Apple and Spotify’s podcast plays could leave smaller shows behind. SMH 7/5/2021

/

By Tim Biggs

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/apple-and-spotify-s-podcast-plays-could-leave-smaller-shows-behind-20210505-p57p4n.html

Subscription podcasts are the new front in the big tech platform wars, with both Apple and Spotify unveiling ways for creators and media companies to take payments from listeners directly through their respective apps.

But the push could also disrupt the traditionally democratised space, with fears that smaller independent players could be further driven to the margins under the new podcast paradigm.

Spotify already operates the world's largest paid music service, and is now challenging Apple as the dominant way people listen to podcasts.

Apple’s offering promises to make it easier for listeners to support their favourite shows, compared to the current subscription solutions available to content creators, which involve community funding services like Patreon or Ko-Fi. Listeners can pay for subscriptions directly through the iPhone’s Podcasts app and in return can access early, ad-free or exclusive episodes.

The market for premium podcasts is growing but previously has been decentralised. For example the Welcome to Nightvale podcast has more than 4000 subscribers of Patreon, all paying at least $7 every month for various perks, but each member can listen to that content wherever they want. Podcast apps are largely content agnostic.

But Apple’s move could herald a big shift where listeners discover, subscribe and listen to podcasts all inside the same app. And while the program is open for all podcasters, Apple’s hefty 30 per cent commission on every subscription payment (moving to 15 per cent if a subscriber keeps paying for more than a year and has auto-renew active) may make it untenable for all but the biggest and most well-resourced shows.

“We’ve been trying to work out how many subscribers you would need to have to be able to make a profit, from the base fee and then Apple taking 30 per cent,” said Amy Donaldson, co-host of psychology podcast Two Shrinks Pod, who has only recently begun exploring opportunities to monetise the show.

“Less than half of our listeners listen on Apple Podcasts, so you have to think ‘okay, who would be up for moving to this platform to continue listening?’ Or would we need to keep hosting it on multiple platforms, and is the workload with that outweighed by the potential benefit of being promoted or having access to a larger range of subscribers.”

Ms Donaldson is also worried that Apple’s move means it now has a vested interest in promoting podcasts it was making money from, which could hurt independent podcast creators that can’t afford to move over from community-based subscription methods that take less commission.

“I’m curious to see how much Apple promotes the shows that offer paid subscriptions over those that don’t, and whether that becomes a disadvantage if we don’t go for that option,” she said.

Shortly following Apple’s announcement, Spotify unveiled its own subscription offering. Participants would need to use the company’s Anchor podcast creation tools to qualify, but the streaming giant promises to take zero commissions for the next two years, and only 5 per cent from 2023.

However, while Apple does have a big “subscribe” button in the Podcasts app that people can hit to set up their payment and immediately unlock the benefits, Spotify will not. Because Apple and Google take a cut of all purchases made through apps on the iPhone and Android ecosystems respectively, Spotify users need to find the page of their favourite podcasts on the Anchor website to subscribe.

And while Spotify’s much lower commission would make things more attractive for independent creators, it would still only apply to the proportion of their audience listening on Spotify.

Jono Pech, host of several podcasts including Puttin’ In Work — an interview show about the creative process — said many creators would be hesitant to put subscriptions on only one platform, and only the biggest players had the capacity to juggle offerings across all of them.

“It would be incredibly tricky to balance Patreon, Ko-Fi, Apple and Spotify subscriptions with the same content, making sure each audience is getting equal value and perks for the same price,” he said.

“It makes more sense to keep it simple for your audience to support you, and to put your energy into one platform that can build momentum and even a sense of community. Only a small percentage of listeners are passionate enough or have the income to financially support independent creators, so I think it’s important to be accessible to everyone when you’re still trying to grow your outlet.”

Pandemic podcasts: consumed differently but even more essential. SMH 6/5/2020

/

By Peter Wells

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/pandemic-podcasts-consumed-differently-but-even-more-essential-20200501-p54owt.html

The global pandemic and subsequent lockdown has affected every creative industry, both in terms of production and consumption. Over the past few weeks, I've been interviewing podcasters and podcast listeners to understand the impact on the medium.

Russell Ivanovic, chief product officer for podcast app Pocket Casts, says "from the data we have, which is limited because we care about user privacy, it seems like our user base has moved from listening on their phone to using our desktop or web app".

The average Pocket Cast user listens to around nine hours of podcasts a week, and that number "has been stable for years", says Ivanovic. "We did see the number drop below eight hours in the first few weeks of lockdown, but it quickly rebounded."

Pocket Cast's data reflects my own experience. Without a commute or any real structure to my day, podcast listening and many other habits fell away. I've had to force some structure back into my life, with morning and afternoon walks replacing my commute time, and podcasts have been a welcome break from the screen after hours of Zoom meetings.

My listening habits have changed as well. With the outlook in the United States so bleak, I've had to jettison some news podcasts from the US and I'm listening to more comedy.

"I can understand that — it starts to wear on you," says Amy Donaldson of Two Shrinks Pod. Donaldson and Dr Hunter Mulcare have released two excellent podcasts on dealing with the stress and anxiety we're all feeling, as well as providing mental health resources for their listeners. Even during a pandemic, Two Shrinks Pod has the fun banter that makes me love the show and recommend it constantly.

"In recording our first two COVID episodes, we disclosed far more about ourselves than we usually would," says Donaldson.

"As psychologists, we tend to be careful about self-disclosure, but we wanted to be open that everyone is finding this tough, even mental health professionals."

Emma Race of The Outer Sanctum is still producing a footy-themed podcast each week, while no football is being played.

"The audience has been sending us audio notes which we have been including on how they are coping," says Race. "Of course our content has changed given there is no sport. We have added a new part to the pod which is called the 5th Quarter where we discuss books, podcasts, tv, films, music.

"I don't have [listening] data but our audience is just as voracious for content; their feedback is that listening to us makes them feel 'normal'."

Mandy Hose of Too Peas in a Podcast is still creating weekly shows, but isn't listening to any of her favourites right now.

"Not commuting, [while] homeschooling or having a house full of kids and family means listening is increasingly difficult for us all," she says.

"I have children with disabilities so online learning is extremely challenging."

Still, her podcast remains as optimistic as ever.

While I am avoiding news podcasts, like most of Australia I have fallen in love with Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor, the hosts of ABC's Coronacast. Coronacast is short, informative and somehow manages to lower my anxiety with each listen — remarkable given the subject.

For a different look at coronavirus and the global lockdown, I would highly recommend Reply All's Attic and Closet Show, Ross and Carrie Stay Home, Heavyweight Check-In 3, Science Vs Coronavirus: Was It Made In a Lab? Parents should subscribe to Parental as Anything. Recent episodes have included many tips for dealing with children while attempting to work from home.

Getting to the end of homeschooling during coronavirus (without losing it) - ABC Life 29/2/2020

/

By Tim Fisher
https://www.abc.net.au/life/getting-to-the-end-of-homeschooling-during-coronavirus/12210588

Coronavirus restrictions are being tentatively eased in some states, and the promise of schools returning to normal should give me hope.

But these weekday mornings still find me with jaw clenched, taking deep breaths as I coax one daughter through her lessons while another runs in circles through the washing.

As my to-do lists pile up like the clothes on the floor, so does the imagined disappointment of friends I'm not texting, family I haven't called and, especially, bosses I'm not delivering to.

Not to mention the very real disappointment of the kids and partner, thoroughly sick of my attention always being elsewhere and my fuse being shorter than ever.

I'm not alone in worrying about the impact my emotions are having on the kids as I try to teach, work and parent simultaneously.

"Some days I amaze myself by being super positive," says Cyril Delafosse-Guiramand, a father of two young girls.

"But the next day I can cope with none of it, and find myself telling my child off or walking out of the room."

With WA sending students back and NSW schools beginning a day-a-week return from May 11, it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel. But for thousands of parents and children, the juggle will continue throughout term two.

So how do we get through this next, hopefully final, stage of "crisis teaching" without losing it at our kids, then hating ourselves for it?

We spoke to experts and other parents for some tips.

Be realistic

"I don't know how full-time workers are juggling both school and work," says Nicki Farrell.

Nicki is a former high school teacher-turned-homeschooler and the co-founder of a forest school in Queensland.

"It can take a year of homeschooling to get to a stage where the [parent-teacher/child] relationship is healthy enough to do it successfully," she says.

With this in mind, you're simply not going to be your kids' favourite teacher after a few weeks' experience and no training.

"If you're realistic," says psychologist Hunter Mulcare, "you're more relaxed as a parent, and as a result the children are more relaxed because they're not feeling pressured."

Acknowledge and express your emotions

Dr Mulcare is not only a psychologist. He's also a sole parent with two young kids.

He says if you're finding this period tough, you should absolutely feel OK about expressing it.

"Denying this is difficult is invalidating your own emotions," he says.

"And what do we tell our kids to do? We don't just tell them to harden up every time they're feeling emotional."

For Dr Mulcare, one of the biggest points of parental stress is managing your own emotions in a stressful situation while also being the anchor for the family.

"If we're stressed at work that's one thing. But when you're in the house with the children 24/7, you have to be quite creative and quite tolerant of the fact that some days are just not going to be good.

"For me the good days — which are in the minority, because mostly it's been average days — have not been about getting the school work done, but enjoying it, and enjoying being with the children.

"We went shopping last week and one of the kids spotted some modelling clay. So we bought it, went home and spent time making things instead of doing school work.

"Not every day is like that. If you get one moment like that a day, you're doing really well."

Know your own triggers

For the past three years, Cyril Delafosse-Guiramand has been living with his family in the Solomon Islands, where his wife Louise was working. Since leaving in March, Cyril has been running his business from a Canberra kitchen table while teaching his two daughters.(Supplied: Louise Scott)

"It's very much a rollercoaster of attitude, and it's hard to control," says Cyril of his emotions while teaching his children.

"The important thing is to know where you're at, to try to moderate, to mitigate it."

Dr Mulcare agrees: "If I'm anxious or I've had a shitty morning, it helps to remind myself that doesn't mean the afternoon's going to be shitty."

As you learn to recognise anxiety in your children, it's just as important to recognise your own signs.

"What I've noticed is that the kids often express their emotions physically — saying they've got a tummy ache, or asking if I can take their temperature. That's a sign something is going on for them," Dr Mulcare says.

For you, it might be tension in your body, or finding yourself turning the same thoughts over and over without getting anywhere.

As Dr Mulcare says, this is where kids can help. They may be sources of tension themselves from time to time, but they're also great at getting you out of your own head. Make sure you let them.

Use kids' energy for good

"Take them outside straight after breakfast and burn off the energy and emotion. Dispense with that right at the start of the day," says Nicki.

This is not only good advice for kids.

"We're like plants. We need sunlight, we need air," Dr Mulcare says.

"My kids and I have been riding our bikes to different parks and riding around. One child usually cracks it at some point, but it's helpful for all of us."

Rethink your job

If the demands of work have been getting unreasonable, it's helpful to remember we are still in the midst of a crisis.

"Some days, you know what, you do need to push through, and find a way to get your work done," Dr Mulcare says.

"But there are other days you need to push back, assert yourself, and give other people reasonable expectations about what's going to happen.

"We look at an inbox full of emails and the expectation is we'll get back to them all because that's what we'd normally try to do, but this is not normal. It's reasonable to state what you can actually do today."

Even when restrictions have eased, this is a mindset worth hanging on to. Dr Mulcare works at Sunshine Hospital in Melbourne's west, helping cancer patients through their diagnoses and treatment. He says this realisation is one he sees often in his patients.

"It's worthwhile having a think about what you truly have to do, and what people will tolerate if you don't," he says.

…and remember, good enough parenting (and teaching) is good enough

If you have high standards, this has probably been one of the most difficult things to take on board, but a period of crisis is simply not the time to impose them.

"There's a whole thing about 'good enough parenting' in psychology, and if you're managing to do that, you've won," Dr Mulcare says.

"People think it's a low bar, but it's not. It's hard to do."

And as Nicki says, "Remember how adaptable and capable kids are. They'll pick it back up. That's what kids do."

The podcast will see you now - The Age 29/01/2020

/

Dr Hunter Mulcare and Amy Donaldson are psychologists and hosts of the Two Shrinks Pod, a podcast that explores personality disorders, psychological theory, and the representation of psychosis in the media. The pair have produced one of those rare podcasting treats: an independent show on a fascinating subject, with good quality audio and a strong chemistry between hosts.

Mulcare wanted to try podcasting during a period of leave, when he "needed to keep his brain working," and enlisted a surprised Donaldson, who says she "literally showed up for a drink one night at [Mulcare's house] and there were microphones there. And now we're 51 episodes in!"

Mulcare wanted to create a show that explained psychology and psychological theory while never talking down to the audience. Mulcare was frustrated with the way psychology was being portrayed in mainstream media, and thought podcasting offered him a chance to go a little deeper.

"I was listening to a lot of American politics podcasts at the time," says Mulcare "And some of those shows would talk in great detail, at a really high level about complex situations. And I thought, 'that's what I want!' I want to have a podcast that would be two psychologists talking to each other, and not to dumb it down for people. Because I get sick of those two-minute spots on radio or breakfast television about some new psychology study…"

The podcast is one I've found myself binging on recently, and while the topics can be hard going at times, the hosts keep the episodes engaging. Mulcare and Donaldson have a knack for explaining the most challenging concepts to each other and the audience.

"We tend to get three kind of groups of people listening to the podcast," explains Donaldson. "We get the other psychologists and therapists who are learning about disorders or catching up on their professional development, that sort of thing. The second group are people who are experiencing an issue themselves or have friends, family, people in their life who have a personality disorder or have anxiety. The third group of people just have an interest in psychology and are just curious about these things."

In terms of downloads, the most popular episodes have been focused on "the dark tetrad" of personality dimensions; narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and sadism.

"I think people are interested in the darker recesses of human experience," says Mulcare. "I mean, if you look at the popularity of true crime podcasts, I think people are genuinely interested in the taboo, or what's unusual."

If you binge on Two Shrinks Pod and find yourself thinking you have every personality disorder mentioned, Mulcare assures me there's nothing to worry about. "When you're studying personality disorders at university, [a lecturer will often say] 'How many people think they've got this disorder?' and everyone nods in shy agreement. It's fine, you're normal.

"You either think yourself or everyone around you has it, but you're probably fine," laughs Donaldson.