Tag: podcasts

Mental Health Matters: Embrace Self-Care With These Audiobook and Podcast Listens

May 16, 2024

May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time to recognize those living with mental health concerns and reduce the stigma many experience. Mental health struggles impact everyone to some degree, and methods of self-care can vary. To that end, here are some recommendations from Spotify’s editors of audiobooks and podcasts focused on mental health, well-being, and self-care:

Audiobooks:

The Mountain is You

Brianna Wiest

Narrated by Stacey Glemboski

For centuries, the mountain has been used as a metaphor for the big challenges humans face, especially those that seem impossible to overcome. To scale our own personal mountains, we must do the deep internal work of excavating trauma, building resilience, and adjusting how we show up for the climb. In the end, it is not the mountain we master, but ourselves.

In The Mountain is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery, Brianna Wiest explores the reasons people often resist efforts to evolve and explains why extracting crucial insights from our most damaging habits can help us build emotional intelligence, better understand our brains and bodies, and release past experiences at a cellular level. Wiest’s book walks through the ways in which learning to act as our highest-potential future selves can help us step out of our own way. 

Permission to Come Home

Jenny Wang

Narrated by Jenny Wang

As Asian Americans investigate the personal and societal effects of longstanding cultural narratives suggesting they take up as little space as possible, Permission to Come Home takes readers on an empowering journey of Asian Americans’ reclaiming liberty over their mental health. More than 18 million people of Asian descent live in the United States today; however, they are the racial group least likely to seek out mental health services.

Calling on her personal narrative as a Taiwanese American, her insights as a clinician, and evidence-based tools, Dr. Jenny T. Wang explores a range of life areas that call for attention, offering readers permission to question, feel, rage, say no, take up space, play, fail, and grieve. She suggests a return closer to home, a place of acceptance, belonging, healing, and freedom. For Asian Americans and the diaspora, this book is a necessary roadmap for the journey to wholeness. 

Check out the full Listens for the Mind playlist here:

The Art of Living

Thich Nhat Hanh

Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman

 Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh—one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders—explores an “art of living” in mindfulness that seeks to help readers answer some of life’s deepest questions and move toward experiencing greater happiness and freedom.

Combining the essence of the Buddha’s teachings and the author’s own poignant, timeless, and clarifying prose, The Art of Living explains seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships, and our interconnectedness with the world around us. Drawing on intimate examples from his own life, Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrates how these seven meditations can free us to live a happier, more peaceful, and more active life.

Decolonizing Wellness

Dalia Kinsey

Narrated by LaNecia Edmonds

A lack of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation in the fields of health and nutrition has a demonstrably negative impact on people with those identities. In Decolonizing Wellness, registered dietitian and nutritionist Dalia Kinsey explores how the body-positivity movement emphasizes cisgender, heteronormative, and Eurocentric standards of beauty and ignores the intersectional challenges of anti-Blackness, colorism, homophobia, transphobia, and generational trauma when it comes to wellness and self-care.

A roadmap to body acceptance and self-care for queer people of color in particular, the book encourages readers to embrace “food freedom”: viewing food as a source of pleasure instead of shame. It’s filled with practical eating practices, journal prompts, affirmations, and mindfulness tools and is a guide to throwing out food rules in exchange for internal cues. Readers learn how to adopt a self-love-based approach to eating and make mealtime into a time for celebration and healing.

Check out the full Wellness Essentials playlist here:

Mindful Mr. Sloth

Katy Hudson

Narrated by Erin Ruth Walker

Sasha has one speed: fast. She loves to do lots of things all at once, as fast as possible. Mr. Sloth has one speed: slow. He loves to do things one at a time at a nice, easy pace. Can Mr. Sloth’s mindful ways teach Sasha to slow down and enjoy life? Bestselling author Katy Hudson gently weaves a mindfulness theme into this unlikely friendship tale between an energetic girl and a sloth, encouraging children to stop, breathe, and be present in every moment.

Hattie Harmony: Opening Night

Robbie Arnett, Elizabeth Olsen

Narrated by Robbie Arnett, Elizabeth Olsen

In this sequel to the number-one New York Times bestselling Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective, Hattie shares new tools for managing anxiety, just in time for opening night of the school play. That night, there are plenty of nerves to go around! It’s a good thing Hattie Harmony is ready to help her friends soothe their worries with everything in her trusted tool belt. Will Hattie be able to settle the preshow jitters before curtain call? The authors—acclaimed actress Elizabeth Olsen and esteemed musician and writer Robbie Arnett—narrate this relatable tale that introduces the youngest reader to the importance of self-care.

Check out the full Kids’ Mental Health playlist here:

Podcasts:

The Liz Moody Podcast

Hosted by bestselling author and longtime journalist Liz Moody, this research-backed wellness podcast is all about helping you live your healthiest, happiest life. Each week, Liz sits down with some of the world’s best functional doctors, researchers, authors, journalists, and various other leaders in their fields to tackle the hacks, tips, and tricks that make a healthier life easier. Topics include what to eat to fight disease, how to take control of your finances, tips for fighting anxiety and depression, productivity and career advice, advice for making friends as an adult, the best skincare routines, healthy cooking secrets, and so much more. 

Oversharing

Relationship enthusiast Jordana Abraham teams up with her sister, licensed clinical therapist Dr. Naomi Bernstein, to answer your questions and try to get to the bottom of the things that bother us most. Think of Jordana and Dr. Naomi as your BFF and your therapist sitting side by side at the brunch table trying to help you get through your problems. Each week they respond to listener emails and tackle difficult ethical questions.

 Balanced Black Girl

Les Alfred founded the Balanced Black Girl podcast and blog in 2018, dedicated to helping you feel your best. Tune in for approachable health, self-care, personal development, and well-being advice from the perspective of Black women in wellness. Balanced Black Girl extends a bridge for folks to easily connect with experts, gurus, and a mindful community. 

Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

When journalist Dan Harris had a panic attack on live national television, it led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. Harris went on to write the bestselling book 10% Happier, and on the same-titled podcast, he interviews eminent meditation teachers, top scientists, and even the occasional celebrity. He covers subjects that range from enlightenment and psychedelics to productivity and relationships to science-based techniques for addressing anxiety.

Raising Good Humans

Most parents have probably wished, at one time or another, that someone would whisper some realistic and trustworthy support into their ears. That’s just what Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist, parent educator, assistant clinical professor, and cofounder of both Mount Sinai Parenting Center and SeedlingsGroup, is here for. She’s a mom who’s trying to raise two good humans. In each episode, Dr. Pressman speaks with experts and parents to share the most effective approaches and tools and talk about the important bigger picture of raising good humans. 

 Real Pod

Victoria Garrick Browne, Forbes 30 Under 30 and TEDxTalk speaker, is known for her refreshing vulnerability and relatable candor. She hosts Real Pod, the podcast that dives into the heart-to-heart conversations we’re all craving. She has inspired millions to embrace their authentic selves and feel confident doing it. Are you ready to look at yourself, your relationships, and your life in a new way?

Check out the full Self-care podcasts section on Spotify here. 

Advertisers and Creators Come Together at Our First-Ever Spotify Sparks in London

May 2, 2024

With more than 600 million users around the world tuned in to Spotify, there’s no shortage of opportunity for brands and businesses to connect with their fans in creative ways on our platform.

Last year, we launched Spotify Sparks to help educate advertisers on why Spotify is the destination for reaching the most engaged audiences and leveraging culture-shaping content for impactful advertising campaigns. Following two successful summits in Brazil and India, we brought Spotify Sparks to the U.K. for the first-ever London edition. On May 1, Spotify executives, industry leaders, content creators, and advertisers gathered for a series of live discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions that explored the full power of the Spotify ecosystem.

During the event, Grace Kao, Spotify’s Global Head of Advertising Business Marketing, moderated a conversation with Alex Norström, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer, about the evolution of Spotify as a platform and the growth of our global advertising business.

We’re sharing highlights from Grace’s conversation with Alex, as well as Grace’s insights about the inaugural event, the latest ad experience innovations, the feel-good power of audio, and more.

Alex, what have been the most memorable moments of growth during your 13-year Spotify tenure?

Alex: For me, it’s been when we’ve had to bet the farm and commit surgery on ourselves a couple of times. Moments when you ask, Are we really going to do that? The first was when the world shifted from desktop to mobile—clearly evident now, not so much at the time. It paid off, we basically got a ton of growth, and in one month we grew more than the 12 months prior. Same with podcasts. We’re now in our second phase of podcasts, but a few years ago we had to start and establish our reach.

Has adding Audiobooks in Premium been another one of those moments?

Alex: I think so. The moment started last year, when we took a hard look at our proposition and saw there was so much consumer surplus. People spend hours and hours on our product. So, it was the right time to raise prices. This was new for us. But at the same time, we’re putting more value back in. An example being audiobooks, but also music videos and AI Playlist. We keep adding features to reinvest back proportionally.

Something that people don’t realize and we don’t talk about much is that our innovation is feature-led. We’ve been innovating in features—AI DJ, Spotify Connect, and daylist are good examples. Instead of leaning back and just letting the AI and the ML take care of how users interact with Spotify, we actively construct and innovate on features. Which I love.

And what advice can you share with these marketers at Spotify Sparks?

Alex: I’ll talk about marketing from our perspective. We saw a few years ago that as the cost of media increases, the price of advertising goes up. So whether you’re a global brand or a start-up, it’s more expensive to market. When things are expensive, they are riskier. So, you naturally become more risk-averse. 

We always try to look at things differently. So we said, If you have millions of users, you can tell compelling stories on the platform. You can talk to the users about their consumption on the platform and what’s relevant. And the hope is they then share with their friends on their networks.

That’s what Wrapped is. When you hit the spot, it’s amazing—it’s marketing and messaging that is very efficient. And we see great growth and retention.

Spotify and Substack Partner To Bring Even More Podcasts to Listeners

April 11, 2024

At Spotify, we always want to deliver more value for podcast creators and their fans. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new integration with Substack. Beginning today, Substack podcast creators globally can distribute their free and gated content to Spotify for the first time, and fans worldwide can listen to top Substack podcasts where they’re already listening to their favorite audio content. 

Substack joins a growing list of publishers and platforms offering subscriber-based content powered by Spotify Open Access, including Bankless, Dateline NBC, The Economist, Freakonomics Radio, Patreon, Supercast, Supporting Cast, The Wall Street Journal, and more. For podcast creators, the Spotify Open Access API brings an expanded opportunity to offer premium audio subscriptions to Spotify’s 602 million monthly active users.

“Spotify Open Access enables creators to grow their businesses while maintaining full control of their subscriber relationships. Our new integration with Substack empowers their creators to reach new and existing audiences where they listen most while giving Spotify listeners access to some of the world’s foremost content,” said Stephanie Shaer, Head of Partner Strategy and BD at Spotify.

With this new integration, premium podcast episodes from Substack shows like Rich Text, Split Zone Duo, and Culture Study are now available on Spotify for the first time. Emma Gray, cohost of Rich Text, a Substack podcast and newsletter about culture and entertainment, said, “We are truly so excited for our incredible community to be able to access the full breadth of our podcast offerings right on Spotify.”

“Just about everything I listen to, I listen to on Spotify,” said Alex Kirshner of Split Zone Duo, a college football podcast and newsletter on Substack. “I know I’m one of many. We’re very excited to be able to reach people on a ubiquitous platform and provide an ideal experience for our most important customers: our subscribers.”

Culture Study host Anne Helen Petersen shared, “I love feeling like we’re able to give supporters of the show a little (or a big!) treat with our subscriber content, which will now be even easier right on Spotify.”

With just a few clicks, podcast creators on Substack can add Spotify distribution to their podcasts to grow their audiences while retaining full control over their subscriber bases, their content, and their revenue. Once a creator enables distribution to Spotify from Substack, listeners can link their Substack and Spotify accounts or become subscribers through Substack to unlock access. 

Whether through Substack or any of our integrated membership platforms, if you subscribe to a podcaster’s paid show, we encourage you to connect your accounts to enjoy your favorite paid shows on Spotify.

Siete podcasters colombianos que la van a romper en 2024

February 7, 2024

Spotify es el hogar de más de 5 millones de pódcast. Desde historias de vida impactantes hasta consejos para conquistar el mundo, el medio ofrece a los fans incontables horas de contenido en un formato que se adapta a cualquier momento de tu vida.

En Colombia, los oyentes se vuelcan en masa a los pódcast. La generación Z tiene una afinidad especial con ellos, de hecho, en Spotify, representan el 41% de los consumidores de videopodcasts en el país. Estos oyentes prefieren empezar el día con podcasts —la hora de mayor audiencia es de 6 a 8 de la mañana— que tratan sobre música, salud y bienestar, cultura y sociedad, y mucho más.

Para los oyentes de habla hispana en busca de nuevos programas, hemos reunido algunas de nuestras principales recomendaciones de pódcast para 2024. Estos creadores colombianos cubren una amplia gama de temas, desde chismes hasta historias inspiradoras, así que hay algo para todos:

Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín

En Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín, su alter ego, María José, entretiene a sus seguidores con chismes, preguntas picantes y anécdotas divertidas de sus invitados, que incluyen personalidades de redes sociales y artistas de Medellín. El show ha duplicado su número de oyentes desde sus primeros 30 días en la plataforma y es uno de los podcasts favoritos de los usuarios entre 18 y 24 años. 

Episodio más escuchado:

No Me Rindo By Silvy Araujo

Silvy Araujo es uno de los nombres más conocidos del mundo fitness en Colombia. Esta entrenadora certificada y empresaria nacida en Cartagena ha creado una comunidad con el lema “No me rindo”, y su frase insignia es también el título de su pódcast. En su programa, Silvy comparte historias que van más allá de la vida sana. Su audiencia en Spotify está formada principalmente por usuarios entre 18 y 29 años de países como Colombia, Estados Unidos y España. El pódcast de Silvy ha escalado posiciones, con 13 episodios que han hecho parte  del top 100 diario de Spotify en Colombia.

Episodio más escuchado:

Táchalo – El Podcast De Sajú

Las mentes detrás de Sajú, uno de los emprendimientos con compromiso ambiental más reconocidos del país, crearon su pódcast para compartir la filosofía “Táchalo”, que, según su descripción, “busca arriesgarse a lo diferente, incómodo o difícil para hacer todas esas cosas que tenemos escritas en las notas de nuestros celulares”.

Su pódcast comparte historias de personas que se han atrevido a llevar estas notas a la realidad y tachar cosas increíbles. El programa es popular entre oyentes de 18 a 24 años, y el pódcast ha crecido un 265% desde su primer mes en la plataforma en comparación con los últimos 30 días.

Episodio más escuchado:

Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral

Ana María Cardona, conocida en las redes sociales como La Rubia Inmoral, utiliza su pódcast para examinar la vida, especialmente desde la perspectiva de una mujer. 

En Spotify, la audiencia de su programa está formada principalmente por usuarios de 18 a 29 años de Colombia, Estados Unidos y España. Desde su debut en 2021, Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral  ha visto aumentar su audiencia en un 85% desde el primer mes en la plataforma, en comparación con el último. El programa también ha visto 41 de sus episodios entrar en la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify.

Episodio más escuchado: 

VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko

Tatiana Franko, periodista que ha trabajado en televisión durante más de 10 años, traslada sus habilidades como entrevistadora al formato pódcast con su programa VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko. “VOS PODÉS” se ha convertido en su frase característica y es el mensaje que quiere transmitir a los oyentes. 

En su videopodcast comparte las historias de personas que han pasado por situaciones muy difíciles. Desde su primer mes, el pódcast ha multiplicado por 50 el número de oyentes. También ha conseguido que 64 episodios lleguen a la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify.

Episodio más escuchado: 

Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi

En este pódcast, Daniela Abisambra deconstruye lo que significa vivir la vida según tus propios criterios. Sus episodios incluyen charlas con invitados de la industria del entretenimiento y las redes sociales. Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi ha posicionado cuatro episodios en la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify. La audiencia del show incluye principalmente jóvenes de 18 a 24 años en Colombia, México y Estados Unidos.

Episodio más escuchado:

Aleja y La Grúa Podcast

En su videopodcast Aleja y La Grúa comentan con los oyentes historias que les resultan familiares. Sus divertidos comentarios son un éxito entre los seguidores, y han contribuido a que 60 de sus episodios entren en la lista de los 100 más escuchados en Colombia en Spotify. 

El éxito del programa ha trascendido países y también es popular en Estados Unidos, España, Costa Rica, Australia y México. 

Episodio más escuchado:

 

Echa un vistazo a esta lista de reproducción de pódcast para ver un resumen de los programas que hemos destacado más arriba. Desde historias reveladoras hasta lágrimas de risa, la lista de reproducción incluye algo para todos los gustos. 

7 Colombian Podcasters Breaking Through in 2024

February 7, 2024

Spotify is home to more than 5 million podcasts. From impactful life stories to tips for conquering the world, the medium gives fans countless hours of content in a format that fits into any moment of their lives.

In Colombia, listeners are flocking to podcasts. In fact, Gen Z has a special affinity for them on Spotify, and the group makes up 41% of video-podcast consumers in the country. These listeners prefer to start their days with podcasts—a prime listening time is 6 to 8 a.m.—that cover music, health and wellness, culture and society, and much more.

For Spanish-language listeners on the hunt for new shows, we’ve rounded up some of our top podcast recommendations for 2024. These Colombian creators cover a wide range of topics—from humorous gossip to inspiring stories—so there’s something for everyone.

Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín

On Gordas De Envidia de Camilo Pulgarín, Camilo Pulgarín‘s alter ego, María José, entertains fans with gossip, spicy questions, and funny anecdotes from his guests, which include social media personalities and artists from Medellín. The show more than doubled its listener count in its first 30 days on the platform, and is a podcast favorite for users between the ages of 18 and 24. 

Most-listened-to episode:

No Me Rindo By Silvy Araujo

Silvy Araujo is one of the best-known names in fitness in Colombia. The Cartagena-born certified trainer and entrepreneur has created a community with the slogan “No Me Rindo” (I don’t give up), and her signature phrase is also the title of her podcast. On her show, Silvy shares stories that go beyond healthy living. Her Spotify audience is predominantly aged 18 to 29 and based in Colombia, the United States, and Spain. Silvy’s show has climbed the charts, with 13 episodes entering the daily top 100 in Colombia on Spotify. 

Most-listened-to episode:

Táchalo – El Podcast De Sajú

The minds behind Sajú, one of Colombia’s most recognized environmentally focused ventures, created their podcast to share the philosophy of “Táchalo,” which is to “risk what is different, uncomfortable, or difficult to do.” Their podcast shares stories of people who tackle their dreams. The show is popular among listeners aged 18 to 24, and the podcast has grown 265% since its first month on the platform.

Most-listened-to episode:

Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral

Ana María Cardona, known on social media as La Rubia Inmoral, uses her podcast to examine life, especially from a woman’s perspective. On Spotify, her show’s audience largely consists of users aged 18 to 29 in Colombia, the United States, and Spain. Since its 2021 debut, Los Platos Sucios De La Rubia Inmoral has seen its listenership increase 85% in its first 30 days on the platform, compared to the last month. The show has also seen 41 of its episodes enter Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia.

Most-listened-to episode:

VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko

Tatiana Franko, a seasoned journalist who has worked in television for more than 10 years, brings her interviewing skills to podcasting with her video podcast, VOS PODÉS de Tatiana Franko. “VOS PODÉS” (You Can) has become her signature phrase and is the message she hopes will resonate with listeners. She shares personal life stories of people who have gone through very challenging situations. The podcast has grown tremendously, resulting in 64 episodes’ reaching Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia. 

Most-listened-to episode:

Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi

On this podcast, Daniela Abisambra deconstructs what it means to live life by your own standards. Her episodes include chats with guests from the entertainment and social media industry. Vivir Sin Permiso Con Abi has had four episodes on Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia. The show’s audience is largely aged 18 to 24 and lives in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States.

Most-listened-to episode:

Aleja y La Grúa Podcast

On this video podcast, Aleja and La Grúa discuss relatable stories with their listeners. Their funny commentary is a hit with fans and has helped 60 of their episodes enter Spotify’s daily top 100 chart in Colombia. The show’s success has transcended borders and is popular in the United States, Spain, Costa Rica, Australia, and Mexico.

Most-listened-to episode:

 

Check out this podcast playlist for a round-up of shows we’ve highlighted above. From insightful stories to tears of laughter, the playlist includes something for everyone.

The DMA Means a Better Spotify for Artists, Creators, and You

January 24, 2024

What’s one of the top complaints about Spotify? It’s actually something that until now has been outside of our control: the ability to seamlessly subscribe to and buy things through Spotify on your iPhone. Consumers have asked us for years about the dead ends, lack of information, and endless hoops to jump through just to purchase a subscription or audiobook. But beginning March 7, if you live in the European Union, that will change. With the Digital Markets Act (DMA) rolling out, your Spotify is about to become a whole lot better, and that means more opportunities for developers and creators everywhere. 

For years, even in our own app, Apple had these rules where we couldn’t tell you about offers, how much something costs, or even where or how to buy it. We know, pretty nuts. The DMA means that we’ll finally be able to share details about deals, promotions, and better-value payment options in the EU. And an easier experience for you means good things for artists, authors, and creators looking to build their audiences of listeners, concert-goers, and audiobook-loving fans. What’s more? All of this can now come without the burden of a mandatory ~30% tax imposed by Apple, which is prohibited under the DMA. 

For Spotify, this unleashes huge opportunities, so here’s what you can expect us to roll out starting in March:

Direct communications in the Spotify app about subscription offerings, upgrades, product prices, deals, and promotions

We’ll soon be able to give you information in the Spotify app about prices for things like Premium subscriptions and audiobooks.

And we will be able to communicate clearly with you in the Spotify app about new products for sale, promotional campaigns, superfan clubs, and upcoming events, including when items like audiobooks are going on sale.

Seamless and secure in-app payment 

Soon we expect that if you want to buy a Premium subscription or an audiobook, or are looking to seamlessly upgrade from Individual to a Duo or Family plan to save money, you will be able to do so with just a couple of easy clicks.

Right now you can’t upgrade from Free to Premium in the app, and we’re not even allowed to tell you about how much our various subscriptions cost, how you can save money, or where to purchase them. That doesn’t make sense. For everyone living in the EU, this is about to change.

Purchasing an audiobook directly

You will have choices. In the growing list of markets where we offer audiobooks, for the first time you will be able to see the price of an audiobook when browsing, easily buy it, and quickly start listening. 

Downloading other Spotify apps onto your iPhone

Thanks to the DMA we’re looking forward to a future of superfan clubs, alternative app stores, and giving creators the ability to safely download Spotify for Artists or Spotify for Podcasters directly from our site—and that’s just the start. 

The fight continues

It should be this easy for every single Spotify customer everywhere. But if you live outside certain markets, you will continue to encounter frustrating roadblocks because of Apple’s ridiculous rules.

That’s why developers everywhere are continuing to ask other governments to pass their own laws like the DMA. Like Spotify, they want to provide the best user experience for their customers. We’ll keep fighting because freedom from gatekeepers means more choice for consumers and positive impact for artists, authors, creators and developers everywhere. 

 

Author Min Jin Lee Reveals the Unique Quality That Make Audiobooks So Powerful

November 9, 2023

Author Min Jin Lee

As one of the preeminent storytellers of our era, author Min Jin Lee has captivated fans with her international best-sellers, Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires, which provide a glimpse into the Korean and Korean American experience. 

A one-time lawyer, Min turned her attention to writing early in her career, and success followed. Named a National Book Award finalist in 2017, the writer now splits her time between teaching at the college level and working on her third novel.  

On Spotify, listeners are flocking to the audiobook versions of Min Jin’s stories, which add an extra dimension to the already rich worlds contained within her tales. Hits the Spot and For the Record recently sat down with Min to learn more about her journey as a writer, why she reads a chapter of the Bible every day, and why people should listen to books. 

What’s your earliest memory of stories’ being read aloud to you, audiobooks or otherwise?

Going to the library as a kid and sitting with people in reading circles. I thought that was so cool because I came to America when I was seven. The library had a volunteer who would read, and I would sit down on the carpet and listen. It was so nurturing.

Do you recall the books?

Definitely the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. Ramona Quimby always got in trouble. I love her.

When did you first know you’d be a writer?

I didn’t know until after I was a lawyer. I think I was 25. I didn’t think there was a career in it. It just seemed so irresponsible to want to be a writer, and it actually kind of is. I tell my students that they’re going to have to figure out another way to get health insurance because it’s really tough.

Take us through your creative process.

I like walking. Also, if I’m close to finishing something, I try to leave a part of it undone when I go to sleep. That way, when I start again the next day, it’s not so scary. It’s a trick I picked up from Ernest Hemingway.

And then I do this weird thing that I learned from Willa Cather, which is to read a chapter of the Bible. I heard about that and was like, “If it works for her, I’ll try it.” Because I was reading the newspapers every day and that wasn’t working. 

So now I read a chapter of the Bible. It’s often a very difficult text, which means you have to focus. And you may agree or disagree with the things that you read, or you find parts of it beautiful and parts of it troubling. So I now understand why Willa Cather did it. I can’t not do it anymore. 

Is there one element that’s uniquely you?  

Well, I’m a woman who had a child, so this is kind of me teasing, but I’ve met men who say things like, “I go to the office and I just write.” And I’m thinking, “That’s nice. You have an office.” Meanwhile, if my dishwasher broke, it was me who was fixing it or something. So I write whenever and wherever I can, which has made me very flexible.

Why is audio storytelling so powerful?

I think audio storytelling is really powerful because all of us are really lonely. And to have that external voice that’s calm, and because narrative is always an ordered sense of story, you know that you’re going to be okay. So I think that’s the reason why people should listen to things.

And I say that completely seriously, because as a college professor, I sometimes meet young people and I want to tell them, “Things are going to get better. I don’t know what voices you have in your head, but they’re not healthy right now.” So if you could just have an external voice that’s kind of calm and ordered, you might actually realize that in an hour, whatever you’re feeling will pass.

Are there any of your stories that are especially well-suited to an audio format?

I think when a lot of my essays are taught, they’re read. They’re very short, so they’ve never been produced in an audio format. But I’ve been able to read them out loud, and I know they’re read in a lot of classrooms, so I think that would be important.

Have you dabbled in narrating your own work? 

I haven’t done it professionally. Well, that’s not true. I do it all the time in meetings and they’re really, really short readings. And then when I do readings of very emotional sections of my books, I cry. Which I need to stop doing. But it’s really hard because I actually feel it. 

So people are always surprised when they find me funny because my books are so serious. But then at readings I’m very emotional. At one point my publisher thought I was having a nervous breakdown.

What books are you listening to or reading right now?

Well, I’m reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, read by Meryl Streep, and it is extraordinary. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s just a win-win experience.

Want to learn more about Min Jin and the story behind her stories? Check out her guest appearance on our new podcast, Hits The Spot.

8 New and Returning Podcasts Coming to Spotify This Fall

October 2, 2023

This fall, many fan-favorite Spotify Original and Licensed podcasts are back for more. From binge-worthy scripted series to intriguing personal interviews, there’s a full slate of shows that are already on Spotify ready for listeners. But wait—there’s more. We’re also debuting several new series sure to make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Follow along as we dive into new shows, seasons, and episodes perfect for your next drive, workout, or really anytime you’re ready to pop in those headphones.  

Here’s what’s back

Science Vs

In September, Science Vs kicked off a new season, giving fans new episodes that take on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. This season will cover even more puzzling and enticing topics and debunk the latest trends on social media to inform listeners on what science has to say. From breathing and breathwork, to UFOs to personality tests, there’s a lot it digs into. 

Call Her Daddy

Season 4 of Spotify-exclusive podcast Call Her Daddy premiered in mid-September, and in the first episode, host Alex Cooper travels to New Jersey to hang out with “it girl” Alix Earle. She introduces listeners to Alix’s life in a way they haven’t before seen or heard.

Case 63

For fans who love stories set in a mind-bending time-travel paradox, scripted audio series Case 63 is back for a second season. This installment takes listeners back to 2012, 10 years before the events of the first season, in a riveting second chapter to the saga. Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac reprise their roles, and new voices for the season include Zoë Winters and Arian Moayad. All 10 episodes are available to stream now. 

Dissect

The Spotify original podcast Dissect is back for its 11th season. Once again, host Cole Cuchna has picked a new album to analyze—song by song—and this time around he’s chosen Radiohead’s critically acclaimed 2007 album In Rainbows. In the season premiere, Cole provides a sweeping history of the band, from its origins in Oxford, England, to its historic run of landmark albums like The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A. 

Heavyweight

Heavyweight, a podcast that follows Jonathan Goldstein as he examines the past like a therapist with a time machine, is back for Season 8. This season features unconventional love stories: What we owe the people we love, and the extremes we’ll go to in love’s name. Premiering October 5, the first episode introduces us to Lenny, who was Jonathan’s childhood best friend, but they drifted apart as they grew into adulthood. Now, Lenny is dying and needs a friend. So Jonathan makes the call.

Must-listen new shows

Hits the Spot

Also on October 5, Spotify debuts a new weekly video podcast called Hits the Spot. Host Lea Palmieri talks news, stories, insights, and trends with top artists, creators, and tastemakers in a way that only Spotify can. 

Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert

Comedy fans should check out the new video podcast Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert. Rising stand-up comedian Ali brings her frank, lively style and unapologetic perspective to conversations with celebrities, experts, and other comedians about everything from pop culture to relationships to mental health. The inaugural season kicked off with​​ Jonathan Van Ness. The Queer Eye personality, stand-up, and author talks healthy versus unhealthy relationships, lesbian reincarnation, and #notallmen. Breaking Down with Ali Kolbert is produced in part by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, which powers our commitment to showcasing and uplifting creators from communities that have been historically underrepresented in the audio industry.

The Riddler: Secrets in the Dark

Earlier this year we announced the expansion of our DC universe with a new show: The Riddler: Secrets in the Dark. Comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj reprises his role as The Riddler, a character previously featured in the 2022 global hit Batman Unburied. The show returns to Gotham City and follows Batman (voiced by Colman Domingo) as he begrudgingly teams up with The Riddler to track down a masked vigilante on the loose in Gotham City. The unlikely duo must solve the mystery before they, too, become victims. The eight-episode show, created in partnership with Warner Bros. and DC, will premiere on October 10.

Looking for more? Check out other new podcast releases on Spotify.

Spotify’s AI Voice Translation Pilot Means Your Favorite Podcasters Might Be Heard in Your Native Language

September 25, 2023

Across cultures, countries, and communities, the stories we share bring us together. And more often than not, it is the voices of the speakers that lend as much weight to the stories as the narratives themselves. For more than 15 years, Spotify’s global platform has empowered creators of all walks to share their work with audiences around the world. At its core, this has been made possible through technology that’s leveraged the power of audio to overcome barriers to access, borders, and distance. But with recent advancements, we’ve been wondering: Are there more ways we can bridge the language gap so that these voices can be heard worldwide?

Today, we’re excited to pilot Voice Translation for podcasts, a groundbreaking feature powered by AI that translates podcasts into additional languages—all in the podcaster’s voice. 


This Spotify-developed tool leverages the latest innovations—one of which is OpenAI’s newly released voice generation technology—to match the original speaker’s style, making for a more authentic listening experience that sounds more personal and natural than traditional dubbing. A podcast episode originally recorded in English can now be available in other languages while keeping the speaker’s distinctive speech characteristics.  

As part of the pilot, we’ve worked closely with podcasters Dax Shepard, Monica Padman, Lex Fridman, Bill Simmons, and Steven Bartlett to generate AI-powered voice translations in other languages—including Spanish, French, and German—for a select number of catalog episodes and future episode releases. We’re also looking forward to including other shows, such as Dax Shepard’s eff won with DRS, The Rewatchables from The Ringer, and Trevor Noah’s new original podcast, which launches later this year.

“By matching the creator’s own voice, Voice Translation gives listeners around the world the power to discover and be inspired by new podcasters in a more authentic way than ever before,” says Ziad Sultan, VP of Personalization. “We believe that a thoughtful approach to AI can help build deeper connections between listeners and creators, a key component of Spotify’s mission to unlock the potential of human creativity.”

Voice-translated episodes from pilot creators will be available worldwide to Premium and Free users. We’re starting by releasing an initial bundle of translated episodes in Spanish, with French and German rolling out in the coming days and weeks:

  1. Lex Fridman Podcast – “Interview with Yuval Noah Harari”
  2. Armchair Expert – “Kristen Bell, by the grace of god, returns”
  3. The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett – “Interview with Dr. Mindy Pelz”

We’ll start rolling these out to users on the Now Playing View of supported episodes starting today. Can’t wait and want to hear the episodes right away? Head to the dedicated Voice Translations Hub, which we’ll update with even more voice-translated episodes over the coming weeks and months.

Today is just the beginning. We’re excited to empower creators to bring their storytelling to more listeners across the world. The creator and audience feedback from the pilot will provide important insights for future expansion, iterations, and innovations. As the number of people (100M+) regularly listening to podcasts on Spotify continues to grow, we’ll continue exploring new ways to overcome barriers to storytelling.

Stay tuned to Spotify for Podcasters as we aim to expand access for more creators and languages.

Toast Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary With Our Special Playlist Hub, Murals, Animated Shorts, and More

August 3, 2023

Fifty years ago, hip-hop was born in the Bronx. And today, it continues to influence music and culture on a global scale. To celebrate this massive milestone over the next month, we’re creating murals in some of hip-hop’s biggest capitals, giving fans a personalized hip-hop listening experience with our DJ, and releasing a series of animated shorts. But to kick off the festivities, we’re launching the Hip-Hop Turns 50 hub.

Highlighting the contributions of hip-hop’s greats, this special destination will live on-platform over the next month and house more than 40 global playlists that reflect the various eras, regions, and trends that have shaped the genre over the last half-century. This includes many of our top data-driven and editorially curated playlists, as well as dedicated shelves for the 50 most-streamed rappers and hip-hop albums on Spotify. 

“We wanted to acknowledge the anniversary in more than one way. Three months ago, we kicked off conversations on social media with our Top 50 Hip-Hop lists and are now showcasing how hip-hop’s and Spotify’s history intersects,” said Carl Chery, Creative Director, Head of Urban Music, Spotify. “Throughout August, we’re paying homage to some of the artists that paved the way in their own cities with murals and billboards, creating an animated shorts series narrated by artists, and built out a destination on platform that features a variety of playlists from around the world. Stay tuned for more—here’s to the next 50″

Fans can dive into the best hip-hop songs of each decade with special curations for the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, and ’10s, as well as the ’20s, where listeners can tune in to RapCaviar, our flagship hip-hop playlist, to find the best of hip-hop today. As part of the global hip-hop shelf—which features playlists like Spotify Italy’s Plus Ultra, Spotify India’s Rap 91, Spotify Korea’s KrOWN, Spotify U.K.’s Who We Be, the Spotify Middle East’s Arab Hip-Hop, and Spotify Philippines’ Kayle Hip-Hop—we’re showcasing the hottest, freshest, and most diverse hip-hop sounds being created around the world.

We’re also revisiting some of our editors’ top picks through our 50 years of hip-hop shelf, which features episodes from podcasts like the New York Times’s Popcast and Fab 5 Freddy’s 50 Years of Hip-Hop, as well as Spotify Originals like The RapCaviar Podcast, Dissect, The Ringer Music Show, and Nas and Miss Info’s The Bridge. 

You can check out more of For the Record’s hip-hop content from over the years by visiting our special Hip-Hop Turns 50 hub. 

Spotify celebrates in hip-hop’s biggest meccas

To honor some of hip-hop’s biggest game changers, Spotify is collaborating with illustrator and image-maker Raj Dhunna to design large-scale murals and billboards. These pieces will put a spotlight on artists in their respective hometowns and depict the ways rap’s most influential sounds spread from region to region. 

In New York, Spotify will unveil a mural acknowledging the history of drill as it grew from its origins in Chicago with legends like Chief Keef, and expanded into London and Brooklyn with artists like 808 Melo and Pop Smoke. A second mural will spotlight the impact of women in hip-hop and feature icons like Lil’ Kim and Cardi B. 

In Atlanta, Raj will create a mural that celebrates the evolution of trap music, which was pioneered by Atlanta’s own T.I. and cultivated into a global phenomenon by artists like New York’s Arcángel.

Raj’s designs will also appear on billboards in Miami and Los Angeles. The L.A. billboard will feature Dr. Dre and Mustard, two of the city’s musical titans, with a tagline that reads “Long live the West Coast sound. Hip-hop is everywhere.” The Miami billboard, meanwhile, will pay tribute to the provocative sounds of the region’s most influential women rap acts.

Spotify will also commemorate hip-hop’s growth in Mexico and pay homage to its current and foundational artists with a mural that features over 15 Mexican hip-hop artists, including Akwid, Cartel de Santa, Santa Fe Klan, and Gera Mx.

The party continues

In addition to the on-platform destinations and custom murals, our AI-powered DJ will provide expert hip-hop commentary all month long on Spotify, supplying aficionados with cultural context about musical legends and retracing how hip-hop has grown through history.

To close out the month, Spotify will debut editorially curated animated shorts that underscore hip-hop’s influence in over nine countries, featuring narrations from artists. 

Our celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary will let fans discover and connect with artists of the past, present, and future. But this is only the start. Stay tuned for updates throughout the month as we commemorate one of the most beloved genres in the world. 

Hit play on our flagship RapCaviar playlist and discover the artists who are making their mark in hip-hop’s history books. 

The Ringer Founder Bill Simmons Reveals the Secret Behind the Successful Brand Partnerships of ‘The Rewatchables’

June 16, 2023

Bill Simmons is a man who wears many hats at Spotify. In addition to being the founder and Managing Director of The Ringer—which includes a website and podcast network dedicated to sports and pop culture—he’s also Head of Podcast Innovation and Monetization at Spotify, where he’s leveraging his experience at The Ringer building a high-revenue business through innovation and strong partnerships and applying it across the rest of the company. On top of that, Bill also hosts multiple podcasts, including The Rewatchables.

Featuring a rotating cast of writers and editors each week, the show explores classic films that people will never forget—mostly because they can’t seem to stop watching them. As one of The Ringer’s most popular podcasts, The Rewatchables is a shining example of the podcast network’s creative use of integrated brand partnerships. 

Bill Simmons

This month, The Rewatchables is partnering with Disney to help promote the new film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In addition to giving the movie prime placement through custom cover art and the show’s pre-roll ad, as part of this month’s programming, The Ringer is also dropping a special Indiana Jones episode, which will feature branded segments promoting the new movie. 

Beyond working with The Ringer, Disney+ recently launched a new campaign with Spotify that drives awareness of Disney’s audio content in a delightful and immersive Spotify experience. Listeners across Germany, the U.K., Ireland, Italy, and Spain can now explore personalized in-app recommendations—as well as new genres and titles from the Disney+ soundtrack catalog—based on their listening habits. Plus, Spotify Free listeners receive audio, display, and video ads with a call to action to visit a branded in-app experience. Between these two brands, the connection runs deep.

For the Record sat down with Bill to dig deeper into the relationship between content and advertising, what makes a good advertising partnership, and how The Ringer makes these sponsorships sing.

We’ve heard you’re a big fan of the Indiana Jones franchise and are revisiting The Last Crusade in an upcoming Rewatchables episode. What excites you most about revisiting the franchise? 

Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first great modern action movie I ever saw. It changed everything. I even remember where I saw it—the Cleveland Circle theater in Brookline, MA! 

We waited and waited to do it on The Rewatchables for years because it’s one of the 10 most important movies of my lifetime. Indiana Jones is one of the best heroes ever, who fights the worst villains possible. And you’re talking about one of the biggest stars ever in Harrison Ford, who was working with two of the biggest behind-the-scenes creators ever in Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, soundtracked by one of the best composers ever in John Williams. 

So Indiana Jones lives forever after that. If it’s an Indiana Jones movie, I’m going. The difference between him and, say, Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt is that he always feels like a real guy with a little hero in him . . . not a hero pretending to be a real guy.

The Ringer is known for long-term deals with brand partners, like this month’s sponsorship with Disney. How do you approach these? What is the value in more integrated partnerships?

It may sound simple, but the most important thing is understanding what brands want to get out of the partnership. The brands that always succeed with us are the ones that tell us what their priorities are ahead of time.

One of The Ringer’s secret sauces is that we have multiple avenues to raise awareness for something—podcasts, the network itself, the website, our social handles, and our individual talent. But we also have a good creative team and we understand how to make things a little more special and unique. 

In 2018, State Farm was blowing out a campaign around the state of the NBA season, so we turned it into a special event. We did a two-day Previewpalooza with a bunch of live video talk content, pre-taped shows, and upward of a dozen podcast episodes. State Farm is still a valuable partner all these years later, and I think that week is a big reason why.

Brands don’t want to just fork over money; they want to feel like you elevated their product and put some thought into what they value.

Are there any films you’re still dying to cover?

We are closing in on 300 episodes—which just seems like a crazy-high number—but I have a surprisingly meaty master list of the best Rewatchable movies we haven’t covered yet, which includes classics like Almost Famous. Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, Road House, Anchorman, and most of the Marvel movies. 

There are so many times when I’ll get inspiration for an episode when I’m flipping channels, or I’m on an airplane, or I’m surfing around Netflix. It’s then that I realize, “Wait, I love this movie!” That happened with Casino Royale recently. So, I feel like we can get to 500 episodes pretty easily. From our first episode on the 20th anniversary of the noir film Heat to now, I’m so glad people still like listening to it because we love doing it.

Discover The Ringer’s impactful brand partnerships for yourself by streaming the latest episode of The Rewatchables.

Latin American Creators Show Off Their Creativity With Video Podcasts

June 7, 2023

Many podcast hosts are getting up close and personal with fans in a new way—with video. Video podcasts introduce an extra dimension of interactivity and closeness, allowing listeners to watch facial reactions or take notice of a host’s environment. Some creators are even excited about getting dressed up and showing off their fashion-forward “lewks.”

The shift toward video podcasts is occurring around the world, and in the Latin American market, specifically, a few fan favorites are bringing this new layer to their shows.

Mexican creator Roberta Woodworth, whose podcast LIBRE&LOCA reflects on intimate and personal topics like self-love and heartbreak, is one of those creators currently experimenting with video in her newest season. The show Escuela de Nada, which is made by three Venezuelan friends based in Mexico, is also embracing video as a new way to connect with listeners. And then there’s multifaceted Mexican creator Juanpa Zurita, who introduced video for Season 2 of his Spotify Original podcast, No Hagas Lo Fácil.

Meanwhile, some new podcasts are incorporating video from the get-go. The Brazilian Spotify Original podcast Carona Podpah, featuring Igor Cavalari (known informally as Igão) and Thiago Marques (known as Mítico) from the popular podcast Podpah, premieres on Spotify June 7 and will include video for each of its weekly episodes. The show follows the hosts as they interview guests inside a car, making video an essential part of the podcast.

We caught up with Libre & Loca host Roberta, No Hagas Lo Fácil host Juanpa, Escuela de Nada founder and cohost Chris Andrade, and Carona Podpah hosts Igor and Thiago to learn how video is changing their podcast game.

What excites you most about introducing video to your podcast?

Igor Cavalari and Thiago Marques: Podpah started as a video podcast and the public has always enjoyed that aspect of it a lot—we were the most-listened-to podcast on Spotify in Brazil in 2022 and the 24th globally. Video is fundamental to our show format because we have entertainment as a background for everything we produce—whether we talk about cooking, soccer, or music. When a platform as relevant as Spotify is interested in a partnership with us for a video podcast, it shows us and the market that the product still has a lot to be explored.

Roberta Woodworth: My podcast is very intimate, and I think video invites the listener to get closer, reflect, and empathize even more with these “intimate, universal” topics we cover in Libre & Loca.

Juanpa Zurita: It was something my community asked me for in every episode of last season. So it makes me very happy that we made it for the second season! Listening is nice, but nothing compares to seeing. I think the connection and the dynamic of the podcast is more intimate than before. And people are happy, which makes me very happy!

Chris Andrade: Escuela de Nada, being an improvised comedy podcast, draws on the power of interaction in its videos with its fans. Being able to react to jokes and see the response of the followers has been a change that has excited us a lot.

How has video influenced the way you approach each episode?

Igor and Thiago: Video gives us freedom to create more and more. There are challenges—Carona Podpah involves filming in a tight space as we take our guests inside the car and learn more about the songs that have marked their lives—but that doesn’t hinder us from trying new things.

Roberta: I’m very expressive, and being on camera reminds me that the whole world is going to see my face. That in itself makes everything more human, organic, and real. I am no longer just a voice that accompanies you. I am a person.

Juanpa: There was a drastic change to our set to give it the NHLF look and feel we wanted. We also had to reinvent the intros of the episodes, and I’m really proud of the result.

Chris: Video has led us to have a new type of continuity and closeness with our fans. By being able to see and hear us as hosts, we’re noticing that the engagement from fans is much higher.

How is video helping you connect with your fans?

Igor and Thiago: The main characteristic of a video podcast is that the audience can experience reactions. What we like about having the video feature is that our audience will be able to follow the podcast as if they were with us in the car seeing everything that happened. Video makes the program more dynamic and allows us to establish a greater connection—not only with our guests, but with those on the other side of the screen.

Roberta: It brings us much closer because people not only hear what I think and feel, but also see it. And I talk so much about emotions, so it’s very interesting how that connection becomes deeper.

Juanpa: There’s something very special about body language, and you can’t feel that if you can’t see it. I also want to thank our fans for all the love during Season 1 and for everyone’s insistence on us using video. Without them we wouldn’t have made it. 

Chris: Video has helped us further expand and disseminate our content to a social media platform where video is dominant. Each person has their own way of consuming content, and without a doubt, the video adds a lot to us and brings a lot of value to the new generations.