Radioinfo Podcast

After 15 years in radio Jack lawrence left with an idea for a podcast and not much else. Now he makes a six figure salary and produces 6 podcasts that get tens of thousands of downloads per month. Steve Ahern spoke to Jack at the opening party for the new Acast Sydney studio last week. “I spent 15 years in radio. I started at SEAFM on the Gold Coast, I worked in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne. I worked on the Hughesy and Kate Drive show for 5 years. I spent a long time in radio, 15 years of my life. I was made redundant in Adelaide in 2016. So I ran around the traps… my last stint was at Today FM breakfast working on the Hughesy Ed and Erin show as their anchor. Jack started with one podcast and has now developed a suite of offerings, mostly in the crime genre. How does it feel? “Amazing! For me, it's about working for myself and the freedom that comes with that. The freedom to be able to tell the stories that I want to tell. “You know, I spent my radio career, always asking permission…and, you know, you have limitations, of course, with radio, versus podcasting. You don't have limitations [with podcasting]. “I wanted to interview people with insane life stories. So I started the podcast where I speak to prisoners who are incarcerated in the United States… So it's freedom for me to tell the stories I want to tell, the content that I want to produce. And freedom to be able to do things with my family, like pick up my kids from school or go and see them doing stuff and not have to go to a content director can I have the afternoon off." Enter the Australian Audio Awards here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Toni & Ryan and Jack Lawrence got into podcasting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our colleagues at Radio Today share this chat between Steve Ahern and Tim Burrowes with all you need to know about the Australian Audio Awards. Find out how to enter and hear about the judging criteria. Entry details at www.mumbrella.com.au/audioawards When your submisison is ready, enter here https://2026-aus-audio.awards-portal.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At today's National Press Clus address in Canberra, ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks focused on the "value and impact" of the national broadcaster and its importance for "a cohesive nation" "We cannot take this Australia of ours for granted. We must continue investing in our Australian stories, in our Australian voices, in Australian creativity," he said. He looked beyond the ratings numbers to articulate the impact of radio across all its platforms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fifty years ago today the Whitlam Labor government was dismissed by the Governor General John Kerr for its inability to pass the federal budget and guarantee supply. It is one fo the few reasons an Australian government can be dismissed from government by the monarch’s representative, the Governor General. Leigh Hatcher was a reporter for the Macquarie Radio Network that day. Radio was the first medium to break the news of the dismissal to the public after months of coverage of the Liberal dominated Senate not passing the budget bills and precipitating the ‘supply’ constitutional crisis. Leigh tells radioinfo’s Steve Ahern how it all unfolded on the day from the moment his cadet burst through the door of his small radio press gallery office shouting ‘Gough sacked!” Read more www.radioinfo.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the ARN upfronts a lot of the new initiatives announced depend on next level of sophistication of digital and advertising technology. ARN's Director of Digital Strategy, Data & Digital Ventures Ben Campbell talks to Steve Ahern to explain the Ad Tech behind the new initiatives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this radioinfo podcast Steve Ahern talk to the chief audience and content officer of the Australian Radio Network Lauren Joyce, about the ARN Upfronts. Lauren talks about the network and presenter changes ARN has put in place for 2026. Christian O’Connell is going national but Kyle and Jackie are not. The strategy to put Kyle and Jackie on DAB in Perth and whether that will change over time. Smallzy joins the KIIS network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this radioinfo podcast Steve Ahern talks to the new CEO of the Australian Radio Network, Michael Stephenson, about the ARN Upfronts. Michael talks about the partnenships ARN has put in place with Spotify, Youtube and others for advertising, creating local Australian content on the global iHeart platform, the ARN share price and how he plans to build on the heritage left by former CEO Ciaran Davis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As podcasters all over Asia are scurrying to get their entries in for the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards before they close on 4th July, radioinfo's Steve Ahern got some tips on changing consumption trends in podcasting, the best approach to starting and promoting your new podcast and the business model that iHeart Australia is using for its podcast slate from Corey Layton, iHeart Australia’s Head of Digital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dielectric offers broadcast systems designed and manufactured under one roof, including all components from transmitter output to tower top. With roots dating back to 1942, Dielectric helped pioneer the broadcast age, and the company’s drive to innovate has never waned. Dielectric has earned a reputation for offering the world’s most sophisticated antenna and signal-transmission solutions, and an ability to meet the needs of all broadcasters: TV, HD and FM, low and high power. Dielectric President and CEO Keith Pelletier told radioinfo’s Steve Ahern at the 2025 NABShow about the quick deployment of equipment in disaster-prone areas, enabling broadcasters to maintain their signals during emergencies. They also discussed exciting innovations in their product line aimed at enhancing FM transmission systems, focusing on the new Ringmaster Antenna system and groundbreaking new manifold combiners for radio broadcast transmission. Dielectric is accelerating its R&D processes, ultimately benefiting customers through economical and high-performance solutions and improved sustainability methods, as you will find out in this radioinfo podcast. More information: https://www.dielectric.com https://radioinfo.asia/news/reduced-wind-resistance-and-decreased-tower-weight-in-new-dielectric-transmission-technology-nabshow-2025/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At RadioDays Europe, Steve Ahern asked 4 European Radio CEOs to tell him the top 5 things about their business that keep them up at night. Konstantinos Fotopoulos, CEO of Audiomax Baiba Zūzena, Chairperson Latvijas Sabiedriskais Medijs, Lativan public radio Vivian Mohr, President of Audio, Bauer Media UK Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Secretary General of Radio France Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Ahern caught up with Aussie Fyona Smith, who is now in based in Dublin as Managing Editor for Bauer Media's Today FM. Fyona previously worked in sales, as an announcer at SCA and ARN, a music director and Head of Radio at AFTRS. She left Sydney to work in Ireland about 5 years ago. "One of the things that's different about the Irish audience is their absolute love of radio, it's still at pre-internet levels. Spoken word content and the connection to radio is really embedded in culture here, that hasn't been disrupted by all of the streaming choices or all of the entertainment choices that we've got with multiple devices now. That really fascinates me. Listen to the full interview between Steve Ahern and Fyona over a pint of Guiness in a Dublin pub. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Big Take Asia podcast was launched in May. "It's a weekly podcast and we're basically taking the biggest, most compelling, most interesting story in Asia that Bloomberg reporters and our newsroom has produced and extending that story in hopefully, a compelling and interesting way for a different audience. It's a way to tap into our newsroom... I'm super grateful to be working for such a well resourced organization. We have a huge newsroom here in Asia, I think we have the biggest Asian newsroom, hundreds of reporters in more than a dozen bureaus here in Asia. Oanh tells the inside story of her process for creating this award winning podcast in the 2024 Asia Podcast Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former politician, now radio presenter and podcaster KJ, talks to Steve Ahern at Radiodays Asia 2024. He shares his transformative journey into the world of radio and podcasts. After stepping away from a political career, he found renewed purpose and passion in broadcasting. KJ emphasizes the power of radio, highlighting how it fosters connection and community engagement. He discusses the challenges and rewards of producing content that resonates with listeners, noting that podcasts have become a vital platform to encourage political engagement. KJ also reflects on the evolving landscape of media and comments on the Malaysian government's moves to regulate social media platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russel Howcroft chats about advertising and ratings with radioinfo's Peter Saxon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southern Cross Media Group Limited (ASX: SXL) today announced its financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2022. Peter Saxon speaks to Grant Blackley about the business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nine Radio CEO Tom Malone talks to Peter Saxon about the success of Nine Radio 3 years after acquisition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nova's Ben Latimer talks to Peter Saxon about Survey 7, highlighting the continuing success of smooth and recognising the quiet achiever Bogart Torelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radioinfo's Peter Saxon talks to Mark Taylor about then results of Survey 6, particularly 4BH Brisbane's remarkable rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southern Cross Austereo CeO Grant Blackley talks to radioinfo about the company's full year financial results, released today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.