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Be a Better Podcaster

Tips, advice, recommendations, and more to help you on your podcasting journey, and grow your podcast effectively and for the long-term.

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Featured Post

Why slow podcast growth might be your biggest advantage

Hi Reader, If you’ve been podcasting for a while, you’ve probably seen the advice: “Hack your growth.” “Explode your downloads.” “Go viral.” And, sure, that all sounds great in theory. But for most indie podcasters, the reality looks a little different. Growth is slow.It’s steady.Sometimes, it’s downright invisible. And that’s not a bad thing. Fast Growth Isn’t Always Good Growth When you grow fast, you don’t always grow right. It’s like going viral on social media - you might see a huge...

Hi Reader, When you think of great brands, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s Apple, where the packaging feels as carefully designed as the product.Maybe it’s Spotify, where discovering new music feels natural and frictionless.Or maybe it’s something as simple as your favourite coffee shop, where the barista remembers your order. What all of these have in common is user experience (UX). They’ve thought beyond the product itself, and into how people feel when they interact with it. And podcasting...

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Hi Reader, One of the most common questions I see a lot with podcasters - right after “How do I grow my audience?” - is whether they should be doing video. And honestly? It depends. I know, the usual cop-out phrase - but in this case, it really does. So which one makes sense for your show? Audio-Only This is where most of us start. It’s just you, your mic, and your editing software. Why it’s great: Super low barrier to entry. You can get started with just a decent mic. Easy for listeners to...

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Hi Reader, When you finish recording, you’ve only done half the job. What happens in post-production determines whether your show sounds like a polished, professional podcast or just a raw recording. Great audio isn’t about expensive gear or fancy studios. It’s about making the listening experience as smooth and distraction-free as possible. And that comes down to how you process your voice. Here, I'm going to walk you through my preferred post-production workflow, step by step. You’ll learn...

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Hi Reader, One of the most common things I see getting asked about podcasting is sponsorships. Should you run them? How do you find them? Are they worth the effort? So I want to break down some of the more common questions around this, and how to think about them. How are podcasters getting sponsors? It’s usually one of two ways: Pitching brands directly. Getting approached by companies who already see the value in podcasts. Direct pitching works best if you know your audience and can show...

Hi Reader, Being an indie podcaster isn’t easy. You wear every hat - host, editor, promoter, marketer. You balance podcasting with work, family, and life. And sometimes, it feels like you’re staring up at giants - big networks with bigger budgets, bigger teams, and bigger reach. But here’s what you might not realize: You already have what they don’t. You have your voice. The way you tell stories, the way you share experiences, the way you connect with your audience. No one can replicate that....

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Hi Reader, One of the biggest upgrades you can make to your podcast has nothing to do with your mic. It’s your room. Because even the best microphone can sound cheap if you’re recording in a boomy, echoey, untreated space. So let’s break this down and help you get the best sound for your room, no matter what your budget is. Soundproofing vs. Sound Treatment Soundproofing = keeping outside noises out (traffic, dogs, neighbours). This usually requires construction-level work and a big budget....

Be a Better Podcaster live stream

Happy Friday! At least it's Friday when I wrote this. :) Just a quick one, to let you know I'm hosting a live stream on Saturday August 9th at 9.30am Pacific / 12.30pm Eastern / 5.30pm UK time. This is a bi-monthly live stream where I'll be answering any questions you have about podcasting - getting started, gear, software, hardware, growing your show, understanding data, and much more. Basically, any question you have, I'll be here to answer it (and if I don't know the answer, I'll find out...

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AI is everywhere. From voice cloning tools to episode summaries, it's creeping into every corner of the podcast world. And while it can absolutely help you be more productive, it can also quietly chip away at your creative control if you're not careful. So when should you use AI in podcasting? Use it to support your workflowNeed a transcript fast? Use AI. Want a decent first draft of your show notes or social posts? Use AI. Tools like Castmagic, Deciphr, ChatGPT, as well as Spark AI from...

When we talk about podcast editing, most of us are thinking about one thing: how do I make this sound good? And that’s absolutely the right instinct. But the definition of “good” can change depending on how your audience is actually consuming your podcast. The reality is, your listeners aren’t always sitting in a quiet room with studio headphones on. The most popular ways people consume podcasts right now Let’s start with where and how people are listening: Smartphones: According to multiple...