Welcome to The epDate, where we bring you the latest in podcasting for podcast people!

On this week’s show, we explore the latest news in the podcasting world, some podcasts you should be checking out this week, and our podcaster spotlight, featuring David Olney from Blind Insights.

World Podcast News

Spotify Reportedly Overhauling App To Make Podcasts More Prominent

Spotify is reportedly overhauling its app to make podcasts more prominent. According to a report on Bloomberg, the new version of the app — which is yet to go public — will put podcasts and music on equal footing, rather than the current setup where podcasts are seemingly hidden among a plethora of musical options. Spotify currently only accounts for roughly 10–20% of listeners of some of the top podcasts according to Bloomberg, but there is a clear focus on improving that element of the company, spending $400 million in 2019 alone on podcast growth.

Redcircle Has Launched A Tipping Function For Podcasters

Redcircle, a podcast startup aimed at helping to grow smaller podcasts — which we talked in last week’s epDate — has already added a new feature to their web-based podcast player. The new feature allows listeners to tip podcasters using a button on the Redcircle player, or via a link in the podcast shownotes. Options for $2 and $5 tips are available, with a “custom” option also available.

Google Introducing Podcast Indexing

You will now able to play podcasts directly off of your Google searches, with search results for podcast-related searches now yielding playable links for the most recent 3 episodes. If you search for a podcast you’ll be able to follow a link to the google podcast app for Android users, or a dedicated web player for Apple users. The web player has similar functionality to most podcast players, with ‘The Verge’ pointing out the biggest limitation is that you are limited to episodes from a single podcast, unless you conduct another search.

And that’s the podcast news from around the world this week, now a look at some new and topical podcast releases across the week.

Topical & New Releases:

The Hot Breakfast Catchup with Eddie McGuire, Wil Anderson & Luke Darcy — Triple M Melbourne 105.1

Australia’s new fifty dollar note, which had been in circulation for over six months, has an unfortunate spelling error and it was discovered by a call-in listener during a breakfast radio show. Listen to “The Hot Breakfast Catchup with Eddie McGuire, Wil Anderson & Luke Darcy” by the crew at Triple M radio to hear more about the discovery, and which word was the culprit.

Brian Lehrer Show

Have a listen to The Brian Lehrer Show to find out more about Facebook’s free speech fight and the varying legal and political questions that have arisen following the latest divisive moves from the social media juggernaut. After recently banning controversial figures including Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan and others from the platform, Lehrer and a cast of political and tech commentators share their takes on the latest free speech conundrum.

Casefile

Australia’s popular ‘Casefile’ podcast has a new episode out focusing on another dark crime. Case 110 delves deep into the disappearance of Muriel McKay, who went missing on the 29th of December, 1969. Casefile deals with serious and often distressing real-life incidents, if this isn’t for you — listen to one of our other podcast suggestions.

Earth Break: A Few Suggestions For Survival With Additional Hints and Tips About How to Make Yourself More Comfortable During the Alien Apocolypse

A new podcast with a long title and epic storyline has been released. Earth Break: A Few Suggestions For Survival With Additional Hints and Tips About How to Make Yourself More Comfortable During the Alien Apocolypse — has 2 episodes out now for your listening pleasure. The series stars Jenney Slate, who most recently voiced Missy in the popular Netflix comedy ‘Big Mouth’.

Lena Dunham’s The C Word

Lena Dunham, creator, writer and actor of the HBO series ‘Girls’, has debuted her latest podcast on Luminary. ‘Lena Dunham’s The C Word’ aims to give listeners a fresh perspective on what it means when we call a woman “crazy”. Dunham and cohost Alissa Bennett, explore the lives of messy, fascinating women with empathy and humour. Available exclusively on Luminary Premium.

Podcaster Spotlight:

Now it’s time for our podcaster spotlight, where each week we’ll have a different podcaster on to talk about their favourite 3 podcasts right now!

On this podcaster spotlight, we have David Olney from Blind Insights — a podcast with complex problem solving, applied philosophy, and politics — and David’s sharing his favourite podcasts that he’s listening to right now.

David’s Favourite Podcasts Right Now:

The Spear
Team Never Quit
Think Again

Thanks to David Olney from Blind Insights. Check out Blind Insights on the Auscast Network or your favourite podcast app. If you’re a podcaster and want to share your favourite podcasts at the moment, hit us up on Twitter @AuscastNetwork.

And that’s it for the epDate, make sure you subscribe for free to Auscast Network Extra for plenty more great podcasts. The sponsors for this weeks epDate are: Pushpull Media, Got the Merchandise, and Cartel Media. Send us your stories and cool podcast facts at AuscastNetwork.com.

Podcast Resources:

https://podnews.net/

https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/08/redcircle-tipping/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-09/spotify-overhauling-its-app-to-promote-its-big-bet-on-podcasts

https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/10/18564035/google-search-podcasts-ios-desktop-web-player

Music from Free Music Archive in order of appearance

Computer Music All Stars — May The Chords Be With You

Nctrnm — Absum

Nctrnm — Qeue

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