Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, host of 'The Last Resort' / Acast reports sales increase / Podtrac's new attribution tool

Plus, Night Vale creators launch 'Unlicensed,' Audio Drama Hub Podfest upcoming, and Veritone reports dip in Q3

Inside.com Part of   Network November 10, 2022

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, host of "The Last Resort" (Part 1) Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a musician, activist, and host of "The Last Resort." An Indigenous Mexican, Martinez has used his music and the power of sound to be a voice for his community. The latest in his endeavors is the podcast "The Last Resort." The podcast narrates the story of CALEXIT: the campaign for Californian independence.  I hear from Martinez on the power of audio in sharing a message, the why behind "The Last Resort," and why this story is about more than just the CALEXIT.   This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Shreya Sharma (SS): Why "The Last Resort" and why now?  Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (XM): I knew nothing about Secession or CALEXIT until the producers of the show hit me up. As we investigated and wove together this series, I became increasingly shocked at how this story connected so many of the most pressing issues of our time, from the climate crisis, to water, to political corruption and racial justice. This story shines light onto the madness of our current political moment in a very human way, presenting uncommonly paired perspectives and shining a light on crucial historical moments that have laid the foundation for the polarization and division our country is grappling with. Pair the fascinating story of these competing visions for the future with the incendiary political backdrop of this last year and the still unfolding political scandal at the heart of the CALEXIT movement, and you have a pretty wild ride of a podcast. Plus, my bro Mato Wayuhi absolutely SNAPPED on the soundtrack.  SS: What do you hope the listeners take away from this show?  XM: There's a shared understanding among many of us in this country that our futures deeply depend on a drastic shift from the way things are now. I have my own understanding and beliefs around what that change could look like, but ultimately, I hope this show can serve as a reminder of how deeply interconnected we are. Any future we build that truly liberates the masses must be anchored in a belief in our collective interdependence. Every issue brought up by the people trying to break California from the rest of the country underscores the dysfunction of not just our current political state, but of an entire political worldview that is founded upon a legacy of genocide, land theft, white supremacy, and individualism. Building a better world depends on us reckoning with the systems of injustice that are at the root of the problems we seek to overcome.

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, host of "The Last Resort" (Part 2) Shreya Sharma (SS): Who is "The Last Resort" for? Why is it essential that they hear this message?  Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (XM): I've honestly been surprised by the variety of people in my life who've gravitated to this show for many different reasons. Some love it because of the investigative journalism that keeps you on the edge of your seat, some are drawn to the political analysis and attention to California's Indigenous history and future, and some keep coming back to see the bizarre and surprising character arcs of the two founders of CALEXIT: 'What's up with their hidden conservative political backgrounds? Is Louis a Russian spy?' I think there is something here for anyone who loves the audio documentary medium and is looking for a fresh voice and story about our current political moment and the possibilities of the future we're headed toward.  SS: Your relationship with audio goes beyond podcasting. What, in your opinion and experience, is the power of audio in spreading a message? XM: My primary medium is music. I've always been in awe at the revolutionary potential artists hold to uplift and connect people with music. There's something so profound and beautiful about art being a window to the future that invites the masses to imagine an alternative world. I've probably spent around equal time on stage as a keynote speaker as I have a performer. And between lecturing at colleges, holding a bullhorn at a protest, speaking at the U.N. to a room of delegates, and performing my music to a sold-out crowd, I can tell you that art can convey the message in a profoundly more impactful way than anything I've seen.   Thank you, Xiuhtezcatl, so much for your well-thought responses and the work you do!

Acast reported a net sales growth of 21%, amounting to SEK 322.0M (~$30M) on its Q3 2022 earnings report. Audacy reported a drop of 23% QoQ in their podcast business.  More:  Acast reported that there were 88,000 podcasts on the platform at the end of Q3, with 1.3 billion (an increase of 48%) listens in the quarter.  Last quarter, Acast acquired Podchaser and signed an agreement with The New York Times to represent the sale of its audio ads in the U.K.  Audacy, on the other hand, reported a drop of 23% QoQ in podcasting revenue. The earnings call mentioned these results were influenced by the "departure of Crooked Media."  In the current quarter, Audacy shares that podcast listenership is growing, with Q3 downloads up by 29%.  On its Q3 earnings call, Veritone reported revenue of $37.2M, an increase of 64% YoY.

PODS ON THE BLOCK  "Unlicensed" is the new Audible show from "Welcome to Night Vale" creators Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink. The new audio fiction is an LA noir style podcast follows the story of Molly Hatch. Hatch answers an ad for an assistant to Lou Rosen, a PI without a license. Hatch and Rosen follow a trail of cases that uncovers a conspiracy that might involve the city's governor. "Crooked City: The Emerald Triangle" is the new second season of the podcast. Journalist and host Sam Anderson narrates the tale of the Emerald Triangle, "the legendary home of" marijuana growers, after one of his classmates, who was a part of the Triangle, ends up accused of murder.  "Overinvested" is an ongoing podcast hosted by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw and Morgan Leigh Davies. The two dive into everything pop culture, from films to comics, that they are overinvested in. Shreya: I am loving this show and personally recommend this episode on "The Rings of Power."   Special mention: "Blind Landing" did an episode on "The Improbable Comeback of Rebeca Andrade," the story of the gymnast and her comeback to the arena.  Keep your ears open for:  "LA Made" is an upcoming podcast from LAist Studios which will explore the stories of Californian innovators. The first season, "Blood, Sweat & Rockets" shares the story of the team at Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Laboratory or the "Suicide Squad," as it was known. Here's the trailer. The podcast releases Nov. 15.

PODCAST EVENT UPDATES Today, Nov. 10, the SoCal Podcast Meetup is happening in Sherman Oaks starting at 6 p.m. PT.  On Nov. 12, KCRW's Radio Race is happening. The contest invites applicants to create a non-fiction radio story of four minutes or less.  From Nov. 19 to 20, the Audio Drama Hub Podfest 2022 is happening. Tickets are on sale now.

QUICK HITS $250 for International Acct. Day? Demo Divvy by Nov. 10 so you can stop wasting time on expense reports and start wasting it at the beach.* Team Coco Radio is a new channel on SiriusXM produced by Conan O'Brien, featuring comedy content, including Team Coco podcasts.  Podtrac shared the top podcasts in the U.S. for October 2022. "The Daily" retained its top spot while "Dateline NBC" jumped to the second spot.  Speaking of Podtrac, it has launched a new attribution service that is now in beta.  Redditors are talking about "ads in podcasts about podcasts." Users share how they feel about these ads and if they've used these ads to discover new podcasts.  *This is sponsored content.

Upcoming events at Inside: November 29 - Learn about concrete 3D printed houses: how it works, market snapshot and investment opportunity. (Register Here) * January 31 - Growth Summit'23 (Register Here) *This is a sponsored listing.

This newsletter was curated by podcast geek and marketer, Shreya. She loves storytelling in all forms but podcasts are her favourite. Her favorite podcast genres are sci-fi, comedy, TTRPG, and a combination thereof. Previously a resident of Vancouver, she now lives in Dubai.  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 and 1972 Fords.

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