Audience

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart is talking with Sangeeta Pillai from the award-winning Masala Podcast about what it is like to create a podcast that talks about taboo content. Sangeeta has important messages to share about diversity, feminism, and inclusion. She shares those messages today, as well as her experience winning multiple British Podcast Awards. Sangeeta talks about her journey into podcasting, what it is like to be backed by Spotify, and how podcasting should change. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What is the Masala Podcast and who is Sangeeta Pillai? Creating a podcast to inspire change Exploring a taboo subject in a constructive, positive way Bringing women of color into feminist conversations The organic evolution of the formatting of a podcast The importance of season breaks Promotion, marketing, and keeping creative control The experience of winning a British Podcast Award Supporting creators of color and from different backgrounds Resources/Links: Masala Podcast: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/top-feminist-podcast-masalapodcast-mediakit/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos Clubhouse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8729ZpWpmIw

Everyone deserves a song. Today, Stuart chats with Eef Barzelay, the lead singer of indie rock band Clem Snide, about his podcast, A Life in Song. They talk about the creative process and how it evolves and differs when he creates movie scores, writes songs, or creates podcast episodes. Eef is always busy making something, whether it’s his own brand of “simple” songs or if it’s a song based on his guest’s stories and journeys. Eef has put his own spin on podcasting with A Life in Song. It isn’t just a conversational podcast, but a unique format for telling heartbreaking or life changing stories. In this episode of Audience, Eef uncovers how he created his podcast, what his musical influences are, and the difference between art and content. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: The difference between art and content Evolution of music and podcasting in the 90s The scoring process versus the “regular” music making process Getting topics for songs The concept and format behind “A Life In Song” The process for developing episodes and conducting interviews Handling differences in creative vision Resources/Links: Clem Snide: https://www.clemsni.de/ Eef Barzelay’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alifeinsong Eef and Scott Avett Prefor "The Stuff of Us": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBvCI0BViDs Pitchfork Review of "Forever Just Beyond": https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/clem-snide-forever-just-beyond/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: h

On this episode of Audience, Stuart talks with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas of the What Could Go Right?, a podcast that talks about current events that range from artificial intelligence, to climate change, to democracy. Zach and Emma talk about their influences, their vision, and their background. They share tips on podcasting and how to share your mission with your audience. On their podcast, Zach and Emma tackle the big topics while looking at them through a positive lens and posing questions like, ‘How can we make a change for the better?’ In a world where the most outspoken can also be the most cynical, podcasts like "What Could Go Right?" are a much-needed lighthouse shining a spotlight through the fog of the internet. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: The world isn’t always a dark place Zach and Emma’s journey into podcasting The story behind What Could Go Right? Cynicism versus positivity: changing the approach to encourage reflection The written word versus the audio format versus panel shows Creating podcasts that make your audiences think Resources/Links: Zachary Karabell: https://www.zacharykarabell.com/ Emma Varvaloucus: https://www.emmavarv.com/ The Progress Network: https://theprogressnetwork.org/ Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling Ronnlund, and Ola Rosling: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250107814?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6GQ122JQVGDDP2VPAECS Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, priv

On this episode of Audience, Stuart chats with Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson from the acclaimed podcast, Endless Thread. It is quite a feat to be able to build a show that stays relevant while also standing the test of time. Endless Thread has proven to be one of those great podcasts. On the show, Ben and Amory explore the depths of the internet in order to find niche communities, untold histories, unsolved mysteries, and other jaw-dropping stories. Today, Amory and Ben talk about what makes a good story, how they conduct their research, and how to stay relevant in the quickly evolving world of the internet. They also talk about the importance of getting out from behind the computer screen and conducting their own fieldwork. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: The story behind Endless Thread What makes a story worth covering Putting together research and interviews for complex stories The difference between starting an episode and ending one The trial and error journey of podcasting Funding and capital for podcasting The importance of getting out of the recording booth Resources/Links: Endless Thread: https://www.wbur.org/podcasts/endlessthread/about Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos Clubhouse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8729ZpWpmIw

Stuart and Tamar go inside her critically acclaimed podcast, The Lonely Palette. The Lonely Palatte started its wonderful journey in 2016, a different time for podcasts where things were both uncomplicated but also uncharted. Tamar talks about her experiences in podcasting, the importance of art history, how to bring visual art to an auditory medium, and different types of guests and what they can bring to a show. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Art history’s branding problem and accessibility The similarities between art history and sports Visual versus audio mediums for visual topics like art The difference between an expert guest and other types of guests Bringing interpretations and descriptions out of your guests Using the perspectives of your guests and letting them guide the episode Making quality shows versus making “sellable” shows To Patreon or not to Patreon? Resources/Links: The Lonely Palatte: http://www.thelonelypalette.com/ Tamar Avishai: https://www.tamaravishai.com/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos Clubhouse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8729ZpWpmIw

Audience is an original series by Castos. At it’s core, it’s a podcast about podcasting. The team here at Castos is passionate about bringing valuable information, tips, and podcasting news to listeners so they can elevate their shows to the next level. In the second season of Audience, Stuart talks with podcasters from different backgrounds about their stories and how they achieved success. Join Stuart as he uncovers the process for making better shows and as he unravels the business behind podcasts. Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Resources/Links: Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos Clubhouse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8729ZpWpmIw

Since Audience is between seasons, we’re offering up a great episode from our 3 Clips archives. Today’s episode features an episode originally published in 2021 and highlights the first podcast about design. Ever. In this interview, host Jay Acunzo and Debbie discuss how she got started as a host, what’s kept her going, and why her research documents for each and every guest can be as long as 70 pages. Debbie Millman started her interview show about design as a radio program to fulfill her need to explore her own creativity. That was 16 years ago, and Design Matters has been in production every since: it’s the world’s first podcast about design. Debbie has welcomed over 500 guests to her now wildly popular podcast to explore creative culture and how some of the most influential thinkers, artists, musicians, writers, and designers create their work, career, and life. LEARN MORE ABOUT CASTOS: 3 Clips is a Castos Original Series. Castos provides tools for public and private podcasts and believes podcasters should own their turf to provide the best possible audience experience. Visit http://castos.com. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Resources/Links: Debbie Millman and Design Matters can be found here Follow Debbie Millman on Twitter @debbiemillman Follow 3 Clips host Jay Acunzo on Twitter @jayacunzo From Play It Forward: This week’s recommended podcast is The Lisa Congdon Sessions This episode was produced by Cherie Turner: learn more here Theme music provided by Cardboard Rocketship Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/

Today on Audience, Stuart and Matt talk about 2022 and the future of podcasting. There was a lot of news in big tech last year as well as the recession playing Hokey Pokey with the general public. Stuart and Matt chat about how those things affected podcasting as an industry and what 2023 will hold for Audience and the industry in general. Have a few spare seconds? Do us a solid and fill out this anonymous survey. We really appreciate any input you have. Thanks! If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Spotify and the evolution in Big Tech The recession and podcasting Evergreen content in podcasting Podcasting’s advantage? Accessibility and staying power Marketing vs just putting out quality content Changes in 2023: seasons and live events Centralized vs decentralized podcasting, and what we learned from Spotify and Twitter Autonomy in podcasting “What if Elon Musk bought Spotify?” Open source, Podcasting 2.0, and RSS feeds Mastodon and the big Twitter exit Blue collar digital workers The upward trajectory for 2023 Resources/Links: Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNbxM2BChC_aV-KFQc7kkHSDBe0eOO3fmpkTqrtU9wD-9kug/viewform Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podc

On this episode of the Audience podcast, we’re going back into our archives for another episode of 3 Clips. This one is hosted by Jay Acunzo and is with guest Lizzy Peabody. This episode focuses on narrative podcasting and how to create an immersive experience, especially if you don’t have a ton of resources. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Finding your voice as a podcaster What is Smithsonian’s Sidedoor about? How to create a narrative: “Why should I care about these people?” Balancing the story and the Smithsonian Creating vignettes within the story The importance of anchor points within the episode Trust your instincts Layering voices and creating depth Reinvention and how to keep your show fresh over time Resources/Links: 3 Clips Podcast: https://3clipspodcast.com/ Sidedoor can be found here: https://si.edu/sidedoor Follow Sidedoor host Lizzie Peabody on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/LizziePeabody Follow Sidedoor on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SidedoorPod From Play It Forward: This week’s recommended podcast is https://thesecretadventuresofblackpeople.com/ Follow 3 Clips host Jay Acunzo on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo/

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart chats with award-winning playwright Jonathan Goldberg about how he builds a world for the stage and behind the mic for his podcast, “The Fall of the House of Sunshine.” How do you create and portray a believable world for your podcast? Which details do you focus on and which do you leave out? Jonathan also shares his perspective on working as a writer, his influences, and why (and how) dark comedies work so well today. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What Jonathan’s background in theater taught him about storytelling and worldbuilding Jonathan’s playwright and audiodrama influences Discoverability for writers The difference between entertainment and art Defining Jonathan’s brand How Jonathan builds a world from scratch Building a fiction or nonfiction world for a podcast How dark comedies work: it’s about perspective The fun in playing with genre and tropes Podcasting as a skill The importance of collaboration in podcasting Resources/Links: Jonathan A Goldberg: http://jonathanagoldberg.org/ The Fall of the House of Sunshine: http://www.podmusical.com/#new-page A Simple Herstory: https://www.asimpleherstory.com/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/&nbs

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart chats with Jenny Turner Hall and Florencia Lozano about how they created a high-concept podcast with a complex protagonist. With the rise of fiction podcasts, audio fiction, and docuseries, some podcasts now require better stories and compelling characters. How do podcasters achieve that level of storytelling? What are the ins and outs of audio fiction? Jenny and Florencia also talk about A Simple Herstory, “a theatrical and high-concept podcast series about the women who have run for President of the United States.” If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: The story behind “A Simple Herstory” Looking at history and thinking through history critically Choosing a multi-dimentional main character for a complex story Writing complex characters Crafting characters that are based on actual people Discovery through word-of-mouth Audio fiction audiences The audio fiction community and engagement Welcome to Nightvale and old teleplays How to support audio fiction Resources/Links: Florencia Lozano: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523568/ Jenny Turner Hall: https://www.jennyturnerhall.com/ “A Simple Herstory: Audio as Theater (ft. Jocelyn Kuritsky)”: https://3clipspodcast.com/a-simpler-herstory-audio-as-theater/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast:

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Matt chats with Sam Sethi about what he’s been up to and about the future of podcasting. It’s surprising to hear that Sam’s only been in the podcasting space for around three years. In 2019, he was named Best Newcomer of the Year at the Community Radio Awards and since then, he has built a name for himself in the industry. Today Matt and Sam talk about Elon Musk, the future of opensource tech, and what it’s like getting some hard criticisms from big names. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What’s happening in the podcast space: Podnews Daily and Podnews Weekly The hard edits of Descript: overediting versus no editing Lessons from “Off the Mic,” what to consider when you come up with a new podcast idea Revisiting technology and Big Tech The future of podcasting Opensource and the community around it Growing through your pocketbook Resources/Links: Sam Sethi, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsethi/?originalSubdomain=uk Sam Talks: https://samtalks.technology/ Sam Sethi, Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamTalksTech Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/

As always, we’re working really hard on new episodes of Audience. In the meantime, we're going to take a trip into our archives this week and listen in on a 3 Clips Episode. This one features the podcast Dirt Cheap. Dirt Cheap is all about the world of dirt cheap paperback novels, specifically old pulp novels. Host Evo Terra talks with podcasters Amanda Meadows and Geoffrey Golden about what it is like to collaborate with a loved one on a creative project, the importance of structure (even in a comedy show), and the balance needed with banter. At Castos, we can help you make your show. Aside from our suite of creative tools, we also have a team of professionals who can help bring your show to life. You can contact us at hello@castos.com or by clicking on the link in the Resources/Links section below. 3 Clips is a Castos Original Series. Castos provides tools for public and private podcasts and believes podcasters should own their turf to provide the best possible audience experience. Visit castos.com Inside This Episode: You can listen to all episodes of Dirt Cheap on Neon Hum’s website You can follow Amanda Meadows on twitter @amandonium To learn more about Geoffrey, check out his website This episode was produced and edited by Stuart Barefoot @smallleaguestu Music is by Tyler Litwin About Evo: Evo Terra has the dubious honor of releasing the 40th podcast… ever. Other notable podcasting elements from his past include authoring Podcasting For Dummies and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies, launching and running one of the first large podcast networks, building a successful strategic podcast consultancy, and is a celebrated keynote speaker on stages around the world. He’s also done a bunch of really, really weird stuff that Google still shows. Resources/Links: Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart chats with photographer Allen Clark about photography, his journey as an artist and as a podcaster, and what it’s like to photograph a president. Allen is well-known as an artist who will do anything to capture the perfect image. He has built a name for himself behind his lens, but, as The Photo Untaken Podcast will show you, he is more than a photographer. Today, Stuart and Allen talk about how to get more out of an interview than just the superficial. Allen loves to have bigger conversations with his guests. His interviewing technique and podcasting style helps bring in more listeners than just photographers. Allen talks about how to create a welcoming atmosphere with your podcast as well. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Choosing conversation points that go beyond your profession Avoiding too much jargon so you don’t alienate any listeners How to create fully realized ideas with each episode Collaborations with Marcus dePaula Putting in the extra step and how to make your show better What it was like to photograph a president Resources/Links: Allen Clark: https://www.allenclarkphotography.com/ Photo Career Acadmey: https://www.allenclarkphotography.com/photo-career-academy The Photo Untaken Podcast: https://www.allenclarkphotography.com/podcast Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/

In this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart talks with Morgan Givens about how he uses field recordings and immersive sound design to create unique episodes that come to life for his listeners. Morgan shares the relatable story of Antoine in his fiction podcast, Flyest Fables. Flyest Fables is more than just a story of a young bullied boy. Morgan’s amazing storytelling abilities help Antoine’s story transcend race, gender, and age barriers. Today Morgan shares his storytelling process: how he writes, records, and edits his fiction podcast. Morgan also shares tips on how you can make your podcast come to life for your listeners. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Morgan’s journey into audio and podcasting Why Morgan moved away from being a police officer Morgan's storytelling process How to use sound effectively in your podcast The importance of podcasts like Flyest Fables How great stories can be universal and relatable to everyone Morgan’s audio recording and editing process Resources/Links: Morgan Givens: https://www.morgangivens.com/ Flyest Fables: https://www.morgangivens.com/flyest-fables Dispatches on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dispatches/id1120440782?mt=2 Morgan’s Guest Appearance on 1A: https://the1a.org/segments/2018-01-17-1a-movie-club-sees-saturday-church/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast:

Introduction: On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart talks with Wil Williams of Hug House Productions. Together they chat about their podcasts (Scoring Magic and Valence) as well as the story behind Hug House Productions, a collective that focuses on spotlighting stories by and about marginalized groups. Wil is the CEO of Hug House Productions, the showrunner for Valence, the head of communications and community at Apollo Podcasts, and a writer at Discover Pods. Today they talk about what it takes to create and maintain a successful crowdfunding campaign, the importance of working collaboratively, and representation in podcasting (and the lack thereof). If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: The journey behind Valence The dangers of being an online personality and living online The story behind Hug House Productions Audio dramas and audio documentaries: the hardest forms of podcasting The process of audio dramas How to connect remotely in a smooth and healthy way How working collaboratively helps your story grow Behind the scenes of a successful crowdfunding campaign for a podcast Apollo Podcasts and fiction in the space of podcasting Minority and marginal representation in podcasting Resources/Links: Scoring Magic: https://hughouse.productions/podcasts/scoring-magic/ Valence:

As work on new episodes continues, we're going to take a trip into our archives this week and listen in on a 3 Clips Episode. In the meantime, we need help with a story we're working on. Do you use stock media for your projects? Do you create stock media for ohters to use? As a listener can you tell the difference between projects that use stock media and shows that comission art? We want to hear from you. Reach out directly stuart@castos.com Cyber crime, hacking and the dark side of the internet. In many ways, Darknet Diaries seems like a scary podcast and at times it can be. But it’s not scary in the sense that you need a lot of technical knowledge to enjoy it. That’s because Jack Rhysider is a brilliant storyteller. He takes really complicated subjects like hacking and makes them palpable. So if you don’t know anything about the Darknet, don’t worry. Jack is the perfect guide for a world that might seem foreign for many of us. LEARN MORE ABOUT CASTOS 3 Clips is a Castos Original Series. Castos provides tools for public and private podcasts and believes podcasters should own their turf to provide the best possible audience experience. Visit castos.com Inside This Episode You can listen to all previous episodes of Darknet Diaries on their website darknetdiaries.com The episode featured is 109: Team Poison Follow Jack Rhysider on Twitter @JackRhysider This episode was produced and edited by Stuart Barefoot @smallleaguestu About the Host Evo Terra has the dubious honor of releasing the 40th podcast… ever. Other notable podcasting elements from his past include authoring Podcasting For Dummies and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies, launching and running one of the first large podcast networks, building a successful strategic podcast consultancy, and is a celebrated keynote speaker on stages around the world. He’s also done a bunch of really, really weird stuff that Google still shows.

Introduction: On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart talks with Angela Hollowell from Ang H Studios based out of Durham, North Carolina, about independent media, the perks of staying small, and things to think about as you grow as a podcast. Angela is a visual brand storyteller and she uses her local podcast to connect with listeners from all over the world. On her video podcast, the Honey & Hustle podcast, Angela focuses on storytelling and entrepreneurship where the global issues brought up by local businesses are both intriguing and relatable. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Brand marketing and storytelling Going viral: is it a good thing or a bad thing? How to avoid getting “lost in the sauce”: substance over the superficial Angela’s background in audio Angela’s journey with video podcasting with Honey & Hustle Starting with the root of a good idea and letting the process come with it What it means to have a local podcast Balancing local connections with relatable global issues YouTube as a platform: pushing the envelope and building a community Dynamic ad insertion The importance of jumping in and getting started Resources/Links: Ang H. Studeo: https://anghstudio.com Angela Hollowell, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahollowell/ Angela Hollowell, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AngelaHollowell

Introduction: How do you monetize without alienating your audience? What is the right mindset when going into a podcast? On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart talks with Bruce Wawrzyniak, who started his podcast (Now Hear This Entertainment) as a way to promote his business. This is a path that a lot of business owners take since it is an easy way to get valuable information out to their customers and potential customers. Today Bruce talks about his success and how his podcast has evolved from a marketing tool to something quite extraordinary. He also talks about the importance of putting your audience’s needs first (give them value and give them something to enjoy). If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Bruce’s past in radio and his journey as a podcaster How curiosity plays a good role in interview shows Gaining customers’ loyalty and how to focus on your target audience Building a business and a podcast and how to balance both How podcasting can help your personal and professional life Bruce’s philosophy on monetizing podcasts Promoting products and podcasts on your podcast One of the great strengths of the podcasting medium: the formatting Bruce’s big podcasting tip Resources/Links: Bruce Wawzyniak, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucewawrzyniak/ Now Hear This Management: https://nhte.net/ Now Hear This Entertainment: https://now-hear-this.net/content/podcast Bruce Wawzyniak, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowhearthisentertainment/

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Matt chats with Stephanie Fuccio, a multi-passionate creative who produces podcasts for herself and other creatives. She also writes about podcasts, and podcasting, and runs the Global Podcast Editors community. Today, Stephanie and Matt talk about their editing process, why Stephanie leans into newsletters, how to gain confidence on a big platform like podcasting, and the best way to talk with (and not at) your audience. Listen in to get some insight into Stephanie’s process and what she’s learned through her journey into podcasting. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Stephanie’s journey into podcasting How the community helps Stephanie grow as a creative What it means to ‘learn as you earn’ How to gain confidence as a podcaster Building a website for your podcast Promotion and growing your show Matt and Stephanie’s editing process Guest and host etiquette Podcast monetization Stephanie’s horror stories from editing other podcasts Resources/Links: Stephanie Fuccio: https://www.stephfuccio.com Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cas

Matt and Stuart catch up with some headlines from the audio space If you have quesitons that you want answered on an episode, you can send a quesiton in audio or written form to matt@castos.com We're also working on a story about the use of stock media in podcasting. Do you use stock media for your projects? Do you make stock media for others to use? As a listener can you tell the difference between podcasts that use stock media versus those that have custom art? We want to hear from you. Reach out to Stuart at stuart@castos.com Links Tom Webster talks about the future of podcasting. Ads are not the devil. https://www.sixpixels.com/articles/archives/tom-webster-on-the-future-of-podcasting-this-weeks-six-pixels-of-separation-podcast/ Podcast companies are buying millions of listens through auto-playing episodes populated in free mobile games. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-27/inside-podcasters-explosive-audience-growth Alby helps you earn Bitcoin/Sats as a podcaster. They are integrating the value4value methodolgy/tech into a dashboard for boostagrams. Engagement/metrics https://blog.getalby.com/saturn/ Spotify Now Offers Audiobooks https://newsroom.spotify.com/ What James Earl Jones and AI could mean for the future of audio https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/darth-vaders-voice-emanated-from-war-torn-ukraine Podcasting can have real world impact. Adnan Syed has his murder conviction overturned https://www.npr.org/2022/09/19/1123926818/murder-conviction-is-overturned-for-adnan-syed-of-serial-podcast

**Do you use stock media for your creative projects? Are you a creator who makes stock media for others to use? As a listener can you tell the difference between stock media and something that has been commissioned? We want to hear from you! Reach out directly to Stuart: stuart@castos.com We’re going back to our archives and listening to an episode from March of 2022. It features Eric Nuzum from Magnificent Noise. Technology is only good if it solves a problem. In the case of podcasting, it definitely does solve problems. It’s basically broken down all major barriers to access when it comes to creating and distributing your audio. But creating a good podcast is so much more than simply choosing the right microphones, the best software, and distributing an RSS Feed. To make a good podcast, you need to create an audio experience, ideally, an experience that is unique to your show. Eric Nuzum is an expert in doing that. At NPR he helped bring to life shows like the TED Radio Hour and has worked on bringing shows like ‘Fresh Air’ and ‘Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!’ into podcasting. He was also vital in the creation of the critically acclaimed podcast, Invisibilia. Eric is the founder of Magnificent Noise, a podcast, audio, and creative consulting company. Links Magnificent Noise: maginifcintnoise.com The Ted Radio Hour: npr.org/podcasts/ted-radio-hour Invisibilia: npr.org/podcasts/invisibilia Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel: whereshouldwebegin.eshterperel.com Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ericnuzum Connect Stripe to Your Private Podcast: Castos and Stripe Integration Castos offers integrative tools to create revenue for your private podcast. View our blog and Matt’s YouTube Video

Introduction: On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart is talking with Sangeeta Pillai from the award-winning Masala Podcast about what it is like to create a podcast that talks about taboo content. Sangeeta has important messages to share about diversity, feminism, and inclusion. She shares those messages today, as well as her experience winning multiple British Podcast Awards. Sangeeta talks about her journey into podcasting, what it is like to be backed by Spotify, and how podcasting should change. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What is the Masala Podcast and who is Sangeeta Pillai? Creating a podcast to inspire change Exploring a taboo subject in a constructive, positive way Bringing women of color into feminist conversations The organic evolution of the formatting of a podcast The importance of season breaks Promotion, marketing, and keeping creative control The experience of winning a British Podcast Award Supporting creators of color and from different backgrounds Resources/Links: Masala Podcast: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/top-feminist-podcast-masalapodcast-mediakit/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos

Introduction: On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart talks with Megan Bagala about what it means to write for audio. Megan is a podcast producer, songwriter, musician, writer, actor, and renaissance woman. In addition to doing a bit of everything, she is also an expert in the topic of writing for audio, whether it be a musical, narrative, or chat show. She shares tips and advice from her experiences in order to help new podcasters, as well as veteran podcasters, look at their copy in a different light. Megan is currently working as the Senior Producer on Melon's House Party at Wondery. She is a proud participant of the 2021 Ready to Learn Podcast Accelerator from PBS KIDS, PRX, and the CPB. Her work can be heard on podcasts from Marvel Entertainment, Gimlet Media, America's Test Kitchen, and more. She's currently developing a middle-grade fiction series about music theory, and a YA fiction series about the ramifications of climate change. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Megan’s journey from her MFA in musical theater to podcasting Transferable skills in writing for audio What it means to write for the ear and not the eye You don’t always know the full story until after you’ve recorded it Tips for setting up your work and trusting your listener How Megan switches hats so smoothly Resources/Links: Megan Bagala: https://www.meganbagala.com/ Castos Academy:

On this episode, we dive back into our archives and an old episode of 3 Clips. This episode aired on January 17, 2022, and was hosted by Evo Terra. It was edited and produced by Stuart Barefoot For connoisseurs of podcasts, Avery Trufelman shouldn’t need much of an introduction. She’s worked on popular shows like 99% Invisible and its successful spinoff, Articles of Interest. More recently she teamed up with Vox and Curbed to create Nice Try! In season one of this investigative series, Avery explored failed attempts at creating Utopias. For season two titled Interior, she turned her attention to the home. Each episode dissects the history and the stories of household appliances and the role they play in our attempt to turn our homes into our own little fiefdoms. She joined Evo to discuss the making of Season 2 Episode 1 titled The Doorbell. Sow how does someone make an entire episode about a doorbell? Well, with breadth comes depth. LEARN MORE ABOUT CASTOS 3 Clips is a Castos Original Series. Castos provides tools for public and private podcasts and believes podcasters should own their turf to provide the best possible audience experience. Visit http://castos.com Inside the Episode Listen to full episodes of Nice Try! at podcasts.voxmedia.com Learn more about Avery’s work at her website averytrufelman.com This episode was produced by Stuart Barefoot @smallleaguestu Music was provided by Tyler Litwin About the Host Evo Terra has the dubious honor of releasing the 40th podcast… ever. Other notable podcasting elements from his past include authoring Podcasting For Dummies and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies, launching and running one of the first large podcast networks, building a successful strategic podcast consultancy, and is a celebrated keynote speaker on stages around the world. He’s also done a bunch of really, really weird stuff that Google still shows.

On this episode, we dive back into our archives and an old episode of 3 Clips. This episode aired on January 17, 2022, and was hosted by Evo Terra. It was edited and produced by Stuart Barefoot For connoisseurs of podcasts, Avery Trufelman shouldn’t need much of an introduction. She’s worked on popular shows like 99% Invisible and its successful spinoff, Articles of Interest. More recently she teamed up with Vox and Curbed to create Nice Try! In season one of this investigative series, Avery explored failed attempts at creating Utopias. For season two titled Interior, she turned her attention to the home. Each episode dissects the history and the stories of household appliances and the role they play in our attempt to turn our homes into our own little fiefdoms. She joined Evo to discuss the making of Season 2 Episode 1 titled The Doorbell. Sow how does someone make an entire episode about a doorbell? Well, with breadth comes depth. LEARN MORE ABOUT CASTOS 3 Clips is a Castos Original Series. Castos provides tools for public and private podcasts and believes podcasters should own their turf to provide the best possible audience experience. Visit http://castos.com Inside the Episode Listen to full episodes of Nice Try! at podcasts.voxmedia.com Learn more about Avery’s work at her website averytrufelman.com This episode was produced by Stuart Barefoot @smallleaguestu Music was provided by Tyler Litwin About the Host Evo Terra has the dubious honor of releasing the 40th podcast… ever. Other notable podcasting elements from his past include authoring Podcasting For Dummies and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies, launching and running one of the first large podcast networks, building a successful strategic podcast consultancy, and is a celebrated keynote speaker on stages around the world. He’s also done a bunch of really, really weird stuff that Google still shows.

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Matt and Stuart share their discussions with Juleyka Lantigua, Sam Sethi, and Skye Pillsbury about centralized and decentralized monetization and podcasting. Take a peek into these fun and informative conversations as they delve into the definitions of indie podcasting, what kind of conversation you should have with advertisers, and the best possible route for different podcasters. Should we welcome corporate overlords into our podcasts? Should we stay as indie podcasts? What are your goals as a podcaster? Are you looking for an easy path to monetization or are you looking for something else? If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What it means to have centralized vs a decentralized podcast Downloads and advertising Clear expectations and communication with advertisers Interactivity for listeners: looking for the interesting conversation Which platform is going to give us the best technology for listener reach, advertising, and monetization What does it mean to have a “small” podcast or to be a “small” creator? Who is considered an indie creator? Resources/Links: Juleyka Lantigua Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuleykaLantigua Sam Sethi Twitter: https://twitter.com/samsethi?lang=en Skye Pillsbury Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkyePillsbury?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube:

In this episode of Audience, you’ll hear Part II of our “Centralized vs. Decentralized” series. Matt and Stuart are joined by “The Podfather” himself, Adam Curry. Adam stops by to talk about protecting podcasting, and all those involved with creating podcast content. In addition to his many successes in podcasting, Adam is the Founder of PodcastIndex.Org, whose mission is to preserve, protect, and extend the open, independent podcasting ecosystem. Adam and Matt also discuss the “value 4 value” construct that allows payment to be distributed easily from listener/consumer to independent creators, including compensating smaller participants in the podcasting sphere such as the app designers. Adam also touches on topics like the network of small independent podcasting production companies that currently exist (like Castos.com) which form a perfectly distributed and decentralized network that protects content creators from being de-platformed completely. Thanks to Skye Pillsbury from The Squeeze podcast for the opening of this episode. You’ll hear more from Skye next time, as a guest for Part III, the final installment of our series, and she’ll be joined by guests Sam Sethi from Podland and Juleyka Lantigua from LWC Studios. Resources: Adam Curry Twitter No Agenda Podcast Podcasting 2.0 Podcast w Adam & Dave PodcastIndex.org The Squeeze Podcast Newsletter w Skye Pillsbury Juleyka Lantigua LinkedIn Julkeyka Lantigua on Twitter Podland Podcast Matt Medeiros LinkedIn Stuart Barefoot LinkedIn Audience Podcast

As podcasters (and creators in general) look for ways to generate more interest in their work, the method of distribtuion is sometimes being debated. So Matt and Stuart set out to ask podcasters of all stripes how they feel about centralized and decentralized distribution. In part one Matt talks to Tanner Campbell who advocates for a more centralized system. He tells Matt this could help solve for discoverability and could streamline monetezation tools for podcasters. Thanks to Juleyka Lantigua for our openeing. Stay tuned for more of her in part three of this series. Links Tanner on Twitter Juleyka Lantigua on Twitter tannerhelps.com castos.com

Some of the best, most diverse, and talented audio creators alive make their living creating audio fiction. Shows like Welcome to Nightvale, Limetown, and Alice isn’t Dead, just to name a few, weave complex story arcs, colorful characters, and of course, great production value for listeners. We’re all lucky these shows exist. Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio is firmly in the realm of audio fiction. But unlike most audio fiction, there are no supernatural elements, heroes, villains, or any traditional story arc. In this podcast series, each episode is presented as a full-length minor league baseball broadcast. The teams, the players, the sponsors, all of it is made up. The catch? There is none. It’s just nine innings of fictional baseball. Created by a podcaster known only as Mr. King, Sleep Baseball is a work of fiction that feels very much like it’s a real broadcast. And if that seems boring, it’s the point. This “boring” show is resonating with listeners. Fans of the show support it through Patreon and merch sales. It’s even been written up in The New Yorker. In this episode, Stuart and “Mr. King” chat about the inspiration for making the show, the process of producing fake baseball broadcasts, and how listener support makes a project of this size financially viable. Links Full Episodes and Merch: sleepbaseball.com A piece on Sleep Baseball in the New Yorker: newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/the-rapture-of-listening-to-a-fake-baseball-game Connect your Podcast to Stripe with Castos: castos.com/integrations/stripe/ ***Between the time of this recording and the publishing date, legendary baseball broadcaster Vin Scully passed away. Read more HERE

Stuart and Matt are back to discuss their top podcast industry news stories for the month of July. Acast continues to make the news from spamming podcast host customers like us at Castos, to purchasing Podchaser, the "only social media site for podcasters." Subscription podcasts are making a splash with Marc Maron jumping into the game of selling exclusive access content. Subscription podcasting will be on the rise as more and more creators adopt the method. Castos is proud to host British Podcast Awards, Bronze place winner the Masala Podcast! Send us your audio message! Email us hello@castos.com with the subject "Audience podcast" and we'll take your question or audio clip for the next espiode. Links mentioned https://podnews.net/press-release/acast-podchaser https://plus.acast.com/s/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/about-masala-podcast/ https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/rising-podcast-listenership-draws-advertising-dollars https://twitter.com/marcoarment/status/1546852808049270786?s=20&t=bMUR9ZwMyr2CsfK28-BshQ

Matt interviews Dr. Sherry Walling about her new book, Touching Two Worlds: A Gudie for Finding Hope in the Landscape of Loss. Dr. Sherry Walling is a clinical psychologist, speaker, podcaster, best-selling author, yoga teacher, and mental health advocate. Their discussion crosses into many different areas of creativity, life, entrepreneurship, and podcasting. The last few years have been tough on everyone -- this is an episode you don't want to miss! Links https://www.sherrywalling.com/about https://www.touchingtwoworlds.com/ https://twitter.com/sherrywalling https://castos.com/

Funding a podcast can be tricky. Unless you’re one of the top-rated podcasts, ads typically won’t generate all that much revenue. Paywalls are great under the right circumstances. But if you don’t already have a large following, they can be a barrier to your podcast being discovered. Enter grant funding. Yes, grants exist for podcasters, you just have to know where to find them. So Danielle Desir Corbet, founder of WOC Podcasters and host of The Thought Card Podcast, started ‘Grants for Creators’ a bi-weekly newsletter aimed at helping creators find grant funding for their projects. She chats with Stuart about what grants can do for a project and how to find the right one for your project. Resources Danielle’s Website: danielledesir.com/about/ NYT Story about Podcasting nytimes.com/2022/03/04/arts/indie-podcasts-fiasco-campside.html

For this episode, we’ll go back into our Archives to listen to an episode of 3Clips. It features Sam Greenspan and their podcast of speculative journalism, Bellwether. Not only is Sam one of the best minds in radio and podcasting (and the masterpiece that is Bellwether reflects that) but they also were able to use crowdfunding to bring a project five years in the making to life. This episode first aired in February of 2022 and was hosted by Evo Terra and was produced and edited by Stuart Barefoot. Links 3clipspodcast.com bellwether.show castos.com/intergrations/stripe

Stuart and Matt gather to discuss a few stories from the world of audio. Pod Voices In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe Vs. Wade podcasters are uniting to support women’s right and pro choice policies. If you’re a podcaster who feels called to speak out, Arielle Nissenblatt has a website for how podcasters can spread awareness and link to resources. podvoices.help White Noise in Podcasting Ashley Carmen from Bloomberg reports that some podcasters are making $18,000 per month by producing white noise. bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-01/how-to-make-money-on-spotify-a-white-noise-podcast-could-bring-you-big-bucks From Edison Research Some insight into advertising and podcasting edisonresearch.com/how-many-shows-must-one-buy-to-reach-the-majority-of-podcast-listeners-in-the-u-s/ Headliner Strikes back at Descript: editeddy.com/signup Some Comments from Spotify Johan Seidefors talks about why he sees scripted podcasts as being a big part of podcasting’s future: https://twitter.com/RadiodaysEurope/status/1526508588268658688 More commentary from Spotify’s Investor Day 2022: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-06-08/investor-day-2022/ Indie Rock and Podcasting Singer Songwriter eef Barzelay also know as Clem Snide presents “A Life in Song”: https://linktr.ee/alifeinsong Matt Reviews the Rodecaster Pro II: castos.com/rodecaster-pro-2-review/

Keelin Peterson runs the website Mentally a Magpie where she reviews podcasts. She joins Audience to discuss what she looks for in a podcast and how thoughtful, objective criticism can help podcasting. Links: Connect with Keelin mentallyamagpie.com @IAmKeelinIt Podcasts Mentioned goodniks.org 20k.org iheart.com/podcast/stuff-you-missed-in-history-cl-21124503/ theringer.com/gene-and-roger-podcast Castos castos.com/integrations/stripe

Newt Schottelkotte created their first audio drama in 2017 when they were only 15 years old. That led to the creation of Caldera Studios, a production company where Newt produces their work including their latest series, Where the Stars Fell. In this episode, Newt and Stuart discuss the creative process of making a fiction podcast, the need for budgets in audio drama, and strategies for crowdfunding. Links Castos and Stripe Integration Newt’s website Newt’s piece on Medium Caldera Studio’s Bandcamp Inkwyrm Podcast Where The Stars Fell Podcast Connect with Newt on Twitter Fable and Folly

For brands and companies, incorporating podcasting into their content marketing strategy probably seems like a no-brainer. But doing it well? It’s more art than science, but REI at least has the “art” part of that down pretty well. Among their many podcast offerings is Camp Monsters. So we go to our archives and a previous episode of another Castos Original, 3 Clips. This episode first aired on November 1, 2021 and was hosted by Jay Acunzo and produced and edited by Stuart Barefoot. IT features Weston Davis and his show, produced by REI, Camp Monsters You can find the full episode here at: 3clipspodcast.com/camp-monsters-audio-as-a-visual-medium-ft-weston-davis/ For more Camp Monsters episodes: rei.com/blog/podcasts/camp-monsters For more on Castos: castos.com

Matt and Jonathan get back together to give us an update on their “build in public” subscription podcast experiment. In their first episode, Matt pitched the idea to Jonathan as a way to add another revenue stream to his podcast efforts. It was a new concept to Jonathan, who still had to come up with a plan on what he would actually sell. Today, he’s back to share his ideas on selling an audiobook version of his printed book, and what other value he can deliver to his customers through subscription podcasts. Your Podcast Mentor Show with Jonathan Joneshttps://twitter.com/JonathanJSpeaksPrivate Podcasting Solutions | Castoshttps://youtube.com/castoshttps://twitter.com/castosHQ

In his decades-long relationship with audio, Marcus dePaula has been a musician, a live audio engineer touring with bands and now he’s a podcast producer. Through his company “Me Only Louder” he works with business and creative professionals to make podcasts and website content. He also works with his wife at Mixtus Media to create websites He joins Audience to discuss his time on the road and how he gained the technical skills and the attention to detail that are crucial in making good podcasts. Links: meonlylouder.com stealtheshow.com/podcast allenclarkphotography.com/podcast Castos Private Podcasting

Stuart and Matt are back with some of the most impactful headlines in the podcasting space. Listen for a breakdown of how some of the big players in the space might impact your podcast. If you want us to cover a https://finance.yahoo.com/news/facebook-pulls-plug-podcast-business-184557380.html The company will stop creators adding podcasts to the service this week. They don’t plan to communicate the closure to Facebook users. https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-top-50-most-listened-to-podcasts-in-the-u-s-q1-2022 Top 50 shows in US https://www.edisonresearch.com/comedy-is-top-podcast-genre-in-u-s/ Top genres in US This is more interesting to talk about, especially in the sense of how competitive a genre might be or how much you have to invest in making a better show. https://podnews.net/press-release/podcasting-opportunities-nielsen-s-advertising-marketers Podcasting is attracting more new listeners than ever, according to new research. Over 50% of daily podcast listeners began listening in the last two years, says Nielsen’s Podcasting Today Report; which also says that the number of US listeners has grown by 40% in the past three years. The data suggests that podcast advertising drives an aided brand recall of 71%. “When everything else feels like its going down…it’s nice to see something going up” https://rephonic.com/blog/are-podcasts-getting-worse Podcast satisfaction peaked in 2016 and has since been declining steadily Listeners rate older podcasts significantly lower than newer podcasts But the average rating of new podcasts is slowly decreasing too Larger shows tend to be rated lower than smaller shows

Ijeoma Ekeocha was over her job. A series of microaggressions and just blatant racism convinced Ijeoma, a talented Pharmacist and medical researcher, that she should quit. So she created a podcast hoping she could transition into doing that full time. She launched the podcast “Brownskin Stories” and things seemed to be going well. But then something happened. Podcast coach Nikaila Matthews convinced her to find even more of a niche. That’s when “Black Women Pharmacists” was created. Rather than quitting her Job, Ijeoma rediscovered her love for pharmacy and has created a community of dedicated followers, passive income and helps other black women navigate a complicated industry. Resources: Listen to Black Women Pharmacists Read Ijeoma’s GoodRX Article goodrx.com/hcp/pharmacists/how-racism-manifests-in-pharmacy Connect With Ijeoma on LinkedIn A Better Way to Monetize Your Podcast

On this episode of the Audience podcast, we’re diving into the archives to show you an older but important episode of the 3 Clips Podcast called, “Making a Living in Podcasting.” This episode was hosted by the 3 Clips original host, Jay Acunzo with business partners Kinsey Grant and Josh Kaplan as guests. 3 Clips is a show that focuses on the craft of podcasting. It showcases specific podcasts in each episode and breaks down their processes, three clips at a time. In this episode, Jay talks with Kinsey and Grant about what it takes to turn your podcasting passion into a successful career. Instead of dissecting their podcast and the process they use to create the show, Jay talks with them about their passion and career and how they’ve melded those things together. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. Interested in private podcasting? Check out Castos’ private podcasting service at http://academy.castos.com/private/. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Individual strengths and weaknesses as podcasters The myth of the solo creator The development of the Thinking is Cool podcast How they leveraged their brand for sponsorships Showcasing ad content and sponsors through various mediums (including podcasting) Finding a healthy balance between selling everything to being too discriminatory with ads Disagreements with partners Strengths and weaknesses as partners Vetting creative (behind the scenes) people and building a great team Self-worth as a podcaster and putting your ambitions into

“No one ever says that we should stop publishing books.” is the thought that popped into Stuart’s head while he visited a bookstore in today’s episode. After returning, he and Matt chat about finding a niche for your podcast. With over 4 million podcasts published at podcastindex.org and 2 million+ in Apple’s directory, you might feel discouraged to make it in this medium. Don’t fret! Learn how you can niche down and persist through the launch phase of your podcast through he advice shared today. Learn more about subscription podcasting: https://castos.com/private-podcasting-solutions/ Erik Jones’ newsletter https://www.hurtyourbrain.com/

What does a producer actually do anyway? Well, it varies from one project to the next but the best podcasts often utilize the services of a producer or multiple producers. So for this episode, Stuart chats with Alex Lewis, an audio producer and musician. Alex has been a radio and audio producer for more than a decade and has worked with NPR, the BBC and founded his own company, Rowhome Productions based in Philadelphia. For his work, Alex has received a National Edward R. Murrow Award and was nominated for a Peabody award as well. Links Rowhome Productions: rowhome.fm How’s Work?: gimletmedia.com/shows/hows-work Kanaval: xpnkanaval.org WATCH: Castos Subscription Based Podcasts

Are you curious about subscription podcasting? Do you know what a private podcast is? Are you scared about jumping into private podcasting? On this episode of the Audience podcast, Jonathan Jones and Matt do a little experiment with subscription podcasting. Jonathan is going to build a subscription podcast (at Castos) in public, with Matt. Today they go through the initial brainstorming process as Jonathan submits his membership and audiobook ideas for his private podcast. Jonathan also talks about the process he went through when publishing both of his books, and he shares the story behind his latest book, Get Paid with Podcasting. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: Jonathan’s apprehensions about private podcasting Uses for subscription podcasting: audiobooks and behind the scenes bonus material The story behind “Get Paid with Podcasting” Tips for writing and publishing a book Putting stock in your own success Jonathan’s initial idea for his private podcast Anticipating possible challenges with memberships Resources/Links: Your Podcast Mentor Show: https://www.yourpodcastmentorshow.com/ Breaking a podcast funk w/ Jonathan Jones: https://castos.com/podcast/breaking-a-podcast-funk-w-jonathan-jones/ Get Paid with Podcasting: A Blueprint For Speakers & Coaches On How to Start, Manage and Monetize Their Message Through Products and Services by Jonathan Jones: https://jonathanjonesspeaks.com/products [Type “30OFF” after you click purchase, for 30% off] JonathanSpeaks, Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonathanJSpeaks

Joe Casabona joins the Audience podcast today to talk about his journey as a podcast creator. Joe produces a mix of podcasts in the web, WordPress and podcasting space. Matt and Joe cover some of the ways you can monetize a public podcast. Including digital products, courses, memberships, ads and more. Joe has found balance in offering sponsorship spots on public podcasts, but also uses Castos private podcasts for his membership offerings. Creating a successful podcast requires a multi-channel approach. A solid website, a thoughtful podcast approach, and multiple ways of monetizing is a must. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it on social media! https://casabona.org https://creatorcourses.com/ https://howibuilt.it/ https://twitter.com/casabona https://castos.com/private-podcasting-solutions/ Matt's private podcast webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCCIP32sw1I

On this episode of the Audience podcast, Matt and Stuart talk about what it takes (behind the scenes) to make a great podcast, with examples from the 3 Clips podcast. They talk about best practices and their processes when it comes to booking guests, pre-interviews, monetization, and editing. Not only do they touch on a few newbie mistakes (and how to avoid them), they also talk about how to make your podcast better. Whether you're a newbie or a veteran, everyone will find something to take away from today's conversation. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you'll learn about:  3 Clips podcast: featuring podcasts and their processes  Booking guests: People's time (yours and your guests) The importance of pre-interviews Building rapport Reaction during interview Avoiding one-word answers and rambling Working with producers Editing a podcast episode The perks of having seasons for your podcast Newbie mistakes: avoiding podcast burnout Monetizing your podcast   Resources/Links: 3 Clips Podcast: https://3clipspodcast.com/ SavvyCal: https://savvycal.com/ Calendly: https://calendly.com/  “Creating an audio experience w/ Eric Nuzum”: https://audience.castos.com/episodes/creating-an-audio-experience-w-eric-nuzum  Castos Survey:

Today I'm hoping you can share in the improvement of the Audience podcast by taking part in our survey. Head there now at https://castos.com/survey As you might know, Season 2 of our other podcast 3 Clips has come to close. That means Stuart will be joining us more regularly on Audience. We have some new concepts cooking for you, which I think you'll really enjoy. By visiting castos.com/survey you can help us understand what types of content you'd like us to produce. And hey, if that's not enough, you can always email us hello@castos.com and tell us what you'd like to hear. But wait, there's something in it for you as a podcaster! You've heard me say that feedback is important for your podcast and why not use a survey to do that? Even more so, how about using a free survey from a company that specializes in customer research? The survey I've put together is from a free survey framework provided by Edison Research. You can download their survey for free to use for your own podcast. Use all of the questions they provide or select the few that you think is most impactful for your podcast. I'll put the link in the show notes so you can grab it, too. That's what I did. I took some of their questions and added a few that are specific to Castos. Like, how do you plan on monetizing your podcast, if at all? By the way, if you'd like to learn more about selling your own subscription podcasts here at Castos, let's chat. Email hello@castos.com to book a time with me. Okay I think that's enough call to actions for now. Please take the survey at Castos.com/survey that's castos.com/survey to help improve this show.

Technology is only good if it solves a problem. In the case of podcasting it definitely does solve problems. It’s basically broken down all major barriers to access when it comes to creating and distributing your audio. But creating a good podcast is so much more than simply choosing the right microphones, the best software and distributing an RSS Feed. To make a good podcast, you need to create an audio experience, ideally an experience that is unique to your show. Eric Nuzum is an expert in doing that. At NPR he helped bring to life shows like the TED Radio Hour and has worked on bringing shows like ‘Fresh Air’ and ‘Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!’ into podcasting. He was also vital in the creation of the critically acclaimed podcast, Invisibilia. Eric is the founder of Magnificent Noise, a podcast, audio and creative consulting company. Links Magnificent Noise : maginifcintnoise.com The Ted Radio Hour: npr.org/podcasts/ted-radio-hour Invisibilia: npr.org/podcasts/invisibilia Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel: whereshouldwebegin.eshterperel.com Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ericnuzum Connect Stripe to Your Private Podcast Castos offers integrative tools to create revenue for your private podcast. View our blog and Matt’s YouTube Video

Today I’d like to talk about creating your own subscription podcast without the middle man taking a cut of your revenue. Before we get too far down into the blueprint for monetizing your podcast, there are some hard requirements I’m mentioning in this episode: You must be okay with starting a free Stripe account. You’re using Castos to host your subscription podcast feed or feeds. Bonus: If you want to make other automation magic happen, I also recommend a free Zapier account. Why start a subscription podcast over advertising? What’s your knee-jerk reaction when you hear that the average podcast ad rates are $25 per 1,000 downloads? If you’re like most of us, your podcast is barely hitting 500 downloads per episode — you can’t even buy a cup of coffee let alone that new Porsche. Most advertisers are looking for the largest audience possible, not the most valuable audience possible. That’s a topic for a different podcast. When it comes to earning revenue, if you’re a brand new podcaster or a veteran with a niche audience, going by industry standard advertising isn’t going to make us rich. Then there’s the quality and experience factor. Don’t get me started on automated ad insertion from larger ad networks or other podcast hosting companies. Not only are we giving up control of the ad quality, it’s an abrasive experience for the listener. A 2020 report from Nielsen shows that host-read ads perform better anyway. Host-Read Podcast Ads Pack a Brand Recall Punch – Nielsen If you’re going to do ads, you might as well sell them direct and read them on your own show. Again, different podcast episode for a different day. Subscription podcasts at Castos vs the world I rarely thank Apple for much in podcasting these days, but I am thankful that this 2.6 Trillion-dollar company decided to compete with us. Crazy right? We’re going through another defining moment for content creators. Just like Facebook and others encroached on our blog traffic, big audio businesses are doing the same to our podcasts. Apple offers subscription podcasts through their platform at a 30% cut + a $29 annual fee. The kicker? You have to manage your podcast on their website. The content is only available to listeners using Apple podcast app. As a creator, you’re suffocating your total possible reach. Apple is making my case for me. Subscriptions at Castos We don’t take a 30% cut. Each podcast hosting plan has a set of private subscribers. You can create as many private subscription podcasts as you want. Listeners can access the content on Apple or Google devices, using our free Castos mobile app or their favorite podcast app. Let’s get back to that tug of war for your content: We’re building a subscription podcast system that podcasters will love. While Apple and others want you to exist exclusively in their platform, with their fees, and their algorithm — Castos is building a subscription platform that allows you to be anywhere & everywhere. What type of subscription podcasts work best? Here’s the thing: there are no rules; monetize as you see fit.