Launch, growth and success tips for Podcasters and wider content creators. Read a set of quick points, from tool reviews to growth tactics, and much more, all aimed at helping you create the show of your dreams. If you're building a personal or a content brand, then get started with us!
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🎧🚫 I stopped listening to podcasts (Podcraft Pointers)
Published 7 days ago • 9 min read
🎙️ TUESDAY TOUCHPOINT
Hullo there!
Podcasting rightly gets praise and credit for having the ability to accompany you almost anywhere.
For avid pod fans, a walk is never simply a walk - it's an opportunity to check in with your favourite shows. The same goes for commuting, washing up, or prepping tomorrow's packed lunches.
But sometimes, podcasting can be too effective in these situations. As creatives ourselves, it's important to give your brain some time to process all the info and ideas in there, without actually onboarding more.
A walk in nature with your favourite podcast host is great, but swap it out once in a while to enjoy the sights and sounds around you, and you'll be surprised at how your creative process slips into overdrive.
This isn't about coming up with more ideas (how many of us need more of those!?), it's about piecing together all the fragments and sparks already swimming around in your head, and making something logical and actionable from them.
If you're feeling stuck on a project, overwhelmed on what to work on next, or simply undecided on a particular course of action, then a walk, drive, or a bit of cucumber chopping without a podcast in your ears can be the perfect remedy.
In the end, when you get back to listening to your favourite shows, you'll enjoy them all the more for it without that nagging feeling that you should be trying to figure out your own creative plans.
I think we enjoy podcasts best when we mindfully choose to consume them, rather than treating them as background noise. And as creators, I imagine that's how we want our content to be consumed, too. What do you think?
🔍 FEATURED THIS WEEK
What’s Your Show's Unique Selling Point?
Every successful podcast has to be unique in some way. If there’s no uniqueness, then there’s no draw. There’s no reason to listen.
And with well over four and a half million shows out there today, you have to give people a compelling reason to listen.
This week, Allegra has a fun question: Imagine you're suddenly asked to give an impromptu TED Talk on a random topic. What would you choose to talk about?
"Whether it's your secret passion for urban gardening, the history of your favorite band, or why oat milk is better than almond milk, we want to hear it all! Share your Ted Talk topic ideas, and let's see where our imaginations take us. Who knows, you might just inspire your next podcast episode or speaking opportunity."
Meanwhile, Lindsay shares a story about a weird teachable moment she experienced while listening to a podcast interview.
We would love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and stories and help you level up your show! Join the IndiePod Community today—it's free!
Jesse Miller chats about producing Cal Newport's Deep Questions podcast. Find out more about the role of a podcast producer, as well as the similarities and differences between creating a show with a five-figure audience and the more typical podcasts of the average indie creator.
Dynamic ads are a great way to ensure your CTAs and sponsorships stay up-to-date across the board in your back catalogue. Redcircle has easy and intuitive dynamic ad tools. Here's a quick look at how to use them.
Learn how to adjust your episode’s loudness in Audacity to meet podcast standards. This tutorial will show you how to set your audio to -19 LUFS for mono or -16 LUFS for stereo, ensuring your podcast has the right loudness for consistent listening across all platforms.
Every podcast stat that matters, brought together in one place, from the number of active podcasts to average download numbers, all updated for April 2025!
📊 THIS WEEK’S QUICK POLL
As the podcast industry's video/audio debate rages elsewhere, let's talk about your consumption preferences...
For last week's quick poll, we asked you to share where you got your biggest "aha!" moment since becoming a podcaster.
In other words, how you learned that one major tip or insight that changed everything about how you run your podcast.
Turns out you lot are big self-learners! 43% said their best podcasting tip was something they just figured out themselves.
29% said they got the tip from another podcaster they know and (surprise!) 24% heard about it on a podcast about podcasting.
7% said they learned their best podcasting tip through something they saw on social media.
Thanks to everyone who answered the poll, and feel free to reply to this email if you have any anecdotes to share that we might include in future articles 🙂
Katie
💡 LINDSAY'S MINDSET MOMENT
The Comparison Trap - How comparing your new podcast to established shows hinders growth
“Comparison is the thief of joy,” as the old saying goes. We recommend comparing your podcast to other shows in your niche, but only to determine whether they’d be a good fit for cross-promotion campaigns. Beyond that, though, I don’t recommend measuring your show against others in your niche, especially the well-established ones. Here’s why:
🕰️ Time
Over the past ten years or so, podcasters have learned that consistent production over time makes a big difference in turning a podcast into a habit for their audience.
If you’re comparing your fresh show — maybe with 10 or 100 episodes — to a podcast that’s dropped thousands over several years… that’s just not fair. Repetition has helped them build a reliable workflow and embed themselves in their audience’s minds.
🎛️ Invisible resources
Many chart-toppers make podcasting look as effortless as rolling out of bed and chatting into a mic. But behind the curtain?
A team of audio engineers, personal assistants, and marketing pros could be working full-time to make the host seem like a podcasting wizard ✨.
🤕 Invisible deficits
Those same shows often have behind-the-scenes chaos too. Maybe:
The host cracked a tooth on trail mix 🥜
The audio engineer has a migraine 🤯
The assistant is juggling soccer practice duties ⚽
The marketing guru just quit for a better gig 🚪💼
If the audience can’t see the effort, it’s because it’s working.
So, what should you do when similar shows find success? 😬 When you hear about another podcast hitting a big milestone, it’s hard not to feel a twinge of envy. Instead, ask yourself:
🧠 How does that show do what it does?
What are their resources?
Are they part of a network?
Do they have funding from a larger org?
Do the credits list 50 people in different roles? 🎬
They may say they hit a triple play… but maybe they were born on third base ⚾.
🔍 What does this show do that you could?
Do they have a website?
Are their show notes super clear and easy to follow?
Do they engage their audience with questions, shoutouts, or giveaways? 🎁
🌟 How can you highlight the difference between your show and theirs?
Think: what’s uniquely yours? For example, there are a zillion celebrity interview shows, but how many make guests taste-test hot sauces during the convo? 🌶️🔥
Being different doesn’t mean being gimmicky. Instead, lean into your value proposition and audience.
🎯 Maybe your true crime show spotlights crimes in one specific state for a themed mini-series. 🎯 Or maybe your niche audience (Christian lawyers who golf? Baseball fans who teach?) can shape the kind of content you build.
If you see podcasting as a competition, comparison can suck the joy out of it.
Instead, focus on what you bring to the mic — your voice, skills, and unique talents.
And if your show has any gaps? Tweak it, improve it, and grow. Life’s too short to waste energy on envy 💛.
Lindsay
🔧 TOOL OF THE WEEK
Audacity
When we asked over 500 podcasters which software they used to record and edit their audio, the majority told us it was Audacity. Launched in the Spring of 2000 (twenty-five years ago!), this free, open-sourced Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) has stood the test of time.
Audacity might not be “the best” podcast software option, but it’s a good one for several reasons:
Turn your podcast idea into a polished plan in 15 minutes. Answer a few questions, and the Alitu Showplanner will help you pick a name, nail your pitch, define your audience, and write a trailer script. It's totally free, and no login or account is required!
We've made The Podcast Show an essential part of our calendar for the past three years, and are looking forward to the fourth!
This one-of-a-kind event brings together the biggest names in the industry, from global platforms and award-winning creatives to trailblazing indie voices. Across two dynamic days, expect over 150 hours of inspiring talks, live sessions, and hands-on experiences designed to fuel creativity and growth at every stage of the podcasting journey.
Creators can dive into dedicated sessions focused on building audiences, mastering monetisation, and sharpening production skills.
There’s a packed lineup of panels, workshops, and clinics tailored for emerging podcasters, along with tool and tech demos that offer a chance to get hands-on with the latest gear and editing software. The Creator Village will be a buzzing hub to connect with peers, meet with platforms like Acast, Amazon Music, BBC Sounds and more, while the new Creator Social offers a relaxed evening of networking and idea-sharing.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your show, this is the place to get inspired, get connected, and get heard!
Want to Sponsor This Newsletter?
We work with products and services that are a great fit for our readers, so if you offer something that's ideal for podcasters and creators, get in touch. Drop us a line at sponsor@thepodcasthost.com.
👋 LET US HELP YOU
Whatever you need, whatever your budget, we’ve got you covered
From launch coaching and growth mentorship to editing and production, courses, and podcast feedback, we can tailor something exactly to your own needs. We're waiting to hear from you, so give us a shout!
Matthew & Colin
Have questions? Hit reply to this email and we'll help out!
Launch, growth and success tips for Podcasters and wider content creators. Read a set of quick points, from tool reviews to growth tactics, and much more, all aimed at helping you create the show of your dreams. If you're building a personal or a content brand, then get started with us!
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