We’re going to Hollywood!

The Ambies - Oscars for Podcast

The Ambies is an award show from The Podcast Academy, based in the United States, which will air the first time on May 16th 2021. The Ambies celebrates excellence in podcasting and elevate awareness and status of podcasts as a unique and personal medium for entertainment, information, storytelling and expression. It is said to be as prestigious as the Oscars for movies. The academy recognizes excellence in 2 categories, show with awards like Best Documentary, Best Interview Podcast, Best Comedy, etc., and talent, with awards like Best Host, Best Perfomer in Audio Fiction, Best Scriptwriting, etc. And of course, the most prestigious prize of the night: Podcast of the Year.

Following award shows like this is a really good way to discover more shows and they are bound to be good as they are already recognized as the best of the year. This is where I discovered The Edge: Houston Astros, a sports documentary about the Astros’ cheating scandal which led to their 2017 World Series win. The show is nominated for Best Sports Podcast!

Together, We Listen.

WFH means no longer listening to songs with your friends together and figure out new music from what they listen to. Well, say no more to that!

Spotify created a feature called “Group Session” where you can insert the songs you like and listen to them simultaneously with your friends inside the Group Session. It’s a unique take on collaborative listening and it works for podcasts too! You can virtually listen together and discover different music or podcasts tastes that your friends like.

Unfortunately, it’s still a beta and it doesn’t work too well on PC as much as it does on the phone. There might be new updates in the future, but some platforms are also coming up with this trend. Nonetheless, it looks like people have an innate desire to listen to music together, even though remotely!

Next time you are stuck coming up with a story, have an argument!

There are (many) times where we couldn’t come up with the right question for a story. And the frustration is real! Either everyone has been saying the same thing or they sound like just facts--there’s no STORY. Lately, what’s been working for us to actually get a story is to have an argument! I’m dead serious! Arguments and perspectives from other people can give an idea you wouldn't have before. Because when you work on stories alone, there are no outside perspective that can counter your idea which creates no dynamic. Just like the old saying "the more, the merrier" more views from other people will add pieces to your story. Try asking what the opposite camp says and why. Start with a friend or your team and you’ll get more ideas from that, even if it deviates from your initial expectations!

Podcasting Has Evolved

Podcasting Has Evolved Scripts, pitches, screenings, series, storylines, blockbusters, terms normally used for films but we’re talking about……podcasts. Once used as a platform for basic chit-chats about news, politics or technology, podcasting has now been elevated to superstar status.

Narrative driven or scripted podcasts have become the hottest formats in the industry with scripts being written, stories being pitched, series being produced and blockbusters being made, phrases that were normally reserved for Hollywood. Hollywood itself is now regularly proposing adaptive stories to podcast studios, taking existing stories and transforming them into podcasts. Some podcasts are even being transformed into films. It’s truly an amazing time for the podcast medium.

So if you are planning to produce your own podcast, let your mind run wild and let your creative side shine as podcasting has no boundaries.

Packed away

I’ve always been interested in bags & the way people carry their equipment. Before the pandemic, we usually record outside of our studio to wherever the guest is. Not to mention the gear that we have to carry, mics, cables, recorder, etc.

So how we carry our gear is really important. So after some experiments, I found that Camera bags are super useful for Podcasters who records outside a lot. No need to buy pelican cases, or worry about your gear getting knocked around. Camera bags usually come with padded dividers. This means your mics, cables, and recorders are both organized and protected!