This Week in Podcasts is a weekly roundup of the goings-on in podcasting, from highlights to pitfalls to updates and more. Have updates or crowdfunding campaigns you want listed? Check here for directions on how to get in touch.
Highlights
AfroQueer
“Sex Test”
Release date: 9/26/19
Runtime: 22 minutes
A RadioPublic embed of the episode, which you can also find here
AfroQueer‘s new season begins with a discussion on sex, gender, hormones, and the influence of colonization on all of those topics. When black female athletes are seen as “too masculine,” they’re often subjected to hormone testing to prove they’re “eligible” to compete against other women–regardless of how those hormones (let alone concepts of gender or sex) actually operate.
Updates
DiscoverPods releases its 2019 Podcast Trends Report
DiscoverPods’s annual trends report has been released for 2019. The report can be downloaded in full as a PDF or viewed in full on the website.
Station Blue‘s Chad Ellis asks for budgeting wisdom on Twitter
Chad Ellis, creator, writer, and lead on fiction podcast Station Blue started a Twitter thread asking for advice for podcasters on a budget. Check the replies for some brilliant tactics, and add your own if you have advice or tricks to share.
The McElroys team up with CollegeHumor for a new online campaign
The McElroys of The Adventure Zone (and others) will be playing a campaign with Jessica Ross and Lily Du of CollegeHumor on the upcoming mini-season of Dimension 20, ComicBook.com reports.
N’Jeri Eaton announces new role at NPR
On Twitter, N’Jeri Eaton announced her new role as Director of Programming & New Audience.
Reminder that paperwork is important: lawsuits and turmoil for Small Town Dicks
Operating agreements are important, folks. Take this story about Yeardley Smith of Small Town Dicks kicking her co-host, Zibby Allen, off the podcast with no rights to IP as a case study.
New etiquette podcast Were You Raised By Wolves? released
A RadioPublic embed of the episode, which you can also find here
Join Emmy® Award-winning journalist Nick Leighton and stand-up comic Leah Bonnema as they help you avoid being the odd man out, the wallflower, pariah, or “that guy” in the “Do you believe that guy?” Whether you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth or you use a silver spoon to serve caviar (ew!), WERE YOU RAISED BY WOLVES? will teach you the rules of the game to avoid embarrassment and get ahead. Each episode, you’ll learn how proper behavior, good manners, and impeccable etiquette can help you smoothly glide through any situation, win friends, and influence people. No matter where you come from or what group you hang with, WERE YOU RAISED BY WOLVES? will help you be a better person…or at least make people think you are, which is all that really matters anyway. New episodes every-other Monday.
Campaigns
ENDING TOMORROW: VALENCE crowdfunding its first season
Upcoming fiction podcast VALENCE (disclosure: this is my upcoming podcast with Hug House) is crowdfunding its first season via IndieGogo. The campaign has a flexible goal of $4000 USD and will be running until September 30th, 2019. VALENCE is an urban fantasy podcast focusing on themes of mental health, found families, and data security. The cast and crew of VALENCE are made up of primarily people of marginalized demographics including queer people, disabled people, people of color, and people who fall under all of those categories. VALENCE‘s funding will go directly to supporting the cast and crew of the podcast. As of writing, VALENCE is about $300 USD from its stretch goal.
On Spec crowdfunding its first season
Journalism podcast On Spec is crowdfunding its first season via Kickstarter. The campaign has an all-or-nothing goal of $20,000 USD and will be running until October 4th, 2019. “On Spec is a platform for independently produced long form documentary storytelling in a bi-weekly podcast. We’re a team of eight freelance journalists from diverse backgrounds, living across the globe, who pursue stories because we care about them and know that they deserve a wider audience.”
Oblivity crowdfunding its second season
Comedy sci-fi fiction podcast Oblivity will be crowdfunding its second season via Kickstarter. The campaign has an all-or-nothing goal of £5000 and will be running until October 17th, 2019. “Oblivity follows the story of a disgraced war hero, posted to Pluto to oversee a dysfunctional research crew. The first six-episode season was released in April – and has enjoyed thousands of listeners, critical acclaim, a sell-out live show, and fan-art.”
Wil Williams Writes 