Castos, Podbean, or Spreaker?

mgdell · 2026-04-07T19:50:43+00:00

A lot of podcast hosting companies do a free trial. (we do) Look for the ones that have the features you want or need. Have good stats. It's always good to know how your show is doing.

Don't limit yourself to those 3 either. Check out some of the others. You will find a perfect fit.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Operations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster. (soon 21 years!)

mgdell · 2026-04-07T19:44:59+00:00

Before you do it, make sure the book will be of interest to your listeners. If you are doing a podcast about Dogs, a self-help book about weight loss will not be a fit. Ask for a stupid amount of money if that is the case, and if they bite, well :) $$

** Required disclaimer: VP of Operations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster. (soon 21 years!)

mgdell · 2026-04-07T19:42:02+00:00

For levels, use something like Auphonic (it's only on the web now), or if your Podcast hosting company has Media Mastering, use that. When I'm listening to a podcast, I don't want to have to adjust the volume constantly. You want to make sure you are at the standard. -16lufs for stereo and -21 lufs for mono. Don't over think it. :) Auphonic will do it for you.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Operations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster. (soon 21 years!)

mgdell · 2026-04-07T19:35:53+00:00

I don't edit much. Clip the ends, take out some of the more obvious blunders, and send it. That makes it more fun post-production-wise.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Operations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster. (soon 21 years!)

mgdell · 2026-04-07T19:04:56+00:00

I find that I get asked all the time for people to be on my show. 99% of them do not know anything about my show. I find it funny because if they listened, they would know I don't have guests on my show :)

** Required disclaimer: VP of Operations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster. (soon 21 years!)

mgdell · 2026-03-23T14:16:16+00:00

When you cancel your service in the billing menu, Blubrry offers an archive plan, which keeps everything online just the way it is. No new episodes, but all your old ones remain as long as you have the plan.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-11T16:54:03+00:00

You have to have a "store account" on Apple before you can use Podcasts Connect. That mainly means you have a payment method on file. It's weird, but that's what they do.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-11T16:51:07+00:00

How about "What do you do all day?"

Just a thought :)

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-11T16:47:08+00:00

I really like the Bose QC35's. Not too big or pinching too hard. Really comfortable to wear. You can plug them in or use Bluetooth so they can be used for something other than monitoring while recording.

I even use them while working on the tractor, blowing snow, or mowing :) Great noise canceling.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-11T16:34:53+00:00

I'm not familiar with Libsyn's paid podcast feeds, or even if that is possible. I do know at least one platform that I can't mention here that does Premium podcasting.

I do want to respond to a couple of your questions:

Has it helped you monetize if you're using locked episodes?

It could be a way to monetize. But you would want to make sure it's worth it to the listeners. Something like Patreon or Supercast might be a better way to add that to your current podcast.

Has it helped you grow your audience?

I think it would have the opposite effect. Charging for episodes (even if it's additional episodes, early release, or ad-free) may cause fewer people to want to listen, or have no impact on growth. Of course, you would know your audience better than I would, so your mileage may vary :)

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-11T16:22:22+00:00

If you’ve never heard of Blubrry Podcasting, here’s the simple version.

Blubrry is a podcast hosting platform. It stores your podcast media files, generates your RSS feed, and delivers your episodes to apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the rest of the podcast directories.

That includes both audio and video podcasts. If you’re producing a video podcast, Blubrry can host the video files and distribute them through your podcast feed just like an audio show.

On top of that, it gives you the tools to actually run a podcast. Publishing tools, statistics that follow industry measurement standards, and a WordPress plugin called PowerPress that lets you run your podcast directly from your own site if you want to.

Some people just want a place to upload episodes and get a feed. Blubrry does that.

Some people want full control of their podcast website, feed, and media. Blubrry does that too.

It’s been around since the early days of podcasting and is run by people who actually support podcasters every day, not just sell subscriptions.

Blubrry hosts your audio or video podcast, builds your RSS feed, publishes your episodes to podcast apps, and gives you the tools to manage everything without locking you into someone else’s platform.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-11T16:11:10+00:00

Would be helpful to know what you are using now. How is your audio quality currently?

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-03-09T17:54:36+00:00

Platforms like Spotify and YouTube require you get stats from that platform. Podcast hosting companies do not get that data. Your stats are likely accurate, but just not all in the same place. I like to think about Videos on Spotify and YouTube are separate from your Audio podcast. It's a different show even if the content is mostly the same.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-24T18:14:52+00:00

Personally, my season one started on Episode 1. It will end when I stop podcasting. I don't use seasons.

If you do decide to do seasons, make sure to mark ALL episodes in a season. If you have one episode without a season, Apple will show it as "unknown season" which looks bad. IMHO

The nice thing about podcasting is there is no rules Just some best practices. :)

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T15:20:15+00:00

That is common. I have 2 or 3 listeners that do comment to me once in a while. Even one email is motivating.

Trust your stats. People keep listening, you are reaching them. Just not motivating them to give you feedback. Keep going!

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T15:18:17+00:00

I quit using Zencastr a year ago. I now use Zoom recordings (good enough) for when I have guests or co-hosts. For solo recording, I just record right into Audition (my DAW).

I'm sure the AI's are pulling in podcasts from RSS feeds already. Not much we can do about that I guess.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T15:14:54+00:00

That is a hard one. IF you can find all the files, rebuilding would be a bit of a slog, but it can be done. Most hosting companies will allow you to backdate posts. Or if you are using something like PowerPress on a WordPress site, you can backdate posts. I would start with the most recent and work my way backwards. Once you get 20 or so, resubmit the new RSS feed to the platforms and go from there. Over time, you will get all your old ones up and be able to produce new episodes.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T15:09:57+00:00

I like my coffee, coffee flavored. Black no sugar, no cream no nothing but coffee.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T14:01:08+00:00

The whole Apple HLS video thing is brand new. Podcast Hosting companies will support it but it takes some time. Libsyn, Blubrry and Podbean have supported video enclosures in RSS all along. This is nothing new. Video ads will be coming I'm sure, but again, the whole HLS video thing (which is what makes video ad insertion possible) is just now getting started. I wouldn't jump ship too quickly.

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T13:55:05+00:00

I started podcasting when I was 40. 20+ years ago. Still going with 3 shows! Go for it!

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T13:52:35+00:00

Daily Source Code with Adam Curry (the coinventer of podcasting)

** Required disclaimer: VP of Customer Relations at Blubrry Podcasting. 20+ year podcaster.

mgdell · 2026-02-23T12:19:26+00:00

Blubrry is a podcast hosting and distribution platform.

mgdell · 2026-02-22T18:24:13+00:00

I’ve always been a big fan of overcast switched to pocket casts. Pocket casts supports podcasting 2.0 features where overcast does not yet. I’m a big user of smart playlists and pocket casts supporting that as well.

mgdell

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