PodMov Daily: Tuesday, September 21

Episode 508: Testing, One Two-sday

iOS 15: Apple Podcasts Personalizes Recommendations

Released yesterday, iOS 15 brings personalized recommendations to the ‘Listen Now’ tab in Apple Podcasts. José Adorno of 9to5Mac outlines what’s new, including category-based topical suggestions and “If You Like ‘[Show Name],’” a section that recommends podcasts based on fellow fans’ listening habits.

If you’re into Back Issue, this section may surface popular shows within Society & Culture, discussion podcasts about pop culture, more from Pineapple Street Studios, and others that Back Issue listeners tend to follow. With over 100 available categories and subcategories, now’s the time for creators to get specific.

Apple Podcasts (along with Music, TV, and Photos) also supports “Shared With You,” an in-app tab that shows podcast links sent via text. However, “it’s a very Apple kind of feature” in its limitations, says Chaim Gartenberg of The Verge. “Only things sent in Messages will appear, and only Apple apps will work.”

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How Producers Tackle Their Hardest Episodes

“The reason that the title ‘producer’ is so vague is that the default in the medium is to do it all from start to finish,” says Jody Avirgan, the original host and producer of FiveThirtyEight Politics. To better understand podcasting’s catchall experts, Becca James of Vulture asked 16 pros about their toughest episodes.

Traveling from India to Mexico on back-to-back assignments, 30 for 30 producer Julia Lowrie Henderson ended up sick from a combination of malaria pills and food poisoning. Alix Spiegel of This American Life, delirious from prayer-induced insomnia, was told by Ira Glass that he never wanted to speak to her again.

Of course, not every story involves trauma or the threat of a lawsuit (though that comes up, too). Some are subtle problems with surprising explanations. For Brendan McDonald of WTF, producing an interview with Fiona Apple was “much more challenging, honestly, than having to coordinate with the Secret Service.”

The Dr. John Delony Show: Because Mental Health Matters

Now more than ever, the world feels like it is spinning out of control. Millions of people are struggling with their mental health, marriage, parenting, and family relationships. The Dr. John Delony Show, a podcast from the Ramsey Network, answers life’s messy questions. 

Host and Ramsey Personality Dr. John Delony, a leading voice on mental health, relationships, and wellness, takes a practical approach to tough topics we all face. Dr. Delony’s caller-driven conversations help listeners work through anxiety, depression and disconnection with new tools and plenty of humor.

Ready to take charge of your mental health? It’s time to cut through the chaos and start building a more confident future. Send in your questions and join the conversation three times a week. Subscribe to The Dr. John Delony Show wherever you get your podcasts.

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Here's what else is going on:

• Rule book: Beginning today, Google will implement new requirements for podcasts to appear in Google Podcasts recommendations. Berry of Podcasts in Color kindly explains what an RSS feed needs to qualify. Without these details, listeners can still find and subscribe normally.

• Level up: Past the beginner stage, podcasters may find ‘pro tips’ unhelpful for serious skill-building. Evo Terra advises pivoting to other resources in Podcast Pontifications. “What we get from the professional podcasters at the top of their game is primarily inspiration, not instruction.”

• Fool’s gold: Has your podcast been pirated? Podnews editor James Cridland is here to help reclaim your treasure. If a host discovers their audio on another feed without permission, the best course of action is to report it to the pirated podcast’s hosting company. This can be tricky.

• Profile pic: “Take the time to literally write down a persona description of the podcast listeners.” Meant for guests, this pre-interview tip from Francis Nayan is useful for hosts as well. Providing your guest with a description of your target listener may help focus their conversation prep.