Make Money Podcasting

Before 2020, the objection I heard constantly from would-be podcasters was "I don't have time." Then the pandemic hit and time was suddenly the one thing everybody had, and podcasting exploded. Most of those shows podfaded, but the demand spike changed the industry around them — hosting companies accelerated their roadmaps, and hardware makers started building for people recording at home instead of assuming everyone would buy a Shure SM7B. This is anecdotal, not a study; it's just what I watched happen from inside it. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

The thing I keep landing on when I ask why my show did well is that I was stubborn about audio at a time when most shows weren't. Guests recorded their own side — I wrote instructions for QuickTime and for Windows, sent a Dropbox link so they didn't have to figure out hosting, and always kept a backup on my end. The story that proves how far I'd take it: I once interviewed Troy Dean with my headphone monitors off, and only afterward realized I'd recorded my entire side on the built-in Mac mic. There was no AI cleanup to fall back on, so I transcribed the whole conversation and re-read every one of my questions between his answers. Back then, sounding good was enough to be good. That is not true anymore, which is where the back half of this series is headed. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI. Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

The first real dip in my downloads was my own doing. I went from talking to a very specific developer niche, to business owners in that niche, to business owners generally — and the more I broadened, the more I sounded like everyone else. The clearest signal came from an episode I was sure would be huge: Peter Hollens, two million YouTube subscribers at the time, and it landed flat. His audience already knew his story, and mine weren't creators. I forgot who I was serving and left them behind with very little warning, and I don't think I ever fully recovered from it. If you take one thing from this series, take that. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

For a long time I couldn't work out why How I Built It took off, and a few people insisted I was just riding NPR's coattails. The download graph said otherwise — coattails give you spikes that fall back, and what I had was slow, sustained growth. My best answer is three things: I was genuinely curious and asked good questions, I was stubborn about audio quality at a time when most shows weren't, and I actually acted on criticism. When a listener said she wouldn't listen without transcripts, I added them and paid to have the roughly fifty-episode back catalog done too. Downloads and site traffic both went up. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

My first sponsor landed before episode one even dropped. Someone emailed asking to trade backlinks, I told them I don't do that but I did have a podcast coming — a hundred dollars for a show mention and a spot in the notes. That link from July 2016 still resolves, which makes it possibly the best ROI in podcast sponsorship history. LearnDash came next, then a much bigger deal with Pantheon, and the pitch that worked was simple: brands were paying tens of thousands to sponsor a weekend conference, so six months of a show with links that never expire was an easy comparison. None of it was a proven show. It was a proven network. Resources & Links The first episode, sponsor link still intact — streamlined.fm/001 Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

My early guest list came straight out of my own orbit — Jason Coleman first, then Rebecca Gill, Brian Krogsgard, Corey Miller, Carrie Dils — and my first big guest, Chris Coyier, said yes far earlier than I had any right to expect. Someone eventually pointed out that my roster skewed heavily male, and while I hadn't done it on purpose, I hadn't been mindful about it either; I've kept it close to an even split ever since. The other thing I decided early and still hold to: a guest owes you their time and nothing else. No required social shares, no prep homework, no strong-arming. They're doing you a favor.Resources & LinksJoin my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/joinPodcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.comDisclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

The 2016 stack, as best I remember it: Skype for the call with video on so I could read body language, Ecamm Call Recorder capturing the Skype audio, and QuickTime recording my side locally — with a guest notes page asking every guest to do the same. I edited in Audacity, later GarageBand, and my first mic was the Blue Yeti, which sounds bad mostly because people talk into the top of it instead of the front. I was going to host the files on my own site until my friend Jackie Delia talked me out of it, which is how I ended up on Libsyn. Were they the best tools? No. Were they the ones I had? Absolutely. Resources & Links Ecamm (affiliate link) — joec.pro/ecamm Also mentioned: Skype, QuickTime, Audacity, GarageBand, Blue Yeti, Libsyn Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Eric Nuzum wrote a piece arguing that podcasting's pivot to video is going to end in a charred mess of garbage fire wreckage, and I think he's mostly right — though not for the reason most people assume. This is a reaction to that article and a follow-up to last week's "is video worth it" question: video isn't a magic wand, and adding it to solve your download problem instead of your audience's problem is exactly the rushed, mistargeted move he's warning about. I get into video's three jobs, why 90% of podcast consumption is still audio, and why serving your audience has to come first. Resources & Links "Podcasting's Pivot to Video Will End Up in a Charred Mess of Garbage Fire Wreckage" by Eric Nuzum — audioinsurgent.substack.com Sounds Profitable — where I expect we'll get real data on this after Podcast Movement Nielsen — the 90%-of-consumption-is-still-audio figure Join the newsletter for solo ops and conscientious AI tips: streamlined.fm/join Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

How I Built It was a short interview show — 30 minutes at most — built on the same five questions every time, ending with "do you have any trade secrets for us?" The predictability is what made it work for the first hundred-plus episodes, the way a procedural show gives you a format you can settle into. The question that mattered most was the one about failure, because in 2016 everyone was talking about their wins and almost nobody was talking about what went wrong. I'll admit past me used "I like to be surprised along with my guests" as an excuse to skip research, and I don't agree with him anymore. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

I bought the domain howibuilt.it on my honeymoon in Italy, purely because every site I saw there had a .it address and I wanted one. The idea arrived a few weeks later: I was relaunching my online courses, having great conversations with people about how they'd built their businesses, and realized I should be recording them. How I Built It launched in July 2016 — less sloppy, better researched, and aimed squarely at independent developers who wanted to start a business, which is to say, at me. People say good ideas come back to you. I don't believe that. Write them down and revisit them. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Going on ShopTalk Show with Chris Coyier and Dave Rupert around 2013 changed how I made podcasts. They had a guest notes page explaining how to get the best possible recording, and they had guests record their side locally so the finished episode sounded like everyone was in the same room — years before Riverside, Zencastr, or SquadCast existed. That one appearance is a large part of why my next show sounded good enough to take off. Spend time in the space, take the good lessons, and apply them. Resources & Links ShopTalk Show — shoptalkshow.com Riverside (affiliate link) — joec.pro/riverside Ecamm (affiliate link) — joec.pro/ecamm Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

The TIL Podcast failed because I wasn't serving anybody. The technical barriers are gone — you can record from your phone, and RSS.com has a free hosting tier (disclosure: I'm their evangelist, and the link below is an affiliate link) — which means serving a specific audience is now the whole job. Write a mission statement, pick someone real and specific, and talk to them. You don't need millions of downloads; you need people you serve well enough that they come back and bring others. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

After ending the TIL Podcast, I rebooted it as an interview show — I'd talk to friends about their professional lives, starting with Dr. Dan Ostermeier and my brother, who worked at Disney World. It lasted two episodes, because I had no mission for it beyond wanting to make podcasting work. This was before Serial and Lore pulled podcasting into the mainstream, and I still had no reason for the show to exist. Two failed experiments with the same show taught me more than a cautious success would have. Resources & Links Ecamm (affiliate link) — joec.pro/ecamm Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

We made it about six episodes before the TIL Podcast fell to podfade. There were too many of us, we all had full-time jobs, the moderation was loose, and we never carved out a niche that would have made the show worth continuing. When our schedules shifted, we called it — and I asked everyone whether I could keep the name, which nobody minded. Know when to stop, and don't let sunk cost make the decision for you. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

After three days of talking about the TIL Podcast, I dug through the archive to find the very first thing we covered on that show: Coin, a connected card that was supposed to replace every card in your wallet. Apple Wallet and Google Wallet killed the product, but the domain is still live — now pointed at beginner crypto guides. Whoever is running it started sloppy, did their research, and iterated, which was not the tie-in I planned when I started digging. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

My podcast app of choice, Pocket Casts, supports video — and after some Reddit spelunking, it turns out it has for a long time. That sent me back to a question I keep circling: is video actually worth it for your show? I pull up the YouTube analytics for both of my podcasts, explain why a 74% jump in views hasn't moved the metric I actually care about, and lay out the two-question test I use to decide whether video earns its place in your process.Resources & LinksEnjoy Pocket Casts on the big screenRSS.com — where I host this show, and where the video support comes fromGot thoughts? Write in at streamlinedfeedback.comGet systems tips in your inbox: streamlined.fm/joinHave feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Almost nothing in podcasting is permanent. Your format, your approach, and what you cover can all change, and my early show did get better as my friends and I kept adjusting. More importantly, what I learned making it is what let me launch several successful shows later. (For anyone who hasn't heard the term: TIL stands for "today I learned.") Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

The TIL Podcast was bad, and the reason was simple: we didn't do any research. We'd find a link, hit record, and share our vague opinions on a subject none of us knew well. Research is also what tells you which questions to ask which guests — something I was noticeably bad at as a moderator. Research is easier now than it's ever been, but my rule with AI is don't trust and verify: use it to surface primary sources, then check them yourself. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

September 30th is International Podcast Day, so I'm releasing one voice note a day in the run-up to it — a tip or a reflection from about 15 years in podcasting. I'm starting with the one that made this series possible: start sloppy. My first show, the TIL Podcast, had no format, no moderation, and no editing, and I still learned more from making it than I would have from planning it. You don't need to launch perfectly. You need to launch. Resources & Links Join my newsletter for solo business owners: streamlined.fm/join Podcast hosting by RSS.com (affiliate link): rss.com Disclosure: this episode description was generated with AI.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

The real payoff for having an SOP is that you can start handing pieces of it off. I built a scheduled Claude skill that checks my Notion podcast planner for episodes marked ready to publish, pulls the video and the MacWhisper transcript out of Google Drive, writes the description and show notes, and uploads everything to RSS.com scheduled for the date I picked. It runs Wednesday overnight so I can review the episodes Thursday morning before they drop. Three things make it reliable: knowing my own process cold, giving it strict instructions for writing and link gathering, and an API that actually works.Resources & LinksGet my full podcast production SOP — streamlined.fm/sopRSS.com — the host for this show; video support and the API behind this automation (affiliate link)Claude — where the scheduled skill runsMacWhisper — watches the folder and transcribes each episode automaticallyNotion — my podcast plannerHave feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

A written SOP is the fastest way to cut down your production time without hiring anyone. I walk through how I build mine: record yourself narrating the entire process, then hand the transcript to a large language model and have it write out the steps one by one. Talking through each step also forces you to justify it, which is how I've caught steps I didn't need anymore and cut them. Once the steps exist on paper, delegating or automating them gets a lot easier.Resources & LinksGet my exact podcast production SOP — streamlined.fm/sopTella — screen recording with automatic transcripts and shareable video (affiliate link)Claude — the large language model I use to turn transcripts into SOPsEcamm Live (affiliate link)Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Video is becoming a bigger deal in podcasting, and RSS.com just added its first video plan — but adding video doesn't have to wreck your workflow. I break down the exact process I use to produce my weekly Friday Wrap-Up in an hour or less: capturing ideas into a segmented format, writing the newsletter, recording in Ecamm, and editing in Gling. From there a Claude skill generates the episode assets and publishes straight to RSS.com through its API, so I barely touch the publishing step.Resources & LinksEcamm — recording, with dual horizontal + vertical capture and scene overlaysGling — transcript-based editor for cleanup, audio enhancement, chapters, and transcriptCanva — auto-generated custom episode artworkKit — newsletter providerClaude — generates the episode assets and handles publishingCapture — read-later app for idea captureLogic Pro — audio editing (now replaced by Gling in my workflow)RSS.com — podcast host with a video plan and public APISolopreneur Systems Starter Kit — streamlined.fm/kitSome links above are affiliate links.Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

"I should start a podcast" is the 2026 version of the How I Met Your Mother "we should buy a bar" running joke — it sounds easy until you actually try to ship a show every week. That's why solo podcasters need a good system that works for you So instead of just handing you a system that. you may or may not use, in this episode I walk through the ten questions you need to answer before episode ten — how you capture ideas, outline, record, store files, edit, track status, upload, write copy, stay ahead of the calendar, and promote — and share what I do on each one so you can borrow what fits. Answer these once and you'll have a setup that survives a sick week, a vacation, or a slow idea day.Show Notes3 Reasons Your Podcast Planner Is Your Most Important Podcast SystemRSS.comstreamlinedfeedback.com

Whether adding video to your podcast is actually worth it, and how I do it without doubling my workflow. The tool I keep coming back to is Ecamm — I cover why I record video even when I don't release it, how isolated tracks save me in editing, and the new dual mode that gives you vertical clips without Opus Clip.Show Notes:eCamm— code "casabona" for 15% off your first monthGlingStream Deckstreamlinedfeedback.comRSS.com

The simplest recording setup that saves solo podcasters the most time. I share my under-$500 kit — Shure MV7+ at the desk, DJI portable mic on the go, and the YoloCam S3 if you want to add video — plus why I'd skip the $1,000 RodeCaster Pro and how to use the camera you already own.Show Notes:Shure MV7+DJI portable microphonestreamlinedfeedback.comRSS.com

My accountant once turned pale white when I told him I was keeping my business records in a shoebox. Lucky for him, I was just joking.A shoebox isn't a system. I see the same thing happen with podcasters all the time. When I ask how they're keeping track of their episodes, the most common answers are "I don't" or "I use a notebook." And just like that shoebox, it works — until it really, really doesn't.If you've ever sat down on a Sunday night, realized you publish Monday morning, and had absolutely no idea what you were going to talk about, this one's for you.I'm breaking down the three reasons why a podcast planner is the most important system a solopreneur podcaster can have. If you're overwhelmed, behind, and tired of your podcast feeling like a second job, this is the episode that changes that.Grab my free Notion podcast planner template at streamlined.fm/planner — no email required.LinksFree Notion Podcast Planner Template — streamlined.fm/plannerSend Feedback — streamlinedfeedback.comNotionMake (formerly Integromat)ZapierMacWhisperClaude by Anthropic

With Pete Davidson launching a new "podcast" on Netflix that is neither distributed anywhere else, nor available in audio-only, a new debate has ignited around what even is a podcast. Some will argue that a podcast needs to at least have an audio-only version. Some will say it needs an RSS feed to qualify. But I think the answer is something else, and it has to do with engagement. As I consider my own content strategy, here's where I'm drawing the line between what goes on YouTube, and what goes on my podcast. What do you think? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.comInterested in starting a podcast? Get free hosting at https://rss.com/?via=joe-newsletter

Solo podcasts are the way to go in 2026, for a lot of reasons. You control the full narrative. They are easier to produce. You can be authentic. And you can solve a very specific problem. But lots of people are uncomfortable recording solo episodes. So here are 3 tips to help you do it better. Make editing as easy as possible with the right tools and approachKnow what you're going to say by writing the question your answering, and 3 bullet points to answer that questionPicture someone whom you feel is your ideal listener. Act like you're currently talking to them. Do this, and you'll have great, helpful, focused solo episodes. What do you think? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.com. Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out RSS.com: https://rss.com/?via=joe-newsletter

What should podcasters focus on in 2026? And how will that affect your recording and editing process moving forward?In this episode I'll cover the 2 biggest pieces of advice I've been hearing: Be AuthenticDo a Solo ShowWhat do you think? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.comCheck out RSS.com for free podcast hosting: https://rss.com/?via=joe-newsletter

RSS.com has released their Free Local and Nice podcast hosting plan, and it's a truly free plan that doesn't limit you based on uploads, hours of content, or duration of episode in feed. It's a fantastic development for people who want to start a podcast with a little bit less risk. Here's what it means for you. Learn more at https://joec.pro/rss (affiliate link) *Disclosure: I am an evangelist for RSS.com, However, they did not ask me to create this episode; I think it's a truly great think for podcasters.

The Independent Podcaster Report 2025 by The Podcast Host is out now. I break down my favorite parts, and offer strong opinions on making money, video, and AI. Unsurprisingly, many (about 30%) feel time starved and worry about burnout...but does AI help prevent that? Not necessarily. View the Report: https://alitu.com/creator/content-creation/the-independent-podcaster-report-2025/Check out RSS.com for podcast hosting: https://rss.com/?via=joe-newsletter

Something I hear far too often from podcasters is, "Well it's just a hobby, so I don't want to spend money." Imagine taking that approach with nearly any other hobby. As my friend Brian says, the only free hobbies are in nature, or at the library (and even there, you probably pay taxes to support the library). The point is, if you're even remotely serious about your podcast, you need to invest in it...even if you call it a hobby. In today's episode, I tell you why, and where to start

Sometimes the simplest ideas create the biggest impact. A voice notes podcast — literally you talking into your phone for a few minutes — can deepen relationships with your audience, build trust, and even drive sales.I first started mine as a lead magnet, but realized the off-the-cuff episodes were connecting more than the polished ones. Turns out, your audience doesn't always want perfect — they want real.In this episode, I break down why these short, raw audio episodes work so well, how to record them without overthinking, and what you actually need to launch one today (hint: just your phone and five spare minutes).TakeawaysA voice notes podcast builds stronger audience connection because it feels personal and conversational.Keep episodes short (under 10 minutes) — like a quick message from a friend.Minimal gear needed: your phone + a small mic (DJI Mic or similar).Skip heavy editing — authenticity > polish.Use your existing feed or launch a new one with clear branding and a simple promise.Treat your trailer like a movie preview — tell listeners what to expect and why it matters.Use custom artwork or a naming cue (like “[Audio Note]”) if mixing with longer episodes.LinksBuild With BeckyStreamlined SolopreneurRSS.com

I'm starting to wonder if a host/co-host format is actually the best format for a podcast. I've been listening to a lot of different podcasts lately—rewatch shows, comedy shows, tech shows—and one thing keeps standing out: good banter makes a podcast worth coming back to. But here's the catch…banter only works when it supports the mission of the show. Get it right, and you create a bond with your audience. Get it wrong, and your listeners tune out.

Ever feel like your business eats up every free moment? The truth is, you don't need Taylor Swift-level fame or Hormozi-style hype to succeed. What you actually need is space—room to create, promote, and step away without guilt.Like this episode? Subscribe to Streamlined Solopreneur too. That's why I use the GAPS framework: Gear, Automations, Playbooks, and Support. It's the system that helped me reclaim 10–12 hours a week, even during one of the busiest summers of my life. In this episode, I break down how you can use GAPS to stop fighting with your tools, cut the manual busywork, and finally get your time back. Top TakeawaysFame hacks don't apply—your focus should be on knowing your audience, creating for them, promoting, and experimenting.The biggest bottleneck isn't knowing what to do—it's finding the time to do it.Gear: Invest in reliable tools so tech doesn't slow you down.Automations: Use tools like Zapier, Riverside, and Notion to handle repetitive tasks.Playbooks: Create simple SOPs so you or anyone else can follow the same steps every time.Support: Delegate to a VA, editor, or even students—don't try to do it all yourself.Show NotesWatch on YouTubeOverwhelm QuizRiversideRSS.comTella.tvEcamm LiveZapierNotionSamson Q2U Microphone

Are you making your podcast guests do your work for you? Too many hosts fall into bad habits that frustrate guests and make their shows look unprofessional. Here are three common mistakes to avoid — and what to do instead.If you want to create a better guest experience and produce content your audience actually enjoys, this will help you cut the clutter and focus on what matters.Top TakeawaysNever auto-subscribe guests to your mailing list — it's often illegal and always disrespectful.Don't make guests write their own interview questions — that's your job as the host.Stop requiring guests to share the episode — your job is to make the content worth sharing.Your responsibility as a host is to serve your audience — not to use guests as a growth engine.Want to learn how to make real improvements to your podcast process? Take the Overwhelm Quiz at https://streamlined.fm/overwhelm Looking for great podcast hosting built for podcasters? Check out RSS.com

Many podcasters start with the hope that downloads and sponsors will magically appear — but if you want your show to make money, you need more than wishful thinking. This episode walks through the three essential “I's” to transform a podcast from a casual hobby into a revenue-generating asset: Intention (know your audience and improve quality) Investment (put resources into the right tools and talent) Iteratipon (get feedback, refine, and make your show something worth paying for).Podcast hosted by RSS.comDescription written by ChatGPT based on the transcript

Monetization is a super common problem for many podcasters. Most think they'll start a podcast, get a bunch of downloads, and sponsors will come looking for them. That is almost never the case — nor is it the case that sponsorship is the only option. And what I LOVE sponsorship. After all, I'm a sponsorship coach for my friend Justin, and RSS.com, for whom I'm the evangelist, just launched our PAID feature to make ads easier than ever. But depending on the goal of your podcast, you might seek other monetization paths. That's why I came up with the CAMPS framework: CoachingAffiliatesMembershipProductsSponsorshipListen to learn more! Read the full article here: CAMPS: Updating the Podcast Monetization FrameworkAlso check out: RSS.com to learn about PAID, our dynamic ads featureWizard's Guild for sponsorship coaching

Hot take: If you're not wearing headphones while podcasting in 2025, you're doing it wrong. I don't care how good Riverside's echo cancellation is or what magic AI audio cleanup you're using - I will literally refuse to record with guests who won't wear headphones.In this episode, I explain why "fixing it in post" with apps like Descript and Adobe Podcast AI is actually making your audio WORSE, not better. I've been on shows where my studio-quality audio gets destroyed by automated filters that were never needed in the first place.The truth is, these AI audio tools make assumptions about your recording environment and apply blanket fixes that can create weird artifacts, dropped sounds, and unpredictable results. When you wear headphones, you get clean, "unopinionated" audio that gives you or your editor full control over the final sound.

Have you ever been invited on a podcast only for it to be turned into a sales call? Yeah, me too. And it's getting worse.In this episode, I break down the sneaky tactics some "podcasters" use to get you on what they claim is an interview, but is really just a thinly veiled attempt to pitch you their services. From deleting your episode when you refuse to buy, to publishing 5 episodes a day with bathroom-quality audio, these red flags are easier to spot once you know what to look for.I'll share real examples from my own experience (including the guy who pitched me SEO services right after asking "did you have fun today?") and give you the exact questions I ask to weed out these fake opportunities before wasting your time.

Remember Van Halen's famous "no brown M&Ms" rider clause? It wasn't because they were divas - it was a genius test to make sure venues actually read their contract. I've borrowed this concept to create my own screening system for podcast guest pitches.With 4-8 pitches hitting my inbox daily (and most being AI-generated garbage), I needed a better way to separate serious guests from spray-and-pray agencies. In this episode, I share the exact screening question I use that instantly reveals whether someone actually researched my show or just copy-pasted a ChatGPT template.I'll also share some real examples of terrible pitches I've received (spoiler: one agency sent me the SAME pitch twice for different shows), plus the simple criteria that save me hours each week in pitch evaluation.What you'll learn:Why Van Halen's M&Ms clause was brilliant (and life-saving)My specific screening question that AI can't fakeReal examples of hilariously bad AI-generated pitchesThe exact criteria I give to agencies to stop wasting my timeHow this system helped me find amazing guests like Jackie Schiff and Elizabeth HowellRead the full articleWhat's your "Brown M&Ms test"? Share it at streamlinedfeedback.com

Remember the alien in Men in Black asking for "sugar in water"? That's exactly what AI-generated podcast pitches sound like - almost human, but missing something fundamentally authentic.As someone who receives dozens of guest pitches, I'm seeing a disturbing trend: more people are using ChatGPT to write their outreach, and it's backfiring spectacularly. From generic "hope this email finds you well" openings to completely irrelevant topic suggestions, AI pitches are easier to spot (and delete) than ever.In this episode, I break down why AI pitches fail so badly, share some cringe-worthy real examples I've received, and give you a proven template for crafting pitches that actually get responses. Plus, I'll tell you about the one pitch that was so good it led to an amazing interview.What you'll learn:Why "recently discovered your podcast" is the new spam signalThe ChatGPT summary that made me laugh (and cry)My 4-step framework for pitches that actually workRead the full article Have pitch horror stories to share? Send them to streamlinedfeedback.com

With AI-powered apps like Sonar promising to give you "just the highlights" from podcasts, and services like Blinkist condensing books into summaries, I'm asking the hard question: Are we missing the point of content consumption entirely?In this episode, I dive into why I think these summary services fundamentally misunderstand what makes content valuable. Spoiler: It's not just about the facts - it's about the personality, perspective, and promise that creators bring to their work.I share my thoughts on why most business books are fluff, why many podcasts are "meandering unstructured messes," and what separates great content (like "Sponsor Magnet" by Justin Moore and "The Rest is History" podcast) from the forgettable stuff.Read the full articleFeatured in this episode:My experience testing the Sonar appWhy Blinkist is just "listening to a book report"Examples of content that gets the balance rightThe importance of knowing exactly who you're talking toWhat's your take on AI summarization tools? Let me know at streamlinedfeedback.com

After 9 years of podcasting and approaching 500 episodes, I'm sharing my honest thoughts on whether episode numbers actually matter for most podcasts. Spoiler alert: they probably don't matter as much as you think!In this episode, I break down when episode numbers are crucial vs. when they're just technical baggage. I also share how I've been experimenting with my own show format, consolidating from 4-5 podcasts down to 3, and why I stopped saying episode numbers during recordings.Whether you're just starting your podcast or you're a seasoned host questioning your current system, this episode will help you think more strategically about episode numbering and what actually serves your audience.

Earlier this year, I set out to answer a simple question: can you reasonably record a podcast from your phone? As someone obsessed with gear and high-quality production, I assumed the answer would be no.But after some experimentation, I discovered that not only is it possible, but it can also be a game-changer for podcasters who want to create raw, behind-the-scenes content.Here's how I streamlined the process into a low-effort workflow anyone can replicate.Get this and every article at https://podcastadvent.org Want to start 2025 off on the right foot? What if you had an expert ready to give you the exact steps you need to take to get unstuck — in your podcast, your business, and your process? You can with the Unstuck Sessions. Get the most valuable part of my coaching at an incredibly affordable price. Get Unstuck Today. ★ Support this podcast ★

A few months ago I launched a free private podcast called Joe's Audio Notes. The episodes are very short (7 minutes or less), where I share my thoughts on being a solopreneur, a podcaster, a parent, and other thoughts related to being a productive member of society.I'm sharing 3 of the episodes here (which you can find in the chapter markers): Thinking About my Content StrategyHow do you pick the right idea?Battling the work hangoverIf you like it, I'd love for you to join! You can sign up for free here. (00:00) - Intro (01:22) - Thinking About my Content Strategy (07:00) - How do you pick the right idea? (12:42) - Battling the work hangover ★ Support this podcast ★

Today I'm I'm diving into a topic that helped my own show take off back in 2016—creating a great website for your podcast.I didn't realize it at the time, but my well-built podcast website played a massive role in growing my audience. Why? Because discoverability in podcasting is tough, and having a central hub—your own website—can give you a big edge.I'll cover exactly what every podcast website needs, from episode embeds and subscribe buttons to mailing list signups and easy navigation. And, I'll tell you about an incredible tool called Podcastpage.io that makes building your podcast's website a breeze, without needing to be a developer.Don't miss this episode if you're ready to level up your podcast's online presence. Hit subscribe, and if you want to try Podcastpage.io, use my code JOECASEBONA for 10% off!Watch my walkthrough here: https://youtu.be/q-SZnavCNwwDemo site: https://podcast-workflows.podcastpage.io/?v=w524 ★ Support this podcast ★

Are you leaving valuable listener feedback on the table? I've been thinking about that a lot lately, so today we'll talk about how to engage your audience, gather crucial feedback, and build a thriving podcast community — while making it as easy as possible. You can send your feedback to https://podcastworkflows.com/feedbackHere are the main takeaways: Ask for Feedback Early, Regularly, and Everywhere – The importance of actively seeking listener input through multiple channels like your mailing list, social media, and during your episodes. I shared tips on making it easy for listeners to give feedback, such as incorporating listener feedback segments.Build a Community Around Your Podcast – Creating a community is crucial for getting feedback, generating content ideas, and building trust. I discussed how podcasting doesn't have to be a lonely experience and why fostering a community can lead to better audience engagement and even monetization.Use Engagement Tools – I reviewed several tools to help facilitate listener feedback and community building, such as YouTube, Spotify, Ripple.fm, Circle, and Fan List. Each offers different features for community engagement, feedback collection, and potential monetization. (00:00) - Intro (01:28) - How to get more engagement from listeners (07:28) - Why you should build a community (13:32) - Tools for Engagement (23:32) - Wrapping Up ★ Support this podcast ★

Ever wonder how to make your podcast stand out in a sea of content? After a serendipitous conversation at Podcast Movement 2024, I uncovered a game-changing strategy that could revolutionize your approach. Spoiler alert: It involves segments.I'll break down why rethinking your podcast structure can make a big difference. We'll explore how segments can help you give more value to your audience, make your show more accessible, and even repurpose content more effectively. Plus, I'll share different segment ideas that work for both interview and solo episodes, ensuring you never run out of compelling content.Want more insights like this? Join my mailing list at https://podcastworkflows.comAnd check out my other podcast, https://streamlined.fm/Top TakeawaysImplement Segments in Your Podcast: To create a more engaging show, think about incorporating segments. Just like how late-night shows have defined parts, segmenting your podcast can make it more consumable and structured. You can dedicate parts of your episode to different topics or formats, such as opening monologues, interviews, and specific segments tailored to your audience's interests.Structure for Solo Episodes: If you're worried that solo episodes might become stale, develop a clear structure. For instance, discuss a main topic, then showcase an interesting tool related to that topic, and finish with an automation tip. This keeps the solo content engaging and valuable.Balancing Personal and Professional Content: For busy solopreneur parents, combining personal experiences with actionable business advice can create a relatable and impactful podcast. Consider dedicating a segment to how you manage parenting alongside your entrepreneurial duties. ★ Support this podcast ★

Do YOU feel like like you're spending too much time editing your podcast episodes?  If you're anything like the people on my email list and and people I met at Podcast Movement, you do. So today, let's talk about 3 things you can do to save time in the edit (one of these shouldn't surprise you). Check out Descript: https://go.podlift.me/descriptSend feedback to https://podcastworkflows.com/feedback (00:00) - Intro (01:24) - Hire an Editor! (06:26) - Take Good Notes (10:45) - Use Descript (17:33) - Wrapping up ★ Support this podcast ★

I'm back from Podcast Movement and as an extrovert who works by himself, from his house, I couldn't feel more energized after an incredible event.I'm still processing all the great sessions and conversations I had, but there are a few topics that have floated to the top.Here's what I'm thinking about most after the conference.Read the article and discuss here: https://podcastworkflows.com/what-im-thinking-about-after-podcast-movement/Join the mailing list: https://podcastworkflows.com/join (00:00) - Intro (00:20) - New Podcast Workflows Home Page! (01:45) - Segments for Shows (06:04) - More Avenues for Monetizing Streamlined Solopreneur (11:28) - Podcast Communities are a Must (16:13) - Wrapping Up ★ Support this podcast ★