Hello, Podcrafters!

In old Scottish folklore, it was said that at midnight on Hogmanay, the farm animals could briefly speak, sharing uncomfortable truths about the year ahead. Humans were not meant to listen.

These days, of course, they'd all be on TikTok. Either that, or nobody would be vegan anymore. I honestly can't decide which feels more likely. I’ll check in with Bessie the cow later this week and see what she thinks. 🐮

✍️ Quickfire Q&A

Thanks for all the questions over the past year. You're a thoughtful bunch! As we gear up to call time on 2025, I thought I'd take a moment to answer some of them quickfire-style for the benefit of everyone 🧐

Let's have a wee rummage in the mailbag...

Are there any situations where being prepared is a negative thing?

Almost never. But if you're interviewing someone, don't be so focused on that next question that you stop listening to their current answer. Follow-up questions are often where the gold is. Preparation should support the conversation, not lock you into a script you can’t adapt when something unexpected comes up.

What growth tactic is talked about far more than it actually works?

Bonus content. If you have some cut-offs to stick up on Patreon, that's fine. But don't take time away from your main episodes to make extra stuff that only a tiny number of people will ever hear. Most listeners don't even necessarily want more content; they want good content.

What’s the latest in podcast music, including useful tips, techniques, workarounds, or new resources?

Never any more than seven seconds of music without speech at the start of your show. Only use music beds for certain types of podcasts (like documentaries or narrative solo shows), and if you think they're "a little too loud", then they are too loud. Epidemic is a brilliant place to get music. That's an affiliate link, but I'm a paying customer myself.

How should a podcaster think about growth in their first year?

Build that back catalogue, it's a growth machine. Make your calls to action about other episodes in your feed. Make sure there's no opportunity for first-time listeners to be one-time callers. Always show them there's more.

How do you gently steer a guest back on track?

Before you hit record, tell your guest that you may interrupt them at times. Not to cut them off, but to guide the conversation, keep it engaging, and help them come across at their best for the listener. Folks giving up their time will appreciate the clarity, and it's unlikely anyone will push back with "I'd rather you just let me ramble".

What early habits lead to burnout later?

Over-promising. I always like the ethos of "under-promise then over-deliver". Unless you've actually created something that's ready to go, all your listeners need to know is that there'll be a next episode.

What change in podcasting surprised you the most?

The advances in audio cleanup. I’ve been working with audio for over fifteen years, and even five years ago, the kind of before-and-after results we see today would have felt unrealistic.

I have a question 🙋

Great 😄 happy to do another quickfire round in a future edition. Just hit reply and let me know. The more specific they are, the better. And you’re a podcaster, so I trust you to ask good ones. 😉