Southern Cross Austereo and Schwartz Media, who entered into a co-production and distribution deal last November, have announced details of their first joint podcast to come from the partnership.
“The Politics Podcast,” hosted by The Monthly’s Rachel Withers, hopes to cut through the “soundbites and spin” ahead of the next federal election in Australia. It will be published at 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.
Schwartz Media, an independent news publisher, inked a deal with SCA’s audio app Listnr in late 2021 to host its podcasts – including Schwartz’s popular “7am” news product and its weekly arts and entertainment show “The Culture” – and produce original journalist-led content together.
Erik Jensen, Schwartz Media editor-in-chief, said host Withers consistently delivers “the clearest, most incisive commentary on Australian politics.”
“She is a voice of reason every day for The Monthly and it is exciting we will now hear that voice on “The Politics Podcast”,” Withers said.
SCA launched Listnr early 2021, offering radio, podcasts, music and news. Since its arrival, Listnr has executed an aggressive growth strategy by partnering with a number of publishers, including Channel 10 and the BBC, and lured high profile talent such as shock jock Steve Price and popular Sydney radio hosts Mike Etheridge and Emma Chow.
LiSTNR’s head of news and information, Melanie Withnall, said “The Politics Podcast” is the first of many new products currently in development with Schwartz Media.