Buzzcast
Buzzcast helps podcasters stay informed, inspired, and excited to keep podcasting.Each week, Jordan, Kevin, and Alban break down the podcasting news, trends, tools, and creator debates that actually matter. We share what we’re seeing at Buzzsprout, what we’re testing ourselves, and what podcasters should pay attention to without chasing every new thing.The goal is to help you keep podcasting without burning out. Expect honest opinions, practical takeaways, occasional rabbit trails, and a reminder that podcasting should be fun!
Reach More Podcast Listeners With One Click!
Send us Fan Mail
Your podcast can’t grow if listeners can’t find it! It's surprising how many of us never submit our shows to a directory and how many established podcasts are still missing from at least one listening app.
We're talking about Buzzsprout’s latest improvements, including one-click submission to 16 podcast directories, smarter reminders for unfinished distribution steps, video players on Buzzsprout websites, faster and more searchable transcript pages, and new customization options for embedded players.
These improvements help us reach more listeners by making it easier for people to find a...
The Unexpected Ways Podcasting Changes Your Life
Send us Fan Mail
Buzzsprout team member, Cara Pacetti, joins us to talk about how podcasting builds confidence, sparks creativity, preserves meaningful voices, and creates communities where people feel understood. We discuss elementary students running their own show, teenagers connecting across the globe, and a hospice patient whose wisdom continues to reach listeners after her passing.
Then we get into Fan Mail about how to recognize meaningful traction when your audience is still small, and why embracing the quirks that make your podcast different may be the key to making it matter.
Because...
How Algorithms Are Making Podcasts Boring
Send us Fan Mail
We want podcasts to stay weird! We're talking about how algorithms, growth advice, and an obsession with polish are making brands, social media, and podcasts feel increasingly alike. Plus, we share how podcasters can preserve the quirks, tangents, imperfections, and human touches that make a show memorable!
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPodsThanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!
Spotify Is Skipping Your Ads, But Is That Bad For Podcasting?
Send us Fan Mail
Spotify is giving listeners a new way to skip past ads, intros, and calls to action. Some podcasters are calling it the beginning of the end of podcasting, and some listeners are singing praises.
We put the outrage in perspective, debate whether easier skipping could actually strengthen podcasting, and explore how creators can make sponsorships and calls to action too entertaining to miss.
We’re also celebrating several big Buzzsprout launches, including streamlined video distribution to Spotify and YouTube, a major WordPress plugin upgrade, and one-click submission to iHeart.
Publish Video Podcasts To Spotify And YouTube
Send us Fan Mail
Publishing a video podcast shouldn’t mean juggling multiple platforms, logins, formats, and workflows.
With Buzzsprout’s new video distribution to Spotify and YouTube, you can upload your video once and we’ll publish it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and audio podcast apps all from one place!
We also discuss early video stats from Buzzcast, and talk about why YouTube is such a powerful way to reach new audiences, while traditional podcast apps continue to build deeply loyal listenership. And we’ve got another distribution update to share: one-clic...
How to Script a Podcast Without Sounding Scripted
Send us Fan Mail
We’re diving into how to script a podcast without ever sounding scripted so you can get the clarity and structure of a written plan while still keeping your natural voice!
We break down the difference between scripts and outlines, which parts of an episode are actually worth writing word-for-word, how to prep guests without over-rehearsing them, and why reading your script out loud is one of the best ways to spot stiff language and tighten your message so you get to the point faster.
Contact Buzzcast
...The Secret To Reaching 800 Episodes: Fix Whatever Causes Burnout
Send us Fan Mail
What does it take to publish 800 podcast episodes without burning out? Turns out, it's treating your podcast like a media supply chain.
We’re talking about the biggest lessons from Buzzsprout podcaster Tom Raftery’s fine-tuned podcast workflow built through years of consistent publishing. In his blog, he explains why consistency comes from removing friction, how a foolproof pre-recording process can protect your time and energy, and why the right tools and responsive customer support matter most when something goes wrong.
Read Tom's blog
Contact Buzzcast
Are These 5 Podcast Choices Costing You Listeners? with Courtney Elmer
Send us Fan Mail
A great podcast can still get ignored if the packaging doesn’t convince anyone to press play!
Courtney Elmer, founder and CEO of PodLaunch and host of Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast, joins us to put Buzzcast through a live audit of the five Podcast Content Gatekeepers: cover art, podcast name, podcast description, episode titles, and show notes.
Score your own podcast along with us, while she helps Buzzcast figure out where it may be losing potential listeners, and why small changes can make a bigger difference than cha...
Why We Took Our Show Off Spotify And What Brought Us Back
Send us Fan Mail
We're explaining why we originally pulled the podcast from Spotify, what changed, and why Spotify’s role in video podcasting finally brought us back.
We also discuss our lingering concerns about open podcasting, targeted advertising, and what we’ve learned from working directly with Spotify’s podcast team.
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPodsThanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!
Managing Listener Feedback And Criticism
Send us Fan Mail
We're talking through creating a healthy feedback filter so you can tell the difference between criticism that helps, confusion that needs clarification, and negativity that deserves to be ignored!
We discuss where podcasters are likely to get feedback, why public comments can feel so much heavier than private messages, and how to stop one bad review from drowning out all the people who are cheering you on.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Beach Too Sandy, Water Too WetThis American Life: Everyone's a CriticHappy to Help: Using P...Is Video Podcasting Hard? What We Learned After One Month
Send us Fan Mail
After a month of publishing Buzzcast as a video podcast, we have some real stats, workflow notes, and one very painful mistake to talk about.
In this episode, we check in on our video podcasting experiment: how many people are actually watching, what Apple Podcasts video stats seem to tell us, and what surprised us most.
We talk through what happened when a full video recording failed, why editing video is so much harder than audio, how difficult video files are to transfer, and why an audio setup is...
How to Find the Right Podcast Co-Host
Send us Fan Mail
Finding a podcast co-host can make your show more fun, sustainable, and dynamic! But picking the wrong person can also make podcasting way harder than it needs to be.
In this episode, we talk through where to actually find a good co-host, why a “anyone want to start a podcast?” post is probably not the strongest strategy, and what to look for before you commit to recording together.
We also discuss how to test a potential co-host before making things official, why recurring guests or people in your life can...
Apple Is Giving Listeners More Ways To Discover Your Show
Send us Fan Mail
WWDC26 dropped a set of Apple Podcasts changes that could seriously improve how people discover and consume podcasts! We're talking about the few updates podcasters should know about.
And if you have a story about how you found a cohost, or advice from your experience with a cohost, let us know by sending Fan Mail!
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPodsThanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!
Is It Time For You To Start Another Podcast?
Send us Fan Mail
We're talking about the signs you might be ready to start another podcast, whether that means launching a second show, creating a limited series, or letting your current podcast evolve into something new.
Check out examples like Potterless, The History of Rome, StartUp, and Presidential to see why some shows naturally reach a finish line while others become the starting point for the next big idea.
So if you feel burned out: are you tired, trapped, or finished?
If you’re tired, your show may still be worth con...Just Because It's Audio Doesn't Make It A Podcast
Send us Fan Mail
In this quickcast, we’re talking about the rise of AI-generated “podcasts” from companies like Amazon and Spotify, and why the word is getting stretched pretty thin.
Amazon is turning product reviews into conversational audio. Spotify is experimenting with personalized AI audio experiences. And suddenly, a lot of things that feel more like chatbots, summaries, or audio briefings are being labeled as podcasts.
So should podcasters be worried? We don't think so.
Links mentioned:
Amazon shopping podcastsSpotify Studio's AI Agent Alexa's generated podcastsContact Buzzcas...
How To Get Booked On Podcasts with Alex Sanfilippo
Send us Fan Mail
We’re joined again by Alex Sanfilippo from PodMatch to talk about one of our favorite podcast growth strategies: getting booked as a guest on other podcasts!
We talk about why podcast guesting is valuable beyond promotion, including how it helps you sharpen your message, become a better communicator, and build real relationships with other podcasters.
We'll also give tips on how to build a podcast guest profile that actually helps hosts say yes. We talk about why your guest profile should not read like a résumé, what hosts...
The Hidden Value Of A Small Podcast
Send us Fan Mail
Small podcasts are often treated like smaller versions of big podcasts, but a niche audience is not just a tiny audience. It can be a more focused, more trusting, and more valuable audience.
Inspired by an article in Podnews, we talk about why download numbers do not tell the full story of a podcast’s value.
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPodsThanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!
Podcast Repurposing Ideas That Aren’t Blogs Or Social Posts
Send us Fan Mail
Most podcast repurposing advice sounds the same: turn your episode into clips, blog posts, newsletters, and social captions.
That can be useful, but it is not the only way to get more value from your podcast.
In this episode, we look at creative ways podcasters are turning their existing content into something new: conversation cards, games, kid-friendly feeds, real-world meetups, field guides, downloadable resources, and more!
We also talk about how to use AI to find themes hiding in your archive, why great repurposing starts with what...
Put Your Video Podcast On Apple!
Send us Fan Mail
We did something new…you can watch this episode as a video on Apple Podcasts! Make sure you're on the latest version (26.4 or higher).
But the bigger story is that any independent podcaster can now publish video directly to Apple Podcasts through Buzzsprout!
In this episode, we break down why this isn’t just “another place to upload video,” and how it’s fundamentally different from platforms like YouTube. We talk through the opt-in nature of podcasting, why that matters for creators who are tired of chasing algorithms...
How To Stand Out In A Crowded Podcast Niche
Send us Fan Mail
We break down why “crowded” is usually a clarity problem, not a competition problem, then map the difference between a podcast category and a real niche.
We also study five popular business story shows to prove how audience, format, tone, and payoff make similar topics feel completely different!
Read Jordan's mention in the WSJ: Why People Who Listen To Podcasts Are Suddenly Feeling Left Out
Topics discussed:
• Defining category versus niche through audience, format, tone, and promise
• Using promise and payoff to stop sounding generic
Publish Podcast Episodes More Often With Less Stress
Send us Fan Mail
Publishing more often can help your podcast stay top of mind, get more downloads, and keep your audience engaged. But if you increase your cadence the wrong way, it can also make podcasting feel heavier, more rushed, and a lot less fun.
In this episode, we answer a listener question from Rich (Two Guys on a Plane) about moving from biweekly to weekly episodes and break down what has actually worked for us. We talk about the benefits of adding shorter episodes, why quick wins can sometimes perform just as well...
Where People Find New Podcasts
Send us Fan Mail
Where do listeners actually find new podcasts? We're breaking down the biggest ways people discover new shows today, from podcast apps and search to word of mouth, social sharing, and AI-driven discovery.
We also talk about why being easy to recommend matters more than ever, how podcast titles and transcripts can improve discoverability, and why trying to be everywhere online is usually the fastest path to burnout.
In this episode:
What Alban learned from editing a full episode himself in CapCutWhy podcast apps are still one of...Creative Ways To Use Voicemail In Your Podcast
Send us Fan Mail
Jordan is out sick, so we talk through Voicemail and why hearing a listener’s voice can change the energy of a show. We share practical ways to collect, edit, and feature voicemails without turning the episode into a messy mailbag.
If you'd like your voice featured on the podcast, leave us a voicemail and tell us how you found your latest, most favoritist, podcast episode.
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPodsThanks for listening and Keep Pod...
Getting More Out Of Podcast Transcripts, Chapters, And Listener Interaction
Send us Fan Mail
We're digging into improved podcasting tools that can make your show easier to manage, easier to discover, and easier for listeners to engage with. (And the best part is its all built into your Buzzsprout account!)
Learn how better transcripts can help surface your episodes in search and AI tools, why chapter markers are getting more and more practical to use, and how listener interaction through Fan Mail is getting a big bump with replies and voicemail!
Discussed in this episode:
Automatic transcripts for more podcasters: w...How To Get Listeners To Actually Do What You Ask
Send us Fan Mail
We break down how to make a call-to-action that listeners actually complete without turning your podcast into a list of chores.
In this episode, we cover:
• defining a podcast call to action and why it matters across platforms
• avoiding stacked asks by choosing one priority
• planning CTAs during the outline so they feel intentional
• preventing listener selective hearing by varying the wording and prompt
• using the Benjamin Franklin effect to ask for help in a compelling way
• following the why, what, where formula for clearer d...
Turn AI Into Your Personal Podcast Analyst!
Send us Fan Mail
Can AI actually help you make a better podcast???
This week, we break down how to use AI to analyze your podcast episodes, transcripts, titles, and back catalog so you can spot patterns, improve your content, and plan stronger future episodes.
Kevin shares how he used ChatGPT to review Buzzcast’s episode titles, downloads, durations, and transcripts to uncover what topics perform best, what kind of conversations create the most engagement, how each host contributes to the show, and where there are opportunities to improve.
Along the way...
6 Episode Title Tips For Podcast Growth
Send us Fan Mail
We unpack data from Buzzcast's 217-episode archive and a Reddit case study to show how clarity, timing, and structure turn titles into growth engines. We share what actually moves downloads, why length is not the problem, and how to lead with listener outcomes.
Tips we discuss:
Content Editing for Podcasts: Dialogue Cleanup, Time Cuts, and Better Guest Answers
Send us Fan Mail
This week, we're discussing audio content editing! This isn't the typical audio editing of noise reduction or EQ settings, but how to edit the dialogue and story so your interviews feel tighter, clearer, and way more listenable.
We talk about how to “get good tape” (even when a guest gives you a non-answer), what to cut that annoys listeners, and how to remove preambles, filler words, repetition, and random environmental detours without making your show feel robotic.
Then we dig into frankenbiting: what it is, why it works, and where...
Apple’s New Video Announcement Explained
Send us Fan Mail
Apple’s newest announcement promised that “video arrives this spring,” but the bigger question is what actually changes for creators who aren’t sitting on network budgets or ad deals. We break down Apple Podcasts’ new HLS video support, why launch partners are all ad-driven networks, and what dynamic video ads could mean for revenue sharing. More importantly, does this shift help independent podcasters grow, or does it mostly refine the playback experience for audiences you already have?
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzca...Podcast Meetups 101: How To Host, Grow And Fund Local Events With Badr Milligan
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, we sit down with Badr Milligan, host of The Short Box Podcast and co-founder of JAX Podcasters United, to talk about how a simple meetup in 2018 turned into a 500+ member podcasting community.
We're covering:
How to start a local podcast meetup (even if you’ve never hosted an event)Why bars and restaurants want your group thereHow to market your event using Eventbrite, local news, libraries, and word-of-mouthWhen to add workshops, education tracks, or even a charity elementHow to keep events free without burning out (or selling yo...When To Not Publish An Interview
Send us Fan Mail
We talk through the real costs of a bad interview and share when to publish, when to pass and how to protect your feed without burning bridges. From SmartLess canceling a big-name taping to our own not-so-good experiences, we give practical tips for handling awkward recordings.
Special thanks to Kevin of Grit, Grace, and Inspiration for our custom Buzzcast song! (Stay until the end to hear it!)
If you have any tips or questions about hosting a meetup, let us know before the next episode.
Contact...
8 Tips To Make Podcasting More Fun And Less Like A Chore
Send us Fan Mail
When you first start a podcast, everything feels exciting! But somewhere around six months in, that feeling can change. Recording starts to feel routine. Metrics feel heavier. Deadlines creep in. And podcasting slowly starts to feel more like work than a creative outlet.
We are talking honestly about what happens when podcasting stops being fun, and how to bring that joy back without quitting your show.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or just tired of hitting publish, there are small, realistic shifts that make podcasting feel lighter, mo...
Why Podfest Felt Different This Year
Send us Fan Mail
We’re back from Podfest and this year felt different in some ways. We're recapping our favorite moments from the conference, from reconnecting with Buzzcast listeners and hosting our meetup to surprising industry shifts on the expo floor. We talk about what stood out, what was missing, why the sessions felt more creator-first than salesy, and get into frozen hallways, cold showers, Hall of Fame moments, and one legendary birthday party!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Join the Buzzsprout Facebook Community Group or the Reddit Community2026 Podcast Hall of...Setting Goals For Long-Term Podcasting Success
Send us Fan Mail
This episode, we start with a quick look at Apple’s new Creator Studio announcement and what it could mean for podcasters (plus some thoughts on GarageBand, Logic Pro, CapCut, and pricing across creator tools).
Then we dig into realistic, healthy podcasting goals. We asked listeners what success would look like for them in 2026, and the answers weren’t about chasing downloads or quitting day jobs. Instead, podcasters talked about consistency, letting go of perfection, building skills, listener engagement, and slowly working toward monetization.
Links mentioned in this epis...
Behind The 2025 Playbacks + Buzzsprout Ads Giveaway!
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at Buzzsprout’s most ambitious yearly recap yet! Learn how it was built, why it’s animated, and how it’s designed to help podcasters celebrate their work and share it easily. We dig into favorite stats, surprising listener data, and creative ways podcasters are using playback on social media.
Podcast Playback Breakdown
We're doing a giveaway for $4,000 in Buzzsprout Ad credits! Find out how to participate: Playback Giveaway
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanb...How To Start A Podcast Today
Send us Fan Mail
Want to know how to start a podcast? We're running an experiment in (almost) real time to see if we can create a brand new podcast in one Buzzcast episode.
Megan from Buzzsprout Weekly joins us as we work through her concept and niche, to format, equipment, software, artwork, and launching. We walk through the exact decisions we’d make if we were starting a podcast today!
If you’ve been sitting on a podcast idea, feeling overwhelmed, or trying to convince a friend to finally hit publish, this episo...
Why 2025 Was A Great Year For Podcast Listeners
Send us Fan Mail
In this quick episode, we take a step back to appreciate how much podcast listening apps have improved and why that’s such a win for listeners and independent podcasters.
Updates from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and Fountain, had three big themes:
Discoverability: making it easier to find new shows you’ll actually want to listen toInteractivity: likes, comments, and recommendations that help great episodes spreadQuality of life: smarter playback controls, enhanced dialogue, chapters, and fewer accidental tapsIt feels...
We Listened To Your Podcasts And Gave Actionable Feedback
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, we turn Buzzcast into a mini help desk: listeners wrote in with their biggest podcasting pain points and bravely submitted their shows for honest, constructive feedback. We dig into things like tightening edits without making conversations feel “too clipped,” keeping loudness consistent across episodes, making dynamic content transitions feel natural, and using your show title and cover art to instantly communicate who your podcast is for.
We also talk strategy: How creators with big audiences (especially on YouTube/IG) can guide casual viewers into becoming true podcast subscribers and...
Turn Listener Messages Into An Engagement Loop
Send us Fan Mail
A small moment on Podnews Weekly Review sparked a chain reaction: episode shout-outs, listener fan mail jumping in, and a wholesome engagement loop that social media rarely delivers.
We also share that Buzzsprout’s annual year-in-review is back with a new name and it’s coming in January (so it includes 100% of your year). Download the Buzzsprout mobile app so you don’t miss it!
Contact Buzzcast
Send us Fan MailTweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPodsThanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!
Streamline Your Podcasting Workflow From Start To Finish
Send us Fan Mail
Whether you’re producing your first episode or your 300th, a smooth, sustainable workflow is the key to a long-lasting podcast. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the full podcasting process: from capturing ideas and outlining, to recording, editing, and finally publishing! We share the practical habits, tools, and systems that keep Buzzsprout podcasts running week after week.
We cover how to avoid bottlenecks, the most common places creators waste time, how to protect your recording schedule, and why templates, quick-capture idea systems, and consistent team habits make al...
