Podcast Movement 2022: The World’s Largest Podcasting Conference
Tony Morelan
Sr. Developer Evangelist, Samsung
As host and producer of the Samsung Developers Podcast, I always look for ways to improve our podcast presence. So in August, at the Podcast Movement conference in Dallas, Texas, I explored new production tips for recording, editing, and developing fun content ideas for you all to enjoy.
The true perk of attending an in-person podcast conference is meeting the large community of passionate people. Those who attend a podcast conference are unlike any other attendees I have met in the past; these people love to talk, share, and, most importantly, listen. But, hey, isn't that what podcasts are all about?
Highlights from Podcast Movement 2022
At Podcast Movement, I attended countless sessions and keynotes, learned about the latest products and services on the expo floor, and networked throughout the week. Here are the top highlights from my time in Dallas.
Podcasting 2.0 — A New Era, Free of Big Tech
The founders of Podcastindex.org, Adam "The Podfather" Curry and Dave Jones, hosted this session on Podcasting 2.0. In 2020, Adam began working with Dave to develop Podcastindex.org, the nucleus behind the Podcast 2.0 movement involving podcast app developers, hosting companies, and content producers. Podcast 2.0 utilizes the Podcast Index features that enable content producers to be free from commercial tech companies and global banking systems.
Adam Curry discussing trends in the podcasting ecosystem.One of the key takeaways from this session was learning about "Value for value," a term that Adam coined during the early days of podcasting. Originally it meant, "If you find value in what we make, consider a donation." However, the term has evolved to represent an approach to funding that utilizes cryptocurrency. Fans can send micro fractions of bitcoins to their favorite podcasters using podcast players like Podverse.
Check out Adam and Dave's show, Podcasting 2.0, to hear the latest on the podcast industry and Adam's many other podcast shows.
Fun fact: Back in the 80s, Adam was an on-air personality for MTV. After working with MTV, he helped develop technology that would allow broadcasting on the internet, the foundation for what would become podcasting. Steve Jobs reached out to Adam to bring this technology to Apple and the iPod. And that's when the podcast was born.
Twenty Thousand Hertz: How the Sausage is Made
Twenty Thousand Hertz is one of my absolute favorite podcasts and has been for many years, telling the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. Host and creator Dallas Taylor and supervising producer Casey Emmerling covered the tools and procedures they use to create each episode. Topics included gathering ideas, research, guest interviews, audio editing, sound design, and promotion.
Twenty Thousand Hertz on How the Sausage is Made.The key takeaway from this session was learning how Dallas closes an interview with one of three strategic questions:
- Anything else that we have not discussed? Dallas said guests typically say, "Um, no, I think we got it all, but…" and then proceed to give some great sound bites.
- Why does this (interview topic) even matter? Dallas usually says the question at a slow pace to help invoke an emotional response.
- Of all the things you have done in your life, why did you pursue this? Dallas said of all closing questions, this is the one that can bring out raw, passionate emotions, perfect for closing an interview.
As a massive fan of their award-winning show, hearing from one of my idols in the podcast space and learning his secrets is extremely valuable to me as a podcast creator.
And to clarify, this Dallas Taylor is not the metal singer or the drummer for Crosby, Stills & Nash. Twenty Thousand Hertz did a great podcast on the many people that share his name, Being Dallas Taylor.
Fostering Your Community and Grow Your Show
Several ex-professional wrestlers presented one of the most significant sessions. Jeff Jarrett and Eric Bischoff talked about their time as professional wrestlers and how they have grown their niche shows.
Jeff Jarrett and Eric Bischoff bring their life stories to a new audience.One of the key elements for a successful podcast is to ensure you are solving a problem. For Jeff and Eric, the problem is that old fans want to stay connected and reminisce about the good old days of professional wrestling. One of the successful strategies they implemented was to treat listeners as "family" and not simply subscribers. They do this by randomly calling their members just to chat on the phone. Not only is the listener thrilled to hear from them, but then they tell friends and share on social media, which ultimately grows your show.
Jeff and Eric also spoke about how you don't have to have a large audience, just a passionate audience that cares about the content you share. For example, they often will record a simulcast watching old wrestling matches and include commentary about what was going on away from the camera. Fans love to re-live those nostalgic moments and hear all about the craziness.
Check out My World with Jeff Jarret and 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff.
The Sound of Story
When Samsung asked me to create a podcast, I drew my inspiration from one of the most intriguing podcasts I have ever listened to, NPR's How I Built This with Guy Raz. Each episode is an interview with one of the world's best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah are the sound designers for How I Built This and many other top-rated podcasts on NPR.
Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah on building quality sound to your podcasts.The session I attended was called The Sound of Story, which focused on their latest podcast project Throughline. Each episode tells a story from an historical moment that shaped our world. As both hosts and sound designers, Ramtin and Rund explained the importance of how sound design influences the feeling and message people receive.
One of the key learnings was their approach to timing within the soundscape. The audience should hear the sound before hearing the words describing the sound, introducing an element of unpredictability that can help maintain the listener's attention.
Another approach that both Ramtin and Rund use is to not be literal with sound effects. If the narration says, "the sword fell from his hands," you won't hear the clanging of a sword but something within the music that sonically represents the sound of a sword, allowing the sound effect to blend into the music texture.
Check out many other podcast shows that Ramtin and Rund have worked on, all with beautiful sound design.
Tony Morelan brings his enthusiasm and energy to the Samsung Developers podcast.More on Samsung Developers and Podcasting
Listen to the Samsung Developers Podcast for the latest on our developer community
If you are involved in podcasting or looking to get started, visit podcastmovement.com for content on past and future conferences and access to many conference session videos. And be sure to check out my recap from last year's Podcast Movement conference, held in Nashville, TN.
You can also visit podfestexpo.com, another great podcasting conference I have attended in the past, known for its vibrant community of podcasters.
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