With its acquisition of Gimlet Media and Anchor, Spotify is setting its sights on becoming the go-to destination for podcasts. It’s a sign of the medium’s growing influence as brands seek ways to tap engaged and young audiences who want immersive narratives that can hold their attention.

Crime scene cleanup specialist accounts on Instagram are rapidly growing in popularity. As the interest in dark tourism and true crime podcasts continues to rise, people are turning to social media to get their fix of the macabre.

Luminary is aiming to turn its subscription-based platform into the Netflix of the podcast world. With a whopping $100 million in venture funding, it’s hedging its bets on exclusive, ad-free content and the promise of greater creative freedom for podcasters.

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?