PodMov Daily: Thursday, December 9

Episode 552: Your Thursday Podthoughts

Bello Collective's 100 Outstanding Podcasts of 2021

If you choose one best-of-the-year podcast roundup, we recommend Bello Collective’s for the second year in a row. Co-editors Ashley Lusk and Galen Beebe have arranged 100 picks from members and friends, divided into four categories: Conversation, experiential, fiction, and narrative nonfiction (the largest by far). 

The New York Times’ Reggie Ugwu listed 10 from this year’s “distressingly bountiful landscape,” half of which appear in Bello’s collection: La Brega from WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios, “Mission: ImPASTAble” from The Sporkful, “Home/Front” from Rough Translation, Dan Taberski’s 9/12, and Ian Coss’s Forever Is a Long Time.

In podcasting as well as film and music, overlap in these kinds of lists can be tricky. However, algorithms and marketing budgets have minimal influence over this diverse and multilingual roundup. Many thanks to Bello’s editors and contributors for their mission to “curate, inspire, and dissect the world of audio” since 2016.

Where Are the Podcasts from Spotify's Celebrity Deals?

“Over the last two years, Spotify have been busy announcing deals for podcasts,” writes Podnews editor James Cridland. “But when it comes to the shows themselves, where are they?” Tabloids have recently turned up the heat on Meghan and Harry’s £18 million contract, one of several celebrity projects to go quiet.

“Big announcements are easy to make, and they make for a good press story,” Cridland says. Spotify’s stock value rises with each partnership headline, promoted by a “bewildering array” of PR firms. Other mysterious deals from 2020 include Chernin Entertainment, Warner Bros and DC Entertainment, and Kim Kardashian West.

Cridland questions the point of the premature hype. “If there is a track record of these announcements never coming to fruition or delivering any value for the company, when do these announcements become a little misleading?” Maybe this will be a ‘gentle nudge,’ like the one Spotify is rumored to have given the royals.

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Here's what else is going on:

• Flock together: This Sunday is the Awards Celebration for the 2021 Third Coast/RHDF Competition. The 21st annual event will honor 11 of the year’s best narrative audio works with speeches from winners. Virtual Red Carpet begins at 3:30 pm CT and the Awards at 4:15. Free RSVP.

• Perfect storm: Can a podcast make itself? Michael Hoffman wrote a computer program to generate his daily show The Weather in Brooklyn. The software engineer, who “became obsessed” with creating a ‘podcast bot’ in 2018, offers an entertaining technical summary of how it all works.

• Audio mixer: Next Monday, December 13, evmux developer Elad Rosanski will join PM to discuss “How to Leverage Live Streaming to Elevate Your Personal Brand.” Held on Facebook Live, the session will cover video, live podcasting, and the evolution of hybrid (recorded and live) content.

• Hidden figures: “Love em or hate em, I believe NFTs have proven their ability to fund creators online and will continue to grow into the podcasting space,” says Jack Rhysider. The Darknet Diaries creator outlines the topic, some use cases, and the process of launching one. Best of luck?