Acclaimed Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz has golden, painful advice for all of us: “Your success is not a story.” Recirculated yesterday, her 2020 post about pitches helps explain why so many podcasters struggle to get their narratives noticed – not just in the pitch arena, but across this crowded space.
Brands are built around stories, and podcasts need compelling brands. How you went from 0 to X downloads or how you built a million-dollar business may inspire you because you lived it. Unfortunately, it gives off spam-email vibes to networks, newsletters (hi!), potential partners, and most importantly, listeners.
One’s ‘success’ must have an important wider significance, Lorenz says. There’s a reason those paid pieces in Forbes never resonate: “It’s my job to tell compelling stories that inform and reshape how people view the world. Stories without a larger narrative don’t travel and they’re a waste of both of our time.”
For the third time and counting, author Brendan Koerner’s work has been ripped off by a podcaster. The Wired contributing editor spent nine years researching an article that was turned into a show in January: “every key detail in the podcast comes directly from the story’s text, without any attribution.”
Plagiarism in true-crime podcasting is getting worse without real consequences, writes Beau Paul of We Got This Covered. (Crime Junkie creator Ashley Flowers has gotten away with it repeatedly.) What sets this case apart is that the podcaster reached out to Koerner, announcing plans to appropriate his work.
In a Twitter thread about the escalating situation, Koerner says it’s time for a frank discussion about what constitutes ‘fair use’ for podcasters. “The bottomless appetite for compelling yet cheap nonfiction content is becoming an epic bummer for those of us devoted to unearthing untold stories.”
Out of 2 million podcasts, only a handful have reached the 1 billion download mark. Last year, The Ramsey Show became the fourth ever to earn the title. For 29 years on the air, financial expert Dave Ramsey has helped dedicated listeners navigate money and life.
Each week, his impactful advice is trusted by millions and counting. “We’re teachers at the core,” said Brian Mayfield, Executive VP of Ramsey Network. “We’ve never seen anything grow the way the podcast world has grown, so we see tremendous opportunity there to continue to increase our audience.”
Since The Ramsey Show began 15 years ago, callers have paid off a calculated $500 million. Ready for practical answers to the questions that matter most? Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
Happy Thursday, PM Family! We’re still on a high from what many are calling our…
Our last price increase before Podcast Movement 2024 happens tonight. Register today to join us…
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Her Turn to Podcast Summit, May 20 & 21…
Happy Wednesday, PM Family! It’s been a minute since our last check in, but with…
Before we get going, just a reminder that prices go up tonight to join us…