Buzzcast
by Buzzsprout
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!
Episodes
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Your Podcast Idea Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect To Get Started
Have a podcast idea you keep putting off because you haven’t found the perfect name or figured out the artwork? We talk about getting past those first hurdles with Buzzsprout’s new Podcast Starter Kit, which turns a few answers about your idea into name suggestions, a description, cover art, and...
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Why Your Podcast Stats Don't Add Up (And What Metrics Actually Matter)
This week, we’re sorting through the mess of podcast metrics across YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts to figure out what those numbers actually tell you about your audience. We discuss why combining stats from different platforms can be misleading, how Buzzsprout counts video downloads, and…
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Buzzsprout Gets A Dark Side
We finally roll out Buzzsprout dark mode and explain why it took years, why it turned into a full week of work, and what surprised us most about designing a “calm” interface. Then we tease a hidden Easter egg, share a few careful hints, and dare you to find it before everyone else does! Contact...
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These Podcasting Features Will Save You So Much Time
This week, we’re digging into a bunch of new Buzzsprout updates, including a redesigned Episodes page, podcast app previews, transcript autocorrect with easier editing, and a completely rebuilt embed player. Then in Fan Mail, we talk about podcast guesting as a growth strategy, the possibility of…
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How Teens Turn Podcast Episodes Into Secret Chat Rooms
What happens when teens can’t use social media? They turn podcast comments into group chats. Jordan shares how Spotify became an unexpected gathering place for kids. Plus, a recording glitch leads to a new sync fix in Session, and we debate whether timestamped comments could make podcast...
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Keeping The Indie Spirit Alive As Podcasting Grows
We're back from Podcast Movement in New York with thoughts on its new format, the talks we loved, and why some of our favorite moments happened outside the conference. We talk about what independent podcasters need from these events and what we'd do differently if Buzzsprout were to host one. We...
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We Built Our Own Reliable Remote Recording Software
We stop trusting browser-based remote recorders and explain why reliability matters more than features when you only get one shot at a great conversation. Kevin shares the Mac-only (for now) native app we’ve been building at Buzzsprout and how we pair it with Zoom or Google Meet while it records...
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Turn Your Best Episodes Into A Conference Talk
Your next conference talk is probably hiding in your podcast transcripts. As we get ready for Podcast Movement in New York, we walk through how Jordan used our Buzzcast archives and ChatGPT to develop a session pitch that got accepted (even when she barely had time to apply). We share the prompts...
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Reach More Podcast Listeners With One Click!
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...
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The Unexpected Ways Podcasting Changes Your Life
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...
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How Algorithms Are Making Podcasts Boring
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...
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Spotify Is Skipping Your Ads, But Is That Bad For Podcasting?
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…
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Publish Video Podcasts To Spotify And YouTube
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…
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How to Script a Podcast Without Sounding Scripted
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…
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The Secret To Reaching 800 Episodes: Fix Whatever Causes Burnout
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...
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Are These 5 Podcast Choices Costing You Listeners? with Courtney Elmer
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...
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Why We Took Our Show Off Spotify And What Brought Us Back
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...
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Managing Listener Feedback And Criticism
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…
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Is Video Podcasting Hard? What We Learned After One Month
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…
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How to Find the Right Podcast Co-Host
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…
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Apple Is Giving Listeners More Ways To Discover Your Show
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…
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Is It Time For You To Start Another Podcast?
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…
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Just Because It's Audio Doesn't Make It A Podcast
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...
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How To Get Booked On Podcasts with Alex Sanfilippo
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...
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The Hidden Value Of A Small Podcast
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...
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Podcast Repurposing Ideas That Aren’t Blogs Or Social Posts
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...
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Put Your Video Podcast On Apple!
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…
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How To Stand Out In A Crowded Podcast Niche
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!...
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Publish Podcast Episodes More Often With Less Stress
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…
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Where People Find New Podcasts
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…
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Creative Ways To Use Voicemail In Your Podcast
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...
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Getting More Out Of Podcast Transcripts, Chapters, And Listener Interaction
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…
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How To Get Listeners To Actually Do What You Ask
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…
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Turn AI Into Your Personal Podcast Analyst!
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...
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6 Episode Title Tips For Podcast Growth
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: Why clear,...
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Content Editing for Podcasts: Dialogue Cleanup, Time Cuts, and Better Guest Answers
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...
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Apple’s New Video Announcement Explained
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...
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Podcast Meetups 101: How To Host, Grow And Fund Local Events With Badr Milligan
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...
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When To Not Publish An Interview
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...
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8 Tips To Make Podcasting More Fun And Less Like A Chore
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...
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Why Podfest Felt Different This Year
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...
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Setting Goals For Long-Term Podcasting Success
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...
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Behind The 2025 Playbacks + Buzzsprout Ads Giveaway!
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…
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How To Start A Podcast Today
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…
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Why 2025 Was A Great Year For Podcast Listeners
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...
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We Listened To Your Podcasts And Gave Actionable Feedback
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...
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Turn Listener Messages Into An Engagement Loop
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...
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Streamline Your Podcasting Workflow From Start To Finish
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...
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How To Reduce Filler Words And Calm Your Nerves
We explore why filler words exist, when they help, and how to replace the noisy ones with breath, pause, and clean sentence endings. We share fast tools to calm nerves, better mic habits, and a pacing strategy that makes you sound confident without rushing. Watch the full Huberman Labs episode…
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How to Choose the Right Monetization Strategy For Your Podcast
Monetizing your podcast doesn’t have to mean chasing sponsors or hitting massive download numbers. We break down what podcast monetization actually looks like for indie podcasters and how to choose the strategies that genuinely fit your show. We cover: When you’re truly ready to monetize How...
About this show
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!
Hosted by
Buzzsprout
Categories