Digital Content & Media

Wondery Crafts Immersive Multilingual Podcast Experiences

Digital Content & Media

8

different languages

150+

hours of audio exported

1M

happy listeners worldwide

The Challenge

Scaling Podcast Localization During a Global Pandemic

Need for celebrity voice talent unfamiliar with dubbing

Remote recording and production requirements

Maintaining storytelling quality across multiple languages

Wondery, a premium podcast studio with 10 of the top 20 new podcast shows of 2020, aimed to expand its content globally. The company needed to translate and adapt its immersive storytelling for listeners in their native languages while preserving the intimacy and quality of the original English versions. Wondery’s decision to use celebrity voice talent unfamiliar with dubbing added complexity to the localization process. Additionally, the global pandemic necessitated a shift to remote production, further complicating the adaptation of high-quality audio content for international audiences.

The Solution

Cloud-Based Localization and Remote Recording

MediaNEXT's cloud-based platform

Timed Text tool for subtitle and script creation

StudioNEXT for remote voice recording

TransPerfect leveraged our MediaNEXT suite to provide Wondery with a comprehensive solution. The cloud-based Timed Text tool facilitated efficient script translation and subtitle creation, integrating translation memory and AI capabilities. StudioNEXT enabled remote onboarding and recording of voice talent—including celebrities—from the comfort of their homes. The Screener tool allowed Wondery to review and mark up content remotely, ensuring quality control throughout the process.

The Results

          50%
          average time savings per project
    

          8 
          different languages of premium quality localized podcasts produced 
    

Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic in 2020, Wondery and TransPerfect's collaboration resulted in the successful localization of multiple hit podcasts. The cloud-based approach overcame significant logistical hurdles and led to significant time savings. With one million happy listeners worldwide and over 150 hours of exported audio across eight languages, Wondery has successfully expanded its global footprint in the competitive podcast market.

What our Clients Say

"With audio, there is no video to distract the ears, so the translations have to convey the same intimacy as the English language originals. TransPerfect is a valued partner who transcreates our immersive storytelling for listeners in their native language, all around the globe."

— Head of International