PodCraft | How to Podcast & Craft a Fantastic Show

PodCraft | How to Podcast & Craft a Fantastic Show

PodCraft takes you from novice podcaster to confident broadcaster. We’ll teach you how to start and grow a successful podcast in our easy-to-follow seasons. Let’s start at the start with the groundwork and planning stages. Why do you want to podcast, who do you want to reach, and why? Then, let’s learn what we’ll need to record, publish, and distribute it. Once that’s done, we move on to marketing, growth, and monetisation. Here, we help you to reap the rewards of all your hard work. On PodCraft we also run regular Q&A episodes, offer analysis and data on the podcasting industry, and talk about the latest tools, tips, and tactics that are improving our own processes and workflows.

Episodes

March 13, 2025 27 mins

If you've launched a lot of podcasts, you're likely also someone who's quit a lot of them - and that isn't a bad thing. Some shows and topics have natural life cycles, and whether we lose enthusiasm or just feel we've said all there is to say, there's no harm in drawing a line under things and moving on.

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We'll often say that podcast sponsorship isn't the only way to monetize a podcast, and for many creators, it likely isn't "the best". But all forms of podcast sponsorship aren't equal, and it's entirely possible that it could be lucrative for you, even without thousands of downloads.

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A bit of a dual-purpose episode this week. We're going to run through (and dispel) 16 common podcasting myths and test out eight different call recording platforms in the process.

We recorded segments with Squadcast, Riverside, Alitu, Iris, Cleanfeed, Zoom, Streamyard, and Zencastr.

Also mentioned:

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In this episode, we dig deep into the mindset and systems that power a ridiculously consistent and long-lived podcast. My guest is Matty Lansdown, from the How to Not Get Sick and Die Podcast, and he shares how he built his show to over 400 episodes, much of that time while working a full-time job. We explore the psychology of consistency, practical systems for success, and strategies for maintaining quality content production.

Matt...

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An effective podcast trailer can help you win over potential new listeners, giving them a flavour of your show. They can easily be played on other podcasts, which can also help you grow your audience. So... how do you make a good one?

Mentioned

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Each episode you release will be someone’s first impression of your show. A good podcast intro lets you manage your listener’s experience and let them know what’s in store immediately. Give them a sense of what they will get out of it and leave them no doubt that this is the podcast for them. Later on, use your outro to ensure you turn new listeners into followers or subscribers and guarantee they return for more.

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January 31, 2025 38 mins

A Call to Action is when you ask your audience to do something. For example:

  • share the podcast episode with a friend,
  • review the show on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser
  • visit the podcast’s website, crowdfunding page, or social media content
  • click on a link in the show notes
  • And so much more!

Many podcasters feel frustrated at the lack of action from their ...

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In the distant past, when listeners synced MP3 players with iTunes and early homo sapiens tried to get their shows in "New & Noteworthy", podcasting was a tricky medium to create content in. We used Skype and built websites out of sticks, and you could get eaten by a dinosaur when trying to upload your latest episode.

These days, it's much easier to make a podcast and reach your target audience. This episode isn't purely an "in...

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A quickfire episode running through the following content frameworks, with examples and exercises on how to apply them in your own podcast.

Lists: Where you break things down into bite-sized, numbered pieces that are easy to skim and share. Use lists to highlight top picks, tips, or resources your audience will love.

Comparisons: Where you help people decide by putting two options head-to-head. Break down the pros and cons so your a...

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Podcast celebrities aside, how much money can the everyday independent podcaster expect to make?

Well, the answer is “it depends”. But, based on our own experiences of well over a decade in the medium, here are some realistic breakdowns, examples, and goals.

Full article: How Much Money Do Podcasters Make?

Elsewhere, we also talk through a brilliant piece by Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt of Podcast Marketing Magic: Podcast M...

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Colin and Matthew analyse some interesting data from our Podcast Planner tool. 43% of over 1,500 respondents told us they’d rather host a solo show than create content with other people. So why might this be? Perhaps there's a bit of post-pandemic Zoom fatigue in here where people are fed up with feeling like they are "on a call". There are a lot of positive reasons for going solo, too, including the flexibility, simplicity, cont...
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Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I have so much time to work on my podcast, I struggle to even fill it"? 

No? 

Well, let's see what we can do about that, then. Here are nine great podcasting time-saving tips for you to try out. 

  1. Batch recording 
  2. Use fewer tools
  3. Do fewer things
  4. Don't multitask (and, time block)
  5. Click/MEE editing 
  6. Speeded-up editing
  7. Use templates
  8. Utilise dynamic ads
  9. Automate and out...
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Being interviewed on another podcast is a great way to bring value to a wider audience and grow your own as a result. But most podcasters (even those who don't run interview shows) have inboxes choked full of spammy and cynical requests to guest on their show. On this episode, we'll show you how to create a compelling pitch that actually gets seen by its intended recipient. Who knew such things were possible?

On top of that, we dis...

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December 12, 2024 55 mins

We've run a fair few surveys and reports this year, all of which have produced some interesting and actionable data. On this episode, we look at nine headline stats from 2024, and talk through the takeaways and lessons we can glean from them.

  1. “If It’s Not Got an RSS Feed, It’s Not a Podcast,” say 67% of Podcasters
  2. Most Podcasters Upload Audio-First Content to YouTube
  3. Survey Reveals How Listeners Want to Engage With Your Podcast
  4. On...
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It's tempting to take a break from podcasting over the holidays, not because you necessarily want to, but because you think your audience will do the same. However, data from the latest Podcast Marketing Trends Report suggests that isn't true, and December is actually one of the top months for combined podcast downloads.

On this episode, we dig into the details and offer some tips for keeping your feed active without doing yourself...

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It's time to delve into the findings of our 2024 Podcast Discoverability Survey. Here, you'll find data on everything from whether or not it's easy to find new podcasts, to how audio quality and ads affect podcast listenership.

We also talk through some other new posts on the site, as well as some published elsewhere (including one that we disagree with quite heavily!).

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In this episode, Colin covers two major topics to help podcasters improve their shows. First, he dives deep into creating a unique value proposition, sometimes called a unique selling proposition (USP) for your podcast, explaining how to make your show stand out and attract more listeners. He breaks down what makes a great USP, using examples from brands like Airbnb and Fjallraven, and shows how to apply these principles to podcas...

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There are plenty of places online where you can ask for podcast comments and get in on the episode discussion. Here are some of the more popular options.

And, does your podcast need a media kit? Yes, definitely. A podcast media kit is a package of information about your podcast that’s easy to share and consume.

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It isn't hard to make a podcast. Making a good podcast, however, is not easy. Here are nine common podcasting mistakes: think of this as a map to the traps that many podcasters tend to fall into, so you can avoid them.

Also Mentioned

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To grow audiences of people as passionate about your show’s topic as you are, podcasters need to do the work to engage non-listeners. Not only does this grow your show, but it helps the podcast medium as a whole. It’s rare for a podcast listener to only listen to one show, so others will benefit from the work each creator does to engage non-listeners. As the old saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats”.

We’ve written about the “...

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