New York (AFP)
The on-demand audio platform Spotify posted a new podcast on Monday, hosted by singer Bruce Springsteen and former US President Barack Obama, a conversation between the two men.
"Renegades: Born in the USA", two of the eight episodes of which have been uploaded, marks the entry of the two personalities into the world of podcasting, where they had so far made only a few appearances, as 'guests only.
It's a marketing stunt for Spotify, which has made podcasts a growth driver since 2019 and spent hundreds of millions of dollars on acquisitions in all areas of the ecosystem, from content to marketing to technical tools. creation.
“On the surface, Bruce and I don't have much in common,” Barack Obama says in the program's trailer.
"He's a white man from a small town in New Jersey. I'm black, mixed race, born in Hawaii. He's a rock icon. I'm ... not that cool."
The two first met during the 2008 presidential campaign and became friends afterward.
They recently met for a few days in New Jersey to record the show, which is a reflection on the State of America and on possible ways of reunifying the country.
"During these conversations, we discovered that we still share a faith in the American ideal," said the former head of state, now 59 years old.
"Not as a bout of nostalgia, but as a compass for the hard work that lies ahead."
Through dialogue, part of which was filmed, "we found some answers, learned things, laughed, and had a few drinks", summarizes Barack Obama.
The former president takes over from his wife Michelle, whose podcast was one of the great successes of last year, including an episode reuniting the two spouses.
Spotify also announced in December a partnership with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who will produce a series of podcasts for the platform.
© 2021 AFP