News Roundup

Roundup w/e Sept. 16

This Weeks Playlist

This week saw the launch of Mirrors, a brand new audio drama podcast from Zoom Doom Stories, creator of Spines. Starring Lucy Pearce (Passage), Sarah Hemmi, and Jamie Killen (author/ producer), with a special guest appearance from Sarah Rhea Werner (Girl In Space).

Mirrors is the story of one haunting told by three different people, over three different centuries, and will be released fortnightly so be sure to subscribe.

I remember when I was a child my father brought home an Atari VCS. Almost every kid on my street came by to check out this new alien thing, and we'd play Space Invaders and Pac-Man all day. Then at school they started new classes called “Computer Studies” where we learned to program in Basic and Ceefax. I remember the launch of Windows (yes, I’m old lol) and floppy discs when they were floppy!

Since then things have moved on in leaps and bounds, to the point we are now talking about Internet 3.0 and how technology will shape the future. Now you can get your geek on with this amazing new podcast from Zac Valenti and Blockstack. Here you can find some great interviews with the movers and shakers that are shaping our technological future.

I’ve also had the distinct pleasure of listening to the as yet unreleased audio drama podcast ‘Who Killed Julie?’ in its entirety. I sent the critical feedback to the creators this week, so you can expect a review to grace these pages in the next couple of weeks.

If you have a new podcast that you want some feedback on, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

In The News

Panoply to stop creating new podcasts

The big news this week has to be Panoply’s decision to stop developing new podcasts, and get rid of their editorial staff. Now the company will be focusing solely(?) on its hosting platform Megaphone.

This news came hand-in-hand with the news that Jacob Weisberg, chairman and editor in chief of Slate Group (owners of Panoply), has decided to leave the company.

“After 22 years, there’s no good moment to leave, but you start to feel like it’s now or never if you’re ever going to”

The podcast world was notably confused, seeing as Panoply had just last week announced a slate of new podcasts at IAB Podcast Up Front.

Have you updated your website’s Stitcher logo yet?

What about the app on your iOS? (Don’t worry Android users, the app will soon be updated there.)

“Stitcher has a new look and feel. A bit more modern, a bit bolder. Representative of the continuing evolution of podcasting, yet still harkening back to our roots.”

Here are the Press releases from Stitcher and Midroll, their sister company.

Women are driving podcast growth

New research released this week suggests growth in podcast listening for women has increased by 20 percent to 5.5 hours a week [per unit if available?]. Car entertainment systems and smart speakers also see significant rises in podcast listening.