PodMov Daily: Friday, August 9

Episode 19: Your Friday Features

Must Read: A Content Strategist's Guide to Marketing Yourself at Podcast Conferences

This Friday’s guest article is a special pre-conference piece! Ma’ayan Plaut, content strategist and RadioPublic‘s podcast librarian, has written an indispensable guide to conferences. Whether you’re a seasoned convention-goer or a first timer, you’ll learn valuable tips on marketing yourself and your work.

Introverts, you won’t be left out — far from it. No matter your social style, you’ll be equipped to get the most out of any event. Plaut offers terrific examples of questions to ask and how to organize your thoughts, before and after. “Networking” isn’t just a buzzword. Thoughtful interactions will come naturally with a little practice.

“Listening and learning about other people’s podcasts are mini-lessons in podcast marketing,” Plaut explains. Very true. Check out the full article for more real-life advice, especially if you’ll be on your way to Podcast Movement next week!

Google Announces Improved Podcast Search Feature

Yesterday, Google announced a new Search feature designed to “easier to find and listen to podcasts.” Below is a post excerpt from the Product Manager of Google Podcasts. It has been edited for length and relevancy.

Starting today, when you’re searching for a podcast about a topic on Google, such as “podcasts about Awkwafina” or “Instant Pot recipe podcasts,” we’ll show you playable episodes in Search results alongside [standard results]. We’ll surface these episodes based on Google’s understanding of what’s being talked about on a podcast. Soon, [the term “podcast” won’t necessarily be required] in a search [in order] to see episodes. Later this year, [this feature will apply] to the Google Assistant and Google Podcasts for web. [If you were to] ask the Assistant for podcasts about a certain topic, such as “Hey Google, play a podcast about Marie Curie,” it will suggest relevant episodes for you. In Google Podcasts for web, you’ll be able to search for [and play] relevant shows and episodes. Listening progress is synced everywhere […] you use Google Podcasts. Publishers [will soon be able] to specify where you can listen to their podcasts, such as other apps or websites. [Users will] be able to discover podcasts that may be exclusively available by purchase or subscription.

Lemonada Media: A New Network for Cathartic Support

A new podcast network, Lemonada Media, will “help people deal with the hardest sh*t in their lives,” according to co-founder Jessica Cordova Kramer. Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs started Lemonada with the goal of producing cathartic shows on painful subjects.

The first show, Last Day, “will be a narrative podcast focused on the opioid crisis, told through the final day of Kramer’s brother’s life.” Lemonada, the Italian word for lemonade, is a play on turning life’s struggles into something more palatable. “My worldview is that we’re all going through so much,” Wachs says. “We’re all suffering […] We felt this real strong need to create a space for people who are going through stuff like this.”

This fall, the network will be launching two other original weekly shows: As Me with Sinéad, and Good Kids: How Not to Raise an A**hole. Wachs hopes that the shows “give people a place to feel connected.” PM19 attendees: Hear firsthand about the network’s beginnings at the panel “Launching a Legacy: Lemonada Media & Westwood One.”

Teaching Code in Social Mode

Happy Friday and welcome to the last weekend before PM19. Today’s pre-event tweet comes from podcaster and educator Nicole Archambault, who teaches how to code! Rad.

We’re excited to see you storytellers next week. Dodging jet lag and alligators will be so worth it.

Love,

Team PM

Here's what else is going on:

• New host debut: Rebel Base Media announces Captivate.fm, described as “the world’s only growth-oriented podcast host,” to be launched at PM19. Captivate’s advisory board features James Cridland of Podnews, Laura Roeder of MeetEdgar, and Evo Terra of Simpler Media.

• Challenging IAB v2.0: As promised, here’s an assessment of Podsights’ recently announced Open Downloads (oDL) method of calculating podcast metrics. James Cridland has done “due diligence” to understand the issues and offers an informed, balanced rundown to consider.

• Spotify vs. Apple update: Voxnest’s July report on the battle is out. Highlights include Spotify’s takeover of Austria, The Czech Republic, and Romania. Can Apple keep up with Android-dominant areas and iOS geographical limitations? A world map GIF shows the last 6 months’ data.

• Enhanced Apple categories: In a press release yesterday, Apple announced that the enhanced podcast categories are now live. To “maximize your show’s potential” on category pages, it suggests defining a subcategory and separating episode numbers from the show title.