Harvey Norman backs season two of The Australian’s Hedley Thomas podcast, Bronwyn
The Australian launched the second season of cold case investigative podcast Bronwyn last week, hosted by multi-award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas.
With the returning support of Harvey Norman, the new season of Bronwyn continues the search for Bronwyn Winfield, a devoted mother of two little girls, who mysteriously disappeared in 1993 in an idyllic surf town in New South Wales.
Season two presents new evidence and some dramatic twists in the 31-year-old mystery, as Thomas takes listeners and readers into his investigation to find out what happened to Bronwyn.
The Australian’s editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn said: “Bronwyn is a gripping story that has captured the attention of audiences around the world with 3.9 million downloads globally as of this week.
“In this compelling new season, Hedley and our team of award-winning journalists David Murray, Claire Harvey and Matthew Condon will continue to investigate Bronwyn’s disappearance exploring every angle through world-class reporting and audio storytelling.”
Harvey Norman has supported each of Thomas’ podcast investigations since the launch of The Teacher’s Pet podcast in 2018 which has had more than 80 million downloads worldwide.
The podcast is accompanied by comprehensive editorial coverage in The Australian including interactive digital features, videos, maps, explainers and photo galleries.
MIK MADE sole indie nominated for Network or Publisher of the Year at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards
MIK MADE is the only independent company nominated for network or publisher of the year at this year’s Australian Podcast Awards.
MIK MADE is recognised for producing some of the most successful titles in this year’s charts, including Big Small Talk, which delivers the week’s biggest stories in a bold, fresh format. The MIK MADE lineup also includes Black T-Shirts, an interrogation of creativity in advertising and beyond, and Give Me a Buzz, created in collaboration with Bumble and a nominee in the Commercial Branded Podcast category.
MIK MADE is the audio production arm of Sydney-based MIK Studio. With all content produced, crafted, and conceived in-house.
“We’ve taken a new approach to podcast production and distribution,” said Adam Callen, founder of MIK Studio.
“Podcasting is traditionally an audio-first experience, but it’s far more than just sound. Successful podcasts require thoughtful branding, visual design, and engaging social content to truly connect with audiences. We’ve also invested heavily in cutting-edge technology and infrastructure that allows us to create high-quality podcasts. It’s great to be acknowledged for our holistic approach.”
Dylan Adams, partnerships director and custodian of MIK MADE said: “At the heart of brand partnerships is relevance. Brands should feel like a natural extension of the podcast and vice versa. We’ve worked with the likes of Koala, Tempus One and Bumble because of their authenticity and relatability amongst podcast listeners.”
iHeart marks 53 consecutive podcast rankers as Australia’s #1 podcast publisher
ARN’s iHeart has once again secured its position at the top of the Australian Podcast Ranker, now marking 53 consecutive rankers as Australia’s #1 podcast publisher and boasting four podcasts in the top ten.
In September, iHeart recorded 6.5 million listeners and 19.8 million downloads.
Among the top 10, Audioboom’s Casefile maintained its spot as the #1 true crime podcast, ranking #2 overall. The Imperfects held at #6 overall (#1 Health & Wellness podcast), while The Kyle and Jackie O Show came in at #8, while remaining the #1 radio catch-up.
Corey Layton, ARN’s head of digital audio, said: “Our continued success on the Australian Podcast Ranker is a testament to the incredible talent behind these shows and the dedication of our audiences. From true crime to finance, sports to relationships, iHeart continues to provide a wide range of content that resonates deeply with listeners across Australia.”
[Full podcast ranker results can be found here]
Johnnie Ingram joins Adam Ferrier and Brent Smart on Black T-Shirts
This week the duo is joined by Johnnie Ingram, executive producer, creative director, director & show creator of We’re Here — the unscripted series that follows drag queens as they prepare to perform in small conservative towns.
From his advertising beginnings making work that explored diversity to his new unscripted frontier as a showrunner, this episode of Black T-Shirts has Johnnie explain how good ideas are universal. Whether you’re creating a film or creating a brand — Johnnie emphasises that long- format storytelling still has a place in the current media landscape.
Meet Jackie O’s Bestie Gemma O’Neill: Media executive as reluctant podcast star
“I never wanted to be on air. It never interested me,” Gemma O’Neill tells Mediaweek.
The co-host of the new hit podcast Her Best Life has taken a long journey to a role behind the microphone.
That journey includes working reception for 2Day FM when it was Sydney’s #1 FM station, producing breakfast radio shows for Wendy Harmer and Kyle and Jackie O and managing radio networks in Australia (SCA) and New Zealand (NZME). She also spent time producing radio in the UK (Global). Let’s not forget the years Gemma O’Neill spent working for Nicole Kidman in her production company (Blossom Films).
Launching Besties Australia
After a recent two years running the management company Gemmie Agency, O’Neill recently wound it back. Her sole management client is now Jackie Henderson. O’Neill is also the CEO of the business she runs with Henderson, Besties Australia.
The company started life bringing Gwyneth Paltrow to Australia in 2023. The company has now diversified beyond events into travel packages and online courses. It is also home to the Her Best Life podcast hosted by Henderson and O’Neill.
During her career in the media, O’Neill has never been far from the microphone. But she never wanted to grab it! “Even when there were opportunities that would come up early in my career to go on air, like fill in for people or when someone was sick, it just had zero interest for me.”
Henderson has been floating the idea of a podcast for some time. O’Neill was reluctant. “I didn’t want to do the podcast. For a long time.”
Uncomfortable Growth Uncut podcast: Episode 2 – Mark Coad’s Uncomfortable Lessons
Leadership isn’t just about guiding a team; it’s about facing storms head-on, navigating the unknown, and sometimes, it’s about finding the courage to rebuild when everything feels like it’s falling apart. In this heartfelt episode, Rowena Millward sits down with Mark Coad, the CEO of IPG Media Brands Australia and New Zealand, as he shares his raw, unfiltered journey through the ups and downs of leadership.
Listen to Uncomfortable Growth here.
Coad, affectionately known as Coady, opens up about his path of embracing uncomfortable growth. From being thrust into the deep end of running a media agency when everyone was jumping ship, to stepping up as CEO, to tackling the challenges of parenthood.
Coad’s narrative is filled with moments of self-doubt, reflection, and the inevitable question: “What is the answer? I’ll just have to figure it out.”
But this isn’t just a story about career milestones—it’s a story of personal growth. Coad shares a touching moment from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a story about his son standing at a crossroads between education and passion. It’s an experience that many parents will connect with—the delicate dance between guiding our children and letting them chase their dreams.