Adobe Podcast Beta… is it any good?

• In Dec 2021, Adobe revealed Project Shasta, which we noticed in Oct 2022 had rebranded to Adobe Express Podcast. It’s now branded Adobe Podcast beta, and offers a mix of Descript-like “Edit words, not waveforms”, SquadCast-like “Remote recording”, and Auphonic-like “AI-powered audio” - and there’s a waitlist on the website. But how does it compare to the market leaders? From Castos, Matt Medeiros gives it a full review.

• If your New Year’s Resolution is to support independent journalism, you could subscribe to our ad-free podcast feed in Apple Podcasts. It’ll give you our daily and weekly podcast ad-free, and a warm feeling inside knowing that 30% of the money goes to Tim Apple 70% of the money helps support this newsletter.

  • Of interest, we submitted this on Dec 24, and it was approved by Apple within a few hours US-time.

• The EarBuds Podcast Collective looks at five podcast episodes that calm you down and get you ready to sleep.

• Want to get to the Podfest Expo 2023 in Orlando FL, USA - Jan 26-29? We stole this link from She Podcasts - it gets you a 10% discount off any ticket. Thank Jess and Elsie for it: their event is in mid-June in Washington DC.

Moves and hires

• Lex Friedman is moving on from his role at Amazon and Wondery, and is to become a full-time consultant at Lex Friedman Consulting.

• Paul Riismandel has left his role as Senior Director of Insights at SiriusXM. He’s worked for the company for nearly nine years. “Exciting new things start Jan 2”, he posts.

The Tech Stuff - with RSS.com

• In Podcasting 2.0 this week, Adam Curry notes that he’s not hearing many ads on some big shows; Adam’s views on Dawn Ostroff from Spotify’s recent interview; and the show notes also include a picture of Dave’s window.

• At a loose end this holiday time? Want to escape from the family and do something to help podcasting? Why not write a page for the new podcastnamespace - the website’s open for anyone to edit.

• Or, try downloading a new podcast app, like Fountain, Podverse or Podfriend, and start rewarding the podcasters you like with value 4 value

Podcast ads in the wild

In fashionable Camden High Street in London, close to the tube station, an ad for Create’s Baffled: Amazing Facts That Are Complete Nonsense adorns a telephone box. We like the ad creative - it’s super-clear that it’s a podcast, and super-clear what you’ll get. Your Editor, who’s a Londoner, notes with approval that Camden Council made this street just one lane in 2009: lots more space for people.

And, sure, they’ve got a branded truck, too. Perhaps that’s where they put all the facts.