podcast

Audio Quality Non-Negotiables

• Room echo ruins podcasts more than mic quality — blankets, carpets, small rooms over expensive mics in empty spaces
• Record each speaker on separate tracks — can't fix crosstalk after the fact
• 48kHz/24-bit for recording, export to 44.1kHz/16-bit MP3 — standard for all platforms
• Normalize loudness to -16 LUFS (stereo) or -19 LUFS (mono) — podcast app volume consistency
• Backup recording always — Zoom/Riverside record locally AND cloud

Episode Structure

• Hook in first 30 seconds — what listener will learn, why this episode matters
• Cold open clip from best moment — then intro music, then context
• Intro music under 15 seconds — listeners skip longer intros
• Guest introduction: 30 seconds max — credentials matter less than why they're relevant
• Signpost transitions: "Now let's talk about X" — helps passive listening

Interview Techniques

• Send 5-7 questions in advance, ask 3 different ones — prepared guests give better answers, spontaneous questions reveal more
• Silence after answers — guests fill silence with deeper insights
• "Tell me more about that" — better than next question when something's interesting
• Avoid yes/no questions — "How did you..." not "Did you..."
• Record pre-show chat — often the best material before "we're recording"

Show Notes That Work

• Timestamp key topics: [12:34] How to X — lets listeners jump
• Guest links: their site, social, relevant resources mentioned
• One-paragraph summary for SEO — includes keywords people search
• Transcript available — accessibility plus SEO plus repurposing
• Call to action: one specific ask, not five

Distribution Checklist

• Apple Podcasts and Spotify are mandatory — 80%+ of listeners
• RSS feed is the source of truth — submit once, hosts syndicate
• Episode titles: clear over clever — "How to X with Y" beats "Episode 47"
• Cover art: 3000x3000, readable as thumbnail, no small text
• Category selection matters for discovery — pick primary carefully

Publishing Cadence

• Consistency beats frequency — weekly you can sustain beats daily burnout
• Same day/time builds habit — "New episode every Tuesday"
• Buffer of 3-4 episodes — production problems shouldn't break schedule
• Seasons allow breaks — 10-12 episodes, break, return
• Announce hiatus — silence without explanation loses subscribers

Guest Management

• Booking email template: who you are, show stats, what you want to discuss, time commitment
• Calendar link with buffer — 75-minute block for 45-minute interview
• Tech check before recording day — mic, internet, quiet space
• Send finished episode before publishing — courtesy, catches errors
• Follow up when episode drops — they'll share if reminded

Growth Levers

• Guest audiences: guests share episodes → their followers discover you
• Cross-promotion: swap promos with similar-sized shows
• Clips on social: 60-90 second best moments, vertical for Reels/TikTok
• SEO: transcripts + blog posts of episodes rank for queries
• Newsletter tie-in: email list you own, not just podcast followers

Monetization Stages

• CPM rates: $15-25 for host-read, $10-15 for pre-produced
• Downloads in first 7 days is the metric sponsors care about

Editing Priorities

1. Remove long silences and filler words — but leave natural pauses
2. Cut tangents that don't serve listener — ruthless editing
3. Fix audio levels between speakers — no one should be louder
4. Remove only obvious mistakes — over-editing sounds unnatural
5. Add music/transitions sparingly — content over production value

Common Mistakes

• Talking about podcasting on your podcast — listeners don't care about your process
• Inside jokes without context — alienates new listeners
• No episode zero explaining show premise — people start anywhere
• Inconsistent episode length: 30 min, then 2 hours — set expectations
• No call to action — "Subscribe and review" at end, every episode