Jordan Heath Rawlings, host of the Big Story Podcast, returns to discuss the evolution of daily news podcasts over the past five years. If you are a regular reader of the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter, you'll know that I have a feature called "The Best Thing I Heard This Week", and I have featured episodes from the Big Story on more than one occasion.
We first had Jordan on the show in 2019 after year one on the show. Since then, he noted the increased competition and the shift to virtual interviews post-pandemic. There's simply more choice with outlets having rushed into the space after the success of the The Daily and The Big Story.
The Big Story has evolved into video, releasing episodes on two YouTube channels, reaching 100,000 views, despite minimal video content. Some of the original challenges of balancing geographic and subject matter diversity, aiming for a balanced news diet. The Big Story remains majority Apple-listened, with Spotify growing. Notable guests over the last year include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Peter Mansbridge.
We also talked about some of the benefits and obstacles for a daily news podcast to carry video. We did a video version of this episode and you can see that here... and as per usual, A Transcript and video version of the episode is available on the network page.
Jordan and I also discussed the two other podcasts that have spawned from the Big Story that I have enjoyed.... In This Economy? and The Gravy Train,
which discusses the lunacy that is that Doug Ford Ontario provincial government. I also noted the quirkiness of the Big Story, and how local stories can be made interesting to a national audience. Like this episode about a Toronto park that banned "Home Runs", and other stupid park rules.