Podcast Help Desk™

I had the opportunity to talk to Dave Jones from Podcast Index and the Podcasting 2.0 show about PodPing and other podcasting stuff.

We talked about the comments we made about PodPing on the Podcast Insider show with Angelo Mandato, CIO of RawVoice Inc. / Blubrry Podcasting. Also a lot of other podcast related things. It was a fun conversation for sure!

Also, be sure to check out NewPodcastApps.com for all the Podcasting 2.0 powere...

One thing you can always say about how podcasting works, it’s always changing.  The last couple of weeks it seems that there is a sort of shift in how it works on basic levels.  Or, does it work the same and only some apps are changing?

Apple announced “Subscriptions” after changing the name of subscribing to a free podcast to “Follow”.  We have more details about that system.  Today I will attempt to tell you, technically, how this is going to work and what it will not do.

I put on my Grumpy Old Man hat on today.  Here are the top 10 things that bug me about podcasting and podcasters these days…

10. WordPress.com is NOT the same as WordPress.org.

9. People that use “POD” to mean Podcast.

8. Companies that want to change the word “Subscribe” to Follow.

7. No Tech Support for some podcast directories and apps.  They blame the podcast hosting companies for any issues.

6. So-called Podcast Consultants.

5...

I love it when people correct me! Andy Lehman tells me all about what I didn’t get quite right about the Podcast Namespace.

Andy is the guy that does the Podcast Namespace WordPress Plugin, an Add-on to PowerPress to add more namespace tags to your RSS feed.   –  https://github.com/Lehmancreations/Podcast-Namespace-Wordpress-Plugin 

Andy also does a podcast called Dudes and Dads Podcast – https://dudesanddadspodcast.com/ 

We had  a...

In the history of podcasting, there have been a few Namespaces added to RSS to make podcasting work.  Apple added the <itunes: > namespace, Google added the <googleplay:> namespace and even Blubrry added the <rawvoice:> namespace.  Now there is a new one done by independent podcasters, app developers, companies and other interested people called the <podcast:> namespace.   It’s done by the Podcast Index peop...

Today I want to go back to the REAL basics of how podcasting works.  

So, without going into a history lesson,  podcasting has worked the same way since it started  16 years ago.  (some say longer). 

So.  Back to the basics: 

Podcasting is just Blogging with Audio.   To create a podcast post, you create a blog post (no matter where you are publishing, the basics are you are making a post) and you attach a link to an audio (or video...

Why would build your podcast on someone else’s platform when you can build your own?

Building a podcast platform is a little harder than doing it on a Podcast Hosting company site, but it’s so worth it.

At Blubrry, we call it the Blubrry Way.  Have your own domain. Put a WordPress on it and use the PowerPress plugin to generate your feed and let you publish from your own website. It will future-proof your show, your brand and give ...

In 2020, the podcast industry added over 1 million shows (data from My Podcast Reviews).  Out of 1.7 million shows listed on Apple, 60% (ish) are inactive.

Also in 2020…

What are some things you can do when you just don’t feel like podcasting?

Here is what I do. I do more show prep.  It seems I get more motivated to podcast if I do show prep on a show I’m about to record.

Here are some other options:

There are lots of apps you can use to play podcasts.   As a podcaster I’m sure you are also a podcast listener.  Here is my top 6 (in reverse order of use).

#6  Podcast Addict  (Android) – I don’t use Android every day, but when I do, I use either Podcast Addict or Google Podcasts.  Being that I have to test in a lot of apps, I have just about every app for podcast listening on Android.  This one is the best and as a bonus, they ge...

RSS is what powers podcasting.  In fact, this is why podcasting even exists. The enclosure tag in RSS2 allows you to “attach” a media file. Mainly an MP3 but you can also attach just about any media like a video file, a PDF or ebook file.  “Podcasting” is mostly audio but there are some that do video via RSS.

RSS (RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) is a web feed that allows users and applications to access updates to we...

PodcastIndex.org is a project by Adam Curry and Dave Jones (and a whole bunch of devs and podcasters) that is meant to “preserve podcasting as a platform for free speech” as their tagline says on the site.  This is very important to us indie podcasters.  This can help prevent one company from owning podcasting.

They are also working on the Podcast Namespace for RSS and how to spread a little money around.

Check them out at PodcastI...

I failed miserably at completing the NaPodPoMo 30 episodes in 30 days this year.  OH well,  Such is life getting in the way.

The Good News and part of the “big” announcement I teased is this show is going 2 times weekly starting on Dec. 16, 2020.

As the unofficial companion show to Podcast Insider – Blubry’s Official Podcast and Blog, I will be putting out short 10-15 minute (most of the time) episodes of Podcast Help Desk on Wedn...

I’m not only a podcaster, but an avid podcast listener.  I have something like 30 shows that I subscribe to plus I listen to a lot of one-off shows that I don’t subscribe to.   Here is my top 8 (as of late November 2020) Also, not in Rank order.   Just that these 8 are listened to nearly as soon as they come in.

Steve Lehto is a Lawyer in Michigan and an author. He specializes in Lemon Law cases.  He has been doing a Yo...