An in-depth conversation with Rob Walch, VP of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn, on every podcaster's favorite topic -- stats. This episode covers everything from where and how to get your stats to downloads versus streams or plays as well as subscriber counts. Plus, there is information on what is a good number to have (of downloads). AND data is given on the top eight platforms that podcasts were listened through in December 2018 and January 2019. Plus, hear about how you can (and how you should...
Feb 26, 2019•30 min
Guest Kristina Holifield not only is a Web designer but she has done more than 400 podcast episodes. Here she discusses a handful of reasons why podcasters should have a website and not simply rest on their show being available (just) on various podcast platforms. There is also a tip given for those who do have a website but haven't changed its look in a while - if at all.
Feb 12, 2019•23 min
Prepare to take notes as our show host gives you no fewer than ten different ways that you can use to find guests to interview for your podcast, all of which come at no cost to you to employ. It should be noted that these are all in addition to the five methods presented on the previous episode of "TASCAM Talkback," giving you at least 15 different ways to find more people to have on your show. Listen to the request for feedback at the end regarding whether or not to do a spinoff of this topic....
Jan 29, 2019•23 min
As a little bit of a follow up to the portion of the previous episode of “TASCAM Talkback” that dealt with interview shows, Aidan Vuocolo from the “Stories Behind the Grind” podcast checks in from Australia with steps that you can take to get guests without having to pay to accomplish such. Listen in as he describes the theory behind and application of each. Learn more about him at www.aidanvuocolo.com.
Jan 15, 2019•22 min
Being the only person on-air on your podcast versus having co-hosts, and, whether to do interviews or not. These are all crucial considerations for the format of your podcast, but, what are the pros and cons of each approach? This episode explores the pluses and minuses for why you might – or might not – consider one or the other. There’s even advice for someone considering changing their format. Plus, we make a big announcement about something new that we’ve launched for podcasters!
Jan 01, 2019•25 min
How serious are you about the quality of your sound? How do you want to come across to your listeners? How do you want your voice to sound? An all-in-one solution doesn't work as well as components, so listen to this episode and learn the differences between dynamic and condenser or between cardioid and omni-directional. You'll come away knowing about different types of microphones - how they work, why they work, and what they're for. Are you ready to step up from recording into your phone or th...
Dec 18, 2018•24 min
As a complement to Episode 17, which dealt with vocal health, on this installment of TASCAM Talkback the host is joined by vocal expert Tracy Goodwin from Captivate The Room in addressing questions such as, Do you know how to use your voice? How do you want the listener to feel? For those podcasters who do interviews, what happens when you have a guest whose energy level sounds very unenthusiastic and uninspiring for the listeners? Did you know that we process everything in the voice on a subcon...
Dec 04, 2018•29 min
While we talked about how to promote your podcast (in general) on an earlier episode, this time around the conversation centers specifically on steps that you can take to promote an episode before it ever even gets released. Listen in as the host of The Danielle Daily shares seven angles you can leverage to gain attention and thus help overcome the challenge that podcasters face – especially those whose show isn’t daily – of what to post about on social media.
Nov 20, 2018•24 min
How do podcasters keep finding things to talk about? Always having a topic for each show is critical to keeping a show going. The more often your podcast comes out, the more challenging it is to think of subject matter to present. On this episode, Mark Asquith, who has done over 500 podcast episodes, gives strategies and even covers "have I talked about this before?" and "what if someone else has already done a podcast on that topic?" Listen for tips on how to get ideas for something to cover fr...
Nov 06, 2018•24 min
As a follow-up to a couple prior episodes aimed at those who record their podcast at home, we delve this time into a creative setup solution, thanks to a listener who wrote in with something anyone can take advantage of -- podcaster, YouTuber, or any other creator. If you are unhappy with and battle against your current setup, listen as Craig Richard describes what he came up with to eliminate bumps and other obstacles that were impacting the recording of his podcasts. We also refer you to a web...
Oct 23, 2018•25 min
While streamers (especially YouTubers) will benefit from this episode too, since there is talk of using the following in videos too, setting the emotion, the tone, what you want your listeners to feel – before you even speak your first word – can be accomplished by having the right music playing to intro your podcast. Listen to not only a conversation with Ryan Allen from StockMusic.net, who discusses the logistics and legalities and other considerations around royalty-free tracks, but, samples ...
Oct 09, 2018•28 min
Some podcasters say that audio quality isn’t super important, that it’s good content that keeps listeners coming back. However, if your audio isn’t friendly to the listener’s ear, it could be a deal breaker. How can you make your episodes sound better? On this episode the host and TASCAM Director of Marketing Eric Larsen talk about EQ’ing – what it is, the features and benefits, plus when, where, why, and how to take advantage of it. They also discuss the topic in relation to what was covered on...
Sep 25, 2018•25 min
Is the content in your podcast dated? Is what you present time-sensitive, such that it's no longer relevant if a listener finds it "too late"? Listen to a conversation with someone who does a daily podcast and intentionally aims to deliver content in such a way that it doesn't have a limited shelf life. Hear how you might pivot to reposition your podcast so that a new listener that discovers it will find current and prior episodes helpful and thus be more likely to become a subscriber. This epis...
Sep 11, 2018•28 min
Our host did man-on-the-street interviews in Nashville, asking folks who have been interviewed on a podcast before what their experience was like. Are podcast interview opportunities welcomed in the same way that radio and TV are? Did they feel the host did a good job interviewing them? Were they pleased with the finished product (the podcast episode they were interviewed on)? What could have been done better? Hear the feedback from the five individuals who spoke to TASCAM – as well as our host ...
Aug 28, 2018•24 min
At the core of what podcasting is (or was) supposed to be for many podcasters is using it as a digital marketing tool. On this episode the host admits to first-hand straying and how podcasters can easily get sidetracked into chasing monetization channels that aren't that first one -- using your podcast to promote your business. Joining him on this episode is Mike Stewart, who has been on the leading edge of digital marketing for years and who talks about how he successfully used one of the podca...
Aug 14, 2018•33 min•Ep. 27
As TASCAM Talkback hits the one-year mark, our show host merges his experience putting this show out every other week and releasing his other podcast every week with an on-location discussion with David Hooper from Big Podcast, who has experience releasing a podcast every day of the week, once a week, and doing a radio show too. The two address the challenges and the benefits of these various release schedules as well as how this all intertwines with audience building. And, be sure to stick arou...
Jul 31, 2018•37 min
Our longest episode ever! Users of top streaming platforms discuss Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Periscope, and even one other website that has live broadcast capabilities and a monetization aspect that feels like Patreon. This episode helps podcasters consider additional avenues for getting notice for their show, for their brand, and it lets them know about hardware, software, and relevant considerations. Hear from three individuals who are using these services on a very regular basis.
Jul 17, 2018•48 min
Where do you record your podcast? At home? At a studio? At a library? What is the difference? What are the pros and cons of each? Our show host walks you through the need-to-know for each of those environments, based on his own first-hand personal experience. Regardless of whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or pro podcaster, this episode will help you make an informed decision on where is best for you to record, now as well as 6-12 months from now.
Jul 03, 2018•20 min
As a logical continuation from our previous episode -- and thanks to a listener request -- we delve into your podcast's show notes page; what it is and what it isn't, the reasons why you might or might not include or withhold certain information for it, the bare bones basics you should have, how it differs from your episode description, and relatable examples as well as some tips. This episode will help you give your listeners a reason to come to your podcast website, even if they are regular su...
Jun 19, 2018•20 min
The Do's and Don'ts of a podcast episode title and description, including why and why not, plus results of a poll taken for this episode. Our show host also presents two exercises that a podcaster can do to help with their episode titles and episode descriptions.
Jun 05, 2018•22 min
Having good content is always key, but making your podcast sound even better can go a long way towards building and keeping an audience. This episode features a conversation between the show host and TASCAM’s Eric Larsen about compression – what it is, why you would use it, how it will affect your podcast’s sound, and even where it came from. Audio samples are included to give a demonstration of a clip where no, some, or too much compression is used.
May 22, 2018•35 min
Conversations were recorded in the Podcasting Pavilion at the NAB Show in Las Vegas last month, centered around what questions the broadcasters were asking relative to adopting our medium. Listen as seven individuals talk about the type of response broadcasters had/have to podcasting during their face-to-face conversations at the tradeshow in Las Vegas. This episode also helps current podcasters see the many facets of the business from a different perspective and even learn a new option or two....
May 08, 2018•21 min
Are you a streamer looking to amp up what you’re already doing? Perhaps you’re a podcaster wanting to start a video presence. You might even be a gamer who is immersed in the online world, yet curious about additional possibilities. Bryce Stejskal, Product Manager at Telestream, talked with our show host during the NAB Show in Las Vegas for this episode of TASCAM Talkback, covering options for all of those mentioned and helping navigate the Facebook Live, YouTube (Live), Vimeo, Periscope, Twitch...
Apr 24, 2018•25 min
What are some warning signs that your show might be coming to an end? What can you be on the lookout for so that you don't podfade? Listen in as our show host talks with podcaster Daniel Abendroth, whose show ended up ceasing after 19 months and 20 episodes, and then Niel Guilarte, whose podcast went on hiatus for five months but has recently come back on the air.
Apr 10, 2018•32 min
Our show host walks the listeners through Do's and Don'ts regarding their vocal health, to properly maintain the instrument that is their voice. Next he goes into preparations, and then when it's time to perform (record). The second part of this episode features an interview with a guest from outside the country relative to an important date coming up in conjunction with the institution that he represents and the increased activity in audio podcasting there, versus the charges he has heard that ...
Mar 27, 2018•22 min
The importance of your podcast's cover art is underscored by an entire episode being devoted to the topic, as our host talks with a guest expert, Jason Hewitt, from Illustrata, who also has a podcast (in the branding category, appropriately enough). The two discuss strategies, specs, applications of your cover art, what to include and what NOT to include, and other valuable considerations.
Mar 13, 2018•29 min
A variety streamer to Twitch and a content creator to YouTube, Miss Click delves into those facets of the online world in telling our show host about the community that she has built, the types of videos she has found to draw higher engagement from her YouTube followers, and having been invited by Twitch under one of their programs thanks to the success they'd seen her having. She also talks about the posture to be in that companies look for to represent them as well as the importance of keeping...
Feb 27, 2018•22 min
Our show host has presented at two podcasting conferences on the topic of "ways to promote your podcast" and our listeners are the beneficiaries as he does an audio version for Episode 14 of "TASCAM Talkback." He explains why "build it and they will come" is the wrong attitude to have toward drawing attention to your podcast and says that social media is not the only means of promotion that a podcaster should be using. Instead, he lists a number of methods that can be employed to gain more notic...
Feb 13, 2018•21 min
Conversations with representatives from two different podcast hosting companies, detailing what it is, why you need it, how you choose such a service (including red flags) and what they can do for you. You’ll hear how to get your show out there but also why you shouldn’t just host your podcast through your website. Plus, there is talk, of course, about podcast stats, but even who not to rely on them from.
Jan 30, 2018•34 min
Listen as our show host describes where he started and the point he has come to in his podcasting endeavors, specifically in the area of the learning curve - and the growing pains - toward doing edits himself rather than outsourcing. Also discussed are considerations for YOUR podcasting journey, plus questions for you to consider on this topic as well as those that you might want to send in to talkback@tascam.com for inclusion on a future, related episode that gets teased on this 12th installmen...
Jan 16, 2018•19 min
