In 2020, people have been turning to podcasts as a means of faux-companionship, to learn and stay informed about the current affairs that have been changing rapidly amid the virus and the US election. For Spotify, this has manifested in a strong Q3 return led by podcasts and ad studio channels.

With 3.5 million regular listeners, the podcast phenomenon has arrived Down Under. Aussies are enjoying this intimate mode of storytelling at home and in cars on their daily commute. So what’s the lure for busy Australians? And how can brands best tap into their invigorated interest?

As Americans approach their seventh month of living with the pandemic, they're turning to positive emotional touchstones more than ever. A Spotify report reveals that the majority of podcast listeners feel emotionally connected to hosts and they favor shows offering trustworthiness in a turbulent time.

Behavioural sciences have been applied to advertising for nearly 50 years, but industry-wide adoption is slow. Canvas8 spoke with Richard Shotton, author ofThe Choice Factory, about how behavioural sciences can help advertisers to innovate their practices to meet the challenges of tomorrow.