do with that terror, and they’re sort of sitting with it alone. And so a lot of people are like, “I believe you. I believe you, it’s bad. I just don’t know what to do.” We’re hoping that our podcast can be a place for people who feel that way to not be alone with that feeling and actually turn that feeling into action, which will make it feel less helpless and more positive.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: Alex, does it feel like the stakes are higher on this one?

Alex Blumberg: It does. Yeah, it does.

Tune into the first episode of How to Save a Planet now. Plus, preorder All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, coedited by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and featuring many of the podcast’s guests.

Tanya Hennessy Speaks Up in ‘I Can’t Stop,’ a New Spotify Original Podcast

August 18, 2020

Tanya Hennessy isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind—and she’s built a massive following doing just that. You might recognize her from online videos where she shares her funny, real, and relatable takes. Now the Australian comedian, author, radio presenter, and social media sensation is bringing her often “hearted” opinions to the podcasting world in her new show, I Can’t Stop.

The Spotify Australia and New Zealand Studios Original podcast gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the realities behind social media, television, and radio. Tanya will also take on a variety of other topics, like those random thoughts that keep you up at night and questions you never thought to ask yourself. True to her style, the unofficial “queen of relatable” shares it all with the heart and vulnerability of a 30-something who’s just trying to understand the world around her. Joining her each week will be comedian Steph Tisdell, who will be asking questions on behalf of listeners.

Ready to be even more excited? Hear from Tanya herself as she introduces the podcast, explains what listeners can look forward to, and opens up about the importance of taking risks—while never losing her candor or sense of humor.

Stream the first episode of I Can’t Stop now, and stay tuned for new episodes each week.