Spotlight: Tal Minear on audio fiction / 'The Pitch' leaves Spotify's Gimlet / 'Love+Radio' returns to public RSS

Plus, programmatic ads bad for podcasting?, Redditors on skipping first two minutes of podcasts, and event updates

Inside.com Part of   Network August 02, 2022

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SPOTLIGHT: TAL MINEAR ON AUDIO FICTION Tal Minear is a voice actor, sound designer, fiction podcast creator, and most recently, the writer of Podplane the newsletter. Having been called a "a creative force to be reckoned with," they're the creator of podcasts including "What Will Be Here?" and "Sidequesting."  I chatted with them on their newsletter, audio fiction, and being an independent creator.  Shreya Sharma (SS): Why did you start the Podplane newsletter? Tal Minear (TM): I started Podplane because I wanted to bring more attention to shows by trans, nonbinary, and non-cis creators. There's some amazing work being done by these folks (especially within audio fiction), and I don't think enough people know about it. Podplane combines my love of reviewing podcasts with writing about audio drama with yelling about how good people are. It's been so fulfilling to work on! People keep telling me they've found new shows from the newsletter, and it makes my day every time. Shreya: I have definitely discovered new and old shows from Podplane. The newsletter is one-of-its-kind and a joy to read.

SPOTLIGHT: TAL MINEAR ON AUDIO FICTION  Shreya Sharma (SS): What is the role that fiction can play in scaling podcasting to greater heights? Tal Minear (TM): Fiction podcasts can be so ambitious. They are constantly playing with what the medium can do and inventing new ways of storytelling, often (in the indie sphere at least) on tiny budgets. Podcasting as a whole can learn to step up their production game from fiction podcasts. Edit your audio, play with sound design, carefully craft a narrative — fiction or nonfiction! Don't be afraid to try new or experimental things.  SS: What's the one skill new independent fiction creators can benefit from learning? TM: MARKETING! The thing that the "big" shows have on us is that they have the people and the money to constantly get their shows out in front of new audiences. It's not enough to make a show and hit upload; you gotta tell people it exists! Create a website, make visual assets, send press releases, organize promo swaps, and apply for in-app features! It's another job in and of itself, but learning a little marketing can get your show a lot of places. SS: What are some challenges you've faced as a creator in the industry? What keeps you persevering? TM: The biggest challenge I face as a creator is fundraising. I love making full-cast, high-production-value podcasts with exciting sound design and original music. This means that what I make is not cheap and that I have to dedicate time I want to spend creating a show to instead running crowdfunding campaigns and maintaining a Patreon (and I suspect that many indie creators are in the same boat). It's absolutely exhausting. What keeps me persevering is making some really cool things and meeting some really cool people. I do this cause it's fun, not to make bank — but I think that if more indie creators were able to make a living wage doing this, the industry as a whole would have more really amazing projects. So podcast networks — bring in indie talent! They're gonna blow you away when they have an actual budget for their shows. Shreya: Thank you, Tal! Follow their adventures on Twitter and read their newsletter Podplane.

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"The Pitch" podcast is leaving Spotify's Gimlet to go independent. Host Josh Muccio purchased the show back from Spotify.  More: Muccio announced this on an episode of the show last week. He expressed his excitement on getting "to be an entrepreneur again." "The Pitch" takes listeners into the world of startups to share what makes or breaks investment pitches. The podcast first launched in 2015 and was acquired by Gimlet in 2017. When Gimlet was acquired by Spotify in 2019, the podcast came under the streaming app's umbrella.  The podcast has been on a break since Dec. 2020, owing to the hindrances the pandemic caused in "bringing entrepreneurs and investors together."

PODS ON THE BLOCK  "Chameleon: Scam Likely" is back for season four. Hosted by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, the podcast follows the investigation of a U.S. government team that goes on a hunt for the "shadowy multinational mob behind" scam callers that rob citizens.  "In Machines We Trust" is an ongoing podcast from MIT Technology Review. Host Jennifer Strong goes deep into what the involvement of artificial intelligence really means for "our most sensitive decisions."  Special mention: While "Love and Radio" is not a new podcast, it is returning from behind a paywall for seasons eight and nine. After being behind a paywall at Luminary, the subscription-based podcast platform, Nick van der Kolk's show is now available on public feeds. Oft-called an "essential podcast," the only way to experience this podcast is to listen to it. Shreya: If you can't tell, I am a huge fan. My current favorite episode is "Mr.Mop," if you'd like to start with that.                     Keep your ears open for:  "Missing Pages" will be a Podglomerate original. The eight-episode investigative series will open up the "secretive world of book publishing" to listeners on Aug. 15. Check out the trailer.   "The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon" is set to be an "audio destination" for all fans of the show. The podcast releases on Aug. 21. Shreya: One can only hope it offers some explanation on the original series' season eight.

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PODCAST EVENT UPDATES On Aug. 5, Dustlight Productions' founder and CEO is hosting a training session on podcast pitching.  On Oct. 5 in London, the Publisher Podcast Summit will be held. Tickets are now available.  On Oct. 22-23, the 4th Annual Afros & Audio Podcast Festival is being held.

QUICK HITS  2022 Capital Gains of $250K+? Unlock tax incentives and additional compounding potential. Learn How — Grab This No-Cost Investor Guide.* Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster wonders, "are programmatic ads bad for podcasting?" Spoiler alert: it's not a simple yes or no. Webster posits that what is holding programmatic from becoming popular with new podcasters are "assumptions, assertions, and otherwise unproven bits of received wisdom."  B.J. Novak's "love-hate letter to podcasts" is out in the form of the movie "Vengeance." You might know Novak as Ryan from "The Office" (U.S.). Acast's Q2 2022 results share that the podcast company reached 66,000 shows during the period, and margins going forward "will improve."  Vox Media is laying off nearly 40 employees from the sales, recruiting, and "certain" editorial teams. A memo from CEO Jim Bankoff cites "deteriorating economic conditions" as a reason for this.  Redditors are discussing how likely they are to "routinely skip the first two minutes of podcasts." From the comments, it seems that most listeners do this to avoid pre-roll ads and sponsorship calls.  Get your tasty caffeine without the sugar with Super Coffee's healthy alternative coffee drink with 0g sugar, 10g protein, and 200mg of caffeine.* *This is sponsored content.

Upcoming events at Inside: August 03 - AMA with Jason Fried (37Signals) (Register Here) August 17 - AMA with Atin Batra (27V) (Register Here) October 25 - Meet Our Fund 4, an Inside.com Summit (Register Here)

This newsletter was curated by podcast geek and marketer, Shreya. She loves storytelling in all forms but podcasts are her favourite. A resident of Vancouver, her favorite podcast genres are sci-fi, comedy, TTRPG, and a combination thereof. Follow her adventures on Twitter. Do you or anyone you know host an indie podcast? Hit reply to tell me about it. I might feature it on Pods On The Block!     Editor Aaron Crutchfield is based in the high desert of California. Over the last two decades, he has spent time writing and editing at various local newspapers and defense contractors in California. When he's not working, he can often be found looking at the latest memes with his kids or working on his 1962 Ford.

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