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As 1995 turned into 1996, things at the 3DO company weren't looking good. Despite seeing decent sales numbers of over a million units, this paled in comparison to new machines from SEGA and Sony.
This, coupled with a dwindling number of games, and many owners of the system jumping ship to the SEGA Saturn and Sony PlayStation, made it clear that the 3DO's dream of becoming an established console in the market just wasn't going to happen.
Big decisions were made that would affect the company for the remainder of its short life.
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In this week's Pod Chat, I chat with AJ Churchill, co-founder of Lunar.fm, the company behind the Apollo podcast app and the audio fiction sci-fi drama, Earth Eclipsed.
We talk about how audio production quality is changing with new technologies, as well as the innovations behind the Apollo app that are helping audio fiction podcasts be found, and how that can help other podcast app developers improve their own products.
The Power of Regular StereoWhile AJ's background is in soundtracks and high end audio composition, he's a huge component of regular stereo when it comes to podcast audio. As he explains, humans only have two ears and there's only so much they can process.
The Importance of Testing Audio on Different SourcesPodcasts are listened to on a multiple of devices. While we'd love to believe our listeners all wear great headphones and set aside time just to listen to our voice, the reality is very different. As AJ shared, it's key to listen to your episode on as many different sources as you can to highlight what can be improved, based on device.
Why Apollo Is Purely for Audio Fiction and DramaWith the Apollo podcast app, AJ and the team at Lunar have built a platform solely for audio fiction podcasters and listeners. Indeed, it's an even more niche approach because each podcast is hand curated by other audio fiction creators and listeners. This has ensured a high quality database that's also super easy to navigate, thanks to the intuitive UI of the app.
How Podcast Findability Drives ApolloAJ shares how an experience trying to find a podcast on Spotify, and the amount of non-relevant results that came back in search, spurred Lunar on to defining what features Apollo would have. Key to this was an intuitive and highly intelligent search system based on tags, recommendations, and ongoing learning.
Key points:
00:00 A Composer's Journey
11:47 Lunar Productions: Quality and Timelessness in Storytelling
15:12 AJ and Danny Discuss the Success of Audio Fiction Apps
19:25 The Benefits of Apollo for Fiction Podcasts
24:33 The Power of Tagging in Apollo
28:45 AJ and Danny Discuss the Future of Fiction Podcasts
34:12 AJ on Apollo, Lunar FM, and Earth Eclipsed
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Check out Trailer Park Podcast
Trailer Park Podcast focuses on the art of the audio teaser, and is hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt and Tim Villegas. Season 1 consists of 8 episodes featuring trailers from very different podcasts.
Trailer Park Podcast
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Pod Chat is sponsored by Podnews - get a daily email with all the latest news about podcasting. It's free at podnews.net.
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Enjoy Pod Chat? Leave a review or rating on your preferred app and show the world you care!
Did you know every time Pod Chat gets a new review, a baby podcaster takes their first steps? Help a baby podcaster walk today, by leaving a 5-star rating or review on the likes of Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Just head on over to podchat.ca/review and do your magic - these little feet are counting on you!
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As Season 5 of Podcaster Stories gets close, learn more about what's coming your way in just a few weeks.
Additionally, find out more about Pod Chat, Danny's new show that focuses on the tech, tools, and people driving the podcasting space forward.
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If you enjoy Podcaster Stories and you want to support the show, you can do that right here. You'll get a shout on the show, as well as a Producer Credit on the Podcaster Stories website - sweet!
This week, I chat with Arielle Nissenblatt, founder of the Earbuds Podcast Collective newsletter, Community Manager at SquadCast, and whole lot more.
On Why Quality Control is ImportantArielle's newsletter, Earbuds Podcast Collective, celebrated its five year anniversary this year. The newsletter sees a subscriber/podcaster curate five different podcasts around a specific topic, and has brought many interesting shows to the table. While it's a smooth process today, it wasn't always the case as Arielle shares.
Community is a Learning ProcessArielle is extremely well-known for the sense of community she brings to her interactions, as well as the community she helps foster around the brands she represents. While it comes naturally for her, Arielle also believes it can be learned, whether from those you follow online or even classes.
At the End of the Day, We're All Just PeopleAs a leader in the community space, Arielle knows what it takes to be a good community member, and what it means to be a not so good one. Despite what some podcasters might believe, sharing nothing but your links across multiple social media channels is not the way to get people to listen. But even then, there may be a different person behind the keyboard than the one behaviour might suggest, so it's important to always keep an open mind.
Why We Need Podcast TaxonomyAs the podcasting space grows, and more people come on board (including larger production companies), it's becoming clear that there can be a lot of people that put a show together, outside of the name on the artwork. To recognize these people and the important work they do, the Podcast Taxonomy was created, of which Arielle is part of. She explains what this means for creators of all skill sets, and how it's also being used to address pay inequality in podcasting.
We're Addressing Diversity, But We Can Always Do BetterThe podcasting space has been questioned over the last couple of years around the topic of diversity, or lack of. As Arielle herself pointed out earlier in the episode, too many "best of" lists are all centred around white men. While there have been movements and conversations to redress this, it's still only a small splash in a bigger pool of conversation and action. Arielle shares her thoughts on what she believes we can be doing to be better.
Key points:
00:00 Arielle Nissenblatt on Earbuds Collective, Podcast Taxonomy, and More
06:37 The Power of Community: An Interview with Arielle Pardes
09:29 Community Management: A Cross-Sectional Approach
18:01 The Squad Cast Community: From Feedback to Feature Development
22:52 Podcast Taxonomy: An International Initiative to Standardize Roles and Credits
27:56 Inclusion in the Podcasting Industry
31:00 Women in Podcasting: The Work is Not Over
33:29 How to Make Your Podcast More Inclusive
36:02 The Importance of Listening to Podcasts Outside of Your Comfort Zone
Connect with Arielle:
Contact me: [email protected]
Products I use for Pod ChatNote: these contain affiliate links, so I may get a small percentage of any product you buy/use when using my link.
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Check out Trailer Park Podcast
Trailer Park Podcast focuses on the art of the audio teaser, and is hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt and Tim Villegas. Season 1 consists of 8 episodes featuring trailers from very different podcasts.
Trailer Park Podcast
Get your daily podcasting newsletter with Podnews
Pod Chat is sponsored by Podnews - get a daily email with all the latest news about podcasting. It's free at podnews.net.
Visit Podnews
Enjoy Pod Chat? Leave a review or rating on your preferred app and show the world you care!
Did you know every time Pod Chat gets a new review, a baby podcaster takes their first steps? Help a baby podcaster walk today, by leaving a 5-star rating or review on the likes of Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Just head on over to podchat.ca/review and do your magic - these little feet are counting on you!
Review the show
In today's episode, I chat with James Cridland, founder and editor of Podnews, the leading industry publication and newsletter.
Change, or Lack Of, in Audio?James has a long history in the audio space, with over 20 years in radio and online business. I asked him what changes he's seen since then, and he shared why he's actually surprised at how little has changed in that time, and longer. He does see a lot of opportunity in podcasting, which can only be good news for people that love audio.
Where Next for RSS?There's a lot of talk in the industry around the role of RSS as the default podcasting distribution method. However, as Apple Subscriptions and Spotify's changes show, there seems to be a move away from this method. James predicts where he sees RSS going beyond just delivering audio, especially with the work the Podcasting 2.0 community is doing.
Why Transcripts Need to ImproveOne of the areas where James feels there's a big opportunity to stand RSS apart from what some platforms are doing is in the transcript space. There's a change for app developers to really make this a more interactive medium, as well as podcast hosts, through transcripts. But the problem is we're not close enough with accuracy, at least with the automated transcript services, and this is something that drastically needs to improve, not least for accessibility.
Respecting What Creators WantWhile larger podcast platforms may be looking to wrestle some control from podcasters, James shares why he's so supportive of what the Podcasting 2.0 community are doing when it comes to namespaces, and that's respecting what creators want, as opposed to platforms dictating what they should want.
We should be pressurizing companies a little bit more to respect what creators are doing.How Culture Differences Impact Advertising on PodcastingAs someone who grew up in the UK, lives in Australia, but works with several companies in North America, James has a unique perspective as to how the different cultural approach in these places impacts podcast listening behaviour. This carries through to how ads are seen in podcasting, and why there's a reticence on the behalf of some podcasters when it comes to asking listeners for money.
Podcasters Should Get Their Hands Dirty with CodeSince Podnews is a daily publication, and it's all put together by James himself, he's had to learn how to automate the process as much as possible. This has resulted in him coding things from scratch, so feeds and stories can be pulled automatically by tags and filters. It's one of the things James feels creators can improve at - understanding the tech behind the medium.
What Big Money Means for the Podcasting IndustryWith so many big money acquisitions and what looks like a consolidation of apps and platforms in the space, James shared his take on whether this was a good or bad thing for the industry.
The Problem With the Term Indie PodcasterWith the recent Ambie Awards nominations drawing ire because of an indie podcast nomination not actually being indie, there's a lot of chatter online around what defines indie podcasting. For James, though, it's the wrong conversation as this immediately devalues what podcasters are doing, and instills an excuse mindset that we don't really need.
I don't feel we should be backing indie podcasters into some form of protected silo or anything else.Why Advertisers Need to Get Better with AdTechJames shared an example of how he heard the same ad eight times while listening to a podcast, and how that's a perfect example of where a lot of advertisers are missing the boat when it comes to adtech. Given the tools advertisers have when it comes to DAI and SAI, there really should be better quality control, and James advises how that can be done.
Key points:
02:28 The Biggest Changes in Media Broadcasting from 2004 to 2022
04:01 The Impact of RSS on the Podcasting Industry
05:59 The Benefits of Podcast Transcript Tags
10:53 The Importance of Transcripts for Podcasts
11:58 The Differences in Advertising Acceptance Between Countries
16:30 The Impact of Advertising and Listener Support on the Podcast Industry
19:50 The Process of Publishing a Daily Newsletter and Podcast Episode
30:59 The Future of Podcasting: An Industry on the Rise
38:46 The Impact of 'Indie' on Podcasting
41:55 The Benefits of Dynamic Programmatic Advertising
Connect with James:
Contact me: [email protected]
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Enjoy Pod Chat? Leave a review or rating on your preferred app and show the world you care!
Did you know every time Pod Chat gets a new review, a baby podcaster takes their first steps? Help a baby podcaster walk today, by leaving a 5-star rating or review on the likes of Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Just head on over to podchat.ca/review and do your magic - these little feet are counting on you!
Review the show
Check out Trailer Park Podcast
Trailer Park Podcast focuses on the art of the audio teaser, and is hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt and Tim Villegas. Season 1 consists of 8 episodes featuring trailers from very different podcasts.
Trailer Park Podcast
Get your daily podcasting newsletter with Podnews
Pod Chat is sponsored by Podnews - get a daily email with all the latest news about podcasting. It's free at podnews.net.
Visit Podnews
In this episode, I chat with Evo Terra, host of Podcast Pontifications and founder of Simpler Media. Evo has been podcasting since 2004, so you can be sure he's brought the goods when it comes to the podcasting industry today.
Evo Knows PodcastingApart from his highly regarded show, Podcast Pontifications, Evo has also launched several other podcasts since starting way back in 2004. This includes personal projects and those for clients - in fact, when you put them all together, it comes to over 1,000 podcast. It's safe to say Evo knows what he's talking about when it comes to podcasting.
The Journey to Diversity in PodcastingOne of the podcasts Evo is involved in is Three Clips from Castos. What's cool about this show is its goal to share some of the more creative approaches being taken when it comes to podcasting. On top of that Evo shares how he's stepping back from hosting the show so more diverse voices can lead it, something that - thankfully - seems to be happening more in the podcasting space.
The Changing Face of Production and ConsumptionHaving been podcasting for 17 years now, Evo's seen a lot of changes in the industry, especially when it comes to how we create and consume podcasts. From being a very insular space only for tech heads to being able to create a podcast with just your phone, the industry makes it super easy for anyone to start a podcast. No more downloading mp3 files to CD to listen back to!
The Argument for and Against RSS FeedsOne thing that's remained consistent with podcasting over the years is the delivery system - the old and trusted RSS feed. However, while that's the de facto method of podcast delivery at the moment, there's a lot of talk and development about either making the RSS feed more interactive, or replacing it altogether. Evo talks on why RSS needs to change, and who he's betting on to make that happen.
The Argument for Super NicheOne of the ways Evo sees podcasting in the future is for podcast apps and listeners to become super niche, as opposed to a one size catch all. He offers the example of Apollo, where they only publish fiction podcasts. This limits the podcasts on the app - but also makes sure it's laser focused on the audience they want to attract. It's this kind of nicheness that Evo feels could benefit podcasting moving forward.
How Evo Helped Early Adopters to PodcastingAs well as a hugely respected podcaster, Evo is also a published author, and was one of the original co-authors of Podcasting For Dummies (I have a copy of it in my wife's library!). So he's been a huge influence on a generation of podcasters from the early days, possibly without them realizing it.
Radio - The Grandfather of PodcastingA lot of podcasters, for whatever reason, seem to talk down when it comes to radio. Which is surprising, given how without radio, whether terrestrial or internet, there might be no podcasting industry today. Indeed, this is how Evo got started, and without his experiences there he admits he probably wouldn't be where he is today.
What Podcasting Needs to Do to ImproveAs a podcasting veteran, Evo has pretty much seen it all when it comes to tools technology, and more. This includes the ease in which new podcasters can get started. However, with this ease comes a downside, and that's podcasters that may not know the benefit of audio optimization, editing, and more. Here. Evo shares why - despite podcasting becoming mainstream - there's a big need for education for these new podcasters, to help them and their show be the best it can be for their listeners.
Every innovation has made podcasting easier. But I'm not convinced most of them make it any better.The Importance of EducationFor many new podcasters, they take inspiration from the big shows they listen to - a Serial, for example, or a Joe Rogan. The problem, as Evo shares, is that because of their audience size, they can get away with just throwing an episode out minus editing. This isn't the case for new podcasters - so how much should the industry do to make a standard when it comes to sound, as well as educating podcasters the importance of the basics?
The Validation of PodcastingIn the last few months and years, podcasting has seen a huge influx of money enter the space. Most of that has come from Spotify buying exclusive rights to certain podcasts. While that may upset some listeners, Evo sees this as validation of our industry as a serious medium, as well as allowing creators to experiment and do things they might not be able to elsewhere.
Why Indie Podcasters Need to Be BetterIn a recent episode of Three Clips, Evo chatted with Jack Rhysider of Darknet Diaries. A hugely popular podcast, Jack shared that it takes around 50 hours per episode to put Darknet Diaries together. For the average indie podcaster, this isn't realistic - so Evo shares what indies can do to compete with the bigger budget shows.
Stop Being Impressed With YourselfEvo makes a great point about progress, and where you see yourself. You may think your show sounds great, or you nailed an interview, or everyone wants to listen to your podcast. But, generally, no-one thinks you sound as good as you do. Once you learn this, your show will really take off.
A lot of the things you think about yourself and how you're the best thing? The rest of the world may not think so.Key points:
05:40 The Evolution of Podcasting: From Desktop to Pocket
10:14 The Future of Podcasting
13:50 The Evolution of Podcasting
23:38 The Future of Podcasting: Making it Easy to Make a Great Show
27:20 The Importance of Editing in Podcasting
29:06 The Future of Podcasting: What Excites Evo Terra the Most?
35:29 The Benefits of Being an Indie Podcaster
38:55 The Benefits of Being Humble and the Importance of Listening to Your Show
Connect with Evo:
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Enjoy Pod Chat? Leave a review or rating on your preferred app and show the world you care!
Did you know every time Pod Chat gets a new review, a baby podcaster takes their first steps? Help a baby podcaster walk today, by leaving a 5-star rating or review on the likes of Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Just head on over to podchat.ca/review and do your magic - these little feet are counting on you!
Review the show
Get your daily podcasting newsletter with Podnews
Pod Chat is sponsored by Podnews - get a daily email with all the latest news about podcasting. It's free at podnews.net.
Visit Podnews
Check out Trailer Park Podcast
Trailer Park Podcast focuses on the art of the audio teaser, and is hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt and Tim Villegas. Season 1 consists of 8 episodes featuring trailers from very different podcasts.
Trailer Park Podcast
This week, I sit down with Matt Medeiros, host of many shows including the WP Minute and the Matt Report, where he talks tech, podcasting, WordPress, and more.
Matt's journey from "computer guy" to podcaster is an interesting and varied one, and in this week's episode Matt talks about that, as well as the legacy he's looking to build.
A Podcaster's PodcasterMatt has a lot of shows under his belt, both personal podcasts and professional podcasts. Starting out in the WordPress world, and utilizing that with his marketing agency, Matt knew he needed something different to win clients. Enter podcasting. Since then, he's built a great reputation as both a podcaster, and someone in the podcasting space.
Why Local Podcasting is So Important to HimMatt spoke about the legacy he wants to leave (even though he cringes when he hears that word!), and it's not the kind of legacy that you might originally think of when you hear the word.
Like Father, Like SonWhile Matt is heavily ensconced in the tech world through his love of WordPress and podcasting, his father was the one that helped get him there. As Matt says, his dad had a beast of a product that would be the equivalent of a laptop today, and that's what stoked his interests and led him on the path he's on today.
The Rise of Podcasting GurusAs podcasting continues to grow in popularity, so has the amount of podcast experts and gurus that have suddenly appeared to share their wisdom on how to get a ,illion downloads and huge sponsorship deals in the first month of your show. Matt shares how he has a love/hate relationship with these "experts".
The Commodity of TrustWith his background in car sales and agency life, Matt's used to asking people for money, and how to handle rejection. One of the biggest things to avoid that rejection is to build trust - trust in you, trust in your product, and trust (from a podcaster's point of view) in your content. This can help even the smallest podcasters succeed and earn serious revenue.
You have to value yourself first to believe in what you're offering your audience.Passing on What Podcasting Has Done for HimMatt's super grateful for what the podcasting industry has done for him, and as part of the legacy that he spoke about earlier in the episode, he wants to pass on that gratitude, and the lessons that have come with that, to his children. This includes the art of storytelling and confidence in who you are and what you stand for.
Giving Voice to the UnderrepresentedMatt's incredibly passionate about bringing more voices to the podcasting space, especially underrepresented and minority voices. He shares an interesting experiment he's running on his WP Minute podcast to help make this happen.
Matt and the Big Orange HeartIn an incredibly raw and emotional moment, Matt talked about his involvement with Big Orange Heart, and why he supports it. It was a sobering reminder that we all need to look out for each other's mental health, and make it normal to speak up when you're suffering.
That's why I give back to that organization. It's extremely important what they're doing, and if I can help... I try.Connect with Matt:
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You love podcasting. It doesn't matter if you're a listener or podcaster yourself, when it comes to podcasting you're all in! Not only that, but you get excited hearing about all the cool things happening in the podcast space.
Great - Pod Chat is the show for you! From the latest tech and cool innovations, to the people driving the podcast industry forward, host Danny Brown has you covered.
Listen in as Danny takes you behind the scenes of what's new in podcasting, what needs to be new, and who's going to make it happen.
Released bi-weekly and available on all your favourite podcast apps, make Pod Chat your new favourite show when it comes to getting your podcasting fix!
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This week, I sit down with Tony Doe, host of The Tony Doe Podcast, where he chats with radio broadcasters who answer questions fans are curious about.
This audio series is about people from different backgrounds who share their radio stories, and how they feel about the medium's present and future.
Art Reflecting LifeTony's background is in radio, and his show reflects that, with his guests coming from the medium and sharing why they chose radio, and what they're using it for to share their messages or art.
This is also true for Tony, who has used the pandemic to share his knowledge with younger people, and help them get their break in radio and the audio medium.
Does Podcasting Need More Regulation?Because of his background in radio, Tony is well-versed in what can and can't be said on public radio. This changes drastically when it comes to podcasting, and he shares some great insights on what he feels are the biggest differences, and how we can bridge them.
It's a great platform for preparing people for radio; but it's also a great platform for discussing the things you can't talk about on radio.2022 - The Year of the Indie Podcaster?Tony firmly believes that 2022 is the year that the indie podcaster can shine. While mega-million dollars continue to shape who's who in the industry, this leaves a gap for the indie podcaster to be truly contextual for their listener, and deliver a more custom listening experience.
The Responsibility of TrustWe spoke about the recent controversy around Joe Rogan, and what that might mean for both podcasters and platforms when it comes to what can be said on a podcast. Tony's a believer that the audience needs to make an informed choice - but the podcaster also has a big part to play.
Just because I have a podcast doesn't mean I have to fool you or deceive you. I owe you, the listener, the responsibility of trust.Connect with Tony:
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Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!
This week, I sit down with Becca Atkinson, host of The Unashamed Alcoholic, where she talks with sober people using their platforms to speak openly about their journey with addiction.
This includes sports stars, media celebrities, and more, and who inspired Becca to openly talk about her own journey as a recovering alcoholic.
The Freeing Power of OpennessBecca shares how she didn't do anything by halves when it came to opening up about her journey as an alcoholic. Indeed, it was on a national radio station that she first got the courage to speak up, and she never looked back from there.
I wanted him to know he wasn't alone and he still had a fan in me.When Bobby Ryan of NHL hockey team Ottawa Senators shared his own story of addiction, Becca wrote a letter to her local newspaper stating her unequivocal support for the player, and thanking him for his bravery in talking out This, in turn, enabled her own bravery.
The Expectation of DrinkingDespite more people opening up and talking about their own journeys with alcohol and addiction, it's still a very taboo subject for many. Becca feels this can come down to how we've normalized drinking - we're simply expected to start drinking at legal age - but we haven't yet normalized talking about addiction.
I was never told being sober is an optionThe Conversations with FamilyWhen Becca was going through her journey, it led to conversations with her family about what she had been going through, and the lengths she'd gone at times to hide that journey. It was interesting to hear how the different parts of the journey she was on led to very different conversations with her family, especially her two young children.
The Growth Process of RecoveryRecently, Becca posted a tweet about receiving an email from her ex-husband, and how she read the first line and deleted it, knowing she didn't need that negativity in her life anymore. As she says, this is a part of the recovery process, and a good indicator of how far she's come.
You just automatically start to do things that are better for youConnect with Becca:
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Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!
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