As podcasters, it's easy to get stuck in a single way of looking at problems. Sometimes a new perspective is required. These episodes will help you look at both problems and opportunities differently, pulling lessons from other disciplines. Because when we approach the craft of podcasting with an open mind, we can create something truly special.
October 12, 2022
2023: The Year Podcasting Has To PayPodcasting managed to survive a going-on-three-year global pandemic. But the podcasting industry is starting to feel those economic realities finally catching up to us. That won't end soon.
September 14, 2022
Podcast Conferences, Cancel Culture, & Human DignityLarge podcast conferences are at a crossroads, with the podcasting community wondering how next year's conferences and beyond will be reshaped by the winds of change. Here are three possible futures.
August 10, 2022
Getting Past Your Personal Podcasting HumpsIt's almost impossible to make a good podcast without listening to great podcasts. But it probably takes more than listening to get from good to great. The secret is learning those not-hidden secrets.
August 3, 2022
Avoiding The Perils Of Un-aligned Podcast AdviceFinding advice on how to make your podcast better is easy. Knowing what advice to take and what to ignore is trickier. Before implementing any advice, take a close look at the agenda behind that advice.
May 11, 2022
Podcasting: Too Diverse To Fail?The next few months are looking pretty rough for podcasting. And just about every other industry. Historically, podcasting has proven itself to be rather resilient. But there are lean times ahead. Are you prepared?
February 14, 2022
Warning Our Way To Less Toxic PodcastingIt's hard to have a conversation about using technology to fight podcasting's misinformation and disinformation problems without being called an anti-free speech commie. But I'm going to do it!
February 9, 2022
4 Questions To Help Predict Your Podcast's SuccessNot every podcasting idea is a great podcasting idea. At least not beyond the person who had the idea. How predictable is your next podcasting project’s success (or failure)? And would you bet on it?
January 31, 2022
Should Your Podcast Get Drawn Into The Spotifight?Spotify has long faced criticism while buying its way into having a larger slice of the podcasting pie. At all levels. But that criticism is reaching a crescendo and podcasters are taking action. Should you?
January 25, 2022
Are You Teaching How To Podcast Or A Podcasting MFA?As an experienced podcaster, it's only a matter of time before you're called on to teach what you know. But what will you teach? And is it designed to make the next generation of podcasters better?
November 3, 2021
Podcast Like A Celebrity With 5 Easy TipsCelebrity podcasts are killing it, and plenty of podcasters wonder if there’s a secret to podcasting like a celebrity. As it turns out, there is! But is it relevant to podcasters who aren’t celebrities?
November 2, 2021
What Podcasting Can Learn From Apple TV+Streaming services like Apple TV+ are changing how television and movie content are created, consumed, and classified as successful or not. Changes an agile medium like podcasting can learn from.
October 11, 2021
Listening To Podcasts Is An Easy Habit To BreakConsistently releasing episodes on a set schedule is a good idea to keep your overall audience happy. But that doesn’t mean that every individual listener is listening to every individual episode. Is that OK?
September 28, 2021
Avoid These 4 Bad Habits Of Bad PodcastersIt’s hard to predict which podcaster will be successful. But it’s fairly easy to see who won’t make it for long just by looking at their actions. Or inactions. Here are some of their bad habits for you to avoid.
July 27, 2021
Using Music In Your Podcast: Fair Use Or Wise Choice?Can you use commercial music in your podcast? Few questions shut up most podcasting pundits more quickly. But the better questions are “What’s the worst that can happen?” and “Will this ever change?”
July 14, 2021
Podcasting. It's What's For Dinner.Comparatively speaking, podcasting has been one of the slower-growing mediums for mass adoption. What we need is a big, bold PR push to spread the message of podcasting even wider. But would that work?
May 27, 2021
Successful Podcasting Beyond The Top 100Podcasters want to be in the Top 100 where all the listening activity takes place. At least that’s what we’re being sold. But the reality is quite a bit different. And a lot more rewarding.
May 20, 2021
Knowing When To Say NO To Podcasting OpportunitiesPodcasting’s recent growth spurt has resulted in a concentration of benefits at the top. But many mid-level podcasters are seeing more opportunities. Not surprisingly, not all are worthy of a YES.
May 18, 2021
How Can You Give Back To Podcasting?When was the last time you did something to make all of podcasting—not just your podcast—better? We’re all in this together, so here are 9 things you can start doing to give back to podcasting.
May 4, 2021
Getting Your Podcast To Go Viral: A Healthy Move?As social media starts to warm up to podcasting, podcasters are excited at the prospect of “going viral.” Will we just be chasing vanity metrics? Or is this a real chance for meaningful show growth?
March 3, 2021
The Case For Upgrading Your Podcasting RecipesIt’s hard for anyone to know everything about podcasting. The most successful podcasters blend what they know with what they’ve learned. Their secret? Abandoning instructions that don’t work for them.
March 1, 2021
Podcasting Listens A Lot Less White Than It LooksA report from Nielsen shows diversity among US-based podcast listeners is skewing differently from the overall population, which brings implications, cautions, and opportunities for all of podcasting.
February 16, 2021
What We Talk About When We Talk About PodcastingPodcasters tend to be helpful. So much so that the narrowly-focused advice given often becomes commoditized and generic. Here’s a way you can stand out, be more helpful, and be a lot less boring.
January 26, 2021
Is Today's Controversy Tomorrow's Podcast Episode?When a controversy is brewing, should you take a stand on your podcast? If the topic is important enough, you may feel compelled. But how deep should you go, and how will that change your show?
January 25, 2021
The Joy Of Successfully Creative PodcastingOften with podcasting comes an assumed expectation of success. But for many, podcasting is a purely creative expression. One worthy of being better at, but for reasons other than commercial success.
January 11, 2021
Are Helpful Podcasters Averaging-Out Podcasting?Got a question about podcasting? There are dozens of support groups or conferences for you, many for free. But beyond feeling good, does providing support provide a benefit to working podcasters?
January 7, 2021
Cat-Herding Podcasters Was Always Doomed To FailYet another attempt at organizing podcasters and elevating podcasting is struggling to survive. Why can’t we get this done? Perhaps because we’re trying to eat the entire elephant in one bite.
October 14, 2020
Normalize The Making Of Abnormal Podcasts... AgainPodcasting has become the new normal for most people. And while more people listening to podcasts is an obvious Good Thing, are you sure they’re looking for normality out of your podcast?
October 8, 2020
Learning To Trust The Podcaster You Are Right NowWant to be a better podcaster? Education, practice, & commitment are key. But becoming truly successful at podcasting requires uncomfortable amounts of trust in one key person: Yourself.
September 10, 2020
That's Not A Podcasting Mistake - It's A Feature!To err is human. To really screw things up, it takes a podcaster. With or without a computer. Oopsies happen. Sometimes, leaning into our errors can uncover hidden intentions and creative growth.
September 9, 2020
The Importance Of The Unimportant Parts Of PodcastingIf nominations for “busiest podcaster” or “most stressed out podcaster” awards opened, we’d all probably want one. Or a vacation from our podcast. But are these extremes healthy for us or our shows?
August 27, 2020
The Case For Non-Hippie Meditating Over Your PodcastPodcasters spend so much time doing their podcast that they often lose sight of why they are podcasting. Getting out of the tactical mindset isn’t easy. Maybe it’s something you should meditate over?
August 25, 2020
Your Podcast Doesn't Suck, It Just Needs Un-StuckPodcasting is a creative endeavor, and all creatives eventually think their work sucks. And while it might, you’re probably just stuck and need a technique to get you over the hump. Or slump.
August 18, 2020
Re-Humanize Your Podcast Before It's Too LateHas the pendulum swung too far away from “podcasting is an intimate medium”? In our haste to resist the cliche, we might be editing out the humanity from our podcasts.
August 17, 2020
Podcasting With A Voice That Could Peel PaintHey, podcasters: Can we stop with the obsession over perfect-for-radio voice? The vast majority of working actors have “non-standard appearances” that don’t get in the way of their success.
May 5, 2020
Busting The Myth Of Podcast ExceptionalismMaking a podcast is a lot of things. Hard. Rewarding. Fun. But there’s one thing making a podcast is not: Exceptional. The sooner you come to grips with that harsh reality, the better for your podcast.
April 22, 2020
Lean Into Your Love-Hate Relationship With Your PodcastThe quest for the perfect podcast is a pipe dream. And even if it was attainable, you’d grow bored with it. Or your listeners would. A living podcast relies on the juxtaposition between what you love and what you hate.
April 20, 2020
Podcasting: Genre-Defining Or Mired In Medium?Podcasting often gets compared to other forms of media, like TV, radio, or even blogging. But podcasting is messy and tends to spill out of any box that tries to contain it. Is that its superpower or its Achilles heel?
March 30, 2020
Podcasting From A Place Of AbundanceIt seems weird to talk about abundance during a time of shortage, I know. But just like staying on your couch right now can literally help save the world, shifting away from a scarcity-mindset can make podcasting better.
August 7, 2019
Becoming THE Local Podcast AdvocateChanging podcasting for the better starts at home. What can you do specifically to help other local people where you live not just understand podcasting, but actually make podcasting better? Here are some ideas:
July 29, 2019
Expanding Your Podcasting Time-HorizonIf you don't look far enough ahead, podcaster, you may miss big trends or changes coming to the industry. Of course, if you look too far ahead, you might miss obstacles directly in front of you and stumble. The trick is striking a balance.
July 22, 2019
Turning Pro In Podcasting: A Reality CheckContrary to popular belief, you can go pro as a podcaster. But the jobs available in the world of pro podcasting probably look a little different than you're thinking about. This should be good news for you!
June 20, 2019
Will Time Change Your Podcast?Time, perhaps, is our most precious resource as podcasters. What would you change about your show if you had unlimited time to spend on it, rather than being rushed each episode? Before you think it too crazy, give it a shot. At least in your mind.
June 19, 2019
Should You Grow A Big Podcast Or Work To Build A Better One?I am a big fan of the idea of growing a big podcast. But only if that makes sense for your podcast and/or your business. Chasing growth isn’t always the best move. Not because your show isn’t worthy, but because you may not be able to handle the business.
June 18, 2019
Can Old Podcasting Dogs Learn New Tricks?Podcasting turns 15 years old this summer. A whole lot has changed from then until now, including this chilling fact: The original vanguard is much, much older. Which means we run the risk of losing touch with podcasting today.
June 12, 2019
What SpaceX Webcasts Can Teach PodcastersSpaceX has become masters of not only it putting things into space, but, bringing them back down safely. Surprisingly, there are lessons podcasters can learn from how SpaceX talks to their audience.
June 10, 2019
Are You Podcasting On Purpose?There are lots of reasons to start a podcast (And to keep it going!) Whatever reason you’ve chosen, that’s your purpose. Assuming, that is, you actually know the reason and purpose behind your podcast. Do you?
May 21, 2019
Making Room For Purposely Tiny PodcastsPodcasting is the next big revolution. Or is it? Maybe the word big, and all the assumptions that come with that word, is holding more than one podcaster back.
February 24, 2020
Mid-Level Podcasters' Biggest Mistake: ComplacencyIf you’re stuck just below the threshold of commercial viability with your podcasting efforts, you may be better served looking inward than outward to push you over the brink that brings in a wave of new listeners.
January 20, 2019
Podcasting Needs Better StandardsLet's remove the non-artistic choices from the process of podcasting, OK? It's 2019. This should be working better by now.
October 2, 2019
Stop The Presses! Print Plies Podcasting ProwessApparently newspapers aren't just for packing up your dishes or lining your fish and chips basket. Even better; many print journalists are finding great success when they cross over into our medium, podcasting.
October 3, 2019
If All The World's A Stage, I Want Better Podcasting New podcasters often cite “finding their voice” as one of their biggest challenges. Unless, of course, that new podcaster has prior on-stage speaking experience. Here's how those two worlds are colliding. In a good way!
October 15, 2019
How A Newsletter Can Catch Your Podcast's OverflowWhen is a podcast not a podcast? When it's a newsletter from a podcast. No, I'm not talking about just sticking a link to your latest episode in your existing newsletter. That's just being lazy. And it ignores the changing newsletter landscape.
October 16, 2019
From Podcast Listeners to Podcast LearnersWhen is a podcast not a podcast? When it's an audio-based learning experience. And here's the good news. Your podcasting chops means you're already at the top of the class.
October 24, 2019
What Podcasters Can Learn From Tennis PlayersProcesses and practices are a surefire way to increase your skills. But they don't always help you broaden your podcasting horizons. Which is why, for your next project, you should collaborate with people who are better than you.
January 28, 2020
Planning For Better PodcastingGreat podcasting doesn’t happen by accident. Even good podcasting can be made better with a more deliberate approach. It’s OK if you don’t agree. Plenty of others are planning podcasting’s future without you.
January 29, 2020
Harder Podcasting Makes Podcasting BetterCongrats! You figured out how to make a podcast. But before you launch your training course or chime in with advice on public forums, maybe you should try your hand at even harder ways to make a podcast?
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