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AutoFocus brings you behind the scenes of the podcasting industry, with PodcastVideos.com experts reviewing gear, interviewing industry experts, and more!

  1. DEC 9

    How Podcasters Grow: Strategy, Guests, And Ads

    Tired of copy-paste podcast advice that never fits your workflow? We sat down with multilingual podcast strategist Ana Xavier and video-first producer Sam Lewandowski to chart a smarter way to grow: build a plan that respects your capacity, your strengths, and what your audience actually wants. From OG audio roots to modern studio setups, we peel back what really moves the needle and what you can stop stressing about. We dig into strategic consistency—how to set a clear goal and publish in a way you can sustain—plus a practical system for mixing high-effort deep dives with fast, high-value shorts. Sam shares why one great channel usually beats being average on five, and how leveraging guest networks can unlock reach faster than any solo grind. Ana explains ruthless editing for listener value, how to keep continuity, and why a three-minute mic-drop can carry more weight than a meandering hour. You’ll also hear real-world insights on platform choice and paid promotion. TikTok often correlates with rapid growth for video-ready teams, X is seeing fresh traction, while Meta channels can be better for nurturing than spiking. We break down when to spend on ads, the difference between boosting a standout episode versus the whole show, and why your promoted content must reflect your actual tone, or you’ll pay to attract the wrong listeners. Plus, simple infrastructure wins: have a clean central hub, a modest episode backlog, and a booking habit that adds new voices outside your inner circle every month. If you want a podcast marketing playbook that’s clear, doable, and honest about trade-offs, this conversation will help you ship better episodes, make smarter promotion decisions, and have more fun doing it. Subscribe, share this with a creator friend, and leave a quick review to tell us what tactic you’ll try next.

    41 min

  2. NOV 25

    How A Cinematographer Built A Business Filming Court-Testimony

    Courtroom drama looks glamorous on TV, but the real pressure often sits behind the lens. We sit down with David, a cinematographer who traded background roles and commercial shoots for a surprising specialty: filming legal depositions where you can’t fix it in post and every second counts. He unpacks the rules of this world—timestamps, chain-of-custody mindset, neutral framing, and flawless audio—and explains why a job with zero edits can sharpen your technical instincts more than any high-gloss brand gig. David takes us through his winding path from Texas music dreams to Atlanta sets, into Full Sail’s digital cinematography program, and finally toward a business built on reliable workflows. He shares the gear that matters for admissible video—backup cameras, wired lavaliers, UPS power, and portable LEDs—and the software side that keeps hybrid sessions smooth, including OBS for time-and-date burn-ins and Zoom distribution. We talk file sizes, codecs, and why 1080p and small bitrates are your friend when a testimony runs for hours. We also get real about etiquette: arrive early, dress for court-adjacent work, announce off-the-record moments, and deliver through secure, encrypted portals with clear retention policies. There’s room for creativity too. David’s developing Dino Puppin’, a kids’ education series blending animation with live action to support pre-K through early grades—an idea shaped by time in the classroom and a love for engaging, movement-based learning. That balance between procedural precision and playful storytelling shows how a filmmaker can thrive across very different demands. For newcomers, David’s advice is simple and strong: start where you are, plan your shots, master sound, respect pacing, and finish projects. Upgrades come later; skill comes from doing. If this conversation sparked ideas or gave you a new path into filmmaking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more creators find the guidance they need.

    40 min

  3. NOV 11

    How An Audio Engineer Built A Lean, Portable Podcast Workflow

    Want audio people won’t skip? We sit down with Adam, an audio engineer turned podcast producer, to unpack the habits, gear, and decisions that keep listeners hooked. From a marching band beginning to editing for an iHeart-acquired show, Adam shares practical systems that work in the real world: treat the room first, pick portable tools you can set up fast, and build an editing workflow that survives client notes and tight deadlines. We walk through why dialogue editing is simpler in aim than music mixing and how a single mic technique—the hang ten rule—can transform clarity across loud and quiet voices. Adam explains his backpack-friendly setup, featuring a MacBook Pro, Focusrite at home, and the Zoom PodTrak P4 for on-location sessions with four XLR inputs and SD recording. He makes the case that environment trumps expensive hardware, with simple fixes like rugs, curtains, and even recording in a parked car delivering bigger gains than a top-shelf microphone used in a reflective kitchen. Editing gets the system treatment: listen once, mark structure, and edit backward through client timecodes so you never break earlier notes. Templates carry the weight—intros, outros, and standard plugins preloaded—while steady communication smooths revisions. When cleanup is needed, Adam leans on iZotope RX for denoise, de-click, de-breath, and de-ess, keeping voices natural without overprocessing. His advice for newcomers is refreshingly direct: ask partners for a phone-recorded proof-of-concept to confirm commitment, then master a repeatable workflow from file intake to delivery. If you care about podcast audio quality, discover how portability, soundproofing, and smart editing turn scattered sessions into consistent, listener-friendly shows. Subscribe, share this with a creator who needs cleaner sound, and leave a review telling us your most chaotic recording story—we might feature it next time.

    36 min

  4. OCT 28

    Cinema Starts with Support

    What if the missing piece in your image isn’t your camera or your lens, but the way you hold the frame? We sit down with Tanner from Miller to pull back the curtain on tripods, fluid heads, and the surprising role support gear plays in cinematic storytelling, live events, and everyday content. Tanner traces his path from live music shoots to Red Digital Cinema and into camera support, showing how the jump from DSLR to cinema is less about specs and more about control. We unpack the “right feel” of a fluid head, the tuned resistance that lets you feather pans, land tilts, and keep horizons locked, along with why sealed, serviceable designs survive heat, cold, dust, and sudden rain without binding up or ruining your day. From independent operators to broadcast crews, stability and repeatable motion are the difference between usable footage and expensive frustration. We also get hands-on with the Miller AirV: a light, portable system that turns sturdy once deployed. The Versa plate accepts common standards like Manfrotto and DJI, so moving from gimbal to sticks takes seconds instead of tools. Quick leveling, smart counterbalance, and carbon fiber legs add speed and confidence, whether you’re shooting in a tight booth, on a windy sideline, or across a long event day. These are the details that protect your camera, save your framing when someone bumps the sticks, and shave minutes off every setup. If you’re just starting out, Tanner’s advice is direct: create with what’s in your pocket, learn in free editors, ask good questions, and invest first in support that outlasts camera bodies. Better motion, safer sets, and faster workflows come from the ground up. Ready to feel the difference a true fluid head makes? Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, share with a friend who shoots, and leave a quick review, tell us your wildest tripod fail and what you want to master next.

    40 min

  5. OCT 21

    From DSLR to DIY Studio: How to Build Your Visual Brand

    What if your camera, your room, and your presence quietly told the audience, “You can trust me” before you say a word? Brooke sits down with home studio architect and longtime photographer Junaid Ahmed to unpack how light, composition, and intentional design turn everyday creators into on-camera authorities without buying everything at once. We start with a surprising truth: the best beginner camera is the one in your pocket. Junaid Ahmed shares how to unlock manual controls on a smartphone, compose with gridlines and leading lines, and wait for the moment that gives a frame its story. From there, we build up through three-point lighting, key, fill, and hair, and explore how to darken a room, lock exposure, and add background color that supports brand identity instead of stealing attention. Along the way, you’ll hear why good audio, clean framing, and subtle lighting choices create instant credibility on Zoom, podcasts, courses, and live streams. The conversation moves into systems thinking: modeling rooms with 3D planning, placing lights and cameras to fit your exact dimensions, and creating a space that lowers friction so you show up more often. Junaid  breaks down his seven stages of home studio evolution, a clear path from smartphone novice to broadcaster where each upgrade solves a real bottleneck. We also talk creative reps, building rapport, and the confidence that comes from preparation, because consistency beats perfection when you’re trying to ship meaningful work. Ready to level up without getting lost in gear? Press play, grab one tactic, and try it today. If this helped, follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a creator who’s ready to look and sound like a pro.

    31 min

  6. OCT 14

    Scaling Up Solo: Travis Peeples' Production Playbook

    Your favorite shot might not survive the final cut, and that’s a good thing. We sit down with filmmaker and producer Travis Peeples to explore the real work behind great video: training crews from zero, upgrading underpowered gear with patience, and making hard editorial choices that keep story above ego. Travis’ path runs from university media trucks and ESPN uplinks to Hendrix College’s candlelit choir streams, where he learned to do more with less and preserve the magic of a live moment without getting in the way. We dig into the craft and the career: how watching top editors log footage and build rough cuts can change the way you shoot; why “read the manual” is a superpower; and how to teach students by matching their natural strengths, graphics for the desk lovers, cameras for the movers. Travis also shares a field guide to gear strategy: invest in lenses, date the bodies, and let your deliverables decide what to buy versus rent. Expect plain talk on ISO vs. gain, variable-aperture zoom pain, and the difference between camcorder “light” and DSLR depth of field. Plus, a candid look at stepping out on your his with Triple Double Productions, navigating nonprofit lunches that turn into referrals, and adjusting to clients who email back on their timeline, not yours. If you’re starting out, Travis’ advice is both generous and direct: shoot what you love, copy the masters to learn actively, and claim your title as soon as you practice it, especially once you’re paid. Hit play for a grounded, gear-smart, and story-first guide to building a career that scales from gaff tape to directing, from kit lens to cinema glass, and from safe choices to your own voice. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more creators can find it.

    46 min

  7. OCT 7

    The Four Keys to Any Podcast

    Start with four questions, build a room, and make something unforgettable. That’s the heartbeat of our talk with Ti King, co-founder of the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative, board member at The Podcast Academy, and producer of issue‑driven, documentary‑style shows that turn stories into change. We dig into the practical steps that pull a podcaster out of the “everyone is my audience” trap and into a clear niche with a sharp value promise, then show how the right data turns guesses into growth. Ti walks us through the “four walls” every show needs: name, focus, audience, and value, and why a one‑sheet and elevator pitch can unlock grants, sponsors, and great guests. We explore the craft and workflow behind documentary podcasting: tight interviews, purposeful b‑roll, and edits clean enough to export audio‑only without losing momentum. If you’re building for discovery, we cover why YouTube is the largest podcast platform, how Shorts drive first‑time listeners, and which visual fundamentals, composition, depth, and angles, make clips stand out. Gearheads will love the Sony setups, Tamron lenses, matte boxes, V-mount rigs, and drone shots, all used to serve the story over specs. We also spotlight the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative’s mission to lower barriers for creators in a “flyover” state with hands‑on coaching, local studio partners, and a festival that brings the NASA podcast team to town. The community‑nominated, community‑voted ARKAST Awards return with handcrafted trophies and a bigger stage for regional voices. Whether you’re trying to beat podfade, refine your niche, or take a more cinematic approach to your episodes, this conversation offers a blueprint grounded in clarity, craft, and community. If this helped you sharpen your show, tap follow, share with a creator who needs it, and leave a quick review.

    31 min

  8. SEP 30

    International Podcast Day: Testing Our Podcast Knowledge

    Quiz time! Our PodcastVideos.com team comes together to celebrate International Podcast Day with a friendly but competitive trivia challenge that tests our knowledge of podcasting history. The office is divided into Team P and Team V, battling through questions about the origins of RSS, the invention of MP3 technology, and even which U.S. president was the first to podcast! After the competition, the team predicts several major shifts by 2026, including traditional audio platforms embracing video capabilities, AI enhancing content discovery rather than replacing human creators, and podcasting reaching consumption levels comparable to music streaming. We're particularly excited about the democratization of the medium, with both younger generation listeners and older generations increasingly engaging with podcast content. The conversation turns to how PodcastVideos.com plans to implement these emerging trends to better serve our clients. From leveraging AI for faster turnaround times to developing more personalized content strategies, we're focused on helping podcasters navigate this evolving landscape while maintaining authentic connections with their audiences. Whether it's supporting live podcast events or enhancing discoverability through strategic promotion, our team remains committed to empowering creators in this dynamic medium. As we wrap up our International Podcast Day celebration, we encourage everyone to support their local podcasters by listening, sharing, and engaging with the shows that inspire them. The podcast industry continues to evolve at a remarkable speed, and we're thrilled to be part of this creative community. What podcasts are you celebrating today?

    16 min
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AutoFocus brings you behind the scenes of the podcasting industry, with PodcastVideos.com experts reviewing gear, interviewing industry experts, and more!

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  • Creator
    PodcastVideos.com
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Auto Focus
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