I'm back from Podfest, and today, I want to talk about a strategy that gets way more attention than it needs: When to publish your podcast episodes.

Recently, while browsing Reddit, I spotted a question about the best time to post — specifically, whether 5:00 pm is a good time. The person wanted to launch a podcast focused on creepy stories and thought evening uploads would create the right mood. However, most advice online suggested otherwise, which led them to ask if evening uploads are uncommon, and whether others have succeeded with that schedule.

The Magic of time Shifting

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years: I personally follow at least 30 podcasts, but only two of them matter to me in terms of their schedule, and that’s because they’re news shows. For those, I want the latest information right away. For everything else, it doesn’t matter when the episode drops. Thanks to apps like Pocket Casts, new episodes go to the top of my list, and I listen whenever I want.

That’s one of the biggest perks of podcasting—it’s all about convenience for the listener. Most people aren’t refreshing their phone, waiting for your episode to appear. So you don’t need to obsess over the perfect release time, unless you have a news show or something that’s truly time-sensitive.

Going the Extra Mile

If you want to do a little extra homework, you could check out podcasts similar to yours. See when they publish, create a spreadsheet to spot days with less competition, and pick a time that works for you. But ultimately, the most important factor is finding a schedule that fits your life and allows you to be consistent.

For example, I have one show I catch on Fridays just because that aligns with my grocery shopping routine—but that’s rare for most podcasts I listen to. Unless it’s a news-based format, when you publish has far less impact than you might think.

So my advice:

Don’t get hung up on the specifics. Pick a time that works for you, stick to it, and focus on delivering great content. Consistency in both schedule and quality matters far more than the exact day or hour you hit publish.

Get Your Podcast Questions Answered

If you have more questions about podcasting, come join me at schoolofpodcasting.com. We’ve got step-by-step tutorials, an amazing community, and hours of consulting to help you succeed. I’m Dave Jackson, and I’m here to help you on your podcasting journey!

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