Welcome to Pod Snacks, the Podcrate newsletter.

Your weekly bite-sized guide to the podcast universe. We dish on the hottest industry trends, gossip, and hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

This Week’s Topics:

• Podcast Spotlight: ‘On Our Watch’ (prison stories and true crime)

• Google Podcasts shuts down and moves to YouTube Music

• Legendary Skateboarder Tony Hawk is featured on Club Random with Bill Maher

Podcast Spotlight: ‘On Our Watch’

‘When correctional officer Valentino Rodriguez first stepped behind prison walls, he wasn't just starting a job, he was joining a family. What he didn't know was that he was now bound by an unwritten code that would ultimately test his loyalty to his oath and his fellow officers. Five years later, Valentino's sudden death would raise questions from the FBI, his family and his mentor in the elite investigative unit where they both worked. This season, join us as we follow in Valentino's footsteps to uncover the secrets hidden inside the most dangerous prison in California: New Folsom.’

Episode 1:

• Soon after correctional officer Valentino Rodriguez starts working at New Folsom prison, he gets caught up in a bad incident. An incarcerated man ends up in the hospital with horrific injuries, and the prison starts an investigation. Valentino feels pressured to back up his fellow officers' version of the story, even though he thinks it might not be the truth. Then he gets an opportunity he's dreamed of-- to join an elite unit investigating crimes in the prison.

Explore this podcast here.

Google Podcasts shuts down and moves to YouTube Music 

Google Podcasts is on its way out. After a six-year run, Google has decided to consolidate its efforts into YouTube Music as the go-to platform for podcasts. They'll be phasing out Google Podcasts to focus more on enhancing the podcast experience within YouTube Music.

Why the shift? Well, it seems YouTube is already a popular spot for podcasts, with a significant portion of weekly podcast users preferring it over Google Podcasts. To ease the transition, Google promises tools for users to migrate seamlessly to YouTube Music, ensuring they can still access their favorite shows without a hitch. For podcasters, there will be improved creation tools and analytics, along with broader distribution options.

This move isn't just about cutting one service and pushing another; it's about building a better, more integrated platform for creators and listeners alike. With new features tailored specifically for podcasts, like enhanced community interaction and seamless audio-visual switching, Google aims to create a unified space where everyone benefits.

Tony Hawk on Bill Maher’s Podcast

In a recent podcast, Bill Maher sits down with legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk to discuss:

• Steve-O's journey to sobriety

• Tony's death-defying stunts

• the pioneering era of professional skateboarding in the '80s

• generational perspectives on the '90s

• cultural shifts from grunge to TikTok

• Tony's personal life including finding his life partner

• advice for young skaters

• the clean ethos of skateboarding

• and their shared enthusiasm for the show Jackass

Links to the podcast and episode here. It aired on June 23, 2024.

Thanks for reading and subscribing. We’ll see you next week!