Inside jokes can offer fun potential for your podcast, but also some potential costs. Here are some brief things for you to consider as you engage with your podcast audience. Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/insidejokes ## Where inside jokes come from ## What about the new listeners? ## Turn inside jokes into swag ## Community Corner ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

Monetization is not the only profit you can get from podcasting! And you shouldn't be the only one to profit, either! Nonetheless, here is why I think you should put P.R.O.F.I.T. first in every aspect of your podcast. Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/profitfirst ## The order of podcasting cornerstones ## The Podcast P.R.O.F.I.T. Paradigm™ ## P.R.O.F.I.T. is for all podcasters, not only professionals ## Your podcast P.R.O.F.I.T. should power your decisions - Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591846447?tag=theaudacitytopodcast-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1 ## Remember P.R.O.F.I.T. for your audience ## Podcasting P.R.O.F.I.T. in one word: why? ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

Apple provides a portal for you to submit and manage your own podcast in Apple Podcasts. It's called Podcasts Connect. Plus, countless other podcast apps and podcasting tools rely on Apple's data through their free API. Whether your podcast has been in Apple Podcasts for years, or you're just starting out, I suggest you check these 8 things right away! Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/checkapple ## 1. Check that you have agreed to Apple's terms of service - podcastsconnect.apple.com: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/ - There might be additional new terms you must agree to, or you might need to provide legal or financial information: https://podcasters.apple.com/support/883-agreements ## 2. Check that your podcast is in your Apple Podcasts Connect account - Contact Apple through this form: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/contact-us?content_type=podcasts&topic=missing-podcast-s&locale=en - This is crucial to do with all your podcasts, especially any duplicate podcast listings you might have: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/how-to-fix-duplicate-listings-in-apple-podcasts-or-other-podcast-apps/ ## 3. Check that your podcast information is correctly loaded in Apple Podcasts Connect - Cast Feed Validator: https://www.castfeedvalidator.com/ - Podbase Podcast Validator: https://podba.se/validate/ - TrueFans Podcast Validator: https://validator.truefans.fm/ ## 4. Check the optional Apple Podcasts information fields ## 5. Check your Apple Podcasts distribution availability (affects other apps) ## 6. Switch the transcript default to use your provided transcripts - using Podcasting 2.0 transcripts: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/how-to-use-podcast-transcripts/ ## 7. Check your Apple Podcasts ratings and reviews - There is also a “Ratings and Reviews” page that lets you see your Apple Podcasts (and only Apple Podcasts) ratings and reviews: https://podgagement.com/how-to-check-all-your-podcast-reviews-and-ratings-in-apple-podcasts/ - You should use Podgagement to engage your audience and grow your podcast: https://podgagement.com/ - See your ratings and reviews from Apple Podcasts: https://podgagement.com/how-to-check-all-your-podcast-reviews-and-ratings-in-apple-podcasts/ ## 8. Check your Apple Podcasts analytics ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

You might have heard people talk about IAB podcast stats, measurement guidelines, compliance, and certification. Here's what all of that means, and whether it even matters! Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/iabstats ## Who is the IAB? ## What are IAB stats - These IAB guidelines get updated every few years. As of March 2024, the latest version is 2.2 still in proposal stage for public comment.: https://iabtechlab.com/press-releases/iab-tech-labs-podcast-technical-working-group-announces-podcast-measurement-updates-for-public-comment/ ## IAB "compliance" versus "certification" - You can see the list of certified podcasting companies here.: https://iabtechlab.com/compliance-programs/compliant-companies/# ## Why IAB-certified podcast stats are good ## But every standard will have loopholes - Some podcast networks put ads in mobile games: https://time.com/6217261/podcasters-buying-listeners-mobile-game-ads/ - In my past research for testing the fastest podcast hosting: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/who-offers-the-fastest-podcast-hosting-tap335/ ## Why you don't actually need IAB-certified podcast stats ## I've changed my mind about IAB certification ## New feature: The Community Corner - Dave Jackson responded to my “mythinformation” line with a voicemail: https://castfeedback.com/6568ff490e90de09ac15f439/feedback/65e8bf6b409e6dd1d2c40a71 ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

Transcripts have long been promoted as ways to make your podcast more findable and accessible. But it's only recently that podcast transcripts have become actually useful! Although I didn't plan it this way, the timing of this episode is perfect because I just launched a new feature on Podgagement that automatically transcribes audio feedback from your audience!: https://podgagement.com/ Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/transcripts 1. Don't believe the myths about podcast transcripts Myth 1: "Transcripts are good for podcast SEO" Myth 2: "Transcripts make your podcast accessible" 2. (Optional) Use transcripts with podcast-production tools - Here are my current favorite transcription-based tools to help when your episode is still in this early post-production stage right after you've record: - Descript (audio and video): https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/descript - Adobe Podcast (audio) - Adobe Premiere Pro (audio and video): https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/audition - Adobe Audition (audio transcript features coming soon) - Hindenburg (audio) 3. Make properly formatted podcast transcripts - Easy access to artificial intelligence (AI) tools has made creating transcripts a whole lot faster, easier, and cheaper. The editing tools I mentioned all use AI to generate their transcripts, or you could use other services, too: - Castmagic: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/castmagic - Capsho: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/capsho - Auphonic - Buzzsprout's Cohost AI addon: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/buzzsprout - Transistor's AI transcripts feature - Otter - Rev - These use OpenAI's free and open-source Whisper model. - MacWhisper Pro (macOS, free and paid versions)—this is what I used and usually get really good results from: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/macwhisper - Whisper GUI (Windows, free): https://grisk.itch.io/whisper-gui - Run Whisper from the command line (free, but super geeky): https://github.com/openai/whisper 4. Edit your podcast transcripts 5. Put the podcast transcripts in the right places 6. (Optional) Use your podcast transcripts for promotion - Magai: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/magai - Castmagic: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/castmagic - Capsho: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/capsho - Buzzsprout: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/buzzsprout - Descript: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/descript - Headliner: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/headliner - Try Podgagement, now with automatic transcripts for voicemails from your audience!: https://podgagement.com/ ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

Podcasting 2.0 is revolutionizing podcasting for podcasters, audiences, and developers. Here are what I think are the best features you should try now, if you can. Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/top20features ## 1. Cross-app comments - Podgagement: https://podgagement.com/ ## 2. Live streaming - Learn more about the Podcasting 2.0 live streaming feature from Dave Jackson and me in The Future of Podcasting!: https://www.futureofpodcasting.net/going-lit-with-the-live-item-tag/ ## 3. Micropayments - Are Podcasting 2.0 Micropayments Worth It?: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/are-podcasting-2-0-micropayments-worth-it/ - “Value 4 Value”: https://value4value.info/ ## 4. Super chapters ## 5. Transcripts - Check out Steno.fm to see how it can highlight portions of the transcript as those words are being spoken.: https://www.steno.fm/show/2eda53b6-23a1-59ae-8bb6-f960a2e76d3c - Apple announced official support for Podcasting 2.0 transcripts starting with iOS 17.4: https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5316-transcripts-on-apple-podcasts ## 6. How can you use Podcasting 2.0? - Blubrry with PowerPress on WordPress: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/blubrry - Captivate: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/captivate - Buzzsprout: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/buzzsprout - Combine Podcast Mirror with your RSS feed from any legacy hosting provider: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/bhosting ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

Get the latest top recommendations for the best podcast-hosting providers, whether you're just starting or you're wanting to upgrade your podcasting tools! You need good podcast hosting to help you distribute your show, keep it online, and understand your reach. Now, podcast hosting can help you with much more, too! How podcast-hosting has changed As the podcasting industry is innovating and there are new ways to engage, grow, and monetize, podcast-hosting providers have to keep up! Years ago, all we needed from a podcast-hosting provider was storage, bandwidth, stats, and maybe their RSS feed (because you might want to generate it separately). And if your show was big enough, you might have a chance at getting a sponsor through your hosting provider. But today, podcast hosting includes innovative new features, like dynamic content insertion; automatic processing for audio, images, and video; content-creation assistance; marketing tools; engagement outlets; and even built-in ways to monetize your podcast directly from your audience. This is why I've taken some time to reconsider my recommendations. And as you'll quickly notice, there is no single best podcast-hosting provider because it really depends on your needs. Thus, I hope the following help you make the choice that's right for your podcast. (As an affiliate for many providers, I earn from qualifying purchases through most of these following links. But I recommend things I truly believe in, regardless of earnings.) Best all-inclusive podcast hosting (also for multiple shows): Captivate Captivate's podcast hosting has been revolutionary! They offer the most extensive range of features—not merely the typical media-hosting and analytics features, but even features to help you manage your content and monetization! Their dynamic content insertion tool, AMIE, is—in my opinion—the best in the industry! Yes, you can use it for inserting ads, but you can do so much more with it, like using it for any kind of content! Plus, AMIE makes it quick and easy to prepare old episodes for dynamic content, or even replace old ads like painting over them! You can also monetize your podcast directly from your audience through Captivate's membership system, donations, exclusive content, and more! And if you have multiple shows, Captivate lets you run your whole podcast network with a single subscription, and the cheapest plan already supports up to 3 shows at no extra cost. Pricing is primarily based on the size of your audience, either for downloading or the membership subscriptions. On top of this, Captivate has the best Podcasting 2.0 support in the industry right now! There's so much more I could say about Captivate, but I don't want this whole episode/article to be about one provider! Captivate is my top recommendation for most podcasters! I had the honor and pleasure of serving on Captivate's advisory board until Captivate was acquired. I don't recommend Captivate because I was an advisor, I accepted that role because I liked what Captivate w...

If your podcast is listed twice in Apple Podcasts or another podcast directory, STOP! Don't do anything about it until you read or listen to this! Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/fixduplicates ## How duplicate podcast listings happen ### Reason 1: a secondary feed was automatically discovered and indexed - Podpage: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/podpage - a feed proxy: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/how-proxies-and-ios-14-5-affect-your-podcast/ ### Reason 2: the podcast was resubmitted ## The duplicate podcast listing problem gets worse, especially in Apple Podcasts - But it's even worse in Apple Podcasts since iOS 14.5!: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/how-proxies-and-ios-14-5-affect-your-podcast/ ## How to fix your duplicate podcast listing in proxy-based services like Apple Podcasts and Spotify ### Step 1: Ask the platform to merge your listings ### Step 2: Redirect properly ### Step 3: Make a new RSS feed with a single announcement episode ### Step 4: Change the feed URL in the platform's portal ### Step 5: Redirect and delete after a few months ## Unfortunate conclusion: it's messy and you might still lose some numbers ## Important reminder: do not resubmit your feed! ——— Start and grow your own podcast for passion and PROFIT! Learn more and follow at https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ Know, engage, and grow your audience with the power of podcast reviews! https://mypodcastreviews.com/ FEEDBACK Call (903) 231-2221 Email feedback@theaudacitytopodcast.com Send a voice message from https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ MAILING ADDRESS The Audacity to Podcast PO Box 739 Burlington, KY 41005

After sharing multiple considerations for refreshing your podcast branding, it's time to wrap it up with the big question: how? This is my last episode in my miniseries about refreshing your podcast branding. Please review these past episodes/articles for more information: * 6 Benefits of a Podcast Branding Refresh * When Should You Refresh Your Podcast Branding? Reminder: What is “podcast branding”? Your “podcast branding” is one or more features that uniquely identify your podcast. It's the first impression for new audiences, and it's how your loyal audience recognizes your podcast distinctly from others. Podcast branding is more than only your cover art. It could be the logo inside your cover art (and that logo can be used for all kinds of things)—and a logo is difference from cover art. It's the audio and video elements you use throughout your episodes. It's your podcast description. It's in your repeated phrases. It's even in how you communicate and host your podcast. A “branding refresh” would then be updating any or all of these elements, but keeping the core of your podcast the same. A “rebrand” would be if you change much more of your podcast, including what you talk about and whom you try to reach. 1. Evaluate the needs Do you actually need to refresh your podcast branding, or are you merely bored with it? Most likely, your needs will fit within one or more of the benefits to a podcast branding refresh that I've previously shared: * Attract a new audience * Increase your perceived quality * Adapt to the latest trends * Strengthen or reset your podcast's identity and message * Infuse new energy for your audience and yourself * Stand out from others Your actual needs should be the biggest influence over all your other branding-refresh decisions. For example, my now retired Once Upon a Time TV aftershow podcast got me a friendly call with one of Disney's lawyers because my visual branding looked so much like theirs, that they actually thought I was using their images. So all I needed to do to satisfy the almighty Mouse was refresh the visual branding and make some more prominent disclaimers that we weren't affiliated. That was an immediate and important need for that podcast's visual branding, but it didn't change anything about how we ran the podcast (and the Disney lawyer was clear that they did not want us to stop our podcast). 2. Understand your own podcast You've seen the cliché plot line before: you journey up a mountain on a path to self discovery and you're met by some sage who helps you discover that the magic was within you all along. Understanding your own podcast won't have you climbing mountains, but it does mean trying to step out of your own position and objectively look at...

The Audacity to Podcast is back! And before jumping back into the content to help you grow and improve your podcast, I want to share three things I'm really excited about! 1. The Audacity to Podcast won a Podcast Award! The People's Choice Podcast Awards, started by Todd Cochrane, are the longest-running podcast awards. I was surprised back in 2012 when The Audacity to Podcast won best technology podcast and I was handed the trophy by Leo Laporte, one of my podcasting heroes. And I was surprised and honored again to win in 2023! THANK YOU! Here was my acceptance speech: 2. Podgagement has launched! After more than 4 years in development, I completed the revolutionary upgrade of My Podcast Reviews to Podgagement! This new service carries over all the review-tracking features of My Podcast Reviews, but adds a whole lot more to focus on helping you engage your audience and grow your podcast. Thus the new name, Podgagement. (Is it really a podcasting product if it doesn't have “pod” or “cast” somewhere in the name?) Podgagement brings new features and a whole-new feature tier with even more benefits! In short, everything from My Podcast Reviews has been migrated to the new “Astro” tier, and the brand-new “Constellation” tier offers even more features! The Constellation-exclusive features include collecting voice and written feedback from your audience; tracking your in-app podcast networking through recommendations, Podcasting 2.0 “Podroll” feature, and more; and many more upcoming features like chart-tracking, SEO tracking, AI-powered audience-engagement enhancement, monetization features, and more. Read more about the launch of Podgagement in my announcement post here. Or here me talk about in in my guest appearance on Podnews Weekly Review with James Cridland and Sam Sethi and on School of Podcasting with Dave Jackson. 3. I'm being inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame! This announcement has been burning a whole in my drafts for several weeks! I'm being inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame this year at the 10th anniversary Podfest Expo in Orlando! I hope that you can be there to celebrate with me! A personal aside If you've followed me for a while, you know that the last few years have been very difficult for me, both personally and professionally. There have been many ups and downs. I would start to rebuild on apparent stability in life,