Russ: So Apple just decided Australia exists.
Nadia: I'm Nadia.
Russ: And I'm Russ.
Nadia: It's Thursday, October 8th, and this is Feed Drop.
Russ: We've got a lot to get to today.
Nadia: Apple Podcasts is finally showing some love to creators down under.
Russ: Also, a new Josh Hartnett sea monster series on Netflix... and why podcasters should be paying very close attention.
Nadia: Plus, we'll explain why winners at the Vancouver Film Festival could be the next big thing for your ears.
Nadia: So, Apple Podcasts just rolled out a new feature in Australia called 'Creators We Love'.
Russ: Let me guess: it's a glorified playlist.
Nadia: It's a curated editorial collection, Russ. The idea is to put a spotlight on local creators for Australian listeners.
Russ: Right. A playlist. Does this actually move the needle for anyone, or is it just PR so Apple can say they 'support local talent'?
Nadia: Come on. For an indie creator, getting featured on the front page of Apple Podcasts is a massive boost. It can put a show on the map overnight.
Russ: If anyone sees it. The Apple Podcasts app isn't exactly a beautiful, intuitive discovery engine.
Nadia: [sighs] It's still the default app for millions of people. A feature placement there drives more downloads than almost anything else. We're talking tens of thousands of new listeners overnight.
Russ: Okay, fine. So who's on this 'We Love' list? Is it actually diverse, or is it just the same faces from the major Aussie networks?
Nadia: That's the point, it's a mix. You've got established names, but it also elevates emerging voices. It's actual human curation, not just what the algorithm spits out.
Russ: I'll believe it when I see it. It's probably just the podcast equivalent of a 'New & Noteworthy' section full of shows from companies Apple already has deals with.
Nadia: So for listeners in Australia, it's a great way to find a new local favorite. And for creators everywhere? It's a reminder to get your house in order. Make sure your art and metadata are sharp, because you never know who's looking.
Russ: Alright, next up... wait, a TV show review? Nadia, are we a TV podcast now?
Nadia: We're talking about what it means for podcasts, Russ. Variety is raving about 'Below,' a new Netflix thriller starring Josh Hartnett as he fights a sea monster.
Russ: Sounds... splashy. What's the podcast angle, besides the inevitable, boring aftershow recap podcast?
Nadia: Well, there will be an aftershow. But more importantly, this is exactly the kind of story that works brilliantly in audio fiction. High-concept, suspense, mystery... things that go bump in the crushing deep.
Russ: So you're saying this TV show... should have been a podcast?
Nadia: It could have been. And a podcast version could still be huge. Think about the sound design possibilities—the creaking hull, the sonar pings, the... whatever a sea monster sounds like. Audio can be more terrifying than video because your brain fills in the blanks.
Russ: So the takeaway for podcasters is... what? Rip off Netflix's new hit show?
Nadia: No! The takeaway is to watch what's trending. A hit like this proves people are hungry for this kind of story. An indie audio creator could launch their own deep-sea thriller right now and tap into a built-in audience.
Russ: Right. So... a different rip-off. Got it.
Nadia: It's called being market-aware, Russ. The point is, pay attention to the zeitgeist. Your next hit podcast might be staring you in the face from the Netflix Top 10.
Nadia: Okay, for our last story, let's head to the Vancouver International Film Festival, where they just announced their big winners.
Russ: Okay, I'm definitely sensing a theme. More non-podcast news on the podcast-news podcast.
Nadia: Patience, there's a point. The big winners were indie films—'Nina Roza,' an immigrant tale; 'In the Heart of the South,' set in the Arctic; and 'How We Stand,' about separated sisters.
Russ: They sound great. For movie-goers. What's the link to audio?
Nadia: The link is IP. Film festivals are now a major hunting ground for podcast ideas. These are amazing, ready-made human stories. A studio like Wondery or Campside could easily option 'Nina Roza' and turn it into a hit narrative doc.
Russ: So this is the other side of the 'Below' story. Instead of podcasts adapting TV trends, podcast companies are now just buying up finished stories from filmmakers?
Nadia: Exactly. It's a pipeline for prestige audio. The filmmakers did all the hard work—years of research, building trust, getting the tape. For a podcast network, buying the rights is a shortcut to an award-winner.
Russ: Hold on. Does the filmmaker get a fair deal in that scenario? Or does some big podcast company swoop in, pay them a small licensing fee, and make a fortune off their life's work?
Nadia: That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? It's why filmmakers are getting way smarter about holding onto their audio rights. The opportunity is huge, but so is the risk of getting a bad deal.
Russ: So, this means my favorite indie film is about to become a 10-part podcast series with ads for meal kits.
Nadia: [laughs] Maybe. But the takeaway for creators is clear: if you're a filmmaker, protect your audio rights. And if you're a podcaster, start paying attention to the film festival circuit. It's where the stories are.
Nadia: Alright, let's quickly recap.
Russ: Apple's new playlist—sorry, curation—is live in Australia.
Nadia: That new Netflix sea monster show proves there's an audience for deep-sea terror in audio.
Russ: And film festivals are the new shopping mall for podcast ideas.
Nadia: Before we go, speaking of monsters in the deep, Russ...
Russ: Oh boy. Here we go.
Nadia: So back in '97, a US agency detected this mysterious, super powerful sound from the deep Pacific. They called it 'The Bloop.' It was so loud, the only explanation they could imagine was some massive, unknown sea creature.
Russ: Wait, for real? So this Netflix show might be a documentary?
Nadia: [laughs] They eventually traced it to a massive iceberg cracking and breaking away from a glacier. An 'icequake'. But for a while... anything was possible.
Russ: I'm choosing to believe it was the sea monster. Much better story.
Nadia: And that's our show for today. We'll be back tomorrow with more Feed Drop.
Russ: And for what we're actually listening to, I just finished 'How to Build a Happy Life' from The Atlantic. It's surprisingly practical. Check it out. We'll talk to you tomorrow.
This show is made with AI: the hosts’ voices are synthetic and the scripts are AI-assisted. Every story links to its original source.