PodMov Daily: Monday, May 10

Episode 425: Your Monday Mix

Go Deep: Curious Podcasting Wisdom from SuChin Pak

With the IAB Podcast Upfront kicking off tomorrow, we’re proud to share a conversation with SuChin Pak, the event’s host. A veteran journalist and former host of MTV News, Pak now co-hosts the podcast Add to Cart. She’s all about digging deeper — into what we buy, what we buy into, and why.

Pak has interviewed some of the world’s most interesting people, from George Lucas to Beyoncé. Now, she tells documentary podcaster Doug Fraser (What We Do) about her philosophy behind the mic. Pak is full of advice for other podcasters, especially when it comes to being a true partner to your co-host.

On Add to Cart, Pak and comedian Kulap Vilaysack have honest and revealing conversations about material objects, trends, and tough truths. Questions are the key to it all, she says: “When someone says something, there’s so much more beneath the surface — what they say is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Up Next: The First-Ever Upfront in Podcast Format

Today, the first-ever upfront in podcast format goes live. (Curious about media upfronts? Here's a 101.) Up Next is a series that showcases podcast publishers' ad inventory, explains Sounds Profitable editor Bryan Barletta. In short, brands will be able to listen in and choose among shows that offer the best fit.

Barletta tells us that podcasters and smaller networks should consider using this format as well. When pitching shows to brands, creators typically describe their work on paper. An audio portfolio, especially one that bundles several podcasts together, gives potential advertisers a convenient way to review your best work.

The idea for Up Next came from one question, Barletta says: Why don’t we use podcasting to sell podcasting? While events have long been the norm, he suspects that a well-packaged audio preview may be the best way to showcase an audio product. For a growing list of partners, the experiment has begun.

Podpage: Launch a Beautiful Podcast Website in Minutes

In podcasting, first impressions are powerful. Podpage makes it easy to create a beautiful, listener-friendly site for your show with just a few clicks. There’s no need for technical knowledge — just an RSS feed and five minutes. (Seriously. See the magic in action.)

With Podpage, new episode pages are automatically added to your site. Each one is SEO-friendly, with show notes, a media player, transcripts, and more. Listener engagement is easy through your contact page, mailing list, voicemails, and comments. They’ll even see your best reviews from Apple Podcasts.

The Podcast Host says it best: “Podpage is perfect for podcasters who want the best possible podcast website, for the minimum amount of time, cost, and technical know-how.” Ready to turn explorers into fans? Join thousands worldwide and make your podcast shine.

Here's what else is going on:

• Low five: Facebook is “the next great frontier” of finding new (and first-time) podcast listeners, suggests Edison Research SVP Tom Webster. Why? “Having the ability for your show to play in Facebook while users continue to scroll their feed is the default behavior you are looking for.”

• Sonic youth: Tomorrow at 8:30 am CT, The BBC Academy presents “Making Podcasts: What Happens Now?” Leadership from BBC Sounds, Wondery, and Spotify will dig into creative challenges like connecting with young audiences. Hosted by Vick Hope of BBC Radio 1. Free registration.

• Stay awhile: On Thursday at 12:00 pm CT, Captivate.fm CEO Mark Asquith will visit PMU for “Uncovering The Listener Acquisition Flow.” The podcast marketing visualization strategy helps creators understand listener behavior and build long-term audiences. Free and live on YouTube.

• All nighter: On June 7, Podcast Day 24 will host an in-person event in Sydney, Australia. Speakers including Podnews editor James Cridland are to be followed by major network upfronts. The larger 24-hour celebration includes Europe and North America. $279+GST, or virtual $179.