The Podcast Podcast from TruStory FM TruStory FM

In this episode of the Podcast Podcast, hosts Pete Wright and Andy Nelson challenge the conventional wisdom that bigger is always better when it comes to podcast audiences. They argue that focusing too much on massive download numbers can cause you to overlook the immense value and potential of smaller, more engaged listener communities.
As you'll hear, having a niche topic and a highly committed audience can be incredibly profitable, even if your show doesn't reach millions. Pete and Andy discuss real-world examples of podcasts with modest listener counts that are on track to generate six-figure revenues through leveraging the depth of their audience engagement.
Throughout the episode, the hosts share innovative strategies for making your listeners feel valued and connected to your show, no matter the size of your podcast. From recording personalized birthday messages to creating interactive Discord communities, they explore creative approaches that become harder to sustain as a podcast scales up.
Pete reveals a surprising statistic: if your show surpasses 1,000 downloads in the first week, you're already in the top 5% of all podcasts. He and Andy discuss how to celebrate and nurture your founding audience members who are passionate about your content from the very beginning.
Press play to discover why building affinity with your podcast community at a micro level can be so powerful, and how you can harness the potential of your small but mighty audience. This episode will reshape how you think about podcast growth and success in an industry obsessed with big numbers.

Picking the right mic is one thing. But how do you keep your scripts and research and back-end episode history in proper order? Andy and Pete share a little about the TruStory process.
Links & Notes
Coda.ioTransistor FMObsidianSynologyBackblaze for Business

Podcasting is evolving, and industry leaders gathered at the recent Hot Pod Summit to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Ira Glass of This American Life shared his experience with the iOS 17 update—because even Ira Glass noticed the iOS 17 update—which caused a significant drop in downloads most of us. The impact has been felt by podcasters across the board, forcing them to reevaluate their audience sizes and potentially disrupting advertising partnerships. However, experts at the summit emphasized that niche audiences can still be valuable to advertisers, even if they have smaller listener numbers.

Pete and Andy also discussed the rise of podcast partnerships and creator-owned networks, which provide support and exposure for independent podcasters while allowing them to maintain creative control. Despite the challenges, many in the industry remain optimistic about the future of podcasting, with a growing listener base and plenty of room for growth.

Links & Notes
On Air Fest • Hot Pod SummitAriel Shapiro’s excellent recap of the Hot Pod SummitMaximumFun.org

In this episode of The Podcast Podcast, Pete Wright and Andy Nelson catch up on using AI for automatic transcription of episodes, YouTube becoming a bigger player in the podcasting world, updates from Apple's recent podcasting event, and finding one's unique podcasting voice.
The big follow-up is that Transistor—the host of all the podcasts of TruStory FM—has released AI transcription into the platform. We’re just playing with it right now, but so far, it has not let us down. Plus, the prices seem better than fair.
We talk a bit about YouTube as a podcasting platform, we muse about how it could bring wider exposure to podcasts, even as its bifurcated system creates confusion. Why? Because YouTube hosts video versions of your podcast audio, while YouTube Music draws from RSS. We don’t get it either. But at least we know.
Touching on takeaways from Apple's podcast event, Andy highlights new transcript features in Apple Podcasts, while Pete points to expanded categories and a partnership with Linkfire as promising developments.
Finally, we explore the challenge of cultivating an authentic yet engaging on-air persona. It’s tricky, but your own voice is as important as the mic you use to capture it when thinking about how you communicate to your audience. 

This week, we’re checking in on how artificial intelligence is transforming our podcast production workflow. We know concerns about AI abound. But we aim to thoughtfully explore how — when used judiciously — AI tools can help us work more efficiently without compromising quality or our own creative voices.

Transcribing remains an area where AI still falls short in our view, though it's rapidly improving. For now, we believe human transcribers produce superior transcripts. But we acknowledge AI's potential to disrupt this profession, potentially very quickly. We think training AI on our own podcast's unique corpus is far preferable to feeding it unrelated data. This allows the AI to generate custom show notes, graphics, and more in our own style.

How has AI injected itself in your podcast workflow? Links to all our current services below!

Tools/Services Mentioned:
Whisper AI: https://whisper.ai/Mac Whisper: https://github.com/kpu/whisperOpenAI: https://openai.com/Poe: https://poe.ai/ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/Adobe Suite: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.htmlTwinbox.ai: https://www.twinbox.ai/Yoast: https://yoast.com/Coda: https://coda.io/Raycast: https://www.raycast.com/

The podcast world is abuzz with change. This week, we’re talking directories and show shuffles as we head into a consolidating future.
Directory ShuffleIt's true, some of our beloved podcast apps are saying goodbye. But don't despair! Big platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple are stepping up to fill the void. So, while you may have to adjust your listening habits a bit, your favorite shows will still be there. The big bet and bigger open question: is consolidation behind big tech a good thing for free and open podcasting?
Showtime ShiftsEven popular podcasts like "Smartless" are making moves. They've traded in their Wondery digs for a swanky new home at SiriusXM. Joe Rogan is still hanging around Spotify but in his latest contract renewal, are we seeing the end of the exclusivity era?
The Power of Listener Love
Amidst all the industry shake-ups, one thing remains constant: the value of listener support. If you adore a podcast, show them some love! Your modest contributions can make a world of difference for small creators.
A Brighter Future
The podcast industry may be experiencing some growing pains, but it's far from over. Dedicated podcasters are still going strong, and the rise of listener support is a beacon of hope. So, keep listening, keep supporting, and embrace the ever-evolving world of podcasts!

Links & Notes
Stitcher shuts down as podcast industry loses luster – CBSNewsGoogle Podcasts is going away after March—but there are alternatives – The Verge‘SmartLess’ Podcast Moves to SiriusXM in $100M Multiyear Deal – The Hollywood ReporterThe Joe Rogan Experience is Back on Apple Podcasts Following More Than Three-Year Absence After Spotify Gives Up Exclusivity – VarietyThe Casualties of the Podcasting Bloodbath – SlateThe Most Devastating Podcast Cancelations in 2023 – Lifehacker