Hi podcasters,
In this issue you’ll get to know independent podcasting’s number 1 supporter, Frank Racioppi of Ear Worthy, Forbes contributor. If you’re not already familiar with his work, now is the time to get familiar. Frank is also a part of the Eurowaves advisory board.
You’ll also discover Dutch podcasts, upcoming events from all over Europe and beyond, and more.
Before we get into it…
Eurowaves Recommends
Sounds Like Impact, the leading newsletter for social impact podcasting, recently launched #AudioForAction Live, a video interview series featuring podcasters, filmmakers, social impact strategists, and other changemakers. Explore past conversations and register for upcoming interviews to gain practical insights and new ideas for using audio to drive change.
Now, let’s get into it!
🇪🇺 Podcasting & Community News 🇪🇺
🎙️Jullian Androkae and I talked with Claire Waite Brown of TrueFans about everything from our thoughts on Podcasting 2.0 to global perspectives and how to be a real partner for a podcaster launching, rebranding or elevating their podcast.
🇪🇸 New Eurowaves x Castbox curation alert! For this list, we're going to Spain.
🌎The Ambies entries are open internationally. There are two new categories - best music and episode of the year.
🇫🇷🇵🇱ARTE is hiring a Polish-speaking freelance journalist in Strasbourg.
🇩🇪The max15 award welcomes submissions across the entire spectrum of radio drama.
🇫🇷ARTE Radio Audioblogs launched the twelfth edition of their summer podcast competition, in partnership with Télérama and Sennheiser.
🇮🇪Good news from Ireland, where podcast advertising is up 33% year-on-year. (source: Podnews)
🌎Audible Launches New Global Brand Campaign, “Stories that Speak to You” (source: Podnews)
Eurowaves Update ☘️
Since the last issue, we have…
…+20 new subscribers.
Share this issue with your podcast network to keep the community growing.
To keep Eurowaves running, sign up for a paid subscription. For advertisment, see here.
Independent Podcasting’s no. 1 supporter, Ear Worthy’s Frank Racioppi 🎙️
Frank Racioppi is a Southern New Jersey-based author who lives with his partner, Linda, and their two cats, Moogie and Tinker Bell. Frank has published his daily podcast review e-publication, Ear Worthy, since 2007. He is also a contributing writer to Forbes magazine, specializing in the podcasting industry. He is also the author of five non-fiction books, seven novels, and two short-story collections.
You can connect with Frank on LinkedIn here.
What’s your podcasting origin story?
I began writing Ear Worthy in 2007 after I was asked to help a neighbor start her sewing podcast called Sew What? Then, I was hooked. The publication has gone through several iterations and titles, including Podcast Reviews, Podcast Reports, and The Listening Post.
What motivated you to focus your work on supporting independent podcasters?
After a few years of writing about network-supported podcasts, I realized two things. First, they don’t need my marketing assistance. These podcasts are supported by big-budget marketing firms. Second, I so enjoyed interacting with indie podcasters. They are so courageous, and their dreams are infectious.
Among other things, you are also a contributing writer for Forbes. What are some of the articles you wrote whose message you are most passionate about?
There is a War on Independents in Podcasting is an article I am especially proud of. When I took the job at Forbes, I made a commitment to feature independent podcasters when I could. I wanted to continue my work on Ear Worthy to a larger audience at Forbes.
Tell us about the Ear Worthy Awards! How did they start, and how can podcasters get involved?
I started it because award organizations seemed to be ignoring independent podcasts. Last year, we had the most organized setup with judges voting in genres. I was in favor of only considering the 247 podcasts we reviewed last year. We don’t charge an entry fee, because the published review is the entry fee. That’s the spirit of the award.
Given all your insights into the industry, what is your outlook on European podcasting and where it’s headed?
I’m so enthusiastic about European podcasting because there are so many stories to tell, so many cultures to explore, so much history to cover, and so much culture to explore!
Share some of your European podcast recommendations with us.
Spanish Sundown - Spain. Samuel Mattern is brilliant.
Book Imprint - Denmark. Rebecca Thandi Norman is an expat who understands the power of books.
Rigour & Flow - UK. Aiwan Obinyan and Dr. Tamanda Walker. Courageous and controversial.
Promenade - Ireland. Andy Gaffney. Superb storytelling.
The Bad Articles - Ireland. It has it all! Horror, improv comedy, audio fiction, a paranormal investigation, and nostalgia
Thank you, Frank!
🎙️🌍 Podcast Recommendations 🌍🎙️
This podcast tells the story of the only two Spanish popes in the history of the Vatican: Callixtus III and Alexander VI—uncle and nephew. How much truth is there to the “Black Legend” surrounding the history of the two Borgia popes?
United Citizens of Europe brings people together and inspires generations of Europeans. Listen to stories of Europeans and expats living in Europe, celebrate their successes, and learn from their mistakes. Hear from European NGOs that work to improve Europe and bordering countries.
A premium audio storytelling label for children aged 2 to 5: gentle bedtime stories crafted to accompany the moment of sleep, help little ones calm down and drift off peacefully. Tilibou comes in several languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Italian.
Want to see your podcast recommended?
🇳🇱 Podcasts from The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Katz Laszlo does all things narrative audio: producing, reporting, hosting, sound designing, editing, fundraising, teaching and public speaking. She has made audio documentaries for Radiolab, NPR Rough Translation, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 6, NPR Outside/In, and Dutch public radio’s OVT.
She produced, developed, co-ran The Europeans podcast, as well as leading the shows’ narrative series for 7 years. She was trained at Transom, and applies her science education by doing research for various investigative narrative series. Previously, she studied biomedicine, taught about how science and politics have shaped each other, was part of a union, and continues to be committed to improving community support, representation and working conditions for producers across Europe.
She works in English, Dutch, Spanish and French, and has called Amsterdam, Barcelona, an English village with 20 houses, and New York City home. When she is not making radio, she is cooking, dancing, and sleeping, all in large quantities.
In De Plantage Van Onze Voorouders, producer Maartje Duin tracks down the descendants of the people her ancestors enslaved. Together with one of the people she finds, Peggy Bouva, they make an 8 part series. What unfolds is an intimate reckoning with whiteness, and how deeply personal our most uncomfortable history is.
In De Plantage Van Onze Voorouders, opspoort producer Maartje Duin nakomelingen van de mensen die haar voorouders tot slaaf hebben gemaakt. Samen met een van de mensen die ze opspoort, Peggy Bouva, maakt zij en 8-delige serie. Witheid en hoe diep persoonlijk ons meest oncomfortabel geschiedenis nou is wordt in de bek gekeken.
BOB remains my favourite Flemish podcast for it’s style. Audio collective SCHIK follow the hazy memories of an 84 year old, who has suddenly started talking about an early love that none of her 3 daughters had ever hears about. Made by Nele Eeckhout, Siona Houthuys, en Mirke Kist.
BOB blijft mijn favoriete Vlaamse podcast voor het stijl. Audiocollectief SCHIK volgen de wazig herinneringen van en 84 jaar oud vrouw die ineens vooral praat over een jeugdliefde waarvan haar drie dochters nooit eerder hadden gehoord.
Een soort God is an investigative series about a kung-fu sect made by Simone Eleveld and Anneke Stoffelen, for De Volkskrant. What moved me about it is the non-judgemental way it steps inside a world that many people would like to think they would never fall in to, and certainly notice sooner what is happening - but as the series makes clear, that’s what everybody thinks until they are in it. The lessons to be learned from the people they interviewed reminded me of dynamics in violent partner relationships, or unsafe workplaces - I’d recommend sticking around for the bonus episode about how the justice system failed the victims, approached with a kind of curiosity into how that happens and what the impact is that I wish more journalism took on.
Een soort God is een verhalend onderzoeksjournalistiek serie over een kung fu sekt, gemaakt door Simone Eleveld en Anneke Stoffelen, voor de Volkskrant. Wat me heeft geraakt is het onbeoordelend manier waarop het een wereld instapt waarvan veel mensen willen denken dat ze nooit in zouden vallen, of op zijn minst gelijk zouden merken wat er aan de hand is. Maar zoals de serie duidelijk maakt, dat is wat iedereen denkt tot ze erin zitten. De lessen die te leren vallen deden me denken aan geweldadig partner relaties, of onveilige werkplekken. Ik raad het aan om te blijven tot de bonus aflevering, over hoe het rechtsysteem de slachtoffers heeft gefaald, benaderd met een nieuwsgierigheid over hoe dit heeft kunnen gebeuren, maar ook een helderheid over de impact ervan die ik graag in meer journalistiek zou zien.
Thank you, Katz!
You can connect with her here.
🚀Events and Opportunities🚀
In Listening Open Call (International)
Open Call: After more than a decade of collaboration with Germany’s public radio @deutschlandfunkkultur and Austria’s @orf public radio, CTM Radio Lab shifted into a new format titled “In Listening”. This call is for works grounded in experimental sound and audio art, and driven by conceptual approaches or sonic narratives. It supports exploration at the blurred edges between sound, music, storytelling, poetry, documenting and more, while reflecting on ideas, stories, and current events.
When? September 6.
Longueur d’ondes Awards (France)
Since its creation in 2007, the Longueur d’ondes Prize has focused on radio creation in all its diverse genres. Each year, it recognizes individuals who, through the formal quality of their production, the incisiveness of their perspective, and an original narrative approach, contribute to the promotion of documentary expression. The selected pieces for the Petites Ondes documentary creation prize are broadcast in the listening room at the Longueur d’ondes radio and listening festival.
Eurowaves is a media partner of Longueur d’ondes.
When? September 22.
Rose d’Or (International)
The prestigious Rose d’Or Awards define the gold standard for excellence and achievement in International TV and Audio programme making. There is an audio category available: scripted or unscripted original podcast, audio-first books and radio shows. Entries accepted from producers, platforms, distributors or talent.
When? October 9.
That’s it for now!
Andreea
Thank you for the shoutout!