The Daily Valet. - 1/13/20, Monday
✔️ We Can't Hear Enough Podcasts
Monday, January 13th Edition
“Thanks for being friends of the pod.”
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
We Can’t Get Enough Podcasts
And the latest fictional series are reshaping the genre
We are definitely in the golden age of podcasting. Over 32% of Americans listen to podcasts monthly and in 2019, there were more than 750,000 active podcasts being produced regularly.
And while the interview or "rambling expert" format is clearly the majority, a growing wave of fictional podcasts featuring top-tier talent and compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines narratives are definitely what's got people talking.
The Wall Street Journal reports on the trend, which reminds me of the radio plays my grandmother used to tell me about. They speak with Gillian Jacobs and Josh Gad, who voice siblings Eleonore and Michael Richland—the main characters in "Blood Ties," a popular new podcast from Wondery—the independent podcasting network known for cinematically produced, documentary-style shows.
And it's not the only podcast attracting Hollywood talent. There's "Motherhacker," about a struggling mom who joins an identity-theft ring voiced by Alan Cumming; "Hunted" about a US marshal voiced by Parker Posey; or the upcoming six-part Audible Original series, "Cut and Run," about an illicit kidney-hawking side hustle, narrated by Meg Ryan that will debut at the end of the month.
How can these podcasts afford this talent, you might ask? Podcasting is big business. About half of all podcast listeners have an annual household income of more than $250,000. And advertising revenues are poised to exceed $1 billion for the first time by 2021, according to a recent report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
So ... stay tuned for my upcoming podcast, I guess.
↦ Sound Good? Vulture has pulled together the 10 best fiction podcasts that helped shape the narrative style.
The Olympics Bans Athlete Protests
But some athletes are already speaking out
No taking a knee at the Olympics. No hand gestures with political meaning. No disrespect at medal ceremonies.
The International Olympic Committee published guidelines late last week specifying which types of athlete protests will not be allowed at the 2020 Tokyo Games in July.
The IOC said athletes are banned from protesting while on the field of play, in the Olympic Village and during medal ceremonies. They are allowed to express political opinions during press interviews (outside the Village) and on social media.
US women's soccer midfielder Megan Rapinoe responded on Twitter, "So much being done about the protests. So little being done about what we are protesting. We will not be silenced."
↦ FYI: American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos were recently inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame, 51 years after they raised their fists in protest of racial discrimination at the '68 Games.
JetBlue Will Be Carbon Neutral by July
Carobon offsets and renewable fuel will help them become the first US airline
JetBlue announced this week that it plans to go carbon-neutral on all domestic flights starting in July, a first for a major US airline, reports the Washington Post.
The company’s plan involves both taking steps to reduce its flights’ overall carbon emissions, increasing its investment in carbon offsets and using sustainable aviation fuel.
It's an admirable goal, but it's also a savvy business move. Pressure is growing on the travel industry from climate change activists as millions of flights are pumping out carbon dioxide every year. And the "flight-shaming" movement that has gained momentum across Europe has already resulted in a rare drop in flights from Sweden.
↦ Going Green: GM just announced plans to revive the once-gas-guzzling Hummer as an electric pickup.
Dress to Get Stuff Done
Does your work wardrobe affect productivity?
No matter what job you have, you've got to wear clothes to it, right? But does what you wear actually affect your job? Throughout the years in the business environment, dress codes were instituted out of a belief that more professional attire was not only appropriate, but made for a better worker.
For today's installment of “31 Days,” our own Ethan Thomas tackles the subject of work wardrobes and the benefit of being yourself.
There's no doubt that workplaces are becoming more casual. What began in the tech and startup world has since bled into other industries: In just five years, the percentage of US workplaces allowing casual dress every day went from 32% to over 50%, according to a 2019 analysis by Indeed.
And while it might seem like the more comfortable you are, the less motivated you may be to work hard, the actual data points to the exact opposite.
↦ Read: Three things to keep in mind in order to look polished, feel good and get stuff done.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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New York Luxury Condos ... for No One?
Too many apartments, not enough buyers
The Manhattan skyline was significantly altered in the 2010s by the addition of several super-luxury, super-tall residential skyscrapers, reports the New York Times. But what began as a period of exuberance for investors, ended with a dwindling pool of high-end buyers willing to pay record prices.
According to a December analysis of both closed sales and contracts by Nancy Packes Data Services, nearly half of all new condo units in Manhattan that came to market after 2015 remain unsold.
Specifically, that's 3,695 of 7,727 apartments that are sitting empty. That's a sad fact. Or as one consultant called it, "a reckoning with reality.”
What We’re Buying
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Today’s Deals
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Morning Motto
Not all routines are bad. But most are pretty dull.
↦ Follow: @oliviasantnerdesign
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