PodCraft by Alitu: Honing the Craft of Podcasting

On last week's episode of Podcraft, we agreed that sponsorship was broadly overrated for the average indie creator.

But... that doesn't mean it isn't the right fit for you.

Maybe you podcast within a specialist hobby, professional field, or enthusiast community.

In many niches, sponsorship fits naturally because you're talking about certain tools, pro...

Which podcasting best practices are actually worth your time, and which ones are overhyped?

In this episode, we take a deliberately opinionated look at common podcasting advice, tools, and assumptions, and decide whether each one holds up in practice.

• Good mic technique - underrated or overrated?
• Written podcast descriptions - underrated or overrated?
• Podcast show notes - underrated or overrated?
• High bitrates and lossless audio - u...

What will podcasting actually look like by the end of 2026, once the hype settles and habits stick?

In this episode, we make grounded predictions about where the medium is heading and what creators may want to do less of. We examine the growing pushback against video-first shows that neglect audio listeners, why audio-only content may regain strength, and how screen fatigue could reshape creator priorities.

We also look at the future...

Do you still need all the “must-do” podcasting advice that gets recycled every year, or has some of it quietly expired?

In this episode, we revisit a long list of podcasting essentials and ask one question of each: Does this still matter in 2026? We look at what still earns its place, what has changed, and what you can stop worrying about entirely.

The focus is on practical decisions, not trends. When consistency helps and when i...

Can you legally use music, TV clips, or radio audio in your podcast, or is it a fast track to takedowns and trouble?

In this episode, we unpack how copyright actually works for podcasters. What fair use really means, why it is a legal defence rather than permission, and where creators most often get caught out. We look at the practical risks, including automated copyright detection, platform removals, and takedown requests from righ...

Almost all the benefits of podcasting stem from one thing – and that’s consistency. If you publish quality content over a prolonged period of time, you eventually hit a critical mass of episodes you can now call your “back catalogue” – and it’s a powerful tool.

On this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to look at the benefits of this published body of work, which includes the ability for new listeners to binge your cont...

Are you using AI to sharpen your thinking, or quietly letting it replace it?

Can podcasters and creators still work with AI without losing the slow, human thinking that makes ideas worth sharing? We talk about using AI as a sounding board rather than a generator, why “thinking walks” still matter, and how convenience can flatten creativity if you are not careful.

There are practical lessons, too. We cover how to handle co-hosted ...

Imagine a podcaster who has been publishing for a couple of years. Every time they check their stats, the number is the same.

They assume they have hit a plateau.

So they spend more on marketing. They push harder on promotion. Nothing changes. The number stays flat.

What that number does not show is what is happening underneath. New listeners are finding the show. At the same time, existing listeners are drifting away. Growth and chur...

Fiction podcasts often hold listeners for longer than non-fiction shows. But what can non-fiction creators learn from this?

We break down the simple storytelling tools that keep audiences hooked, including open loops, stronger intros, clearer arcs, and themed seasons. We also highlight some easy wins that improve retention, such as smoother transitions, cleaner audio, and titles that set clearer expectations.

We then dive into a det...

What if monetising a podcast was simpler than the usual laundry list of tactics suggests? A new model called the Three As breaks earning potential into three clear paths: 

• Audience,¬†which¬†includes¬†supporter¬†perks¬†and¬†light¬†ads
• Authority,¬†which¬†covers¬†coaching,¬†courses,¬†and¬†specialist¬†services
• Assets,¬†which¬†includes¬†books,¬†products,¬†and¬†affiliate¬†income

The¬†aim¬†is¬†to¬†choose¬...

In this conversation, Colin sits down with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, to discuss the shifting landscape of content creation. Fresh off completing a 100 Days of YouTube challenge, Craig shares why he chose video over podcasting during that time, what he learned about platform growth, and the powerful truths about podcast numbers versus engagement (where podcasting still shines!)

They explore the convergence of audio, video, and...

Our Indie Podcasters Report shows that once production goes past six hours, audio-only creators are the ones spending the most time in the edit.

But why?

The answer goes beyond workflow. Audio culture has always valued clean mixes, careful pacing, and detailed sound design, so creators tend to polish every moment. Video makers often move faster by embracing jump cuts and a simple top, tail, publish routine.

That doesn't mean video is...

Ever feel like your podcast has started to sound scripted rather than conversational? When the spark fades, it’s time to shake things up. This episode explores how relaxing your format can reignite creativity and flow, why over-scripting kills energy, and how a looser, more natural approach helps you sound sharper and enjoy recording again.

We also dig into some practical podcasting essentials, from Apple’s new AI-generated chap...

On a recent episode of Podcraft, Neale James of The Photowalk talked about an email he once received from a listener who was housebound due to illness. They wrote that they could no longer go out for walks but hoped their life might change one day. For now, the sounds of Neale’s walks, even his grumbling at passing planes, reminded them that there was still a world out there.

“That message taught me something important,” Neale...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to grow a podcast while living off-grid and travelling full-time? Cara and James from Kerouac’s Cruising share how they’ve turned life on the road into a show about freedom, mindset and self-discovery. From dodgy internet connections to finding their voice as creators, they talk openly about what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how they’ve built a loyal audience one mile at a time.

It’s a...

Have you ever thought about publishing a report in your niche? A “state of the industry” piece that delivers fresh data, insights, and analysis to your audience.

Original research can position you as an authority while sparking conversation, attracting media coverage, and opening new opportunities.

But gathering and reporting data is both art and science, and common mistakes can quickly undermine your work.

Fortunately, we’re jo...

How do you keep a podcast going long enough to reach 500 episodes?

Most shows fade away after a handful of recordings, but The Photowalk has just passed a huge milestone. This week, I’m joined by its host, Neale James, to explore what it really takes to stay consistent, build a community, and even turn a passion project into something sustainable.

Read the full blog post on this too, here.

Neale shares:

• Why showing up every day m...