I’m back from another trip! The hubs and I were in Nashville last week to run the Rock n’ Roll Running Series which benefits St. Judes. He ran the half marathon while I did the 5k. Overall we had a great time but I’m happy to be back in podcasting land. Let’s jump right into what’s been happening in podcasting this week.
Apple Podcasts has launched a new Wellness category on its app—visible on the search page. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this addition features a diverse collection of health, fitness, and wellness podcasts. It showcases carefully selected episodes and creators, with subtopics such as Mood, Sleep, Relationships, Meditation, Movement, and Gratitude, reflecting a modern take on wellness.
Universal Music Group NV and TikTok have finally sealed a new licensing agreement after prolonged negotiations. While the announcement was sparse on specifics, the agreement is said to include improved compensation for artists and songwriters, fresh promotional strategies, and safeguards against AI-generated music.
In a notable industry shift, Spotify has overtaken Apple Podcasts in global download numbers for the first time, according to Buzzsprout’s statistics from 124,000 active shows in April. Although Spotify has traditionally led in listener numbers, this marks its first lead in downloads—a significant achievement, especially considering that Apple Podcasts typically auto-downloads episodes, a feature not utilized by Spotify.
In other news, The Grio, a prominent Black American media platform, has recently reduced its workforce, affecting several members of its podcasting team.
Catch up on our shows
Introducing our newest network show member!
On Grad School Femtoring Dra. Yvette Martínez-Vu— a Chicana grad school and productivity coach and femtor— provides first-generation BIPOC folks with knowledge about academia to help them prepare for graduate school and beyond. Listen to learn about grad school and career advice, social justice and activism, wellness and self-care, personal development, sustainable productivity tips, first-gen BIPOC experiences, and more!
Dra. Yvette Martínez-Vu (she/her) is a first-generation chronically ill and neurodivergent Chicana grad school and productivity coach, consultant, author, and speaker. She is the founder of Grad School Femtoring, LLC where she supports first-generation BIPOCs as they navigate higher education and beyond. Dra. Yvette is the co-author of the book, Is Grad School For Me?: Demystifying the Application Process for First-Gen BIPOC Students with the University of California Press and co-editor of the bestselling Chicana M(other)work Anthology with the University of Arizona Press.
On the latest episode, Dra. Yvette is talking about the topic of writing the personal statement and diversity statement for graduate school applications. She defines what a personal statement and diversity statement are, shares sample grad school essay prompts and offers ideas for what to write about in these statements.
On Are You Free for Coffee, the ladies have a roundup of their latest TV obsessions! From gripping dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, they dish on what's captivating our screens. Tune in for recommendations, reviews, and lively banter.
When a mother of five goes for a hike but doesn't return home, her family is left to wonder: Where is Edna Quintana? Find out on Bite-Sized Crime.
On MOMEO, Chelsi and guest, author and writing mentor Leigh Shulman are unlocking your writing potential. Leigh founded The Inspired Writer Community, a women writers network for writers at any stage in their writing lives. Her bestselling book "The Writer's Roadmap: Paving the Way To Your Ideal Writing Life" helps thousands find their way in the writing world. She writes for the Washington Post, Wired, and Insider among others. She lives with her family in the mountains of Argentina.
On The Artist Pivot Podcast, Ayana is joined by joined by the multi-talented Jillian Vitko. Jillian is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry, balancing an impressive array of talents from acting to producing. They get candid about the often unpredictable path of an artist, where there's no guarantee of a finish line and the only constant is change.
Allie interviews fellow educator Cindy Brockway on The Growth Mindset Gal. Cindy empowers compassionate women to break free from stress and perfectionism, guiding them toward deeper peace and contentment.
Lastly, on Wining About Herstory, the ladies got real weird with it! First, Emily tells the strange tale of Rachel Wall, a woman who had big dreams of living by the ocean which turned into a full-blown career in piracy. Then, Kelley tells the truly twisty tale of Étaíne, an legendary Irish beauty who, naturally, everyone wanted to get with. The attempts of humans and gods alike led to insect transformations, sexual mischief, and a birth that Emily still can't wrap her head around.
Network and Learn at these Upcoming Events
Houston Podcasters Meet Up - May 6th at 7pm CST in Houston, TX: Come connect with other creators in your area, exchange ideas and advice, network, get inspired, and grab some Riverside swag, all over a (free) drink. [Free]
Podcasting Legal Q&A: Ask an Expert - May 7th at 12pm EST: Join Riverside for an exclusive Q&A event where they’ll delve into the questions you have surrounding the legal landscape of podcasting, content creation, and online sharing. [Free]
Charlotte Podcasters Meet Up - May 15th at 6pm EST in Charlotte, NC: Riverside.fm and Empowered Podcasting are hosting a meet up for creators in Charlotte. Come connect with other creators in the Charlotte area, exchange ideas and advice, network, get inspired, and grab some Riverside swag, all over a (free) drink. [Free]
The Power of Podcast Promo Swaps with Lauren Passell - May 22nd at 6pm EST in NYC, NY: Lauren Passell will be sharing some podcast marketing magic with us, and talk about one of her favorite topics: podcast promo-swaps! [Free]
Metrics that Matter: Mastering Podcast Analytics - June 6th at 2pm EST: Join the Podbean team to master podcast analytics! Learn key metrics, interpret data, and track your growth. [Free]
Doors are open to join the WOC Podcasters community!
WOC Podcasters is an inclusive podcasting community for Women of Color podcasters, audio creators, and professionals to connect, learn, and share resources. From esteemed podcasting leaders to aspiring podcasters looking to get started, this community will help you find the resources to prosper along your creative journey. This will be the last time doors are open at this price ($125 annual membership). Join with a 7-day free trial here.
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