Narrative podcasting is not dying. It’s storytelling. From 🇮🇪Ireland to 🇸🇰Slovakia
Eurowaves #15
Hey podcasters,
We have a packed newsletter going from Ireland to Slovakia to Germany. I am truly so grateful for the cross-borders community we are creating!
I’d love to hear one thing Eurowaves has helped you with, one new podcast it helped you discover, or one new connection you made thanks to it.
Last week, Grand Prix Nova took place in Bucharest. It was packed with audio drama listening sessions and celebrating international work. Congratulations, Radio Romania!
In other news,
The International Women’s Podcast Awards winners were announced. Being a judge was such a fun and gratifying experience. Big congratulations, everyone!
Podglomerate shared a list of 33 must-read podcast newsletters, including Eurowaves!
The Lovie Awards final deadline is TODAY - last chance to submit. Their mission is to shine a light on the breadth of Europe’s specific contributions to the Internet. New honors for Podcasts include Best Video Podcast. If you need help finding the right category for your niche, explore their guide breaking down every step!
For your radar:
From Podwires: iHeartMedia Brings Hit Podcasts to a Global Audience, Now Streaming in New Languages - French, Spanish, Portugese
From Podnews: In Germany, for the first time, podcasting is now bigger than radio for 18-29 year-olds.
Job Openings in Europe: Podcast Closer - Business Development for SalesSource in Amsterdam and Client Manager for Podspace in Helsinki.
Fundraiser: Your Pain Was Born Here is an experimental docu-narrative and coming of age story highlighting the stories of Blackness, self discovery, and community. The story follows director Mina and her team traveling throughout five different countries in Europe. Suport them here!
Eurowaves Update ☘️
Since the last issue, we have…
…+27 new subscribers.
Please share with your network to keep the community growing!
This newsletter will always be free but if you’d like to support my work, you can sign up for a paid subscription.
🇮🇪 Éire Podcasting: All About the Irish Podcast Market
Conor Reid is a podcaster, producer and writer, and the Head of Podcasts at HeadStuff & The Podcast Studios, where he has worked on hundreds of podcasts over the last seven years.
Since 2017 he has hosted and produced his own award-winning fiction podcast, Words To That Effect, and in 2024 he launched the audiodrama The Greatest Matter, a Victorian gothic crime tale.
You can connect with Conor on LinkedIn here.
Share with us a general view of the Irish podcasting landscape at the moment and where you think it's headed.
I think the Irish podcast landscape is very healthy right now in terms of creativity and originality. There are lots of exciting new shows coming out, and plenty of old reliables going strong. I think a lot of shows are upping their game, in terms of the quality of what they are doing, whether that’s with better audio quality and editing, the use of video, or spending more time on planning and marketing. This is partly to do with there being more sponsorship available in recent years for the bigger shows, and partly due to the need to stand out in a busy space.
Right now I think Irish podcasting is particularly strong on comedy, with plenty of true crime and sport too. Ireland is certainly following the international trend of seeing a huge rise in chat podcasts fronted by well-known personalities, with lots of video and an “always on” schedule. Audio-first shows, particularly the more highly produced, narrative storytelling series, tend to chart less frequently but there have been some really top-class podcasts in recent years, such as The Witness or The Real Carrie Jade.
Podcast live shows have really taken off in Ireland, with shows such as Young Hot Guys, The 2 Johnnies, My Therapist Ghosted Me, I’m Grand Mam, and others bringing in audiences of thousands and selling out large venues for multiple nights, which is great to see.
In terms of the future, it will be interesting to see what develops at RTÉ, the Irish state broadcaster. In the UK, the podcast landscape is hugely influenced by BBC, but nothing similar has ever really happened in Ireland. A Head of Podcasting role was just created last month at RTÉ, so I’ll be very intrigued to see what happens next there.
Ultimately, so many of the great Irish shows are indie productions, run on tiny budgets, and as someone who started out and continues to make my own indie shows, I’m always heartened to see the support for these podcasts. From incredibly long-running shows like An Irishman Abroad, The Irish History Podcast or Second Captains, to podcasts using the Irish language, like How To Gael, right through to great indie audiodramas like Petrified, Last Dance or This House Will Devour You.
What are some opportunities for Irish podcasters when it comes to connecting locally, as well as reaching out across Europe?
Honestly, the Irish podcast community is quite disconnected, with very few opportunities to meet other podcasters. Myself and a few colleagues were over at The Podcast Show in London a few weeks ago, and it was great, but it’s an international industry event. Closer to home, it was fantastic to see the Irish Podcast Awards get started in 2022—both as recognition for the medium and as a chance to meet other Irish podcasters—but it lasted only two years before being wound down (Editor’s Note: It looks like they might be back this year!).
At The Podcast Studios, we have run workshops, live shows, and events over the years, and it’s something we’re hoping to do more of, as a way for Irish podcasters and fans to meet and connect.
In terms of collaborating across Europe, online groups (like Eurosounds!) or communities on Reddit, Facebook, and elsewhere are usually the best bet. As an English-speaking country, we so often look first to the UK and the US in all aspects of media and culture, and can ignore what’s going on on our doorstep in France, Spain, Italy, or elsewhere. The Doc on One team at RTÉ have done some international collaborations (The Nobody Zone is a good example) with versions available in multiple languages, and I would hope to see more of that in the future.
Read the full interview here. Conor shares more insights about monetization in Ireland, branded vs non-branded podcasts, and more.
🎙️🌍What I’ve been listening to🌍🎙️
I met Claire and Sam in London and instantly felt how much heart goes into this show. It’s a branded podcast that stands out. They don’t push a product. Their goal is to genuinely uplift creators. In the latest episode, they feature Fariba Nawa, the award-winning investigative journalist behind the On Spec podcast (I also met Fariba at The Podcast Show). She talks about her team’s investigative storytelling, multilingual collaboration, and monetization strategies. I’m still thinking about the recipe perk on Patreon! You’ll have to listen to find out. The show explains tech jargon and news in a very accessible way, and also highlights how you can use TrueFans tools to engage listeners and monetize.
Shoutout to Fariba for the wonderful quote on narrative podcasting from this episode, that ended up being this issue’s title.
CNN, Chance Encounters
This podcast feels like Modern Love with a passport and quirky sound design! I loved the latest episode: an American woman falling for an Italian man in a vacation romance. And they make it work! It’s heartwarming without being (overly) cheesy. As someone also in a multicultural relationship, I think it speaks to their characteristic beauty and chaos. It’s a perfect listen for when you need to slow down or feel some hope for the world.
ARE WE EUROPE, Security or Surveillance?
ARE WE EUROPE has absolutely fantastic storytelling and it embodies the cross-border European projects I always aim to highlight. Next up in my queue is their latest series investigating how artificial intelligence, counterterrorism rhetoric, and state surveillance are being used to silence climate activists, restrict protest, and reshape civic space in France. This is a fascinating topic since, as we know, France really is in the midst of these conversations, and it seems there are some untold stories we might not know about (or might have not, if it wasn’t for this podcast!).
What podcasts have you been listening to lately?
🇸🇰 Podcasts from Slovakia 🇸🇰
Katarína Urban Richterová is a freelance journalist and podcast producer who specializes in narrative podcasts —a format still very rare in Slovakia. With over two decades of experience in radio journalism and podcasting, she has worked with numerous Slovak and international media outlets, gaining recognition and numerous awards for her work.
ŠtB: Prísne tajné (StB – Top Secret) is a Slovak documentary podcast series exploring the operation and lasting impact of the former Czechoslovak State Security (ŠtB). It stands out for its expert insights, storytelling, archival sounds, and personal testimonies from those who experienced the communist regime. Covering topics from political persecution to brutal psychological, brainwashing, tactics and societal control, it reveals how the past still shapes Slovakia today.
ŠtB: Prísne tajné je slovenský dokumentárny podcastový seriál, ktorý skúma fungovanie bývalej Československej štátnej bezpečnosti (ŠtB). Vyniká profesionálnym spracovaním, story-tellingom, odbornými poznatkami, archívnymi zvukmi a osobnými svedectvami ľudí, ktorí si na vlastnej koži zažili krutosť tejto tajnej služby. Podcast sa venuje rôznym témam - od politického prenasledovania až po brutálne psychologické a manipulatívne praktiky, pričom odhaľuje nakoľko minulosť ŠtB má ešte aj dnes vplyv na slovenskú spoločnosť.
Ľudskosť (Humanity) is one of the most respected Slovak podcasts focused on mental health, relationships, and emotional intelligence. It features research-based conversations with experts and known personalities, exploring topics like trauma, stress, and empathy, aiming to destigmatize topics surrounding mental health in the Slovak society. With a calm tone and well-prepared interviews, the podcast manages to create a rare space for vulnerability and reflection in today’s fast-paced world.
Ľudskosť je jeden z najuznávanejších slovenských podcastov zameraných na duševné zdravie, vzťahy a emočnú inteligenciu. Prináša rozhovory s odborníkmi na duševné zdravie, ale aj so známymi osobnosťami, ktoré zdieľajú vlastné životné príbehy a skúsenosti. Podcast skúma témy ako trauma, stres a empatia, s cieľom odbúrať stigmu okolo duševného zdravia v slovenskej spoločnosti. Profesionálna moderácia a dobre pripravené rozhovory vytvárajú v dnešnom uponáhľanom svete vzácny priestor na zraniteľnosť, zamyslenie a hlboké konverzácie.
Tajné korene (Secret Roots) is my own „podcast baby“- a narrative podcast series exploring the different roots – national and ethnic - that all of us in Slovakia have. Each episode uncovers (often hidden) family stories and how they are connected to major historical events, realising why Rusyn roots had to be kept secret, or Jewish communities were on the outskirts of society. The podcast strives for an intimate, storytelling-based and historically grounded format. The stories it tells are fun and full of joy, but also painful and real, just as Slovakia’s history.
Tajné korene je moje vlastné „podcastové baby“ – naratívna séria, ktorá skúma rôzne korene – národnostné a etnické – ktoré u seba nájdeme všetci na Slovensku. Každá epizóda odhaľuje (často skryté) rodinné príbehy a ich prepojenie s významnými historickými udalosťami. Zisťujeme, prečo museli byť rusínske korene utajované, či židovské komunity na okraji spoločnosti. Podcast rozpráva príbehy, prináša reportážne nahrávky, a poskytuje historické vysvetlenia a súvislosti. Príbehy, ktoré prináša, sú živé, plné radosti, ale aj bolestivé – rovnako ako dejiny Slovenska.
Thank you for sharing, Katarina!
You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.
🚀Events and Opportunities🚀
THE ECCO presents: An Evening with Jess Shane (Berlin, Germany)
Are you interested in documentary journalism? Particularly in audio? Then come join us for an event by THE ECCO featuring the talented Jess Shane, audio artist and creator of the 2024 podcast "Shocking. Heartbreaking. Transformative." When Shocking. Heartbreaking. Transformative. came out last year, the New York Times listed it as one of the best podcasts of 2024. At the same time, a lot of journalists and documentarians had a lot of opinions about it. Many loved it, many had some ... let's say.. "concerns".
When? July 3.
Funding which enables journalists and media to independently produce relevant cross-border investigative stories of public interest with a European mindset from international, national, and regional perspectives. The results of the journalistic investigations can be published in any language, but applications must be in English.
It is open to E.U. member states and participating countries in the Creative Europe Programme: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Armenia, and Tunisia.
When? July 24.
A €20,000 prize recognising outstanding in-depth journalism work on topics that are relevant for the European Union (E.U.) and contribute to the promotion of principles and values of the E.U., as enshrined in the European Charter of Human Rights. The Prize is open to professional journalists and teams of professional journalists of any nationality, as long as submissions were published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries. Entries can be print, audiovisual or online media, and may be submitted in all E.U. official languages with an English summary.
When? July 31.