Compiled by Trent Thomas
Why Scott Phillips launched another podcast
The Good Oil With Scott Phillips has recently launched on LiSTNR. On the show, Phillips uses a series of guests to help break down how the world of investing, economics, and finance to help listeners be more informed when making financial decisions and to start growing their own wealth.
Scott Phillips spoke with Mediaweek‘s Trent Thomas about why he has added a second podcast to his schedule and what listeners can expect.
Audiences already know Scott as the host of Motley Fool Money podcast. The Good Oil sees Phillips try his hand at an interview based podcast. Phillips said that this was inspired by some ‘bonus’ episodes of Motley Fool Money.
“We did a few episodes 18 months ago as part of the Motley Fool Money podcast which were basically bonus episodes. It goes back to there. The response was actually fantastic. Our normal episodes are good obviously, but they are not particularly different. They’re are not comment worthy generally speaking. And these ones are. People were like ‘oh, that was great’, and ‘have more of those people on’ or ‘can we hear that again’, and was literally born from listener interest.”
In The Good Oil, Scott invites globally successful leaders in industries like finance, investing, property and tech to explain how their industry works, what part it plays in the economy, and to share their unique insights into the future of that industry, as well as where the financial opportunities lie. Guests for the series include Stephen Koukoulas, managing director at Market Economics and former economics advisor to the Gillard government, Eliza Owen, head of Australian research at CoreLogic, and Ruslan Kogan, CEO and founder of Kogan.com.
“We wanted to set a scene first of what’s going on, and then kind of get into those conversations with people who are making it happen, and are interesting in their own right through either their personal story, or business story, or both. Ruslan Kogan has got that all going on. He has got his own story, the Kogan business is growing fantastically well, and online is growing fantastically well. So it was kind of great person, great story, great business. And that’s what we’re looking for.
“We’re looking for interesting stories, interesting interviews, and interesting people in areas that make sense to our listeners in business, finance, economics. Economists aren’t necessarily a natural mix for an interview podcast, but it’s kind of breaking apart what’s happening, and what’s actually going on from people who are doing it like CEOs and entrepreneurs or from the experts who can kind of break it down and explain the bigger picture. It’s a combination of big picture people, whether they be commentators, journos, economists or CEOs, entrepreneurs, and fund managers. It’s a big remit, but hopefully gives us enough latitude to make the conversations interesting for our listeners.”
When asked why they split the show off as its own brand instead of adding a third weekly podcast, Phillips said that it is a combination of reasons.
“Motley Fool Money was already busy, and we didn’t necessarily want people to feel compelled to listen to a third episode if it wasn’t their thing. The other thing was that the types of conversations we are having will hopefully attract their own audience. There are people who don’t want the nitty-gritty of finance investing, but they do like the idea of hearing from people about the economy. It is the next concentric circle out from the Motley Fool Money, and I hope we grab groups of people that don’t necessarily listen to the other stuff. But it just gives the listener the choice, they can choose one feed or both.”
When asked if he and Motley Fool will continue to expand their podcast offering, Phillips said he had no plans to add any more podcasts to the slate, but cited the ultimate politician answer of ‘never say never’.
“If LiSTNR wanted to and we had some content that was compelling and we thought people would like it, there is always a temptation to do something if it came up, but no plans at all. Not even any ideas at the moment.”
[Listen to The Good Oil With Scott Phillips here]
Ryan Jon: Daytime host for KIIS 1011 and podcaster
After nine years on the road building his radio career, which included long stints in breakfast in Canberra and Perth, Ryan Jon is happy to be back in Melbourne. He started his radio career in Phuket. “You can’t be picky about where you get your first job,” he told Podcast Week’s James Manning. “I applied for two jobs – one in Swan Hill and the other one in Thailand. I didn’t get the Swan Hill job, so I had to go to Thailand.”
Jon then tried to work his way back to Melbourne. He got close with Canberra, but then took a gig in WA. When he left Perth radio, where he was at 92.9 before it flipped to Triple M Perth, he thought his years in radio might be over.
“I got asked about doing my current KIIS job twice and said no, because I didn’t think I was good enough. I can’t believe how dumb I was that I said no, thinking I couldn’t have done it.”
He did a couple of demos to convince himself as much as the station, and it’s been a good relationship ever since. “I recently got married too and I have never been happier.”
Or busier it seems. He’s working days with ARN and spending time podcasting.
He’s currently hosting six hours on KIIS 1011 from 9am and hosting two podcasts with finance guru Victoria Devine.
Jon told Mediaweek: “I met Victoria about 18 months ago and she wanted some assistance on her podcast. In that time I have gone from helping out over a coffee to now being part of the team.” In addition to working with Devine on She’s on the Money, more recently they launched The Business Bible. Jon also worked behind the scenes on The Property Playbook launch, a series hosted by Victoria Devine and property mogul and buyers advocate Amy Lunardi.
The Business Bible: Victoria Devine and Ryan Jon
Jon recently added another regular title to his schedule, Toni and Ryan. Co-hosted with Toni Lodge, the Toni and Ryan podcast lives on iHeartPodcast Network. Lodge is also an EP on She’s On the Money.
Toni and Ryan will soon publish three episodes a week, lifting Jon’s weekly podcast output to five.
Jon has form when it comes to the world of business. “I was originally in an accounting firm in Melbourne after completing an honours degree in accounting and finance. I’m currently doing an MBA as well. I’ve always been a finance money nerd.”
Listen to The Business Bible here.
Listen to Toni and Ryan here.
Rachel Corbett talks Decoding Crypto
Having launched in late August, Nova Entertainment’s latest original podcast Decoding Crypto is here to help listeners navigate the potential minefield of the cryptocurrency world.
Mediaweek’s Tess Connery spoke to Rachel Corbett, Nova Entertainment’s head of podcasts and digital content, about putting the podcast together.
Corbett says that the podcast came about after an office chat about housing.
“We were having a discussion at work about how to deal with property prices continually flying through the roof, and that for a lot of younger Australians that is becoming an investment path that’s almost not possible. So they’re starting to get into the stage where they’re needing to look for other ways, potentially, to invest their money, and crypto was one of those areas.
“We really wanted to do a show about it because there’s so much misinformation, it’s so confusing. Even if you decide that you want to investigate, even as you read all the articles and watch all the videos, you can still feel like ‘what the hell is a blockchain?!’”
Rachel Corbett
Taking listeners into the world of cryptocurrency as hosts of the pod are expert crypto investors Justin Baldori and Jason Pizzino.
“They both have online brands where they teach people about investing in crypto,” said Corbett. “Jason’s been at it for a little bit longer than Justin, and actually has helped Justin through his journey into crypto. Justin is one of those guys who’s early into it, but he loves experimenting with things and trying things out. They’re both just really excited about the space and want to teach people about it.
“We really just liked the difference in their experience. They’re both really keen on the space and knew a lot about it. We wanted almost someone who was a little bit less experienced and someone who’s a little bit more experienced, and they just had a good dynamic and friendship.”
Cryptocurrency is a topic that people tend to either know a lot about or nothing at all. Corbett says Decoding Crypto is accessible to even those who are total newbies.
“Both hosts have been investing in crypto for a while, so we’ve really been back and forth with them in the records saying ‘pare back, pare it back’.
“We wanted to create the first five episodes to almost be like a crypto 101, where we looked at really basic fundamentals. Then from each episode after those first initial five episodes, we’ll talk more about what’s going on in the markets and what are the latest coins and stuff, it’s a little bit more topical.”
In the end, Corbett says that she just hopes listeners leave with a bit more of an understanding.
“I don’t think crypto is going anywhere and, at least from my personal experience, it’s been something that I’ve been really interested in knowing something about.
“It’s really just about providing information for people so they can feel more informed about something that is spoken about everywhere. They can make their own decisions. This show is not financial advice, it’s really about providing information so then people can decide what they want to do themselves.”
[Listen to Decoding Crypto here]
US podcast ad spend climbs 24% in 2021
Podcast advertising spend rose by 23.8% in the United States in the first five months of 2021, according to data from ad intelligence and sales platform MediaRadar [via WARC].
Between January and May 2021, there were 3.5k brands spending US$221.8m on podcast advertising per MediaRadar’s database. Over the same period in 2020, there were 3.0k brands that collectively invested $179.2m. Monthly spend in 2021 has also exceeded 2020 levels for each of the first five months.
US podcast advertising spend is projected to grow by 60% this year and exceed $2bn in value by 2023. Campaigns have proven popular with advertisers as 37% of Americans listen to podcasts each month and daily average consumption is at almost an hour.
The IAB reported earlier this year that streaming digital audio and podcast advertising continued to rise in Australia in 2020, with 69% of media agencies now reporting streaming digital audio advertising is a significant or regular part of their activity and 36% reporting podcast advertising is a significant or regular part of their activity.
[Read more and download report]
US industry pundit Nicholas Quah sells Hot Pod
Vox Media has announced it is entering an agreement to acquire Hot Pod, the US newsletter covering the podcasting industry, founded by Nicholas Quah in 2014. At Vox Media, Hot Pod will become part of The Verge, with Quah deepening his long-running relationship with New York and Vulture as a full-time podcast critic.
Senior reporter Ashley Carman will take over as lead writer of Hot Pod for The Verge, expanding Carman’s coverage of podcasting and audio. The acquisition also marks The Verge’s first paid product as it will continue to publish Hot Pod’s weekly subscriber-only newsletter Hot Pod Insider, laying the groundwork for more paid Verge products in the future.
Photo: Nicholas Quah, Ashley Carman, and Nilay Patel
“I can’t think of a better home for Hot Pod than The Verge,” said The Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel. “The story of the podcast industry is the story of technology and culture colliding, and Ashley is the perfect reporter to take it over and bring it everything The Verge can offer. As long-time fans of Hot Pod, we’re excited to keep growing the community Nick has fostered.”
Guardian Australia announces expanding podcast network
Guardian Australia is expanding its podcast network as it launches the new podcast Australia Reads.
The new title will be published three times a week – on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – and will feature an editor from Guardian Australia’s newsroom selecting and introducing a piece of Guardian journalism. The article is then read aloud by a diverse pool of professional voice actors, with each episode lasting around 15 minutes.
Episode one features author Thomas Keneally reading his own piece on the fractured state of Australia’s federation. The episodes are hosted by supervising producer at Guardian Australia’s audio team Jane Lee.
“We know that our readers are hungry for quality, independent, high-quality journalism,” said Guardian Australia editor, Lenore Taylor. “But many are also time-poor – busy working, exercising, raising children, running errands. Others may simply want to limit their screen time.
“With Australia Reads, we read the story to you, so you can listen while doing those other things in your day.”
Other Guardian Australia podcasts include Katharine Murphy’s Australian Politics podcast, and the award-winning daily news podcast, Full Story, launched in October 2019.
[Listen to Australia Reads here]
Angie Kent and Yvie Jones team up again for a new Nova podcast
Angie Kent and Yvie Jones will reunite in their first project together since Gogglebox, with their original Nova Podcast Two Girls, One Pod launching on Thursday, September 9.
The show will aim to bring a sense of escapism to listeners and will take them behind the scenes on Gogglebox as well as The Bachelor. The show will also talk about topics such as how rubbish dating can be and more.
Kent said: “It’s like we are back on the couch together again talking absolute dross but also delving deep and having those big conversations too, it’s all about that balance! It’ll be like listening to the two best friends you never knew you needed 😉”.
Jones said: “Any chance I get to work with Angie again I jump at it and this is the perfect project for us! We get to be our real selves and that’s when we are our best. Can’t wait to be back on air”.
Osher Günsberg celebrates podcasting milestone
Osher Günsberg is celebrating 400 episodes of his flagship podcast, Better Than Yesterday which is distributed by Acast. To mark the milestone, Günsberg has released a special episode titled Reflecting On 400 Episodes where he has a one to one conversation with the listener on how far the podcast has come, from its inception to now and everything in between.
Better Than Yesterday has evolved to become a bi-weekly conversation that hopes to help listeners make today a little better than yesterday, covering topics from health and wellness to society and culture. Recent guests have included Meshel Laurie, Stuart Diver and Hamish Blake while the 400th interview episode features a conversation between Günsberg and Mitch Tambo, a First Nations indigenous Australian singer songwriter, a Gamilaraay man who’s new single HEAL is currently #1 around the world.
Günsberg admitted he had his early doubts on how far the podcast would go, “I never thought I would get to 400 episodes. I never believed that this could be a serious alternate source of income, which it has become. You know, we’re making enough money doing this show to employ a whole team of people to help me make this show.”
Newsrooms combine for 9News Lunch Podcast
Two of Australia’s most experienced newsrooms have collaborated to make national news bulletins more accessible, with the launch of 9News Lunch Podcast.
The 10-minute national news bulletin is presented by Nine Radio journalists Amie Meehan and Natalie Peters – who work with the newsrooms of 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR – and utilises the resources of 9News’ team of journalists.
Accessible every weekday from 12.30pm, 9News Lunch Podcast will allow listeners to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in local, national and international news.
“The 9News Lunch Podcast does exactly what it says on the tin – a comprehensive snapshot of what’s unfolded in news across the morning,” said Hayley Bourne, Nine’s Head of Digital Audio.
“This is a great example of the power of Australia’s biggest media company, collaborating internally to create on-demand, credible content for our listeners, at pace.”
[Listen to 9News Lunch Podcast here]
Big Brother Star Ari Kimber to launch Diary of a Sydney Psycho podcast
Piccolo Podcasts is launching a new podcast with Big Brother Australia 2021 alumn, Ari Kimber. Diary of a Sydney Psycho will harness Ari’s brash and contentious sense of humour to cover all things relevant to Gen Z – from reality TV, pop culture, sex, politics and everything in between.
“I am so excited to bring you all along with me as I navigate my way through Sydney! I’m going to spill all the goss and roast as many reality stars as I can! I don’t hold back so get ready Australia!” said Kimber.
Kimber will be joined by producers Holly Mitchell and Andrew Menczel in hosting the show, and will feature special guests.
“Ari has been one of the most entertaining reality stars to hit Australian television this year. He’s young, smart, funny and not afraid to say it exactly how he sees it. Piccolo Podcasts is thrilled to have him on board and I can’t wait to see this podcast take off,” said Andrew Menczel, Piccolo Podcasts managing director.
[Listen to Diary of a Sydney Psycho here]
VACC launches The Grille on LiSTNR
The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has teamed up with LiSTNR to launch its first branded podcast, The Grille, which brings together automotive journalist Greg Rust, actor Shane Jacobson and VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym, to discuss all things motoring.
Each episode features news and views about Australia’s automotive industry, appealing to automotive industry professionals, motoring enthusiasts and motorsport fans.
The first episode, available now on LiSTNR, features former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson and future episodes will be published monthly.
Rust, best known for his LiSTNR podcast Rusty’s Garage, will anchor the podcast, with car and bike enthusiast Jacobson bringing his unique sense of humour to the show and Gwilym rounding out the trio with his industry rigour and business perspective.
Nova launches new podcast: Build Your Brand
Nova Entertainment’s latest original podcast Build Your Brand will provide small business owners, solopreneurs or budding influencers with social media tips and insights for anyone who wants to grow their on-line presence.
Hosted by Alisha Marfatia, a social media expert and business mentor, Build Your Brand launched on Thursday September 2 and takes the challenge out of mastering social media.
In times of economic uncertainty, harnessing the power of social media can be one of the most influential and cost-effective ways to increase brand awareness and acquire new customers or followers. If you’re not sure what should you post, if hashtags are still a thing, or how to navigate algorithm changes, then Build Your Brand is the podcast for you.
[Listen to Build Your Own Brand here]
