Hey EarBuds Readers,
Our newsletter delivers 5 podcast episodes around a central theme, and each week is curated by someone new (YOU CAN CURATE A LIST). This week, our curator is Aaron Tracy, host of The Secret Life of Roald Dahl.
-Arielle Nissenblatt, EarBuds Founder
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Podcast Recommendations on Mentorship
These podcast episodes, along with their descriptions, were curated and written by Aaron Tracy.
You Must Remember This
The greatest podcast about the movies — You Must Remember This — devotes a whole season to Polly Platt. Learn about her essential but often unrecognized contributions to some of the best films of the 70s and 80, like “The Last Picture Show” and “Broadcast News.”
In this episode, Polly takes a young Cameron Crowe under her wing and mentors him through his breakout hit, "Say Anything."
The Secret Life of Roald Dahl
In the second episode of my new limited series about Roald Dahl, I focus on two important mentors who helped shape Dahl's career.
One of them was bestselling author, C.S. Forster, who changed the course of young Dahl's life by reading a story of his, and then asking him seven words that he desperately needed to hear: "did you know you were a writer?"
Dolly Parton’s America
Maybe my favorite bio-pod ever. It's not just about Dolly — who I knew less than nothing about beforehand — it's what she represents about the America of her era.
In this amazing episode, Dolly finds the courage to leave her abusive mentor and strike out on her own.
Revisionist History
Malcolm Gladwell presents the incredible story of Vernon Jordan and his mentor, as they defend a rape case in the Jim Crow South. It's a powerful tale of mentorship in action.
Worklife with Adam Grant
This recommendation is a different kind of show than the others — it feels more like a really smart TED Talk. Adam Grant examines exactly what makes mentoring relationships work.
If you've been at all lucky in your creative life, you've had a mentor. It's as simple as that. Someone further along in their career has seen potential that you couldn't yet see in yourself. A good mentor doesn't just teach craft. They teach you to see yourself as capable of the work. They give you permission to become what you dream to be.
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Community
📣 In Podcast The Newsletter, Lauren Passell writes… “This podcast is personal, and I cannot tell you how personal it will be to so many people. Creation Myth is a woman’s dialogue with herself and her friends about whether a life without bearing children is a life worth living.” Listen to Creation Myth.
🔖 Here are 22 useful concepts for podcasting, marketing, and audience growth in 2026.
👵 Echoes of Her is a new show about grief and vulnerability. Adell Coleman honors the lives of mothers and motherly figures through conversations and, at times, tears. Learn more.
👯♂️ Here’s a huge On Air Fest recap: the vibe, the sessions, podcasts recommended by attendees, and more.
Spotlight Podcast
This is the spot where you’d usually see our Spotlight Podcast. We don’t have one this week. Which gives you an opportunity.
ICYMI: we have spin off topic newsletters — delivering podcast recommendations on themes such as sports, comedy, true crime, history, and more. Choose a topic and subscribe here.
Podcast news from Podnews
For the first time in history, podcasts are now bigger than spoken-word radio, according to new data from Edison Research at SSRS.
A new report on ad spend from Guideline says that US digital audio ad revenue will increase +9.3% this year, to $2.9bn. Podcasts are expected to hit 35% of digital audio ad spend (suggesting podcast ad spend of just over $1bn).
Apple Podcasts has changed its terms of service. Except for adding the word “video” in there, there’s nothing significant in our opinion - we’ve detailed all the changes.
Podcast Movement in New York will be part of an ambitious, week-long event in mid-September. The venue will be Terminal 5, an iconic venue in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen district. We’ve all the details.
