School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your Podcast

Every month I ask my audience a question. This month is have you ever been approached by someone who OBVIOUSLY has NO CLUE about your show? Special Thanks To:  Bernie from Bernie the Cat Show Lee Silverstein from the Colon Cancer Podcast has people wanting to talk about Cancer conspiracies. Glenn Hebert from the Horse Radio Network had someone ask for a donation if he didn't want to be on the show. Matthew McClain does an audio drama (obviously no guests) but still gets solicited to have guests be on his show. His show is "A Scottish Podcast" I had someone contact me about the Healing Our Marriage show (which is defunct) and I "Played" with them, and asked why they loved my show Jason Bryant from Matt Talk Online Podcast Booking Resources Interview Valet - Find and/or be a guest Interview Connections - Rock both sides of the microphone (one of the oldest podcast booking agents) PodcastGuests.com - A free resource for finding guests Help a Reporter - Reports looking for Experts How to Get Radio Interviews (Course)  More Resources at PodcastingResources.com I'll Be Speaking at: Podcast Midatlantic September 8-9 in the greater Philadelphia Area National Podcast Power September 23rd in Perrysburg, Ohio Start Podcasting Today! Get immediate access to our online courses covering Podcasting from A to Z, start to finish. Priority Email Support Live groups coaching twice a month) Private Facebook Group Join today at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start

I'm back from podcast movement, and I had a blast. I also have insights from one of the hardest assignments I've done in a long time. My Impression of Podcast Movement 2017 Nothing cooler than being picked up at that airport by fellow podcasters Marcus Couch from WordPress Plugins A to Z. We haven't seen each other face to face in about 10 years. We cranked some cool metal on the way to the Marriot and it was like old times. Then I get the then Marriot and I get to meet my co-host Jim Collison from the Average Guy network, and I go over to his table and there sits the one and only Steve Stewart and Mike Dell. So for me, the Summar Camp aspect of Podcast Movement is in full effect. The coolest line I heard all week was relayed by Paul Colligan (another person' I've known for 10+ years) and it came from a Dan Klass session. Dan (who is a former comedian) shared how often at comedy clubs you will have multiple comedians perform in an evening - and yet they all use the same microphone. The point? It's not about the tech. I roomed with Erik K Johnson from podcasttalentcoach.com, and he had stated that it would be awesome if he could meet a web developer who needed help with his podcast, as he was a podcast consultant who needed help with his website. I get into the elevator, introduce myself to everyone in the elevator and it turns out that one of the people is a web designer thinking of starting a podcast. When we get out of the elevator, on of the first people who see is Erik. I felt like I was in a Christmas movie and it was going to start to snow. I saw Harry Durran from Podcast Junkies and Dr. Ryan Gray who has given up his practice to do podcasting full time and Harry introduces me to Natalie Jennings who happens to be taking head shots at a reasonable price. She shows me a few samples of people, and I'm hooked. I can't wait to see how they turn out. The few peaks I saw of what she did was amazing. See her at http://www.nataliechampajennings.com/ I found out in Paul Colligan's session that if you are in Google Play Music, you are also on the Google Home portable audio speaker. I also know of a cool double secret project that is going to make recording double-enders via a browser very cool. I was on a panel with Ray Ortega, Daniel J. Lewis, and Addy Saucedo on what is inside an RSS. This was an insanely nerdy topic, but due to the recent Apple announcements we had some interested parties and I thought we pulled it off well. The bonus is I got to hang out with some cool friends. The Coolest Thing I Saw At Podcast Movement 2017 While there were tons of great sessions at PM17, as a vendor (I work for Libsyn.com - use the coupon code sopfree to get a free month) I don't get to attend any sessions. I did see something that was way cool. I met Alissa Daire of the Maximize Your Strengths show. I see her the first night, and she is in a group of people and we get talking about Strengths Finder, and she becomes a ping pong ball bouncing off the ceiling with energy. She's super nice, and it was great to catch up with her as I had met her last year. The next night, I'm standing at the Luau event, and here she comes. She explains how "I'm done." She's tired (as many people are), and she is considerably less energetic. Pat Flynn walks over, he's very witty and a super nice guy. Then the subject changes to strengths finder results, and it was like watching a time release video of a flower blooming. Her energy came back, her smile came back, her body language completely changed. It was amazing to watch. I saw this a few more times. It's late, and people have had a few adult beverages, then I ask them about their show, and BOOM, the body language picks up, the eyes are open a bit wider, the voice is a little louder. Later, Paris from Gamertag Radio got star struck when Cara Santa Maria from the Skeptics Guide to the Universe walks by. I offered to go bring her over. He got shy, so I did my best Steve Austin (the six million dollar man, not the wrestler) imitation across the showroom floor. I had no idea she was an Emmy Award winning journalist. I bring her over and embarrass Paris. Danny Peña is there, Jim Collison is there, and the minute Paris explained that he really did listen to her show the body language changed.  For me, I think of it as being in your "first impression" mode and then finding out that you're among family. For the Best Content - Put a Time Frame On it I spoke about how I got lucky to be able to induct Dan Klass from the Bitterest Pill into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. The presentation should last three minutes. I had hoped that three minutes would be longer than I thought. I wrote out my first draft. It had some bits about history and podcasting in 2005. It had examples of how the show made me feel. I made a joke about how the more I talk about his show, the more I sound like a stalker. I listed his accomplishments. I started the stopwatch and went into the presentation, about half what through I glanced at my phone and I was already at 5 and a half minutes. Oh boy...... What Was the Purpose of This Presentation? I had to go back and ask myself, what was the purpose of this presentation? The purpose was for the person sitting in row 7 who had been podcasting since 2015 and had no idea who Dan Klass was. It wasn't about me. It wasn't about being funny. I was about answering the question, "Why is Dan Klass in the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame." For me, this was a big opportunity, on a big stage, and I didn't want to mess it up for myself, or Dan. It was time to edit. Anything about me went out the door. The history lesson of iriver portable players and synchronization cables went up in smoke. Most of the stories I had about Dan might not go over if you didn't listen to his show. Only the things that HAD to be said would stay. I listed his accomplishments. I thought of the funniest thing I had heard on his show (he referred to his two-year-old daughter as Princess Tirade for quite some time), and the most memorable episode (of ALL podcasting) is episode 102 Mass Murder where he talks about what it's like when your Uncle is murdered, and you're walking past TV cameras escorting your mother to the funeral. It's at the end, I highly suggest you listen to it. I had pointed out that Dan was one of the first to try premium podcasting (this was YEARS before Patreon) and it didn't work well. That was negative, so I just pointed out that he was a pioneer and not afraid to try new things. I HAD TO POINT OUT, that Dan had been sharing stories a DECADE before Serial was on the scene. Dan was creating engaging stories in a box in his garage, and he did it without a team of 19 people. That had to stay. To make it entertaining, I thought of throwing in some old Baptist preacher tricks of getting people to repeat words. This came to me in the shower. It would make me stand out, but I was deeply worried about being too entertaining (again, this was all about Dan). Looking back, that was a dumb thought (you're not going to outshine Dan Klass). Just Because There Are No Time Limits in Podcasting Doesn't Mean There Shouldn't Be To fine tune my presentation I had to: Identify my audience Identify the purpose Make it entertaining I know some of us want to record it and publish it. I truly, always believe a podcast can benefit from editing. This is especially true if you are doing interviews. Because of My Podcast Devin Caroll Devin from the Big Picture Retirement podcast shares how he didn't' want to start a podcast but sure is glad he did. He just released episode 34, and his co-host has already billed $10,000, and Devin has billed $6,000 and has a client who will bring in $20,000. I bet you might think, they have a huge audience, right? Nope, according to Devin, they are averaging 534 downloads an episode. Podcast Rewind I appeared on Podcast Ninja talking about the pros and cons of the different podcast media hosting companies. Check it out at podcastninja.com Where I am Speaking Next National Podcast Power - Keynote Podcast Mid Atlantic - Podcast Artwork - September 8th in Philadelphia Area DC Podfest November 10-11 Mentioned in This Show Podcast Gear Group Steve Stewart Go Tell Somebody - King's X Podcast Talent Coach (Get Your Podcast Reviewed at www.podcastreviewshow.com ) Natalie Jennings Photography Alissa Daire of the Maximize Your Strengths Harry Durran Podcast Junkies Ray Ortega, Daniel J. Lewis, and Addy Saucedo Alissa Daire of the Maximize Your Strengths Devin from the Big Picture Retirement Episode 102 Mass Murder - the Bitterest Pill Marcus Couch from WordPress Plugins A to Z. JOIN THE SCHOOL OF PODCASTING Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start

Full show notes can be seen at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/580 Why Keeping It Simple is a Good idea I do a show every Saturday call Ask the Podcast Coach with Jim Collison from theaverageguy.tv and at one point I decided to connect with Jim over Google hangouts, as well as have a Call In Number for the phone. I had to send a mix to Jim that had myself and the caller (but not Jim) while sending a mix to the caller than had myself and Jim (but not the caller). For those up on the lingo, I had to configure two mix minuses. I needed a mixer with two auxiliary outs. I found the Behringer X1832.  It did the job well. I had a ton of extra channels, and effects that I never used. Then we switched and instead of using a phone (using CallinStudio.com) we went to a chat window to take questions. This was simple and free (using chatwing.com) . So now I have a giant mixer taking up half my desk, and I was looking for an alternative. I have a Yamaha MG102c Mixer (which has been replaced by the MG10XU) that would do the job. For whatever reason, I just didn't like it. It seemed like I had to crank everything up to the max. It still had a clean sound, but it seemed like I really had to push everything. I realize this is stupid (cause you should vote with your ears, not your eyes) but I've been hesitant to go back to it. The Other Problem with Recording Levels I use a Zoom H5. A great device with a giant screen. However, due to the way the studio is setup with the majority of the light coming in from Behind the Zoom H5 I cant' really get a clear reading. While there are lights to let me know when things are peaking, I tend to feel those are too sensitive. Then I heard about the Sound Devices MixPre-3. This might solve all my problems. Bad Time for a Product Review I received the Sound Devices MixPre-3 this week. It's horrible timing as I'm getting ready to run off to Podcast Movement, and I'm busy packing, buying Dramamine, recording podcasts and won't have time to do a super deep dive. So here is what I want it to do: Power my Electrovocie RE320 without a ton of his I want to do a mix minus for when I do shows with a co-host via skype or Google hangouts I want to plugin my ipad to play sound effects. First Impressions Of the Mix Pre-3 WOW IS THIS THING SMALL. I have an iPhone 6s, and it might be an inch wider, but it is the size of an iPhone on steroids. VERY COOL. At first, I was worried about the touchscreen display. But the display is super clear, and you can adjust the brightness. I had no problems reading it. I was worried about the touchscreen is small. That didn't seem to be an issue (I'm a guitar player with long fingers and not very fat). I almost didn't need the manual. I plugged in a microphone, hit record and was up and running. Using it as an Interface - WHY AM I DRUNK? I went into Hindenburg Journalist and did a recording. it was nice and clear, but I sounded slightly drunk as my voice was lower (as if the sound had been slowed down). I launched Adobe Audition and got the same issue. Hmmm. As I'm on a PC, I right-clicked on the Speaker in the bottom right-hand corner of my screen and went to the Properties of the Mix Pre-3. I had to set the recording and playback to 2 channel 24 bit, 48K. This solved the issue, and everything sounded fine. How Do I Setup a Mix Minus? I was able to set the input of Channel 2 to USB-1, and I could now hear my Skype caller. I was on Channel 3, and life was good. How do I go about making sure that the sound of the caller does not go back to the caller? I look at the output, and all the output routing is for the stereo out mix. Where do I adjust what goes back to the caller? I looked, and looked, and headed to YouTube. They have a video on the Sound Devices website, but they just said, "Set the input and out to the MixPre-3. My thought was, Yeah, but then what. Finally, I saw a video that explained you can't route what is going back to the USB output, and that you don't need to setup a mix minus, as IT JUST DOES IT. Well, that's cool. I'm definitely stopping by their booth at Podcast Movement and asking some questions about this as (and this is important) I'm not sure I'm 100% right on that. If I wanted to use the Stereo Output jack into another USB device (in my case I use a Griffin imic) than I could get into more advanced setups. What Would I Fix About it? The On/Off switch is placed in a not so great spot, but then again because this thing is so tiny, any place you put the switch it's going to be right on top of something. It seems like having the SD card behind the battery pack is a bad idea. However, when I push a button and turn on file transfer, it was super fast to copy the files from the device to my computer. I originally was somewhat bummed that it doesn't have a "Marker" feature, but using the wingman app (free) I can lookup and see what time the boo-boo happened and make a mental note. Not as cool as a marker (especially if you wanted to pass your audio to someone else), but it's a hack for the lack of marker. While I would almost always be using USB to power the unit, I think charging $40 for an AC power adapter (not included) is BS. If they didn't have the wingman app (which is very cool) trying to rename something would be a joke. I love that I downloaded the app, and it just connected. So the short answer of what would I change? - Not almost nothing. What About the Price? The price for the unit Pre-3 Unit is $699, the Pre-6 is $899, and the price of the adapter (AC) is $40. Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder/Mixer and USB Audio Interface Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer and USB Audio Interface Sound Devices MX-Charge AC Power Supply for MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 Who Should Buy This? Someone who is going to be traveling alot, and wants to create great audio without having to worry (too much) about breaking the unit. The person wouldn't use the built-in microphones of a Zoom H5, and will always be traveling with a mic to record, and headphones to listen. Someone who has a small space, and they don't want their kids messing with a mixer. These units allow you to create presets, so you can fire up the unit press a button and everything is set. Also, it is super easy to plug stuff in. The person who understands that any tweaking of sound (more bass, treble,) will be done later in post production (where a mixer allows you to add it while you record) Fun Things To Check Out Mike Russel's YouTube Channel (AMAZING ADOBE AUDITION TUTORIALS Answer the Public - Interesting keyword/question tool (don't use the visualization view) Zoom H6 Course - Want to get the most out of your H6? Check out this course from my friend Daniel J. Lewis This video show an insane test on which device has the best preamps

Darren Dake of the Coroner Talk podcast started a podcast in 2013, and started a podcast, but it didn't last. He really  loves being a death scene investigator so he started the Coroner Talk podcast 2014. This lead to numerous opportunities: He started to make connections with people He now gets around 15,000 download a month He was asked the be the trainer supervisor for his state. He wrote a few books that has lead him to speak at conferences multiple times He includes going to different states to talk He created online courses for his "Coroner School" and is now taking off and now he is on track to make a six figure income from his speaking and his online courses. Please Notice: This wasn't overnight This wasn't easy. Your audience must always come first. Some Thoughts On Opportunities “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ― Winston S. Churchill “We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work” ― Thomas A. Edison “Failure is only the opportunity more intelligently to begin again.” ― Henry Ford “I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear.” ― Oprah Winfrey Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability.... We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation. Thomas A. Edison There comes a moment in every life when the Universe presents you with an opportunity to rise to your potential. An open door that only requires the heart to walk through, seize it and hang on. The choice is never simple. It's never easy. It's not supposed to be. But those who travel this path have always looked back and realized that the test was always about the heart. ...The rest is just practice. Jaime Buckley Spend eighty percent of your time focusing on the opportunities of tomorrow rather than the problems of yesterday. Brian Tracy Missed Opportunities I do a show called the Alexacast that is all about getting the most out of your Amazon Echo, Dot, etc. So I have an audience that is tied to Amazon. One might say they are Amazon "Super Users." Yet then Amazon Prime day came, and I have an audience that is tied to Amazon, and I barely promoted it. I should've made a big deal about this, and made it an event.  Know What Opportunities Are Coming Up I found two sites that show special days. These are: https://www.daysoftheyear.com https://nationaldaycalendar.com By knowing when all these special days that come up, you might be able to make a special event to encourage your audience to interact with the show.  Sometimes You Need To Ask I heard Dan Klass from the Bitterest Pill is being inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. I'm a HUGE Dan Klass fan. So I asked if I could do the induction speech to introduce Dan to an audience that may not know Dan like I feel I do.  Sometimes Opportunity Are Based on Previous Actions Because Jared and Dan from Podcast Movement had called on me in the past and I delivered "the Goods," and I had acted professionally in the past when I worked with them, I was given the opportunity to induct Dan. This puts me on a big stage. If I show people that I can handle the big stage (I've been a keynote speaker at some conferences) I can show the world that I can bring value to your event.  Mentioned in This Podcast Podcasters Roundtable Grammar Girl Podcast Philip Keller from Blind Faith Live (here Phillip on last week's show) Podcast Awards Order the Messengers Documentary on iTunes go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/themessengers then send me an email with the subject link "I have a message - your name " (dave "at" schoolofpodcasting.com) I will give you a coupon for 40% off your first six months (this offer expired 8/24/17)  

Because of My Podcast Randy Goers of the Drone Radio Show When you start a podcast you are seen as a digital influencer and today's example of something that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't because of their podcast is from Randy Goers who produces the Drone Radio Show. He explains how he is able to make great connections, and be able to attend Drone events with a press pass. He recently was able to interview one of the senior vice presidents of Intel who is in charge of directing their drone policy and program. That all happens Because of my Podcast. How to NOT Make Money with a Podcast Today I start a new segment that will appear from time to time with Jessica Kupferman who runs the www.JKMAgency.com and helps podcasters find sponsors. This segment is to help podcasters looking to monetize their podcast by helping them avoid the mistakes other are making. Keep in mind, you do not have to monetize your show. In this first initial segment, Jessica explains that when quoting numbers to a potential sponsor the number people are interested is your episode downloads after 30 days of being available. Monthly stats don't count because in that monthly downloads are episodes in your back catalog (and the sponsor is not going to be in those episodes). While most podcasters are not crazy about the CPM Model (where you are paid a certain amount of money for a thousand downloads, such as 30 CPM would mean when your episode goes over 1000 downloads you would be paid $30). If you're creating a media kit, you need to have a dollar value in mind so that when people ask for it, you're ready. Being secretive about your pricing is not going to help you. Yes, everything is up for negotiation but you have to have a starting price. Phillip Keller (Formerly Trapper Jack on Cleveland Radio) Spotlighting a Living Saint Phillip Keller spent 25 years in Cleveland Radio. He took not one, but TWO stations to number one. His show might be seen as controversial as he interviews people who have been healed by a local Dr. Issam Nemeh. This has lead to national attention. The miracle stories became so commonplace that programs as varying as Dr. Oz and 700 club feature Dr. Nemeh. Phillip does all of his own production and editing even though he is legally blind. In today's interview he talks about: The difference between radio and podcasting and the different broadcast muscles you need to flex What kind of prep he was doing when he was on a #1 Radio Station (and going to work at 3 AM) How he was treated when he got to #1 is amazing. Why he doesn't miss radio. Besides radio, what other things have gone away in his life? How long should your podcast be? How being featured got his numbers to jump How his first podcast was awful. Where did the name Trapper Jack come from? How he turning his podcast into a book using rev.com What is his favorite miracle story (Episode 210) Check out Phillips show at www.blindfatihlive.com and subscribe to them in Apple iTunes  Support his show on Patreon Mentioned In This Show Ham Radio 360 The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary Preorder in iTunes after pre-ordering the documentary (see the trailer) and you can get 40% off the School of Podcasting for the first 6 months (send an email with the subject line "I have a message - your name) I will show you how you can also get entered into drawing to get free items like a Heil Pro 40 Microphone, digital recorder and more I will be speaking at the National Podcasting Power Event in Perrysburg Ohio on September 23, 2017. See http://www.nationalpodcastpower.com/ I will also be speaking at Podcast Movement (use the coupon code sop10) in August. I will also be  at Podcast MidAtlantic in September Join the School of Podcasting Join worry free with a 30-day Money-back-guarantee Private Facebook Group For Networking Live Group Coaching ($400 value) 16 Online Podcast Courses Covering All Aspects of Podcasting Join Today

Each month I ask my audience a question and they answer and we all learn together. This month I asked, "What have you changed about your show and why?" Some people added/removed co-hosts. Some people updated artwork and intro music. Others start/stopped writing out their podcasts. Some adjusted their attitude, or cut back on some of the podcast promotion.  The following people contributed Win from buterfliesofwisdom.weebly.comBrad from wearethecinemaguys.com Anna From Authentic Moments authenticparenting.com Cheri from www.christianscienceforkids.com Dads Spotlight Lawschool Insider Emily from thestorybehindpodcast.com Craig from Inglespodcast Gabe Guys and food podcast Gary and Margaret from Kiwi Mana - Bee Keeping PodcastJenny K From Studio ChaoticJohn The Wired home SchoolKim from toastmaters101.net and onthetablepodcasts.comMark King (Venture Captial)  http://markwking.com/Paul from http://www.trinitydigitalmedia.com/Scott from the Computer Tutor Podcast  Sean from Slept in Government ClassBryan From Engaging MissionsRandy Cantrel From  Pear Advisory GroupZack from Raising Rents (as in Parents)  In the end, this shows you can change your podcast. Your podcast is not a statue, it's a recipe. If you want to change it you can. If you're happy with it, keep doing it, but there is nothing stopping you from throwing something out there, seeing the feedback, and go from there. Buy the Messengers and Save 40% on the School of Podcasting You can get 40% the first six months at the School of Podcasting. Just preorder the Messengers on iTunes, take a screenshot, or a selfie with the screen in the background (you know, prove to me you bought it, I trust you) and I will send you a coupon for 40% off your monthly subscription. Just email me and in the subject line put "I have a message - your name" and I will send you the coupon. To preorder go to http://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/themessengers The Power Of Distraction I had an awkward moment this weekend. My ex-father-in-law passed away. I wanted to be there for my ex-wife and my ex-step-children. I remember when my Mom died how weird it is to be in a room with your loved one in a box. My goal was to distract them from their Grandfather in the casket. I wanted to make them laugh (if possible) and get them talking about anything. While people alway say, "Thank you so much for coming.." when my oldest step daughter came up and gave me a hug and said, "I'm so glad you came" it seemed a little more heartfelt. It made me feel so good to be there for people in need.  WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH PODCASTING? There are times when people have bad days, weeks, maybe bad months, and YOUR SHOW can be the distraction that helps them get through the day. Your show's ability to make them laugh, cry, think, grown, educated, or entertain, can take them away from whatever is bugging them. I saw that today face to face, and it can be huge.  So if you're not getting feedback, or you're not selling a course, realize you can be doing a ton of service to people and never know it.

Because of My Podcast Danny Peña’ is Now on Twitch.tv Danny is a Hall of Fame podcaster who shared his story about how he started off with a cassette deck (see episode 506), and ended up playing video games with Bill Gates, and getting a spot on CBS Radio. Well, he has some more good news. He is not partnered with Twitch.tv Twitch.tv has evolved its reputation as the world’s leading social video platform and community for video game culture to now encompass an array of emerging content surfaced by its users. As a result, 10 million visitors gather each day to watch and talk about video games, music, the creative arts, themselves, and other beyond gaming topics with more than 2 million streamers. So in other words, Danny is going to get to record his podcast live in front of millions of people who happen to be his target audience. You will see when you go to http://twitch.tv/gamertagradio that there is a way for people to tip Danny as his crew, and Danny also gets a piece of the $5.99 subscription fee (which gives you more access, and the ability to watch the video on demand). Check out Danny's Show at www.gamertagradio.com The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary Now Available for Pre Order - Very Special Deal I was asked to work with the crew that created the movie, The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary. I created a podcast to give you the behind the scenes view of making the documentary. Well, the movie is now available for Pre-Order. We want it to be #1 when it is released. If you've ever wanted to support the show now is the time. This is a time when independent podcasters can ban together to show the true power of podcasting. It will be released August 23rd. From now until then I'm doing a special deal. I will give you a coupon for 40% off your first 6 months at the School of Podcasting. Just send forward the email of your purchase, take a self with your confirmation, in general, prove to me you purchased the film, and I'll send you a coupon. Make the subject line, "I have a message - Your Name" so in my case it would be "I have a message - Dave Jackson". The price is only $5.99, and you'll save $20 a month or $120 over the six months (before it goes back to your regular price of $49/month) Purchase the movie and get inspired when it comes out and start your podcast today. Here is the link Congrats to Niel, Willie, Ralph, Chris, and John for a job well done. Order the Movie Here Nominate the School of Podcasting for the People's Choice Podcast Awards I've been so busy working on finding good content for you each week, I have failed to announce that you can now nominate the School of Podcasting for a Podcast Award. I would deeply appreciate it www.podcastawards.com as the voting is different this year (no more having the vote every day). So if you ever got any value out of the School of Podcasting or this podcast, please go to and nominate the School of Podcasting in the Technology category Alexandra Harbushka May Be the Most Courageous Woman in Podcasting While all podcasters have to deal with hating their voice the first time they hear it, as well as worry about if anyone would listen or like the show. Alexandra had all those and one more BIG distinction. Her show is about Herpes, and yes Alexandra has Herpes. Her show is called Life With Herpes, and her first episode was one of the most insanely personal podcasts I've ever heard. She reveals how she found out, how she felt, and how scared she was. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I wanted to have her on the show for a few reasons: If someone can do a podcast and stand up and say, "Hi I'm Alexandra and I have herpes" surely you can find the courage to start your podcast about your hobby or business She is building a community that is super connected because only people with this disease can truly understand what it is like to deal with this disease.  As much as there is a stigma around this disease, she hasn't received any negative comments or name calling. Instead, she receives emails from people thanking her for her courage, and support as they struggle with understanding what is the "new normal." In today's interview we hear: a) What inspired her to start a podcast? b) What it's like to talk about a controversial subject. c) How having a super niche show is enabling her to be found, and her downloads are growing (not a ton of competition) d) How a change in philosophy helps her embrace the day, and inspire her to podcast. e) We hear some of the biggest misconceptions about Herpes (Grandma you gave me herpes!) Check out Alexandra and the Living With Herpes show at www.lifewithherpes.com Dave's Jackson Podcast Experience Ready to start a podcast? I have as of 7/23/17 Dave Jackson has produced over 2988 episodes of 31 podcasts with a total number of 3,182,220 downloads. Some were super niche (Alexacast) other were experiments (Worst Podcast Ever) but through my experience, I have seen what works and what does not. I can help you avoid the common pitfalls of podcast and would love to work with you. You can watch old out dated YouTube videos, or join the School of Podcasting and get access to 16 difference courses on building a podcast that will completely WOW your audience, as well as a private Facebook group, and twice a month there are live Q&A calls with Dave  Join today by going to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start

King of the Niche Podcasts Bill Strand of Chameleonbreeder.com In this 20 minute interview we hear how: Bill has been involved with Chameleon's For Over 40 Years His Podcast Has Lead His Audience to Trust Him and Engage with him on Social Media This trust has to lead to more sales than when he produced an Ezine (back in the day) His supplier can't keep up with the orders and Bill no longer mentions his Chameleon Cages on his show How Bill keeps his family supporting his show His audience loyalty results in them freely paying more for his products so they can support him. Bill is nice enough to share his numbers, and he is getting WAY MORE than the median 200 downloads (he had more than that in one day) Bill's commitment is to delivering value. 2017 Is More Than Half Way Done, How Are Your Goals? It's July, last month the year was 50% 0ver. My plans for this year had two big projects. Revamp the School of Podcasting Update my book, "More Podcast Money." I have not made any serious strides in either of these. Let's not panic. What did I do instead? I launched a few shows testing different hosting platforms (including a show for my cat). I started a Patreon group my weight loss show. I added a "Baby Steps" free video course to drive leads to the School of Podcasting. While learning about more platforms keep me well rounded in what is available for podcasters, it's kind of like knowing about Coke, Pepsi, and DR. Pepper. Do you really need more cola choices? OK, fine, we'll add RC cola. The Patreon experiment is for the book as was having a sponsor earlier in the year. Free Resources You Might Want to Check Out If you're looking for a way to get the word out (and you somewhat have an audience of friends, etc) there is a free tool called thunderclap.it where you pick a day when you send out a tweet (that you create) and it goes out everyone's twitter at the same time (and Facebook, and Tumblr) . You need a minimum of 100 people (according to their video) or it won't go out (the free version let's you choose how many people you need to share. The smallest paid plan is $55 per campaign.  I've added this to the Podcasting Resources area. Sometimes reading books will give you an idea for a new episode. While there are resources like Audibible.com (where you can get a free book for joining), you may have heard of this thing called the Library (which I recently got to visit when we had a thunderstorm, and I had no power or the Internet and they did). On a recent taping of the Ask the Podcast Coach show, Daniel J Lewis from the Audacity to Podcast informed me of Overdrive.com which works with your library card to enable you to download audiobooks and ebooks for free. Kim Krachi from Toastmasters 101 also mentioned Hoopla Digital which is a similar service. Becuase of My Podcast I'm Going All over the World Talking About a Subject I Love Hilda from the Wise Traditions Podcast and her own site holistichilda.com started this podcast by contacting a company where she enjoyed their newsletter but thought it needed a kick in the pants (and she loves the topic). She get involved and now hosts their podcasts. She is doing such a great job they are now sending her all over the globe to talk about the show and be an ambassador. Check out at holistichilda.com and the podcast is at http://westonaprice.org/ Libsyn and Blubrry ready for New iTunes Tags As Soundcloud continues to plummet (and they hope Chance the wrapper saves them the way Justin Timberlake save Myspace?), Libsyn.com and Blubrry.com have already stated (and demonstrated in some cases) how the new iTunes Tags are in place. You can see Libsyn's new layout and demonstration here Mentioned in this Show Happy 100th Episode to The Feed (the official podcast from Libsyn.com Hero of the week Jessica Kupferman from the jkmagency.com for telling advertisers to stick their $6 per episode offers where the sun doesn't shine. Jimmy Iovine says it takes 6 years for great musicians to break into the music business (from the Howard Stern show on Siriusxm.com ) School of Podcasting Provides Direct Access to my twelve years of experience Private Facebook Group Access to all 16 courses Priority Email Support Live Group Coaching 30-Day Moneyback -Guarantee  JOIN TODAY    

I went to two concerts this weekend and underneath all the education and information, podcasters are entertainers.  If you're not entertaining your audience, you're losing them. Dictionary.com defines entertain as, "to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably; divert; amuse." We need to hold people's attention. The concerts I saw this weekend were Jonny Lang and King's X. Two Concerts by musicians with track records going all the way back to 1980 (King's X) and 1995 (Lang). Jonny Lang released his major label debut when he was 15 years old. Both bands had music in the rotation on MTV (for those that remember MTV)  So what does this have to do with Podcasting? Well as both of these bands are now "Indie" we can learn from them.  Have a Crappy Opening Act In both instances, the promoters of these shows picked HORRENDOUS opening acts. While the bands have little if nothing at all to do with this, it does make them sound better. Know what you're going to say Both of these bands have what are called set lists. This lists the songs in the order. It's only game plan and can be changed, but when they hit the stage they have a pretty idea of what is going to happen in the next 60-90 minutes.  As a podcaster you should have a pretty good idea of where you are going when you press record. I know this seems common sense, but I often here shows start with what should be pregame chatter, "Did you want to talk about _____?" This should've been decided before the microphone was turned on. It's not like the guys in King's X have a big "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN KING'S X" and then Doug and Ty look at each other and ask, "Should we do Groove Machine?" I recently read a book about Van Halen, and bands of this caliber practice the same set for months to make sure everything is smooth.  For the Love of God put the good stuff first There is a reason the news often starts with the phrase "Our top story tonight." Both bands came out with great up-tempo songs to get the crowd engaged. 3. Be Original Jonny Lang sounded like he was 15 going on 48 when he came out of the gate. He has a voice that is very distinct, and you know its him. Kings X has a very distinct sound. Did they do something way outside the box? Yes and No. They tune their guitars lower than what is considered standard, and they use a slightly different tuning (for the musicians they tune to C instead of E, and they use Drop D (not C) tuning). So while a little outside the box, all they did was twist a few knobs. These small twists (combined with awesome musicianship) makes them very identifiable.  4. Listen to Your Audience During one song Jonny was playing and singing with his guitar. This is called "Scat singing" and it was pretty cool (and I hate scat singing). The crowd really came alive. Sure enough later in the evening he brought it back.  All night King's X fans were shouting requests (they have quite a few albums). One song is called, "King" and one person kept screaming, "Are you going to play King?" Well, they weren't because I was in the front row leaning on the stage and could read their set list (and I took after the convert). Before their first encore, they swapped added it.  5. You Can't Make Everyone Happy One dufas at the Kings X show wrote a note with a song request and was very persistent. Eventually, the lead singer stated they had a set list, and they are prepared to play and some they are not.  6. Have a Cool Logo if You Want to Sell Merchandise Jonny Lang's t-shirt was boring. They pictured his latest album cover which has his picture on it. With the music business in a mess, musicians make a fair amount of money from merchandise sales. For those who want to keepsake from the concert, the traditional "Album cover" t-shirt will do. King's X has a cool logo, with the phrase "First Church of Rock and Roll" with the saying "May the Groove be With you" You want to wear this shirt BECAUSE IT'S A COOL SHIRT. The other thing about having a cool logo shirt, is you can sell it no matter what tour you're on.  This also means knowing your audience, so if your audience is a bunch if middle aged dudes, you better keep the extra large in stock.  7. Do No Underestimate the Power Of You, and the Value of Direct Access With Jonny Lang you can purchase a VIP package with gives you access to the soundcheck, selfie, posters, guitar picks, commemorative laminate, etc for $100. Most of this has very little to do with Jonny.  8. Don't Lose Your Cool, or Panic During the first few songs, the lead singer was having an issue with a microphone stand. Eventually, he threw it to the ground. Was he upset? I don't think so. I think he was trying to get the attention of the sound crew. Some "Rock stars" might've walked off the stage.  Doug kept his cool. King's X Did Something Brilliant At Disney at end of the every ride you exit through the gift shop. At the end of their show, the lead singer from King's X explained how they were going to towel off, and head over to the merchandise table where you can get pictures, selfies, merchandise, etc. In other words, exit through the gift shop. The AMAZING thing is you didn't have to purchase anything to meet the band. The lead singer explained this as he was leaving the stage, "After all, it's all about you.'  I was at the very end of the line. I was worried that they would cut the line, but I was told by one of their staff, "No, they stay till everyone has been served." WOW.  What Was The Result? Most of the people there got a lot of time to look at the merchandise. To see other buying the merchandise. This was the law of reciprocity in action. They were doing something nice for you (free selfies) in hopes that you would do something nice for them (I bought a $25 t-shirt). Doug did a quick soundbyte for the show. They were awesome.  Jonny Lang put on a great show. I love his voice, and can't wait for the new album. I do want to comment on something I noticed. I talked to people at the Jonny Lang show and for the most part people were from the Akron/Canton/Cleveland Area (within an hour of the location). There were a lot of fans of the venue (the Kent Stage), and alot of fans of Jonny.  Within the first five minutes of standing in line at the Kings X show, I met people who came from New York (7 hours away), Indiana (4 hours away), Columbus (4 hours away). People who had seen them 10, 12, 13 times.With any prodding of the band, the King's X fans bellowed out the song with the singer. This often lead him to back away from the microphone. I was in the front row, I had probably 400 people behind me. To hear a room of people drowning out the amplifiers a few feet from me was a very cool thing. It obviously touched the singer as he was amazed at the enthusiasm of the crowd. So is this enhanced engagement with their audience the result of their "Free" Meet and Greets?" I don't have any facts to prove this, but if I was a betting man, I would guess that to be true.  Check out both bands (both were great concerts) at www.jonnylang.com and kingsxrocks.com    Other Topic Nominate the School of Podcasting in the technology category at www.podcastawards.com  Soundcloud laid of 40% of their employees see http://www.spin.com/2017/07/soundcloud-lays-off-40-of-staff/    

Today I talk with Drew Ackerman of the Sleep with Me Podcast. I met him at Podfest.us and I was amazed at the amount of detail he puts into a show that has a singular goal of putting you to sleep. In the interview you will hear: How Drew started his show with not the best of equipment His "Let's See What Happens" attitude How he picks the not too boring, not too entertaining topics. How he pushed through when he thought about quitting What inspired him to start the podcast How he takes it seriously, but not too seriously. What countries just don't get his show.  The listener email that left him humbled. His massive amount of downloads reported in the Washington Post Check out Drew's Sleep With Me Podcast at www.sleepwithmepodcast.com Anchor.fm Trying Hard to Be Everything and Succeeding at.... I took another look at Anchor.fm now that you can create a podcast for free. This is another great example of a company knowing NOTHING about podcasting and jumping into the space. Leading people who are uninformed into situations that they are going to hate in a few months.  They are going to control your feed if you let them submit your podcast feed "for you" which means later you won't be able to see your Apple stats.  As a feedback mechanism, it's easy to receive feedback, but impossible to get it off your phone (and if they knew anything about podcasting they would know this).  For now, I'm going to play with it for a week, but getting these files into a podcast (not using their horrible system) is not easy.  Ready To Start a Podcast?  Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start You get step by step tutorials on 16 courses Private Facebook group to pick the brains of other podcasters Priority email support and Live Group Coaching 30 Day Money Back Guarantee  Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start