iHeart Podcast Awards 2021

Conan O'brien, Sebastian Maniscalco's comedy and other smaller actors and celebrities were some of the stand out podcast standouts from last year and this year I have to say I barely recognize any of this years nominations. Bill Burrs podcast didn't even get nominated these past two years...I did recognize The Breakfast Club from just rides to work on the radio. Iheart Media just put out their list of nominations for 2021's awards. 

I hate to say this but I'll be honest, I was hoping some of the Tik Tok podcast and more of the Barstool Sports podcasts would be nominated this year. Also a million of hilarious standup comedians have out podcasts as well. 

They just barely put in Pardon My Take this year but what about Call Her Daddy? I thought it would have been obvious if they left out those two powerhouse names. Even Alex Cooper's Rival Sophia with an F did not have a nomination. (Call Her Daddy was nominated also for last year and not this year even thought it had one of the most notable podcast news and drama of the year?)

They substituted those random Bachelor podcasts for more A list actor and more hollywood shows. Also controversial Logan Paul's show Impaulsive did not receive a nod in these awards and it regularly pulls in hundreds of thousands of views on Youtube. Other youtubers  such as Emma Chamberlin, H3H3, and The View, turned podcaster barely were recognized this year.

 Tt seemed the nomination were more hollywood with famed actors and actresses hosting and less contemporary and shockjock nominations. Noticeably missing was Joe Rogan's podcast that had the exclusive Spotify deal and Howard Stern who got the as infamous and lucrative SiriusXM deal. Conan's podcast once again nominated and popular Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert was nominated as well. That being said, this year just proves how much podcasting has boomed and has evolved over time. They made podcasts mainstream and the nominated reflected this. 

Podcast of the Year (Fan-Voted Category)

• “Bunga Bunga” (Wondery)
• “Dolly Parton’s America” (WNYC Studios/OSM Audio)
• “Nice White Parents” (Serial/The New York Times)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf /Jenna Fischer/Angela Kinsey)
• “Reply All” (Gimlet)
• “Stuff You Should Know” (iHeartRadio)
• “The Breakfast Club” (iHeartRadio)
• “The Daily” (The New York Times)
• “The Happiness Lab With Dr. Laurie Santos” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Wind of Change” (Crooked/Pineapple Street Media/Spotify)

Business & Finance Podcast

• “Business Wars” (Wondery)
• “Earn Your Leisure” (Independent)
• “Freakonomics” (Freakonomics Radio & Stitcher)
• “How I Built This” (NPR)
• “Pivot” (New York Magazine)

Comedy Podcast

• “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” (Team Coco/Earwolf)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf/Jenna Fischer/Angela Kinsey)
• “The Read” (Loud Speakers Network)
• “Smartless” (Independent)
• “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” (iHeartRadio)

Crime Podcast

• “Crime Junkie” (AudioChuck)
• “Criminal” (PRX/Radiotopia)
• “Deep Cover: The Drug Wars” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Forgotten: Women of Juarez” (iHeartRadio)
• “My Favorite Murder” (Exactly Right)

Pop Culture Podcast

• “Bitch Sesh” (Earwolf/Casey Wilson/Danielle Schneider)
• “Las Culturistas” (Big Money Players/iHeartRadio)
• “Pop Culture Happy Hour” (NPR)
• “Still Processing” (The New York Times)
• “The Read” (Loud Speakers Network)

Food Podcast

• “Burnt Toast” (Food52)
• “Gastropod” (Independent)
• “Home Cooking” (Samin Nosrat/Hrishikesh Hirway)
• “Spilled Milk” (Molly Wizenberg & Matthew Amster-Burton)
• “The Sporkful” (Dan Pashman/Stitcher)

Wellness & Fitness Podcast

• “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” (Gretchen Rubin/The Onward Project)
• “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” (Jay Shetty & Kast Media)
• “Sleep with Me” (Dearest Scooter & Night Vale Presents)
• “Ten Percent Happier” (ABC News)
• “Therapy For Black Girls” (Joy Harden Bradford/iHeartRadio)

 History Podcast

• “Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History” (Dan Carlin)
• “Noble Blood” (iHeartRadio)
• “Revisionist History” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Slow Burn” (Slate)
• “Throughline” (NPR)

Kids & Family Podcast

• “But Why: A Podcast For Kids” (Vermont Public Radio)
• “Hank The Cowdog” (Qcode & HTC Productions)
• “Smash Boom Best” (APM)
• “Story Pirates” (Gimlet)
• “Wow In The World” (NPR)

Music Podcast

• “Bobbycast” (The Nashville Podcast Network)
• “Broken Record” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Disgraceland” (Jake Brennan)
• “Dolly Parton’s America” (WNYC & OSM Audio)
• “Song Exploder” (Hrishikesh Hirway)

News Podcast

• “Pod Save America” (Crooked Media)
• “The Daily” (The New York Times)
• “The Journal.” (The Wall Street Journal/Gimlet)
• “Today, Explained” (Vox)
• “Up First” (NPR)

Fiction Podcast

• “Blood Ties” (Wondery)
• “Borrasca” (QCode)
• “Dirty Diana” (QCode)
• “The Left Right Game” (QCode)
• “Welcome To Night Vale” (Night Vale Presents)

Sports Podcast

• “All The Smoke” (The Black Effect)
• “Fantasy Footballers” (Fantasy Football)
• “Pardon My Take” (Barstool Sports)
• “The Bill Simmons Podcast” (The Ringer/Bill Simmons)
• “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” (iHeartRadio)

Science Podcast

• “Hidden Brain” (NPR)
• “Invisibilia” (NPR)
• “Radiolab” (WNYC Studios)
• “Science Vs.” (Gimlet)
• “Stuff To Blow Your Mind” (iHeartRadio)

Technology Podcast

• “Rabbit Hole” (The New York Times)
• “Recode by Vox” (Recode)
• “Reply All” (Gimlet)
• “TED Radio Hour” (NPR)
• “Waveform” (Studio71)

Ad Read 

• “Comedy Bang Bang” (Earwolf / Scott Aukerman)
• “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” (Team Coco/Earwolf)
• “Hollywood Handbook” (Earwolf)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf / Stitcher)
• “Revisionist History” (Pushkin Industries)

Overall Host – Male

• Conan O’Brien (Team Coco/Earwolf)
• Dax Shepard (Armchair Umbrella)
• Jonathan Van Ness (Earwolf/Stitcher)
• Michael Barbaro (The New York Times)
• Questlove (iHeartRadio)

Overall Host – Female

• Ashley Flowers (Parcast)
• Brené Brown (Parcast)
• Michelle Obama (Higher Ground/Spotify)
• Nicole Byer (Headgum)
• Nora McInerny (APM)

Political Podcast

• “FiveThirtyEight Politics” (FiveThirtyEight/538/ABC News, Nate Silver)
• “NPR Politics” (NPR)
• “Pod Save America” (Crooked Media)
• “Political Gabfest” (Slate)
• “Stay Tuned with Preet” (Cafe)

TV & Film Podcast

• “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” (iHeartRadio)
• “How Did This Get Made?” (Earwolf/Paul Scheer/June Diane Raphael/Jason Mantzoukas/Stitcher)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf/Jenna Fischer/Angela Kinsey)
• “Rewatchables” (The Ringer/Bill Simmons)
• “You Must Remember This” (Karina Longworth)

Spanish Language Podcast 

• “Duolingo Spanish Podcast” (Duolingo)
• “La Nota Roja” (Imperative Entertainment/Blue Guitar)
• “Leyendas Legendarias” (Sonoro/All Things Comedy
• “Radio Ambulante” (NPR)
• “Spanish Aqui Presents” (Earwolf /Spanish Aqui Presents)

Advice/Inspirational Podcast

• “Dear Prudence” (Slate)
• “Dear Sugars” (WBUR/The New York Times)
• “Terrible, Thanks For Asking” (APM)
• “Unlocking Us with Brene Brown” (Parcast)
• “Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel” (Esther Perel Global Media/Gimlet)

Beauty & Fashion Podcast

• “Articles of Interest” (Avery Trufelman/99% Invisible)
• “Beauty Needs Me” (Independent)
• “Blamo!” (Independent)
• “Dressed: The History of Fashion” (iHeartRadio)
• “Forever 35” (Independent)

Travel Podcast

• “Escape” (WEBVID)
• “Extra Pack of Peanuts” (Independent)
• “JUMP with Traveling Jackie” (Independent)
• “Let’s Go Together” (Travel & Leisure)
• “Travel with Rick Steves” (Rick Steeves)

Spirituality & Religion Podcast

• “Calm It Down” (Independent)
• “Doing Great with Vicky Vox” (Earwolf & Vicky Vox)
• “Elevation with Steven Furtick” (Independent)
• “On Being with Krista Tippett” (Independent)
• “Whoa That’s Good Podcast” (Independent)

 Green Podcast

• “America Adapts” (Independent)
• “Broken Ground” (Southern Environmental Law Center)
• “Citizens’ Climate Lobby” (Citizens’ Climate Lobby)
• “Costing The Earth” (BBC Radio 4)
• “How To Save A Planet” (Gimlet)

Branded Podcast

• “Bring Back Bronco” (Ford)
• “Hackable?” (McAfee)
• “Humans Growing Stuff” (ScottsMiracle-Gro)
• “Inside Trader Joe’s” (Trader Joe’s)
• “The Only Way Is Through” (Under Armour)

Top 20 Christmas Songs

 

1. All I want for Christmas is You: Mariah Carey

2. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas: Bing Crosby

3. Merry Christmas: NSYNC

4. Last Christmas: WHAM!

5. The Christmas Song: Nat King Cole

6. Sleigh Ride: The Ronettes

7. Jingle bell rock : Daryl Hall and Bobby Helmes one too 

8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town: The Jackson 5

9. Step into Christmas: Elton John

10. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow: Dean Martin

11. Do They Know it's Christmas?: Band Aid

12. Mistletoe: Justin Bieber

13. Feliz Navidad: Jose Feliciano

14. Holly Jolly Christmas: Burl Ives

15. Here Comes Santa Claus: Gene Autry

16. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home): Darlene Love

17. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: Brenda Lee

18. Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Andy Williams

19. Carol of the Bells, Christmas Canon, Christmas Eve: Sarajevo: Trans Siberian Orchestra 

20. Santa Baby: Eartha Kitt, Wonderful Christmas Time: Paul McCartney and others...oh! the christmas shoes song too even though it's sad..

****There are many many many more necessary songs that should be on this list too but the list would be a million songs haha. 

*****I was going to make a list of the best christmas and holiday movies but I only maybe have three, Elf the Santa Claus Series, and Home Alone. I love the hall mark stories but I have to say I don't think I've ever seen a single one of those movies. And I think The Grinch used to scare me as a kid...

8 Holiday Must Haves (Maybe in 2020 too?)

1. Setting up the Christmas Tree and House lights

Not that we haven't been spending enough time in the house but this all definitely gets things in the holiday spirit. Set up the tree make a hot coco and light the fire place and watch Elf. A few minutes away from me, they are doing a drive-in movies and it's different holiday movies every week. It's perfect.

2. Drive around and look at Christmas lights

No contact involved, even in those professionally lit houses and areas, just in your car, stop by a Dunkin or a Starbucks for a hot drink and make a day of it. 

3. Small Town Light Parade

Now normally these are perfect, small towns in the suburbs put on these parades and make these huge floats and its perfect to get in the holidays, this year for sure it's different. The town near me are sort of doing a reverse parade almost, the cars are going to drive by the floats and such instead of it all going by on mainstreet. 

4. Black Friday and Holiday Shopping

This year actually really encourages everyone to think about the necessities and how to budget spending and not be so frivolous. Also black friday sales are some of the best of the year aside from like back to school sales and others. When shopping just keep in mind about what you're getting and buy with intent and purpose. 

PS. The stores and the malls aren't as crazy as they normally are

PPS. The tree lighting how this year as well as the thanksgiving day parade this year did look kind of sad this year but the floats and such looks nice.

5. Go To NYC and See the Tree

Per usual, NYC does the holidays correctly, every street seems to be in the holiday spirit minus the crazy holiday shoppers and tourists. Actually looking at pictures from the websites it still looks like the crazy shoppers are still there, but it's good to see that NYC isn't dead. 

6. Ice Skating

And ice skating, I honestly don't think I've ever done this in the city but there was an annual christmas party as a kid and that would be the one time I would skate a year and forget how to do it by the end of the night. And people normally stay 6 feet apart as it is on the ice.

7. Baking and Making Gingerbread Houses

If you haven't gotten cabin fever yet there is no shortage of recipes for the holidays, cookies, gingerbread, and other meals. Normally gingerbread houses can get stale and be a lot to make and prepare, but hey, we have nothing but time on our hands. Just throw on your favorite christmas tunes and do a little karaoke as well. I'm assuming there are no company holiday parties this year but hey you can make one at home.  

8. Skiing, Snowboarding, Sledding

Sooo so far, there really hasn't been any snow and such but it has been cold, so sort of normal, college definitely I enjoyed going on these trips and such so I am just ready for the temperature to drop. Oh and going the New Hampshire to the Ice Castles is a New England must so I'm not sure when they will open but the reservations will be a must. 

***Christmas movies also are a necessity I know some love the Muppets Holiday Christmas, and I love the Peanuts Christmas Special. I absolutely love Elf with Will Farrell and the Santa Claus series with Tim Allen. Freeform always does their 25 Days of Christmas with all the classics on it like ummmm Home Alone! 

Top 10 Podcasts of 2020

 

 

Youtubers back when I was in high school really started listening to podcasts. I think already I was interested in watching types of perspectives of youtubers being trying to be relatable, talking about news, and just simple gossip.

 I loved listening to Phil Defranco, Jenna Marbles and such. I really haven't watched youtubers since then, I remember watching daily vlogs for a bit and those random british daily vloggers for a bit. 

Now this whole year has introduced me or reintroduced me to podcasts. They really are so different I believe from each other and thats what I love, a little bit of drama, a little bit of comedy and other stuff. 

1. Joe Rogan

The year 2020 hopefully will be a hazy memory in the next few years, I hope we all learn through every thing and such. Joe Rogan for asking hard questions and being controversial and such.

 Conspiracy theories and topics are the norm bringing in people from Macauley Caulkin to Dave Chapelle to Elon Musk. Amazing variety of guests and great conversation. 

2. Your Favorite Things

So this podcast is hosted by Brandi Cyrus and Wells Adams talking about their favorite shows, music and reviewing shows like The Bachelor and such. Brandi Cyrus is Miley Cyrus' sister and Wells Adams was on The Bachelor and is Modern Family's Sarah Hyland's Fiancé. Always interesting to hear them talk about being famous adjacent. 

3. The Bill Bert Show

I didn't know who Bert Kreisher was until this podcast and Bill Burr I didn't know until getting into standup the past few years. It's interesting to hear their different perspectives on comedy now adays and how really it has been affected this past year without arena venues and such. 

A lot of comedians it seems have really turned to podcasts to put out their material. Definitely excited for when live shows come back more. 

4. The Yak

I really hadn't gotten into Barstool all that much until this year with different personas and different areas of entertainment. I don't know what TheYak used to be, but now it's definitely a lowkey form of improv on their radio show with New York 20 year olds.

 Entertaining definitely, This past year I've done a deep dive into the internet to pass the time. Barstool has a billion shows like Call Her daddy and such. 

5. Chicks In the Office

I love their thoughts on new TV shows and movies and just random twitter and media drama. Awesome that Barstool has branched out into entertainment media outside of sports and such. Rubbing shoulders with Bachelor personalities and other famous stars. 

6. Monday Morning Podcast

Bill Burr is the best standup from what I understand, has amazing perspective and toes the line.  Sebastian Maniscalco and Dave Chapelle and others I found out through hearing names in production and this podcast is a good rant and humanizing. 

I always hear comedians are like psychos and have a chip on their shoulder. I love hearing him talk about his family and friends. 

7. Oops

So this involves Francis Ellis formerly from Barstool and Guilio Gallaratti friends with standups Ricky Velez and Pete Davidson (I loved King of Staten Island and his stuff on SNL). Both stories are so interesting and what they have been involved with in entertainment. 

I really enjoy New England stories of sort of small town people. It's crazy how seemingly small the comedy circle seemed listening in to this podcast with their guests and such. 

8. Life is Short

Justin Long hosts this podcast and rambles on about personal life and just talks about projects coming up and talks to guests every episode. F is for Family is his show with Bill Burr and an animated show. 

I loved his start up with Judd Apatow shows when I was younger and seeing all the guests he knows it amazing how much he is involved with. Also New Girl! his costars from New Girl are interviewed as well. 

9. BFF's

This and those Instagram 'tea' pages are where I get my Tik Tok gossip and get my Tik Tok fix without actually downloading the app. I am incredibly interested in the different personalities on the app and what drama happens over time. 

Everyone is involved in drama and partying with each other and it's fascinating. Sometimes I forget they are all just barely 21 or not even, they are all real young but don't act it, it's confusing. 

Whatever makes that money I guess. I enjoy the gossip. Blending old media Barstool with new media Tik Tok are interesting outlooks. 

10. Conan O'brien Needs a Friend

It has really just come into the news that Conan O'brien is leaving his late night show and definitely is entertaining. Really wild how he is a Harvard grad and has worked on the Simpsons and knows a million people in show business. 

Has interesting guests from SNL, to other standup, and just other actors and actresses. I'm excited for what he's going to do after his latte night show. 

Tik Tok D'Amelio Drama and Entitlement

Just like any other Connecticut stereotype, you can take the family out of fairfield county, but you can't take the fairfield county out of the family...I probably have written about these girls seemingly a million times but at this point they are a big enough figure that they aren't just another family from Connecticut anymore.

Long story short, Charli and Dixie D'Amelio act up at a family diner recorded on their family Youtube channel  while eating food made by their personal chef with guest star James Charles. Amassing 8 million plus views and currently #15 on trending, the video is being talked about. 

Charli, the youngest in the family is currently holds the highest amount of followers on the social media app with 99 million followers and 30+ million on Instagram, not even counting the amount on others social media sights and brand deals. 

No doubt the D'Amelios will probably continue to grow as social media personalities but I guess their 'shiny new thing' allure is fading. Scandals come and go throughout social media in the past with other big people internal drama, racial incentivities and sex scandals so it was bound to happen with the D'Amelios. 

On the previously famous app Vine, the Paul brothers Jake and Logan, both rose to fame and have gone through scandals such as the suicide forest and other viral videos. Even other sites like Youtube with the beauty community has had their fair share of bad press with outing sexualities, rival brand endorsements and internal drama with people like Jeffree Star, James Charles and others. So on the grand scheme of things, this normally should be a blip in the radar but with 2020, it's all a different agenda.

There are many deflecting  comments about this topic depending on the platform you go to. Instagram's Tik Tok news pages, Tik Tok Insider and Tik Tok Room, vehemently defend the family wondering why this is even news worthy, counting those offended as 'dramatic' and 'sensitive'. Other sites where the demographic isn't ages 10-18 point out the lack of parenting, the lack of respect and class, and other criticisms. 

The one thing that everyone, not just famous people keep in mind is reputation and perception, how we present ourself in public and how others see us. Being a social media star just adds millions of other eyes on your every move, so on a side note, props to their PR team for getting the D'Amelios name on the map outside the app and they already have started their apology tour calling the press Hollywood Fix to interview the father Mark D'Amelio and Chef Aaron to get their story straight (which I'm sure is pretty easy being on the family pay role). All in all, the family is living alright with their millions and I'm sure this publicity will barely affect them in the end. Just another 7 day week cycle and people will forget.

Bachelorette Clare, Falling in Love Too Fast?

 

So as I’ve stated before I’ve barely been watching The Bachelorette, but Clare just sent someone home because he didn’t know anything about her the very first day. What, are they supposed to google her? Sure, they had the time with corona but what about the romance? He said she was beautiful and wanted to get to know her better and she took that as the worst insult ever. She was upset he wasn't fawning over her. That’s like googling a blind date before meeting them. It definitely could work out, but relationships form with chemistry and time. Why would you want someone who just cyber stalked you and all of a sudden know your sisters 3rd grade dog? That would look crazy and psychotic....Like why are you so obsessed with me? But in the bachelor world, I guess everyone should be madly in love with everyone. This is just very much inline with what others have said about being the lead bachelor or bachelorette, where they at the same time, want this huge serendipitous experience with love at first sight and just a fairy tale story, but also want every man or woman to be crazy about them from the get go.

Like there must be some insecurity in the beginning, about finding someone they fall in love enough to get engaged or what not. Right now actually it almost seems like they are strictly putting the men against each other with competition with the dodgeball and rewarding those who break the rules and such. They spin cycle it about competing for Clare's heart, but its strip dodgeball.  Clare allegedly actually has talked to some guys through DMs before the filming but on TV acts like they are just meeting for the first time like Dale, the supposed super crush for Clare Crawley. Todays episode was just super awkward and uncomfortable to watch....just from her talking to and meeting the guys and all...

This just reminds me that no matter how old or young the people are in front of TV and on reality shows, they all are the same. Clares montra this season is ‘At 39 years old I am the oldest bachelorette because I didn’t settle for men like that’ as a guy leaves the show. Now I never watched Juan Pablo's season so I can't realistically touch on that but did we all just forget about Benoit where they got engaged and broke it off after a few months? And the other 3 shows of the bachelor she was on...maybe a TV relationship isn't in the cards Clare, but who knows, honestly anythings possible with this show....

Other guys are talking about their impression of Clare in the bachelorette and it’s not exactly positive. I think she has forgotten she wants the guys to fall in love with her and get engaged and honestly she’s sort of scaring them and turning them off from her very quickly. Or maybe she shouldn’t have zeroed in on one guy from day one, or before day one maybe. Who knows. I think personally she's just bored from corona and knows her season isn't as good as it would have been. But when does the bachelor ever have a happily ever after, forget about marriage...

When has the engagement at the end of this show ever meant anything? The only Bachelor in this show's previous 24 seasons to marry the final girl he chose is Sean Lowe. Lets stop trying to say this show is about marriage. Never has been, never will be. https://t.co/It9OPAWTJS

— RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) October 6, 2020

Supposedly there is another girl Taysha that comes in later on because Clare leaves with Dale and Taysha finishes the year with some of these guys and some others brought in as well. Maybe I'll wait and watch that portion, Oh and Barstool Sports does a live Twitter as well as an after show stream and they clearly show their bias toward the producers and production with their opinions on empowerment Clare and them loving how guys should stay in line and all that stuff. I wonder how much the Bachelor producers bought them for, for all the positive press and all...I'm assuming at least, because Clare does not look good to the public eye and they are giving her ringing endorsements. 

Get your paycheck I guess, just know that you guys are just like Nick Viall and Ashley Iaconetti now, just saying whatever the producers want you to say; us, the public aren't that stupid. The producers can and do definitely trick us with however they edit their show but we definitely can tell that you guys are just a bunch of yes men. I guess getting interviews and such with Chris Harrison and Mike Fleiss the producers helps to get in their good graces, also the fact that Trent was on the show does help that relationship. Any press is good press, especially all that free press by Barstool.  Whatever, until next time, who knows, I actually don't know if I'll finish watching this or just watch Reality Steves updates...

Too Old vs Too Young Influencers

So right now I sit on the couch watching The bachelorette and it just got me thinking about everyone’s ages and reality stars/social media influencers. Like comparing them to the Pinterest influencers, Tik Tokers, and reality people. There are people famous on all these random social media platforms trying to become the best of the best. 

So here at The Bachelorette Clare Crowley is 39 and is a veteran to The Bachelor franchise, she has gone on The Bachelor, two seasons of Bachelor in Paradise and The Bachelor: Winter Games....and now as The Bachelorette. Hopefully fifth times the charm. 

I know the reasons why I would want to go on a show like The Bachelor (mainly selfish, popularity and social media type influencers things) so I’m always curious if others are the same? Now of course productions it almost seems to go out of their way to to find these influencers now a days with finding girls with huge social media followings and even now finding already seasoned influencers such as Hannah G and Hannah Ann and evening this upcoming season there’s bound to be youtubers or Tik Tokers.

So bringing it around to the Tik Tok thing, teenagers are cash cows and basically the new child actors for parents. Even Tik Tok royalty Charli D’Amelio and Co.  are now far beyond tipping their toe in the influencer game but integrating themselves in the business aspect of social media. They already built their following and now are trying to become media moguls. 

Charli also got a black Rolls Royce from Triller. Read all about it in my story on the insane $$ Triller is spending to try to make Triller a thing https://t.co/ueMWA8dpvd

— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) October 16, 2020

Supposedly the D’Amelio’s have been/are being courted by rival app Triller who have been partnering up with other Tik Tok creators such as Bryce Hall, Tayler Holder, Blake Gray and also have been gifted them with a variety of incentives on the Triller company dime to promote their app. 

According to The New York Times , they have been financing two creator houses right after Bryce Hall and Blake Gray’s power got shut off by the city for partying as well as partnerships with Josh Richard and others for positions in their company, equity packages and perks.  Even apparently a board position for father, Marc D’Amelio? Charli was supposed promised a couple million for promotion and their leased Rolls Royce with the Triller license plate. 

Vin Diesel now owns TikTok pic.twitter.com/bLBenbbK0m

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 19, 2020

So disregard what I’ve said in the past about these teenagers and early 20s creators, looks like they do know something about business growth and marketing. Even Sway House members partnering with other famous notables like actor and now DJ Vin Diesel, and media business man Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports. Podcasts now really are the new thing, with nearly all the famous Tik Tok creators making their own in the past few weeks. I guess after the Call Her Daddy numbers and revenue were publicized, everyone wanted in. 

Oh also did you know they’re remaking Zoey 101 with Tik Tok stars? Tik Tok is the next best thing, not a fan though, I think the producers underestimated nostalgia of Zoey 101 and brought in all these social media influencers to as their safety net to make sure they get views. I guess this is just like Degrassi 2.0 and the reboot of 90210. 

Podcasts, the Next Media

 

Starting this year off with Barstool's Call Her Daddy and even Joe Rogans $100 Million Spotify deal leading to Howard Sterns Sirius XM's $120 Million a year deal, even leading to the new Sofia with and F podcast and other up and coming Tik Tok podcasts, it seems to be podcasts are the nest best thing. 

Powerhouse deals with host icons like shock jock Howard Stern, and the controversial Joe Rogan definitely are spearheading this new mainstream content platform. For the past 10 years there was a surge in Youtubers and still are with daily vlogs, beauty gurus and lifestyle brands but podcasts have been the up and comers with their genre diversity from NPR to comedians Bill Burr and Theo Von, even mainstream host Conan O'Brien. 

Iheart Radio hosted the second podcast award this past January even with shows likes Iheart's Ron Burgundy Show, EarWolf and Team Coco's Conan O'Brien, Needs a Friend, Barstool's Pardon My Take and Armchair Umbrella's Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. Other notables including Life is Short with Justin Long, Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, Your Favorite Thing with Wells Adams and Brandi Cyrus. Besides hollywood stars, social media stars have built an audience such as Logan Paul with Impaulsive, Addison Rae, Bryce Hall, Charli and Dixi D'amelio, and David Dobrik. 

Media is in the state of transition where content is moving digital and streaming services, creating this new boom of podcasts. Traditional media is in the past, today podcasts have brought in starting with 28 Million to 62 million weekly listeners comparing 2015 numbers to 2019 according to Edison Research and Triton Digital. In 2020, 155 million listens weekly. This boom of views has definitely created an armrace between popular platforms Spotify, Iheart, Barstool, New York Times, and NPR, all with 10's to 100's of millions of global downloads and streams. 

The projected audiences for podcasts coupled with ad sales and the ability to exceed $1 billion in revenue are extremely promising. Youtubers for the past ten years have capitalized on their home videos and building a brand but now podcasts seem to be the future. From listening on the commute to work or simply work from home, there are thousands of podcasts options today from educational to entertainment and more. Podcasts are the new radio shows, and the next best thing. 

Ex 'Call Her Daddy' Host With New Rival Podcast

 It was everywhere a couple months ago in news of the podcast featuring Alex Cooper and Sofie Franklyn took the media by storm with their publicized Barstool Sports contract negotiations for the very popular cohosted show Call Her Daddy. 

Contract negotiations involved IP's, salary, and  incentive based contracts with Barstools President David Portnoy and CEO Erika Nardini. Both Alex with her new solo hosted Call Her Daddy and now Sofia with her new podcast Sofia with an F have stated their side of the story, adding a whole new prospective in this whole story. 

Now, with all the business and lawyer talk stated before, both Alex and Sofia's side definitely have two distinct point of views: one focusing more on the contract with Barstool and the IP with the increased pay and the other side focusing more on the backstabbing friendships and females in business. 

According to Sofia, things had changed with their business partnership when the new contracts were being negotiated, stating they were earning far less than the numbers their podcast were bringing in ($10,000,000 hypothetically) with them taking in around $500,000 each. 

Other points brought up with friendships being burned and how this controversy would not happen if she was a man, even bringing up points about mental health through this whole thing this past spring. 

With this new podcast being dropped and all the interested Call Her Daddy Fans, it's obvious Sofia's podcast will be the best new thing for the time being. I'm sure all the fans are eager to hear her side of the story and see Sofia's new podcast format out of all this. Alex for sure is doing just fine herself with guests like Miley Cyrus and other notables, also not to mention her new massive Manhattan loft which you can view below. 

Ultimately, this is a new contender and rival for Call Her Daddy and we'll see how things will compare. With one episode down, Sofia for sure has not fully fleshed out her side of the story and has the potential for great growth as the next best podcast. Definitely new content is to come and of course competition between the two, let's see what is to come.  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sofia-with-an-f/id1533822662