“The Wider World of Cirque-Centric Podcasts”

The podcasting universe is wildly diverse both in terms of audio quality and skill of the hosts. You can tell some just blast out to the world hoping to be heard, while others have a passion and knowledge of their subject that makes them eminently listenable. Some take pains to create shows with interesting well-researched topics, while others just watch an episode of a reality show and broadcast their off-the-cuff review out into the ether.

Being a fan of podcasting, especially of shows dedicated to Las Vegas, we’ve previously reported on Las Vegas-centric podcasts that feature Cirque artists or personnel. (See our previous coverage in February 2010, Issue 73 – http://goo.gl/QvRAVn – and March 2010, Issue 74 http://goo.gl/I96WVT) Strangely, it just recently occurred to us to check iTunes for additional ‘casts. Come to find there are several, with some of them interesting with lots of new information (new at least to us).

Searching “Cirque du Soleil” in iTunes and selecting the “Podcasts” tab from the results will show a mixture of video and audio podcasts that mention Cirque in their episode titles. There are close to 50, all free, but many are short publicity bits, in a foreign language, or don’t divulge new information. Below we encapsulate the Top 8 we found in ascending order of interest.

Marketing Bump – 3 clever marketing tips revealed from watching “OVO” by Cirque du Soleil
Host Alexi Neocleous (marketingbump.com) – Monologue on 3
marketing tips related to Cirque’s success
6 minutes – 4/1/13

This short monologue discusses the speakers’ impressions after watching OVO. The insights are interesting and gives a look into Cirque’s success from a different perspective.

It Matters – From Cirque du Soleil to Simple Sense–Meet Will
Will Roberts (willrobertsweeeklytelegram.com) – Rope trick
artist from Viva Elvis
60 minutes – 9/20/12

A bit of free-wheeling banter between the hosts, along with varying audio quality, finally gets into talking with Will Roberts, a humorist in the Will Rogers vein, who was the rope trick artist in Viva Elvis. There are a few CDS tidbits here. About halfway through the show it segues into talking with an English country singer and playing his song.

Lady Brain — Interviews–Erica Linz, actress/performer Cirque du Soleil
Erica Linz – actress, CDS World’s Away
Hosts Steph and Lauren (theladybrainshow.com)
6 minutes – 1/3/13

Some interesting notes about casting and shooting the film are divulged by Erica during this short interview.

HSM PodCasting – Lyn Heward, Cirque du Soleil
Lyn Heward – Former COO of CDS
Host unknown (podcast.hsm.com.br)
7 minutes – 4/26/07

This podcast starts out in Spanish, and then turns to English after a few moments. The former CDS COO talks about the difference between gymnastics in the 50’s and now, Cirque as a developer of a creative process, and empowering people and ideas. Short but interesting.

David Essel Alive! XM Radio Show Archives – Guest: Kristy Wilson, Ms.
Fitness Universe
Kristy Wilson (kristywilson.com) – former performer with CDS
Host David Essel (davidessel.com)
40 minutes – 7/20/13

This podcast comes off as the most professional-sounding of the bunch, being an archive of an XM Radio show. The host is very enthusiastic, almost sugary in praise of his guest. Kristy, who was a Power Track/Aerial Cradle artist with La Nouba, really addresses the thought processes that go into a decision to leave the company. She talks about feeling tired, how hard the show regimen is on the mind and body, and having to be always “on.” Enlightening. The first part of this interview is the best.

Massage Podcast – Episode 36, Interview with Keith Stiles working at Cirque do Soleil
Keith Stiles (stilesmassage.com) – massage therapist, works with
CDS artists
Host Dawn Adkins with Elaine Calenda (massagepodcast.com)
49 minutes – 3/5/12

Keith says he was at the right place at the right time to sign on with Cirque as a tour massage therapist from 2003-8, as well as working with Zarkana and Wintuk. The repetitive nature and type of injuries, recommending care regimens to artists, massage policies (artists each get 30 minutes per week), and touring life are discussed. And much attention is given to how therapists are hired (experience is needed and bring your A-game.) A lot of “I didn’t know that” in this good interview.

Comet Branding Radio – Comet Radio Show with special guest Jess Berlin,
Cirque du Soleil
Jess Berlin – Manager of Social Media, CDS Las Vegas
Hosts Al Krieger and Sara Meaney
30 minutes (says 45:00, but rest is blank) – 3/24/10

Jess talks about originally advocating for bloggers, bringing them the same recognition within the company as print journalists. She talks about maintaining the magic or how to not let too much backstage info out in the coverage they get. Responding on Twitter, the demographics of the shows Facebook sites and what kinds of content are popular on them are also mentioned. Really interesting.

Ideafaktory podcast-Daring ideas for innovators – IdeaFaktory Podcast
Episode 4: Social Strategies with Cirque du Soleil’s Andy Levey
Adam Levey – Social Media Director, CDS
Host Steve Faktor (ideafaktory.com)
20 minutes – 12/18/12

Host Faktor talks more than any of the other hosts, but his comments make this more of a conversation and less of an interview. This is the most interesting podcast of the bunch, as Levey (Levy?) addresses each topic intelligently. The roles of Facebook and Twitter in establishing a brand and speaking to an audience of followers, the reach of Facebook, brand ambassadors and what they mean to a company, and perceptions of success are all touched on.

In the end I learned more from the IdeaFaktory, Comet Branding, and Massage podcasts than the others. If you have the 1.5 hours to give, these three come highly recommended.

Now let’s take a look at the free video podcasts on ITunes.

Searching “Cirque du Soleil” in iTunes and selecting the “Podcasts” tab from the results will show a mixture of video and audio podcasts that mention Cirque in their episode titles. There are close to 50, all free, but many are short publicity bits, in a foreign language, or don’t divulge new information. Below we encapsulate the interesting videos we found in ascending order of interest.

CHRISTOPHER KNELL – Still Alive and Living in Burbank
The Making of The Beatles Love
49 minutes – 10/13/07

While it looked like this would have been the most interesting, and longest, of the bunch, we couldn’t download it, which was the case with several of the videos.

STARK INSIDER
Cirque du Soleil – Quidam at San Jose
1 minute – 03/24/11

This quick video feels like out-takes, with several background shots. No new information here, just some interesting shots.

CITY OF SASS
Cirque du Soleil clip
1 minute – 04/25/09

Shot backstage, this involves a rather rotund guy (Jake Rossevillo?) trying out bungee. Comes straight out of the “Cirque comes to town and laces up local TV feature host/ess in a costume and has them try out an apparatus with embarrassing and hilarious results – great for local publicity!” school. Though it looks like it took place in a permanent training setup – La Nouba perhaps? But here it is one uninterrupted take which conveys the joy and fear of trying something new.

STYLE STUDIO – Fashion Video from Style.com
Cirque du Soleil
4 minutes – 6/12/09

This is a short, slickly-produced video focusing on the costumes of Love. There are several nice close-ups, including of the Mr. Piggy costume. The Walrus gets some nice close-up on-screen time as well.

FEAR NO ART CHICAGO
Behind the Scenes with Cirque du Soleil
7 minutes – 07/25/12

Has ads at the beginning, but then delves into several short interviews by Elysabeth Alfano done at Dralion. In a good interview, Amanda Orozca-silk performer shows off her bruised hands. They also talk with Head Coach Michael Ocampo.

WHY MATH?
Episode 1 – Cirque du Soleil (Dralion) Rigging
5 minutes – 10/09/12

Good, fun, fast paced. Kurt McLaughlin-Production Rigger shows off a CAD drawing. The idea is to show young people how math is used in various real-life circumstances.

WHY MATH?
Episode 13 – Cirque du Soleil planning
3 minutes – 02/04/13

Another good episode (from the same Dralion engagement as Episode 1) for encouraging math literacy. Lauren Thompson, Event Manager at the John Labatt Center talks about planning and load-in.

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These six are all interesting for their own reasons and will only take up 20 minutes of your time, and you might just learn something new about Cirque du Soleil.

And by the way, if you have heard or seen podcasts featuring Cirque du Soleil, send the references along to us and we’ll mention them. And learn more interesting things ourselves!