Recently named the 2020 Voice Developer of the Year by Project Voice, Matchbox.io is excited to announce its newest initiative: the Question of the Day Flashcast on Amazon Alexa.
At the end of play each day, Question of the Day (QOTD) fans can now hear veteran radio hosts Murray Horwitz and Tamika Smith discuss the Question of the Day more in depth, exploring fun and educational aspects of the day’s topic.
Running between two and three minutes, each Flashcast is a miniature podcast, providing fans with an expanded and enhanced QOTD experience.
“Interactive podcasts are part of the voice-first future,” said Joel Wilson, Founder and CEO of Matchbox.io. “This Flashcast is part of our mission to develop innovative interactive content. Plus, Murray and Tamika are a lot of fun to listen to!”
The Question of the Day Flashcast is currently available through the QOTD Alexa skill in the United States, and worldwide on major outlets such as Apple Podcasts and Acast, and the popular QOTD Facebook page.
To participate, Alexa device owners in the U.S. can say, “Alexa, what’s the Question of the Day?” or “Alexa, play the Question of the Day podcast.”
About the Team
Murray Horwitz (Executive Producer and Co-host) is a Tony Award-winning playwright, lyricist, and broadcaster, whose accomplishments include originating the hit NPR comedy quiz, Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me, co-authoring the hit Broadway musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, and writing the song lyrics for John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby at The Metropolitan Opera. He has been called, “My first mentor” by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Currently the host of WAMU’s The Big Broadcast, Murray is also an occasional NPR commentator on Weekend Edition and All Things Considered, as well as the co-host with Susan Stamberg of the annual Hanukkah Lights special on NPR. The winner of three Peabody Awards, a Tony for Ain’t Misbehavin’, two National Medals of Arts (for NPR Cultural Programming and Washington Performing Arts), and the Order of Arts and Letters from the government of France, Murray began his career as a clown in the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Tamika Smith (Co-host) is the Weekend Edition host for NPR’S WAMU 88.5 in the nation’s capital and produces the nationally-acclaimed Russ Parr Morning Show.
Tamika was previously the executive producer for The Big Picture with Olivier Knox, a daily political news program on SiriusXM’s POTUS channel. The program offers insight into Washington, DC’s most influential voices that help shape the nation’s political landscape.
Before that, Tamika was the Managing Editor of AOL’s SilverSpringPatch, a daily online news and opinion platform devoted to publishing local stories and perspectives about the community.
Tamika joined AOL with experience from NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin and Radio-One’s Keepin’ It Real With Al Sharpton, where she reported news that reflected the African-American experience.
Tamika graduated from Howard University in 2007 with a concentration in broadcast journalism and theater.
Suraya Mohamed (Producer) is a three-time Peabody Award-winning producer, sound designer and editor. She currently serves as the project manager for Jazz Night In America and is a contributing producer on the Alt.Latino podcast. She also produces NPR’s holiday specials package, including Tinsel Tales, Hanukkah Lights, Toast Of The Nation, Pink Martini’s Joy To The World: A Holiday Spectacular and most recently Hamilton: A Story Of US. You’ll also find her work on the Tiny Desk series as either a producer or engineer.
A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music with degrees in Viola Performance and Recording Arts and Sciences, Suraya specializes in music and technology. Her Tonmeister (German: “sound master”) classification is punctuated by her experience working as both an engineer and a producer in many genres.
With a wide range of musical interests and experience, Suraya played bass in a high school go-go band, has worked as a substitute violist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and currently performs with a Washington, D.C., indie-rock band.
Inquiries regarding the Question of the Day Flashcast can be directed to Sarah Andrew Wilson, Chief Content Officer, at sarah@matchbox.io.
