Past Episodes of Podcast Pontifications

Some podcasting relationships turn sour and lead to an argument. Or several arguments. “Winning” isn’t dependent on your ability to argue. It’s about understanding the least acceptable outcome.

Podcasting is often considered a solo venture, though the biggest podcasts tend to have teams of people behind their success. With the bottom falling out of commercial real estate, dedicated podcasting co-working spaces may be coming.

No rational person thinks putting on pants and brushing your hair before leaving the house is inauthentic. Your podcasting voice is no different, and it might need some preening before it goes public.

If you make a podcast for everyone, you’ve made it for no one. So you focus, carefully defining your avatar. But in your refinement, you might have left out an important voice by mistake.

Not everyone who listens to your podcast is going to like your podcast. In fact, most people who listen won't like your podcast. At least not enough to ever download another episode. How can we use that reality to our advantage?

Beyond a few pockets of interestingness, video podcasting never really became a thing, and audio reigned supreme. But all of that could change in the ‘20s, and it’s the pandemic’s fault.

Podcasters tend to obsess over “discoverability”. But a bigger problem might be impenetrability, a problem that neither the podcast media hosts nor the apps listeners use are helping to solve. Yet.

No one is shocked that hate speech exists in podcasting. Removing it, however, is quite a difficult task. But it doesn’t have to be. If we’re brave enough to make some tough choices when we find it.

Things aren’t great. But you could use your podcasting powers for good and help worthy causes better tell their stories. (And still have plenty of time to a podcasting powerhouse!)

“Own the relationship!” is practical podcasting advice that works today. But it might not tomorrow in a world with less guesswork about what people want from their podcasts.

Even though millions of people manage to find something to listen to, podcast directories kind of suck for most podcasters. Making them suck less might lead to a massive shakeup in the podcast ecosystem.

Legally-mandated closed captioning - not transcripts - may soon be coming to podcasting. The technology to enable this already exists. And it might usher in a re-imagining of what we used to call enhanced podcasts.

Podcast investments are on the rise, and scouts are on the hunt. Not just for shows and talent to acquire. But for other assets you might own that give them leverage. Here are a few things to consider before they show up on your door with bags of money.

The podcasting buying spree continues, and this time its SiriusXM (Pandora) with the open-checkbook, gobbling up Stitcher’s three podcasting business arms and causing a lot of puzzled looks from analysts and pundits alike.

Facebook has become an invaluable tool and resource center for many podcasters. But Facebook’s tarnished underbelly is coming under scrutiny, and future increased blowback could negatively impact your podcast.

Advertisers big and small are taking a fresh look at podcasts of all sizes. Some producers who never considered offering sponsorships are getting requests. A few simple tweaks to your processes can make these money gifts easier to handle.

Given what we know about how people use the internet, it’s surprising podcasting works at all. Or perhaps explains why, for many struggling shows, it doesn’t. Today, it’s about trust, timely data, or infotainment.

The “no-code” revolution is changing the digital economy right before our eyes. Here’s how a similar “no-waveform-manipulation” approach to how we make podcasts & episodes can (will?) change podcasting forever.

I’m breaking my between-seasons silence for some soul-searching, hard-to-swallow self-criticism, and a recommendation of a podcast you should listen to. Especially if you look and sound like me.

Taking a break from podcasting can be good for your health. But how well will you spend your downtime? Here are 10 smart on-break activities that should make your next season even stronger.