New Apple Podcasts Categories make a huge difference

Jarnsaxa is finally visible on Apple Podcasts.

Ever since Apple made a home for podcasts, whether it was iTunes or (now) Apple Podcasts, no distinction was made between non-fiction and fiction/audio drama/radio plays/et cetera. Thousands of independent immersive stories were buried in categories that didn’t fit. Personal Journals? Society and Culture? Performing Arts? Nothing was a good fit. It was a sink or swim situation. Unfortunately, many shows sank.

This summer, as Apple competes for your attention span with streaming services such as Spotify, Netflix and BBC Sounds , Apple finally decided to give Fiction a category. They even made three sub-categories: Drama, Comedy, and Science Fiction.

As a result, this vibrant, growing community of people and ideas can finally get its head above water. And, guess what?

Jarnsaxa is finally visible.

Here is a screen shot of part of the Apple Podcasts United States Fiction>Drama chart, taken on the 21st of August, 2019, at 5:53 PM.

Screenshot of the Apple Podcasts Fiction Drama chart, 21st August 2019
Can you find Jarnsaxa Rising in this picture? She’s in very good company.

Finally, we’re not buried under thousands and thousand of podcasts, we’re not shoved into a drawer that doesn’t fit. Finally, when people look for a good story on Apple Podcasts, they can find us, along with stories like ours.

Thank you, Apple Podcasts.

If this is your first time here, hello and welcome. Thank you for joining us. Get out your headphones or turn on your speakers. We have a story for you.

New Reviews!

TAH-DAAAH!
Photo supplied by Beverly +Pack, Flickr. “It is believed that A/2C Courtney is the only WAF Bugler in the Air Force. 23 June 1953”

Two terrific reviews for Jarnsaxa Rising are making their rounds on the Internet!

Podcast enthusiasts know that not much traditional journalism happens with regard to podcasts, especially independent creations. However, a few dedicated, kind souls write about podcasts, and write very well.

Wil Williams is a tireless advocate of podcast media, particularly when it comes to audio drama. She has a keen ear for detail, working to make the world of listening entertainment better. Since her bar is high, we are particularly grateful for her thoughtful consideration of Jarnsaxa Rising. To read more of her thoughts, subscribe to her blog and follow her on Twitter @wilwrites.

“Jarnsaxa Rising” an Exciting, Intriguing Blend of Mythology and Dystopia

Elena Fernández-Collins is another hardworking podcast advocate. She writes for Bello Collective, and publishes a tinyletter called AudioDramatic, in which she reviews podcasts, and provides thoughtful musings on how podcast communities strengthen us as people, sharing ideas through listening. You can also find her on Twitter as @Shomarq. Subscribe to her newsletters for a comforting cup of audio nurturance.

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Podcasting is sometimes a lonely business. After the recording is finished, the process of editing and promotion means a lot of time spent at your desk in front of a screen. Reviews like this make it all worth while. Thank you, ladies, for making us feel like real, live artists.

"The black-browed maid stood upon the bank as the red ship sailed away from Novgorod." Illustration from "The Russian Story Book" by Richard Wilson, illustrated by Frank C. Papé, 1916. Public domain.
“The black-browed maid stood upon the bank as the red ship sailed away from Novgorod.” Illustration from “The Russian Story Book” by Richard Wilson, illustrated by Frank C. Papé, 1916. Public domain.

YOU TOO can put wind in our sails with a review! Share a thought on Twitter and include @JarnsaxaRising so we’ll be notified when you post it! Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! Leave a comment on our Facebook page! The more you share about us, the stronger our community grows.

Thanks for reading! And if you haven’t had a chance to hear the story yet, why not listen now? 

Transcripts are also available.