That’s good and bad, of course…

• Good: The competition encourages great tools and brilliant platforms that really help us out.
• Bad: The sheer variety can make it soooo confusing when you’re starting out.

Have no fear, though, that’s what I’m here for. To smash those confusions, and make choosing your software as easy as falling down a cat-meme YouTube rabbithole….

Pro Tip
A lot of podcast software covers multiple bases. Eg. most editing apps will also help you record. Because of these overlaps, you can often just use one or two platforms to handle the whole process!

	Alitu	Audacity	Audition	Descript	Riverside
Solo Recording
Call Recording				*
Video Recording				*
Audio Editing
Video Editing
Text-Based Editing
Hosting & Publishing

If you want a quick answer – just to be told: “This one’s good, use it!” then I’ve got a couple of top recommendations in each section.

But if you want to go deep – and I know some of you do! – then I’ll guide you to specific resources for each area. We’ve covered many of these tools in detail, after all.

So, what software do you need to make a podcast? Let’s take a look!

And so you know, we use the odd affiliate link to tools we think you’ll find useful. It earns us a small commission at no cost to you, and helps support all of our free content.

1. Podcast Software for Recording

The first step is to record your podcast! After all, you can’t have a podcast without recording your voice.

The good news is that recording your own voice or even a conversation with others has never been easier. But there are a few different ways to do it. So, let’s look at the options.

Recording Yourself (Solo Podcast)

Starting with the simple option, let’s just record ourselves. Why might you do this?

1. running a solo podcast – just you and your mic, talking to your audience every week
2. recording a solo section for a podcast – for example, an intro, an outro, an ad slot, or a news update

The solo show is a good option in a lot of cases. It’s a nice, simple, sustainable way to spread your message. And even if you run a larger show with more than one person, you’ll often need solo segments to mix in amongst the main recordings.

In either case, you need to record yourself, and that means having software that can quickly and easily capture your voice.

Computer-Based Solo Recording

The first option is an audio program for your computer, often called a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). You download it, you install it, and you hit record.

Source: 2024 Podcaster Gear Survey

Audacity is the most popular option, a free audio recording and editing app. It’s a little clunky and quite old-fashioned, but it’s amazing, considering it’s free. You can’t argue with that value!

On the other end is Adobe Audition, a Pro-level audio editing package. We’ve used it a lot over the years here at The Podcast Host. Audition has a monthly fee, but for that, you get a much better workflow, a lovely user interface, and loads of presets and automation. It’s overkill for most podcasters, though, and learning takes time.

Recommended tools & further reading:

• Comparison: Audacity vs. Audition

Web-Based Solo Podcast Recording

If you want to be flexible in where and when you record, you can use a web application to record yourself, rather than software on one computer.

Alitu is a great solution here. Alitu is our ‘Podcast Maker’ web app that automates all the complex processing tasks, like volume levelling, noise reduction, EQ, and compression. You can create a new episode in Alitu, either by recording solo segments or online calls.

You can also upload audio that was recorded on any other platform and easily sync it all together. You can add music, effects, ads, and any other segments with the ‘Episode Builder’ tool. Once it’s ready, you can publish the finished episode to Apple, Spotify, and every other podcast platform, directly from within the Alitu dashboard!

Recommended tool:

• Alitu: The Podcast Maker

Recording a Call

The interview show is one of the most popular podcast formats in the world. And for good reason! When done well, an interview show is interesting and valuable. But what podcast software do you need to record that interview? Here are the options.

Web-Based Podcast Interview Software

It’s possible to record a conversation fully online inside your web browser. The major advantage is that you can do it anywhere, on any computer. No need to install an application on your computer.

If you go this route, there is no shortage of options. The most ubiquitous used to be Skype, but these days it’s Zoom.us. The web conferencing giant that connected us throughout the pandemic is about as easy as it gets. You sign up, get your link and once everyone clicks it, you’re all in a conference room together. Zoom will record the call on its own servers and then send you the audio file at the end. Easy!

The downside is that the quality can be a bit spotty, depending on everyone’s connection. If someone’s on dodgy broadband, it records the glitches, the dropouts and all the rest. But it’s generally pretty reliable, so it’s a decent option.

The next option is to use web software that records on each individual computer. This is commonly called a double-ender because it records at both ends: your own end and the interviewee’s end. This means it records the best quality for each person and doesn’t depend on the connection quality.

For this, you’ll usually pay a bit more, but you’ll get much better quality as a result. Alitu and Riverside.fm are both fantastic options here, as you can record multiple people all on individual channels. Alitu records audio (video coming soon) and Riverside can record audio and video.

Iff it’s pure simplicity you’re after, you might opt for Alitu. With Alitu, you can record calls, produce them, edit them into your episodes, and publish them all from within the tool’s dashboard. It’s a brilliant all-in-one podcasting solution.

On the other hand, if you think you might broadcast your recording live, Riverside offers the option to stream to a range of platforms, and take call-ins while you’re at it. It does have text-based editing capabilities, but they’re much more limited than Alitu’s full episode-building features.

Recommended tools & further reading:

• Riverside.fm review
• How to Make a Podcast with Alitu
• Recording a podcast with Zoom

Mobile Recording

A simple option is to pull out your smartphone and record right there on the device you already have. If you do that, what are our choices when it comes to mobile podcast software?

First, nearly every smartphone has a default audio recording app. iOS has one as standard, called Voice Memos. On Android, it’s often just called ‘Voice Recorder’. And, if you search in the app store on either platform, you’ll discover dozens of other specialist recording apps with a whole slew of features. Here are the best recording apps for iOS/iPhone and the best recording apps for Android phones.

One tool worth mentioning comes from a company called Spreaker. Spreaker is a podcast hosting platform, but they also provide a great podcast recording app called Podcast Studio that ties right into their hosting. It allows you to broadcast live and, if you’re happy going without editing, post that episode direct to Spreaker hosting.

Spreaker is far from the only great option for mobile recording, though. Podbean is also well worth a look if you’re considering going down this route. It’s similar in many ways to the Spreaker app, meaning you can do all your recording, live broadcasting, and publishing from within the app itself.

And, I’ve talked about Riverside.fm already. They have an excellent mobile app which is perfect for folks who want to record a video podcast on the move.

Recommended tools & further reading:

• Spreaker
• Podbean Live Stream
• Riverside.fm review
• Recording a Podcast with the Rode SmartLav+

For more detail, read our dedicated article on Podcast Recording Software here.

2. Podcast Software for Editing & Production

Read our dedicated article on Podcast Editing Software here.

Once we’ve recorded our show, the next task is editing & production.

Editing usually means the process of cutting up your recordings and putting them back together again as one episode. That can mean adding music, removing mistakes, combining two or more recordings and much more.

On the other hand, production is usually taken to mean making your audio sound better (sometimes called mastering). That means playing with the volume levels, removing noise, adding compression, and a range of other tasks.

So, any podcast software we use at this point should be able to do both. If you’re curious about the level you need to reach here, check out the article: How much editing should I do?

Web-Based & Automated Podcast Editing Software

Big audio files & browsers are a tricky combination, and few online tools can do this heavy lifting well.

But one such tool is Alitu, a ‘Podcast Maker’ tool we’ve already covered in the podcast recording section. Alitu is designed to automate the production of your podcast, handling conversions, bitrates, levelling, compression and noise reduction for you, automatically.

Speaking of noise reduction, check out the example in this clip; it’s pretty incredible the things podcast software can do these days!

For editing, Alitu provides a tool designed specifically for podcasters, allowing you to trim recordings and remove mistakes. You can even edit by text, if you’d prefer – Alitu auto-generates transcriptions for you and lets you delete text, which also deletes the corresponding audio!

Another popular time-saving feature in Alitu is the Playback Speed settings. Say you’ve recorded an hour-long conversation and need to listen through it to find and make any edits – well, with Playback Speed, this can now be done in half the time.

Finally, Alitu offers an episode builder to create your episode from music, recordings & transitions through a drag-and-drop interface.

Remember, you can also record your podcast episodes directly into Alitu, be they solo conversations or online calls.

And, as mentioned, Alitu will also automatically transcribe your episodes for you. Then, you can publish directly to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other podcast directories via Alitu’s built-in hosting!

Recommended tool:

• Alitu: The Podcast Maker

Computer-Based Editing

Earlier, I talked about DAWs – computer-based podcast software – as a recording tool. Well, as you’d imagine, they’re also designed for editing and production.

The same arguments as before apply here. Audacity is free, but a little clunky, and Audition is more expensive but powerful & slick.

Recommended tools & further reading:

• Audacity
• Audition
• Comparison: Audacity Vs Audition

For more detail, read our article dedicated to Podcast Editing Software here.

3. Podcast Scheduling Software

One of the biggest time-sucks in running an interview show (and to some extent a co-hosted show…) is the infamous email ping-pong when trying to schedule a time to talk. You suggest Time A, but they can’t make that and suggest Time B, but you can’t make that and suggest Time C, but they can’t do that and suggest Time D, but… you get the idea.

Well, there’s a solution, which comes in the form of a scheduling app. These wonderful apps are simply bits of software that sync with your calendar (Google Calendar, iCal, etc.) and then offer your interviewee a link to book. The link generally shows the interviewee all of the free slots on your calendar, so they can choose the one that suits them best.

There are a whole bunch of extra benefits, from automating parts of your research to sending reminder emails. The tool I use for this is called Book Like a Boss, and you can see my review of the system and how I use it, below.

Recommended tool & further reading:

• Book Like a Boss
• How I use Book Like a Boss

4. Podcast Planning Software

Big-Picture Podcast Planning Software

After telling you that Alitu can record, edit, produce, transcribe, and publish your show, would you be surprised to learn that it can help you flesh out a podcast launch plan, too?

The Alitu Showplanner is a free piece of podcast software available to anyone, no login required. It’ll ask you a few top-level questions about the type of show you’d like to create, then it’ll generate a full plan for you. This includes things like potential names, target audience info, a trailer script, episode ideas, and more!

Week-to-Week Organisational Podcast Planning Software

Post-launch, it’s handy to have a tool or two to help you organise your workload, and keep things sustainable.

Right now, we also use two platforms which aren’t podcast-specific for our planning: Trello and Notion.

Trello helps us keep track of the tasks to be done, from booking an interview to publishing the show. Notion is for the information that goes along with that, such as scripts and guest research. Its Wiki-style approach lets you organise every bit of info and data you need for your podcast, and everything around it.

5. AI Podcast Software for Marketing & Growth

We’ve already talked about the Alitu Showplanner for generating a full launch plan, a list of potential names and episodes, and writing a draft trailer script for you.

And AI tools for podcasters are, as Lindsay put it in her roundup, “popping out like bunnies in springtime”. There are more than a few that can help you get your show out there to new listeners.

Dubb Media is an AI podcasting tool that offers an enjoyable and engaging user experience. It excels at helping you identify the most compelling aspects of your episode, and it can effortlessly create both transcripts and eye-catching video clips tailored for social media sharing.

Another noteworthy tool in the AI podcast software realm is Podcastmarketing.ai. This resource not only transcribes your podcasts but also leverages artificial intelligence to condense them into concise show notes, engaging episode descriptions, captivating episode titles, quote cards, and shareable social media posts.

Podsqueeze is yet another good option. It, too, provides transcription services for your episodes and goes a step further by generating an array of promotional assets based on your transcript. Simply input your RSS feed, select the episode you wish to enhance, and patiently await the results. In approximately ten minutes, Podsqueeze delivers a comprehensive package, including show notes, timestamps, chapter markers, emoji-filled tweets, catchy titles, relevant links and mentions (complete with timestamps), a blog post, a newsletter issue, recommended keywords, and thought-provoking quotes along with accompanying quote images.

Remarkably, AI can even step in to create cover art and promotional images these days.

Midjourney, akin to DALL-E and Stable Diffusion, is a program tailored for professional artists seeking to swiftly produce prototypes for their clients. Midjourney may not be identical to other AI art generation tools, but it operates on a similar principle. You provide a textual description of your desired artwork, and it employs AI to generate an image that matches your vision.

Many AI tools are new, with the rough edges still being smoothed out. But they’re still scarily good at times and are only going to get better. Remember, your AI-generated materials don’t need to be final, either. Often, they work better as first drafts or prototypes for briefs.

Podcast Software Is Improving All the Time

At the time of writing, that covers all the different types of podcast software you might need. The exciting thing is, though, there’s a lot more on the way. I hear about a new podcast startup just about every week, and they’re coming up with new software solutions to help make our podcasting easier and better. With AI now well and truly on the scene, too, new and powerful tools are always emerging. Be sure to bookmark this post, and the roundups below, to keep up with future developments.

Further reading

• Best Podcast Maker Apps
• Best Podcast Recording Software
• Best Podcast Editing Software
• Best Call Recording Software
• Best AI Tools for Podcasters

Or, just choose one or two tools that work for you and leave it at that. You don’t need to constantly chase the next shiny thing, unless that’s something you’re genuinely interested in. The vast majority of podcasters just want a minimal amount of software that can help them do the maximum amount of things, quickly, easily, and cheaply.

With that all said, it’s worth one final mention of ‘Podcast Maker’ software Alitu. Alitu is recording, editing, production, transcription, and hosting software rolled into one. And, it has some brilliant time-saving features like text-based editing, too. If your interest is piqued, you can try it out free for seven days and see for yourself!

• #LetsTalk2021 is a podcasting challenge.
• Entrants make a pilot episode along with a 60-second trailer for voting purposes. The podcast must focus on positivity and discourse.
• All participants get access to free podcast training and Alitu, the all-in-one podcast maker app, for the duration of the contest.
• Entrants share their submission via social media using the #LetsTalk2021 hashtag in order to gather votes.
• Winners receive gear from Samson, a year of free access to Alitu, lifetime access to Podcraft Academy, and promotion to an audience of thousands.

Everywhere you turn, it’s seemed as though there isn’t much good news in 2020. The overall mindset has been negative. It’s felt as though every day, the cultural conversation becomes more negative.

We also know that dedicated action can have a ripple effect. What can we do to change the cultural conversation?

Podcasts can change minds.

Podcasters, and people who like podcasts, know that this can be done. A sliver of light in 2020 is that the demand for good podcasts has been expanding. Though work from home schedules caused a drop in some listener habits, other kinds of podcasts became more popular. Screen fatigue made folks more likely to listen to entertainment and news, rather than watch. Audio is an art form that can motivate or soothe. Advertising and media corporations are paying attention to listener trends, and investing in them. 

Where does this leave the rest of us? We’re the ones who have more at stake: stories to share, business to take care of, and conversations we need to have. How do we make an impact in the cultural conversation, and improve it for everyone? 

The Podcast Host and Samson want to help. 

How can you get involved? 

You may have tried starting a podcast before, or launched one, but lost momentum. Or, maybe you’ve always wanted to, but felt like it was out of reach. Possibly, there were audio resources you didn’t have, or know how to use. You can have high standards for excellent sound design, but not have the skills to make it come to life. 

We want to change that. The Podcast Host and Samson want to help close the distance between your creative ideas, and your podcast’s future impact. 

#LetsTalk2021 is a challenge for podcasters, whether they’re just starting out, or haven’t started yet. The goal is to create a pilot episode and a 60-second trailer for a podcast centered around positivity and discourse. All participants get free access to the Podcast Host’s 7-Day Bootcamp, a series of webinars designed to get you from the early stages to your first episode. They will also get access to Alitu, the all-in-one podcast making tool, free of charge, for the duration of the contest. The Podcast Host wants to eliminate obstacles, and make it easier for people to elevate our greater cultural conversation. 

Entrants can upload their pilot episode and a 60-second trailer for voting purposes, then share a link to their submission via social media using the #LetsTalk2021 hashtag, in order to gain votes. The submission with the most votes by the end of the contest period will be considered the winner of the challenge.

The winner of the #LetsTalk2021 challenge gets: 

• a year of access to Alitu, 
• lifetime access to the Podcast Host Academy,
• a suite of podcasting gear from Samson, 
• promotion by The Podcast Host and Samson to thousands of followers.  

Maybe you’ve felt like you have an important message to share with the world, but something keeps you back.You might feel like other people can make a podcast because they have something you don’t. That “something”  could be resources, skills, or confidence. The Podcast Host and Samson want to change that. We want to provide support and resources to people who want to share a message that lifts up others. There are people who want to hear what you have to say, and know what you want to share. Join #LetsTalk2021, and start a better conversation. 

Latest Podcast Pointers Links

Note that these are affiliate links and, if you use them, you help support what we do, and have our eternal thanks!

Black Friday Deals for 2019

From Amazon:

• Shure MV88 iPhone microphone
• Samson Q2U USB & XLR Microphone
• Shure SM58 XLR Microphone
• Logitech C920 High def Webcam

Building a website for your Podcast:

• Bluehost Web hosting
• Siteground Web hosting
• SecondLine Themes for WordPress
• The Divi WordPress theme
• WPRocket – a caching plugin to make it lightning fast

Monetising your show:

• Create a course on Teachable
• Create a course on Thinkific

Previous Issue Links

Here are the links from other recent newsletters:

Gear Mentioned:

• Rode Procaster Microphone (XLR version)
• Rode Podcaster USB Microphone  (USB version)
• Yamaha MG10 Mixer
• Samtian LED Video Light - Mini

Other Resources:

• Best Podcast Editing Software

August 28th

• VIVO Vertical Monitor Mount 2 Screens
• ViewSonic 22" VESA Compatible Monitor

And the other resources mentioned:

• Book Like a Boss: Meeting Booking Tool
• How I set up my meeting booking system
• How to create an intro theme in just 5 minutes
• WPRocket: WordPress Caching Plugin
• Alitu

April 24th

1. Philips Hue Smart Bulbs
2. Philips Hue Motion Sensor
3. Echo Plus with built-in Hub (& a free bulb!)
4. Our Studio Cabling Article including all product links

Here are the resource links mentioned:

1. How to make a DIY Sound Panel
2. Make money as a podcast course affiliate
3. Using Patreon & Audiobooks to monetise your podcast

April 5th

1. Self adhesive cable tidies
2. Hooks/Tidies Instagram Post
3. The Best Podcast Hosting Services
4. How to choose a good audio cable
5. Notion.so

Podcast Pointers is not the first newsletter of it’s kind, of course. The first I knew of was Weekend Favs from John Jantsch – a great collection of content marketing tips every week. Tim Ferriss, more recently, has made the format his own, with 5 Bullet Friday – some of the most random, eclectic bits of ‘cool shit’ you’ll find anywhere.

But, if you want more audio, audience and creative ‘things’, then I’m proud of what we’ve collected in Podcast Pointers over the years. That’s why I wanted to bring together the whole list, right here.

This is everything we’ve covered since the newsletter started. Yep, it contains a fair bit of our own stuff – the bits I’m most proud of. But, it contains even more brilliant things from everyone else in (and out of) the world of audio.

If you have any suggestions, I’m always willing to hear them. Get in touch and I might put them in a future ‘Pointers.’ In the meantime, have a browse below, and enjoy!

ARTICLES AND MEDIA

This includes any resources around the web – videos, podcasts, articles – that teach you something to improve your podcasting.

PODCAST: HOW TO TELL BETTER AUDIO STORIES

For anyone aspiring to make great audio, HowSound is an essential listen. Mike Rosenthal talks, every week, about storytelling, structure, presentation skills, equipment and tonnes more. His episode on the ‘e structure’ offers a brilliant story form that hooks people right away and takes them on a journey. Suitable for interviews, monologues and heavy narrative podcasts alike!

BLOG: GROWING YOUR AUDIENCE

Matthew has been doing a series on ‘Growing your Audience.’ He’s collated a lot of the best advice in this area, from us and elsewhere, and create a great guide to marketing your show. It starts with something nearly every client we work with needs – a pragmatic view on how long it takes to grow a following. It goes into average listener numbers so you can set yourself realistic goals.

BLOG: IMPROVE YOUR WRITING FOR SHOWNOTES & MORE

I’ve found some really easy ways to improve my writing, making shownotes or blog posts way more engaging and fan-building. I love Scott Adams’ take here – simplicity, brevity, activity – and Michael Hyatt adds some good tips. I know we’re talkers, but the written word is so important in how we’re found online. Refine it!

BLOG: HOW MUCH EDITING IS NEEDED?

Now, we’re always asked: “How much editing should I do on my show?” It’s something we’ve covered a few times, but here’s our latest thoughts. Have a look and see if you could make your show more sustainable, more regular, by being strategic about what you edit.

PODCAST: THE GREAT PODCASTING Q&A

Season 7 of Podcraft is live and we’re doing bi-weekly Q&A shows based on listener questions. Listen to Qs such as “How do I choose a topic?”, “What’s the best face to face interview setup?” and “How do I measure engagement?”

PODCAST: STORYTELLING COURSE

The Out on the Wire Podcast is really honing my episode design skills right now. Jessica Able takes you through a full-blown course on creating a narrative for any episode. The real-life case studies are brilliant and her explanations hit the spot – really sharpening up how create my episodes.

COURSE: CREATE A WEBSITE FOR YOUR PODCAST (OR A BLOG!)

Building a new website for a podcast, or want to improve an existing one? I just made our Podcast Websites course fully open and free. It takes you through setting up domains & hosting, setting up WordPress, customising the site and then all the tools you need to run a podcast, and to attract and grow an audience. Even if you already have a decent website for your show, this shows you a bunch of tools we use to monetise what we do.

BLOG: HOW TO GET MORE ITUNES REVIEWS

This article is the 6th in Matthew’s ‘podcast promotion’ series, and I’m proud of how it’s coming along. For some actionable tips on how to grow your audience, have a read!

BLOG: HOW TO USE MUSIC FOR MOOD

Looking to use more music in your show, but a bit baffled as to how? Robert Kelly writes how to choose & use music to set a mood.

BLOG: A FULL PODCASTING WORKFLOW – RECORD TO PUBLISH

“My Podcasting Process” outlines everything Sarah Rhea Werner does to record a show. I love to see the details! This isn’t the only way, and it’s a long one, but I like her outlining approach, the essential test phase and the care she takes around voice and mouth noises.

BLOG: HOW A KNITTING PODCAST MAKES MONEY

Jo Milmine from Shinybees Knitting. How she runs a hugely successful show, including simple setups for consistency, how to ad-lib with structure, business opportunities and growth tactics.

BLOG: PROMOTING YOUR SHOW THROUGH TRADITIONAL MEDIA.

It’s easy to stay insular when it comes to growth, aiming at those who already listen to podcasts. So, I’ve been trying to reach out and this media chasing article from Mr Ferriss has helped to win us two national newspaper features already. Next, I’m aiming to get on national radio!

BLOG: HOW TO GET LISTENERS TO DO SOMETHING!

Chapter 10 of my Content Stacking series: How to Drive Action from a Podcast, discusses how to get a listener to take action, even while listening. AND, what that action could be.

VIDEO: HOW TO BUILD HOME-MADE ACOUSTIC PANELS

Sound tiles can be expensive, and don’t exactly brighten up a kitchen with their looks! Here’s a cheap and better looking (with nice material) alternative from DIY Perks: building acoustic panels.

PODCAST: A MARKETING SHOW THAT DOESN’T MAKE MY EARS BLEED

A lot of (most!) growth shows are awful. Too salesy. Too melodramatic. I love the Growth Show for it’s lack of either. Only great tips on growing your audience.

BLOG: ATTRACTING ADVERTISERS

How to attract advertisers to your podcast. Always a hot question. Ben at Podcast Motor just answered it. In depth. Networks, brokers, pitching, stats & more. A great guide to finding your first (or next!) sponsor. Ben is one of our recommended show editors.

BLOG: WORKING OUT YOUR BUDGET

How much should I spend on Podcast Equipment? Still struggling to find kit within your budget? This covers the options – when you genuinely need another bit of kit. It’ll help you spend the least to get the best in your situation.

BLOG: TURNING AUDIO INTO VIDEO

Audiograms to Promote Your Show on YouTube. Heard of an audiogram? I hadn’t! They’re dynamic, moving visuals for a podcast so they look good on YouTube. This shows how to craft ’em.

BLOG: “8 THINGS I LEARNED RECORDING IN A PROFESSIONAL STUDIO.”

Here are Matthew’s lessons, for fiction and non-fiction alike, recently gleaned when he visited a local studio to record with a group of actors. A lot applies to recording with more than 2 hosts, even at home!

PODCAST: GETTING TO 500 EPISODES & PODCAST PROMOTION HACKS.

I talked to Paul ‘The App Guy’ Kemp on Podcraft recently. We talked about prolific consistency and some interesting ways that he’s promoting his show. Some could be considered a little dodgy, so not for everyone, but it’s good to know the options!

BLOG: HOW TO USE VIDEO TO PROMOTE YOUR SHOW

This is how to create YouTube videos that drive action and grow the audience for your podcast. That means practical tools like end screens, cards and good descriptions.

BLOG: EVER WONDERED HOW ITUNES BUILDS ITS CHARTS?

How do iTunes Rankings Work. We brought together all of the current wisdom around iTunes rankings and plonked it into one big post. Wondering how you might climb the i-ladder? Check this out.

BLOG: A GUIDE TO MICROPHONES FOR VOICE

Wanna delve into how mics work & what to look for in a good pro one? Our resident mic guru, Matthew Boudreau (XFiles, The Cleansed, Locke & Key), put together an epic guide to microphones for voice, from polar patterns, to transducers to frequency response. If you want to get right nerdy with your mic, this’ll tickle your geeky bone.

VIDEO: MAKE YOUR OWN LEATHER STUDIO DESK

Check out my new DIYed leather studio desk! Cuts reverb, reduces desk noise & looks great on video.

VIDEO: HOW TO SET UP A MIXER TO RECORD SKYPE CALLS.

We’re asked this a lot – how to do mix-minus with a mixer, digital recorder and/or a laptop. Here’s the beef. Oh, and a video too!

BLOG: IN WHAT FORMAT SHOULD I CREATE SHOWNOTES?

In what format should I do my Shownotes? Common question! Here are some ideas & examples for great shownotes pages.

BLOG: Why does my audio hiss?

Answering that age old question, and how to reduce it!

BLOG: The Best Kids Podcasts

Keep those little menaces quiet over the holidays.

BLOG: How to avoid mouth clicks in your recordings

Loved this article from Voiceover site, Gravy for the Brain. If you’ve ever cringed through editing a recording with clicks and smacks and all sorts of noises, here’s how to avoid it next time!

Blog: How to create a Trailer for your Podcast

Nope, not to tow stuff…the kind of trailer that promotes your show, draws people in and can be played on anyone else’s podcast!

Blog: How to set your recording levels

A masterclass on audio levels from Steven Cohen, incl. mic technique, software, hardware, everything – only for advanced audio geeks with higher end setups, but it’s a goodie!

Podcast: Using Patreon & Audiobooks to Monetise a Show

This is Joanna Penn’s take on how to monetise a podcast, and she’s a pro, earning a proper living from it and her other work. Some real unique takes on earning a crust here, including how to find high-value corporate sponsors.

INFORMATION & OPINION

This includes any content published around Podcasting, perhaps collections of podcasts themselves or about the industry

WEEKLY PODCAST ROUNDUPS & SUMMARIES

The Podcast Wire is a newsletter that offers 500 word summaries of startup podcasts every week. I find I can’t keep up with the entrepreneurship shows out there – the range is huge. But this helps me pick what to listen to, and still read a summary of the ones I miss. My latest find was the 20 Minute VC and a great interview with “CEO whisperer” Jerry Colonna.

BLOG: PODCASTING INNOVATIONS

8 Podcasting Innovations for 2016 – I enjoyed this list! Agree that timed playlists will be BIG, transcripts more important & that This American Life’s new tool is the next step of many in proper podcast viral sharing.

EVEN MORE TOOLS: THE BOOK!

Tim Ferriss’ new book Tools of Titans just dropped through my mailbox, and it’s as good as I hoped. It’s also a brilliant example of repurposing and monetising a podcast! Tonnes of tips relevant to podcasters and those growing a biz around it, incl. 1000 true fans, mindset and routines, books for creativity and dealing with haters. I’m loving it!

100 OUTSTANDING AUDIO STORIES

I can’t get enough of this list right now: 100 Outstanding Audio Stories. From investigative journalism, to science stories and human behavior. There’s a huge mix of narrative shows, most of which are brand new to me.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A PRO STUDIO

Take a look inside Leo Laporte’s TWiT studio. Fascinating to see into how he manages the broadcasts, the range of tech and even the crowdsourced (and immediate!) method for naming shows.

FINDING FOCUS THROUGH MUSIC

Music to help you concentrate. I love listening to stuff – podcasts or otherwise. It’s company. But, when I work, background chatter distracts. So I loved this list of focus music from Jocelyn Glei. I put it on when I’m writing a post or planning a show. Totally keeps me from distraction!

NEW SHOW: THE 7 MINUTE MENTOR.

I’ve known Mark Asquith a few years now, and I love his approach to podcasting and to the businesses behind it. His new show, the 7 Minute Mentor, is short, sharp entrepreneurship advice every week. Loving it so far, and, with his experience, I know the gems will keep coming.

HOW TO GET KIDS INTO PODCASTING

Are you a teacher, a youth leader or just have kids that need entertaining? This article shows how one teacher got her class into Podcasting & the great results she’s seen.

Apple decides to spill the podcasting beans!

The Big-A announced they’ll be opening up listening stats within the Apple Podcast app. Cue melodrama, both positive and negative. It is a big deal, though – here’s a good summary on Digiday.

Tips to Avoid the Dreaded Podfade

Matthew put this together to help new ‘casters get past the infamous 7 episode mark. The tips will even help make the lives of veteran podcasters easier!

Find More Podcast Guesting Opportunities

I’ve gotten on some great shows recently through PodcastGuests.com, a newsletter which lists shows looking for guests every week. You can advertise for guests yourself, if you need more interviewees. Sign up, get booked, tell some stories & grow your audience!

London Event with Podcasters Galore!

I can’t wait speak at the Youpreneur Summit in November. Are you coming?! Join me, Pat Flynn, Mike Morrison, John Lee Dumas, John Jantsch, Chris Ducker, et al. It’s gonna be brilliant!

Level-Up Your Writing Skills

Great writing helps any podcast, from scripting to headlines to shownotes, and Stephen King spills the beans in ‘On Writing‘. Love the story he tells, and the tips are right up my street. The advice around brevity and focus apply just as much to speaking as writing – great read.

A Stonking Big Podcast Hosting Guide

Probably the most common Q we get – where should I host my podcast? Here’s the guide, covering all the main companies. Whether you’re launching, or looking to move, check out the pros and cons of each.

Recording multiple mics with NO mixer

You can get some great audio when you record 2 or more people on-location. The chemistry, the banter, can make for really engaging stuff. But, the quality can be rubbish if you don’t do it well and mixers are confusing. Here’s how to record 2 or more people in the same place without the complications of a mixer.

Podcasts for kids are big!

I wish I had these when I was wee – our car journeys pass 10 times quicker listening to Wow in the World or Mars Patel. The former is great even if you’re just a grown up who wants to be taught science like an 8 year old!

How many downloads does the iTunes Front Page get you?

Our new show hit the very front page of iTunes new and noteworthy last month, and stayed for 2 weeks. Curious how many downloads that got us? Find out here!

How to create a compelling podcast, from an NPR producer.

Noah Kagan paid a top NPR producer for an hour of his time, and got some brilliant advice on how to make an engaging show.

How to create a Highly Produced Podcast

The new season of Podcraft is on this very topic, from documentary style to edited interviews. How do you up your production game, and should you? What are the benefits? Find out here.

Looking for a Sponsor, or to Sponsor a Show?

If you’re looking to find a sponsor, forward this article to convince them. Or if you want to sponsor a show to market your own business/podcast/product, here why it works!

How to Start a Podcast

If you’re looking to get started, here’s a full guide – recently updated too. From show design to publish. Step by step!

Monetising through memberships

I just recorded a session for the Membership site summit on how to create great online courses. Courses, and membership communities in general, are a great way to serve your audience, and earn some pennies. Check out my session for free, and loads more membership seminars, at the link.

Our Favourite Podcasting Resources Page

I’ve added all the deals to our Resources page. For example, Discounts on the Blue Yeti for desktop recording, the PC8 for Skype calls or the Rode Videomic Me to raise your smartphone game. Bluehost have big discounts (60%), and you can learn how to set up the site in our podcast/blog websites course. Convertkit are great, and offering a rare 1 month free right now. My favourite webcam – the Logitech C920 – is 50% off.

How to do email marketing for Podcasters

Email is the best tool we’ve used to grow our audience, for a range of our podcasts AND our main blog. This is a guide to how we do it, from tools to tactics. I’ll be adding more over time to include our full process.

How to run premium podcasting content

If you’ve ever fancied monetising by offering paid podcast content, then this is a full guide to all the tools that’ll help you do it. Includes options from free to paid, and lots of different methods.

Make Money as a Podcast Course Affiliate

Reckon your audience would be interested in making their own Podcast? The affiliate programme for our Podcast Host Academy might be a good way for you to earn some money from your show. Fill in the form at the link above if you want to work with us!

KIT, GEAR & GADGETS

Any equipment, gadgets, kit or shiny things to help in your podcasting, media or general life.

THE ANTLION MODMIC 5

Turn Your Favourite Headphones into a Quality Headset. The Antlion ModMic 5 is a good quality mic that sticks onto the side of your existing headphones. Want the convenience of a headset mic (Skype interviews, quick solo shows), but the quality of your best headphones? This’ll do it.

BEST HEADPHONES FOR HEADPHONES LISTENING

What are the best headphones for podcast listening? I spend too much money on headphones… But I listen to A LOT, so I think it’s worth it. A good pair makes a huge difference to your listening pleasure – here’s some recs!

FOCUSRITE 18I8 AUDIO INTERFACE

We checked out the daddy of the Focusrite range – the Scarlett 18i8. It’s as brilliant quality as the rest, but with even more inputs. For a large podcasting team, it’s a great low-noise option. Check out the 18i8 review.

AMAZON ECHO

Finally, I just got myself an Amazon Echo, and I bloomin’ love it! The voice recognition is amazing and the skills are so wide ranging. I’m experimenting with Podcast listening on it too – putting on short news update shows whenever I’m making a cup of tea, for example. Anyone out there finding cool podcasting uses for the Echo?

THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT STUDIO

I love seeing behind the curtain. Good pal of mine, Mike Russell, has released a video tour of his new studio. He moved recently and built an amazing recording space. Take a look and get ready for some ‘setup envy!’

TOP QUALITY USB MICROPHONE

Looking for a great quality, easy-as-pie USB mic? We got a Shure MV5 through the post early this year, and have found ourselves using it almost daily. Small, light, mobile, crystal clear – top USB pic for me right now.

USB LAVALIER MICROPHONE

We got a look at the new Samson Stage PXD1 Presentation Kit recently – it’s a portable USB lav mic, & wireless to boot. Great for simple out-and-about recording, or for anyone who does video alongside their audio show.

COMPACT USB MICROPHONE

We reviewed the Samson Meteor and found it a good quality, light USB mic option. “Better than the Snowball and cheaper than a Yeti or a MV5.”

SMART SPEAKERS AND PODCASTING?

I think Smart Speakers are a game changer for podcasting. Click to see why & how you can prepare. Let me know if you (dis)agree!

FLEXIBLE RECORDING: PHONE STAND

I got a new flexible phone stand* from my bro-in-law for Christmas, and it’s brilliant! Frighteningly easy to set up. Great for podcast recording with a Smartlav+, or, as I’m doing, Facebook Lives to engage our community. Could even start to record video WITH your audio to get in on the stacking approach.

GOING PRO: AKG C214 MICROPHONE

Far-too-fancy Microphone. Matthew wrote about his new love last week: the AKG C214. See why he’s besotted here.

CONNECT TWO MONO MICS INTO ONE STEREO JACK

We’ve been using this cable loads – it breaks the left and right stereo channels into separate mono inputs. Eg. Plug two ATR3350s into this cable, plugged into a Zoom H1, and get separate control over each speaker in post-production. Or get 4 standalone speakers into an H5 by using this adapter in the top 3.5mm jack, and two 1/4″ connections in inputs 1 and 2.

RECORDING GREAT QUALITY VIDEO TO SUPPORT YOUR PODCAST

Recently, I’ve recorded every podcast as video first. I’m recording on Nikon D5100 DSLR and Zoom H5 + MXL990, then syncing audio/video after. I export the audio for a podcast, and cut bits from the video as YouTube promos/highlights. Video takes an extra 30 mins, but huge reach & promo benefits.

STANDING DESKS FOR PODCASTERS: WHY & WHICH ONE?

I’ve been standing at work for years, and it’s ace. Healthier, less sore necks/backs and better sounding podcasts. It’s also great for staying fresh when I’m blogging. Here’s what I use.

THE SAMSON MXP124X MIXER

The Samson MXP124x Mixer is the smaller of Samson’s Mixpad range, which they term their affordable but pro-quality mixer setup. It’s USB capable, full of options and mix-minus ready. Check the review for our thoughts & a sound sample.

QUICK & SIMPLE INTERVIEW EQUIPMENT

The Simplest Good Quality Interview Setup. We get asked about the 2-way Smartlav+ interview setup so much, that I put together an article. This is how to use 2 Smartlav+ and a SC6 adapter for great quality interviews (and Ringr capable too!).

CARRY YOUR PODCAST KIT WITHOUT BREAKING YOUR BACK

I’ve tried a LOT of bags over the years, but always come back to Wenger. My current bag is 2 years old and still like new. Hardy, big, loadsa pockets for mic/kit/laptop organisation & looks cool. It’s out of production in UK but this one’s very close.

WHY YOU NEED A THERABAND

Sore neck, back or shoulders from sitting all day? (or carrying a crappy non-wenger bag ;-)) I’ve always struggled with neck/back pain – I’m at a desk constantly, whether podcasting, writing or otherwise. The one thing that’s helped the most is this stretch using a resistance band or my trusty voodoo flosstrusty voodoo floss. Let me know if it helps!

STAY ACTIVE & SHARP WITH BREAK REMINDERS

Lot of love for the stretching tips above! Seems podcasters have to sit a lot, like me. Workrave is a free app I use to make me stand up, stretch, look away from the screen, regularly. It keeps me active, and more focussed for creating!

MULTI-PURPOSE GORRILA PODS

I recently got a ball-mount for my Gorilla Pod tripod and I now use it for everything! I’ve got the big one, so I put my DSLR camera on for video filming and the ball mount gives total flexibility on direction. I also use an adapter to convert it from camera mount (1/4″) to microphone mount (often 5/8″, but check your mic clip) and put a shotgun mic on it for filming, or a Shure SM58 for desktop recording at events. It’s a brilliant, portable tripod – I always have it with me!

Drastically cut background hiss with this new pre-amp

The SS1 preamp from the Simply Sound Company is a new competitor for the Cloudlifter and the Fethead. It sounds great, upgrading any mic! Check out samples and review above.

The Startup Mixtape

The Podcast Wire newsletter has always given me great summaries of various startup/marketing shows. Now it’s changed into a curated list of the best episodes of the week. Good way to stay on top of the sector if you struggle to curate it yourself!

Headphones always getting in the way?

This is pretty rad! How to build an amazing looking headphone stand. Get away from the digital and build something real

What’s the best looking mic in the world?

Ever fancied a mic that not only sounds good, but looks sexy as hell? Well, here they are – the world’s best looking mics!

Tools of the Trade: Equalisers (EQ)

Ever wondered how in the sweet blue hell that row of weird little faders work? Here’s the full story, from the simple 3-band on your mixer to 30-band monsters in Audition. Expert skills, engage!

Hooks! At last!

This’ll sound ridiculous, but hooks have changed my life. A set of adhesive now hang headphones & Skype headset, always to hand, and some sticky cable clips are tidying cables, ready to pull out when needed. The studio is a changed place. Here’s how I’m using them.

What makes a good audio cable

Know those people that spend $500 on a microphone and plug it into a $5 audio cable? Eejits. Cables are oft forgotten, much maligned, but arguably the most important part of your setup. Find out how to choose a good audio cable, from USB to XLR.

Tidy your cables with velcro

Remember those hooks I mentioned last time? This is even better. A few quid spent on velcro cable ties and that rats nest in my studio is gone forever! Easy cable tidying, and cheap as chips.

Best Smartphone Lavalier mics

Looking for a good on-the-go recording solution? Sticking a lavalier microphone into your phone is a great option. Adapters exist to allow for 2, as well, so you can do interviews.

Turn Your Smartphone into a Digital Recorder

We’ve just reviewed the Shure MV88 – an ace little mic that plugs onto the end of your iOS device, turning an iPhone or an iPad into a digital recorder. Find details & sound samples in the article.

Up to date list of the Best Podcast Equipment

The big A just asked me to set up an ‘influencer’ page to list our recommended kit. Love this – helps us keep our ‘best of’ list up to date. Check it out here, and get ready for Black Friday reductions!

Looking for a Low-Cost Digital Recorder?

We reviewed the ever-popular Tascam DR-05 recently. It’s great for on-the-go solo recording/interviews, or recording from a mixer. Lower cost alternatives are the Sony PX470 and the Olympus WS-853.

The Zoom H6 Digital Recorder

We got hold of the Zoom flagship recorder for a proper play. Find out, here, whether it’s worth the cash.

Full smartphone lavalier mic roundup

For a summary and sound samples of every smartphone lav mic we know, check out this roundup.

How to make a DIY Sound Panel

No-one makes a video like my most excellent pal, Ray Ortega! Here’s how he created some DIY acoustic panels to sound-treat his studio, and get it sounding brilliant. This is low complexity and low cost!

Gadgets for Disappearing your Cables!

Here’s an article on exactly how we re-organised our studio cabling. If nothing else, check out the first image for the worst ‘cable spider nest’ you’ve ever seen – that’s the before…

Movement Activated Studio & Home Gadgets

Slightly non-audio, but I love this stuff! I’ve been installing Philips Hue Bulbs, the associated motion activators and an Echo Plus hub to smartify my house, and I’m planning the same for our podcast studio. The Echo/Alexa acts as a hub, so you can voice activate the bulbs, and then the motion sensor talks to it too, to put stuff on in some areas, even before I speak! It’s as close to living on the Enterprise as I’ve got so far

SOFTWARE & TOOLS

Any software for your computer, your mobile or web apps to use anywhere.

BUILDING GOOD HABITS

I’ve been trying to build a few habits lately. Some work related (daily audio diary of our work, instagram engagement, community involvement) and some not (bike on Zwift 3 times a week, daily meditation, kettlebell workouts). I’m finding apps make a big difference, gamifying the whole thing. I don’t want to lose my streak of ticks! Favourites so far are HabitBull (android) and Momentum (iOS). Are you trying to build any habits?

A PODCAST PLAYER WITH BELLS

Simple Podcast Press, my favorite podcast player, has recently had a update, and it looks even better than before. Created by all-round-nice-guy Hani Mourra, SPP puts a great looking, conversion focussed player into any wordpress page. We use it for a whole bunch of our shows!

TIME-BASED LISTENING RECOMMENDATIONS

60db is a new listening app that offers a really interesting proposition. They want to offer audio stories that fit the time you have, from 1 or 2 mins to much longer. I think this really fits a niche. Are you thinking about shorter, more snackable versions of your show? Might be worth asking your audience.

LEVEL UP YOUR WEBCAM DELIVERY

My tool of the month is ManyCam. I’m using it for webinars & Facebook Live. It allows desktop shares, screen-in-screen, green-screen or include any video source. Then switch between it all on the fly, while live.

CREATE SHORT & EASY ON-AIR LINKS

My most used tool: Pretty Link. I use this every day. The best way to create nice short links to anything on the web, from podcast eps to affiliate/sponsor deals, and track stats along the way. It’s also free, tho I pay for the pro!

CREATE PRO-LEVEL VIDEO WITH LITTLE EFFORT!

I’ve been playing with Adobe Spark a bit lately. Now that they let you import video clips, it can do practically anything you want. I’m good with Premiere, but Spark does 90% of what you need with 10% of the bother. And it looks better than I can create myself!

TURN BLOG POSTS INTO A PODCAST

My new favourite toy – Narro! I love podcasts, but there’s tonnes of blog content I want to consume too. This turns one into the other, converting text to speech and letting you keep up with your favourite writers.

Audition vs Audacity: Battle of the DAWs!

Audacity is a fantastic app for recording/editing your show, but ever wondered if it’s worth paying for Adobe Audition? This article digs deep into the pros & cons of each. Take a read to see what would suit you!

Record Live and On-the-Go

This is one of the easiest ways I’ve found to record & publish a podcast: the Spreaker mobile app. At CMALive this year I recorded 16 interviews & published direct to a Podcast feed. Fast, easy & a lot of flexibility in bringing in tunes or FX. Brilliant app!

Still searching for good podcast hosting?

We talked to all of the best hosts on the planet, to get the pros and cons. Here’s our roundup of the best hosting services on the market.

My new podcast (& everything else!) planning tool

I’ve only just found Notion. I’m in love. It’s basically a wiki, but with brilliant collaboration and embedding tools. It fits that spot between Trello (not good for big content) and Evernote (not structured or collaborative enough) & I’m using it for planning all my podcast series now. I have a Podcraft page, with a Series 8 page in that, and an episode 8 page in that, and I can write my notes, discuss them inline with co-hosts, and embed a speakpipe player, a youTube clip or any other media page to play live on the show. It’s brilliant!

Best Podcast Hosting Services

We just updated our ‘best hosting’ recommendations. Things are changing fast here!

Tool to turn Listeners into Email Subscribers

We use Sumo to run the optin forms and popups on many of our podcast websites. It’s ace – really easy to use and can do content upgrades, auto emails & a/b testing. They’re giving away their competition plugin, Kingsumo, for free for anyone that signs up for their optin form builder today only. **We’re a Sumo partner, so would get a small commission if you sign up. But only because we use it and love it!**

Zoom.us as an Interview Recording Tool

Skype is out – I’ve replaced it with Zoom.us for nearly all my podcast interviews recently. So easy and super reliable. Plus, free of charge if it’s just two of you! And ties into loads of scheduling tools, like the one we use: Book Like a Boss (more on that in a future email!).

How to find sound effects for your show

A little goes a long way with music and sound effects, adding a big dash of polish & engagement, and helping you stand out. Here’s how to find good ones to really jazz up your show.

Test out our auto-podcast-maker tool

We’ve now got Alitu (for automatic production or assisted editing) in open beta testing, so we’d love to have you use it for your show! Check out the link for details and to see if it’s for you.

ENTERTAINMENT

It’s not always about the work. Here are the fun things I’ve found over the years.

FROM POLITICS TO SPACE

Looking for some Audio drama to make the ‘drive home for holidays’ pass more quickly? I’m loving Terms from Spoke Media. Also, try Cargo, our entry to 11th Hour’s quick & dirty Drama competition. My 1st acting role…Matthew shouldn’t let me near the dramatic mic…

FROM SCOTLAND TO AMERICA: FICTION

I’ve been hitting the fiction podcasts, trying to wind down from work craziness. I’m enjoying Locke & Key, a Scottish Podcast (not for the easily offended!) and got back into Limetown. Great for a wee de-stress.

THE X-FILES IS BACK, AND IN PODCAST FORM (KINDA!)

The X-Files on Audio?! Yep, Audible have commissioned a new X-Files story as part of their ‘Originals’ series. Great news for podcasters, I think. It brings a BIG audience into the long-form, on-demand audio realm. Plus, it’s the X-Files, and has actual Duchovny and Anderson in it – brilliant! If you’re super-keen, you can pre-order at the link above.

THE NEW PODCASTING GENERATION

Check out this pic of our latest podcast host in the newly-leathered studio. She’s rocking those glasses… #DownWithTheKids

Podcasting: The Movie!

I met two guys – Chris & Niel – at Podcast movement in 2015 who were making a movie about podcasting. The Messengers just dropped onto iTunes, showing a really intimate view of Podcasting and the fine folks that do it, like us.

New space exploration documentary-drama: Hostile Worlds

Our new show, exploring the most crazy-dangerous places in the universe. Listen in as we head out on our ship, the Tardigrade, and proper space experts (NASA/Cornell) help us to explore Titan in the first few episodes.

OTHER RESOURCES

Anything else you might need to grow your show.

Where to Find Great Background Music

Looking for music to perk up your show? In the last year I mostly used Jamendo, including for the new Podcraft theme. Great selection, much more unique than most, and not too costly at £35 a track.

Do you Have the Ears of an Audio Producer?

Love this quiz by NPR – test yourself against their pro producers. Also, check out the related ear training guide, to help yourself pick out common audio problems – so useful!

The beauty of podcasting is that, theoretically, anybody can do it.

The downside is that the podcasts that inspire us to try our hand at it typically have more staff, better equipment, and more funding than we can hope to achieve at an early stage.

When it comes to drawing inspiration from our favorite shows, there’s certain things that can help us shape our own work, without setting ourselves up for failure with unrealistic expectations.

With that in mind, here’s a list of five things to take away from your favourite podcast…and one thing to avoid!

Do: Figure Out What Makes Your Favorite Shows So Good

We’ve all got a favorite show, but asking yourself why you like a particular podcast is a great way to help you crystallize your own ideas.

If you’re a Radiolab fan, perhaps you’re in it for the unique editing style, or if you’re into This American Life, you might enjoy the personal interviews that shape the larger story.

Really dive into what makes your favorite show work, and use that to shape your project’s direction. It’s not about copying another show – we already have Welcome to Night Vale and any imitator is going to feel shallow – but instead about digging deep into what makes these shows work and finding something similar to set your show apart from the crowd.

Do: Reach Out For Guidance

Sure, the likelihood of 99% Invisible’s team offering to take you under their wing is pretty slim – they have their own podcast to produce, after all – but asking a few questions about how they do what they do and how they got to where they are can help you forge your own plan for how you want to proceed.

Much of this information is probably available somewhere online, and doing some reading can help you find it. Your journey will probably differ from theirs, but if you really like the way a podcast sounds or feels, it can’t hurt to ask how they achieve it.

Even better, consider asking for an interview for your own show – what interests you will likely interest others, as well. And if they say no, it’s not a big deal; you’re exactly where you started.

Do: Pay Attention to Schedules

Ever been frustrated by a podcast that updates sporadically? One of the best ways to find and keep an audience is to guarantee consistency.

In your listening, do you prefer shows that update frequently with shorter content, or more infrequently with longer episodes? Paying attention to your own preferences as well as how your favorite podcasts structure their releases can help you draft a better plan for how you want to handle your own.

Some shows benefit from timely weekly releases, while others take longer and rely more on diving deep into a topic regardless of timeliness. Consider your content and the types of discussion you want to have and plan accordingly.

Do: Consider How Other Podcasts Make Use of the Medium

When listening to your favorite shows, think about why they’ve chosen the podcast format over video or text.

Podcasts are easy to release, but that’s not the only reason to make one. Audio has unique benefits over other media, and honing in on why your favorite podcasts use it is a great way to help shape your own work.

Sound can help immerse you in a time or place, and an unfiltered conversation can create a sense that you’re part of the discussion yourself.

Make use of all that podcasting has to offer, as your favorite shows do, by focusing on the things that podcasting does better than other media.

Do: Always Look For New Things To Try

Consistency is good, but a podcast that’s able to evolve and shift is a podcast that lasts.

Consider the ways your favorite podcast has changed over time, including sound quality, production value, and overall form and structure.

I’m not suggesting you try to reinvent the wheel overnight, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Changing things up is a good way of reinvigorating your content, whether it’s for a one-off special episode or a more long-term strategy of growth.

No podcast stays the same forever, and yours shouldn’t either.

Don’t: Compare Yourself To Your Favorite Shows

Inspiration is good.

Inspiration is what makes us want to create things in the first place. But if you spend your time comparing your work to that of your favorite podcasts, you’re always going to end up feeling like what you create isn’t worthy of release.

If this is your first time in audio production, your editing skills and equipment probably won’t be capable of producing the next Radiolab, but that’s a good thing. In the early days, you’re finding your voice and learning as you go.

Concentrate on building your own work and striving to create something you’re proud of, not on capturing the exact sound or focus of something you already love.

Turning to your favorite shows for inspiration can help you shape your work, but it’s important to use them as a jumping-off point, not something to copy.

Find a way to celebrate your own unique voice and perspectives, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a show that appeals to audiences just as your favorites do!

What tips and tricks have you adopted from your favorite podcasts? Let us know in the comments!

Melissa Brinks is co-creator and host of the Fake Geek Girls podcast