SoundCloud Voices

SoundCloud Voices is a weekly Community feature focusing on new spoken word creators found on SoundCloud. It might be a podcast, radio show, audio book, interview, audio messages, a poem, anything! Keep an eye out every Thursday for a new post.

This week on SoundCloud we take a look at two very interesting podcasts, who are also use the power of SoundCloud for competitions, Pulse of the Planet and Third Coast Festival.  Both make brilliant, and very different, podcasts but also are currently using SoundCloud to receive submissions for their competitions.

First up is Pulse of the Planet.  As a podcast the show posts a 2 minute sound portrait of Planet Earth each weekday, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide, blending interviews with extraordinary natural sound.  Take a listen to their 5000th episode as an example.

They are currently running a competition to have your own sounds of the planet on the show by submitting your sounds to their drop box on SoundCloud.  They are looking for descriptions or actual audio clips that define your place on the globe. Click on their drop-box to record yourself talking about the sounds of spring where you are — or, upload recordings of the sounds themselves. The best descriptions and found sounds will be featured in a future episode of the show!  Here’s an example of a submission they have had so far.

Another great podcast is by the creators of the Third Coast Festival.  Based out of Chicago, TC curates sound-rich audio stories from around the world and shares them with as many ears as possible – on the radio, on the Internet, and at public listening events all over the place.  They also create their own podcast, take a listen to their latest episode here:

Aside from their podcast and event hosting, they also create competitions.  Their latest competition is using the power of SoundCloud to source and manage the submissions.  Name the Short Doc Competition, Third Coast are looking for people to submit a 2 minute documentary with the following guidelines.

1. Must be 2-3 minutes

2. Must feature 2 of your neighbours

3. Must have a colour in the title

4. Must contain 3 consecutive seconds of narrative silence

Winners get a trip to Chicago for the festival in October.  So get creating!  You have until April 3oth to submit. Go to the competition site to learn more and submit – http://thirdcoast.herokuapp.com/.  Here’s an example of a submission:

If you are interested in trying out SoundCloud as a spoken word podcast platform, you can sign up for via this form. Successful candidates will be emailed with further details.