PodMov Daily: Thursday, November 21

Episode 92: Your Thursday Podthoughts

Your News Update: Google’s Automated, Observant Audio Feed

Techspot’s Adrian Potoroaca reports on “Your News Update,” Google’s new automated feed meant to act as a ‘smart news host.’

“Google announced an update to its Assistant that makes it somewhat similar to a radio news station when you say the words ‘Hey Google, play me the news.’ The feature will […] deliver what is essentially an algorithm-based news feed in audio form,” Potoroaca explains. Unsurprisingly the “technical wizardry behind the scenes” is quite involved.

The feed “will use what Google has learned about your interests, user history and location to greet you with a quick rundown of the big national and international headlines through a series of short clips,” Potoroaca writes. “Listening to these will then bring in longer stories based on your preferences.”

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Good for You: Relaxed Reality Podcasting with Comedian Whitney Cummings

Whitney Cummings has had “her hour-long Netflix special and created successful sitcoms and sat in writers’ rooms and appeared in movies,” but her new podcast completes the comedian’s power combo.

In her own words, “It’s not going to stress you out, but it’s also going to have something to take away from it. And it’s funny.”

Forbes’ Sarah Aswell spoke with Cummings about Good for You, a show which is “just that: your favorite comedians and funny people sharing their best advice, from how to save money to how to be a better parent to how to relax.”

Discussing the show’s origins, Cummings is open about her initial suspicion of podcasting as a platform. “I think what people want is a deeper connection,” she explains. I used to resist change and now I finally capitulated to evolving.”

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Stand Up Science: Podcasting Comedian Shane Mauss Hits the Road

“Something really cool happened halfway through my career called podcasting,” says comedian Shane Mauss. Beth Adams of WXXI, Rochester, NY, spoke with Mauss about his podcast, Here We Are, and his new live performance, Stand Up Science.

“Podcasting allowed us comedians to kind of really explore more of our natural interests,” Mauss tells Adams. “Rather than always having to cater to an audience of random people, we could focus on the things that most interested us. For me, that was science.”

Stand Up Science began with Mauss’ “idea to invite scientists whose work he finds fascinating to take the stage with him in live shows.” It satisfies a “neglected niche in the entertainment market,” balancing fun with a potent dose of scientific background. Regular tour dates are scheduled through January.

Happy Thursday, readers, and here’s to knowing our neighbors. Podnews has more on the Tracker, which contains “competitive intelligence, audience demographics, and sales targeting information” about the United States’ podcast listening landscape.

Cheers,
Team PM

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Here’s what else is going on:

• Open mind: Bloom, a program launched by Spreaker in August, sought to support “talented independent podcasters.” Popcorn Psychology, hosted by three licensed therapists, is the latest to join. The show challenges stigma around mental health through the lens of popular film.

• Personal data: An automated playlist, Your Daily Podcast, is Spotify’s latest development toward “a better recommendation system.” The Verge reports that it “mixes podcasts that people already follow along with Spotify’s own recommendations,” including trailers and news bites.

• Home team: Forbes reports that Spotify, which entered the Indian market this past spring, has announced “original podcasts in India, as part of its localisation strategy.” Three shows premiere December 3 including 22 Yarns, about “myths, folklore and untold stories from the world of cricket.”

• Major league: Last week, 8 podcasters including Mignon Fogarty (Grammar Girl) visited the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Students in the class “Audio: Radio, Podcasting and Beyond” learned industry and monetization essentials.