
Servant of Pod with Nick Quah
In the world of podcasts, anyone can tell their story. From major media institutions to mom and pop shops starting from scratch. Let Nick Quah guide you through this ever-changing world, as he speaks with the producers, hosts, and executives that are shaping the culture of podcasting.
Latest episodes

7 snips
Aug 26, 2020 • 27min
Richard’s Famous Food Podcast
Richard's Famous Food Podcast is a wild blend of food documentaries and absurdity, created solely by Richard Parks III. In this episode, they explore the surreal episode 'Cornichon's Quest' and discuss the unique storytelling approach. The podcast merges fiction with reality, delves into the global Cornishone market, and even takes a quirky look at afterlife beliefs in 'A Woman's Smile'.

Aug 19, 2020 • 29min
ESPN Daily: Sports Coverage Without the Sports
College football and Major League Baseball are hanging by a thread. A Floridian bubble is home to multiple sports leagues, all playing out experimental seasons. Stadiums and arenas are largely empty, filled in with artificial crowd noises and, in some cases, papered over with digital fans. Persisting within a pandemic, the sports world has never been stranger. So what is it like to make a daily sports podcast? This week, Nick spoke with Pablo Torre and Eve Troeh, the host and senior editorial producer of ESPN Daily, about the delicate balance involved in sports coverage during a most irregular time. Servant of Pod sponsors include: Raycon - get 15-percent off your order at buyraycon.com/servant Visit my exclusive link ExpressVPN.com/SERVANT and you can get an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package. UCLA Extension Fall Quarter starts September 28. Enroll now at https://www.uclaextension.edu/

Aug 12, 2020 • 29min
A Brief Peek at Audio Erotica
A deep dive into the world of audio erotica with guests from Quinn, Pornhub, and independent creators. Topics include the intersection of audio erotica with technology, diversity in erotic content creation, ethical porn production, and the rise of audio porn on Pornhub. Also, the influence of adult content platforms on user-generated audio and the appeal of British accents among American audiences.

Aug 5, 2020 • 30min
What Does a Podcast Editor Do?
The podcast discusses the crucial role of podcast editors in enhancing storytelling, engaging listeners, and crafting narratives. It highlights the journey of a podcast editor from fact-checking to editing, emphasizing the importance of surprises and emotional impact in storytelling. The conversation also covers promoting diversity in the podcasting industry and empowering future podcast editors.

Jul 29, 2020 • 30min
Jody Avirgan: The Ghosts of the 2016 Elections
The 2016 presidential election cycle left a deep mark on the podcast world. Few know this better than Jody Avirgan, who produced the popular FiveThirtyEight podcast through that cycle. Though he’s sitting the 2020 cycle out, opting instead to make This Day In Esoteric Political History with the Radiotopia network, Avirgan still has a lot to say about the way podcasts cover the elections. In this episode, Nick and Jody look back on the 2016 politics podcast explosion. Chapo Trap House Keepin’ it 1600 Pod Save America Slate Political Gabfest Another Round On The Media California Love

Jul 22, 2020 • 32min
Josh Levin: Slow Burn
Slate's Slow Burn is one of the best podcast documentary series around, with each season driven forward by a simple framework: what was it like to live through a prominent historical event? For its fourth season, the team examines the rise of David Duke in the late '80s and early '90s, centering its attention on a major recent effort by a white supremacist to gain formal political power. Nick talks with Josh Levin, who hosts the season, and for whom the story of David Duke is a personal one. Floodlines

Jul 15, 2020 • 37min
Kid’s Podcasts: A True Alternative to Screen Time?
The numbers for kid’s podcasts have risen noticeably during lockdown. Nick talks to Molly Bloom, of American Public Media’s Brains On and its spin-off Smash Boom Best, and Lindsay Patterson, co-creator of Tumble Media and co-chair of Kids Listen, about the genre’s appeal, history, and power. Plus, Kameel Stanley joins Nick to dive deeper into the recent industry conversations involving creators of color and intellectual property. Podcasting can realize its promise — if it meets the challenge for creators of color By the Book This Land Ten Percent Happier Podcast with Dan Harris Audm

Jul 8, 2020 • 33min
Hank Green on Big Money in Podcasting
As a veteran YouTuber, Hank Green is familiar with what happens when a quirky community starts seeing serious money, and grows up to become something else. This week, Nick talks to Green, who also makes podcasts, about whether he sees the same thing happening to podcasting. Hank’s opinion piece for The Washington Post Podcasts from Hank and John Green Vlogbrothers Crash Course Meddling Adults Dr. Gameshow

Jul 7, 2020 • 14min
Stitcher Sold
Last night, we learned that Stitcher is being sold to SiriusXM in what is now the largest podcast deal to date. Hot Pod’s UK writer Caroline Crampton joins Nick to talk through the ramifications of that news, plus what’s been going on at WNYC. The New York Times: “WNYC Employees Demanded Diversity. They Got Another White Boss.”

Jul 1, 2020 • 42min
Making Music for Podcasts
Composers Ramtin Arablouei of NPR and Gimlet’s Haley Shaw join Nick to talk about scoring podcasts, their favorite podcast music, and how they got where they are in this relatively new field. And to go over the week’s big news stories, Nick calls up Caroline Crampton, Hot Pod’s UK writer. Anthems / Stitcher for sale? / Serial / The Daily / Run To Your Mama / Snap Judgement / S-Town / Drop Electric / Ted Radio Hour / Throughline / Mogul / The Ballad of Billy Balls / The Habitat / 10 Things That Scare Me / Moonface