Our reporting from Winterthur on the "dezibel" event focuses on exclusive interviews with Jeanne Drach, Laura Dath-Linienkämper and Cheyenne Mackay, who spoke about the art of podcasting, the challenges of generating reach and collaboration in the DACH region.

Podcasts are now an indispensable part of the media landscape, not only for entertainment, but also for brands that want to tell authentic stories. At the dezibel conference in Winterthur, experts discussed the future of podcasting and how this medium can continue to grow through creativity and technological innovation.

Jeanne Drach from "Oh Wow" pleads for more courage for authenticity

In an interview, Jeanne Drach, founder of Austria's first podcast agency, emphasizes the importance of authenticity and the courage to try out new forms of storytelling. "The technical aspects are important, of course, but what really counts are exciting stories," explains Drach. Oh Wow produces corporate podcasts for clients such as Austrian Post and the European Parliament as well as originals with a clear focus: "We rely on strong female voices and experiment with new forms of storytelling." She advocates more courage in the corporate podcast sector: "Brands should convey their messages implicitly rather than insisting that they have to be the super brand." Her tip for the success of a podcast? "Good stories that are told well."

Laura Dath-Linienkämper from "Podstars by OMR" on authentic storytelling

Laura Dath-Linienkämper from Podstars by OMR also emphasizes the need for authentic storytelling and courage. "Podcasting is a medium that needs to be understood and brands need to have the courage to tell different stories," she says. It is particularly important to invest in reach: "You have to launch campaigns around the podcast, tell people about it and also invest money. If the content is good, it creates word of mouth and people talk about it." True crime formats are still very popular in Germany, but every well-told story can find its niche, says Dath-Linienkämper.

Cheyenne Mackay from Podcastschmiede on the need for visibility

Cheyenne Mackay, co-initiator of dezibel and founder of Podcastschmiede, talks about the acoustic aesthetics that are essential for a good podcast. "A good podcast doesn't just sound good, it also has to be individual and unique - like music," she says. Reach is a particular challenge in Switzerland, as dialect podcasts are often only understood in southern Germany. However, Mackay emphasizes that the investment in reach is worthwhile: "You have to invest almost as much in the visibility of a podcast as in the production itself." Her wish for the podcast community in the DACH region: "More networking and more intensive exchange. We would all benefit from that."

The dezibel conference not only provided space for discussions about technological innovations such as AI tools for editing and transcription, but also showed how much podcasts can benefit from an intensive exchange between the countries of the DACH region. The exclusive insight into the thoughts of Darch, Dath-Linienkämper and Mackay shows: The future of podcasting lies in exciting, well-told stories and a continuous pursuit of quality.

Nico Leuenberger, founder of Podcastschmiede and organizer of Dezibel, explains the importance of the Swiss podcast conference. Podcastschmiede, a podcast agency based in Winterthur, produces customized podcasts for companies, foundations and the public sector. Leuenberger emphasizes the importance of captivating stories for successful podcasts. In terms of advertising opportunities, he mentions in-house podcast productions and the placement of advertisements in existing podcasts.

The KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) not only emphasize reach, but also the listen-through rate. Leuenberger explains that good podcast advertising should suit the podcast in question and ideally be spoken by the podcaster themselves. Programmatic bookings are still in their infancy in Switzerland, but Podcastschmiede offers a booking platform for suitable podcasts.

The advertising alliance makes it possible to organize campaigns via various podcasts. Finally, Leuenberger explains the term "dynamic advertising", which is only present during the campaign period and allows podcasters to monetize older episodes as well.

Podcasts offer a welcome break from screens and are easily accessible, says Mackay in conversation with Anna Kohler. However, there is still a need for more education on how to use podcasts. She also emphasizes the importance of storytelling in corporate podcasts. She encourages companies to tell stories that have not yet been told in order to attract new listeners.

Moreover, a podcast is not just another social media platform or marketing tool, but a unique medium with its own purpose and target group, Mackay makes clear. In the next interview, she explains to Anna Kohler the role of podcasts in the overall marketing strategy and the importance of KPIs. Mackay also gives advice for start-ups that want to include podcasts in their marketing mix - regardless of budget.

The podcast was published in Tablecast Audio and video podcast studio produced by Soltmannowski Kommunikation on behalf of m&k Werbewoche.ch.

Cheyenne Mackay is co-managing director of Podcastschmiede. The podcast agency helps companies to develop a content strategy that tells stories and conveys their desired message.

"Recreation and new perspectives are of great importance for life and health. The heart is also happy to experience new things." This is what cardiologist and travel expert Rupprecht Wick, MD, says in the new fourth season of the podcast "Heart Rate". In four episodes, the Swiss Heart Foundation's summer series provides information on how those affected by cardiovascular disease can still enjoy their vacations without any worries.

How do they choose the right destination, how do they prepare properly, what should they take with them and what precautions on site make sense? In the podcast "Heart Rate" Wick answers all these questions about vacations with a cardiovascular disease.

The summer series with a focus on travel is the fourth season of the podcast "Heart Rate" of the Swiss Heart Foundation. The series are produced by Franziska Engelhardt and Christina Baron from the Winterthur agency Podcastschmiede.

Series told seasons

The "Heart Rate" podcast is all about the heart. How do I react correctly when someone has a heart attack, how do I recognize a stroke, what happens when you save someone's life? In the first three seasons, survivors tell their stories, experts explain how a stroke can happen or how to prevent a heart attack. The podcast takes listeners to the catheter laboratory of the Inselspital in Bern, to a first responder in Mürren or to the emergency call center 144. You experience paramedics in action, hear the stories of the rescued and their life-savers and learn how lay people can also save lives.

From the UN in New York to Brussels and Bern, the ambassadors of the Principality of Liechtenstein work all over the world, representing Liechtenstein's interests at the UN, the EU, and Switzerland.

On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport, the Winterthur-based agency Podcastschmiede focused on the ambassadors of Liechtenstein and their work. The result is an exciting podcast series that shows the diversity of Liechtenstein's foreign policy.

"Hoi world" is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and hoiwelt.li to find. The episodes are eleven to 15 minutes long. The protagonists are Government Councillor Dominique Hasler, Liechtenstein's Ambassador in Bern Dr. Doris Frick, Pascal Schafhauser, Liechtenstein's Ambassador in Brussels, Liechtenstein's Ambassador to the UN Christian Wenaweser, and Martin Frick, Head of the Office of Foreign Affairs.

The series was produced by Peter Hanselmann, producer at the Winterthur agency Podcastschmiede. The series is hosted by the two Liechtenstein radio profis Andi Batliner and Melanie Skaro-Frick.

In the second episode, which will be released next week, Bruno Schwaller has his say. He has driven his minibus to the Ukrainian border to take a family of five to Switzerland. He offers them shelter on his farm. What do you have to consider when the refugees move in? How does the start of living together work out?

In subsequent episodes, Simon Lechmann from Podcastschmiede will explore further questions, including those sent in by listeners.

Podcast forge produces free of charge

Podcastschmiede, one of the major Swiss podcast agencies, produces this podcast free of charge in collaboration with Swiss Refugee Aid. No donations are used in the process. The goal of the first season of "Help!" that the reception of refugees in Switzerland succeeds.

The podcast is available at www.pdcst.ch/helfen to find as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.