Podcast Pontifications

The NAB Show is just getting started this week, yet the podosphere is already buzzing with concerned podcasters worried that broadcasters are encroaching into their territory.

They've a good reason to be concerned.

In this short episode, I lay out the areas where professional broadcasters -- radio and TV -- have the upper-hand over podcast-only service providers. It's more than just access to pro equipment, quality editing, and established processes. Commercial radio can be quite good at understanding and meeting business objectives for their customers.

For the stations/networks that manage to get past their distribution hangups, they see podcasting-as-a-service as a big part of their business plans for the coming years.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

To bring the theme of "control" to a close, I'm taking on the heavy topic of controlling the future. No, I'm not magic. No, I can't predict the future. No one can. But there are ways you can control how you navigate your podcast when the future becomes the present.

In this short episode, I discuss three main points:

• Investing in resiliency
• Increasing your luck surface area
• Reducing surprises

By applying the skills I discuss here, the future of your podcast becomes a lot less murky. And when things do change (perhaps for the worse) you and your podcast will come out on the other end, maybe even better than before!

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

There's a misconception that podcasters have no control over whether or not a potential listener decides to sample and/or subscribe. The same misconception applies for listeners and their decision to hit play or stop on your episode.

That's all bunk. Because the listener experience is a two-sided transaction, and it starts with you, the podcaster.

In this short episode, I show you how to look at your podcast with a set of fresh eyes. Because you can't control what you don't know, right?

Tomorrow, I'll conclude the mini-series on control with an episode on controlling the future for your podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Lots of podcasters are constantly looking for the one piece of tech that will increase the quality of their podcast. But as you'll learn in his short episode, the single most important controlling factor of your podcasts quality is... you.

No, I'm not suggesting you fire yourself. But I am suggesting you have a better and more comprehensive understanding of all of the steps that go into making your podcast. 

Nor am I suggesting you strive to produce a perfect or flawless show. I am suggesting that you make sure that you have the right quality all along the process of making your show, for that's something you control completely.

Listen in for some tips as I continue to explore the concept of "control" and podcasting this week.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

As a working podcaster, you have ultimate control of the distribution of your show and episodes. But wielding that control is something worthy of strategic thought before taking any action or following questionable advice.

On today's short episode, we'll look at three aspects of distribution control for your podcast: 

• The nodes or distribution points (directories, apps, platforms)
• The depth of content (because there are no practical limitation on how much content you wish to release)
• The selection of content you wish to distribute (perhaps all episodes aren't worthy)

As is my wont, this is the first of a four-part series on control. Next up will be ideas around controlling the quality of you show, how to control the brand experience for your listeners (and not-yet-listeners), and way to control your own future. So keep listening! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

The changes we've seen thus far this year are just the tip of the iceberg. That's the way change works: always constant and often increasing. This is the hockey stick your mother warned you about.

So how does someone like you, the working podcaster, stay up on all those changes? Well, you've already made the smart move of listening to this program on a 4x-a-week basis. But assuming you want to go beyond that:

• James Cridland's Podnews.net should be in your inbox every day. Or listen to the short podcast version if you like. If it's new, important, and about podcasting, James covers it.
• Podcast Business Journal is a relatively new industry-specific online magazine staffed by luminaries in the industry who provide context and insight. Sure, it's a little "inside baseball", but that's kind of the point.
• There are legion other podcast-focused newsletters. The Bello Collective and Skye Pillsbury's Inside Podcasting 
• Subscribe to every other show that podcasts about the same kind of stuff you podcast about. Yes, all of them. (I subscribe to 26 other PAPs -- podcasts about podcasting.)
• Get involved with those same people and start collaborating. Because podcasting isn't a zero-sum game.

If you're serious about podcasting, you'll find time to stay updated on the vast changes coming. I hope those tips help.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

It sounds kind of obvious that the way you think about your podcast impacts your podcast. That's because it is obvious. But like most other obvious things, it's not the kind of thing often re-examined.

In this short episode, I'll encourage you to think differently about your podcast by examing two key questions:

• Why do you podcast the way you podcast?
• What do you want to get out of your podcast?

Understanding your unique answers to these questions will help make a better podcast. Bonus: Ask yourself these questions continually. But now I'm spoiling tomorrow's episode...

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Expect big changes to podcasting at the technical level this year. But you're at the mercy of your hosting provider for many of them. Which begs the question: How well-established is your relationship with your podcast's hosting provider?

In this short episode, I'll explain why, now more than ever, it's extremely important to know the full range of options available from your hosting company. Because there's more to feed management than just having a link to your media file.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

While change is scary for many, and the unknowns with changing where/how you record/produce your podcast seems like potential boat rocking.

But actually, what might be a terrifying change for you can often be the catalyst your audience is looking for. In fact, changes you make to how your show sounds can re-spark their interest to share your program with others.

In this short episode, I'll do my best to convince you that change is good, as well as provide some ideas on how changes to your physical space can often (always?) make your podcast better. And all this week, I'll cover other aspects of change for your podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

As mass adoption of podcasting continues, it's becoming easier and easier to create a podcast. And while that sound lovely, fair and idyllic, a world where literally every person has their own podcast might be the worst apocalypse we can imagine for the industry.

In this short episode, I'll dig into the challenges facing the companies and entrepreneurs that have that as goal or business model. And I'll dig into how such a future might play into the hands of the new push for privacy and more intimate communication. 

In the end, it's probably not the future we want to see. But a version of it might happen, so it's good to mentally prepare.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.