Podcast Workflows with Joe Casabona (Amp My Pod Guest Expert Call)

💡 Guest bio

Joe Casabona, a software engineer by training and a natural extrovert, has found his true calling in podcasting. With a mind that operates like a computer, Joe harnessed his unique skill set to carve out a niche in the podcasting world. The pivotal moment came during the pandemic when Joe, who then had one small child and a wife working long hours as a nurse, experienced a personal crisis. In November 2020, faced with dwindling podcast production and a significant loss of income, Joe had a panic attack. Motivated by this challenging period, and now a father of three, he decided to double down on his podcasting career, recognizing its vital role in his family’s livelihood.

ℹ️ Introduction

Welcome back to another episode of "Frugalpreneur," where we explore the art of running a business on a bootstrapped budget! In today's episode, our host Sarah St John sits down with Joe Casabona, a seasoned podcaster and software engineer who specializes in streamlined workflows for solopreneurs. We dive deep into the nuances of guest collaboration, the challenges of ensuring cross-promotion, and the importance of extracting unique stories from podcast guests. Joe shares insights on his preference for Make over Zapier for cost-effective automation, his use of Notion for organizing podcast tasks, and the advantages of Cal.com for scheduling. We also explore Joe's editing philosophy, from preproduction to post-production, and his take on effective social media promotion. Joined by audience member Lynette, who offers her own perspectives, this episode is packed with actionable advice for podcasters looking to optimize their processes and keep their content engaging. Tune in for an enlightening conversation filled with tips, tools, and techniques that could transform your podcasting journey!

📚 Timestamped overview

00:00 Background in software, extrovert, podcast income panic attack.

06:10 Found video editor, now releasing videos efficiently.

08:05 Front loading and tools help structure and edit.

11:26 Setup, conflict, resolution: addressing marketing in journalism.

14:12 Pre-call steps: Google Doc, Notion, email reminder.

19:28 Zapier's automation costs $20/month annually, $30 monthly.

21:08 Using Notion and YouTube to grow mailing list.

25:32 Automate post-event follow-up: use Airtable only.

28:42 Recommend hiring editor; Descript eases solo podcast editing.

31:32 Family compromise: we'll get a dog.

35:11 Movies require post-production; live shows require pre-production.

37:41 Adapt content to suit the intended platform.

42:23 Encouraging guests to promote podcast cross-promotion.

46:28 Focus on unique moments, not traditional interviews.

48:25 Developers interviewed; same questions repeated; interest declined.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

Sequence of Topics Covered in the Episode

1. Introductions and Guest Welcome

- Introduction of Joe Casabona

- Noting Joe’s distinctive hats transition from fedoras to a Castro cap

2. Joe's Background and Entry into Podcasting Workflows

- Software engineering background and extroverted nature

- Balancing work and family life through podcast workflows

- Importance of automation and delegation

3. Automations and Delegation

- Extensive use of automation tools

- Delegating tasks to a virtual assistant

- Personal responsibility for recording and writing intros

4. Podcast Editing and Early Experience

- Initial self-editing challenges

- Finding and switching editors

- Current editor handles both audio and video

5. Cost of Production

- Average monthly cost for editing services

6. Handling Podcast Editing and Guest Collaboration

- Lynette's ma