Podcast SoundAdvice with Phyllis and Kelvin Nichols

Kelvin and I are sharing our recommendation for the recording software we consider one of the best. We’re using this platform and advising our clients to use it as well.  

This is one of the things that we are asked about the most. For good reason. Recording good quality audio shouldn’t be hard to do, or overly expensive. There are lots of options out there and we’ve tried many of them. Clients send us files recorded in a variety of ways.  

Deciding what to use depends on your podcast style and set up. Here are a few key factors to consider:  

If you are using Zoom or Squadcast or are considering using Zoom or Squadcast to record your podcast episodes, please take a few minutes to consider if either of those will do everything you need.     

In addition to the research, he also talked to various platform representatives at a recent Podcast Movement Conference. That and the results from our early tests have made it easy to make our recommended platform Riverside.fm. 

Here are a few reasons why we want you to check out this platform:  

That's a pretty good list of reasons to use Riverside.fm. 

There are two things Riverside,fm can’t fix 

First is a bad internet signal or internet drops when recording. If you are going to podcast, pay for the internet speed upgrade if you can and ask your guests to log in at a place where they have reliable service.  Wi-Fi at Panera or other public places is just asking for trouble.  

Which brings me to the second issue. Control of the ambient sound in your space. Almost all of us are recording in a home office (or closet or some other living space) or at work. It may not be possible to control everything, but do your best to minimize paper shuffling, tapping on the table, typing, squeaky chairs (guilty) and of course take care of things like silencing your phone, watch etc. for best results.   

There you have it. Not only our recommendation, but we'll be moving to Riverside.fm for our podcast recordings.  

We’ve created a how-to video to help you get started. It’s easy and intuitive and we save you time so use this to make set up on the new platform simple. 

One last thing I forgot to mention... Riverside.fm gives you 1 free hour of recording time when you initially sign up, no credit card is required.   

You can use our affiliate link: bit.ly/riversidefm  

We’re going to interview one of the owners of Riverside soon – they just launched 2.0 and there are some cool new features coming. You can count on us to keep you up to date.  

If you try out Riverside.fm reach out and let us know what you think. You can email us at [email protected] or DM us on IG at soundadvicefm  

We’d love to hear from you.  

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Please tell me it’s time to travel to some exotic beach destination.  

After listening to this episode, you’re going to want to plan your next vacation!  

Jamie Weitl, the founder of Pineapple Escapes and the Travel Tidbits podcast joined us to talk about travel (of course) and podcasting.  

She’s always coming back from some place fabulous or she’s packing to go. Sometimes both! This summer she’s already been to Disneyland, Cancun, Mexico (another location), and on a Disney cruise.  

Traveling with COVID? It’s possible to travel safely. Jamie and her team keep up with the many requirements and protocols that are changing, sometimes daily.  

She encourages people to travel and be prepared to be flexible. Know what to expect before you go and set expectations if traveling with children.  

Mindset is important. Having fun is possible even when taking a few extra measures to ensure you and your family stay safe. Jamie is a go-to expert. Let her plan your next trip and she will get all the details, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.  

In Jamie’s words, “a mask isn’t going to ruin my trip” and COVID doesn’t have to ruin yours either.  

Putting the Travel Tidbits podcast together is a team effort. Jamie includes all her agents (20!) so arranging who is going to record and what topic is up next is something they manage as a group.  

She’s a planner and works on content months in advance. She also has flexibility so if something timely comes up, that can be added to the schedule.  

Jamie’s advice is to make the jump into podcasting. If you have something you want to share, get started and be ready to take some time to invest and embrace the learning curve. She waited for over a year and realized that hitting record is the only way that happens. (We totally agree!)  

Here are a few episodes you can check out to get familiar with the Travel Tidbits podcast and Jamie’s team.  

Why to Use a Travel Agent  

Universal for Potter Nerds Part One  

Universal for Potter Nerds Part Two  

Pineapple Escapes Website  

[email protected]  

Pineapple Escapes Instagram 

Jamie Instagram 

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Sandra Scaiano joins us on the podcast to talk digital marketing, online memberships, big picture work, and of course, podcasting.

Sandra has the unique (and covetable) ability to help her clients imagine the big picture, the vision for their business. She also has the tech skills to help those big ideas come to life. People who work with her, get results. It’s no wonder that’s she’s always busy and creating a course so even more people can get access to her genius.

Why the Long Game?

Podcasting is an outlet for Sandra to share her stories, her knowledge, and her creativity. She embodies the “long game” philosophy. She’s all about building the foundation of your business. When you do that well, then growth and scaling can happen.

“It’s that consistency piece.”

Sandra figured out how to add podcasting to her business in a way that works for her. She’s the content expert and has a VA to help her with her workflow. She does solo episodes and mixes in interviews as well.

She shares why having a viewpoint (and sharing the perspective of others) is important to her. She’s also intentional about sharing what is truly important to her. Find out how she decided to highlight content around the Black Lives Matter movement. It was unique to her and it resonated with her audience.

“You have to have a vision for what you want to say.”

Hear Sandra’s take on Clubhouse. She dived in to get her own opinion about the platform and shared some of her early learnings about how it can work. She outlines a strategy that big brands are using that you could translate to your business.

Connect with Sandra:

The Long Game Podcast

Sandra on Instagram

Sandra on Pinterest

Resources:

Headliner

The Long Game is . . . Happiness

The Trifecta, Onboarding, Automations, and Segmenting

Love Your Voice with Kelly Burge

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Your editor wants your podcast to sound AMAZING. Recording doesn’t have to be challenging. We want to make it easy for you. We’ve talked about your recording setup, what software to use, and reviewed microphone options.

Here are a few tips that will help your editor. In the words of Jerry McGuire, help me help you. (I just realized how old this reference is, so linking to the movie in case you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about.)

Things you can do to make you an editor favorite:

·      Test. Test again. Test a little more. Get your settings dialed in so when you hit record for real you know it’s going to sound great.

·      Set up in the same location every time if you can. It makes it easier for you AND it gives you a consistent sound quality.

·      Record 5 to 10 seconds of dead air (silence) so the editor can listen for fan noise, hums from your microphone, etc. to isolate and remove them.

·      Stay the same distance from your microphone. When you move closer or farther away, or if you turn your head it’s going to change how you sound.

·      Prepare. You don’t have to be scripted, but when you have notes or at least a few bullet points it will help you stay on track.

·      When you make a mistake – it’s okay. Take a pause, gather your thoughts, and start over. Our editing team will fix the error and make sure it’s edited properly.

·      Use a pop filter. It will eliminate heavy rushes of air or breathing sounds.

·      Turn off other devices. Laptops, tablets, phones, watches, fans, etc. There’s nothing more frustrating than a great track interrupted by a phone alert.

Things to avoid doing so editing continues to adore you:

·      Avoid touching the microphone. If you are using earbuds, make sure the microphone part isn’t rubbing your clothes or hair.

·      Don’t touch the desk or microphone stand.

·      Don’t type or tap the table or clap for emphasis unless you want that to be in your podcast.

·      Don’t stop the recording. One take! If you mess up, pause, start again. A single track (even with lots of errors) is easier to edit and will sound better for your listener.

·      If you are not speaking, don’t assume you can’t be heard. Chair squeaks, typing, shuffling papers; all sorts of fidgeting will be picked up.

Editing wants your show to sound amazing. When you find a setup that works for you, stick with it. You can be confident that your show will sound consistently good without a big hassle each time you record.

Have a question you’d like Kelvin to cover? Email: [email protected] and he’ll get you an answer.

Happy Podcasting. 

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Today’s guest Kate Hanley podcaster, author, New York Times bestselling ghostwriter and personal development coach. Her books include Stress Less, A Year of Daily Calm, The Anywhere Anytime Chill Guide, and How to Be a Better Person, 400+ Simple Ways to Make a Difference in Yourself--And the World. Her podcast, How to Be a Better Person with Kate Hanley publishes every weekday. She’s published over 460 episodes and has seen her audience continue to grow each month.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices