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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🎙️ Yes, you do have time to podcast! 🕒 (Podcraft Pointers)
Published about 2 months ago • 8 min read
Fact of the Week
If, like most people, you hate hearing the sound of your own voice during editing, there’s science behind that. You hear your voice differently because, normally, you hear it through both air conduction and bone conduction. Recordings, on the other hand, only capture air conduction..
Hullo there!
I wouldn't say Podcraft Pointers is the best newsletter for podcasters, but it's definitely in the top one!
As always, we've lined up an entire week's worth of helpful and insightful content for you to consume at your leisure. Whether you're a reader, a watcher, or a listener, there's something here for you.
Our headline piece is focused on that elusive and finite resource - time. But is it really impossible to make more of it?
Katie reports on last week's quick poll. What are your podcasts driven more by? Passion, or strategy? The answer awaits you below.
In her Mindset Moment column, Lindsay tackles another big problem for podcasters - impostor syndrome. She reassures us that we deserve to share our voices, even as complete beginners.
Each week, we give you a free resource to download, and this time around, it's a super-handy Remote Interview Checklist. You'll never forget to hit record again.
On top of that there's a podcast episode on audience growth, a video on editing faster, some advice on making the best out of bad reviews, and much much more.
Enjoy!
🔍 FEATURED THIS WEEK
🎙️ Yes, You Do Have Time to Podcast! 🕒
Think you’re too busy to start or grow a podcast? Think again. Here’s how to actually make time for your show and have a life:
🔧 Break Down the Work
Recording is just one part - planning, editing, shownotes, and promotion matter too.
A 30-minute episode might take 2-4 hours total. Knowing this helps you plan smart.
📱 Use Tech to Save Time
📝 Try tools like Trello, ClickUp, or EditPoint to stay organised and efficient.
🎙️ Let AI tools draft your show notes or handle social scheduling.
📵 Limit digital distractions, set phone timers, disable notifications, and use screen filters.
🎯 Reclaim and Block Your Time
Ditch habits that drain time (endless scrolling, anyone?).
Batch similar tasks - record, edit, or write multiple episodes at once.
Use time-blocking: schedule podcast sessions and protect them like meetings.
🤝 Don’t Go It Alone
Partner with a friend or join virtual coworking sessions.
Body doubling boosts focus and makes podcasting more fun.
💤 Work With Your Energy, Not Against It
Early riser or night owl, find what time works best for you.
Just don’t sacrifice sleep - tired podcasters miss details.
🎧 You’re Worth the Time
Set boundaries and let others know your podcast time is real work.
Keep showing up. Your audience and your future self will thank you.
This week, Allegra asks about your unexpected or unique hobbies and interests outside of podcasting.
"What’s your hobby? Whether it's collecting vintage postcards, mastering the art of bonsai, or perhaps something even more unexpected, we want to hear about it! Sharing these hidden passions can be a great way to connect on a deeper level and maybe even inspire new podcast topics."
Syndication is about making your podcast easy to find, access, and share. Submit your show to the major platforms and build a listener-friendly website with key pages. Optimise for SEO, use clear episode titles and detailed show notes, and include links to mentioned resources. A mobile-friendly design, embedded trailer, and separate transcripts page help create a smooth and engaging experience, too.
Level up your editing process by adjusting the playback speed in Audacity. This feature lets you listen back faster without altering the source material. Perfect for quickly reviewing and editing long audio files.
At the intersection of technology and creativity sits a peculiar paradox. Today's creators find themselves simultaneously empowered and unsettled by AI, capable of producing more than ever before, yet questioning what it means to create at all.
Beehiiv is an email newsletter software rapidly gaining popularity among podcasters and wider content creators. We liked it so much that we recently moved our Fiction Podcast Weekly newsletter onto the platform. With features like recommendations and boosts, ad sales, and audio sharing, you can grow a colony into an apiary.
Negative podcast reviews can be hard to read, but they can also be useful for promotional purposes and community building. Here are some actionable tips and strategies for making the best of what seems like a bad situation.
📈 DATA CORNER
Podcasters are driven by passion ❤️🔥
For last week's quick poll, we asked what drives your podcast more: passion or strategy?
A massive 71% of respondents said their podcast is driven by passion, and only 29% said strategy.
This is really reflective of the low barrier to entry in podcasting, which makes the medium accessible to anyone simply wanting to talk about something they care about without needing to be too strategic about it.
Many of our subscribers are also in their early days of podcasting. Most creators start off driven by passion for something and become more strategic with their podcast over time as listeners grow and monetisation opportunities increase.
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!
💡 LINDSAY'S MINDSET MOMENT
Battling Impostor Syndrome – Why You Deserve to Share Your Voice, Even as a Beginner 🎙️
Every person who has ever attempted a creative task has felt impostor syndrome. Sometimes, those feelings of inadequacy distract creators from the details or cause them to hold back from giving their best. But the truth is: the people who manage their impostor syndrome, move past the negativity, and keep practising their craft will grow over time. And you can, too. 💪
Making new things feels both exciting and scary. Whether you’re launching your first podcast episode or your hundredth, creation is uncharted territory, and that can be daunting for anyone.
I’ve been walking for decades, but the first time I stepped onto the transparent observation deck of the Space Needle, I froze like a rock. Though I wanted to walk across that see-through floor, I couldn’t move until I reminded myself, “It’s a specially engineered floor meant for people to see through while they walk on it.” After watching others cross it and talking myself through the steps, I finally moved. Feel the feelings, acknowledge them, and keep going. 🚶♂️✨
Inferiority often feeds on unfamiliarity. When you're trying to reach a goal but don’t yet know how to get there, that uncertainty gives impostor syndrome room to creep in. So, how do you push it out? With knowledge.
When you know your goal and the specific steps to reach it, those steps fill up the mental space where impostor syndrome might otherwise linger. Saying, “I’m going to make a hit podcast,” is vague enough to let impostor syndrome whisper, “You? How would you do that?” But when you say, “I’m going to take a 7-day podcasting course,” or “I’m reading this article about King George III for my next episode,” you shut out the doubt. Impostor syndrome can’t survive in the presence of clarity. 🎯📚
Finally, the world needs your voice and your ideas. You may not see your audience, but your work travels far beyond your visual field. Sure, other shows exist in your niche, but none with your exact lens. The more you take charge of your podcast’s research, sound, artwork, and show notes, the more original and personal it becomes. And when you speak clearly, kindly, and consistently, people will listen. 🎧🗣️
Impostor syndrome is sneaky, and ignoring it takes practice. But the ultimate weapon is knowledge earned through experience. So when that inner voice says, “You can’t do that,” ask it why. If there’s something to learn, plan, or improve, do it. Otherwise, call that voice what it is - a distraction - and keep going. 🚀
Lindsay
🔧 TOOL OF THE WEEK
Podkit: The Self-Updating Media Kit
Podkit compiles your podcast’s download numbers from platforms of your choice to make a media kit. Then, you can share the media kit with affiliate programs to find sponsors.
Interview-style podcasts are popular for a reason. They create intimate, engaging moments for your audience. But they can be tricky to manage, with research, scheduling, and prep work all required before you hit record.
That’s where this checklist comes in. Use it before and at the start of each interview to stay organised and focused, so you can do what you love: having relaxed, meaningful conversations that deliver real value. Over time, this process will become second nature. But when you need it, it’s here for you.
For the past three years, The Podcast Show has been a must-attend event on our calendar and we’re excited to be heading into year four!
This unique gathering unites the biggest names in podcasting, from global platforms and award-winning creators to innovative indie talent. Over two vibrant days, enjoy more than 150 hours of insightful talks, live recordings, and interactive experiences designed to inspire and support every step of your podcasting journey.
Creators can explore tailored sessions on growing audiences, monetisation strategies, and enhancing production skills.
The schedule is packed with panels, workshops, clinics perfect for emerging podcasters, and tool and tech demos offering hands-on access to the latest gear and editing tools. The Creator Village will be a lively spot to connect with fellow creators and meet industry leaders like Acast, Amazon Music, BBC Sounds, and more. And don’t miss the new Creator Social, an informal evening dedicated to networking and sharing ideas.
Whether you’re just launching your podcast or scaling an existing show, this is the ultimate space to get inspired, make connections, and be 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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