Hey all! Technically, you could run a podcast month-to-month without spending any money producing it. But the big question is: can you produce a successful show? I was surprised to see as much as 17% of the creators who took our Independent Podcaster Survey this year say they produce their show on no budget whatsoever. I dipped into the data to see if these podcasters are still managing to reach their goals, get the downloads in and sustain a regular show while keeping costs non-existent. Can...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, Podcrafters! I went into last week with a solid plan to tackle my post-holiday to-do list. Then on Monday night, the entire house was struck down with the lurgy 🤒 I lost two entire days (or, gained two, if you're a fan of psychedelic fever dreams!), but was finally inspired to get out of my bed by my daughter, who made me a get-well-soon card, despite her and her mum also being ill. I must've been in a right state 😂 Mic Drop Fact: There’s a sound you can’t unhear. Once your brain...
8 days ago • 3 min read
Hey all! You might remember a while ago, Buzzsprout told us that getting 27 downloads per episode would put you in the top 50% of all shows on the platform. So we weren't suprised to find that half of all those who took our independent podcaster survey this year get less than 50 downloads per episode. But while 50 downloads is a great achievement, I was curious to know more about the 32% who have crossed that 100-download mark. What are these podcasters doing differently, and is there...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, Podcrafters! I know... never used that term before, but I quite like it. 😂 What do you think? Anyway, big thanks to Colin for steering the ship while I had a wee family holiday. Tagging back in for him now as he does the same. I read in last week's email that he's thinking of starting a golf podcast. Strap in, I have dad jokes. 🙈 I can really see this as a show that will drive engagement. Of course, he’s still trying to iron out the details, but I’m sure it’ll be far from rough and...
15 days ago • 3 min read
Hey you, how's the week going? 😁 Getting chilly over here in our part of the world... 🌨️ Which usually just means to me: good excuse to stay in and play around with this bit of content I'm tinkering with! Don't judge me... but I've been playing a bit of golf recently, and the content obsessive in me can't help but collect recordings and videos out on the course. I'm honing, right now, what kind of angle I might take on a new podcast, but I've got some interesting ideas which I think will...
22 days ago • 3 min read
Hello all! The results of the Independent Podcaster Survey 2025 are in! We're stoked that a massive 558 creators took part this year (if you were one of them - a huge thank you to you). This has given us a really interesting snapshot of the workflows, wins and challenges that creators are experiencing in the current landscape. We’ll be sending the full report of the survey findings to you in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, I wanted to share an interesting data story that's emerged from...
26 days ago • 1 min read
A few days ago, an email came through from a newsletter I’m subscribed to. It was simply titled “Untitled”. Honestly, I hadn’t opened one of their emails in a while, but I couldn’t help but click that one. I bet it got loads. 😂 Mic Drop Fact: You can “hear” the Sun The Sun produces constant vibrations (standing waves inside its plasma). By converting those oscillations into audio frequencies, scientists can actually listen to the Sun’s activity. You've got to feel for the person behind it,...
29 days ago • 3 min read
This week, we’ve got a brilliant breakdown on podcast release schedules, and how your own frequency can work for or against you. Plus, on the latest Podcraft episode, we chatted about why we’re big fans of walking and talking: both meetings and podcast recordings. Admittedly, it’s a bit awkward carrying the studio table with a plateful of doughnuts and six cafetiers on it. Still, though... 🍩 Mic Drop Fact: Sound can reduce anxiety and stress. A small study in rats found that exposure to a 528...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey! Algorithms dictate a lot of what we consume online nowadays – so much so that some say they're controlling our lives. Yikes! But algorithms can be really positive too – especially when it comes to helping listeners find more content they're actually interested in and want more of. So it's easy to see why creators, listeners and industry folks are all conflicted about the long-term impact of algorithms on podcasting. Let's dive into the pros, the cons, and what it all means for your...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read