The Audacity to Podcast®

Podcast chapters allow your listening audience to get extra context during your podcast, more easily take action, and jump to spots in your episodes. So are chapters right for your podcast?

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1. What are podcast chapters? [01:05]

2. Answering the objection: chapters allow audiences to skip content [03:53]

3. The helpful benefit of chapters: ...

During or after a tragedy, podcasting may be the last thing on your mind. Or maybe it's actually something you want or need to get back into, but you're not sure if it's appropriate.

Whatever the "tragedy" is to you, there is no single right answer to this. But I would like to share several points for you to consider so that you can make the decision that's right for you.

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With the death of Todd Cochrane, his funeral, and the assassination and martyrdom of Charlie Kirk, I'm taking a week off of The Audacity to Podcast.

But with the return, I want to address several somber and even controversial questions you might have related to podcasting.

For example:

• How should you prepare your podcast for your own death? • Should you address current issues or tragedies in your podcast? • Should you talk about ...

Todd Cochrane, a great podcasting pioneer, an advocate for independent podcasters, and one of my good friends died Monday morning, September 8, 2025.

• Blubrry CEO Todd Cochrane has died: https://podnews.net/update/todd-cochrane-rip
• Todd Cochrane's Obituary: https://podnews.net/article/todd-cochrane-obituary
• Blubrry Podcasting Mourns the Loss of Founder and CEO Todd Cochrane: https://podnews.net/press-release/blubrry-mourns-loss...

Want a bigger audience? Want to make money with your podcast? Want to become a better podcaster? Want to grow your authority and popularity?

I believe that whatever it is that you want from your podcast can probably be achieved with two things. But I'll warn you! These two things are not easy.

Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/improve2things

1. Know your problems [01:26]

I'm back from Podcast Movement 2025 in Dallas and I have thoughts, especially after my previous episode about why you should attend live events for your podcast.

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Introduction [00:00]

• Why Attend Live Events for Your Podcast?

Podcast Movement + Sounds Profitable + Podnews [01:35]

NYC and Austin locations might be long-term [03:37]

Conf...

Live events can provide great opportunities to grow your knowledge, create content, expand your network, and grow your podcast audience.

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More episodes about getting the most from live events.

• 7 tips for effective blog/podcast cards
• How to Get the Most from Podcasting and Social-Media Conferences
• Avoid These Mistakes If You Go...

It takes more than high quality content to make a full-time income from your podcast!

Please share this episode from your podcast app or https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/fulltime

Introduction [00:00]

Option 1: A big audience [01:37]

Option 2: A generous audience [02:15]

• StickerMule: https://stickermule.com
• Dashery, by TeePublic: https://www.dashery.com/
• Redbubble: https://redbubble.com/

Opt...

Unlike traditional broadcasting, there are no "show clocks," scheduled ad breaks, or rigid time slots for podcasts. So should you care about publishing episodes of different lengths?

While I think episodes don't have to be the same length, there are some considerations.

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1. What does your audience expect?

2. Don't force ...

This fundamental question that has been challenged and even abused: what is a podcast anymore? There's plenty of misinformation and disinformation out there about what a podcast is. My efforts to help set the definition straight may be fruitless, but there's more to consider here than only the meaning of the word.

This is my 400th episode of The Audacity to Podcast, to to commemorate this milestone, I want to jump back to this fund...

Podcasting guesting is consistently the #1 way to grow your own podcast. This works because it gives you the opportunity to get in front of more ideal listeners, provide value and demonstrate your knowledge, and it's easy for them to follow you over to your podcast.

But how do you find the first shows you should try getting on?

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Und...

I see podcasters often think that their podcast might grow faster if they switch podcast hosting providers, like from Blueberry to Captivate or vice versa. But is this true? Short answer, no. Now, of course, I'm going to give you more details about that.

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Short answer: no

1. Podcast stats may be measured differently

...

Intentional growth requires regular evaluation and adjustment. That applies to so many areas of life and business, and your podcast is no different. I've put together five things I suggest you evaluate about your podcast every year so that you can make the changes necessary to keep growing your podcast.

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• Why You Should Put Podcast...

How long should your episode closing be? While your episode openings should be as short as possible, the length of your episode closings can be a bit more dynamic. The answer is actually a little different this time: as simple as possible.

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Answer: as simple as possible

Spread out your calls to action

Give your aud...

What is the first thing your audience hears when they play your latest episode? Are you providing value in your opening, or just keeping your audience from what they came to hear? Although the terms "intro"/"introduction" and "opening" are often used interchangeably, I'm going to be more specific to call the "opening" everything your audience hears before your episode's unique content.

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As The Audacity to Podcast celebrates 15 years of professional podcasting, I invite you to take a critical look back at the biggest mistakes I've made and things I wish I did differently with my show. My hope is that this will inspire you to either fix these things early for yourself, or avoid them altogether!

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(As an affiliate, I earn from...

Whether by choice or beyond your control, your podcast might have to go on a hiatus—and it could so long that the podcast seems dead! How do you come back from that and get back into your rhythm? It will take some work, but here are my recommendations (and what I'm practicing myself, too!).

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1. Review your podcasting goals (your "why")
2. Treat...

Redirects come in multiple types. When misused, they can cause some major problems, as even happened to me recently. Here are some warnings to watch for whenever you use redirects.

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• “Redirects and How to Use Them in Podcasting”: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/redirects-and-how-to-use-them-in-podcasting-tap280/

Cautio...

There comes a point in every podcast when it's necessary to say a URL. If for nothing else, at least your podcast's own home on the Internet. (And you should have a domain for your podcast!)

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1. Speak as few URLs as possible (per episode)

• Pretty Links Pro: https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/go/prettylinkpro

2. Defer ...