PodMov Daily: Thursday, March 19

Episode 166: Your Thursday Podthoughts

Vice UK: Bootleg Music Posing as Podcast Playlists

According to Josiah Gogarty of Vice UK, “there’s a reason Spotify is filled with fake podcasts of bootleg songs.” Gogarty looks into how and why podcast feeds are being used as a “workaround to upload not-exactly-legitimate music.”

“The bootlegs, live recordings and unofficial mash-up remixes that proliferate on YouTube and Soundcloud have made their way to Spotify as podcasts,” Gogarty explains. “A song is submitted as an episode, and the podcast channel functions as a playlist.”

“Anonymous lo-fi hip-hop beats,” dreampop, vaporwave, and the like make up the bulk of unlicensed music podcasts. A 14-year-old from Maryland, “keen to foster a community around the practice,” claims “over 50,000 streams since […] the end of February.”

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Jen Sargent of Wondery Predicts a Wave of Megahits in Audio

Dave Knox of Forbes connected with Wondery COO Jen Sargent “to discuss the world of podcasting and how the business of content creation is changing.” The two dove into the similarities between hit story-driven podcasts and the strength of HBO programming.

“You may remember what happened after The Sopranos. Well, all of a sudden these epic stories like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones arose,” Sargent said. “Wondery’s founder had this theory that the same thing could happen in podcasts.” Dr. Death may have set the stage for just that.

Wondery has gathered that podcasting will see more shows adapted for TV. When asked about the “trend of podcasts being the new source of scripts in the world of Hollywood,” Sargent confirms that “de-risked” hits with low production costs will be the next wave of audio.

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“Solitary Refinement” is Possible: Helen Zaltzman on Working from Home

In Hot Pod, Helen Zaltzman offers wise tips for working from home. The host of language podcast The Allusionist and co-host of the comedy Answer Me This!, Zaltzman produces a high volume of brilliant, creative work from various locations and on their own schedule.

Those who struggle with keeping regular work hours are not alone. Zaltzman embraces an organic method of doing demanding work late at night: “If you can, program your work so it hits at the times when you’re more likely to be in a productive headspace.”

“I think I was built for working in solitude,” Zaltzman told Hot Pod editor Nicholas Quah. However, sartorial life outside the office matters: “Wear something that instills some self-respect” or shows some zesty style. “A little interest is like a small visual treat to yourself.”

The OG of the OC Launches Her New Podcast

The Bravo network’s hit reality series Real Housewives all began with Vicki Gunvalson, the “OG of the OC.” After 14 seasons of sharing her Orange County life with fans, Vicki’s back and better than ever on her new podcast from the Westwood One Podcast Network.

Each week on Whoop It Up with Vicki, your host reveals new sides to her larger-than-life personality. With a wide array of friends and A-list guests, listeners get the inside story on “life as a Real Housewife, in front of the camera and behind the scenes.”

An accomplished businesswoman, Vicki entertains while empowering new and longtime fans with wisdom on financial freedom, life, and love. In her own words, “I’m passionate, I’m successful, and I’m totally real.”

Ready to raise a glass and Whoop It Up? Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts.

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Here's what else is going on:

• Toast proposed: Winners of the inaugural Publisher Podcast Awards in London have been announced. Congratulations to Crazy/Genius by The Atlantic, which earned the “ultimate accolade” of Publisher Podcast of the Year from among 120+ entries.

• Improv class: Gemma Bath of Australian women's media group Mamamia describes the podcasting team's adjustments to new production realities. Claire Murphy, host of daily news podcast The Quicky, is having listeners email recordings of their thoughts.

• Listen local: The Deccan Herald reports on the rise of podcasts produced “in and for southern India.” Shows like Injury Time, an in-depth series about Indian Football, have found niche success in Bangalore through social media and word of mouth.

• Tropical treat: Podcast Business Journal reports that Pineapple Street Studios has started a kids’ project called Stuck at Home. Students out of school are encouraged to create their own podcasts featuring fun, connective content for parents to submit.

A reminder: This week is all about sharing ― prize packs are up for grabs, and the reader with the most newsletter referrals from Monday to Friday will win a free pass to any PM event.