Mercury Expands Roster -- Three New Indie Podcasts & A New Original Podcast
Indie podcasters need more companies like Mercury .
In early February, Mercury, a new UK-based podcast network, officially launched. It is designed to support the unique needs of independent creators looking to grow and monetize their podcasts.
Its offering differs from other networks, with a strong focus on ensuring podcasters keep complete control of their content. Benefits include direct involvement in advertising and sponsorship decisions. Mercury also promises a more personalized approach than other networks, prioritizing value over volume.
“We’re going toe to toe with the big networks… and we’re winning!” insists Liam Heffernan, Mercury’s Founder.
Mercury was founded by Liam Heffernan, an award-winning independent podcaster from the UK, whose own shows include America: A History. He has previously worked for companies
including Auddy and The Podcast Boutique, and was featured on Podpod’s 30 Faces to Watch list, touted as a future industry leader.
“As an independent podcaster myself, I know that the biggest challenge facing creators isn’t content; it’s time and resource,” says Liam.
Now, Mercury takes that next step, expanding its network, welcoming three indie podcasters.
In addition, Mercury has announced Beth’s Spooky Story Time, a new horror fiction anthology podcast, officially launches on all major podcast platforms.
Mercury is thrilled to announce the addition of three diverse new shows to its growing roster of powerhouse independent shows: true-crime series Midlands Murder Files, offbeat interview series 5 Random Questions, and weekly film reviews from OffScreen.The new additions signal Mercury’s first move into the booming true-crime space and build on their growing slate of entertainment content.
“We’re excited to welcome these unique voices to the Mercury Podcasts family,” said Liam Heffernan, Founder of Mercury Podcasts. “They each bring something fresh and engaging to our listeners, expanding our content offering, and building on our mission to represent the best independent podcasts and creators in the world.”
5 Random Questions:
Hosted by Danny Brown, one of the podcast industry’s favorite people and all-around nice guy, this interview show puts a creative spin on the traditional chat format. Each episode features Danny asking five unpredictable questions to notable guests, resulting in unexpected revelations and genuinely authentic conversations that listeners won’t hear anywhere else.
A brand-new season launches today, and you can listen and follow wherever you normally get your pods.
“I’ve always seen 5 Random Questions as a podcast that flips the script on the interview format, and doesn’t follow the usual pre-approved questions and answers approach. Because of this, it redefines what an interview show can be,” Danny says.
Danny Brown continues: “Mercury is the same when it comes to podcast networks, and it doesn’t follow the usual ‘you have to be a huge podcast to be on a network’ mindset. Instead, it’s forging a new path for podcasters and what it means to be part of a network, especially as an indie podcaster. I’m excited to have 5 Random Questions be part of Liam’s vision, and join up with the rest of the Mercury family as the show continues to evolve.”
Midlands Murder Files:
This meticulously researched true-crime podcast delves into the most fascinating criminal cases across the British Midlands. With respectful storytelling and attention to detail, Midlands Murder Files examines cases you’ve heard of and ones you should have, putting a unique and compelling spin on the true-crime genre.
“I am thrilled to be collaborating with Mercury. After just 5 minutes on a call, I felt their team understood the pain points I was facing in terms of evolving, and their knowledge, enthusiasm, and experience shone through,” explains show host Graham.
“We are heading towards our first anniversary, and this partnership will allow the podcast to reach more people and bring the show to the next level. I am very excited to have Mercury on board for the next part of the journey.”
OffScreen:
From blockbusters to awards contender, from box office hits to fantastic flops, acclaimed film critic Van Connor and presenter Adam Ball deliver your weekly dose of film reviews in their uniquely tongue-in-cheek way. Connor and Ball are a natural double act, bringing acerbic wit and a sharpness to film review shows — this is not your typical two-hour drone-a-thon, but a fast-paced magazine format that everyone can enjoy.
“It’s my absolute pleasure to be bringing OffScreen to Mercury and to be working once more with Liam — continuing a collaboration and friendship of many years with one of the true believers of the medium,” says Van.
“We on OffScreen love movies, and we’ll talk about them all day, so Mercury is the perfect home for us under the umbrella of making an art form of talking all day.”
“In Mercury, we have revolutionized what it means to be a podcast network,” says Liam. “It places value over volume, it puts content before ads, and it puts creator support at the very heart of its offering. By coming at it from this mindset, we’ve been able to hit the ground running and go toe to toe with the biggest networks for the best independent shows and creators out there…and we’re winning.”
Check out more Mercury podcasts and support independent podcasts. Ask yourself what group you would rather have making podcasts: corporations that prioritize profits over people or independent podcasters like Mercury that have a passion for podcasts and love their listeners.
Mercury will now represent all three shows. Find out more by visiting their website at mercurypodcasts.com
Beth’s Spooky Story Time is a new horror fiction anthology podcast, just launched on all major podcast platforms.
Mercury tells us: “Delivering chilling original stories every Sunday and Wednesday, the series promises to redefine audio horror for the modern listener.”
It is the first of several original podcasts to be launched on the Mercury network. It also champions a strong female-led show in a largely male-dominated arena (Creeps McPasta, Dr. NoSleep, Last Podcast on the Left, etc.).
Beth’s Spooky Story Time combines psychological terror, supernatural elements, and immersive sound design to create a truly unsettling listening experience.
“Horror works uniquely well in an audio-only format. The listener’s imagination fills in the blanks in ways far more terrifying than any visual could,” says Liam Heffernan, Showrunner and Founder of Mercury. “With Spooky Story Time, we’re creating a reliable twice-weekly destination for horror enthusiasts who want quality original fiction that genuinely disturbs.”
The podcast’s format features self-contained ten-minute, first-person stories. Unlike many horror podcasts that release monthly or seasonally, Beth’s Spooky Story Time promises to release episodes consistently twice a week, delivering a regular horror fix to its listeners.
“Our strategy with Spooky Story Time is all about building a community”, continues Liam, “so we’ve launched a Patreon page where we really want to encourage our supporters, both free and paid, to engage with the show, be part of it, and help it evolve into something huge.”
Paying followers currently benefit from exclusive forums and ad-free content, and listeners can sign up here: patreon.com/bethsspookystorytime