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Tag: IVM podcasts

  • Sania Mirza serves up stories and spirit in new IVM podcast

    Sania Mirza serves up stories and spirit in new IVM podcast

    MUMBAI: Game. Set. Chat. Sania Mirza, India’s tennis superstar, is stepping off the court and into the studio with her brand-new podcast “Serving It Up with Sania,” produced by IVM Podcasts. True to its name, the show promises a lively volley of on-court action, off-court candour, and honest conversations served with a side of Sania’s trademark wit and warmth.

    Each episode opens with a quick pickleball match between Sania and her guest, before moving into a no-holds-barred conversation about ambition, burnout, balance, and joy. The idea? To capture the real person behind the public persona, whether the guest is from sports, entertainment, entrepreneurship, or pop culture.

    “Sport has always been my way of connecting with people; it breaks barriers, builds stories, and reveals character,” Sania said. “With my new podcast, I wanted to create a space that’s fun and real, where we can talk about everything from ambition to burnout without filters.”

    Blending competition with connection, ‘Serving It Up’ offers listeners a rare rally of humour, emotion, and unfiltered storytelling. With pickleball’s rising popularity adding a playful edge, the show’s visual-first format makes it as much a watch as a listen, something that sets it apart in India’s rapidly evolving podcasting landscape.

    IVM Podcasts – Pratilipi head Amit Doshi described the show as “a glimpse of where podcasting in India is headed personal, visual, and deeply relatable. Sania’s voice and perspective make these conversations unmissable.”

    IVM Podcasts – Pratilipi co-founder Kavita Rajwade added, “Everyone’s got a podcast, but it’s always fun to see athletes behind the mic. It’s great to see Sania leading this moment for India.”

    The podcast also marks a key collaboration with Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment pvt ltd (CME) CEO and CME Bunty Sajdeh saying, “We’re thrilled to partner with IVM Podcasts and launch ‘Serving It Up with Sania’. Sania’s ability to have honest and vulnerable conversations will make this podcast truly stand out.”

    IVM Podcasts, known for hits like ‘What The Hell Navya’, ‘Cyrus Says’, and ‘Chitthiyaan’, continues to push the boundaries of audio storytelling blending innovation, authenticity, and emotion.

    ‘Serving It Up with Sania’ premieres new episodes weekly, first on Myntra Glamstream, followed by Youtube and major audio streaming platforms.

    So, if you’ve ever wanted to know what happens when a tennis ace trades her racket for a mic, Sania’s ready to serve it fresh, fiery, and full of heart.

     

  • Amazon Music presents India Pod Day, hosted by IVM Podcasts and Westland Books

    Amazon Music presents India Pod Day, hosted by IVM Podcasts and Westland Books

    Mumbai: Amazon Music presents an extraordinary live podcast event ‘India Pod Day’ hosted by India’s premiere podcast network ‘IVM Podcasts’ and an award-winning Indian publisher ‘Westland Books’. The event will take place on 17 October 2023 at St. Andrews Auditorium, Mumbai.

    Highlighting the event’s star-studded lineup, ‘India Pod Day’ will feature renowned figures like Javed Akhtar, the prolific lyricist, poet, screenplay writer and author joining live with Cyrus Broacha on his popular podcast, ‘Cyrus Says’ where he will talk about his recent released book ‘Talking Life’. Additionally, Hussain Zaidi, will go live on the podcast ‘Has It Aged Well’. Hussian is a prominent journalist and author, who is known for his bestselling books like Dongri To Dubai, Mafia Queens Of Mumbai and Black Friday.

    India Pod Day is set to bring together IVM Podcasts hosts and renowned authors for a day of insightful panel discussions, interactive workshops, and captivating live podcast experience.  The event will be specially dedicated to and shine the spotlight on IVM Podcast hosts.

    Designed to welcome both seasoned podcast aficionados and newcomers, India Pod Day will celebrate the dynamic medium of podcasting and its rapidly growing audience. It offers a unique opportunity to foster a community centred around smart listeners, and intelligent content and encourages the cross-pollination of diverse audiences.

    IVM Podcasts- Pratilipi head Amit Doshi said “India Pod Day is a milestone in the world of podcasting. We are thrilled to collaborate with Amazon Music to create an unforgettable experience for podcast enthusiasts. We cannot wait to see the connections and conversations that will emerge.”

    IVM Podcasts- Pratilipi co-founder Kavita Rajwade commented “India Pod Day will see innovation and creativity converge to showcase the incredible potential of the podcast medium. We will see voices meet stories, and stories create connections.”

    Westland Books business head Gautam Padmanabhan said, “We are delighted to be partnering with IVM and Amazon Music to foreground the conversation about new narratives and collaborative formats. Taking our books and writers to listeners and viewers as well as readers is an exciting prospect and an event like this allows us to explore the possibilities with a live audience.”

    India Pod Day promises an unforgettable day of inspiration, knowledge, and entertainment.

  • IVM Podcasts launches ‘Smartphone Nation’

    IVM Podcasts launches ‘Smartphone Nation’

    Mumbai: IVM Podcasts, a leading podcast network, is launching its first-ever documentary-style podcast called, ‘Smartphone Nation’ in partnership with Omidyar Network India, an investment firm focused on impact. The 26-episode series dives deep into the heart of India’s digital revolution, shining a spotlight on the ‘Next Half Billion’ (NHB) – the 500 million first-time internet users who have come online via their smartphones between 2018 and 2022. Smartphone Nation’ premieres on 15 September 2023, on the IVM Podcast Network.

    Hosted by the dynamic duo of Utsav Mamoria, a market researcher and seasoned podcaster, and Niveditha Prakasam, a well-known comedian and writer, ‘Smartphone Nation’ features the voices of consumers, especially the NHB, entrepreneurs and investors. Available in English, Hindi and Tamil, Smartphone Nation paints a vivid picture of how pioneering startups are innovating for the Next Half Billion, and how this substantial population segment is reshaping India’s socio-economic landscape.

    From education and healthcare to insurance and transport, the podcast explores game-changing initiatives that cater to the specific needs of these new internet users, providing them with an opportunity for social and economic mobility and to improve their lives.

    IVM Podcasts- Pratilipi head Amit Doshi commented “’Smartphone Nation’ is not just about technology; it’s a celebration of human stories that are reshaping the contours of our nation. Through our partnership with Omidyar Network India, we’re giving voice to the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of entrepreneurs and first-time internet users, fostering a deeper understanding of India’s digital journey. It’s about bridging the gap between technology and human experiences, highlighting not just the digital revolution, but also the human spirit that propels it. As we delve into the narratives of the ‘next half billion’ and the startups driving this transformative wave, we hope to inspire, educate, and empower audiences across the country.”

    Omidyar Network India director, marketing & communications Rohan Vyavaharkar said, “The Next Half Billion represent the bottom 60 per cent of India’s income distribution, but they also represent the hustle and ambition of India. Smartphone Nation is an opportunity to underline just how their lives are undergoing transformation due to technology. The show also brings out how the NHB is helping entrepreneurs understand better use of tech to build solutions specifically for them. We hope the show helps listeners appreciate just how much change is afoot on ground while also encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity in innovating for the Next Half Billion.”

    From the bustling urban centers to the heart of rural India, Smartphone Nation invites audiences to tune into this chronicle of a nation that is in the midst of a digital transformation. The podcast will be available on IVM Podcasts’ YouTube channel and all leading audio streaming platforms.

  • IVM Podcasts and SBI Life Insurance presents “Chitthiyaan”

    IVM Podcasts and SBI Life Insurance presents “Chitthiyaan”

    Mumbai: IVM Podcasts, in collaboration with SBI Life Insurance, is thrilled to announce the launch of their latest audio fiction show titled “Chitthiyaan” starring the versatile actor Gajraj Rao to highlight a heartwarming audio fiction series themed around SBI Life’s brand philosophy ‘Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye’ and its purpose; which is to liberate individuals to pursue their dreams by securing the needs and aspirations of their loved ones. The series captures this very essence of the brand purpose, and is set to premier on 28 August 2023 and will be accessible to a broader audience across all audio platforms.

    Conceived and directed by Safura Ubaid, “Chitthiyaan” marks IVM Podcasts first ever audio fiction anthology. The series revolves around a character, Prasad Joshi, a retired postmaster, who stumbles upon a treasure trove of undelivered letters from the past. With each unopened letter, a story set in contemporary setting unfolds, showcasing the beauty of human relationships and emotions. Each episode is thoughtfully crafted, making it the perfect companion for short breaks or leisurely moments.

    SBI Life’s support has been instrumental in empowering Chitthiyaan. Through an emotionally driven storytelling, the audio fiction anthology aims at encouraging people to pursue their individual dreams while simultaneously taking care of the needs and aspirations of their family.

    Speaking about the launch, SBI Life Insurance chief of brand, corporate communication & CSR Ravindra Sharma said, “Today’s consumers are increasingly consuming content via various convenient mediums and one of the emerging mediums is ‘Podcasts’ or the voice medium. While the popularity of this medium is gradually growing, the new age consumers are on a look out for content that stays relevant and meaningful to them. Keeping in mind the need to serve these consumers through a medium of their preference, along with IVM, we launched “Chitthiyaan” that captures the very essence of our brand philosophy ‘Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye’.” He further added, “We hope this audio fiction series inspires individuals to liberate themselves by pursuing individual passions, while taking care of their familial responsibilities”.

    IVM Podcasts- Pratilipi co-founder Kavita Rajwade commented on the launch, “As audience preferences continue to evolve, we aim to captivate and fulfill their information and entertainment needs through storytelling with a difference. In India, we have a deep affinity for narratives that delve into relationships and emotions, resonating deeply with our hearts. With this audio fiction anthology, our aim is to touch the hearts of the masses, forging strong bonds with them and turning them into dedicated enthusiasts”

    Commenting on the launch of “Chitthiyaan”, actor Gajraj Rao said, “I am a regular listener of fiction and non-fiction audio books/ podcasts for the last four-five years. So one day, when I got a call from Amit Doshi- Founder, IVM Podcasts for collaborating on an audio series, I was more than happy.  He further added, “Chitthiyan is a story of a retired Postal service officer, Prasad Joshi and few letters he couldn’t deliver while in service. These letters and stories related to them are full of human emotions. We discover relationships, ambitions, and dreams in a contemporary startup age, where the old passes the baton to the new generations. I am thankful to SBI Life for backing such a beautiful idea as it reflects the shared vision of both IVM Podcasts and SBI Life in bringing meaningful content that touches lives”.

  • IVM Podcasts onboards Meghnad S. & Safura Ubaid as creative directors

    IVM Podcasts onboards Meghnad S. & Safura Ubaid as creative directors

    Mumbai: IVM Podcasts has on boarded veteran media professionals, Meghnad S. in the role of creative director (non-fiction) and Safura Ubaid as the network’s creative director (fiction). Both the hires come with a prolific track record and will work in their respective areas of expertise, to elevate the business.

    As creative director (non-fiction), Meghnad S. will actively seek concepts and oversee every stage, right from conceptualisation to execution of content in the non-fiction genre.  

    The podcast network has a wide array of non-fiction podcasts including finance, political, current affairs, and sports to name a few. Well-aligned with the role, Meghnad will bring his expertise as a journalist, author and content creator of videos, podcasts and columns including  ‘Sansad Watch’ and  ‘Consti-tuition’  to his current role.

    On the fiction side, Safura Ubaid will join as the creative director (fiction). She will mainly look into scouting for interesting ideas, adapting concepts and stories and managing the existing portfolio of fiction audio dramas.

    Ubaid is a seasoned creative expert in the original content and IP space. She comes with an impressive track record of having created elevated premium content for multiple platforms including marquee players like Netflix, Amazon, Universal Pictures, and Fox Star Studios among a slew of others.

    Commenting on her appointment, Safura Ubaid said, “We’re living in a golden age of storytelling and what’s fascinating is we are witnessing a massive consumer shift in the consumption of stories. I look forward to building a strong premium fiction slate within an ecosystem where stories can shapeshift into high-quality scripted audio and video content.”  

    Meghnad S commented on the new role, “I have always been an avid podcast listener and have keenly followed the great work that IVM Podcasts has been doing. We have also worked together and had great fun for ‘How to Citizen’ and I am excited to be joining this team brimming with ideas. It’s time to experiment with new, creative ways of delivering non-fiction content to a growing base of podcast listeners in India.”  

    IVM Podcasts-Pratilipi head Amit Doshi commented on the new appointments, “By bringing in the best talent and fortifying the management team, we are ensuring our business is ready to navigate and scale in a fast-evolving content landscape. We are happy to welcome both Meghnad and Safura to the IVM Podcast team. With the kind of expertise they bring to the table, we are excited to see where they take the brand from here.”

  • IVM Podcasts launches finance series with a women-first perspective

    IVM Podcasts launches finance series with a women-first perspective

    Mumbai: IVM Podcasts has launched a brand new finance podcast titled ‘A Sip of Finance.’ Hosted by finance expert Priyanka Acharya, ‘A Sip of Finance’ will be the first-of-its-kind to be launched in eight different languages English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, and Marathi, said the podcast network.

    “While many regard finance as a topic for men, this podcast will look at the subject from a female lens with the aim to empower Indian women to gain control over their personal finances and enable financial freedom for them. It will focus on important financial concepts from a women-first perspective,” said the statement.

    “At IVM Podcasts, we aim to provide listeners with not just a variety of content, but useful, quality content. Priyanka is extremely well qualified, and is an inspiration for all women,” commented IVM Podcasts founder Amit Doshi. “We hope to build this show into something that everyone can turn to anytime for a quick explainer on common financial concepts.”

    “When a woman can handle her own money, and actively involve herself in family financial processes, the whole family benefits from it. ‘A Sip of Finance’ is a fun show that talks to women of all ages, across demographics and regions,” stated Priyanka Acharya.

    All episodes are available on the IVM Podcasts website, app, and across preferred audio platforms.

  • IVM Podcasts & GFI India announce Season 2 of Feeding 10 Billion

    IVM Podcasts & GFI India announce Season 2 of Feeding 10 Billion

    The second season of Feeding 10 Billion  starts 23rd June, 2020.The show highlights the importance of better food systems for the environment, sustainability, nutrition, and health, all of which is more relevant right now.

    Globally, the smart protein industry is growing rapidly, on the back of the huge success in 2019. In India, organizations like The Good Food Institute India are building the sector from the ground up and aiming it at the fundamental problems of malnutrition, farmer incomes, and sustainability. The aim is to bring brilliant, committed people together from diverse backgrounds, and promote greater awareness and scientific conversations on the possibilities for food system transformation. IVM Podcasts, India’s pioneering podcast network with a 100 shows with a million+ monthly listeners across their network co-produces the show with The Good Food Indian Institute India. The first season of this show was a  clear success, so they decided to launch Season 2 of Feeding 10 Billion to offer listeners quality content on the future of food, during this extended lockdown. The series examines key themes and perspectives on the past, present, and future of food, and highlights collaborators, and change-makers in the field.

    The podcast is a 10 episode series in English hosted by Varun Despande and Ramya Ramamurthy, with each episode clocking 45-55 minutes. The hosts will be talking about how our food needs to evolve to ensure we can feed all 10 billion of us by 2050 in ways that do not negatively impact global health or the planet. A few of the guests on the show include Bruce Friedrich, Co-Founder, & Executive Director, The Good Food Institute, Andrew Ive, Founder, & Managing General Partner, Big Idea Ventures, Hemendra Mathur, Co-Founder, ThingAg, & Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund, and Siddharth Bhide, Sci-Tech Specialist, The Good Food Institute India.

    Commenting on the podcast Amit Doshi, founder of IVM Podcasts said, “We are focusing on bringing a show which is time relevant and educative at the same time. Seeing the success of season 1, we think this is the right time where the audience is looking out for content that helps them to deal not only with the current time but future as well.”

    Commenting on the podcast Kavita Rajwade, co-founder of IVM Podcasts said, “At IVM Podcasts we constantly strive to bring in shows that can connect with the audience and help them to deal with things. Especially, at the current times, what one needs is to think progressively towards the future and this is exactly what the show will help the audience with. Considering the present challenging times, health is the utmost priority to fight against the COVID-19 situation, physically as well as mentally."

    Commenting on the podcast, Varun Deshpande, Managing Director of GFI India, said, “Feeding a growing world cannot come at the cost of global health, worsening greenhouse gas emissions, excessive land, water and resource use, zoonotic diseases, antibiotic resistance, and needless suffering – and reinventing protein is a key piece of the equation. The Covid-19 pandemic has made the importance of protein diversification all the more evident. If you want to be part of the future of food and learn about solutions to some of the biggest problems of our time, tune in to Season 2 of Feeding 10 Billion.”

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  • Advertisers, take a bite from this audio pie

    Advertisers, take a bite from this audio pie

    MUMBAI: India, in the middle of a digital boom, has seen a stupendous growth in the OTT industry. Once considered a traditional audio-video market, India is increasingly taking to digital platforms for entertainment. The audio industry is the next big thing in the Indian OTT world. As revealed by IFPI Global Music Report 2019, which surveyed music consumers aged 16–64 across nine geographical locations in India, 97 per cent of the respondents admitted to listening to music on their smartphones.

    Gaana CEO Prashan Agarwal says, “Currently more than 225 million users in India are consuming music online. The Indian music streaming industry is booming, and the market will grow to 400 million monthly active users in the next two years. As the country’s go-to music app, our users are streaming over 3.5 billion songs every month.”

    IVM Podcast spokesperson also notes that audio platforms in India are increasing in popularity every day. “Currently in India, there are 200-300 million subscribers on OTT music streaming platforms and approximately 10 million listeners for podcasts.” 

    This makes for a good opportunity for advertisers to tap this gold mine of communication to reach their target consumers as the same report reveals that 86 per cent of consumers engage with on-demand streaming services for their music. Subscription streaming revenues grew by 33.3 per cent from Rs 73.2 crore to Rs 292.8 crore and ad-supported audio streaming income rose by 43.6 per cent to Rs 78 crore to Rs 257 crore in 2018. 

    Agarwal says that platforms like Gaana empower advertisers to connect to the consumers at a personal level, enabling them to create hyper-personalised ads in real-time by tagging parts of commercial scripts to create and serve relevant ads. Gaana also offers a suite of advertising opportunities including premium dynamic ads that can be fully customised based on the advertiser’s specific requirements.

    Podcasts, which are an equally dynamic category experiencing mammoth growth online, also provide a great platform to advertisers. The IVM Podcast spokesperson says, “Those listening to podcasts generally tune in from the beginning of the episode and stay listening till the end. This gives brands immense scope to explore through the timeline of the episode and place their advertisements for greater impact. The audience that tunes in usually falls in the category of tastemakers and influential listeners. Because of this, the advertisers can carry out hyper-targeting to find their exact target group and approach them in a new fashion.” 

    The audio-industry is at an inflexion point right now and it will be smarter for advertisers to invest in it. It will not only help them reach their target audience at scale but will also provide a better-targeted reach. 

  • IVM podcasts launches alexa skill for cyrus broacha

    IVM podcasts launches alexa skill for cyrus broacha

    MUMBAI: IVM Podcasts, India’s premier podcast network announced that its popular show, Cyrus Says will now have its own official skill on Amazon Alexa. Listeners of Cyrus Says can now play the popular podcast on their Amazon Echo or any Alexa-enabled device with the convenience of voice.

    Hosted by the inimitable Cyrus Broacha, the show covers various elements of life in urban India including politics, sports, civic sense, traffic, kids, food and a host of other themes. This cricket season tune in to LANSO (Left-Arm-Not-So-Orthodox) – a topical edition of his podcast that airs every Wednesday by just saying “Alexa, talk to me about cricket”.

    The skill can also be accessed with the Alexa app available on iOS and Android. Once enabled use simple voice commands such as “Alexa, open Cyrus Says”, or “Alexa, ask Cyrus says to play the latest podcast” to start listening.

    Speaking on the association, Amit Doshi, founder of IVM said, “Making the skill available on Amazon Alexa is very exciting since it’s a sign of larger audiences adopting podcast as a medium of consuming content. It’s a seamless way to listen your favorite podcast with an official skill and I’m certain that fans of Cyrus Says will be very pleased with this development.”

    Cyrus Broacha, TV and theatre personality, comedian and host of the show said, "Wow Cyrus Says is on Amazon Alexa?   Keep in mind Cyrus himself is not available. Just Cyrus Says. Ask Alexa to play me, I mean Cyrus Says."

    “It is exciting to see huge interest in podcasts and that Alexa Skills are enabling this adoption. We are delighted to see IVM onboard a popular name like Cyrus Broacha with a Alexa Skill focusing on cricket and other important topics”, says Dilip R.S., Country Manager for Alexa Skills, Amazon India.

    While podcasts are a fairly popular medium of content consumption in the west, the Indian market is still playing catch-up. Over the last 4 years, IVM has been creating audio content and building a consumer base for the medium by creating engaging content and has collaborated with over 50 podcasters to garner 10 million listens so far.