Podcast Pontifications

They're at it again. Podcast companies like Acast are getting millions of dollars from venture capitalists (VCs)to grow their businesses, and some (most?) of that will flow to podcasters. That's a trend I predict will continue for the next couple years.

Better: I think you should give serious consideration to taking some of that money for yourself if offered. But make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. More importantly, make sure you're using that money to set yourself up for success once that VC money dries up (which it always does).

In this short episode, I'll run through some smart things to think about, as well as some pitfalls to avoid. 

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's the time of year when podcasters all over Western culture stress out over a single topic: What happens if I take a break with my show over the holidays?

First bit of advice: Don't overthink it. You need to do what's right for you first, and your audience second.

Next, remember that podcasting has some unique quirks that, if not making the question moot, certainly makes it much more complex to figure out what impact a break -- or not taking a break -- will have on your overall show.

In this short episode, I'll get into some of those thorny issues. (But seriously, don't overthink it.)

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's the time of year when people start thinking about new year's resolutions, and I've a great one for podcasters who've been at it for a while.

While the fundamentals have podcasting haven't changed much since 2004, the processes to get files distributed to listeners have been through sweeping changes.

Most long-time podcasters have developed processes and systems to keep them running smoothly. But how relevant are those systems? Are some of those processes actively hurting your show's success?

On this episode, I make the case for bringing in a fresh set of eyes -- and ears -- as the year draws to a close to ensure you're doing all the necessary things that'll make a difference in 2019 and beyond.

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.

Spoiler: Podcasting has gatekeepers. Those gatekeepers? The hosting companies we podcasters use to host and distribute our media files to the world. 

Sure, anyone can pay a cheap price (heck, some are free) to have a podcast hosted and distributed. So it's not like they're being select on what kind of content they'll host.

The issue is entanglement, and it's the topic of this short episode. Because while these benevolent hosting companies never meant to limit you show's reach, that's what's happening. And it's something we need to talk about or it'll just become more problematic as we see new platforms enter the game.

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.

With almost 15 years of existence, it must be time to organize all podcasters under a governing body, right?

Not so fast. I can offer you many reasons why that's likely not to exceed. More than 600,000 reasons, come to think of it.

In this short episode, I inject a bit of reality into the question by shattering a few misconceptions about the "specialness" of podcasters compared to other forms of digital content. But I also talk about some very good reasons to organize sub-sets of the entire ecosystem. (So it's not a total downer.)

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.