Compiled by Tess Connery, Grace Gollasch, and James Manning
Do podcasters dream of electric vehicles? Greg Rust and Nadine Armstrong on Watts Under the Bonnet
Earlier this week, LiSTNR announced a long-term podcast partnership with carsales that will see four podcast series launch this month. The first, Watts Under the Bonnet: The Electric Vehicle Podcast focuses on everything electric vehicles.
Podcast Week’s Tess Connery spoke to Watts Under the Bonnet co-hosts, motor racing journalist, commentator and host of LiSTNR’s Rusty’s Garage, Greg Rust, and carsales’ consumer editor, Nadine Armstrong.
While LiSTNR and carsales might not be the most obvious candidates for a partnership, Rust says that the podcast came about because of previous connections between the two.
Rust: “It came about through a longtime mutual connection between Mike Sinclair, the editor in chief there, and myself – we have known each other for a long time through motorsport events. He approached me and said, ‘Look, one of the things in our digital offering that we don’t have is podcasts, and we know that that’s a space you enjoy playing in.”
Once the wheels were in motion, Armstrong says the deal with LiSTNR was a “no-brainer.”
Armstrong: “LiSTNR is just a great platform for us to reach a new audience. People looking for EVs are online a lot, they’re a different type of buyer. Consumers are in a better position than ever before, they research to the nth degree when they’re buying a car. To be able to offer them a different platform to hear about EVs is a really good thing. We wanted to have a tone that was still authoritative, but more relaxed so people can actually feel like you’re having a chat about EVs.”
As electric cars gain popularity at a staggering rate, the pair say that it only made sense for the podcast to provide the answers that consumers are looking for.
Armstrong: “We know from carsales research that buyers still have a lot of concerns around EVs. We really want to try and help people feel better about them, so when they do finally buy one – and they will – they know they’re buying the right one for their needs. At the moment EVs are probably not for everybody, but that will change as the product broadens and the price comes down.”
Rust: “When you go looking globally for podcasts on this stuff there is a very, very minimal offering, and the thirst for information in this space is very significant. I love cars, I have always done, but to be brutally honest this is a bit of a voyage of discovery for me because I don’t know everything about electric cars. I want to know more about them.”
From people without much knowledge about electric vehicles through to EV enthusiasts, Watts Under the Bonnet has something to offer everyone.
Rust: “I’d like to think that we all learn something every episode, particularly if you don’t know anything about electric vehicles. Even if you are a hardcore, traditional automotive person that prefers big muscle cars or sports cars, you can still learn a bit more about this. You may not ultimately end up being an electric vehicle owner right now, but it’s a very important part of a changing landscape.”
Ultimately, the pair hope that the podcast can dispel myths around EVs and make life a bit easier for people looking for their next car.
Armstrong: “I hope that we can just relieve some of that anxiety, there really still is a lot of those barriers – perceived or otherwise. The more information you have, the better choices you can make, and the better you feel about your car choice.”
[Listen to Watts Under The Bonnert here]
Why nothing is off limits for Brooke Blurton and Matty Mills in Not So PG
The latest podcast from Nova Entertainment is Not So PG, hosted by Brooke Blurton and Matty Mills. Each week Blurton and Mills will give an unfiltered version of their worlds and experiences as part of the First Nations and LGBTIQ+ community, while talking about their lives, love, and relationships.
Podcast Week’s Tess Connery caught up with Blurton and Mills to speak about how Not So PG came about and being so open with listeners.
Mills: “Brooke and I were friends for a long time over social media. When we did meet, it was in Melbourne at the First Nations drag competition. It was a safe space, a queer space, and we connected that night.
“It felt like we’d known each other forever. It felt like we had lived very similar lives as well – our childhoods and how we grew up are very similar. We both grew up in the foster care system, and we had parallel experiences as young people. Then in the media, we have very similar experiences as well. So we had this instant connection based on all of that.”
Brooke Blurton and Matty Mills
Having both worked in the media across multiple platforms, the pair say that podcasting has been a challenge they’re enjoying taking on.
Blurton: “I try to use all the ones social media has – Instagram, Tik Tok, all of those. But I found that you never really got the chance to be a bit deeper, and I felt like podcasting was something that I’d always had written on my list post-Bachelorette – even before that, actually. I wanted a platform where people could listen in and get more of an intimate conversation.”
Mills: “It’s one of those beautiful platforms where you’re able to have a one to one conversation. People don’t listen to podcasts in a group per se, it’s always in the headphones, and they’re just listening to us. I love that.”
Blurton: “I’m loving the podcast because I feel like it’s the perfect channel to be able to connect with people on a deeper level, and then also be a little bit silly. We both have gone through a lot in our life, but we also have a lot of fun and we wanted to show that cheeky fun side. I’ve personally never got to show it because the Bachelorette and the Bachelor have really taken over my identity in some way. That’s why I also wanted to write my book because I wanted to get my identity back, and the podcast goes hand in hand with that.”
There is nothing off limits in Not So PG, and being so open means that listeners be there with the pair as they discuss both the highs and lows of life.
Blurton: “Podcasting is really powerful. We’re so new to it, so there is always going to be a teething process, but we’re really excited about where we’re going to take Not So PG. I think it is going to be a journey, and I think people are going to be on this journey with us – it’s not always going to be fun and games, it’s going to take some deep dives into some more traumatic experiences that we’ve also been through.”
Mills: “I’m someone who is quite a private person. A lot of my experiences have been in the media, but my personal life has always been private. I’m actually really excited to be more open, more exposed, letting people get to know the authentic, unfiltered, raw side of me. I think that’s really exciting to be able to reintroduce myself and have people get to know the fun side, instead of just the serious TV presenter.”
Ultimately, Blurton and Mills hope that Not So PG brings a sense of connection and comfort for those tuning it.
Blurton: “We’re all about having fun with belly laughs and sharing our experiences and hoping people connect with them. But I also think that both being First Nations and queer, we want to make people feel comfortable in their identity and hope that we’re sharing our knowledge and our strength. If we get any chance to share our First Nations culture, we do absolutely do that – we take any opportunity to do that. But we’re doing it in a way that is natural and organic, rather than feeling tokenistic in any way.”
Gavin Scott: The prolific pop podcaster
Former Smash Hits and TV Week magazine editor Gavin Scott has become a prolific pop podcaster. Scott has worked as a freelance writer since 2009 after eight years working on those two magazines. Both podcasts – A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman and A Journey Through Aussie Pop – are fortnightly, meaning Scott’s pop production line publishes a new episode every week.
In addition to continuing freelance work for a variety of publishers, Scott also runs Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop (chartbeats.com.au), which is home to the podcasts and also his interviews, chart recaps and other pop content.
“This month I celebrated the 10th anniversary of my first Chart Beats content (a recap of the very first ARIA chart I collected in July 1987),” Scott told Podcast Week’s James Manning. “It has grown since then with a loyal paid subscriber base and thousands of followers across social channels.”
Scott noted there is bonus content on both podcasts for paid subscribers. While not able to include full tracks, the podcasts are peppered with 20-second slices of the pop hits.
“It’s great to be able to utilise my entertainment journalism skills in a way that’s also creatively satisfying. I get to ask the questions I’ve always wanted to know the answers to and present these pop stars to an audience with the respect and acknowledgement they don’t always receive.”
A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman
Scott: “Myself and Matt Denby (my former co-host on Who magazine’s Binge List podcast a few years back) are working our way through every single produced by SAW in order. We started at 1984 and, 32 episodes later, are currently up to 1988 (we just passed “I Should Be So Lucky”). It’s become an oral history of the Hit Factory, with every episode featuring interviews with artists (Kim Appleby, Sinitta, Pepsi & Shirlie, Princess, etc.) and/or the PWL team (Mike Stock, Harding & Curnow, former MD David Howells, etc). We have listeners worldwide, particularly in the UK, Europe, Australia and North America.”
[Listen to A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman here]
A Journey Through Aussie Pop
Scott: “My newer show is up to episode 13. Myself and Robbie Molinari (who hosts Turn The Beat Around on Joy 94.9 in Melbourne) celebrate Aussie pop. Rock gets all the attention! The first episode featured an interview with Andrew Klippel talking about everything from Euphoria to Genesis Owusu, and since then we’ve spoken to Toni Pearen, Girlfriend, 1927’s Erik Weideman, Paul Mac, Indecent Obsession, Frente’s Angie Hart, Pseudo Echo’s Brian Canham, etc. The show regularly features in Apple Podcasts’ music shows top 10 thanks to a strong response in Australia.”
[Listen to A Journey Through Aussie Pop here]
Angie Kent and Yvie Jones return for season two of Nova’s Two Girls, One Pod
Best friends Angie Kent and Yvie Jones return with a second season of their Nova Podcast Two Girls, One Pod from Tuesday 12 July. The duo will deliver twice the fun, with two new episodes dropping each week.
In the first episode of the week the pair will discuss the big moments and latest goss everyone is talking about, dishing the hard truths they’re known for. In the second episode, they’ll be deep diving on a topic they’re obsessed with, tackling listener DMs or having in-depth chats with guests and experts.
Kent said, “So stoked to be back for a second season of Two Girls, One Pod. To be able to come back with double the episodes means double the LOLs, double the dross, double the chats! Having such an amazing platform to talk as two single women is just a dream! We have zero shame, so no topic is off limits for us! Bring it on!”
Jones said, “Angie and I met on a promo job 10 years ago when I was playing Mrs Claus and she was my elf! We’ve since; shared a house, the couch on Gogglebox, fostered about 40 dogs between us and appeared on several TV shows together. So doing a podcast twice a week is now just like eavesdropping on our phone calls for longer!”
[Listen to Two Girls, One Pod here]
Toni and Ryan sign exclusive podcast deal with Spotify
Comedy duo, Toni Lodge and Ryan Jon have announced their podcast, Toni and Ryan, will become exclusive to Spotify from August 8.
The pair have built a global following for their podcast since launching in August 2021, with listeners tuning in to hear everything from naughty jokes, to dating horror stories, coupled with questionable advice on movies, food and relationships.
Having launched via crowdfunding platform Patreon, the success of the podcast began early on as the pair created video content for social media that went viral.
Describing themselves as two friends just talking about anything and everything they hear about from their community of listeners, the move to Spotify is one that will allow the pair to keep producing content five days a week.
Toni Lodge said: “This is a really exciting partnership for us and a massive day for the Toni and Ryan podcast, which wouldn’t be possible without all of the people that listen and love it from around the world. We can’t wait to get started and to be part of the Spotify family.”
Ryan Jon said: “It’s an exciting time for podcasting but it can still feel like the wild west for creators with the ever changing and unpredictable nature of the industry. To have it locked in and resourced for years to come and to get to work alongside Spotify who are the best in the business is an absolute dream.
“We’ve got fun some fun ideas on how to say thank you to TARPers who listen each day so if you’re an OG listener or you want to join the community today – there’s lots of fun coming your way.”
[Listen to Toni and Ryan here]
Metricon launches new home building podcast, Building the Dream
Australia’s leading home builder Metricon, has announced the launch of their first-ever podcast focused on building a new home, Building The Dream.
In a first- to-market move for the volume home builder, the podcast launch signifies the brand’s continued focus on leadership and industry-wide education. The fortnightly program is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and all other major podcasting apps.
Hosted by Cecelia Ramsdale, each of the eight episodes features two Metricon expert speakers and focuses on the key aspects of the new home build journey, from making the decision to build new, right through to handover and beyond, to uncover insights, inspiration and knowledge to help listeners on their journey to build their dream home.
With the first series running over eight episodes, this podcast will be aired fortnightly every Tuesday and is aimed primarily at first-time home builders.
Each episode features home building experts and explores all the steps in the process – from first deciding to build new, to finally getting the keys. By the end of the series, listeners will know if building a new home is right for them and be well informed of the steps involved in the new home building process.
[Listen to Building the Dream here]
Podcast Ranker June 2022: Hamish and Andy take #1
Triton Digital‘s Australian Podcast Ranker has been released for June, giving insight into the Top 100 Podcasts as well as the Top 10 Publishers in Australia. The survey period was from 1 June through 30 June, 2022, as measured by Triton’s Podcast Metrics measurement service.
The Top Podcast Ranker and All-Australian Top 100 Ranker are ranked by monthly listeners, in accordance with the latest IAB Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines.
For this reporting period, the top three publishers were ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network Australia, LiSTNR (SCA), and Audioboom.
Hamish and Andy
The top three podcasts for both the Top 100 Ranker and Top 100 All-Australian Ranker included, Hamish & Andy (LiSTNR (SCA)), Casefile True Crime (Audioboom), and The Kyle & Jackie O Show (ARN/iHeartPodcast Network).
These results bump last month’s third podcast, Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions (Nine Publishing), down to fourth. Rounding out the top five is Life Uncut with Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne (ARN/iHeartPodcast Network).
Two debuts were made in the Top 100 Ranker from Pod Save America (Stitcher Media), and Persona: The French Deception (Wondery).
[Find the June Podcast Ranker here]
New podcasts debut in Triton’s June Australian Made Podcast Ranker
Australian-Made podcasts that debuted in June’s Top 100 Ranker include Hooked, Hitched & Hung Up (ARN/iHeartMedia), which is Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne’s podcast venture, and SBS News Updates (Special Broadcasting Services), a bulletin featuring the day’s top stories from SBS News.
Hooked, Hitched & Hung Up is Brittany and Laura’s second podcast on ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network Australia.
Their first, Life Uncut, was voted ‘Listeners Choice’ at both the 2021 and 2020 Australian Podcast Awards and is the #5 most listened to podcast in Australia with 1.1m monthly download
Will & Woody (ARN/iHeartMedia) saw the biggest jump with their catch-up podcast, lifting 58 spots to place at #44. True crime podcast Shandee’s Story (News Corp Australia) also saw a substantial rise going up 20 to #20.
