PodMov Daily: Friday, June 3

Episode 658: Week Download Complete

Think Outside the Podcast Merch Box

Crooked Media is venturing outside the podcast merch box. The network will launch its Crooked Coffee line later this month, complete with ‘What a Morning,’ a nod to its daily news show What a Day. We bring this up to point out the branding. It’s tailored to the network’s audience on every level: 

Why coffee? The world is unpredictable. The news is the news. So why not start the day with a really good coffee, sourced in a sustainable and ethical way, that comes with a pledge to donate to Register Her to help register millions of women across America to vote? Why not? Tell us why not. You can’t. It’s a good idea. 

Most podcasters don’t have the resources to launch custom gourmet goods, whether it’s coffee or a buzzy new pasta shape. But as Nick Leighton (Were You Raised By Wolves?) told Sounds Profitable, truly creative merch doesn’t have to be complicated. He has some terrific ideas to get you started.

The winner of May’s $200 referral giveaway is Bailey Reber, the host and creator of Distressed to Joyful; Bailey’s Way. Twice a month on the 5-star rated podcast, she dives into topics surrounding bipolar disorder and mental health. She is also a fashion designer with an Etsy shop out of Houston, Texas.

Thank you all for referring friends to the newsletter this month, and special thanks to Bailey for the support! Much love.

Here's what else is going on:

• Field goal: “Podcast Marketing 101” from Radio Boot Camp is this Monday at 12:00 ET. Lauren Passell will cover growth fundamentals like finding audience matches and partnerships, setting up promo swaps, getting featured on major apps, and what not to do on social media. $100 registration.

• Break room: Apple Podcasts Connect will be unavailable for several hours on June 25 due to scheduled maintenance. Downtime is set to start at 6:00 am PT and may last as long as three hours. Apple told creators to make sure they complete any critical deliveries or changes ahead of time.

• Case closed: Potify, we’ll never forget you. Back in January, the platform for medical marijuana dispensaries was blocked from securing a federal trademark on its name. Two attorneys recently broke down how Spotify succeeded in court. For such a tragic verdict, the case details are kind of fun.

• Mystery men: Having built a niche following over two years, the podcasters behind The Ion Pod have revealed their identities to The New York Times. “It was an exciting thing to be anonymous,” one said. “But now, it seems like the most exciting thing to do is to have the pressure on us.”