Big Podcast Playbook - Grow Your Podcast. Build Your Audience.

As I talked about on this episode, I just installed some new panels based on a DIY panel design by Marcus dePaula.   I did an event with Marcus last week where we took questions from podcasters who wanted to improve the sound of their studio. Zita Christian asked a question about building a studio from scratch – literally starting with a concrete floor and making something that's both comfortable and sounds great.   This episode dives into Zita's situation (which may be very close to your situation) and what Marcus would do.   Don't let the $5500 budget scare you. That's for everything. The sound treatment Marcus talks about will cost you far less.
Topics:

• Recording with concrete walls
• The first thing to do about a concrete floor
• How to build a new "studio" space so you have a good foundation to work with
• Do-it-yourself acoustic panels
• Building a comfortable studio
• Curtains that will make your podcast sound better

Links To Things We Talk About:

• Zita Christian
• Panel Build
• Marcus' DIY Acoustic Panel Plans
• Me Only Louder / Podcast Audio Lab

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

This is the audio companion to Issue 48 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go.   Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, consider subscribing – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time.   Topics:

• Do podcasters need social media?
• Why you should consider video for your podcast
• Important "video stats" you should be aware of
• The type of video that actually hurts your podcast
• A strategy to grow your Instagram (and the story of a man who used it to get 561,000 Instagram followers)
• 5 new Instagram features podcasters should know about
• How to conduct a social media audit (and why you want to)
• Growing your Twitter following
• A hands-off way to schedule podcast guests
• How to "spy" on your podcast competition

  Links To Things I Talk About:

• Big Podcast Insider - Podcasting Newsletter

     

As a podcast host, do you remember every interview you've ever done? When I got to that point, I realized I was either getting old (and forgetful) or I've done a ton of interviews and it would be impossible to remember all of them.   Same for the podcasts where I've been a guest...   I was updating my info on Podchaser a couple of months ago when I saw I was listed as a guest on a "gay" podcast. I thought it was a mistake, since I don't meet the qualifications.   It wasn't. And this is that story. I also talk about what you must know (and do) before you do another media interview or have somebody on your podcast, because this sitation comes up in a few different ways for both podcast guests and hosts and something similar can happen to you.   Topics:

• The "unwritten contracts" of podcast appearances
• The "three agreements" of podcast guesting
• What happens when you have the wrong guest on your podcast
• Straight model, gay centerfold
• The only time I've removed a podcast episode after publishing it (and why)
• Ryan Seacrest's blind date

 

Links To Things I Talk About:

• Podchaser
• 40 Plus: Gay Men. Gay Talk.
• Marilyn Chanbers
• Blind Date

     

This is the audio companion to Issue 47 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go.   Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, consider subscribing – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time.   Topics:

• What a newspaper knows about podcasting
• What Dollar Tree knows about podcasting
• What Amazon knows about podcasting
• Why "less is more" in podcasting
• How to make your podcast sound better

  Links To Things I Talk About:

• Big Podcast Insider - Podcasting Newsletter
• Me Only Louder

     

For the last few years, I've been recording in a room full of foam and blankets. The results were good, but not great.   I wanted something better, so I just installed some new panels based on a DIY panel design by Marcus dePaula.   This episode is the first I recorded with the new setup. It's a conversation with Marcus about how you can sound your best with the space you have, regardless of whether you record in a spare bedroom, a closet, or a temporary location.
Topics:

• "Room within a room"
• Recording with a monitor – what you need to know
• Setting up a portable studio that sounds great
• Recording in your house? This is the best place to do it...
• Why books are a great thing to have in your studio
• Packing blankets
• Bedroom vs. Closet
• What you need to know about ceiling panels (clouds)
• Studio Comfort vs. Function
• What is good enough?

Links To Things We Talk About:

• The "Old" RED Room
• Panel Build
• Marcus' DIY Acoustic Panel Plans
• Me Only Louder / Podcast Audio Lab

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

This is the audio companion to Issue 46 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go.   Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, consider subscribing – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time.   Topics:

• The "Instant Audience"
• Google for podcasters
• Sound effects for your podcast
• What happens when you get "personalization" wrong
• Gen Z (and how to talk to them)

  Links To Things I Talk About:

• Big Podcast Insider - Podcasting Newsletter
• The Hive Index
• How to Use Google

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

This is the audio companion to Issue 45 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go.   Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, consider subscribing – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time.   Topics:

• Herbie Hancock vs. City Girls
• Lyft vs. Oscar Mayar
• A captive audience for your podcast...
• Tag Team, back again!
• My "adult" membership site for podcasters
• Custom, royalty-free music for podcasts (generated by AI)

Links To Things I Talk About:

• Big Podcast Insider - Podcasting Newsletter
• Miti Productions
• Soundraw

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

It's been a wild 18 months, especially for people like podcasters and broadcasters, who often do in-person interviews in very small spaces.

For 15 years, I did 99% of interviews sitting across from my guest in the studio. But COVID-19 changed that – it was too risky to bring somebody in to an 8'x8' space with me, an engineer, and a producer.

So we switched all interviews to remote...

But that brought a few problems with it. And on this episode I talk about how we've worked around those problems as well as the "good" that has come from doing remote interviews.

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

This is the audio companion to Issue 44 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go.   Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, consider subscribing – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time.   Topics:

• How to take "calls" from your audience – even if you don't stream your podcast live
• The value of "mystery"
• A podcasting lesson from ZZ Top
• Why to never put your photo on your podcast artwork
• How to make big money with a small podcast
• The "most successful" podcast I've ever been part of
• Your podcast "enemy"
• A podcast production lesson from Facebook
• Looking for a job in podcasting? I'll show you just where to go...

Links To Things I Talk About:

• Big Podcast Insider - Podcasting Newsletter
• Voiceform

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

This is the audio companion to Issue 43 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go.   Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, consider subscribing – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Topics:

• Stealing marketing ideas from broadcast radio and other "old school" media formats
• Middle-aged white guys at Costco – what they can teach you about podcasting
• How to record an effective "episode promo" for your podcast
• Podcasts are now available on airplanes – what this means for your podcast
• 5 pillars of podcast monetization

Links To Things I Talk About:

• Big Podcast Insider - Podcasting Newsletter

  Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.