Ask the Podcast Coach

Welcome to this holiday edition of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson, flying solo with special guest Chris Stone from Castahead.net. In this lively episode, we kick things off debating the most overplayed Christmas songs (sorry, Mariah Carey!), slide into podcast mic setups—covering everything from phantom power to Cloudlifters and USB/XLR combos—and share our biggest podcast merch mistakes....

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Rechargeable vs. Alkaline: Best Batteries for Podcasting Gear

December 1, 2025 • 89 mins

Welcome to this week’s episode of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson, and I’m excited to be joined by my good friend Jim Collison as we kick back after Thanksgiving and dig into everything from surviving power outages as a podcaster to getting serious about connecting with your audience. We’ll swap stories from behind the mic, share practical tips for managing your listeners, debate the best ...

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Has Podcasting Become Just Like Radio? Surviving the Age of Ads and Consolidation

November 22, 2025 • 89 mins

In this episode of Ask the Podcast Coach, Dave Jackson and Jim Collison dive into the evolving world of podcasting where authenticity wrestles against the growing pressures of monetization and consolidation. Are podcasts losing their unique spirit and turning into just another version of radio? Dave and Jim reflect on the rise of dynamic ads, syndication, and free hosting, dissect the pitfalls of ...

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Getting More From Your Podcast Guests: Sharing, Branding, and Engagement

November 15, 2025 • 88 mins

First up, I share some behind-the-scenes updates, including my recent move from a lifetime video hosting deal that went south to Voomly, and how AI tools like ChatGPT are helping me generate show notes and summaries more efficiently. We also discuss the mysterious rise of EM dashes in AI-generated writing—did anyone use them before AI took over our grammar?

We talk about what’s happening at Libsyn,...

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No Engagement? Maybe You Should Check Your Website

November 1, 2025 • 91 mins

Ever wonder if daily podcasting helps or hurts? We break down how to use November-style challenges to build reps without burning yourself out, and why the best consistency is consistently delivering value. From there, we get real about “reality” podcasts: celebrity banter can skate by on fame, but most shows need a promise listeners can feel—make them laugh, teach them something, or save them time...

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Three Years Till We're All Replaced?

October 25, 2025 • 91 mins

What happens when your listener’s device can generate a personalized podcast on command—your voice, their preferences, zero friction? We dig into a bold forecast from Joe Pulizzi and use it as a springboard to map what creators must do now to stay essential. The headline: you have time, but not to waste. The next three years will reward human connection, not just output.

We break down why...

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From Doomscrolling To Downloads: What Social Feeds Really Do To Podcasts

October 18, 2025 • 91 mins

The feed isn’t “social” anymore—it’s an endless parade of AI-recommended video. So why are we still hoping a 30-second short will magically convert strangers into hour-long listeners? We pull back the curtain on what the platforms actually reward, why shorts are best used for brand awareness, and the specific moves that help listeners cross the bridge to your long-form show.

We talk about...

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AI, Co‑Hosts, and Keeping It Human

October 11, 2025 • 95 mins

What happens when AI gets good enough to sit in the co-host chair—but not good enough to replace a heartbeat? We dig into the real trade-offs behind AI in podcasting, from research assistants and auto-summaries to voice cloning, live translation, and whether anyone actually wants a synthetic sidekick. The conversation is honest and a little contrarian: yes, the tools are powerful and getting bette...

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From Swear Words to Show Growth: What Podcasters Can Learn the Hard Way

October 4, 2025 • 87 mins

Ever feel like your show is stuck at 30 downloads and your guests won’t share your episode? We’ve been there, and we’re putting it all on the table—how language choices affect your brand and reach, why “big name” guests almost never translate to listener growth, and how to structure improv so it lands without a live audience. We get honest about impostor syndrome, burnout, and the moment you reali...

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What Happens When Spotify Deletes Everything?

September 20, 2025 • 89 mins

Dave Jackson flies solo this week (with special guest appearances from Randy Black and Ralph Estep Jr.) to tackle this challenging question and more. Randy shares a heart-wrenching story about losing his podcast co-host and friend, reminding us of the human connections that make this medium so powerful. His emotional recounting serves as a poignant reminder that beyond analytics and strategies, po...

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Beyond the Stage: Stripper Tales and Industry Insights

September 18, 2025 • 92 mins

How do you find guests when your podcast covers extremely niche topics? It's a challenge many creators face, especially when starting out. Dave Jackson and Jim Cullison tackle this question head-on, providing practical strategies that go beyond the standard advice. Rather than endless online searching, they suggest going directly to where your potential guests gather, leveraging existing conn...

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Podcast Release Forms on a Live Show Do You Need Them?

September 6, 2025 • 90 mins

The boundaries between legal protection and audience engagement blur when we confront one of podcasting's persistent questions: do you need release forms from your guests? This episode dives deep into this conundrum, revealing why adding friction to your listener experience might actually sabotage your growth efforts.

Sponsors:
PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you
Bas...

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From Troubleshooting ThinkBot to Choosing the Perfect Android Podcast App

August 30, 2025 • 92 mins

Ever wondered what's lurking in your podcast stats? This week, we tackle a mysterious surge in ThinkBot downloads that has creators scratching their heads. When this web crawler suddenly outpaces even Apple Podcasts in your analytics, it's time to investigate—and we'll walk you through exactly what to do when bots inflate your numbers.

For Android users struggling to find t...

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Coffee, Conferences, and Comebacks: The State of Podcasting Today

August 23, 2025 • 91 mins

In today's show Dave is back from Podcast Movement 2025 in Dallas and shares some of the things he saw. We are joined by Marty and get an inside scoop of podcasting blind.

Sponsors:
PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you
Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?

Mentioned In This Episode

School of Podcasting
https://www.schoolofpod...

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Emotions Drive Audiences, Numbers Don't

August 16, 2025 • 78 mins

What truly builds podcast audiences - authentic connections or inflated metrics? This episode explores the fascinating contrast between Taylor Swift's approach to audience building and questionable industry practices like buying fake downloads.

When Taylor Swift recently proclaimed "I'm in the business of human emotion" on a podcast, she revealed the secret behind her ...

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Podcast Names That Rank: Turning Searches into Subscribers

August 9, 2025 • 93 mins

Ever wonder if your podcast title is helping or hurting your discoverability? We unpack a fascinating case study of "Booked on Planning" – a podcast about city planning that highlights the tension between creative naming and searchability. As one listener aptly notes: "What are people typing in trying to find your show?" This question alone could transform your approach to podc...

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What Am I Missing, Why Isn't My Show Growing?

August 2, 2025 • 85 mins

Welcome to our show, where we dive deep into the secrets of growth and why your favorite shows might not be hitting the big time.

Are lackluster plots or poor marketing to blame? We'll analyze the common pitfalls and obstacles that keep shows from expanding their viewership.

Hear from Dave, Jim and the chat room as we share behind-the-scenes knowledge on what it really takes...

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How Are Podcasters Wasting Time?

July 19, 2025 • 92 mins

Is there something podcasters are doing that is a waste of time, and if so, what should we doing instead?

Sponsors:
PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you
Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?

Mentioned In This Episode

School of Podcasting
https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join

Podpage
http://www.trypodpage.com

Home Gadget Geeks<...

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What Would You Do With 12 Monitors?

July 5, 2025 • 85 mins

Jim has 12 monitors, and the chat room can't get over it. He explains how he uses them and if it keeps him warm in the winter. Check the chapters for other topics.

Sponsors:
PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you
Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?

Mentioned In This Episode

School of Podcasting
https://www.schoolofpodcasting....

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Quit Spamming My Facebook Group!

June 28, 2025 • 88 mins

We have a new Awesome Supporter! Randy Black from the Shooting Straight Podcast with Jim Clayton. Jim and Dave start with helping Ray figure out how to handle a potential sponsor spamming his Facebook group.

Sponsors:
PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear you
Basedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?