Do you still need all the “must-do” podcasting advice that gets recycled every year, or has some of it quietly expired?

In this episode, we revisit a long list of podcasting essentials and ask one question of each: Does this still matter in 2026? We look at what still earns its place, what has changed, and what you can stop worrying about entirely.

The focus is on practical decisions, not trends. When consistency helps and when it gets in the way, why some advice was never essential to begin with, and how much effort makes sense depending on whether your show is a hobby, a growth project, or a business.

The thread throughout is simple. Understand why you are doing something, not just whether you have been told you should.

Do you still need...

A podcast website?
A podcast trailer?
Apple Podcasts reviews?
A microphone?
A consistent format or length?
To launch with three episodes?
An email list?
To add metadata to your files?
Interview guests?
An RSS feed?
To listen back to your episodes?

Also mentioned

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Podcasting in 2026: What Still Matters (and What Doesn’t)