The How To Podcast Series - Podcast Co-Hosts, Practical Podcasting Tips, and Podcast Community

Episode 836 - How To Handle Being Nervous When Recording Your Podcast, Use What You Have

Nervous Before You Record? Use What You Have

Podcast nerves can show up the moment the record light turns on. Dave answers a listener question about whether he still gets nervous before recording, then demonstrates how a phone, free tools, and a willingness to show up can carry a podcast.

Why Podcast Nerves Happen

Dave admits he felt awkward when he started podcasting. His delivery sounded stiff and overly structured. After recording thousands of episodes, he found a natural rhythm that sounds like the way he talks in real life.

The nerves have disappeared completely. He still wants every episode to go well, especially when a well-known guest joins the show. Experience has taught him that missed attempts are part of the process. Each recording gives him another chance to improve.

Record With What You Have

Dave records this episode outside on his Android phone. He has no external microphone, no sound-treated room, and no control over birds, dogs, or passing vehicles. He could skip the episode. Instead, he keeps a commitment to publish every day in 2026.

His message is practical. If you can afford strong audio equipment and a quiet space, invest in them. If you cannot, start anyway. A phone recording can become the beginning of a real podcast.

A Simple Free Workflow

After recording, Dave brings the audio into Audacity for basic cleanup. He then uses Adobe Podcast to create a transcript. That transcript becomes the basis for the episode show notes through Perplexity.

The entire workflow relies on tools that cost little or nothing. His phone is already in his hand. Audacity is free. The process proves that podcast production can begin without an expensive studio setup.

Your Voice Still Matters

Dave encourages new podcasters to stop waiting for perfect conditions. People want to hear real stories, real laughter, and a real human voice. In a world filled with artificial content, authenticity gives listeners a reason to connect.

Do your best with the equipment, space, and time you have today. Show up, record, publish, and improve through repetition. Your voice matters more than a perfect setup.

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Episode 835 - World Mental Health Day October 10 - Who Cares For The Podcaster and Our Mental Health

World Mental Health Day, October 10

Podcast mental health deserves the same attention as downloads, growth, and monetization. On World Mental Health Day, Dave reflects on the pressure podcasters carry while creating for others and asks a direct question: who cares for the podcaster?

The Hidden Weight Behind the Mic

Podcasters give constantly. They prepare interviews, edit episodes, promote shows, answer messages, and show up for audiences, often outside work hours and family time. Listeners may benefit deeply from that work, but the creator behind the microphone can feel isolated, depleted, or unable to ask for help.

Dave draws on conversations with Danny Brown, a longtime podcaster who speaks openly about his own mental health journey. Danny points out that podcasting can be rewarding and creative, yet lonely. Creators may worry about their show, compare themselves to others, or struggle privately while appearing confident online.

A Missing Conversation

Podcast conferences often feature sessions on AI, YouTube, audience growth, and making money. Dave argues that podcaster wellbeing belongs on those stages too. Mental health may not fill seats like a growth hack, but it addresses a real need in a community built on connection.

Danny’s message is clear. Open conversations reduce stigma and make it easier for someone to say the first word: “I need help.” A podcasting community can become a safer place when creators acknowledge the invisible labor and emotional pressure behind publishing.

Send a Real Check-In

Dave challenges listeners to contact one fellow podcaster today. Send a personal, no-strings-attached message. Ask how they are really doing, both with their show and with life outside it. Do not pitch a collaboration, request feedback, or ask for promotion.

Acknowledge the workload. Let them know it is okay to pause, postpone, or simply talk. Then listen. You do not need to fix anything. Presence and genuine care matter more than quick advice.

Your Worth Is Not Your Numbers

Download counts do not measure your value as a person. If creating feels heavy, step away from the microphone. Take a break. Reach out to someone you trust. Build space for your own care instead of burying your struggles in busyness.

Dave also invites podcasters who need someone to talk with to reach him through HowToPodcast.ca. He is not a mental health professional, but he offers a human conversation and encouragement.

Care for the person behind the podcast. Check on a fellow creator, speak honestly about your own struggles, and remember that podcaster wellbeing matters more than any metric.

Danny's article mentioned in the episode

https://beabetterpodcaster.com/lets-talk-about-mental-health-in-podcasting/

https://www.dannybrown.me/

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Episode 834 - A Digital Magazine Can Help Your Podcast Stand Out - Canadian Podcaster Online Magazine

A Digital Magazine Can Help Your Podcast Stand Out

Dave explains how Canadian Podcaster, his free online magazine, gives Canadian podcast creators a visual, interactive way to promote their shows, events, and resources. He also shares how the same magazine concept can help any podcaster organize episodes, spotlight guests, and give listeners a stronger reason to return.

Why Dave Created Canadian Podcaster

Dave saw a need for a Canadian-focused publication that celebrates Canadian podcasters and creators. While he respects existing resources such as Katie’s Pod the North newsletter, he wanted a different format that would not compete with it.

Canadian Podcaster is a monthly digital magazine published at CanadianPodcaster.com. Each issue includes podcasting articles, tools, resources, Canadian events, and featured podcasters. Older editions remain available as PDFs, while newer issues are fully interactive.

What Makes the Magazine Interactive

The magazine is designed in Canva, then connected to Heyzine, a third-party tool that turns the design into a page-turning digital publication. Readers can click through pages, just as they would flip through a printed magazine.

Every element is clickable. Readers can open a featured podcast, visit an event page, explore a book recommendation, or connect with a creator directly. Dave says this makes the magazine more useful than a static PDF because it sends people straight to the content they want.

How Dave Promotes Each Issue

The magazine is released on the first day of every month. Dave sends an email to his subscriber list and publishes a podcast episode that highlights several items from that issue.

On the fifteenth of the month, he releases a second episode. That episode goes deeper into the magazine content, shares updates, and features short audio clips from each podcaster included in the issue. This gives guests an additional way to reach new listeners.

Dave believes promoting newer shows is a major gap in podcasting. His goal is to help listeners discover Canadian voices and give creators something shareable that features their work.

Applying the Idea to Author Podcasts

Dave also hosts Living The Next Chapter, an author podcast now in its fifth year. The show focuses far more on readers than on writing advice.

Because the show has featured authors from many categories, including children’s books, cookbooks, business books, health, travel, music, law, military service, and Hollywood, Dave created YouTube playlists that group episodes by topic.

That playlist structure is now shaping a future magazine for Living The Next Chapter. Each author category could receive its own magazine, with a full page for the guest and a full page for their book. Returning guests can simply receive a new page in a future edition.

A Practical Idea for Podcasters

Dave encourages podcasters to consider whether a digital magazine could become a reason for people to stay connected to their show. It can work especially well for themed episodes, mini-series, guest interviews, or shows that cover several related topics.

The format does not require printing, shipping, or a large budget. A Canva account and Heyzine can create a shareable, clickable magazine that promotes episodes, guests, links, and resources.Visit https://canadianpodcaster.com/ to explore the magazine and discover Canadian podcasts. Dave also welcomes feedback, guest suggestions, and conversations with podcasters who want help building their own magazine. You can find him at https://howtopodcast.ca/ and https://livingthenextchapter.com/

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Episode 833 - It's Not About The Money, Money - What Podcasting Has Afforded Me Over The Years

The Real Rewards of Podcasting

Podcasting can create income, but money does not define every successful show. For Dave, the greatest reward comes from meaningful conversations, personal connection, and the opportunity to spend time with people he might never meet through ordinary circumstances.

Over the years, podcasting has introduced him to Hollywood performers, musicians, first responders, military personnel, judges, lawyers, police officers, and experts from many fields. His curiosity helps him ask thoughtful questions, even when he lacks experience in the subject. One conversation with a psychiatrist showed him how powerful that approach can become. After recording, the guest told him their discussion felt like the kind of conversation she would have with professional peers.

That feedback stayed with Dave. It confirmed that curiosity can create valuable conversations and open doors to learning.

Podcasting and Income

Dave supports podcasters who earn money through sponsorships, advertising, services, and products. Marketing investment shows that podcasting gives businesses a meaningful way to reach audiences. He encourages creators to serve listeners well and promote products they genuinely trust.

Personal integrity shapes his own decisions. He has declined opportunities involving tools and services he would not use or recommend. Earning money matters, yet he refuses to sacrifice trust for a payment.

Protecting Audience Connection

Podcast hosts influence their listeners. When people apply ideas from a show, change their approach, and improve their own podcasts, the host has influenced real decisions and behavior.

That influence carries responsibility. Dave wants The How To Podcast Series to encourage creators rather than discourage them. He believes podcasters should protect the relationship they build with their audience and use their influence to help people move forward.

Focus on the Audience

Dave continues to publish because listeners press play. He has released 365 consecutive episodes as a way to maintain that connection and keep showing up for his community.

He remains open to future success, sponsorships, and greater income. For now, he focuses on serving his audience, building community, and working with the resources available today. He encourages podcasters to enjoy the process instead of rushing toward status, awards, or a financial target.

Podcasting offers value long before it produces income. Meaningful relationships, helpful conversations, personal growth, and positive influence can become the real measure of success. Build for the audience, protect their trust, and allow financial opportunities to grow from the value you create.

Today's Coffee Sponsor - Christopher Sciullo

shortpowerfulsermons.com

mmoamerica.com

martechamerica.com

mypodcastplatform.com

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Episode 832 - Why I Am Not Pod Famous, The Audience of One and Go Pan Some Gold Already

Why You Do Not Need to Be Pod Famous

Podcast success does not always come from fame, awards, massive download numbers, or a large social media following. Dave explains why he continues creating the How to Podcast Series and supporting podcasters through a simple purpose: serving one listener at a time.

His work focuses on practical podcast support, community, encouragement, and helping creators move from an idea to a published show. He does not present himself as a guru with unrealistic promises or expensive credentials. He shows up as a coach, helper, and fellow podcaster who understands the work involved.

Focus on the Person Pressing Play

A podcast grows through consistency and genuine connection. Listeners care about the value they receive from the content and the trust they build with the person behind the microphone. They do not need perfect equipment or complicated production systems. They need a host who keeps showing up.

Dave compares abandoned podcasts to empty downtown storefronts. Many shows began with strong ideas, engaged audiences, and real potential. Their creators lost momentum when they shifted their attention away from the people who listened.

Podcasting requires creators to protect their original purpose. Industry trends, new tools, sales funnels, and endless offers can distract from the work that matters most: creating something meaningful for the audience.

Go Pan Some Gold

The podcast industry sells countless tools and strategies, much like the merchants who supplied gold miners with picks, pans, and shovels. Those tools can help, yet they cannot replace the work of finding valuable ideas, recording useful content, and continuing to publish.

The real opportunity sits inside the podcast itself. A show can create community, provide companionship, inspire change, open doors, support important stories, and connect its host with opportunities that may arrive directly or indirectly.

You do not need to become pod famous to make a difference. Focus on the person who presses play, keep showing up, and create content that genuinely helps them. Your podcast already matters when it serves one listener well.

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Episode 831 - Perfection Vs. Progress in Podcasting - What Are We Building and Are We Focused on The Right Things

Build the Podcast Before You Perfect It

Perfectionism can keep a podcast stuck on the drawing board. Progress moves it forward. The How To Podcast Series explores podcasting, taking action, and the value of community support for creators who want to build their shows.

Progress Creates Better Work

A TikTok clip featuring two people building ladders provides the central image. One person spends time measuring materials and trying to create the perfect ladder. The other uses imperfect materials, attaches the rungs, climbs upward, and keeps moving.

The image reflects a common podcasting problem. Many creators spend months planning equipment, branding, formats, and production details. They want every episode to sound perfect before they publish. That pressure can create frustration, delay, and eventual abandonment.

A ceramics class offers another useful lesson. One group tries to create a single perfect bowl. Another group makes as many bowls as possible. The second group learns through repetition. Each attempt reveals what works, what fails, and what needs adjustment. Their practice produces stronger results.

Writing follows the same pattern. Ray Bradbury encouraged writers to create regularly because repeated work increases the chance of producing something meaningful. Podcasters also improve through consistent publishing. Each episode builds skill, confidence, and clarity.

Start With Direction and Support

Taking action matters, yet direction matters too. A person travelling from Toronto toward Vancouver will not reach New York simply by continuing forward. New podcasters need guidance, education, and feedback so they can move toward the right goal.

Podcast communities can provide a safe place to ask questions, test ideas, and learn from people who care about the creator’s development. Before paying for coaching elsewhere, listeners should consider the people who already invested time through free content, communities, and resources.

Support can shorten the learning curve. It can also help podcasters keep moving when uncertainty appears.Publish, learn, adjust, and continue. Your next episode may sound imperfect, yet it gives you experience that planning alone cannot create. Focus on progress, choose a clear direction, and stay connected to a community that helps you grow.

TikTok Video Mentioned:https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSb49j41b/

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Episode 830 - What John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls Can Teach Podcasters About AI and Authenticity

What John Rzeznik Can Teach Podcasters About AI and Authenticity

John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls offers a powerful perspective on AI, creativity, and the value of human experience. His comments about AI-generated music apply directly to podcasting, where creators increasingly use tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude to write scripts, generate ideas, and produce content.

AI and Derivative Content

AI rearranges patterns, phrases, structures, and ideas that already exist. It can produce polished work quickly, yet the result may sound familiar because the system draws from shared information and predictable patterns.

A podcast gains its identity from the creator’s life. Personal experiences, difficult lessons, confidence, anxiety, humor, mistakes, grief, and changing perspectives shape the way a host communicates. AI cannot live those experiences. It cannot sit behind the microphone and genuinely understand what the host wants to say.

That human connection gives a podcast meaning.

Use AI Without Losing Yourself

AI can help podcasters organize ideas, create episode titles, build outlines, improve show notes, clean up audio, and adapt content for platforms such as LinkedIn or Substack. Dave explains how he uses AI to format his own words and repurpose existing episodes while keeping his perspective at the center of the process.

The danger appears when creators allow AI to handle all the thinking, writing, and speaking. A show may sound smooth and professional, yet lose the personality that made people care about it. When every episode follows the same structure and uses the same safe language, the content begins to blend together.

Your audience wants your way of explaining an idea. They want the story behind your advice. They want to hear the pause, the laugh, the correction, and the vulnerable moment that no machine can recreate.

The Human Voice Matters

Authenticity does not require careless work or constant mistakes. It requires honesty. A polished podcast can still sound deeply human when the host brings real experience and genuine emotion to the conversation.

Dave shares the recent loss of Burton, his longtime dog and companion. His grief becomes a real example of the kind of connection AI cannot create. A machine may describe loss, but it has never loved, remembered, struggled, or felt an empty bed in a quiet house.

That experience belongs to Dave. It also shows why personal stories can reach listeners in ways generic content cannot.

Use AI to support your podcast, improve your workflow, and save time. Keep your identity, lived experience, and voice at the heart of the show. Your podcast does not need perfect words to matter. It needs to sound like one real person speaking honestly to another.

Why “Iris” is THE Hit Song of 2026…Again!

https://youtu.be/Eu6blze2Ri4?si=HnFCa64JySeBf9Hr

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Episode 829 - What is One Thing You Wished Podcasting Was and One Thing You Wished it Was Not

Podcasting With Freedom

Podcasting gives creators the freedom to record and publish without waiting for permission. Dave reflects on creating an episode outdoors with nothing more than an Android phone, a recorder app, and free editing software. He encourages podcasters to use what they have, record where they are, and improve through practice instead of feeling pressured to buy expensive equipment.

He also thanks Mark Romanek from Empowered Podcasting and the Podcasting Morning Show for supporting the show after a flood and sponsoring coffees. Dave highlights Mark’s contribution to the podcasting community and encourages listeners to explore the Empowered Podcasting conference.

Finding New Shows

Dave asks podcasters to consider one question: What do you wish podcasting was, even though it is not?

His answer focuses on podcast discoverability. With more than 800 episodes of The How To Podcast Series, he still finds it difficult for new listeners to discover the show through podcast apps and recommendation systems. Podcast discovery often depends on personal recommendations, conversations between creators, or listeners sharing shows they enjoy.

Dave believes podcast platforms need better search and recommendation tools. Until that happens, podcasters can help one another by talking about shows they value and introducing new listeners to voices they might otherwise miss.

Building An Inclusive Community

Dave also explores what he wishes podcasting was not. He wishes the industry had fewer cliques, less judgment, and less behavior that makes new or independent podcasters feel unwelcome.

Every creator follows a different path. Some podcasts support a business, while others serve a personal purpose. Some creators want a large audience, while others value meaningful connections with a smaller group of listeners. No single approach defines the right way to podcast.

Dave encourages experienced podcasters to notice people who feel isolated and invite them into the conversation. He wants The How To Podcast Series and its free meetups to give creators a place where they can ask questions, share their experiences, and feel supported.

Start with the tools you have and follow the path that fits your goals. Your podcast does not need expensive equipment, a large audience, or approval from industry insiders to matter. Your voice can reach someone, create connection, and help another person feel less alone.

Thanks for the coffee Marc!

https://empoweredpodcasting.com/

https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/

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Episode 828 - Why You Need A Podcasting Accountability Buddy - Don't Podcast Alone

Why Every Podcaster Needs an Accountability Buddy

Podcasting alone can slowly drain your motivation. Dave explores why an accountability buddy, a podcasting meetup, and regular peer feedback help solo creators stay consistent, confident, and connected.

The Problem With Podcasting Alone

A solo podcaster works with a microphone, a screen, and their own internal motivation. There are no cohosts to bounce ideas off, no guests to create momentum, and often no visible audience. Analytics show numbers, but they do not offer conversation, encouragement, or accountability.

That isolation can cause creators to drift. A show may begin with energy and excitement, then fade after the first five or ten episodes as routine replaces novelty. Dave explains that many podcasters quit because they are creating for unseen listeners without anyone beside them who understands the work.

Find Someone at Your Stage

The best accountability buddy is another podcaster who is at a similar point in the journey. A new podcaster benefits from talking with someone facing the same questions, challenges, and learning curve. Someone with a very different level of experience may be harder to relate to, while a friend or family member who does not podcast may not understand the pressure of publishing regularly.

A good buddy understands the schedule, the creative blocks, and the temptation to postpone an episode. They can offer supportive pressure that keeps the podcast moving forward without judgment.

Three Questions to Ask Each Other

Dave suggests a simple weekly check-in between accountability partners. Ask each other:

• How was last week?

• What is happening this week?

• What is blocking you right now?

These questions turn vague creative struggles into specific conversations. They help podcasters identify obstacles, share ideas, and decide on one practical next step.

Better Ideas and Clear Feedback

An accountability buddy also acts like a spotter when backing a trailer into a tight campsite. They see what you cannot see, offer direction, and help you avoid unnecessary collisions. That outside perspective can sharpen episode ideas, reveal unclear thinking, and provide honest feedback.

Creative people often resist deadlines, but a podcast requires a publishing rhythm. A weekly five, ten, or fifteen minute check-in creates healthy urgency. It gives you a reason to move from planning to recording, editing, and publishing.

Confidence and Community

Accountability builds confidence because it reminds podcasters they are not alone. When motivation drops, a supportive peer can help you keep moving instead of coasting backward. The most useful relationships are supportive, honest, and specific. Avoid partners who are judgmental, vague, or simply tell you what you want to hear.

Dave created his podcast meetup so creators could connect regularly rather than waiting for an annual conference. The group meets on Tuesdays and Saturdays, bringing together podcasters from different time zones and experience levels.

Find a fellow podcaster at a similar stage and check in regularly. A supportive, honest, and specific accountability buddy can protect your consistency, improve your ideas, and help you keep enjoying the podcast you started.

The Buy Me A Coffee Supporter for this episode! Sir Danny Brown

https://www.dannybrown.me/

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Episode 827 - Celebrate With Purpose - Why Podcast Anniversaries Deserve Your Attention

Podcast anniversaries offer a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your purpose. Whether your show reaches episode ten, one hundred, or eight hundred and twenty seven, celebrating a podcast milestone can strengthen your relationship with listeners and remind you of the work behind every published episode.Why Podcast Anniversaries Matter

Podcasting often creates a constant cycle of recording, editing, publishing, and planning the next episode. That pace can make important achievements pass unnoticed. A podcast anniversary gives you time to recognize your progress, acknowledge the effort behind the show, and reconnect with the reason you started.

Celebrating also helps protect against burnout. Reflection can renew your motivation and show you how far your podcast has come. Your back catalog represents a lasting library that listeners can discover long after publication.

An anniversary also communicates reliability. Many people start podcasts and stop after a short run. Continuing over time shows listeners that they can depend on your show for future content and ongoing value.

Make the Celebration Matter

An anniversary episode should serve your audience. Share the story behind your podcast, explain how the show has changed, and revisit the purpose that shaped your early work. Honest reflections can help listeners feel closer to you and more connected to the community around the podcast.

You can also create a curated selection of memorable episodes, meaningful conversations, or listener favourites. Long-term listeners may appreciate a reminder, while new listeners gain a useful introduction to your best work.

Consider offering something special. A bonus episode, live gathering, free resource, challenge, or exclusive content can give your audience a reason to participate. The celebration becomes more meaningful when listeners receive something they can use.

Remember Where You Started

Dave revisits episode one of The How To Podcast Series, where he encouraged new podcasters to identify their reason for starting a show. Your purpose guides decisions about your audience, subject, format, and future direction.

Listening to an early episode can reveal your growth. You may hear changes in your confidence, communication, production, and understanding of your audience. That comparison can provide powerful encouragement.

Set podcast anniversary dates and milestone reminders in your calendar. Celebrate every achievement that matters to you, then give your audience a meaningful way to join the moment. Your progress deserves recognition, and your listeners deserve a celebration that offers value.

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