Hit podcast 'Love Matters' shines at German podcast festival
In India, openly discussing love, relationships and sexuality is still far from common, but DW’s podcast Love Matters is changing that. A co-production of the German international broadcaster DW and India’s leading news outlet The Indian Express, the bi-weekly podcast is aimed at a young Indian audience, addressing themes often considered taboo in India. Host and influencer Leeza Mangaldas leads candid conversations with prominent celebrities and influencers, tackling topics ranging from inter-caste dating to LGBTQ+ rights and female pleasure.
A case study in successful media partnership
Love Matters has also attracted attention in Germany for its successful media partnership model. As the sole international production featured alongside leading German names in podcasting, it was invited by Germany’s regional public-service broadcaster ARD to participate in the House of Podcast festival, running from August 30 to September 1 in Berlin.
Jochen Rosenkranz, DW Director Culture & Documentaries: “Love Matters is a prime example of successful collaborative media production. Our host Leeza Mangaldas thoughtfully navigates taboo topics, engaging millions of young people across India. Together with The Indian Express, we’ve crafted a journalistic product that deeply resonates with our young audience. We’re proud that Love Matters has earned recognition at a major podcast festival in Germany—a success made possible by the strength of our partnerships.”
The Indian subcontinent is one of DW’s key target regions. Through formats like Love Matters, DW aims to promote free expression in a media landscape where press freedom often faces challenges.
Leeza Mangaldas, sexuality educator and podcast host: “Exploring and addressing questions around gender, sexuality and relationships is a crucial opportunity to challenge the stigma and taboo that often keep these topics out of public discussion in India. It’s also a step toward fostering greater equality and driving meaningful social change.”
First live show debuts in Berlin
A panel and a live recording of the first episode of Season 4 will be showcased at rbb's three-day festival. Attendees will experience the podcast’s first live recording, with the Berlin audience invited to participate.
Melanie von Marschalck, Executive Producer and DW Head of Lifestyle on Demand: “More and more, people are seeking a sense of community, wanting to meet other listeners and share the experience of being in the same room as the host, feeling like they’re part of something special. Today, audiences in Berlin and our Indian fans attending the festival will have the chance to experience Love Matters live and firsthand.”
The live episode will dive into the theme of coming out, with Indian comedian Anshita Koul, now in Berlin, sharing her story of moving from a traditional heterosexual marriage to embracing her true sexual identity.
Love Matters: Three years and onward
Launched in September 2021 with Bollywood actress and presenter Evelyn Sharma hosting the first two seasons, Love Matters evolved into a video podcast in October 2023 for its third season, with Leeza Mangaldas taking over as the host. The podcast has enjoyed significant success, with ten episodes of Season 3 alone garnering over 2 million streams across platforms and more than 30 million views of short video clips on Facebook, Instagram and Josh.
The video podcast is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts,Spotify,YouTube as well as on dw.com and partner platforms The Indian Express and JioSaavn.
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