Prologue
Baby Reindeer
Everybody is talking about this Netflix series. I started watching it after a friend of mine commented on the format and how it's narrated and shot.
NPR referred to one of the major plots as "the rug-pull."
It's definitely not something you'd see on broadcast television, for various reasons. Yet it may just get an Emmy. Or several.
And that's why I'm mentioning it here.
For podcasters, Baby Reindeer is a prime example of the power of innovation. Just as this series has found acclaim by breaking the mold, your podcast could benefit from creative risks that challenge the expectations of your listeners.
Obviously, be skillful—you should have a reason for doing everything you do, not just throw random stuff against the wall to see if it sticks. But if you feel drawn to something, don't let feelings of it being "outside the norm" stop you from doing it. The world is a big place and there is somebody looking for what you've got.
What do you think about Baby Reindeer? Reach out to me via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
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Podcast Hosting Skills
5 Questions To Ask Yourself When You Want To Get Better At Something
You may have heard me mention The Podcast Sausage Factory and how helpful that can be for becoming a better podcast host.
Related to that is this article, which talks about five questions to ask yourself when you want to get better at something.
- What are you trying to improve?
- What's your current process for trying to improve?
- What are the biggest roadblocks to your process?
- What could you do to eliminate or improve those roadblocks?
- What ONE area will you focus on eliminating/improving and how specifically will you implement it?
I've worked with a lot of podcasters over the years and know how easy it is to "do the same podcast" every single time, quickly hitting a plateau with your hosting and production skills. If you're making new episodes, but feeling like you're not improving in these areas, asking yourself these questions is a great way to shake things up and get moving forward again.
Podcasting Tools
Audacity 3.5 is out!
Audacity 3.5 was released this week and features several new features that will be helpful for your podcast production.
Things like:
- Cloud project saving
- Pitch shifting
- Simplified interface
But what I'm really happy to see is improved compatibility with Izotope plugins, including this $29 dialogue plugin, VEA.
Need to learn Audacity? This is the guy who can teach you.
Podcast Production
15 Podcasting Lessons from George Carlin
OK, they're comedy lessons that I'm hijacking for podcasting, but I think George would have wanted it that way. Regardless, consider these ...
1. Tape everything.
2. Challenge everything.
3. Draw inspiration from artists in other media.
4. Create a unique stew.
5. Don’t sound like everyone else.
Podcast Humor
I don't know where you are, but ...
In podcasting, there's always "bad audio" to fix. Fortunately, we have tools like Adobe Enhance that make quality fixes easier than ever.
What's your main "bad audio" solution? I love Izotope RX.
If you're been thinking about RX, note that you can buy the current version (10) on sale now and get the next version (11) in a couple of months for free.
There are three options—Elements, Standard, and Advanced. For most podcasters, Standard works just fine. If you're recording remote audio in noisy places, Advanced may be worth a look.
But start with Adobe Enhance ... it's inexpensive and very powerful.
The Business of Podcasting
The Dave Ramsey Impostor
There's a fake Dave Ramsey on the loose. I tried to tell the real Dave Ramsey, but was blocked ...
What you need to know ...
Your listeners trust you. Because of this, this story is something to keep in mind.
You might think, "Nobody would ever try to impersonate me," but this actually happens as much with mid-level podcasters and online influencers as anybody.
I'll have more examples of this in the audio edition of this newsletter. If you've has somebody impersonate you in any way, reach out to me via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads and let me know your story.
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Riverside records high-quality audio (and video) directly from your browser. No special equipment is needed and connecting with your guest is as simple as sending a web link!
You can try Riverside free (no credit card is needed) and, if you like it, save 15% on any paid plan by using the coupon code BIGPODCAST.
$100 Podcast Studio from Focusrite
This $100 Podcast Studio from Focusrite includes:
- Vocaster One audio interface
- Vocaster DM1 mic
- Focusrite HP60v studio headphones
- XLR mic/interface cable
It's perfect for a solo podcaster or somebody doing only remote interviews.
Have two people in the same room? This $200 Podcast Studio with Vocaster DM14v mic, studio headphones, and XLR cable will do what you need.
The Wrap Up
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