Podcasting Smarter

Jen & Vernon Spill The Podbeans On International Podcast Day: Season 05 Ep.1

Happy International Podcast Day! It's also Vernon's birthday--how fitting! We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than producing a podcast on our favorite day of the year. It also gave Jen and Vernon an opportunity to spill the Podbeans on some recent Podbean updates as well as some podcast industry news. Thanks for joining us! 
 
Spilled Podbeans: 
Podbean recently enhanced its FREE podcast hosting plan to make it even more friendly to the beginner podcaster. 
You can now see your listener comments in your dashboard (in addition to the Podbean app.)
We've made our Podbean stats even better with comparison views and more geo data! 
Have you considered making an Alexa Flash Briefing for you podcast? Learn all about it on this guest blog post by The Alexa Guy! 
Speaking of smart speakers--as podcasters we may need to adjust our shows as people start listening to our shows differently. Thanks to smart speakers, family and friends can now listen to podcasts together in a more social way. 
Have you heard talk about a podcast bubble? After Buzzfeed laid off its podcast team, we started hearing murmors of a podcast bubble. We chat about our take on those rumours. 
 
Do you have a podcasting question? Feel free to email Jen at jennifer@podbean.com. We will be sure to discuss your question on the show and mention your podcast too. :)  
Thanks for listening and subscribing. You can listen on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and wherever you listent to podcasts. 

Podcast Your Passion and Find Your People: Season 04 Ep. 10

 
Today I get to chat with Podbean podcaster, Mike Troy who is the sole host and producer of the American Revolution Podcast: A chronological history of the Revolutionary War. Although Mike's family isn't into history like he is, he found a community of people who love history, and his podcast. Mike also shares a secret..one that is deeply buried on the internet. 
 
Podcasting Smarter Tips From Mike: 
To prep for the launch of his podcast, Mike wrote 100, yes 100 episode scripts in advance of his first recording. Impressive! 
As a solo podcaster, Mike imagines people listening and responding which got him comfortable solo hosting. He also has a script prepared and edits on the fly as needed with Audacity. 
Podcasting helped Mike become a better everyday speaker--another benefit of podcasting! 
Because Mike is very organized and well planned, Podbean's scheduling featured allows him to produce his episodes in advance of his publish date, and schedule them accordingly. Smart podcasting! 
The podcast helped Mike get out of his shell. Introverted and shy by nature, Mike found a community of fellow history buffs on and off line thanks to his podcast. 
Mike is active on social media and successfully connects with his audience online. Without the podcast, his knowledge of social media would never have happened. 
Don't focus on your downloads for the first 6 months. Just focus on producing a good episode every time. The numbers will come. Be patient. 
 
Hypothetical Podcast About Mike's Life: "Keep Plugging" 
Mike's Fantasy Podcaster: Thomas Paine
You can listen to the American Revolution Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts including Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher. Follow the podcast on Twitter and join the Facebook Group! 

Planning A Successful Podcast Launch With The RoShamBo Podcast: Season 4 Ep. 09

 
On this episode Jen gets to chat with Kim Drobes who is the co-host and executive producer of the RoShamBo podcast which features unique competitions and extraordinary competitors. Only ten episodes in, Kim's background in radio and a previous podcast gave her all the skills she needed for a successful podcast launch! 
 
Kim's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
Treat your podcast like a business. Set money aside to spend on the show, and come up with a launch plan. Kim and her co-host Ted each contributed $1,000 to invest in the podcast. Find out how they spent the money! 

Plan a launch party! Not only is it a way for you to celebrate the work that went into starting your show, but it also gives you the opportunity to get friends and family excited, thank the people that helped you, and even attract your first fans. 

Consider a long running Facebook ad. We aren't talking about boosting a post. Kim spent several hundred dollars on a long running, highly targeted ad through Facebook Ads Manager. But first, they produced a nice video using the Headliner App. 

Kim and Ted also spent time creating a nice website on Squarespace. Check it out.

Having a launch plan also gave them time to work out mistakes. For instance, Squarespace was great for their website, but didn't work so well as a hosting platform. That's when they switched to Podbean. :) 

The launch plan also included distribution--before officially launching, they made sure their podcast was in all the places--including Apple, Google Play, Stitcher, iHeart, Spotify, etc. 

They also produced a lot of content in advance so they could launch their show and schedule their pre-produced episodes smoothly. 

Kim wanted to produce the kind of show that she likes to listen to. Her episodes are highly produced, and thanks to her radio background, she has the skills to produce her ideal show. 

Kim's advice to new podcasters: Just start! Starting is the harder part. Don't get bogged down in all the nuances and the desire for it to be perfect. Have a plan, make it happen. You can always delete it later. 
 
Surprise Questions:
Kim's hypothetical podcast about her life: Travel and Ping Pong
Kim's fantasy podcaster: Her grandmother! 
Kim's Favorite RoShamBo episode: Frozen Dead Guys Days' Coffin Race
 
You can listen to RoShambo wherever you listen to podcasts and you can find them on social media @roshambopodcast on all platforms. 

Jen and Vernon Spill The Podbeans On PodAds: Season 4 Ep. 08

 
Jen and Vernon are fresh from their experience at Podcast Movement 2018 with lots of news to share! After 5 years producing The Social Strategy Podcast, Vernon calls it quits and tells us why. He is also excited to announce the launch of his new podcast, The Space Between! We also learn that there is no shame in pod fading, there is only shame in doing something that no longer inspires you. 
Podbean recently launched PodAds, and it has a lot of podcasters talking! PodAds was designed to help the indie podcaster monetize their show, and help the local advertiser reach audiences located in specific areas of the United States and the world. It's all very exciting and Jen and Vernon break down how it works, and encourage you to check it out for yourself. 
Podbean contributed to Rev's FREE Podcasting 101 Guide along with Resonate Recordings, Samson, Podcast Engineering School, and Social Media Rescue. The guide is available on Rev's site--no email required! While you are there you can enter for a chance to win a podcast launch package with items from all the contributors, including a year of free hosting (Unlimited Audio Plan) and a featured spot on Podbean's App, from Podbean! 
Vernon is excited about speaking at B&H Photo on August 2nd at 1pm in New York City for their recorded workshop: Connect, Communicate and Create: Starting Your Podcast Sponsored by Samson 
 
Thanks for listening to another episode of Podcasting Smarter! Be sure to subscribe on Podbean, iTunes or Stitcher! You can message us through Twitter @Podbeancom if you have any questions you want answered on the show. :) 

How A Podcast Can Build Community And Open Doors In Your Profession with Jon Thurmond: Season 4 Ep. 07

 
On this episode of Podcasting Smarter, Jen is joined by Jon Thurmond. Jon is the co-host of the HR Social Hour Podcast where he and fellow HR-pro Wendy Dailey talk to other HR professionals about connecting, giving back, and building your network. Jon is also a co-host on the long-running Star Joes Podcast which is a show dedicated to Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and everything in between.
 
Jon's Podcasting Confession: Jon failed to hit record on his fourth episode with a great guest. Luckily his guest was happy to record again, and improve on his first podcast interview. 
 
Jon's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
Before he hit record for the first time, Jon and Wendy hopped on Skype and practiced so they could work on their timing and be confident that their podcast was professional sounding from the beginning 

Jon knew there were a lot of HR podcasts out there already so he know it was important to find a hook. He and Wendy chose to concentrate on humanizing their industry and building community. 

The HR Social Hour Podcast came about after Jon created a weekly Twitter Chat, #HRSocialHour in order to connect with other HR professionals that like him, were not able to attend SHRM, a large, annual HR conference. That twitter chat was so successful, that it inspired the idea for a complementary podcast. 

Podcasters may want to consider starting their own Twitter Chats as a way to connect with their audience. Be sure to advertise the date/time, and attach a hashtag to it. Jon uses the tool, Wakelet, to capture the content from his Twitter chats. 

Jon has benefitted professionally from his podcast. He even got invited to be part if the Blog Squad for this year's SHRM Conference in Chicago. This gave him the opportunity to connect with respected leaders in his industry. 

His biggest piece of advice is to do our homework. It is easy to start a podcast, but difficult to keep it going unless you prepare by organizing your time, planning your content, and committing to being consistent. 
 
Jon's Hypothetical Podcast About His Life: "The Professional B.S. Podcast"
 
Jon's Fantasy Podcaster: Hal Needham
 
Check our the HR Social Hour Podcast on Podbean, iTunes, and Stitcher! Follow HR Social Hour on Facebook, and you can find Jon on Twitter too!  You can also listen to Star Joes Podcast in all the places as well! :) 
Remember, you can join Jon and Wendy the 4th Sunday of each month at 7 PM Eastern for the #HRSocialHour chat on Twitter!  See how they do it, and consider starting your own! 

Paying Attention To Audio Quality Pays Off with Netflix 'N Swill: Season 4 Ep. 06

 
 
This week Jen talks to Dan Brenic, co-host of Netflix 'N Swill. Dan and his podcast partner, Caleb started podcasting after being inspired by their friends, The Epic Film Guys--another podcast in the Podbean Family. 
 
Key Podcasting Smarter Tips From This Episode: 
Dan prefers remote recording with Discord much better than Skype, and he tells us why he likes it so much better than Skype. 
Use decent mics--Dan uses the ATR2100 (so does Jen!) #micbonding
In the competitive genre of movie and T.V. review podcasts, it helped them to specialize in Netflix programming, and it happened to work for them as active Netflix subscribers. 
To market their podcast, Dan and Caleb use their Facebook Page, Twitter, and some Instagram. They also contribute to the community associated with the hashtag #PodernFamily. Twitter is working for them the best. 
They are constantly searching for new ways to market their show in order to reach new listeners. He feels they can only go so far with an existing audience. 
You are doing yourself and your listeners a disservice if you don't listen back to your podcast episodes. It is the most efficient way to improve your broadcasting skills, and speech patterns. 
They are currently monetized through listen support via Podbean's Patron program and Patreon. However, their podcast is not dependent on listener support, but it lets them know they are doing something right to have it. 
They got creative with their Patron rewards by coming up with rewards that engage their listeners by allowing them to choose what painful movies and shows they have to watch next. Fun! 
Dan's most sage piece of advice to concentrate on good audio quality because good content doesn't matter if it's painful to listen to. 
 
Dan's hypothetical podcast about his life: "Oh Boy: The Dan Brenic Story"
Dan's Fantasy Podcaster(s): The Founding Fathers
Please connect with Dan, and listen to Netflix 'N Swill here: 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/netflixnswill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/netflixnswill/
Podbean: https://netflixnswill.podbean.com/
Website: https://www.netflixnswill.com/
  
Thank you so much for listening to another episode of Podcasting Smarter! If you have an idea for a topic, or know a Podbean podcaster who has something to share, please email Jennifer at jennifer@podbean.com 
 
 

Jen and Vernon Spill The Podbeans On Why Listeners Stop Listening To Podcasts: Season 4 Ep. 05

 
Jen and Vernon from the Podbean team, co-host this episode, and delve into the reasons people may be unsubscribing to your show based on unscientific data from a Reddit thread. After that they discuss more scientific data derived from the 2018 Podcast Consumer Report by Edison Research. 
 
Podcasting Smarter Tips For Not Losing Listeners: 
Make sure your audio quality is good. It doesn't have to be studio quality, but it should be pleasant to listen to and easy to understand with a consistent, level volume. 
Unless you have a political podcast, be careful how much time you spend on your political opinions. 
Listen back to your show so you can catch vocal ticks, mouth noises, heavy breathing--all things that can distract from yoru content. 
Show your personality! If you are a boring host, your listenership will suffer despite the content quality.
Put on your positive pants! Being angry, ranting, and sharing a lot of negativity might be entertaining at first, but that negative energy can repel listeners. 
Too many ads can cost you listeners. Sponsors are great, and we love to see shows attract sponsors, and even most listeners understand that sponsors help keep the shows they love going strong. But, there seems to be a tipping point when the ads start detracting from the content. 
A couple we didn't get to on the show:
Hosts that constantly talk over each other are a big listener turn off. 
You may lose listeners when you stop releasing on a predictable schedule. 
Listeners get annoyed when hosts don't stay on topic and forget about what the fans are tuning in for. 
 
Thank you so much for listening to another episode of Podcasting Smarter! If you have an idea for a topic, or know a Podbean podcaster who has something to share, please email Jennifer at jennifer@podbean.com 

More Than A Few Customers Through Podcasting: Season 4 Ep. 04

 
Hey pod pals! After having the privilege of being a guest on her podcast, Lorraine Ball is joining me on this episode for a friendly episode swap! Lorraine is the host of the podcast, More Than A Few Words, a marketing conversation for business owners, AND a production of her marketing company, RoundPeg. Lorraine is a great sport during "podcast confessions", and is generous with what she has experienced and learned after years of producing a show to complement her marketing agency. 
 
Podcasting Smarter Tips From Lorraine: 
Don't be afraid to experiment with formats for the longevity and success of your show. Keep what works and dump what doesn't.

Initially, her podcast allowed her to showcase companies she worked with, and they would often return the professional favor by mentioning her company on their marketing channels.

Live call in shows are a bad idea. 

Longer shows are not always better. Her show improved when she gave herself permission to do a shorter show and to edit out the less compelling parts of a recording. 

Know why you are podcasting, and let that direct all of your decisions. 

She started including the podcast in RoundPeg's weekly newsletter and it drastically improved the open rates. 

Her podcast has helped her land clients.  

She now makes social media graphics for her guests. The images showcase them nicely, making it more likely for them to promote their episode. 

More than anything else, have fun. If you are enjoying the show, your guests will too. 
 
Lorraine's hypothetical podcast about her life: "Well, I Didn't Expect That!"
 
Lorraine's Fantasy Podcaster: Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
 
Listen to More Than A Few Words on Podbean, iTunes, and Stitcher! 

Podcast Credibility Comes With Visibility And Reliability: Season 04 Ep. 3

On this episode Jennifer speaks with Chris Stafford, the President & CEO of  WiSP Sports Inc. which was formed in 2015.  Chris is a veteran sport’s broadcaster and journalist with more than forty years experience covering international sports and has reported at Olympic Games, World and European Championships and World Cups. Chris leads a team of women from around the world that produce and host 25 different podcasts reaching a global audience with more than 760 episodes covering all women’s sports and topics.
WiSP Sports tells the stories of sportswomen with integrity and respect while promoting gender equality, diversity, fairness and access. We celebrate women’s achievements both in and out of competition through articles, video, blogs and podcasts. As thought leaders we are shifting the narrative from a mainstream perspective of women in sport by enabling women to tell their own stories without bias.
 
Chris' Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
You want you guests to say, "Wow, I forgot we were recording!". 
Chris passed on the mainstream sports and focused on the fringe sports that weren't getting their stories heard, and whose followers were hungry for the attention. 
Chris was able to find a lot of knowledgable atheletes who made perfect podcast talent for her network. 
While interviewing atheletes, she would often find talented hosts for her shows. 
Chris describes herself as the narrow end of the funnel and still does the production for all the shows in the Wisp Network. 
As they've grown, they have developed partnerships and co-productions with relative organizations which helps with attracting sponsors. 
Although, Wisp began two years ago, Chris wanted to build a robust website with quality content and a large audience before approaching sponsors. So, they just recently started getting sponsorships. 
Chris has a business plan, but it is always evolving so she has to shift as opportunities,  technology, and trends change unexpectedly. 
It's hard to be patient when she sees the potential for the network. She would like a show for every female sport on the network. 
Keep your antenna out or you might miss an opportunity! 
The more visable and reliable you are, the more credibility you will achieve
Twitter is her best social media platform--this is where they get the conversations going
Do your research on the content you are planning and be familiar with your competition 
Know your topics and book great guests
Know your voice--what it is capable of and how it changes throughout the day
 
 
Chris' hypothetical podcast about her life: "She Tried" 
Chris' fantasy podcaster: Martina Navratilova
 
You can listen to Wisp Radio on Podbean, iTunes, and Stitcher. 

Podcasting In A Car Named Betty With The Podbean App: Season 4 Ep. 02

 
On this episode I get to chat with Lisa and Sam from the very fun and funny podcast, I Shake My Head with Lisa and Sam. Their show follows their friendship as two funny women in their mid 40’s who find themselves having some of their best conversations in the car! They have opinions and they love to laugh about everything that life throws at them! They throw a lot of great stuff at us in this episode! 
Podcasting Smarter Tips from Lisa & Sam: 
You don't need a fancy studio to produce a podcast. Lisa & Sam record from a car named Betty using the Podbean App and a Zoom H1 for back up. 

Podcasting was a natural extension of their rich conversations they were having anyway. 

The key to their podcast success is their authentic friendship

Do your homework and try to be something unique. 

Be true to your vision, but not so true that you aren't open to constructive feedback. In the beginning they got some hard-to-hear criticism that they couldn't ignore. 

Be part of the podcasting community. Join Facebook groups, and connect with other podcasters on social media. 

Listen to your episodes and learn from them. 

Lisa and Sam are very active on social media--Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Their most successful platform is Twitter, but they are on their a lot. 

They are using Podbean's Patron Program as a means to monetize their show. 
 
You can listen to I Shake My Head on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. You can also join the fun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!  Look forward to an episode every Friday! 

Journey Into A Podcast Network with Nate Phillips: Season 4 Ep. 01

"Do it till you are blue in the face. Do it when you don't want to do it. Be bigger than yourself." --Nate Phillips
 
Like many podcasters, my guest today is many things. Nate Phillips is the VP of the Journey Into Comics Network. He also hosts four shows including, The Voice Of Survival Podcast, Foodies Watching Movies, Journey Into Comics, and Journey Into Wrestling. You can find and subscribe to the entire network of shows at journeyintocomics.com.
 
Nate's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
After losing an epic podcast episode due to his board glitching out, he is now super precautious and immediately turns the board off after recording so the file saves immediately. 
Nate discovered that his strength as a podcaster was helping other new podcasters develop their talents and produce their own shows. This has helped grow his network into a diverse group of shows run by a team of dedicated, passioate podcast hosts. 
Because it was easy and inexpensive, they started off by putting all the network shows on a single RSS Feed. As the individual shows have gained momentum, they are now in the process of giving each show a dedicated RSS Feed, and social media identities. 
Their primary goal is to produce diverse, entertaining, and engaging content. 
Nate had been fortunate in having committed hosts join his network. If that ever changes, he would understands, and would just ask that they have an exit show for the listeners. It's important that everyone is still having fun. 
He pays attention to all the details of the content being produced in his network. If he discovers something subpar, he gently reaches out to the host or producer to help them improve for the betterment of the network as a whole. 
Nate studies his hosts' speech patterns and is sensitive to an overuse of filler words. 
Nate wants to continually learn while looking ahead to the growth and development of the network. 
They are currently using Patreon as a way to monetize their network, and engage with their audience by providing early releases and bonus content as their reward levels. They are now close to having all of their hosting costs covered through crowdfunding. 
You have to put the work in, and roll with the punches such as the time recently when he had to fill in for a host who couldn't make his recording time for his political podcast. 
It is a rewarding experience to be able to work with a pool of people with unique talents. He also enjoys finding new talent and supporting them. 
Podcasting takes commitment and dedication. You have to do it when you don't want to. Sometimes, your best content will happen during these times. 
 
Nate's hypothetical podcast about his life: "Darkness Giving Way To Light" 
Nate's Fantasy Podcasters: Johnny Carson and David Letterman
 
You can subscribe to the Journey Into Comics network on Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher and your favorite podcast player. 
 

Using Your Podcast To Market Your Niche Business with Norm Bour: Season 03 Ep.10

 
Norm Bour is the producer and host of Vape Radio (the voice of and for businesses within the Vape Space) and the founder of VapeMentors. Norm shares his insight as a business man who has found his podcast to be a powerful marketing tool in his niche. But first, we start with a few podcasting confessions this week. 
 
Norm's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
Norm recommends having a podcast as an adjunct to any niche business as a powerful, and multi-use marketing tool. 
Norm admits he is not the most knowledgable person in his industry, but by interviewing experts in the Vaping industry, he has learned a lot, and become an authority by virtue of having a podcast that puts valuable information out about the Vaping business. This model will work with any niche business. 
His podcast has given him VIP access to industry events because Vape Radio qualifies him as a member of the media. 
Norm has also had the opportunity to speak at industry events all over the world thanks to the authority he has established in the Vape space with his book and podcast. 
Norm stresses that it is important to understand your audience. With so much competition for attention, podcasts who find a specific audience will have success. In his case, his audience is Vape business owners or future business owners. By having such a specific audience, he knows what they need to know, what they are passionate about, and where they hang out on and offline. 
Norm recommends podcasting about something you are extremely passionate about. Most likely you will not directly monetize your podcast so its important that you love your topic, and get personal fulfillment from your podcast to have any hope for longevity. 
 
Norm's hypothetical podcast about his life: "He Never Gave Up" **This comes with a powerful story from Norm that will give you chills.
Norm's Fantasy Podcaster:  John F. Kennedy 
 
Be sure to check out Vape Radio on Podbean and iTunes and take a look at all that Norm has accomplished with the help of his podcast at VapeMentors.com. 

Focusing On Content And Distribution Before Monetization with Andre Kane: Season 3 Ep. 09

 
Andre Kane of The Electric Radio Show, a syndicated radio show and podcast. ​Andre has a background in morning radio that goes back to 1998, and he met his current co-host in 2001. In 2008, they started their own morning radio show on an FM station where they took the #1 spot. Andre loves the podcasting platform, and I loved chatting with him about his podcasting and radio expereinces. 
 
Andre's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
It was very important to Andre to be heard in every format possible in order to grow an audience as efficiently as possible. In 2014, Andre and his co-host saw the opportunity to increase the digital reach of their syndicated terrestrial radio show by making it available in the podcasting medium. In addition to podcasting, and terrestrial radio, The Electric Radio Show has used internet radio, a live streaming platform, to reach new audiences. 
Don't be afraid to reach out to internet radio stations, to see if your show is a good fit. Andre makes the distinction between internet radio and a podcast by defining interbet radio as a live stream. 
The long-term chemistry and work ethic with his co-host, Jack Hammer, and the rest of their team is a crucial element to their growth and success. Their combined passion keeps them producing consistent content over a significant period of time. 
Andre and his team focused on growth instead of monetization. They focused on growth. Andre decided to concentrate on content and distribution before monetization. They are currently heard on 60 radio stations. He believes the money will come with an enthusastic audience and compelling content. 
There is no reason an indie podcaster can't have a professional sounding show. 
In terrestrial radio there are harch consequences for a drop in ratings. That means terrestrial radio broadcasters learned how to keep an audience engaged by teasing segments, etc. Podcasters can learn a lot about audience retention by studying professional radio broadcasters. 
They are looking into expanding their show to include podcast-only episodes so they can take advantage of the freedoms they have in podcasting, but not in radio due of FCC regulations. 
When you are syndicated, there are several monetization models. 
Don't give up. Go into podcasting knowing that you will have failures because it is difficult to grow an audience and produce a good show. Both things take time, but if you don't give up, and concentrate on getting better, you will get there. 
 
Andre's hypothetical podcast about his life: "The Life of Andre"
Andre's Fantasy Podcaster: Jim Morrison
Listen to The Electric Radio Show on Podbean, iTunes, and Stitcher! 
Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
 
 

Running A Full Service Podcasting Studio with New Media Studios: Season 3 Ep. 08

On this episode of Podcasting Smarter, Jen and Vernon meet with Justin Emery, owner of New Media Studios, at Podcast Movement and learn how he transitioned from a job in radio, to owning a full-service podcast studio in Philadelphia while also producing his own podcast, Deja Brew. 
 
Justin's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
You don't need a laptop or computer to record a podcast
Don't drink too much beer while podcasting 
For mobile recording he recommends the H6 Zoom Portable Recorder which gives you up to 4 inputs.
Good sound quality should be a priority
Be an engaging host --don't be bland. Entertain your listeners and care about your show. 
Just start. Nobody is great in the beginning. You get better by doing not by stalling. 
 
Justin's hypothetical podcast about his life: "What The F Is Going On Here?"
Justin's Fantasy Podcaster: Benjamin Franklin 

Jen and Vernon Spill The Podbeans at Podcast Movement: Season 3 Ep. 07

 
On this episode of Podcasting Smarter, Vernon and Jen record in the hallways immediately following the end of Podcast Movement. Admittedly, the background noise makes the sound quality on this one a bit sub par, but the Samson Go mic and the Podbean App pick up our voices just fine. Hope you stick with us! :) 
Episode Highlights: 
Podbean and Samson partner to give away a podcast studio set up every month. Enter HERE! 
Podbean announces the addition of dynamic ad insertion.
Choose sponsors for your show that are a good fit for your audience. 
New podcasters are approaching their shows with a plan, thanks to events like Podcast Movement
 
Here are the Samson Mics mentioned in this episode!  
 
 
 

Jen and Vernon Spill The Podbeans Again: Season 3 Ep. 06

 
 
 
It's time for our monthly "Spill the Podbeans" episode!  Jen and Vernon from the Podbean Team, share podcasting news and updates from Podbean with our Podbean Family. Podbean has rolled out more new features and improvements to make your podcasting experience even more rich and productive. Soundcloud is also in trouble, and we discuss what that means for podcasters. 
You can also find news and announcements from Podbean on Facebook and Twitter, We hope you enjoy this episode! If you did, we would appreciate a review on iTunes and Stitcher! 
We want to hear from you! Do you have a podcasting question? Send us your questions, and we will answer it on the podcast and mention your show! email: jennifer@podbean.com 
 
Podbeans Spilled: 
Soundcloud's dark cloud 
Podbean's exciting new Android app features
You can now share your audio podcast as native video on Facebook
New free app in Podbean's App Marketplace
Podbean is ready for iOs 11
We hope to see you at Podcast Movement!
Exciting partnership with Samson Tech means recording studio giveaways! 
Please email us your questions and get mentioned on the show! 
Don't forget to join the Podcasting Smarter Facebook Group
Why is Jen's new nickname, "Mittens"? 

Running A Successful Network Thanks To A Dream Team with Arnie Carvalho: Season 3 Ep. 05

Arnie Calvalho began podcasting in 2005 when he started the very first podcast about dedicated to Star Wars collecting, the award-winning Star Wars Action News.  Fast forward to today, and he now now running a successful network of shows under the umbrella of Venganza Media which includes the following podcasts: Now Playing Podcast, Books and Nachos, and Marvelicious Toys. Now, Arnie, and his team are leading a multi-media dynasty that includes audio and video content, a blog, and now even a book called Underrated Movies We Recommend derived from the Now Playing Podcast, and now available for pre-order! 
Arnie's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
Arnie gained traction with his first podcast, Star Wars Action News, by reaching out to Star Wars collector web sites, and other Star Wars podcasts. Those relationships led to a fan base, as well as feedback on how to make their show better. 
This first podcast led them to doing live shows, and hosting events for Star Wars fans. By getting out of the studio, they got to know their listeners. 
Arnie turns down a lot of sponsorship opportunities because he doesn't want to endorse a product he doesn't personally believe in. 
He has experienced monetization success with a premium content model combined with listener support through crowdfunding. 
Listener engagement keeps everything excitign and rewarding, and his team ensures that the listeners are always responded to, and consitently runed to for feedback. 
Growing a community around each of his network shows has played a critical part of their success. 
Producing consistent content is paramount for podcast success. Your audience should look forward to your podcast like a T.V. show. Arnie hasn't missed producing a Tuesday episode of Now Playing in over 300 weeks. Wow, that is dedication! 
Care enough about your show to edit it. Your listeners should always have a pleasant listening experience. 
Arnie couldn't do it without a stellar team that works hard to produce quality shows, promote, and engage with their audiences. 
Early on, Arnie took his podcast production seriously, and treated it like a business which set the foundation for his future success. 
Podcasting takes you to unexpected places. Arnie is publishing his first book based on the Now Playing Podcast. 
 
Arnie's hypothetical podcast about his life: "4 Shot Mocha, No Sleep" 
Arnies Fantasy Podcaster: Mark Twain
 
Subscribe to the Now Playing Podcast on Podbean and iTunes. Find and subscribe to all of the shows on Venganza Media! 
 
 

News for Podcasters! Jen and Vernon Spill The Podbeans: Season 3 Ep. 04

Jennifer and Vernon at PodFest MultiMedia Expo
 
This week on Podcasting Smarter, Jen and Vernon from the Podbean Team, share news and updates from Podbean with our Podbean Family. Podbean has rolled out a lot of new features and improvements to make your podcasting experience even more rich and productive.
Although we share announcements on Facebook and Twitter, we thought it would be nice to tell you a little bit more about these things. We look forward to bringing you a monthly "Spill The Podbeans" episodes to keep everyone up to date on everything going on here at Podbean! We hope you enjoy this episode! 
 
Podbeans Spilled: 
Podbean releases its API to Developers
Introducing Podbean's new App Marketplace! 
Unique New Feature: Time Bomb Capability
User Engagement Intel Now Available
Apple's podcasting news
Podbean now on Amazon Alexa
 
You can also listen to Podcasting Smarter on iTunes and Stitcher! Questions for Jen and Vernon? Send them to jennifer@podbean.com and we will answer them on the show! :) 

Listen More, Listen Indie with Josh Hallmark of #2PodsADay: Season 3 Ep. 03

 
Our first repeat guest is Josh Hallmark from the Our Americana, and The Karen & Ellen Letters Podcasts. We've invited him back to talk to us about his #2PodsADay campaign that has been gaining real momentum in the podcasting world. 2PodsADay brings much needed attention to indie podcasts by introducing two episodes a day from two indie podcasts from May 15th-June 13th. We also get lots of updates on his shows, and what he has learned along this fantastical podcast journey! 
 
Podcasting Smarter Tips & Updates From Josh: 
Josh encourages podcasters to treat their podcast like a business from the beginning if your goal is to someday earn a living from it. You have to pound the pavement and not treat like a hobby, or it wil be a hobby. 
Rather than whine about the plight of indie podcasts and their challenge in getting the attention that commercial networks, celebrities, and public radio get, Josh started the 2 Pods A Day campaign. Check it out, and help keep up the momentum that Josh started! 
For better engagement, Josh recommends incorporating yoru fans into your show. It means carving out significant time to give your audience the attention it wants anddeserves. 
The Karen & Ellen Letters will start their second and final season in November. The show has been a whirlwind of surprises for him and his audience, and what he has learned in the process contradicts all of his intial theories about the four characters from the letters. 
He almost gave up his desire to do a true crime podcast because he felt the genre was getting over-saturated. Luckily, he discovered a unique approach to the genre that will allow him to produce a unique show. True Crime BullSh*t will debut in the near future. 
When his workload got too much with his most profitable show, Our Americana, he found a way to produce a different kind of episode that is easier to produce and will allow him to keep the show consistent. 
He is so excited about his upcoming podcast which compares the stories of former public access celebrities with modern YouTube stars. 
The season finale of the Karen & Ellen Letters Podcast will be performed live at DC PodFest in November! 
 
Keep is with all of Josh's shows via the Our American Network. We can't wait to see what he accomplishes next! 

A Podcast Bridging Two Cultures with John Zhu: Season 03 Ep. 2

Today, I am chatting with John Zhu, the host and producer of the “Romance Of The Three Kingdoms Podcast”. John is on a mission with his podcast to retell the ancient Chinese novel, “Romance Of The Three Kingdoms” in a way that makes it relevant and accessible to a modern audience. With 800,000 words and nearly a thousand dramatic characters to cover, this is quite an ambitious undertaking.
 
"Once you get a certain number of listeners, word of mouth becomes a significant tool for promoting." --John Zhu, Host and Producer of The Romance Of The Three Kingdoms Podcast
 
John's Podcasting Smarter Tips: 
Being born in China, but living most of his life in the Unites States, John wanted to produce a Chinese-related podcast. After doing some research, he discovered there wasn't a show covering classic Chinese literature, and he saw an opportunity to introduce a significant piece of Chinese culture to a Western audience. 
John was influenced by master storytellers he used to hear on the radio in China. He knew he needed to use the podcast to make the novel more accessible through good storytelling. 
John takes 3-4 hours to write a script for each episode! He also provides supplemental resources for his audience like maps, and death tolls. 
John learned that his voice and energy waned after 30 minutes, so he shortened his episodes in order to improve the quality of the show. 
John listens back to his recordings closely so he can make his voice more dynamic. This means doing different takes to get the recording sounding the way he wants it to. 
John tapped into his audience with online forums. Since his podcast covers a niche subject, he was able to find people in history and Chinese forums as well as Facebook groups who were interested in his subject matter.
John has also enjoyed spikes in downloads after being a guest on other Chinese-related podcasts. 
Although John has received donations for his podcast, he has no plans to monetize the podcast. His rewards come from the creative outlet, and the positive feedback from his audiece. 
John learned several new skills through podcasting that translate well to his career in media. 
Before you record, consider if you will still be excited about your topic or premise 6 months from now. How will you keep going after the initial excitement wears off? 
Don't rush to publish, but start recording now so you can work on getting better. Listen back and see where you need to improve. Once you are happy, publish. 
 
John's Fantasy Podcaster: Julius Caesar 
John's Hypothetical Podcast About His Life: East Meets West 
Please listen and subscribe to the Romance Of The Three Kingdoms Podcast on Podbean, iTunes, and Stitcher. Follow on Twitter and Facebook too! :)