The podcast curation platform Hark Audio is launching a new product that enables listeners to hear the best podcast discussions around a specific interest. Called The Conversation, it delivers three to five minute clips to listeners, curated by humans. To select clips, Hark editors listen to dozens of high quality podcasts to find the smartest conversations, commentary and developments. When users want to keep listening to a clip, they can tap to dive into the full episode. The playlist will pull clips from a wide spectrum of shows allowing podcast fans to keep up with conversations around trending topics.
The Conversation will be presented in a radio-like way. Each is hosted by a notable podcaster or subject matter expert, who introduces each clip, guiding listeners through the playlist. Hark Audio says The Conversations will be updated several times a week. Listeners will be notified when new, relevant clips are added.
“We used to be able to keep up on a topic with a Google alert. But now, the most insightful discussions and analysis of whatever you are interested in are happening on podcasts. And not one podcast, but dozens of them. It would take all your time to listen to all of them,” says Hark Audio CEO Don MacKinnon. “The Conversation solves that by curating the most interesting discussions and notifying you whenever there’s an incredible moment you won’t want to miss. And what topic could be more crucial for this than the 2024 election.”
The first Conversation to be released is Campaign Trail 2024, which is hosted by David Plotz, co-host of Slate’s Political Gabfest. He will guide listeners to election conversations from a wide range of shows , from the big shows listeners already love, and some great ones they may not know yet.
“The Conversation and ‘Campaign Trail 2024’ aims to give listeners an efficient way to tap into a diverse range of voices and perspectives as the election unfolds,” said Kelly Alfieri, Hark’s Head of Product & Content. “Cable news, traditional media and social media often fail to provide the thoughtful, nuanced conversations we crave. Podcasts are where so many of the most insightful conversations are happening but there are so many shows and most listeners only listen to a handful of them – missing out on these great conversations. That’s why we built this product and are focusing on the election as our first news topic.”
Plotz says he sees The Conversation as a way to put illuminating, thought-provoking discussions and perspectives from a wide range of podcasts in front of listeners.
“We’re veering towards a critically important presidential election but so many people, myself included, feel burned out on U.S. politics and need a saner way to keep up on the meaningful election conversations that are happening.” he said. “I think this product is a break-through on how to keep up on the election, as it unfolds.”