Apple is launching a series of new podcasts to provide content for subscribers of its Fitness+ program on Apple Watch. Watch. The Time to Walk series includes episodes featuring celebrities that Apple says were created to encourage users to walk more often. The episodes feature a mix of stories, photos and music.
“Even throughout this challenging period of time, one activity that has remained available to many is walking,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s senior director of Fitness Technologies. “With Time to Walk, we’re bringing weekly original content to Apple Watch in Fitness+ that includes some of the most diverse, fascinating, and celebrated guests offering inspiration and entertainment to help our users keep moving through the power of walking.”
The first set of episodes include country music star Dolly Parton, who reflects on career, family, and growing up in rural Tennessee; NBA player Draymond Green, who talks about the virtues of failure and tuning out criticism; actress Uzo Aduba who discusses lifelong relationships and keeping the faith; and musician Shawn Mendes, who shares how a slower pace has helped him personally and creatively.
The common thread among the episodes is how each says the act of taking a walk helps their head. Taking a walk is a great way to clear your mind,” Mendes said. “It’s the most simple thing you can do to calm the body and soul, reflect, and slow down.”
Apple says the episodes were recorded while each of the speakers was walking outside or in locations that are meaningful to them allowing visual elements to also appear at the right time on an Apple Watch. “The experience of walking and telling my stories gave me that familiar feeling that walking brings, answering questions that need to be answered, and addressing topics that need to be addressed,” said Aduba.
Following the guest’s stories, the experience extends with their introducing a short playlist of songs that has given them motivation and inspiration. The episodes will run from 25 to 40 minutes. Time to Walk requires AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones paired with Apple Watch.
New episodes will appear in the Workout app on Apple Watch from a different guest each Monday through the end of April. Time to Walk episodes are automatically downloaded to Apple Watch with a Fitness+ subscription, and users can start an episode directly from the Workout app. For Apple Watch customers who use a wheelchair, Time to Walk becomes Time to Push, and automatically starts an Outdoor Wheelchair Walk Pace workout.
Fitness+ is available as a subscription service that Apple charges $10 per month for and can be shared among up to six family members for the same price. It is also included in the Apple One Premier plan. It is available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.K.