Celebrities on tap

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: NZME – with dentsu NZ – has launched a new podcast with Ganesh Raj and Countdown that is part celebrity interview, part dinner inspiration, with a dash of humour and a good pinch of tech innovation.

The Humble Yum Yum podcast sees Raj interview a celebrity each week to discuss food, family and fame.

It launched on Saturday with debut guest Hilary Barry. Listeners can expect to hear from comedians, entertainers, musicians and sports personalities across the 10-episode series.

Ganesh Raj is known for his entertaining, hilarious presenting style, with over a decade of experience in both the food and entertainment industries.

“Food is obviously a huge part of my life and I love discussing it in every context, from those dishes you had one time but can’t stop thinking about, through to the massive role that food plays with friends and family,” he said.

“I’m excited to have Kiwis come along for this ride as I chat all things kai with some of my favourite people.”

“This campaign is a first for iHeartRadio and truly has digital at its core, and we’re excited to have Ganesh on board as we pave the way for future campaigns in this space.”

The podcast is available on iHeartRadio and will be activated across NZME platforms. After each podcast, Raj will create recipes based on that week’s guest’s dream meal for the Herald’s Eat Well, and he will regularly appear on The Jono and Ben Breakfast Show on The Hits to help listeners with their food questions.

NZME’s head of digital audio James Butcher says the podcast is a great example of digital-led audio and the opportunities for cross-platform integration.

“Our podcast model is unique and offers partners the ability to take advantage of NZME’s scale with touchpoints that can reach different audiences in ways that resonate with them,” he said.

“This campaign is a first for iHeartRadio and truly has digital at its core, and we’re excited to have Ganesh on board as we pave the way for future campaigns in this space.”

Countdown GM brand Bríd Drohan-Stewart said: “The partnership is an authentic embodiment of the important role food plays in a social context.

“Our customers are at the heart of our business and this podcast not only gives listeners meal ideas and makes it easy to shop the ingredients thanks to the technology integrated into our online shopping platform, but it gives listeners the chance to connect with their favourite Kiwi personalities through something that unites us all; a love of food.”

• To listen to Ep 1, click here

CREDITS

Client: Countdown:
General Manager Brand: Bríd Drohan-Stewart
Senior Marketing Manager: Katja Green
Brand Media and Planning Chapter Lead:  Kelly McIntyre
Marketing Manager: Mikayla Corbett
Agency: dentsu:
Group Business Director: Sarah Wilson
Business Manager: Beth Robertson
Associate Digital Director: Kate Hopkinson
Digital Executive: Dee Kapoor
Sponsor: NZME
Content Director iHeartRadio (Acting): Sam Collins
Senior Account Director: Lauren McClung
Client Solutions Director: Anna Lloyd
GM Brand Integration & Operations: Sarah Catran
Head of Digital Revenue: Charlotte Bell
Senior Account Manager: Madeson West
Product Manager: Rachel Chandra
Commercial Project Manager: Linda Forsman
Commercial Integration Specialist: Clara Garcia