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Man oh man. Hiring Ashley Carman to report on the podcast industry was a real smart move by Bloomberg. This week, she reported that podcast guests are paying up to $50,000 to appear on popular shows. Let me tell you, my jaw DROPPED when I saw that headline.

Of course, I read this in my most Lucille Bluth voice.

What could one podcast appearance cost, Michael, $50,000?

While most podcasts don’t claim to be journalism, many of them are interview-based, which may give listeners the idea that it is. This is an obvious breach of journalistic ethics – though, again, most podcasters don’t hold themselves to journalistic standards (see: J*e R*gan). 

Anyway – do read Carman’s piece, because it is excellent. In my books, this is another sign that we’re not quite out of the world of podcasting’s Wild West days just yet.

Have you subscribed to Skye Pillsbury’s excellent newsletter, The Squeeze? This week, she interviews Heather Li, host and producer of It’s Nice To Hear You (which we reviewed back in January), and she does a ton of her own reporting.

Thanks to one of our readers for sending in an episode recommendation this week: On Being: Gordon Hempton — Silence and the Presence of Everything.

I am always saying this!! pic.twitter.com/2O8eO6YrPj

— Carey O'Donnell (@ecareyo) August 2, 2022

No, Lyme does not give you special powers. Lyme is not for the most spiritual people on the planet. It’s for people who have been bitten by ticks, and from everything I hear, it’s rather debilitating. As someone who’s been dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome since long before COVID… chronic illness blows! In my personal opinion, this is a prime example of putting “love and light” on a huge systemic problem (namely: that there is so little research and resources available for people with chronic illness). You can’t love and light your way out of illness. That said, this particular brand of podcasted misinformation did make me laugh, and I hope it makes you laugh, too.

Canada’s National Observer is hiring a managing producer of podcast and video productions. The salary is $82,000/year, and you have until August 11 to apply. 

The Logic is hiring a business operations coordinator. Deadline to apply is August 15.

JAR Audio is looking for an early career candidate to join the team as a podcast marketing coordinator. The salary is $50,000/year and there’s unlimited paid vacation.

Leftover Cool Job Alert from last week: if you’re known for your perfectly balanced playlists, Spotify is hiring an editorial lead for Canada. Make playlists for a living! There are probably other parts of the job but making playlists seems like the important part. 

CBC Radio is hiring a permanent, full-time associate producer for The Sunday Magazine. Apply by EOD August 7.

CBC Radio is hiring a permanent, full-time associate producer for The Current. Apply by EOD August 9. 

CBC News Network is hiring a permanent, full-time associate producer for Rosemary Barton Live. Apply by EOD August 9.

CBC Nova Scotia is hiring a permanent, full-time reporter/editor for Information Morning. Apply by EOD August 9.

CBC British Columbia is hiring a permanent, full-time associate producer for current affairs radio in Vancouver, including The Early Edition. Apply by EOD August 17.

The London Review of Books is looking for an associate producer to work on a podcast on the Falklands War for a 6 month contract. Apply by August 20. 

I saw this one in Sonia Weiser’s Freelancer Opportunity of the Week newsletter, which I’ve been a loyal subscriber to for years. You can subscribe for $4/month, and it’s worth every penny. Anyway – Futuro Studios is looking for pitches for a new podcast! Check out executive editor Maria Elena Garcia’s thread for more details.

If you’re looking for coaching, Alysha Love, who offers professional coaching for women in journalism, is doing two days of coaching sessions (August 15 and 16) where she’s charging $2.22 for a half hour. Great way to get started!

This week, I asked the Vocal Fry crew what I should listen to. Katie sent me Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin with the message, “I want your take on it so I can decide whether to listen to it.” So here’s my take: it’s worth a listen!

I have only listened to the first episode, but Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin is a look into the shady world of puppy brokers, people who sell puppies from puppy mills to pet stores. Beyond the horrible treatment of dogs in puppy mills, a new scam has cropped up: people have been buying puppies… who don’t even exist.

I’ve mentioned before that true crime is not always my ~thing~ because my tolerance for stories where people get murdered is pretty much zero. That said, I love a good investigation. My tolerance for cruelty to animals is also very low, and there are moments in this podcast where it’s hard to hear about how the puppies are treated, but there is a crucial difference: it’s already illegal to murder someone, but a lot of the horrible treatment that goes on in puppy mills is legal, at least in the United States. Unfortunately, this might just be one of those stories where you still need to tell people how bad things are for them to care and ultimately, for circumstances to change.

It’s a tough subject, but the story is well told. I’m hooked already. This week, I asked the Vocal Fry crew what I should listen to. Katie sent me Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin with the message, “I want your take on it so I can decide whether to listen to it.” So here’s my take: it’s worth a listen!

I have only listened to the first episode, but Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin is a look into the shady world of puppy brokers, people who sell puppies from puppy mills to pet stores. Beyond the horrible treatment of dogs in puppy mills, a new scam has cropped up: people have been buying puppies… who don’t even exist.

I’ve mentioned before that true crime is not always my ~thing~ because my tolerance for stories where people get murdered is pretty much zero. That said, I love a good investigation. My tolerance for cruelty to animals is also very low, and there are moments in this podcast where it’s hard to hear about how the puppies are treated, but there is a crucial difference: it’s already illegal to murder someone, but a lot of the horrible treatment that goes on in puppy mills is legal, at least in the United States. Unfortunately, this might just be one of those stories where you still need to tell people how bad things are for them to care and ultimately, for circumstances to change.

It’s a tough subject, but the story is well told. I’m hooked already. 

The first two episodes of Wine Pod are out! This is one for the oenophiles… uncork your favourite vintage, pour yourself a glass, and spend a few minutes learning about Spanish wine. 

Think Beyond is back with a new episode! Before the internet was a tool used by everyone all the time, the world-wide web was a niche interest for a handful of university populi, or a tool used by international spies. But this elitist hobby turned into a global necessity with the help of people like Eva Pascoe, futurist and co-founder of Cyberia, the UK's first-ever cyber café. Eva sacrificed a PhD and a comfortable spot in academia to connect the world, all while fighting for gender parity in cyberspace. Now that she's accurately predicted the rise of online shopping, mobile phones, and more, Think Beyond hosts Cat Wiles and Tracey Follows turn to Eva to learn what she thinks is next for Web 3.0, the metaverse, and beyond.

We want to hear from you! What are you looking for in your podcast news? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or by email at info@vocalfrystudios.com.

Thanks to Emily Latimer for editing this newsletter, and to Katie Jensen for designing it.

We’ll see you again on August 12. Until then, here’s an update from Pecan Sandy, the crow with a heart of gold, the mother of the year, that producer Max Collins has been feeding.

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