RSS.com has released their Free Local and Nice podcast hosting plan, and it’s a truly free plan that doesn’t limit you based on uploads, hours of content, or duration of episode in feed.
It’s a fantastic development for people who want to start a podcast with a little bit less risk.
The Independent Podcaster Report 2025 by The Podcast Host is out now. I break down my favorite parts, and offer strong opinions on making money, video, and AI.
Unsurprisingly, many (about 30%) feel time starved and worry about burnout…but does AI help prevent that? Not necessarily.
Something I hear far too often from podcasters is, “Well it’s just a hobby, so I don’t want to spend money.”
Imagine taking that approach with nearly any other hobby. As my friend Brian says, the only free hobbies are in nature, or at the library (and even there, you probably pay taxes to support the library).
The point is, if you’re even remotely serious about your podcast, you need to invest in it…even if you call it a hobby.
In today’s episode, I tell you why, and where to start
Sometimes the simplest ideas create the biggest impact. A voice notes podcast — literally you talking into your phone for a few minutes — can deepen relationships with your audience, build trust, and even drive sales.
I first started mine as a lead magnet, but realized the off-the-cuff episodes were connecting more than the polished ones. Turns out, your audience doesn’t always want perfect — they want real.
In this episode, I break down why these short, raw audio episodes work so well, how to record them without overthinking, and what you actually need to launch one today (hint: just your phone and five spare minutes).
Takeaways
A voice notes podcast builds stronger audience connection because it feels personal and conversational.
Keep episodes short (under 10 minutes) — like a quick message from a friend.
Minimal gear needed: your phone + a small mic (DJI Mic or similar).
Skip heavy editing — authenticity > polish.
Use your existing feed or launch a new one with clear branding and a simple promise.
Treat your trailer like a movie preview — tell listeners what to expect and why it matters.
Use custom artwork or a naming cue (like “[Audio Note]”) if mixing with longer episodes.
I’m starting to wonder if a host/co-host format is actually the best format for a podcast.
I’ve been listening to a lot of different podcasts lately—rewatch shows, comedy shows, tech shows—and one thing keeps standing out: good banter makes a podcast worth coming back to.
But here’s the catch…banter only works when it supports the mission of the show. Get it right, and you create a bond with your audience.
Ever feel like your business eats up every free moment? The truth is, you don’t need Taylor Swift-level fame or Hormozi-style hype to succeed. What you actually need is space—room to create, promote, and step away without guilt.
That’s why I use the GAPS framework: Gear, Automations, Playbooks, and Support. It’s the system that helped me reclaim 10–12 hours a week, even during one of the busiest summers of my life. In this episode, I break down how you can use GAPS to stop fighting with your tools, cut the manual busywork, and finally get your time back.
Are you making your podcast guests do your work for you? Too many hosts fall into bad habits that frustrate guests and make their shows look unprofessional. Here are three common mistakes to avoid — and what to do instead.
If you want to create a better guest experience and produce content your audience actually enjoys, this will help you cut the clutter and focus on what matters.
Many podcasters start with the hope that downloads and sponsors will magically appear — but if you want your show to make money, you need more than wishful thinking.
This episode walks through the three essential “I’s” to transform a podcast from a casual hobby into a revenue-generating asset:
Intention (know your audience and improve quality)
Investment (put resources into the right tools and talent)
Iteratipon (get feedback, refine, and make your show something worth paying for).
Monetization is a super common problem for many podcasters. Most think they’ll start a podcast, get a bunch of downloads, and sponsors will come looking for them.
That is almost never the case — nor is it the case that sponsorship is the only option. And what I LOVE sponsorship. After all, I’m a sponsorship coach for my friend Justin, and RSS.com, for whom I’m the evangelist, just launched our PAID feature to make ads easier than ever.
But depending on the goal of your podcast, you might seek other monetization paths. That’s why I came up with the CAMPS framework:
Hot take: If you’re not wearing headphones while podcasting in 2025, you’re doing it wrong. I don’t care how good Riverside’s echo cancellation is or what magic AI audio cleanup you’re using – I will literally refuse to record with guests who won’t wear headphones.
In this episode, I explain why “fixing it in post” with apps like Descript and Adobe Podcast AI is actually making your audio WORSE, not better. I’ve been on shows where my studio-quality audio gets destroyed by automated filters that were never needed in the first place.
The truth is, these AI audio tools make assumptions about your recording environment and apply blanket fixes that can create weird artifacts, dropped sounds, and unpredictable results. When you wear headphones, you get clean, “unopinionated” audio that gives you or your editor full control over the final sound.
🎙️ What you’ll learn:
Why automated audio cleanup often makes good audio worse
The difference between surgical editing vs. sledgehammer approaches
How echo cancellation can hurt when it’s not needed
My hardware setup for clean audio (without over-processing)
The guest who got floored when I cancelled our interview
🎧 Are you team headphones or team “the software will fix it”? Let me know at streamlinedfeedback.com!
Have you ever been invited on a podcast only for it to be turned into a sales call? Yeah, me too. And it’s getting worse.
In this episode, I break down the sneaky tactics some “podcasters” use to get you on what they claim is an interview, but is really just a thinly veiled attempt to pitch you their services. From deleting your episode when you refuse to buy, to publishing 5 episodes a day with bathroom-quality audio, these red flags are easier to spot once you know what to look for.
I’ll share real examples from my own experience (including the guy who pitched me SEO services right after asking “did you have fun today?”) and give you the exact questions I ask to weed out these fake opportunities before wasting your time.
🎯 Major red flags covered:
Repeatedly mentioning “no cost” to be on the show
Super vague topics like “the future of [your name]”
Publishing 3-5 interviews daily with multiple hosts
Target audience that matches their ideal customer profile
💡 Bonus tips from the community:
What Krystal and Jeff noticed about fake shows
How to respond without missing real opportunities
Why “thousands of downloads” doesn’t mean what they think it means
Remember Van Halen’s famous “no brown M&Ms” rider clause? It wasn’t because they were divas – it was a genius test to make sure venues actually read their contract. I’ve borrowed this concept to create my own screening system for podcast guest pitches.
With 4-8 pitches hitting my inbox daily (and most being AI-generated garbage), I needed a better way to separate serious guests from spray-and-pray agencies. In this episode, I share the exact screening question I use that instantly reveals whether someone actually researched my show or just copy-pasted a ChatGPT template.
I’ll also share some real examples of terrible pitches I’ve received (spoiler: one agency sent me the SAME pitch twice for different shows), plus the simple criteria that save me hours each week in pitch evaluation.
What you’ll learn:
Why Van Halen’s M&Ms clause was brilliant (and life-saving)
My specific screening question that AI can’t fake
Real examples of hilariously bad AI-generated pitches
The exact criteria I give to agencies to stop wasting my time
How this system helped me find amazing guests like Jackie Schiff and Elizabeth Howell
