Ben Lee and Ione Skye partner with Acast on new podcast network

Aussie musician Ben Lee and actor Ione Skye have partnered with independent podcast company Acast to launch The Weirder Together Podcast Network.

The new venture aims to amplify unique, left-of-centre, fascinating personalities. Notable names with projects in development at the network include Alexi Wasser, Max Quinn and Safy-Hallan Farah, with more to be announced soon.

Ben and Ione recently launched their own weekly podcast with Acast, Weirder Together, which shares its name with their podcast network. The show explores the husband and wife duo’s lives as eccentric, married artists in an intimate, cosy, light-hearted setting.

Ben says “I am an avid podcast fan and listener first and foremost. I actually had a tiny podcast back in 2006 through my website, which was probably slightly premature.”

“Anyway, now the podcast space is so dynamic and full, that it feels like curation is a missing aspect. Our approach to the Weirder Together network is kind of like the indie record labels we grew up on. You would see a cool label like SubPop or Half A Cow or Rough Trade logo on a new record, and because you trusted the brand, you gave the record a shot.”

“Our network is going to be like that. Like with everything we do, we exclusively work on super cool shit with super cool people.”

Guy Scott-Wilson, Creator Network Director for Acast Australia and New Zealand says “Ben Lee is an Aussie icon. Ione is an influential force in American indie cinema. Podcasting shares the same accessibility and DIY ethic as the post-punk and indie film and music scenes, and the Acast Creator Network has always provided a home to independent voices who want to do things on their own terms, so it’s an absolute pleasure to be working with Ben and Ione on bringing this project to life.”

The duo will launch their network in a typically fun and irreverent manner, with a free party at Sydney’s Cafe Freda’s on June 29 featuring DJ sets from Ben and Ione along with DJ sets by Georgia Maq of Camp Cope and Japanese Wallpaper.