Pods Like Us

Liquid Content, Skip Buttons, and a Memory Walk - Episode SummaryThis week Marv shares a personal reflection on a memory walk marking one year since his mum's passing, then runs through a jam-packed week in podcasting news — TrueFans, Spotify's skip button backlash, YouTube's tougher monetisation rules, a new AI voice platform, African podcast monetisation struggles, Disney's deal with The Overlap, and more. Plus: Marv reveals he used Claude AI to help tighten this week's script.Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — Marv's memory walk for his mum, and getting a shoutout from Sam Sethi on Podnews Weekly Review[00:01:00] Monday — TrueFans in Forbes, RSS.com's HLS video distribution, BBC's Acoustic Kitty episode, Stephanie Fuccio's discoverability experiment, the Spotify "skip forward" debate[00:03:00] Tuesday — YouTube's doubled monetisation requirements, Apple's fuzzy play-count data, BionicVO's AI voice cloning, the citation problem, Dave Campbell's "start where you are" message[00:05:00] Wednesday — John McDermott's radio stress dream and shrinking listening feed, a self-replicating LLM on AI Girls Club, Too Long Didn't Listen's season finale, a new Buzzsprout WordPress plugin, African podcast revenue ($3.1bn industry)[00:09:00] Thursday — Disney signs The Overlap for Disney+, a survey on "what is a podcast," Substack's Stripe/Africa payment problem[00:10:00] Friday — RSS.com's HLS video plans on Podnews Weekly Review, an Obama "podcast" from Audible, Sam Sethi's feedback on newsletter length[00:13:00] Sign-off — Format experiment notes, where to find the show[00:14:00] Trailer — Fallacious Trump(Timestamps are approximate, taken from the transcript's minute markers — worth a quick check against the actual audio before publishing.)Mentioned This WeekFrank Racioppi (Forbes) / Sam Sethi — TrueFansJames Cridland — Podnews Daily / Podnews Weekly ReviewRSS.com — HLS video distributionJohn Scott Dryden — Central Intelligence (BBC)Stephanie Fuccio — discoverability experiments, SubstackNeal Veglio — PodmasteryDan Price — BionicVODave Campbell — SubstackJohn McDermott — newsletter, "Cridlandism"/"McDermottism"Grace — AI Girls ClubDubble Audio & Josh Craggs — Too Long Didn't ListenGavin Gaddis & Jim Ballas — Sounds Profitable / PodbizTony Doe & Israel Usolor — Into The PodverseRob Greenlee — New Media ShowBen & Alberto — RSS.comCreditsDistributed and sponsored by RSS.com. Find "Pods Like Us" wherever you get your podcasts, and all links at themarvzone.org

Risk, Rears, and ReverbMarv reunites with two old friends from the Nottinghamshire music scene — Dolby Atmos mixing engineer Kurt Martinez and music educator/dementia-charity worker Rob Huskinson — for a wide-ranging chat about immersive audio, career risk-taking, and what it actually means to teach music in 2026.Kurt walks through how he backed into podcast/audio-drama mixing via Audible's early Atmos launch, why documentaries and scripted drama get treated completely differently in the mix (stage-setting vs. free-roaming immersion), and the gunshot-and-bullet-trajectory example that shows just how precisely spatial audio storytelling can get. He also talks through mixing Kylie Minogue's latest album in Atmos — commuting with it on AirPods Max, checking it on a Sonos speaker while doing housework, and revisiting it recently on 7.1.4 headphones to see how it's held up.Rob brings the conversation into music education, talking about designing a curriculum that starts from what's relevant to students now rather than working backwards from music history, and his work with Open Door, a Nottinghamshire dementia day service, where he helps organise carer support events (money management, physiotherapy, nutrition) alongside the day-to-day group sessions. There's also a candid stretch on ADHD, time management, and the different but complementary ways Kurt and Rob each work in a studio.The three of them close on the value of informal networking ("smooshy events"), the risks each of them took to build a freelance/portfolio career, and what's next for each — including Season 2 of I Am Not Nicholas, out now.In this episode:How Kurt got into Dolby Atmos, from a Guinness cinema ad to mixing I Am Not Nicholas for BBC/AudibleThe difference between mixing music, scripted audio drama, and documentary in AtmosMixing Kylie Minogue's latest album in immersive audioBuilding a curriculum around student relevance vs. music historyOpen Door — a Nottinghamshire dementia day service, and Rob's work with carersADHD, time management, and studio workflowCareer risk-taking, freelancing, and the value of informal networkingWhat's next: I Am Not Nicholas S2, new Alfie Duke and Meek singles, The Script's new albumGuests:Kurt Martinez — Dolby Atmos mixing engineer (Audible, BBC, I Am Not Nicholas, Kylie Minogue) — find him on LinkedIn and InstagramRob Huskinson — music lecturer and grants/events lead for Open Door dementia day service — find him on LinkedIn

The Skip Heard Around the Podcasting World - Spotify's "Skip Forward" fallout The big story of the week: Spotify's new ad-skipping option for premium users, first flagged by James Cridland (PodNews) and picked up by Elsie Escobar and Rob Walch on In and Around Podcasting. Marv unpacks why it's such a headache for ad-supported podcasters, traces it back to Spotify's 2018 "Active Media" experiment in Australia, and previews Neil Veglio's upcoming Podmastery episode (Monday 10th August) on how creators might respond — including making shows "less skippable."Sodajerker Songwriting Lab — quick announcement A special one-day workshop from Bri and Si of Sodajerker on Songwriting, Friday 4th September at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, with songwriters Sacha Skarbek and Ben Parker. Small groups, hands-on writing, open to songwriters of any level. Details and booking: sodajerker.com/labMeta's $942 million New Mexico ruling A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million on top of an earlier $375 million penalty, bringing the total to $942 million over harm to children and teens on Facebook and Instagram. The ruling also mandates stronger age verification, safety education, and deletion of under-13 user data. Marv connects this to the wider question of platform design and engagement, and what it might mean for podcasters who rely on social media for discoverability.Musical tangent: Yazoo, Alison Moyet, and Prefab Sprout Prompted by a Stephanie Fuccio Substack post about the band Yazoo (Yaz in the US) and singer Alison Moyet ("Alf"), Marv goes down a musical trivia rabbit hole — including a nod to Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout, whose reported perfectionism has allegedly kept several albums unreleased.Around the podcasting SubstacksFrank Racioppi on the new International Advisory Board for Eurowaves, and a review of fiction podcast American AfterlifeNeil Veglio (Podmastery) on letting go of the "consistency is key" mythStephanie Fuccio on perfectionism vs. creating, and on how a podcast's real direction often only becomes clear in hindsightRob Walch explaining the AMP Accords and the IAB's role — guidelines, not commandmentsJohn McDermott's newsletter and listening round-upTony Doe's Into the Podverse — new podcast launches, PodGround funding news, and Elsie Escobar's 20 years in podcastingA shared surprise that no black woman appears on Forbes' highest-earning podcasters listPaul D Brazil's Substack piece on actors who've had songs named after themHousekeeping An apology for a missed Wednesday episode due to a tricky multi-part edit, plus thanks to sponsor RSS.com.After the sign-off A trailer for Keep the Flame Alive, the Olympics and Paralympics podcast.

Marv opens with a trailer for the podcast, But You Can't Stay Here, about a move from the US back to Lima, Peru in 2024 and the pull between two homes as their three-year anniversary approaches. He follows with two bonus clips: a 2025 conversation with Arielle Nisenblatt about her podcast-listening habits, and a fresh chat with old bandmates Rob and Kurt about mixing immersive/Atmos audio for podcasts. The rest of the episode is Marv's usual week-in-review of the podcasting world — new gear patches, industry layoffs, newsletter drama, and a stack of recommended listens.Shows & People Mentioned• But You Can't Stay Here• WTF with Marc Maron, On with Kara Swisher, Daily Zeitgeist, The Brian Lehrer Show, Secretly Incredibly Fascinating, Today Explained, The Puzzler• Earbuds Podcast Collective newsletter — Arielle Nisenblatt• I Am Not Nicholas (Audible/BBC)• Podnews Daily — James Cridland• The Download — Sounds Profitable, Gavin Gaddis• Ken Michael's Radio Hour• Toppermost of the Poppermost (Marv, Ed, Kit)• Open Door (dementia support charity)• Podbites newsletter• Royal Swindle — Blanchard House, Becky Milligan• Stephanie Fuccio / GeoPats podcast• Comicbook Nation• Into the Podverse — Tony Doe• Belief in the Future• AI Girls Club• Jacob Reed and Me• The Good QuestLinks• themarvzone.org• newsletter.earbuds.audio

On the Tip of My Tongue: Jonathan Hirons on Aphasia, Advocacy, and PodcastingThis episode, Marv sits down with Jonathan Hirons, host of the podcast On the Tip of My Tongue, to talk about aphasia — a communication disorder that affects language but not intelligence or memory — and how it shaped his life and work.Jonathan shares the story of the sudden stroke that left him with aphasia, the speech and language therapy that followed, and the vital role his wife played early on using flashcards to help rebuild his vocabulary. He and Marv discuss why aphasia remains so poorly understood despite affecting more people than Parkinson's disease, and why groups and community support make such a difference for people relearning to communicate.The conversation also traces how Jonathan's aphasia documentary evolved into a podcast, why he brought on co-host Rob Edwards to handle scripted segments, and how the show balances lived experience with expert insight. They wrap up comparing notes on production workflows, episode artwork, and the "teaser hook" technique both shows use to draw listeners in.In This Episode● What aphasia is, and why it's known as a "hidden disability"● Jonathan's personal story: sudden onset, hospitalization, and diagnosis● The road through speech therapy and relearning to read, write, and speak● Why community groups are key to rebuilding confidence● How a documentary film became a podcast● Behind-the-scenes: recording with Zoom, editing in Reaper, publishing via Buzzsprout● The importance of podcast artwork and episode "teasers"● Where to find On the Tip of My Tongue and how to support the showLinks & ContactOn the Tip of My Tongue: tipofmytonguefilm.comEmail Jonathan: [email protected] Jonathan on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedInPods Like UsContact: [email protected] links and socials: themarvzone.org

Mercedes vs. Ford: The Great Podcast Artwork Debate - Marv (Martin Quibell) rounds up a busy week in podcasting, featuring a special roundtable on episode artwork with NJ Belenky (PodBiz) and Neil Veglio (PodKnows, Podmastery), plus the usual roundup of podcasting news, links, and listens.Panel: Should You Change Your Episode Artwork? (The "Mercedes vs. Ford" Question) Marv is joined by NJ Belenky and Neil Veglio for the first in an occasional series answering listener questions. Kevin Brown (host of Seaside Pod Review, The Tom Petty Project, and Ultimate Catalog Clash) asks whether shows should use one consistent piece of artwork ("Mercedes approach") or unique artwork per episode ("Ford approach").Trailer A trailer for Creatures of the Wind, created as part of the July Podcast Prompt Challenge, plays out the episode.Links & MentionsPod Biz — NJ BelenkyPod Knows / Pod Mastery — Neil VeglioKevin Brown's shows: Seaside Pod Review, The Tom Petty Project, Ultimate Catalog ClashWhen They Was Fab (with Ed Chen)Podbites newsletterStephanie Fuccio / Melanie Goodman — LinkedIn/Substack flywheel articleSounds Profitable — The DownloadPodnews Daily — Kids PodFrank Racioppi — Streamlined SolopreneurCaleruega Media — John McDermott's newsletterRick Beato's YouTube channelJames Cridland — Radio Land newsletterLeftlion Podcast, Notts Rock CastStephanie Fuccio — "Five Podcast Discoverability Elements That Help Old Episodes Get Found"Andrea Coscai — Euro Waves newsletterMIC Media — Vic Elizabeth TurnbullTony Doe — Into the PodverseEthan Alexanian (artwork design)Trailer: Creatures of the WindGet in touch: Questions for future roundtable episodes → [email protected] Find the show: themarvzone.org Sponsor: RSS.com

Access All Areas: Bee France on a Lifetime of INXSMarv sits down with Bee France, host of not one but two INXS podcasts — INXS Access All Areas and Listen Like Fans — for a sprawling, story-packed conversation about the band that has shaped her life for nearly 40 years. From an accidental introduction via a friend's Duran Duran fandom to becoming genuine friends with band members like Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly, Bee shares how a teenage concert obsession turned into a thriving podcasting career and a global fan community spanning 40+ countries.They cover the band's early history and lineup origins (Guinness and Doctor Dolphin!), dig into album-by-album favourites, revisit iconic live moments (Wembley Stadium, the Aria Awards, the Brit Awards Oasis controversy), and talk candidly about the harder topics fans avoid — Michael Hutchence's death, the misconceptions around Paula Yates, and the emotional weight some fans still carry. Bee also opens up about the mechanics of podcasting: production tools, working with a co-host across cities, AI-assisted editing (and why she won't let AI fully edit a show), and her hopes for INXS's 50th anniversary and their long-overdue nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Devil Loose: The Life and Music of Harry Vanda podcast

This week on Pods Like Us Chronicles, Marv sits down with Jamie East — Head of Podcast at DGM, and creator/host of Bad Blood: Life of a Cancer — for an unfiltered conversation about turning a chronic myeloid leukaemia diagnosis into one of the most honest podcasts around.Jamie talks about recording the first phone call within days of diagnosis, why he refused to cut the swearing out in the edit, using dark humour as a coping mechanism, his trip to Glasgow with Leukaemia UK to meet the researchers behind the science, and why he called out a rival podcast's trailer for peddling "big pharma" conspiracy nonsense. He also explains why, one year on, he's not sure there's more to say — and why that might be exactly the right place to end a show.Content warning: this episode contains strong language throughout.After the interview, a trailer for fellow July Podcasting Month show Fallacious Trump, followed by Marv's usual round-up of the week's biggest podcasting news and views — and closing out with a trailer for Sports Are Dumb.The back half of this episode is Marv's usual whirlwind tour through the podcasting industry's week, pulling together insight from across the newsletter world. He touches on backing up your archive for new formats via Mia Kuroki, the discipline of staying in your lane rather than chasing every platform via Neal Veglio, and the shifting landscape at Buzzcast, Spotify and Megaphone via Gavin Gaddis. There's a nod to James Cridland's spot on Tom Holland interviewing Tom Holland, Frank Racioppi's Forbes piece championing shows that genuinely help people through hard moments in life, and Stephanie Fuccio's reflections on using AI to wrangle scattered thoughts and on the value of a good trailer. Rounding it out are GoodPods' most-viewed shows, John McDermott's take on parasocial listening habits and Netflix's secretive podcast numbers, and Tony Doe's look at AI discoverability, a rap-format chat show, and the growing podcast scene across Africa — a genuinely packed, "something for everyone" segment for anyone working in or around the medium.

From a University Dorm Room to RSS.com: The Alberto Betella Story - Marv sits down with Alberto Betella, co-founder of RSS.com, following a chance meeting at the Podcast Show in London. Alberto traces an origin story that stretches back two decades — from building the open-source Podcast Generator as a university literature student in Italy in 2005, to a serendipitous 2017 email from RSS.com co-founder Ben that led to the launch of RSS.com's podcast hosting platform in 2018.The conversation ranges widely: the technical and philosophical roots of the RSS feed, why the podcasting industry is unusually collaborative rather than cutthroat, the psychology (and neuroscience) of why listeners trust podcast hosts, the promise and risk of AI in podcast production, why niche shows may outlast viral hits, the future of podcast discovery, and the thorny problem of music licensing in podcasts. The episode closes with a run of listener-submitted questions and Alberto's own podcast recommendations.Key Discussion Points:The origin story: Podcast Generator (2005–2018)How RSS.com came to beWhy podcasting's competitors collaborateThe psychology of the podcast listener relationshipAI in podcastingListener Q&A: Cam (Jacked Up Review Show): How does podcasting's technology compare to other engineering fields? → Discussion of Podcasting 2.0 tags, the location tag, and Alberto's own project, Atlas (atlas.rss.io), a visual network map of cross-podcast recommendations built on Podcast Index "PodRoll" data.Gill (The Mindbuzz Podcast): What separates shows that last 10 years from those that vanish? → Alberto's "niche over virality" thesis, and RSS.com's free-forever plan for local/niche shows.Phil Better (The Podcast Mogul's Playbook): How will podcast marketing change? → Preference for human-to-human cross-promotion and guesting over automated "feed drops," plus a nod to Apple Podcasts auto-linking recommended shows found in transcripts.Stephen Nicholson (Sheer Pod Attack): What's next in podcast discovery, especially for niche music podcasts? → Human recommendation networks (again, Atlas/PodRoll) and the unresolved global licensing problem for music-in-podcasts, including a tangent comparing it to how international postal services reconcile costs.Alberto's own listening habitsRegulars: Podnews Weekly Review, Podcasting 2.0, The New Media Show, Podbiz (by Norma Jean).Personal favorite outside the industry: Acquired, especially its long-form deep dives (F1, Hermès, etc.).

From CIA Cats to Community: This Week in Podcasting -This week on Pods Like Us Chronicles, Marv reflects on two long walks, a moving new podcast about cancer, and sits down with two brilliant guests shaping the future of audio drama and scripted podcasting.In this episode:🚶 A seven-mile walk, a heatwave, and an intro built entirely out of numbers🎙️ A powerful recommendation for Bad Blood: Life of a Cancer, Jamie East's raw, honest podcast about his CML diagnosis🗣️ Talib Jasir (founder of Afros in Audio and creator of The Fussings — Until One of Us Is Dead) on launching Down the Road Media, a new directory and creator ecosystem for audio drama🎬 John Scott Dryden (director/EP of Central Intelligence, Goldhawk Productions) previews Season 3, Kim Cattrall, the real Eloise Page, Kelsey Grammer as LBJ, and yes — the CIA's infamous cat-spying project📰 A roundup of the week in podcasting: newsletters from Tony Doe, Dave Campbell, and Stephanie Fuccio, the British Podcast Awards diversity numbers, and this week's Mercury Podcast promptsGuests:Talib Jasir — downtheroad.media · Instagram/LinkedIn: @TalibJasir · Afros and Audio on InstagramJohn Scott Dryden — Director & Executive Producer, Central Intelligence (Goldhawk Productions for BBC); Season 3 launches July 10Also mentioned this week:Bad Blood: Life of a Cancer — Jamie East99% Invisible — em dash episodeDesert Skies & Strange Air — Jared CarterInto the Podverse newsletter — Tony Doe"We Are Not the 51st State of Podcasting" — Dave Campbell's SubstackDaily Tips That May or May Not Help You — Arielle NissenblattWhen There Was Fab (with guest David Guerrero, on his Beatles-in-the-Philippines book)Harry's Home — with Helen Quigley & Hannah PuddefootPodcast Editors Mastermind — filler word tipsPod Mastery: Podcast Insights — Neal Veglio on listener attention & discovery statsPod News Daily — James Cridland (British Podcast Awards, London Podcast Festival, Sept 3–13)Stephanie Fuccio's Substack — podcast titles, ChatGPT vs GeminiSupport the show: Pods Like Us is distributed and sponsored by RSS.com. Find all links and socials at www.themarvzone.org

Pods Like Us — Harry's Home: Bringing Alzheimer's to Audio DramaHost: Martin Quibell ("Marv") Guests: Helen Quigley (Producer, B7 Media) & Hannah Puddefoot (Writer)Episode SummaryMarv sits down with producer Helen Quigley and writer Hannah Puddefoot to talk about Harry's Home — an audio drama adapted from Hannah's 2013 stage play, starring Phil Davis as Harry, a man returning home after a stay in care, and Nicola Bryant as his daughter Theresa. The drama follows a family navigating Harry's Alzheimer's, and the very different ways his children and grandchildren relate to him as a result.Helen and Hannah talk candidly about the personal experiences that shaped the story, the years-long journey from stage to studio, the crowdfunded and entirely independent production process, and why they chose to release the finished drama for free. They also dig into the craft of writing and producing for audio — sound design, restraint in performance, and what makes a drama "immersive" without ever visualising it.Cast & Crew MentionedPhil Davis as HarryNicola Bryant as TheresaTimothy Blore and Rose Quentin as grandchildren Keith and LaurieJosh as Rob, Harry's carerAndrew Mark Sewell — DirectorColin Brake — Script editorAlex (Marco) — Sound designSophie Cotton — ComposerWhere to Listen to Harry's HomeB7 Media's Bandcamp pageaudio.comHeard+ platformCare Radio (from June 2026, online and on digital radio in parts of Manchester and London)Connect with the GuestsHelen Quigley: Instagram @hqvoice · Bluesky @soundliness.comHannah Puddefoot: Instagram @h.puddefootMore From Pods Like UsFind Pods Like Us wherever you get your podcasts. Links to social media and contact details are on the show's homepage at themarvzone.org. Pods Like Us is distributed and sponsored by RSS.com.

Pods Like Us Chronicles — 5th July 2026This week, Marv brings a re-recorded conversation, two guest-spot clips from other shows, and a full round-up of his week in podcasting.He opens with an improved re-recording of his chat with Tobiloba Sulaiman, creator of AuTrans, a transcription tool built for African languages like Hausa, Pidgin, and Nigerian dialects. Tobiloba explains how the app grew out of his own struggle transcribing recordings in languages most tools don't support, how organic word-of-mouth marketing (rather than big-budget promotion) has driven steady sign-ups, and what's next for AuTrans — including a mobile app and features inspired by tools like Otter and Fireflies.Marv then shares two clips from other podcasting projects: a segment from Review It Yourself, featuring his partner Louise discussing the Sacha Baron Cohen film Ladies First, and a preview from When They Was Fab, where Martin and co-host Ed Chen dig into the Beatles' final 1966 tour.The episode wraps with Marv's regular newsletter-style round-up: shout-outs to podcasting writers and creators he's been following, an update on new artwork for the show, and a report on his progress through the July Podcasting Challenge (from posting a relaxation photo to building a new trailer for Season 11 of Pods Like Us). He closes by playing a trailer for a fellow challenge participant's show, Jacob Reid and Me — a documentary-comedy series about one man's search for others who share his name.In this episode:Building a niche transcription tool for underserved languages (AuTrans)Growing a product through organic, word-of-mouth marketingBehind-the-scenes clip: Ladies First film discussion (Review It Yourself)Behind-the-scenes clip: The Beatles' 1966 farewell tour (When They Was Fab)Weekly podcasting news and community shout-outsProgress update on the July Podcasting ChallengeTrailer preview: Jacob Reid and MeShow notes and title created with assistance from Claude AI

On Thursday the 2nd of July 2026 Marv spoke with Ana for what was intended to be around five or six minutes for a segment of a Chronicles episode, but it lasted a little bit longer.He decided instead of portioning off a five to six minute piece of the conversation to include it as a segment of the episode, that he would put out the longer discussion as what will now be episode one of season eleven!In this bonus episode, host Marv catches up with podcast producer and coach Ana Xavier, prompted by a LinkedIn post about her plans to meet fellow podcasters during her stay in London. The conversation opens with a look back at Ana's recent episode on ten ways to repurpose podcast content with less effort — including her standout tip of re-using clips from guest appearances on other shows as content for your own. Ana explains why these "guest spot" moments often reveal a more personal, less rehearsed side of a host that resonates strongly with listeners.The conversation then shifts to community: Ana talks about her history organizing podcast meetups (in Dallas, and now London), why in-person podcast conferences are worth prioritizing despite the cost or effort, and how genuine, lasting collaborations — not just networking — come out of them. Both Ana and Martin swap stories from The Podcast Show and Podcast Movement, including the value of finding a small "buddy group" to lean on at big events, overcoming first-timer nerves, and managing social battery at multi-day conferences. Ana closes by plugging her own episode on maximizing conference attendance and boosting downloads beforehand.Key themes: repurposing podcast content, imposter syndrome/fear around first conferences, building community as an underrepresented voice in a male-dominated industry, and the real-world friendships that come from podcast events.

Coming soon: Marv speaks with more people from the world of podcasting and online creatives, to find what you are looking for, whether it be a new show to get addicted to, tips for podcasting, or anything else.

Another packed look back at Marv's week since the previous Chronicles episode.IntroLazy Sunday researching and recording the podcast When They Was Fab#Soundbite from my discussion with Phil Better of The Podcast Mogul's PlaybookListener reviewsConsolidation, Sodajerker On Songwriting, Song Exploder, and more recording#Soundbite from my discussion with Rod Gordon of This Must Be Talking HeadsCompleting the newsletter and editing episodes#Soundbite from my discussion with Bee France of INXS: Access All Areas and Listen Like FansSubstack articles by Tobiloba Suliamon about AuTrans, and Dave Campbell asks "Is a 30-Second Podcast Play Meaningful? Why Podcast Analytics May Need A Rethink."Quick mentions - preparing for the podcast Toppermost of the Poppermost and a phone call with Sam Sethi of TrueFans.OutroSpecial thanks to RSS.COM for distributing and sponsoring Pods Like Us.Go to www.themarvzone.org for the links on the opening screen.

In this episode Marv talks about what's happened with his podcasting journey between Sunday the 7th of June and Saturday the 13th of June.There are also clips from future episodes with Helen Quigley and Hannah Puddefoot of Harry's Home, RSS.COM founder Alberto Betella, and podcast producer, mentor and presenter Matthew Bliss.1 Intro2 Journal 1 - Finishing off editing, creating music, scammed out of an account on X, and a small win.3 Journal 2 -Talk about his conversation with Jonathan about a lack of awareness of aphasia, with his film and podcast On The Tip Of My Tongue4 Clip of Hannah Puddefoot talking about trying to write a realistic family with Alzheimer's5 Journal 3 - Dave Campbell's Substack post ‘If Your Podcast Was A Car, Would It Be A Manual Transmission Or A Self Driving Tesla.’6 Journal 4 - Talk about his conversation with RSS.COM founder Alberto Betella7 Clip of Alberto Betella talking about AI in podcasting8 Journal 5 - Talk about his conversation with Rod Gordon about This Must Be Talking Heads9 Journal 6 - Talk about his conversation with podcast producer, mentor, and presenter Matthew Bliss.10 Clip of Marv and Matthew Bliss discussing a new audience that could be catered for using video in podcasts11 Journal 7 - Bits not mentioned yet - recording the music show Toppermost of the Poppermost, moving Pods Like Us distribution to RSS, and a noisy phone call with Sam Sethi of TrueFans.

It's a little bit more produced than last week's first ever episode of the Chronicles episodes, so I would love to hear what people think of it. Does it work with the different segments? Are the musical interludes okay, or would a bit of electronica, rock, or something else have worked better? Does it matter? Technically there are six elements to this episode, and here they are; 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Podbites newsletter and Patreon updates 04:09 Postponed recording, experience kicks in 09:43 A conversation with Andreea Coscai about the new eurowaves.eu dedicated website 16:30 A conversation with Tobiloba Suliamon about the new translation software AuTrans, which is particularly useful for transcribing different African languages and dialects 26:03 More Pods Like Us updates and show outro

Marv gives some initial quick take aways from discussions that he has had with guests from recordings for future episodes. 1. Mike Davis - Founder of Stag Films, Writer, Producer, Director, and Archive Footage Advisor. 2. Hannah Puddefoot and Helen Quigley, the writer and the producer respectively of audio drama Harry's Home, which looks at the subject of Alzheimer's. 3. Phil Better - Podcasting Advisor and Podcaster Extraordinaire.

Marv recorded quick chats with three people at the event to find out what it is that they love about The Podcast Show London 2026. Over 6000 people in attendance!

Marv recorded quick chats with three people at the event to find out what it is that they love about The Podcast Show London 2026. Over 6000 people in attendance!

Marv talks about his trip to London for The Podcast Show in Islington the day before the event, the meet up the evening/night before, and what he will be doing while he is there. Not included in the episode, put placed here to make Jsmes Cridland (a Londoner) of Podnews laugh, is how Marv on the way back to the hotel after the meet up completely forgot that you have to stay to the right on stairs and escalators. That is despite him only a day or so before speaking with someone about how you have to stay to the right.

In preparation for The Podcast Show in London, I got my portable handheld Tascam recorder out and Louise thought it would be a great idea to test it, so that I know what I'm doing when I get there. With that in mind Louise thought that it would be good to record an off the cuff interview with me. At the beginning Louise is too close to the device, which is why you can hear the air coming out of Louise's mouth interfering with the words. None of this rehearsed or scripted, so neither of us knew where it was going!

Two lifelong Queen fans. One song at a time. Stephen and Paul Nicholson — brothers and co-hosts of the acclaimed Trimming the Musical Fat music podcast — join Marv on Pods Like Us to talk about their brand new weekly podcast Sheer Pod Attack, where they're covering every single Queen track in chronological order in under 10 minutes per episode.  From the Queen I debut album all the way through to Made in Heaven, no song gets skipped. In this conversation the trio dive deep into Queen fandom, the 2026 Queen II remix, Hot Space revisionism, favourite Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor solo records, podcast production tools, and the childhood memories that made Queen the greatest band in the world — at least to them.  Whether you're a hardcore Queen obsessive, a casual fan rediscovering the catalogue, or a podcaster looking for format inspiration, this episode is packed with insight, nostalgia, and genuine passion for one of music's most genre-defying acts.  ABOUT SHEER POD ATTACK A weekly Queen podcast covering every song in the  catalogue — in order — in under 10 minutes. New episodes every week. [email protected] Find them on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky  ABOUT PODS LIKE US Hosted by Marv (Martin Bel). New episodes on all major podcast platforms. Find us on Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and Bluesky.   #Queen #QueenBand #FreddieMercury #BrianMay #RogerTaylor #JohnDeacon #QueenPodcast #SheerPodAttack #MusicPodcast #PodsLikeUs #TrimmingTheMusicalFat #QueenRemix2026 #QueenGreatestHits #MrBadGuy #FunInSpace #HotSpace #TheWorks #PodcastingTips #MusicHistory #ClassicRock

An update to let people know what's happening with the show - it's a little unplanned hiatus. 

Episode Summary - Host Marv speaks with writer-director Matthew Woodcock about The Divide — a 12-episode spy-fi audio drama from Definitely Human Productions. They cover the creative journey from inspiration to release, including casting, sound design, cliffhanger structure, and the case against binge culture.  What You'll Learn - ● How a Cold War spy thriller can mirror modern social media manipulation  ● Why recording actors together in the same room transforms a performance  ● How sound design can function as a character in an audio drama  ● Why weekly episodic release beats bingeing for audience engagement  Key Topics - The Divide follows intelligence operative Paul Wilder across 1964 and 2025, blending spy fiction with sci-fi. Matthew discusses casting, working with sound designer Tom Dowling, and his love of classic cliffhanger storytelling drawn from Doctor Who, The Sandbaggers, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  Mentioned In This Episode - The Sandbaggers · The Ipcress File · The Man from U.N.C.L.E. · The Avengers · BBC Radio 4 Limelight · Audible's Lonely No More · True Fans platform · Atypical Artists · Big Finish · Didcot Railway Centre · Orpheus Studios Dalston  Find The Divide - All major podcast platforms | Instagram & Bluesky: @thedividedrama  Find Pods Like Us - All major podcast platforms | Patreon | www.themarvzone.org

He was podcasting before Apple knew what a podcast was. Twenty years later, Rob Walch is still the person the industry calls when they need answers — and in this episode he's giving them all away for free. Rob Walch, VP of Podcast Relations at Captivate and one of the most experienced voices in podcasting history, joins Marv for a conversation that every podcaster — beginner or veteran — needs to hear. From why your show title is silently killing your growth, to why Joe Rogan's biggest audience isn't watching him on YouTube, to how to use AI without letting it destroy your authenticity, this is a masterclass in modern podcasting from someone who has lived every era of it from the inside. If you want to start a podcast, grow your existing show, understand podcast metrics, or learn how to monetise your content — this episode covers all of it. 📬 CONTACT ROB WALCH 📧 [email protected] 📧 [email protected] ️ Search Space Business 411 on any podcast platform 🌐 FIND PODS LIKE US Website, socials & contact: themarzone.org / Support the show on Patreon — link on the website "There's just more time in the day to consume audio." — Rob Walch #Podcasting #PodcastTips #HowToStartAPodcast #PodcastGrowth #PodcastSEO #PodcastMarketing #AudioFirst #RSSFeed #ApplePodcasts #Captivate #RobWalch #PodsLikeUs #PodcastMonetization #IndependentPodcasting #ContentCreators #SpaceBusiness411 #PodcastAdvice #PodcastingIn2025 #GoogleTrends #AIForPodcasters #NichePodcasting #PodcastMetrics #VideoVsAudio #PodcastDiscovery #ElsieEscobar

Dr. Richard Marcs, author of A Murder Most Foul: The Life of a Hitman, joins Marv to talk abouthow a chance conversation with a Hollywood producer turned his longhand manuscript into aweekly audio drama recorded in Jakarta — and why the ending will send you straight back toepisode one. From accidental historical coincidences buried in a Texas road map, to using rock music asserious literary reference, to the unexpected self-editing power of hearing your own writing readaloud — this conversation covers what it actually takes to write a story that rewards beingexperienced twice. Whether you love crime fiction, audio drama, literary podcasts, or you're a writer looking for newways to edit your work, this episode is worth your time. 🎧 FIND THE AUDIO DRAMA: Search "Murder Most Foul: The Life of a Hitman" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 📚 Book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold 🌐 FIND PODS LIKE US: Website & contact: www.themarzone.org Support us on Patreon — link on the website. #PodcastInterview #AudioDrama #CrimeFiction #MurderMostFoul #Hitman #BobDylan #Serialized Fiction #WritingTips #AudioBook #IndependentPodcast #PodsLikeUs #RichardMarcs #ThrillerBooks #MysteryPodcast #WritingCommunity #BookPodcast #HitmanNovel #TrueInspiredFiction #IndieAuthor #PodcastRecommendations

Join Marv of Pods Like Us as he chats with Arya and Claire about their children's show, Something Different. Discover why having a child ask the questions leads guests like a stuntman and a figure skater to share more openly than they would with an adult.  Learn the powerful, heartfelt inspiration behind the show—celebrating people who are "something different," including a special connection to Down Syndrome awareness. The hosts share their full podcast format, from listener questions and games to their advice for new podcasters. A must-listen for kids and families looking for positive, screen-free entertainment and big inspiration.

Podcasting pioneer Elsie Escobar joins Martin Quibell to discuss the medium's transformation over two decades, from intimate community to corporate industry. Learn about the early days of podcasting, the challenges that creators face today, and why human connection still matters most.  What You'll Learn  The Early Days of Podcasting (00:01-08:51)  ● How a fifth-generation iPod led Elsie to discover podcasts  ● Finding Podcast 411 and becoming part of podcasting's first community  ● Why early podcasting was dialogue-driven and deeply interactive  ● The power of hearing your name mentioned on a show for the first time  From Hollywood to Podcasting Freedom (08:51-14:17)  ● Escaping the soul-crushing pigeonholing of the acting industry  ● How podcasting offered creative freedom without visual judgment  ● The transformative power of getting behind a microphone  ● Why voice-only media can be deeply empowering  Community vs Industry: The Great Shift (14:17-22:22)  ● How podcasting evolved from "we" culture to hierarchical media  ● Why early podcasters actively engaged with every listener  ● The loss of dialogue between hosts and audiences  ● When podcasting stopped being about community and became about assets  The Video Podcast Debate (22:22-29:42)  ● Concerns about podcasting becoming "another form of television"  ● The danger of losing podcasting's punk rock spirit  ● Why following corporate rules kills innovation  ● How to preserve the freedom that made podcasting special  She Podcasts: Amplifying Women's Voices (29:42-34:35)  ● Creating a counterbalance to male-dominated podcasting shows  ● The chemistry between Elsie and co-host Jess  ● How the show evolved into authentic life conversations  ● The power of women taking center stage  The Modern Podcasting Burden (34:35-48:39)  ● Why creating podcasts has become a full-time marketing job  ● From simple "mic to RSS" to video clips, transcripts, and social strategy  ● How overwhelming requirements stop creators from creating  ● Finding workflows that prioritize voice over visibility  AI in Podcasting: Tool or Replacement? (48:39-54:51)  ● Using AI for transcription while maintaining human curation  ● Why AI can't capture your unique message and positioning  ● The importance of writing your own show notes and chapter marks  ● Balancing efficiency with authentic care for your audience  Netflix, Spotify & Distribution Deals (54:51-1:08:22)  ● Why the Netflix "podcasting" deal isn't really about podcasts  ● Understanding old-school media distribution in new platforms  ● How one network built a multi-platform media empire  ● The difference between podcast networks and podcast community  What Makes a Good Podcast? (1:08:22-1:14:00)  ● Podcasts as solutions to listener needs  ● Why "good" depends entirely on context and timing  ● The soup vs ice cream analogy for podcast consumption  ● Why small, engaged audiences matter more than massive numbers  The Future: Slow, Human, and Sustainable (1:14:00-end)  ● Banking on slow, thoughtful content in a fast-moving world  ● Why human skills will become more valuable as AI advances  ● Building expansive, sustainable, and aligned creative work  ● The importance of staying grounded as technology accelerates  Key Quotes  "The mere act of getting behind the microphone, it just does a lot to you personally, in a good way. It's your teacher."  "I chose to no longer name [certain big podcasters] because we all need somebody else's name to be coming out of our mouths."  "Podcasting used to be such a lift. Now it feels like it's a full-time job."  "A good podcast provides the solution that I'm looking for at the time. Has nothing to do with quality, topic, format."  About Elsie Escobar - Elsie Escobar is a podcasting veteran who's been part of the medium since its earliest days. Known for her work at Libsyn and as co-host of The Feed and She Podcasts, Elsie has been a guiding voice for podcasters worldwide. She's an advocate for authentic, human-fi

Episode Description - Join host Marv for an in-depth conversation with Sam Sethi, entrepreneur, former tech journalist, and co-creator of True Fans. Discover the evolution of podcasting technology, the future of RSS feeds, and how blockchain-based micropayments could revolutionize creator monetization. Sam shares insights from his 30+ year journey through tech giants like Microsoft, Netscape, and BBC, and explains why podcasting 2.0 might be the industry's biggest shift since iTunes.  Key Topics Covered - Podcasting 2.0 & The New Namespace Sam explains the revolutionary metadata tags transforming podcast discovery and functionality, from person tags and chapters to location-based podcast mapping. Learn how open-source collaboration is challenging Big Tech's dominance.  The Future of Podcast Monetization Discover programmable money and value-for-value models that could replace traditional advertising. Sam reveals how listeners can earn micropayments for their attention while giving creators direct revenue streams. Streaming vs. Downloads: The Coming Shift Why the podcast industry's obsession with download numbers is outdated, and how first-party listen time data will revolutionize advertising effectiveness and creator insights.  AI in Podcasting: Hype vs. Reality Sam's take on "assisted intelligence" - where AI transcripts and automated chapters add value, and where synthetic voices fall short of authentic creator-listener relationships.  Timestamps - [00:00] Introduction and Sam's tech journalism background [02:00] From army officer to Microsoft: Sam's unconventional career path [04:00] The early days of blogging and TechCrunch Europe [05:00] COVID pivot: Building a radio station and discovering podcasting [06:00] Launching Pod News Weekly Review with James Cridland [07:00] Getting involved with Podcasting 2.0 and building True Fans [08:00] Apple finally adopts transcripts and chapters - validation for the namespace [10:00] Location tags and the future of podcast discovery [12:00] Why Sam loves technology over advertising metrics [14:00] The Spotify-Netflix deal and protecting niche podcasting [15:00] Advertising as "Emperor's new clothes" - the measurement problem [17:00] Revolutionary concept: Paying listeners to watch ads with programmable money [20:00] Value-for-value and streaming micropayments explained [22:00] Co-listening feature and building podcast communities [26:00] The Pod News Weekly dynamic: British humor and rapport [28:00] Moving from downloads to streaming: The next five years [30:00] Why listen time percentage matters more than raw numbers [33:00] The death of the download model and rise of streaming data [36:00] BBC Sounds international availability debate [40:00] The Panorama editing scandal and BBC's reputation [42:00] What makes a great podcast: Content, chemistry, and audio quality [45:00] Parasocial relationships and podcast magic [46:00] Claire Waite Brown's "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" - essential listening [47:00] Concerns about declining podcasting 2.0 content creators [51:00] Sam's podcast listening habits: Politics, sports, and intelligent conversation [53:00] AI as "assisted intelligence" not artificial intelligence [54:00] AI voices vs. authentic creator relationships [56:00] Different AI podcast models: Editorial control vs. content farms [58:00] How to connect with Sam and True Fans  Key Quotes - "I think micropayments and wallets might take a little longer, but I can see in 2026  that catching on as well... the merit of what the technology provides and why people want it stands out very well."  "The joy and the promise of podcasting is about the long tail, about the niche of  podcasting... somebody who's got a niche podcast about fishing or knitting or  whatever, c

Can you really write a book just by talking? In this episode of Pods Like Us, Martin "Marv" Quibell is joined by Tina Dietz, founder of Twin Flames Studios, to reveal the secret "Podcast Book" method that experts are using to turn their episodes into published books in record time.  We dive deep into how to repurpose your content, why most AI writing tools fail (and how to use them correctly), and why "conversational" writing is the key to building authority. If you’re a podcaster, coach, or entrepreneur looking to scale your brand, this conversation is a masterclass in content strategy.  In this episode, you will learn:  ✅ How to use your RSS feed to "write" a book without typing a  word.  ✅ The difference between "prescriptive" and "reflective" nonfiction.  ✅Why limited podcast series can be more effective than weekly shows.  ✅ Real case studies of authors hitting Amazon bestseller lists in months.  SUBSCRIBE & LISTEN  Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the voices shaping the audio industry!  ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro & Tina’s Journey from Online Radio 3:40 - Evolution: From  Production to Publishing 6:06 - Why Unscripted Audio Beats Video 8:00 - Case Study: Turning 500 Episodes into a Book 12:50 - Helping First Responders: A Vital New Book 16:00 - AI in Publishing: Data Analysis vs. Generators 19:00 - Why "Purpose-Driven" Podcasting Wins 20:47 - How to Connect with Tina Dietz  CONNECT WITH TINA DIETZ & TWIN FLAMES STUDIOS Website:  https://twinflamesstudios.com Free Author Webinars: https://twinflamesstudios.com/webinars  CONNECT WITH MARV & PODS LIKE US Website: https://themarvzone.org  SPONSOR  ☕  Tired of the coffee crash? Try RYSE Mushroom Coffee for sustained energy and  focus. Use code PODNA15 for 15% off at https://rysesuperfoods.com  #PodcastToBook #TinaDietz  #ContentRepurposing #AuthorStrategy 

Join host Martin Quibell (Marv) and a panel of industry experts as they dive deep into the impact of artificial intelligence on podcasting. From ethical debates to hands-on tools, discover how AI is shaping the future of audio and video content creation.  Guests:  ● Benjamin Field (Deep Fusion Films)  ● William Corbin (Inception Point AI)  ● John McDermott & Mark Francis (Caloroga Shark Media)   Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:42 – Meet the Guests  01:45 – The State of AI in Podcasting  03:45 – Transparency, Ethics & the EU AI Act  06:00 – Nuance: How AI Is Used (Descript, Shorten Word Gaps, Remove Retakes)  08:45 – AI & Niche Content: Economic Realities  12:00 – Human Craft vs. AI Automation  15:00 – Job Evolution: Prompt Authors & QC  18:00 – Quality Control & Remastering  21:00 – Volume, Scale, and Audience  24:00 – AI Co-Hosts & Experiments (Virtually Parkinson, AI Voices)  27:00 – AI in Video & Visuals (HeyGen, Weaver)  30:00 – Responsibility & Transparency  33:00 – The Future of AI in Media  46:59 – Guest Contact Info & Closing   Tools & Platforms Mentioned  ● Descript: Shorten word gaps, remove retakes, AI voice, scriptwriting, editing  ● HeyGen: AI video avatars for podcast visuals  ● Weaver (Deep Fusion Films): AI-driven video editing and archive integration  ● Verbal: AI transcription and translation  ● AI Voices: For narration, co-hosting, and accessibility  ● Other references: Spotify, Amazon, Wikipedia, TikTok, Apple Podcasts, Google  Programmatic Ads  Contact the Guests:  - William Corbin: [email protected] | LinkedIn - John McDermott: [email protected] | LinkedIn - Benjamin Field: [email protected] | LinkedIn - Mark Francis: [email protected] | LinkedIn | caloroga.com  - Marv: themarvzone.org   Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the future of podcasting and media!  #Podcasting #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Descript #HeyGen #PodcastTools #Ethics #MediaInnovation

In this episode of Pods Like Us, Marv sits down with William Corbin, Chief AI Officer and co-founder of Inception Point AI, to discuss the evolution of AI in podcasting, the creation of AI-generated voices, the business model behind Inception Point AI, and the future of content creation. William shares behind-the-scenes stories, ethical considerations, and how AI is making content more accessible and personalized.  Timestamps - 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome  ● Marv introduces William Corbin and the founding team of Inception Point AI.  ● William’s current role as Chief AI Officer.  01:30 – The Founding Story  ● How William assembled the founding team using AI.  ● The unique process of selecting Janine Wright as CEO via AI analysis.  02:30 – Company Motto & AI-First Culture  ● Inception Point AI’s creed: “Always AI, always forward, always fun.”  ● How AI is integrated into every aspect of the company.  02:50 – William’s Podcasting Origins  ● Early podcasting experiments in 2004 with RSS feeds.  ● The journey from hobbyist to professional podcaster.  05:00 – The Coronavirus 411 Podcast  ● Launching a daily COVID-19 news podcast.  ● Achieving syndication on 1,800 radio stations and becoming the #2 daily news podcast.  06:30 – The Power of Niche Content  ● Using AI to create hyper-targeted podcasts (e.g., fishing reports for specific lakes).  ● The value of serving small, passionate audiences.  08:00 – AI’s Role in Content Accessibility  ● How AI transforms raw data into engaging stories.  ● Making content accessible for people with disabilities.  10:00 – The Evolution from Blogging to Podcasting  ● The shift from written blogs to audio content.  ● Podcasting as the new “blogosphere.”  12:00 – Quality Control & AI-Generated Voices  ● Challenges with AI-generated content: glitches, fact-checking, and quality assurance.  ● Moving from voice clones to fully AI-generated voices for ethical and legal reasons.  15:00 – Ethical Considerations in AI Voice Creation  ● Avoiding unauthorized use of real voices (e.g., Siri’s voice actress story).  ● Transparency and consent in AI voice usage.  18:00 – The Origin of “Inception Point”  ● How the company name was chosen with the help of AI.  20:00 – AI Voices as Non-Characters  ● Creating backstories for AI voices without misleading listeners.  ● Ensuring authenticity and transparency.  22:00 – Business Model & Monetization  ● Three revenue streams: licensing, ad revenue, and partnerships.  ● AI personalities as brand ambassadors.  25:00 – The Future of AI in Content Creation  ● AI’s growing intelligence and its impact on media.  ● The importance of advocating for AI as a new form of intelligence.  28:00 – Addressing Backlash & Industry Resistance  ● Reactions to AI in Hollywood and the podcasting community.  ● The importance of starting conversations about AI’s role in media.  32:00 – AI vs. Human-Hosted Podcasts  ● Surprising listener growth after switching to AI hosts.  ● Where AI excels and where human hosts still shine.  35:00 – Content Longevity & Accessibility  ● The value of evergreen podcast content.  ● Making content accessible to all, including those with disabilities.  38:00 – The Impact of AI on Jobs  ● AI’s role in creating new job opportunities.  ● The need for optimism and adaptability in the face of technological change.  41:00 – Reviving Underutilized Content  ● Using AI to give new life to old research, university archives, and media catalogs.  44:00 – Serving Underserved Audiences  ● Producing “critical content” for niche audiences (e.g., allergy reports, space weather).  47:00 – Embracing Mistakes & Continuous Improvement  ● The importance of learning from errors in AI and human content creation.  50:00 – The Diversity of Podcasting  ● The wide range of podcast genres and formats.  ● The role of smart speakers in podcast discovery.  53:00 – Living Biographies & Real-Time Updates  ● AI-powered biographies that update as public figures’ lives evolve.  5

Join Marv as he interviews Hem Brewster, the creative force behind Blighthouse Studios, home to acclaimed podcasts like The Lucky Die, The Sprouting, Counterbalance, and Four Top Threes. Discover the secrets of audio drama production, actual play podcasting, and the evolving world of indie podcasting. Hem shares actionable advice for creators, insights on show notes, and the importance of community in podcasting.  Key Topics & Time Stamps  ● 00:00 – Introduction  ○ Meet Hem Brewster and Blighthouse Studios  ○ Overview of the studio’s shows  ● 01:18 – The Blighthouse Studios Podcast Lineup  ○ The Lucky Die: Apocalyptic actual play audio drama  ○ The Sprouting: Horror roleplay in a plant-based apocalypse  ○ Counterbalance: Fantasy audio drama with a custom language  ○ Four Top Threes: International chat show  ● 06:15 – What is an Actual Play Podcast?  ○ Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu as storytelling engines  ○ Improvised audio drama vs. scripted drama  ● 10:56 – The Creative Team & International Collaboration  ○ Cast and crew from the UK, Iceland, Germany, and the US  ○ The importance of diverse perspectives  ● 14:15 – Podcasting Origins  ○ Hem’s journey from mechanical design engineering to podcasting  ○ Discovering “We’re Alive” and the power of audio storytelling  ● 24:00 – Building a Podcasting Empire  ○ Starting The Lucky Die and growing a network  ○ Lessons learned from failed and successful projects  ● 31:00 – Podcast Production & Team Roles  ○ The evolution of team responsibilities  ○ Social media, marketing, and the realities of indie podcasting  ● 38:00 – Podcast Promotion & Community  ○ Free and effective ways to promote your show  ○ The value of helping other podcasters  ● 44:00 – Audio Drama vs. Talk Show Podcasting  ○ Differences in structure, audience, and production  ○ The impact of BBC and German audio drama traditions  ● 54:00 – Show Art, Music, and Branding  ○ Why your podcast logo matters  ○ Tips for commissioning and using artwork  ● 1:00:00 – The Importance of Show Notes  ○ What to include for SEO and accessibility  ○ Content warnings, cast/crew credits, and linking strategies  ● 1:10:00 – Podcasting Advice for Beginners  ○ Logistics, scheduling, and the value of a backlog  ○ Honest conversations and setting realistic goals  ● 1:18:00 – Standout Moments & Community Impact  ○ Success stories and the power of fan engagement  ○ The joy of cross-promotion and collaboration  ● 1:22:00 – How to Connect with Blighthouse Studios  ○ Where to find the shows and contact Hem  Featured Podcasts from B Lighthouse Studios  ● The Lucky Die – Fantasy apocalypse actual play  ● The Sprouting – Eldritch horror in a post-apocalyptic world  ● Counterbalance – Fantasy audio drama with original language and music  ● Four Top Threes – International chat and ranking show  Resources & Links  ● Blighthouse Studios: Website  ● Contact Hem: [email protected]  For more podcasting resources, visit themarvzone.org or contact Hem at  [email protected]

Description: Join Marv from Pods Like Us as he sits down with Jesse, the creative force behind the Undiscovered Entrepreneur podcast. In this International Podcasting Month special, they dive deep into the art of podcast editing, the journey of entrepreneurship, and the power of overcoming self-doubt. Discover actionable tips, inspiring stories, and the podcasts that shaped Jesse’s path. Whether you’re a podcaster, entrepreneur, or fan of authentic conversations, this episode is packed with value!   ⏱ Time Markers & Topics: ● 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Marv & Jesse, and the story behind their collaboration ● 01:00 – The evolution of podcast editing and video quality ● 03:00 – The importance of visuals and branding in podcasting ● 05:00 – Jesse’s journey: From podcast editor to host of Undiscovered Entrepreneur ● 07:00 – The “Four Hurdles of Stop”: Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, failure, and fear ● 10:00 – Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and taking action ● 13:00 – The difference between perfectionism and striving for excellence ● 16:00 – Jesse’s upcoming projects: 60 days of live content & speaking at PodFest ● 18:00 – Business Conversations with Pi: Using AI for focused podcasting ● 21:00 – Podcast inspirations: Entrepreneurs on Fire & Smart Passive Income ● 24:00 – The power of reaching out to your heroes and building connections ● 27:00 – Jesse’s mantra: “I can, I am, I will. And I’m doing it today.” ● 29:00 – Where to find Jesse and Marv online   Key Takeaways: ● How to use podcast editing to enhance your show’s quality and engagement ● The four biggest hurdles new entrepreneurs face—and how to overcome them ● The value of podcast branding and visual assets for discoverability ● Why reaching out to industry leaders can change your journey ● Actionable advice for podcasters and entrepreneurs at any stage   Connect with the Hosts: ● Jesse (Undiscovered Entrepreneur): STAN.store/SKOOB ● Marv (Pods Like Us): themarzone.org  

Welcome to another episode of Pods Like Us! Host Marv sits down with Cam from the Jacked Up Review Show for a lively, insightful conversation about podcasting, pop culture, and the power of positive discussion. Timestamps & Topics: ● 00:00 – Introduction ○ Marv introduces Cam from the Jacked Up Review Show and sets the stage for the conversation. ● 01:07 – What is the Jacked Up Review Show? ○ Cam explains the origins and mission of his podcast, focusing on pop culture, movies, and community. ● 02:15 – The Power of Validation & Community ○ Discussion about validating different perspectives and the importance of positive podcasting. ● 03:25 – Reminiscing: James Cameron Films ○ Marv and Cam recall their previous chat about James Cameron movies and share laughs about favorite moments. ● 05:00 – Creative Process & Show Format ○ Cam talks about the show’s creative approach, including roasts, deep dives, and the unpredictability of what resonates with listeners. ● 06:40 – Highlight: Best of the Rest Podcast ○ Cam introduces “Best of the Rest,” a show that only says good things about infamous movies and focuses on self-improvement. ● 08:00 – Seeing Films & Music in a New Light ○ The hosts discuss how podcasts can help listeners appreciate lesser-known works by directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg, and bands like Rage Against the Machine. ● 10:00 – Audience Engagement & Community ○ Marv and Cam encourage listeners to suggest topics and join the conversation. ● 11:30 – Where to Find the Shows ○ Cam shares how to connect with the Jacked Up Review Show on social media, and Marv shares where to find Pods Like Us. Best of the Rest Key Topics: ● Positive podcasting and community building ● James Cameron film discussions ● The value of looking for the good in movies, music, and pop culture ● Celebrating lesser-known works by famous directors and musicians Connect with the Hosts: ● Find Cam and the Jacked Up Review Show on Instagram, Twitter, and Blue Sky. ● Discover more episodes of Pods Like Us on all major streaming platforms and at marvzone.org. SEO Keywords: podcast interview, Jacked Up Review Show, Pods Like Us, Best of the Rest podcast, James Cameron films, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Rage Against the Machine, positive podcasting, movie discussion, pop culture podcast, podcast community, film podcast, music podcast

As well as Pods Like Us, Marv is a co-host on two music related podcasts in the form of the Beatles centric show When They Was Fab, and the Beatles adjacent show Toppermost of the Poppermost, where they discuss the US and UK charts month by month from sixty years ago. In this shorter episode, Marv's co-host on both of these shows, Ed Chen, talks about the baseball related podcast Endless Blummer, which excited Marv as a Brit that loves baseball.  

In this special International Podcast Month episode, Marv sits down with Deremy Dove, co-host of the Pop Culture Five podcast. They discuss the unique format of Pop Culture Five, the art of essential picks in pop culture, and dive deep into the impact of the legendary podcast "WTF with Marc Maron." Deremy shares how Marc Maron's show inspired his own podcasting journey, the power of authentic conversation, and the importance of vulnerability in podcasting. The episode wraps up with tips on where to find Pop Culture Five and how to connect with both hosts. #Podcast #PodcastInterview #PopCulture #MarcMaron #WTFPodcast #PodcastRecommendations #PodcastCommunity #InternationalPodcastMonth #Podcasters #PodcastLife Connect with the Hosts - ● Pop Culture Five: Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and all major platforms. Twitter/X & Instagram: @popculturefivepod (spell out “five”) ● Pods Like Us: Listen on all streaming platforms. Visit: themarvzone.org for socials and contact.

Host: Martin Quibell (Marv) Guest: Sean Malin – Author, Culture Critic, and Podcast Columnist Episode Overview: In this insightful episode, Marv sits down with Sean Malin, acclaimed author of "Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen." Sean shares his journey in curating the most influential podcasts, discusses the evolution of the podcasting industry, and offers advice for writers and podcasters in the age of AI. Whether you're a podcast enthusiast, creator, or industry professional, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways and expert perspectives. About the Guest: Sean Malin ● Author of "Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen" ● Culture critic and columnist for New York Magazine, Vulture, and The New York Times ● Former food critic, film critic, and editor-in-chief for various publications ● Early YouTube creator and media industry veteran Connect with Sean: ● Twitter: @SMAs ● Book: Available via Chronicle Books and major retailers Time-Stamped Highlights: 00:32 – Introduction to Sean Malin and his book 01:54 – The challenge of narrowing down 5 million podcasts to 101 03:04 – Sean’s process for selecting podcasts and the importance of context 07:00 – The impact of corporate ownership on podcast content  13:40 – Book structure: Organizing by genre and why it matters 16:55 – Sean’s background as a critic and his journey into podcasting 27:58 – Book mentions: "Podcast Pantheon," "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," "Great Movies" by Roger Ebert, and more 42:00 – Advice for writers: The power of cold emails and working with editors 49:00 – Advice for podcasters: Authenticity, AI, and connecting with your audience 52:00 – How to connect with Sean and where to buy the book Book Mentions: ● Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen by Sean Malin (Main subject of the episode; available worldwide) ● 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (Inspiration for Sean’s book format) ● Great Movies by Roger Ebert (Referenced as a critical influence) Listen now and discover the stories behind the world’s most influential podcasts! #PodcastPantheon #PodcastingTips #PodcastCommunity #PodcasterLife #BookRecommendations #PodcastInterview #PodcastDiscovery #PodcastIndustry #AIinPodcasting #PodcastSEO

Marv finds out about a show that Patrick absolutely loves. Podcasts Mentioned & Highlights -  ● Maniacal Music Musings  ○ Music discovery podcast, album reviews, guest-driven content, interactive  brackets.  ● Monsters Among Us  ○ Paranormal podcast, listener stories, hosted by Derek Hayes, community  engagement.  ● Paranormal The New Normal  ○ Jeremy’s own paranormal podcast, inspired by Monsters Among Us.  ● Film Sac  ○ Long-running film podcast, 20 years of movie discussions.  ● Punky Radio  ○ Punk music podcast, 20-year run, personal friends of Marv.  ● Pods Like Us  ○ Hosted by Marv, podcast interviews and community features.  Connect with the Hosts  ● Jeremy:  ○ YouTube: Maniacal Music Musings, Paranormal The New Normal  ○ Facebook: Squat, large foot  ○ X/Instagram: @JuggaloBastard  ● Marv:  ○ Pods Like Us: All streaming platforms  ○ Website: https://wwww.themarzone.org/ (links to socials and email)  Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow podcast lovers! 

Marv finds out about a show that Reena absolutely loves. Podcasts Mentioned in This Episode:  ● Better Call Daddy (hosted by Reena Friedman Watts)  ● Pods Like Us (hosted by Marv)  ● Famous & Gravy (hosted by Michael Osborne)  ● The Stupid History Minute (hosted by Keb Pound)  ● Petals of Support (with Mama D)  ● Two Sips (exact name not recalled)  ● Deleted Save the Computer Game (hosted by Phil)  ● Job Guppy (hosted by Chris Hodges)  ● What's Up  ● Other film review and interdisciplinary podcasts referenced  Connect with the Hosts:  ● Find Reena on all social platforms: @ReenaFriedmanWatts , and at https://www.bettercalldaddy.com/   ● Find Marv and "Pods Like Us" on any streaming platform or at https://www.themarvzone.org/  Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star review! Your support helps more listeners discover the show and makes a podcaster’s day.   

Episode Description - Join host Martin "Marv" Bel as he sits down with podcaster John from "What's Up with John and Rena" for an in-depth conversation about the evolution of podcasting, mental health awareness, and the art of authentic audio storytelling. From interviewing people on Skid Row to creating successful podcast partnerships, John shares his journey through the podcasting landscape and offers invaluable advice for aspiring podcasters.  Key Timestamps & Topics -  [00:00:00] - Introduction & Show Origins  ● Welcome to Pods Like Us with Martin "Marv" Quibell  ● Introduction to John and the "What's Up with John and Reena" show  ● The confusing history and evolution of the podcast  [00:01:00] - Mental Health Journey & Podcast Genesis  ● John's misdiagnosis story: from bipolar to depression and ADHD  ● Living next to Skid Row in Los Angeles (2014)  ● The birth of "Bipolar Style" podcast  ● Cautionary tale about podcast naming and mental health stigma  [00:02:00] - RSS Feeds & Podcast Evolution  ● Understanding RSS feeds as the backbone of podcasting  ● Treating first podcast as "practice feed"  ● Evolution from "Signal Jams" to "Deviant Lounge" to "What's Up"  ● The importance of adaptability in podcasting  [00:03:00] - Partnership with Reena  ● Meeting co-host Rena through Twitter/X  ● Rena's background: Jerry Springer Show producer  ● Creating a "super group" approach to podcasting  ● The concept of podcasting as a "lounge for podcasters"  [00:04:00] - Content Strategy & Social Media  ● Using X/Twitter for podcast guest discovery  ● Topic selection process for episodes  ● Recent discussions: cell phone bans in schools and concerts  ● Organic conversation development  [00:05:00] - Editing Philosophy & Audience Retention  ● Unique editing approach: cutting conversations mid-topic  ● Background editing while gaming technique  ● Achieving 110% completion rates vs. industry 70%  ● The "shave and a haircut" psychological hook  [00:07:00] - "Daily Emotions" Era  ● Transition from "Bipolar Style" to "Daily Emotions"  ● The challenge of trauma dumping in mental health podcasts  ● Learning when to pivot podcast focus  ● The consuming nature of mental health content creation  [00:08:00] - Podcasting Influences & Inspirations  ● Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" as major influence  ● The power of reaching high-profile rock and metal guests  ● Mark Marin's WTF show impact  ● Transitioning from music industry to podcasting  [00:09:00] - Early Broadcasting Background  ● High school radio station with actual transmitter  ● Public access cable TV experience in San Francisco  ● "Wayne's World" style local TV show  ● The "simulation" approach to content creation  [00:12:00] - RSS & Download Philosophy  ● RSS and downloadability as core podcast elements  ● Avoiding "streaming subscription hell"  ● 20 years of RSS technology celebration  ● Focus on audio vs. video debates  [00:13:00] - Rena's Background & Skills  ● Jerry Springer Show production experience  ● Natural interviewing and listening abilities  ● The maven quality: connecting people and opportunities  ● Play-by-play vs. color commentary dynamic  [00:15:00] - Interview Dynamics Analysis  ● Rena's therapeutic listening approach  ● John's self-awareness about talking too much  ● The balance between liberal and conservative perspectives  ● Finding common ground through shared topics  [00:17:00] - Jerry Springer Connection  ● Jerry Springer's appearance on "Better Call Daddy"  ● Recognition of Rena's producer skills  ● The importance of information gathering in production  [00:19:00] - Podcast Industry Observations  ● Musicians vs. music industry people comparison  ● Podcasters vs. podcast industry professionals  ● The commodification of creative passion  ● Live Nation experience and craft services anecdotes  [00:20:00] - Branding & Visual Identity  ● The cri

In this episode of Pods Like Us, host Martin 'Marv' Quibell welcomes Andreea Coscai, founder of Eurowaves, a nonprofit biweekly newsletter on Substack. Founded in December 2024, Euro Waves connects podcasters and audio enthusiasts across Europe, highlighting the diversity of European podcasting through recommendations, interviews, industry insights, and event promotions. Andreea also shares her experiences working for Tink Media and editing the Earbuds Podcast Collective Newsletter. The discussion touches on cultural differences in podcasting, the importance of local and international content, marketing strategies, and the immersive power of music and sound in podcasts. Andrea advocates for cross-border collaborations and explores how different European countries approach podcasting, offering advice for new podcasters on sustainability, marketing, and creativity. 

In this episode of Pods Like Us, host Martin 'Marv' Quibell is joined by Martin Franklin from Australia to discuss the resurgence of cassette culture. Martin Franklin shares his journey from the indie music scene of the late '80s, including running a small cassette label and engaging in international tape exchanges, to reconnecting with old collaborators for a reissue project in 2023. The episode dives into DIY music production, the importance of networking and fanzines, and the evolution of podcasting. Explore the unique stories and the lasting impact of cassette culture on independent music.

In this episode of Pods Like Us, host Martin, also known as Marv, interviews Mark Francis from Caloroga Shark Media. They discuss the genesis of Caloroga Shark Media, the path from traditional radio to modern podcasting, and the influential role AI technology plays in their content production. Mark shares insights into their popular shows, including Palace Intrigue, and the use of AI voices and other tools to enhance their offerings. They also touch on the importance of having a clear strategy, whether podcasting as a hobby or a business. Tune in to hear about the transformation of the podcast landscape and how Caloroga Shark Media adapts to these changes.

In this episode of Pod Like Us, host Martin 'Marv' speaks with Wyatt from Cinema Trip Reviews about his journey into the world of podcasting. They discuss Wyatt's early experiences with podcasts like Hack the Movies and The Joe Rogan Experience, which fueled his desire to create his own content. Wyatt outlines the evolution of his show, starting during the pandemic, and the challenges he faced with content creation and audience engagement. The conversation also delves into their shared nostalgia for classic cinema, the importance of maintaining authenticity, collaborative efforts with other podcasters, and the significance of Podcasting 2.0. Whether it's reminiscing about childhood trips to the theater or navigating the complexities of podcast algorithms, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the passion and dedication behind Cinema Trip Reviews.

In this episode of Pods Like Us, host 'Marv' interviews Lucas Dickey, CEO and founder of DeepCast. They discuss the inspiration and evolution of DeepCast FM and DeepCast Pro, focusing on how AI and large language models are transforming podcast discovery and accessibility. Lucas highlights the challenges in the current podcasting ecosystem, the importance of metadata, and how Deep Cast aims to improve discoverability for both consumers and creators. They also touch on the future of AI in podcasting and the significance of industry-wide standards like Podcast 2.0.

Join Martin Quibell (Marv) on 'Pods Like Us' as he chats with Greg, one of the hosts of 'Caped Complainers.' They discuss the dynamics of hosting a podcast with friends, handling multiple hosts' schedules, and the art of letting conversations flow naturally. Delve into their thoughts on various superhero films, including 'The Flash' and Marvel's MCU projects, and hear about Greg's journey from podcast editing to being behind the mic. Plus, enjoy insights into what makes the perfect podcast setup, their favorite superheroes, and some amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Whether you're into podcasting or superhero lore, this episode offers a fun and insightful conversation! 

Join Marv, as he chats with Damian from the Podcast Advice Show in this episode of Pods Like Us. They delve into the evolution of podcasting from traditional radio, the significance of niche content, and the transition from listening to creating podcasts. Learn about the inception of Damian’s projects, including successful comedy podcasts, and discover key advice for indie podcasters on refining ideas, staying motivated, and navigating the podcasting landscape. Don't miss out on valuable insights and strategies for taking your podcast to the next level!

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