Buzzcast is a roundtable discussion about podcasting from the people at Buzzsprout. We'll cover current events and news, podcast strategy, tools we are using, and dip into the Customer Support mailbag to test our podcasting knowledge. If you want to stay up-to-date on what's working in podcasting, Buzzcast is the show for you.
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Send us Fan Mail We mark 200 episodes by celebrating the work, not the metrics, and sharing what kept us going even when the show felt like a grind. From a documentary-style DDOS episode to deep dives that stand the test of time, we look back at our proudest moments and things we'd do differently. Looking forward to our next episode: If you have any questions about Apple Podcasts, any tips, have you been featured, anything like that? Go ahead and send it in! Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Twe...
Send us Fan Mail We're investigating six more common myths, including whether you need to be on YouTube, if ratings and reviews actually boost your ranking, and whether great content alone is enough to grow your show. Myths we're covering: • YouTube is the largest podcast platform, so you need to have video • Ratings and reviews help your podcast grow • If you build it, they will come • You can use any song as long as it's under 10 seconds • We can fix it in post • You need a big following to ma...
Send us Fan Mail We're discussing why recognition from real people can matter more than downloads and share how to ask for feedback and challenge listeners to reach out to a creator they appreciate! RSVP for the Tampa Buzzsprout Podcaster Meetup Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast , @albanbrooke , @kfinn , and @JordanPods Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!...
Send us Fan Mail The holiday season can be one of the most challenging times to keep up with your podcast. Between travel, family events, and year-end deadlines, it’s easy to fall behind or feel stretched too thin. In this episode, we're sharing practical strategies to help you stay consistent without burning out! Learn how to plan a short break without losing listeners, prepare episodes in advance, and keep your feed active with simple, time-saving ideas. You’ll also hear how podcasters in our ...
Send us Fan Mail We debut our podcast name generator and share a simple method for choosing names that pass the say-spell-search test. We explain why renaming won’t hurt your audience and how to avoid name collisions that kill discovery. If you try the podcast name generator, send us your favorites! Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast , @albanbrooke , @kfinn , and @JordanPods Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!...
Send us Fan Mail We're diving deep into common podcasting misconceptions, examining popular beliefs about podcasting success against real data and industry experience! Myths we're covering: • You need to launch with three episodes to get into Apple's New & Noteworthy • You need expensive equipment to make a good podcast • There are too many podcasts • Big-name guests will quickly grow your show • There is an optimal day, time, and publishing frequency • The "dreaded seventh episode" Have que...
Send us Fan Mail We're giving our thoughts on this week's big story: a company called Inception Point AI has been flooding the podcasting ecosystem with an astonishing 3,000 AI-generated episodes weekly! But should podcasters panic? Probably not. Real podcasters offer something machines cannot: personal stories, authentic connections, and the beautiful imperfections that make content relatable and human. Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast , @albanbrooke , @kfinn , and...
Send us Fan Mail Your most loyal listeners aren’t just tuning in, they’re fueling your podcast’s growth, engagement, and revenue! In this episode, we unpack what makes a superfan and why cultivating just 1–2% of your audience can make a bigger impact than chasing thousands of casual downloads. We cover the listener spectrum from casual listeners to community members to superfans, the psychology behind deep connections, and practical strategies you can use to turn passive listeners into advocates...
Send us Fan Mail The sudden passing of Todd Cochrane , Blubrry CEO and unwavering champion of independent podcasters, has left our community in shock and mourning. Having just spent meaningful time with Todd at Podcast Movement three weeks ago, we're grateful for those final conversations, booth visits, and moments in the Podcast Standards Project room. Don't miss the final memorial episode of the New Media Show this Wednesday at 3pm EST, where Rob Greenlee will be joined by Adam Curry, Mike Del...
Send us Fan Mail Longtime musician, Jeremiah Bowser , recently shared his streaming revenue for the month of August: $8.63 for 3,600 plays. That’s less than what he used to make selling a single CD at a live show. His story sparked a bigger conversation: are podcast creators heading toward the same trap musicians face in the streaming era? In this episode, we compare the realities of music streaming and podcast downloads, break down who actually makes money (from Taylor Swift to indie acts), and...
Send us Fan Mail Editing can be one of the biggest time sinks in podcasting, but it doesn’t have to be! We're sharing practical ways to cut down on editing time without sacrificing quality. We dig into recording habits that make editing smoother, why clean audio at the source is the ultimate timesaver, and how planning outlines actually makes you more flexible in the moment. You’ll also hear tips about cutting down on filler words, mic technique, avoiding crosstalk, using markers to flag mistake...
Send us Fan Mail This year's Podcast Movement in Dallas featured a fresh format with silent disco-style headphones and a dramatic shift in podcasting trends. Jordan tracked down some of the top speakers at Podcast Movement to give their podcasting advice and big takeaways from their session. Dave Jackson revealed Marc Maron made $215,000 monthly from subscribers paying for his back catalog James Cridland shared that Goalhanger generates one-third of their revenue from audience memberships Alex S...
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever worried you'll run out of podcast episode ideas for your show? It's a fear almost every podcaster has, but we have tips to keep you going for hundreds of episodes! Jordan and Alban welcome Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting to talk about how to keep your podcast ideas flowing year after year. You’ll learn: How to keep an ongoing bank of content ideas so you’re never stuck on recording day Why passion matters more than download numbers for long-term success The ...
Send us Fan Mail We're excited for the upcoming Podcast Movement in Dallas! This event is like summer camp for podcasters, where everyone gathers to learn, connect, and celebrate podcasting together. • Jordan will be speaking about monetization strategies on Wednesday at 9:30 AM in the expo hall • Tom will present on understanding podcast statistics on Wednesday at 3:15 PM in Podcaster Stage 2 • Alban will also participate in Adobe's Podcast Primer on Monday from 1-3 PM for beginners! • We're ho...
Send us Fan Mail We are breaking down everything you need to know about designing podcast cover art that actually attracts listeners! From choosing the right fonts and images to understanding episode artwork specs, we cover it all. In this episode, we talk a lot about visuals, so we recommend you listen in a podcast app that supports chapter images! Here's a list of our recommendations: TrueFans Podcast Addict Podverse Fountain Castamatic Topics we cover: Why good podcast artwork matters more th...
Send us Fan Mail The cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show highlights a major shift in the media landscape as expensive TV production gives way to more cost-effective, audience-focused podcasting formats. When Stephen Colbert's show got axed, the immediate cultural response wasn't "start a YouTube channel" or "join TikTok". It was "launch a podcast." This reaction speaks volumes about where audience attention and creator opportunity now resides. Mentioned in this episode: Why Colbert Got Cancel...
Send us Fan Mail We celebrate hitting 500,000 downloads for Buzzcast and discuss the most effective podcasting gear setups for different needs, from beginners to professionals. Check out Alban's Podcast Equipment Guide ! Mentioned in this episode: Microphones Samson Q2U (USB/XLR dynamic mic) Shure SM7B (dynamic mic) Shure MV7+ (upgraded USB-C/XLR dynamic mic) Zoom ZDM‑1 (dynamic mic) Earthworks Ethos (condenser mic) SE Dynacaster DCM8 (dynamic mic) Audio Interfaces & Mixers RODECaster Duo RO...
Send us Fan Mail It's a nice summer day, so Jordan and Kevin are recording this quickcast from the great outdoors and putting Power Clean to the test! Today's discussion is about how YouTube is updating its monetization policies to combat AI-generated videos cluttering search results, addressing the growing problem of low-quality content flooding the platform. Also, if you're attending Podcast Movement, find Jordan, Alban, or Kevin and mention you're a Buzzcast listener to receive special limite...
Send us Fan Mail Podcasting is all about serving your audience, and finding the perfect guest who can provide value to your listeners is essential for a successful interview show. We explore what makes a great podcast guest and how to streamline the booking process with our special guest Alex Sanfilippo , host of Podcasting Made Simple and founder of Podmatch ! We also reveal two new features in Magic Mastering ! Filler Killer: Cautiously detects and removes filler words like "ah" and "uhm" to a...
Send us Fan Mail Apple celebrates 20 years of podcasting with a list of 20 influential shows that shaped the medium across four eras, highlighting podcasts that pushed boundaries and set standards for creativity and storytelling. Check out 20 Podcasts We Love by Apple Podcasts, and find out why they made the list! • 2005-2010 pioneering era includes 99% Invisible, This American Life, and Love + Radio • 2011-2015 podcasting boom features Serial, Song Exploder, Mystery Show and Acquired • 2016-202...
Send us Fan Mail The Buzzsprout team shares 10 essential podcasting tips gleaned from their collective 40+ years of experience behind the microphone. Drawing from personal insights, listener contributions, and industry observations, they reveal what truly matters for podcast sustainability and growth. Your Podcasting Tips Focus on listener experience, not download statistics, as quality content precedes numeric growth Create podcasts that a hundred people will love rather than something thousand...
Send us Fan Mail What determines whether celebrity podcasts succeed or fail, and what can indie podcasters learn from their mistakes? We explore the surprising patterns behind celebrity podcast success stories and the ever-growing celebrity podcast graveyard. Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast , @albanbrooke , @kfinn , and @JordanPods Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!...
Send us Fan Mail We're discussing a powerful shift in podcast discovery: trusted recommendations from real people instead of algorithms. With Pocket Casts now surfacing creator-curated suggestions, listeners have a new way to uncover shows they’ll actually love. We share how this works behind the scenes and why podcaster-driven discovery offers something smarter and more authentic than charts and rankings ever could. We also highlight a creative summer listening challenge for kids, reflect on Ap...
Send us Fan Mail After a flawless escape room victory, we're tackling a puzzle we can't solve: why remote podcast recording software still fails so often. From audio glitches to browser limitations, these are our frustrations of creating studio-quality content online. Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast , @albanbrooke , @kfinn , and @JordanPods Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!...
Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout just rolled out a major update to its subscription features! We're talking about the six Buzzsprout Support & Subscriptions options now available. These include premium episodes, ad-free content, back catalog access, early access, subscriber-only podcasts, and listener support. We share tips on engaging supporters without adding more work to your production schedule and cover the new Apple Podcasts integration that allows you to manage both platforms from inside y...
Send us Fan Mail We're digging into a recent trend showing up in podcast feeds: bonus episodes labeled “You Might Also Like” that are actually full episodes from completely different shows. We look at what’s behind this, how companies like PodRoll are using dynamic feed drops to scale podcast promotions, and why this can feel different from a traditional feed drop or ad. Contact Buzzcast Send us Fan Mail Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast , @albanbrooke , @kfinn , and @JordanPods Thanks for listening ...
Send us Fan Mail Whether you’re interviewing seasoned pros or first-time guests, the key to a successful podcast interview is thoughtful preparation. In this episode, we break down practical strategies for helping your guests feel confident, relaxed, and ready to deliver their best. From pre-interview communication and tech checks to question outlines and managing nerves, you’ll learn how great prep leads to great conversations. Guest host Priscilla, Head of Podcaster Success and host of Happy t...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore the best places to find pro-level, royalty-free music for your podcast in 2025—including a surprising archive from Grammy-nominated artist Moby, who just dropped 500+ tracks for creators to use. We’ll also share some of our favorite free and low-cost music libraries! Music Resources: Buzzsprout Blog: Free Music For Podcasts Mobygratis Blue Dot Sessions Breakmaster Cylinder Free Music Archive Incompetech Pixabay Music YouTube Audio Library The music in...
Send us Fan Mail What would you do if someone offered you $100 million for your podcast? In this episode, we dive into Steven Bartlett’s recent disclosure that he turned down not one, but two massive podcasting deals — including a $100M offer. Why? Because they came with strings attached: platform exclusivity, ad overload, and a loss of creative control. We discuss why prioritizing your listeners, values, and long-term vision might be worth more than the biggest paycheck. Plus, we hear the drawb...
This episode of Buzzcast discusses Pocket Casts adopting the podcast funding tag, allowing listeners to support creators directly. The hosts also explore the "Fandom Phenomenon" study by Edison and Wondery, highlighting the deep connections podcast listeners form with their favorite shows and hosts, and how podcasters can foster these relationships to build community and brand loyalty.
