Friday Newsflow
What happened in the podcast world this week.
There’s a lot of news to cover so this week I’m jumping right into it!
Introducing WOC Sisterhood Connect!
I know all too well the struggle of finding guests for shows. Especially guests that match our audience and that we know will give value to our listeners. So we decided to do something about it. We’ve launched our new guest matching program - WOC Sisterhood Connect, exclusively for Black and brown women looking to be guests on shows hosted by Black and brown women. This program connects podcast hosts within the WOC Podcasters Community (and outside of the community in the future) with dynamic guests who bring diverse perspectives and compelling stories to the mic.
We launched our beta phase earlier this week, inviting the first 25 guests to sign up and be matched with hosts in our community. This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to share their expertise, personal stories, or professional insights on shows that align with their passions.
Interested in being a guest? We still have some spots available in the beta. Head over to this link to sign up and be among the first to join this exciting new initiative. Let’s amplify our voices together and make some magic happen!
Industry Recognition
The winners of the 2024 Black Podcasting Awards have been announced. Lisa Woolfork and her show Stitch Please took home three trophies, while PRX shows won a total of eight awards.
Platform Changes and Feature Updates
Spotify is shutting down the podcast analytics platform Chartable as part of a company-wide refocus. Chartable users received an email this morning with details on the transition. Originally acquired by Spotify in February 2022, Chartable provided tools like SmartLinks and SmartPromos, which were intended to be integrated into Megaphone. While this integration is still planned for Megaphone-hosted customers, Spotify has also introduced similar attribution tools within its app. Chartable’s co-founder, Dave Zohrob, left Spotify in July, and the company’s other acquisition, Podsights, was integrated into Spotify Ad Analytics in June last year.
Google’s NotebookLM, a tool that can create podcast-like experiences from uploaded articles, has added a built-in YouTube uploader and improved sharing tools, making it easier to distribute content.
Podmatch has introduced Podmatch AI, a tool designed to help users identify synergies with potential podcast guests, enhancing the interview planning process.
Audience and Industry Insights
According to Tom Webster’s analysis in The Podcast Landscape, 26% of Americans aged 18+ have never listened to a podcast, down 2% from the previous year. Reasons for not listening include satisfaction with current media options (34%), a preference for video over audio (27%), and a lack of understanding about podcast benefits (22%). Webster suggests leveraging video podcasting stars and short-form content like TikTok and YouTube Shorts to highlight podcasting’s value, particularly as a companion medium that enriches passive media consumption time.
A new survey, PodPoll 24 from Deadset Studios and Insightfully, reveals that two million Australians listen to podcasts daily. The data shows that 44% of Australians sample new shows monthly. Spotify (58%) and YouTube (30%) are now the top preferred podcast platforms, with Apple Podcasts falling to third place.
One year after integrating with Patreon, Spotify reports that nearly half of podcasters earning on Patreon use the Spotify Open Access integration. On average, 15% of Spotify listeners who visit a podcaster’s Patreon page go on to sign up for a paid membership.
Catch up on our shows
On Afrocentric. Morgan explores the fascinating concept of the trickster archetype, with a particular focus on its significance in Black culture. While acknowledging the universal presence of trickster figures across various races and religions, the episode delves deep into the unique manifestations and importance of this archetype in African and African American folklore.
Ever wondered why some people wear shorts or other non-work-appropriate attire to job interviews? The ladies of Are You Free for Coffee are exploring the do's and don'ts of interview fashion and the impact on first impressions.
When a young woman disappears, the last person to see her has multiple stories to tell. What really happened to Isabel Palacios? Find out on Bite-Sized Crime.
If you’re struggling to secure and maintain mentors, this episode of Grad School Femtoring is for you. Yvette shares strategies for first-gen and BIPOC students and professionals to learn how to find mentors, strengthen their mentoring relationships, and emphasize the importance of taking initiative and regularly checking in with your mentors, among other lessons. Tune in to get all the insights and advice she wishes she had received when she was a student and early career professional. ,
It’s a twofer of Ogasmica this week. On the Spanish episode, guest Dhyana Suárez, psychotherapist, yoga, meditation, and somatic movement instructor, explores her connection with the body and how it has been essential in her personal and professional practice for almost 20 years. Dhyana shares her journey toward yoga and somatic movement as powerful tools for attuning to the feminine, allowing for greater self-understanding and emotional release. In the English episode, Virginia offers listeners an intimate glimpse into a live class she hosted with the We All Grow Latina community. The episode focuses on body pleasure and connection themes, as Virginia shares her insights and expertise in these areas.
On the latest episode of Sleeping with Sonja, Sonja sits down with the incredible Danielle Maltby. From the journey of finding a new home guided by a rainbow in Chicago to the deeply personal discussions around mental health, trauma, and healing, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and authenticity. Danielle opens up about her struggles and triumphs in navigating life post-breakup, the importance of therapy, and how she's using her nursing skills to make a difference in the world of aesthetic medicine.
Over on The Artist Pivot Podcast, Ayana is having an inspiring conversation with Author, Musician, and Coach for High-Performing Creatives Kate Kayaian. In this special dual episode, recorded in collaboration with Kate's podcast "Tales from the Lane," we dive deep into themes of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the ever-evolving nature of personal and professional growth.
On Growth Mindset Gal, Allie interviews the intuitive Chitra Rochlani. Chitra Rochlani is a wellness coach, speaker, and author of The Warrior Mindset. She is a NASM-certified CPT, CES, BCS, and Precision Nutrition Coach. Chitra is also a medium and intuitive healer empowering her clients to get out of the quick-fix mentality and get to the root cause of what triggers their behaviors.
Dr. Dee discusses how much we pick up and carry, which weighs us down and actually stops us twin mamas from moving forward in our purpose and desires on Twin Moms Thriving.
On While She’s Away, Dianni chats with the amazing Calen Otto to dive into the super cool world of vegan travel. Calen, a queer, anti-speciesist travel blogger and author of The Art of Unruly Travel on a Budget, is here to share their experiences and give us some really practical tips on how to keep up with a vegan lifestyle while traveling and exploring different cultures.
Last, but not least, on Wining About Herstory, the ladies may not know where or when they are, but they know it's time for some herstory! First, Kelley covers Martha Bernal, a Mexican American woman who took her experiences facing discrimination along with her career in psychology to pioneer a whole new field of mental health study and care. Then, Emily tells the story of Anna Coleman Ladd. As an artist during WWI, Anna was looking for a way to support injured soldiers, leading her to begin crafting some shockingly realistic masks.
Network and Learn at these Upcoming Events
Featured Event: How to Leverage Podcasting for Authors & Writers - October 22nd at 6pm ET:
Calling all authors and writers! Join WOC Podcasters Community member Heidy De La Cruz, an award-nominated podcaster and certified podcast coach, for a specialized webinar designed just for you. Discover how podcasting can be a game-changing tool to amplify your voice, connect with new audiences, and promote your work. In this session, Heidy will show you how to strategically find podcasts that align with your niche, craft pitches that highlight your unique story, and master the art of engaging interviews. Whether you’re looking to increase book sales, build your personal brand, or simply share your message with a wider audience, this workshop will provide you with the insights and actionable tips you need to make podcasting a powerful part of your marketing strategy. {This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
Intro to studio recording for radio & podcasts from Radio Boot Camp - September 28th at 12pm ET, NYC, NY: Join studio owner David Herman and manager Erica Huang behind the controls in their own shop for this in-person class. You’ll get a hands-on primer on the most common studio tools, techniques, and concepts used in radio and podcast recording. David and Erica will demystify concepts like gain and plosives, go over microphone types and techniques, monitoring and metering, file management, and more. [$125. Class is capped at 8 students]
Boston, MA, Podcasters Meetup (Podfest PodTour Stop) - October 10th at 6pm ET, Westford, Massachusetts: Come hang out with the New England Podcasters Group for a fun and informative meetup during the Podfest PodTour Stop! Chris Krimitsos – Founder of Podfest Expo – is our Featured Guest Speaker this month, and he’ll be sharing the Top 10 Growth & Video Podcasting Tips of 2024. [Free]
6th Annual Afros and Audio Festival - October 18th-20th, Baltimore, MD: This podcast conference celebrates diversity, creativity, and the indie spirit of podcasting. Tickets are available here.
The Total Package: The Hidden (But Very Real) Impact of Podcast Artwork & Packaging on Growth - October 23rd at 12pm EST: Jeremy Enns joins Lower Street, where he’ll share what just a small difference your podcast cover art and title can make. Following his experiment with the Growth Mindset Psychology podcast, he saw 45% listener growth in just one month, from a few manageable tweaks. [Free]
Brand Podcast sSummit 2025 - January 14 - 15th: A free, two-day virtual event designed to help brands revolutionize their marketing through successful brand podcast strategies. It is designed for marketers, founders, and business leaders who want to break away from the more traditional marketing approaches. For those who want to use podcasting to become thought leaders in their industry, gain leads and raise brand awareness [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. Join with a 7-day free trial here.
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