Send us feedback/questions via Text The fastest way to burn out in podcasting is believing you can build a professional show on “free” forever. We get honest about the real cost of remote interviews, why Zoom at $20 a month is not the villain, and how the market always moves from free to paid once tools have to support real users at scale. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Me...
Apr 25, 2026•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 574
Send us feedback/questions via Text Today we talk about artwork for Dave's new show, and look at why people aren't using clubhouse like they use to? Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Podpage http://www.trypodpage.com Home Gadget Geeks http://www.theaverageguy.tv Podcast Hot Seat s Clubhouse...
Apr 19, 2026•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 573
Send us feedback/questions via Text We dig into Apple’s upcoming video podcast changes and why pulling audio straight from a video file can wreck a careful audio-first edit. Then we shift to what actually helps creators right now: show notes that serve listeners and search, plus AI workflows that save time without handing your laptop the keys. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited...
Apr 11, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 572
Send us feedback/questions via Text Let an AI agent loose on your computer and you may learn a lesson the hard way: “automation” isn’t the same thing as “safe.” We dig into OpenClaw and the sudden shift from AI that only chats to AI that can act, locally, with access to your files, your scripts, and whatever permissions you hand over. If that sounds like Zapier with a rocket booster, you’re not wrong and that’s exactly why we talk guardrails, sandboxing, approvals, and why you should never treat...
Apr 04, 2026•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 569
Send us feedback/questions via Text In this episode of Ask the Podcast Coach , Dave and Jim dive deep into one of the least sexy—but most critical—parts of podcasting: how you store, sync, and back up your files without losing your mind (or your episodes). They talk through practical strategies for using local drives and cloud services like Dropbox , iCloud, iDrive , Backblaze , and more; the crucial difference between sync and backup; and how to design a file workflow that actually fits how you...
Mar 28, 2026•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 571
Send us feedback/questions via Text In this episode of "Ask the Podcast Coach," Dave Jackson and Jim Collison kick off a jam-packed Saturday morning with some major news—the School of Podcasting has been acquired by Podpage! They dive into what this means for members, reminisce about the journey with Brendan Mulligan, and share insights on podcast branding, community engagement, handling feedback, and the ups and downs of podcast monetization. It's a lively mix of industry updates, podcasting ti...
Mar 21, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 570
Send us feedback/questions via Text In today’s jam-packed episode, we break down what really goes into producing a podcast—spoiler alert, it’s way more than just hitting record for an hour! I share and reflect on a listener’s detailed time-tracking for their weekly show, and Jim Collison and I offer strategies for streamlining both editing and promotion (without sacrificing quality or your sanity). Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - C...
Mar 14, 2026•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 568
Send us feedback/questions via Text This episode spent a good chunk of time exploring the importance of having a supportive, comfortable chair for podcasters, with both Dave Jackson and Jim Collison sharing their experiences with back pain, various chair types, and why investing in quality seating pays off for anyone spending hours behind the mic. We also devoted significant attention to troubleshooting podcast recording setups—comparing platforms like Zoom, StreamYard, Boomcaster, and Riverside...
Mar 07, 2026•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 567
Send us feedback/questions via Text Hey there, Dave Jackson here! In this episode, Jim Collison and I dove deep into some hot topics in podcasting and audio media. We kicked things off with a look at the latest Edison Research findings showing that, for the first time, more time is spent listening to podcasts than to AM/FM radio for spoken word audio. We reminisced about the evolution of radio, the challenges of finding a working radio today, the shift of talk and sports content to podcasts, and...
Feb 28, 2026•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 566
Send us feedback/questions via Text Hey friends, welcome to another episode of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting , joined by my buddy Jim Collison from Home Gadget Geeks . This week’s show was packed with tons of insights from my trip to Nashville for the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) conference, navigating the quirks of networking, and battling a post-conference cold. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodca...
Feb 21, 2026•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 565
Send us feedback/questions via Text Jim is back and he and dave talk about Rob and Elsie going to work for Captivate , Jim's new Samson Q2U microphone, and monetization when you fist start podcasting Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Podpage http://www.trypodpage.com Home Gadget Geeks http:...
Feb 14, 2026•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 564
Send us feedback/questions via Text Send us feedback/questions via Text Dave gets to hang with Glenn "The Geek" Hebert from the Horse Radio Network and talk about using your voice, building communities, Networks, and more Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Podpage http://www.trypodpage.com H...
Feb 07, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 563
Send us feedback/questions via Text Dave is back from Podfest with some insights and stories and Ralph has a question about joining a network. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Podpage http://www.trypodpage.com Home Gadget Geeks http://www.theaverageguy.tv Podcast Hot Seat Featured Supporte...
Jan 24, 2026•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 562
Send us feedback/questions via Text To we talk about the power of RSS (and is it diminishing)? Is Organic search (word of mouth) dead? and the importance of backing things up. Send us feedback/questions via Text Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Podpage http://www.trypodpage.com Home Gadget...
Jan 11, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 561
Send us feedback/questions via Text To we talk about Dave needing another montitor (and no Jim doesn't have a problem using 11 monitors) along with plugins to make things sound better, using switchy for link shortening, and some plugins to clean up audio. Send us feedback/questions via Text Today Jim is back and we are looking at 2026 and what podcasters may be considering to improve their show. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comp...
Jan 03, 2026•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 560
Send us feedback/questions via Text Today Jim is back and we are looking at 2026 and what podcasters may be considering to improve their show. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mentioned In This Episode School of Podcasting https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Podpage http://www.trypodpage.com Home Gadget Geeks http://www.theaverageguy.tv Podcast Hot Seat Whispr Flow Talk ...
Dec 27, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 559
Send us feedback/questions via Text Welcome to another episode of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting , joined by podcasting legend Rob Greenlee from the New Media Show . In today’s episode, we dive into a ton of topics ranging from the definition of a podcast to AI-generated content, and industry trends. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version (unedited) Mention...
Dec 21, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 558
Send us feedback/questions via Text On this episode, I was joined as always by Jim Collison, and we had the pleasure of welcoming Ralph Estep from AskRalph.com—the Content Creators' Accountant—to dive into recent changes in how the IRS handles tips for content creators. Ralph walked us through the new law allowing up to $25,000 in tip income (like Super Chats, Buy Me a Coffee, etc.) to be excluded from income taxes in 2025, provided you track it properly. We talked about the importance of keepin...
Dec 15, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 557
Send us feedback/questions via Text Welcome to this holiday edition of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson, flying solo with special guest Chris Stone from Castahead.net. In this lively episode, we kick things off debating the most overplayed Christmas songs (sorry, Mariah Carey!), slide into podcast mic setups—covering everything from phantom power to Cloudlifters and USB/XLR combos—and share our biggest podcast merch mistakes. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear yo...
Dec 06, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 553
Send us feedback/questions via Text Welcome to this week’s episode of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson, and I’m excited to be joined by my good friend Jim Collison as we kick back after Thanksgiving and dig into everything from surviving power outages as a podcaster to getting serious about connecting with your audience. We’ll swap stories from behind the mic, share practical tips for managing your listeners, debate the best batteries for your gear, and tackle questions about websites, li...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 555
Send us feedback/questions via Text In this episode of Ask the Podcast Coach, Dave Jackson and Jim Collison dive into the evolving world of podcasting where authenticity wrestles against the growing pressures of monetization and consolidation. Are podcasts losing their unique spirit and turning into just another version of radio? Dave and Jim reflect on the rise of dynamic ads, syndication, and free hosting, dissect the pitfalls of “following the money,” and urge podcasters to stay true to their...
Nov 22, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 554
Send us feedback/questions via Text First up, I share some behind-the-scenes updates, including my recent move from a lifetime video hosting deal that went south to Voomly, and how AI tools like ChatGPT are helping me generate show notes and summaries more efficiently. We also discuss the mysterious rise of EM dashes in AI-generated writing—did anyone use them before AI took over our grammar? We talk about what’s happening at Libsyn, including some big changes in leadership and strategy, and my ...
Nov 15, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 553
Send us feedback/questions via Text Ever wonder if daily podcasting helps or hurts? We break down how to use November-style challenges to build reps without burning yourself out, and why the best consistency is consistently delivering value. From there, we get real about “reality” podcasts: celebrity banter can skate by on fame, but most shows need a promise listeners can feel—make them laugh, teach them something, or save them time. If your friends love hanging out, great. If strangers stick ar...
Nov 01, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 552
Send us feedback/questions via Text What happens when your listener’s device can generate a personalized podcast on command—your voice, their preferences, zero friction? We dig into a bold forecast from Joe Pulizzi and use it as a springboard to map what creators must do now to stay essential. The headline: you have time, but not to waste. The next three years will reward human connection, not just output. We break down why live shows build a moat AI can’t cross: people show up to participate, n...
Oct 25, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 551
Send us feedback/questions via Text The feed isn’t “social” anymore—it’s an endless parade of AI-recommended video. So why are we still hoping a 30-second short will magically convert strangers into hour-long listeners? We pull back the curtain on what the platforms actually reward, why shorts are best used for brand awareness, and the specific moves that help listeners cross the bridge to your long-form show. We talk about the algorithm reality—how little time people spend with actual friends o...
Oct 18, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 550
Send us feedback/questions via Text What happens when AI gets good enough to sit in the co-host chair—but not good enough to replace a heartbeat? We dig into the real trade-offs behind AI in podcasting, from research assistants and auto-summaries to voice cloning, live translation, and whether anyone actually wants a synthetic sidekick. The conversation is honest and a little contrarian: yes, the tools are powerful and getting better by the week; no, they can’t carry the weight of human curiosit...
Oct 11, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 549
Send us feedback/questions via Text Ever feel like your show is stuck at 30 downloads and your guests won’t share your episode? We’ve been there, and we’re putting it all on the table—how language choices affect your brand and reach, why “big name” guests almost never translate to listener growth, and how to structure improv so it lands without a live audience. We get honest about impostor syndrome, burnout, and the moment you realize your strategy isn’t working. Then we walk through practical f...
Oct 04, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 548
Send us feedback/questions via Text Dave Jackson flies solo this week (with special guest appearances from Randy Black and Ralph Estep Jr.) to tackle this challenging question and more. Randy shares a heart-wrenching story about losing his podcast co-host and friend, reminding us of the human connections that make this medium so powerful. His emotional recounting serves as a poignant reminder that beyond analytics and strategies, podcasting creates meaningful relationships that transcend the mic...
Sep 20, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 547
Send us feedback/questions via Text How do you find guests when your podcast covers extremely niche topics? It's a challenge many creators face, especially when starting out. Dave Jackson and Jim Cullison tackle this question head-on, providing practical strategies that go beyond the standard advice. Rather than endless online searching, they suggest going directly to where your potential guests gather, leveraging existing connections, and most importantly, asking current guests for recommendati...
Sep 18, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 546
Send us feedback/questions via Text The boundaries between legal protection and audience engagement blur when we confront one of podcasting's persistent questions: do you need release forms from your guests? This episode dives deep into this conundrum, revealing why adding friction to your listener experience might actually sabotage your growth efforts. Sponsors: PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History? Video Version...
Sep 06, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 545
