Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · 10d

Three years ago today I launched this newsletter.
At times it's been a lot to keep afloat.
But when something bring you joy, you keep at it.

This endeavour is only possible with thanks to all my subscribers 2,000 and counting!
Each like & share 🥰
Let's do this!

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

My Gift To You for International Podcast Day

I'm celebrating by giving you seven lucky links and helpful connections

open.substack.com

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jun 19

ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY!

Dig into this post to find out some more about The Signal Awards...and why you should maybe apply to them

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Ice Cream On A Park Bench with Jemma Rose Brown

One week left to apply to The Signal Awards - June 27 is the Final Deadline

open.substack.com

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jun 13

Anyone say Tribeca? Call out for all that FOMO when you don't get to go. But...I have been glued to my WhatsApp chat this week, and I bring to you a rundown of some truly amazing audio events.
open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Tribeca FOMO Edition: The Magic Moments, The Transcendent Live Experience And The Laurels

The winner of Tribeca Audio Selects...drum rolll...is...

open.substack.com

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · May 15

I do appreciate when a cafe decorates with honesty and practicality

1

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · May 8

Thanks Kristin...posted it here today as well...LinK: open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Wow, Is It Quiet Out There

Where have all the series gone? I wondered...but then I did the math and made a spreadsheet so I actually know for certain

open.substack.com

1 1

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · May 8

I wanted to quantify slowdown in the podcast space.

So, I opened a Google Sheet, a lotta tabs, and began.

What I found wasn't shocking, but it surprised me.

Would you like to know the actual numbers?

The definitive podcast db is available in link below
open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Wow, Is It Quiet Out There

Where have all the series gone? I wondered...but then I did the math and made a spreadsheet so I actually know for certain

open.substack.com

2 2

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Mar 28

Yup, it's time to interrogate toxic masculinity....the thing that feels like it overwhelms my newsfeed, touching everything from auto parts to red wine.

From @tortoisemedia.bsky.social , journalist @chloehadj.bsky.social deftly dives into these murky waters

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Victim...Or Hero?

Lucky Boy investigates how toxic masculinity warps memory, and why the inevitable the death of one geriatric cat created two victims in The Final Days of Sgt Tibbs

open.substack.com

1 4 11

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Mar 6

Calling all radio nerds!
Imagine having the chance to sit down and dig in, I mean really sink your teeth into, a work of narrative audio…with one of the keenest audio critics out there. This was a joy! Have a listen….

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Mar 6

On the latest ep of Phonograph, my guest is podcast critic @shodder.bsky.social, who suggested we talk about Cement City, a show on many year end best lists in 2024, with its sound-rich and character-rich exploration of the struggling rust belt town Donora, Pennsylvania.

pod.link/1438655330/e...

Phonograph

A sound-rich discussion about the art of audio storytelling, hosted by Rob McGinley Myers and Britta Greene.

pod.link

1 2

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Feb 27

3 Tariff-free Canadian series to check out:

- Queries, from TVO
- Sea of Lies, from CBC
- Kaitlyn’s Baby, a CBC BBC Co-pro

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Scams, Swindlers and School Board Meetings

Three series out of Canada that I'm listening to this week to avoid the news

open.substack.com

1 1

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Feb 16

The Canadian Consulate in DC.
A brief reminder…

We are:
Friends
Partners
Allies
Neighbours

And I would add…
Family (for many of us)

These tariffs hurt both of us.
#tradewar #friendsnotfoes

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Feb 12

Long is long...but short is good too!

Dig in here for a look at what's behind the trend for shorter audio. And where it fits in the wider context.

@taliaaugustidis.bsky.social sits down w/ Bingeworthy to talk about her new show Unreality, and her live events

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Short Is Beautiful

Talia Augustidis shares what makes her In The Dark events successful…plus don’t miss three short audio opportunities at the end of the post...

open.substack.com

3 7

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Feb 5

Yes! Academic Institutions are part of building a future for the industry...find out why...and how...here!
@siobhanmchugh.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Her Academic Life: How Siobhán McHugh Helped Build a Scholarly Home for Podcasting

And why this matters to everyone in this industry

open.substack.com

1 4

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 24

Thanks you L’impératrice for a fantastic show last night in Toronto! It’s a Thursday night in January and it was time to dance.

Reposted by Samantha Hodder

Rekha Murthy @rekha6.bsky.social · Jan 24

Surprised and delighted to see Happy Forgetting here, and so beautifully understood! 🙏🏽

(I'm glad to have been story editor and strategist)

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 23

3 indie productions that have helped me feel ready for another year of deep listening >>>

Happy Forgetting, from Rux Guidi, Phonograph from @robmcmyers.bsky.social and Britta Green, and Telepathy Tapes, from Ky Dickens

Are you ready for this?

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Indie Spotlight: Three Series That Demand Your Attention (And Also Shape This Industry For The Better)

Why Happy Forgetting, Phonograph and the Telepathy Tapes have renewed my energy for this industry, and the important lessons they taught me this week

open.substack.com

1 2

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 23

3 indie productions that have helped me feel ready for another year of deep listening >>>

Happy Forgetting, from Rux Guidi, Phonograph from @robmcmyers.bsky.social and Britta Green, and Telepathy Tapes, from Ky Dickens

Are you ready for this?

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

Indie Spotlight: Three Series That Demand Your Attention (And Also Shape This Industry For The Better)

Why Happy Forgetting, Phonograph and the Telepathy Tapes have renewed my energy for this industry, and the important lessons they taught me this week

open.substack.com

1 3

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 21

Over the weekend, I had to Google When is MLK Day 2025 5 times to believe this was true…

Chenjerai Kumanyika @chenjerai.bsky.social · Jan 20

The absurdity of today’s proceedings on MLK day perfectly captures the profound hollowness of the American promise and the bloody, oppressive hypocrisy of the American reality.

2

Reposted by Samantha Hodder

Kalli Anderson @kallipearl.bsky.social · Jan 15

Excited to announce I'll be presenting some weird and wonderful vintage audio works from the vaults for this listening event at On Air Fest next month alongside Julia Barton and Sonja D. Williams.
Come steal some tricks from your audio ancestors!
www.onairfest.com/2025-session...

On Air Fest

www.onairfest.com

4 5 17

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 14

I need this today. You might need it tomorrow.

Also, invaluable recipe tips

open.substack.com/pub/askmolly...

Dry

What am I doing in Dubai?

open.substack.com

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 9

It's time to start making shit again

Had enough of the no-response pitch emails? Applications that take a mountain of effort, and don't go anywhere?

Time to embrace creativity

A spotlight here on The ECCO residency, plus 5 more ideas

@jasminbauomy.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/bingewor...

It's Time To Start Making Again

What about applying for a Residency? The ECCO Cohort 2 applications close on January 12...plus links for 5 more residency ideas below

open.substack.com

2

Samantha Hodder @shodder.bsky.social · Jan 7

Happy New Year! Happy New Platform!

Finally embracing this new space for sharing ideas, thoughts and stuff. Maybe even the odd photo, likely some occasional sound.

Here we go, again.

Posting here personally, and through my newsletter channel @bingeworthypods.bsky.social

Reach out and say hi!

2