The Podcast Superfriends

Matt Cundill, Jon Gay, Catherine O'Brien, David Yas, Johnny Peterson

Five podcast veterans hosting a monthly live-streamed roundtable about podcasting. If you want to evolve your podcast, or if you've got an idea for a show, there's no better place to start! The Superfriends dig deep on all the details you might not think about: Best practices for your show's website, streamlining your weekly workflow, marketing your podcast to the masses, and getting the most from your RSS feed. Join Jon Gay, David Yas, Johnny Peterson, Catherine O'Brien, and Matt Cundill as they get into the nitty-gritty about podcasting.

  1. Make Your Podcast Listenable

    APR 8

    Make Your Podcast Listenable

    David Yas hosts with Johnny Podcasts, Matt Cundill, and Jon Gay (Jag) to dig into what makes podcast content truly compelling. Catherine is on vacation and we missed her dearly. They start with opening strategies, debating cold opens versus concise scripted intros. Johnny and Jag explain how they mine transcripts and use tools like Descript and Riverside to find strong teaser clips, while Matt argues for a tightly written 30–45 second intro that clearly explains why listeners should stay. The group then explores recurring segments—Jag in favor for structure and professionalism, Matt mostly against them unless they’re genuinely great, and Johnny suggesting they can help hosts “land the plane” at the end of an interview. They cover introducing guests without reading boring bios, prepping and calming guests technically and emotionally, and how to handle episodes that aren’t good enough to air. The episode closes with practical interview advice: listen deeply, avoid constant verbal tic responses, embrace silence, prep thoroughly so you can be spontaneous, and always protect your audience’s time and attention. Work With the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 1m
  2. Unpacking Apple’s New Video Venture

    MAR 11

    Unpacking Apple’s New Video Venture

    Apple’s new HLS-based video podcast initiative is the focus of this episode of Podcast Superfriends with guest Justin Jackson of Transistor.fm. Justin explains what HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is, why it was originally created by Apple, and how chunked, adaptive streaming makes video more practical than traditional large downloads. He outlines Apple’s decision to deliver video via API partners rather than RSS, the ad-tech angle (Apple taking a fee per ad delivery), and why only certain ad-network-backed hosts are in the first wave. The group digs into technical hurdles (re-encoding, multiple resolutions, manifests, separate audio tracks), costs versus free hosting on YouTube/Spotify, and the new paradigm where one video file powers both video and audio experiences. They debate editing compromises, listener expectations, and how younger audiences increasingly define “podcasts” as YouTube-style video. Justin frames it all as “playing the game on the field” while still being bullish on RSS and the open ecosystem. Also, in case you missed Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW, there's a pretty big update on Apple Podcasts' upcoming HLS video feature: It will soon be supported by Transistor, Audiomeans, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com and Podigee, alongside previously-announced supporters Acast, Omny, ART19 and Simplecast. Work With the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 7m
  3. Editing Secrets from a Pro, Sound & Flow, with Steve Stewart

    FEB 4

    Editing Secrets from a Pro, Sound & Flow, with Steve Stewart

    The Podcast Superfriends welcome podcast editor and community leader Steve Stewart to discuss the craft and business of podcast editing. Steve shares how he went from financial blogger and podcaster in the FinCon community to a full‑time editor after well-known bloggers asked him to “just handle everything after we hit record.” He explains how early tools like Audacity and basic mics evolved into today’s ecosystem of AI-assisted workflows, transcription tools, and plugins, and why efficiency and smart processes are key to profitability. The group explores what “podcast editor” really means today—often extending into producer, manager, and strategist roles including show notes, media host management, dynamic ad insertion, and client coaching. Steve stresses niching down (his is personal finance), delivering excellent customer service, and getting clients through referrals, in‑person events, and industry conferences. He also describes his work building the Podcast Editors Club and Podcast Editor Academy to train and support editors worldwide. Sign Up For Steve's Newsletter here Join the Facebook Group here And finally - Steve mentioned a nice price for registering for his Podcast Editor's Academy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 1m
  4. Podcast Predictions: Fair or Foul?

    JAN 12

    Podcast Predictions: Fair or Foul?

    In this first 2026 episode of Podcast Super Friends, the friends discuss the rapidly changing podcast landscape and predict what lies ahead, including the ongoing tension between walled gardens and open platforms, with debate over whether platforms like Spotify and YouTube will be more creator-friendly. The friends explores emerging monetization models, such as subscriptions and Patreon, highlighting the need for niche content and subscriber engagement. Panelists stress the rising importance of optimizing podcasts for YouTube, professionalizing video and audio production, and leveraging AI for creative assets—while remaining cautious about AI-generated voices. The discussion underscores host-read ads’ increasing value and the shift from simple download metrics to deeper audience analytics. The team also predicts more focused, regional industry events, anticipates a blend of audio and video content (“liquid content”), and foresees podcasting’s pop culture crossover. ⁠Check out Steve Goldstein's blog post on Liquid Content here.⁠ And follow his work if you want to stay in the game. Ultimately, authentic voices and creative, audience-driven strategies are seen as vital for success in the evolving industry. Work With the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    59 min
  5. Let's Get Social

    12/04/2025

    Let's Get Social

    The Podcast Super Friends unpsck the intricacies of social media strategies for podcast promotion. They explore effective uses of platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Blue Sky, and Threads, sharing various tips and anecdotes. The conversation highlights the importance of video clips and consistency in social media posting, despite some challenges posed by AI tools and changing algorithms. Johnny Podcasts shares a detailed weekly social media schedule for LinkedIn, emphasizing on the importance of medium-sized and short video clips. The discussion also touches on the potential of paid advertising versus organic social media efforts. The episode concludes with thoughts on leveraging AI tools for creating social media assets and the reliability issues encountered with these technologies. Check out more from the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    57 min
  6. Planning For The Unplanned

    10/22/2025

    Planning For The Unplanned

    The Podcast Superfriends discuss the recent AWS outage and its widespread impact on digital services and podcasting tools. The group shares personal experiences of how the outage disrupted their workflow, affecting platforms like Riverside, Descript, and Streamyard. They emphasize the importance of having backup strategies for podcast production, including maintaining multiple copies of recordings, using alternative recording methods like Google Meet, returning to the days of "double-enders" and having pre-recorded episodes ready. The conversation explores practical solutions for potential technical disasters, such as using external hard drives, cloud storage, and backup internet options like Starlink. They stress the value of being prepared with contingency plans, having episodes recorded in advance, and maintaining flexibility during unexpected technical challenges. Work With the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    54 min
  7. International Podcast Day with Kendall Breitman from Riverside

    10/01/2025

    International Podcast Day with Kendall Breitman from Riverside

    The Friends welcome Kendall Breitman on International Podcast Day. Kendall is Riverside's community lead, who announces the launch of chat-based editing, a new AI feature that allows users to make edits via text, enhancing video engagement. The feature, named "AI Co-Creator," and baptized as "Coco" unofficially, complements existing transcript and timeline editing. Breitman also discusses the importance of community feedback and the evolving nature of Riverside's tools, including live streaming capabilities and audio enhancements. The team also addresses the challenges of balancing creative work with AI tools and the importance of staying updated with platform features. Kendall is encouraging Riverside users to join the Facebook Community Group or the Riverside Community Hub. Chapters: (00:00:07) Intro & Host Roll Call (00:01:19) Guest: Kendall Breitman (Riverside) (00:01:31) Riverside’s Big Announcement (00:03:09) Podcast Movement & Competition (00:04:39) Origins of Chat-Based Editing (00:08:07) Naming the AI: “Coco” (00:08:56) Coco’s Early Journey (00:11:09) AI for Show Notes & Summaries (00:12:54) Advanced Editing with Coco (00:15:10) Magic Audio Features (00:20:27) Visual Enhancements & Feedback (00:23:09) Video Editing Tools (00:27:20) Browser Tips & Compatibility (00:31:12) Feature Rollouts & Adoption (00:34:21) Community Resources & Workshops (00:37:16) Repurposing Podcast Content (00:40:40) YouTube & Discoverability (00:43:14) Producer Link Feedback (00:47:37) Live Streaming on Riverside (00:55:00) Hosting on Riverside (00:56:53) Final Thoughts & Sign-Offs Check out more from the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1 hr
  8. JAG's Trip to Podcast Movement

    09/03/2025

    JAG's Trip to Podcast Movement

    The Podcast Super Friends discussed Jag's experiences at Podcast Movement 2025. For most of this episode you will hear a takeaway from Jag followed by the group discussing and debating the issue at hand. We talked about Podcast Movement’s shift toward serving larger, corporate entities and its upcoming move to New York, raising concerns about the event’s accessibility and relevance for independent creators. The hosts debate the impact of this change, the corporatization of podcasting conferences, and suggested alternative events like Podfest for indie podcasters. Jag reminded us about the importance of optimizing podcasts for SEO and platform search, and the growing role of AI in podcast production. We also went in on social media and word-of-mouth for discoverability, the need for high-quality content, and the value of networking at conferences. The episode closes with practical tips for podcasters and plans to attend future industry events, emphasizing adaptability in the evolving podcast landscape. Chapters: (likely affected by Dynamic Audio Insertion) (00:00) – Intro & Host Intros (03:00) – Podcast Movement Recap (08:00) – Indie Creators vs. Corporates (14:30) – Podcast Movement in New York (19:30) – AI in Podcasting (23:30) – Exhibitors & Vendors (28:00) – First Impressions & Retention (38:00) – Reach: Video vs. Audio (48:00) – SEO & Search Optimization (54:00) – Discoverability & Social Media (59:00) – Final Thoughts & Events Check out more from the Superfriends below: Johnny Peterson - ⁠⁠⁠Johnny Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.johnnypodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠ Catherine O’Brien -⁠⁠⁠ Branch Out Programs  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.branchoutprograms.com/⁠⁠⁠  Jon Gay: Jag in Detroit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jagindetroit.com⁠⁠⁠ David Yas: Pod 617 -⁠⁠⁠ The Boston Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.pod617.com/⁠⁠⁠ Matt Cundill - ⁠⁠⁠The Sound Off Media Company⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://soundoff.network⁠⁠⁠  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 2m
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About

Five podcast veterans hosting a monthly live-streamed roundtable about podcasting. If you want to evolve your podcast, or if you've got an idea for a show, there's no better place to start! The Superfriends dig deep on all the details you might not think about: Best practices for your show's website, streamlining your weekly workflow, marketing your podcast to the masses, and getting the most from your RSS feed. Join Jon Gay, David Yas, Johnny Peterson, Catherine O'Brien, and Matt Cundill as they get into the nitty-gritty about podcasting.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Cundill, Jon Gay, Catherine O'Brien, David Yas, Johnny Peterson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022-2026 All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Podcast Superfriends