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We're back from Podcast Movement in New York with thoughts on its new format, the talks we loved, and why some of our favorite moments happened outside the conference. We talk about what independent podcasters need from these events and what we'd do differently if Buzzsprout were to host one.

We also go behind the scenes of an industry effort to tackle bot traffic. With AI bots impersonating podcast apps and video files driving up hosting costs, we discuss how verifying apps could help protect real listeners, improve podcast stats, and keep hosting affordable.

Plus, Ira Glass's keynote gets us talking about what audio does especially well: helping us listen longer, judge less quickly, and connect with people we might otherwise dismiss.

Watch Podcast Movement sessions and keynotes on YouTube (still updating as of publish date)

Things That Podcasts Do Better, Ira Glass

What 42,000 Consumers Told Us About Podcasting, Tom Webster

Send us Fan Mail: Has a podcast ever changed your mind about a person or an idea? 

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We stop trusting browser-based remote recorders and explain why reliability matters more than features when you only get one shot at a great conversation.

 Kevin shares the Mac-only (for now) native app we’ve been building at Buzzsprout and how we pair it with Zoom or Google Meet while it records clean, local files. 

Send us a Fan Mail message if you want to test it out!

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Your next conference talk is probably hiding in your podcast transcripts. 

As we get ready for Podcast Movement in New York, we walk through how Jordan used our Buzzcast archives and ChatGPT to develop a session pitch that got accepted (even when she barely had time to apply).

We share the prompts used to uncover the strongest topics, find stories long forgotten, and shape those ideas into a focused, 20-minute talk. We also try the process with three listeners’ podcasts to show how it can work beyond podcasting conferences. 

Want help finding a talk idea in your own episodes? Send us Fan Mail with a link to your podcast, and we’ll help you brainstorm!

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Your podcast can’t grow if listeners can’t find it! It's surprising how many of us never submit our shows to a directory and how many established podcasts are still missing from at least one listening app.

We're talking about Buzzsprout’s latest improvements, including one-click submission to 16 podcast directories, smarter reminders for unfinished distribution steps, video players on Buzzsprout websites, faster and more searchable transcript pages, and new customization options for embedded players.

These improvements help us reach more listeners by making it easier for people to find and listen to our shows wherever they already spend time.

So whether you're launching a new podcast or have been publishing for years, it might be time for to check our directories page and make sure your shows are truly available everywhere!

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Buzzsprout team member, Cara Pacetti, joins us to talk about how podcasting builds confidence, sparks creativity, preserves meaningful voices, and creates communities where people feel understood. We discuss elementary students running their own show, teenagers connecting across the globe, and a hospice patient whose wisdom continues to reach listeners after her passing.

Then we get into Fan Mail about how to recognize meaningful traction when your audience is still small, and why embracing the quirks that make your podcast different may be the key to making it matter.

Because when we start a podcast, we don’t just create something for other people. Podcasting changes us, too!

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Podcasting Q&A
• Tiger Talk
• This Teenage Life
• Advice 4 The Living
• Yasha
• Turning Casual Listeners Into Superfans

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We want podcasts to stay weird! We're talking about how algorithms, growth advice, and an obsession with polish are making brands, social media, and podcasts feel increasingly alike. Plus, we share how podcasters can preserve the quirks, tangents, imperfections, and human touches that make a show memorable!

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Spotify is giving listeners a new way to skip past ads, intros, and calls to action. Some podcasters are calling it the beginning of the end of podcasting, and some listeners are singing praises. 

We put the outrage in perspective, debate whether easier skipping could actually strengthen podcasting, and explore how creators can make sponsorships and calls to action too entertaining to miss.

We’re also celebrating several big Buzzsprout launches, including streamlined video distribution to Spotify and YouTube, a major WordPress plugin upgrade, and one-click submission to iHeart. 

We also get into the EU’s new AI disclosure requirements, consider when podcasters may need to label AI-generated content, and explain what AI tools don't actually fall under the AI Act. 

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• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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Publishing a video podcast shouldn’t mean juggling multiple platforms, logins, formats, and workflows.

With Buzzsprout’s new video distribution to Spotify and YouTube, you can upload your video once and we’ll publish it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and audio podcast apps all from one place!

We also discuss early video stats from Buzzcast, and talk about why YouTube is such a powerful way to reach new audiences, while traditional podcast apps continue to build deeply loyal listenership. And we’ve got another distribution update to share: one-click submission to iHeartRadio.

Video distribution to Spotify and YouTube is available on all Buzzsprout video plans, with 1080p HD included.

Links mentioned:

• Ed Mylett's 21 days a week routine

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• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

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We’re diving into how to script a podcast without ever sounding scripted so you can get the clarity and structure of a written plan while still keeping your natural voice!

We break down the difference between scripts and outlines, which parts of an episode are actually worth writing word-for-word, how to prep guests without over-rehearsing them, and why reading your script out loud is one of the best ways to spot stiff language and tighten your message so you get to the point faster.

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• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

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What does it take to publish 800 podcast episodes without burning out? Turns out, it's treating your podcast like a media supply chain. 

We’re talking about the biggest lessons from Buzzsprout podcaster Tom Raftery’s fine-tuned podcast workflow built through years of consistent publishing. In his blog, he explains why consistency comes from removing friction, how a foolproof pre-recording process can protect your time and energy, and why the right tools and responsive customer support matter most when something goes wrong.

Read Tom's blog

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• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!