PodSchool

If you're trying to decide whether to release your podcast week-by-week or in seasons, this episode is for you.

I answer a listener question about the pros and cons of podcast seasons and share why batching and taking breaks can actually help your show survive long term, even if it means slower growth.

This is especially helpful if podcasting isn’t your full-time job and you’re trying to keep your show going alongside the juggle of everything else.

💡 What you’ll learn:

• The pros and cons of releasing your show in seasons
• How seasons can help you avoid burnout and plan better
• When releasing episodes weekly might be the better choice
• Why batching episodes in advance is a smart strategy
• What to expect from audience growth when your podcast feed goes quiet

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Some podcasts blow up while others never get off the ground. So what’s the difference?

In this episode, I’m answering a listener question about what makes a podcast successful. Is it promotion? A unique idea? Celebrity status? Or is it just about sticking at it?

Spoiler alert: It’s not about going viral. But there are consistent things successful podcasters do and they’re things you can do too.

💡What you’ll learn:

• What big shows have in common (that you might not see)
• The eight things successful podcasters focus on
• Why consistency and realistic expectations matter
• How to define success for your show (not someone else’s)

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

If you’re tossing up between a lapel mic (also called a lav mic) and a more traditional podcast mic, this episode breaks down the pros and cons of both.

While lapel mics are great for video, they often sacrifice the sound quality you need in a podcast.

I explain why podcast audio needs to be more intimate, and why your mic setup can make or break your connection with your audience.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between lapel mics and traditional podcast mics
• Why audio intimacy matters in a podcast
• What makes a mic sound “professional”
• Why mic distance and background noise can impact your show
• What happens when you rely too much on post-production
• When a lapel mic is okay and when it’s not

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

In this episode, I answer a listener question about whether you need to get your podcast guests to sign a release form when they appear on your show.

While consent forms are common in the television industry, podcasting is still a bit of a legal grey area.

So, what’s best practice?

I explain how consent is usually implied, when you might need a signed form, and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself without adding extra admin to your workflow.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Whether guest release forms are the done thing in podcasting
• When a signed release might be worth having
• How to protect your show and your relationships with guests

Please note that I am NOT a lawyer so this episode should not be taken as legal advice.

I'm just sharing what happens in practice but if you want to protect your show you should always discuss your options with someone who actually finished their law degree (I did not).

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

This week I’m answering a question about podcast analytics... how do downloads work, what actually counts as a play, and how much of your audience data is real?

Spoiler: It’s more complicated than it should be.

💡In this episode I cover…

• What podcast downloads really mean
• Whether you can tell how many people really listened to your podcast
• What counts as a “stream” (and why it doesn’t exist)
• How to get better data using Apple & Spotify dashboards
• Why audience growth matters more than round numbers

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really going on behind the scenes of your podcast stats, this one’s for you.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

In this episode, I’m answering a listener question about podcast networks...what they do, when they’re useful, and how to know if partnering with one makes sense for your show.

If you’ve ever thought “a network will help me grow my audience,” this one’s for you, because the truth might surprise you.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why podcast networks aren’t a silver bullet for growth
• The minimum audience you’ll need for networks to consider you
• The difference between sponsorship and programmatic revenue
• What networks really look for in a partner show
• The three partnership models
• What value you need to bring and receive for a deal to be worth it

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

In this episode, I answer a listener question about every podcasters obsession... audience growth.

From consistency and content quality to SEO, guest strategy, and engaging your listeners I explain what actually works (and what doesn't).

Spoiler alert: If you're looking for a silver bullet or a shortcut to massive downloads, there isn't one (sorry!)

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why podcast growth is slow
• How consistency impacts podcasting success
• The importance of high-quality audio
• How to use SEO and your podcast website effectively
• What promotion strategies actually work
• When guest appearances and cross-promotion help
• Why audience engagement and email lists matter
• The surprising truth about paid ads and patience

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Not all podcast ideas are created equal, especially when you’re just starting out.

In this episode, I answer a listener question about what makes a podcast idea bad and share the one mistake many new podcasters make when choosing a concept for their show.

If you want people to press play on your podcast, your idea needs to be more than just “talking to interesting people.”

What you'll learn:

• Why vague podcast ideas don’t work (especially if no one knows you)
• The common pitch that sounds good… but isn’t
• How to think about your show from your audience’s perspective
• What makes a podcast idea truly valuable and worth listening to

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Check out the full show notes for this episode.

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

In this episode, I answer a listener question about protecting your show name (which we can all get VERY attached to) and explain why it’s not as simple as registering a business name or grabbing a URL.

I'll explain how to avoid naming conflicts, when (if ever) you should trademark your podcast and why it pays to see what's out there before you get to attached to the name you've got.

What you'll learn:

• Why podcast names can't be reserved
• The risks of choosing a name that exists
• When trademarking your show might make sense (and when it doesn't)
• How to protect your podcast idea while you're getting ready to launch
• Why the right name will always find you (even when it's not your first pick)

Thank you to April for the question...

Q: "How do I reserve a name for my podcast if I want to make sure it doesn't get taken before I get my butt into gear? Is it like registering a business name?"

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

This might seem like a simple thing to cover but it wasn't always easy!

And making sure everyone can access your podcast from every link you send out is essential if you want to grow your show.

So in this episodes I share a few of the options you have for a universal link to your podcast that will work for everyone.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Click here to submit a question to the show

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Download my free podcasting guide

Email me: [email protected]

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the PodSchool website.