Essential Listening: Bowie Bonds

The future of the podcasting business is ads, at least for now.

While some podcast networks, like Howl Premium, are experimenting with subscription models, the vast majority of podcasts that are attempting to monetize rely on ads. A recent Economist article recognizes the growing popularity of the podcast form but highlights two challenges the medium faces on the advertising front: The first is figuring out who exactly is listening. The second is aggregating a large enough audiences to make it worthwhile for advertisers.

These dilemmas are forcing podcasting companies to be more creative. Corey Layton at Advertising Age reports on the lengths to which podcasters will go to craft ads that are compelling to their audiences. This requires a different mindset and more effort on the part of podcasters and advertisers alike. For now, Layton writes, a number of advertisers are willing to experiment with the format.

If this week’s installment doesn’t slake your thirst for great podcasts, check out some entries from previous weeks’ editions of Essential Listening. As usual, this installment features a diverse group of selections to make your next commute or exercise session a little smarter.

• Jake Taylor asks five questions of Victor Ricciardi, co-author, with H. Kent Baker, of Investor Behavior: The Psychology of Investing and Financial Planning. They discuss what behavioral biases we often overlook and the impact of financial illiteracy on market outcomes. (Five Good Questions)
• Preston Pysh and Stig Brodersen talk with Meb Faber of Cambria Investment Management and author of the recently published Invest With the House: Hacking the Top Hedge Funds. Faber explains his outlook on the current global equity valuation landscape and how investors can piggyback on the equity selections of top hedge fund managers. (The Investors Podcast)
• Fintech — the amount of chatter about financial technology and how it will disrupt the established banks is off the charts these days. But it doesn’t have to be the case that financial institutions get “Uberized.” Zack Miller chats with Ron Shevlin of Cornerstone Advisors about the enduring strengths of the big banks and how they will compete in the future. (Tradestreaming Podcast)
• The collapse in oil and commodity prices is once again putting the spotlight on commodity investing. In this presentation, David-Michael Lincke, CFA, considers commodities as an asset class, their diversification benefits, and whether they serve as an inflation hedge. (CFA Institute)
• The passing of David Bowie was a global event. His influence wasn’t limited to the realms of music and culture, however, he also left a mark on the finance industry. In a conversation with Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, David Pullman, who personally worked with Bowie to create the securitized financial product that bears his name, recalls the genesis of the “Bowie bond.” (Odd Lots)
• Angel investors need not stay angel investors. Sometimes they make the jump into full-blown venture capitalists. Maia Heymann of Converge Venture Partners accomplished that transition and explains the process to Nick Moran. (The Full Ratchet)
• Financial analysts and portfolio managers tend to dislike messes. But Tim Harford, author of a number of excellent books, including Adapt: How Success Always Starts with Failure, may have you reconsidering whether such disorder is so counterproductive. In this TED Talk, he explains how messes and constraints can help stimulate creative thinking. (TED)
• In popular culture, mindfulness and meditation have become hot topics in business. The challenge for many is getting beyond the hype (and gobbledygook) to find something of personal value. James Altucher interviews Dan Harris of ABC News and author of 10% Happier about how he discovered meditation and how it changed his life for the better. (James Altucher Show)

Feel free to leave a comment or to recommend other podcasts Enterprising Investor readers and listeners might enjoy. I may highlight your suggestion in this ongoing series on the world of podcasting.

You can read more from Tadas Viskanta on his blog Abnormal Returns or follow him on Twitter @abnormalreturns.

If you liked this post, don’t forget to subscribe to the Enterprising Investor.

All posts are the opinion of the author. As such, they should not be construed as investment advice, nor do the opinions expressed necessarily reflect the views of CFA Institute or the author’s employer.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/George Clerk