Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Chris Smith
Recent Episodes
Hey, it's Chris — and this episode is unlike any I've ever done.
I'm pulling back the curtain on everything:
Yes, Podtastic Audio is officially coming to an end. Yes, my marriage is over. But... something new is starting. And I'm more excited than ever.
In this bonus episode, I get real about the personal struggles I've been navigating — divorce, selling the house, stepping away from podcasting — and how all of that led me to my next big project: Cool Cars with Chris 🚗🔥
If you've ever hit rock bottom and wondered how to rebuild from something you love — this one's for you.
🚘 What We Talk About:
- Why Podtastic Audio had to end
- How my divorce changed everything
- What inspired Cool Cars with Chris
- My lifelong obsession with cars, off-roading, and motorsports
- The plan: YouTube, podcasting, interviews, 4K video, and more
- Building from scratch — gear, guests, Instagram, and going viral
- Why I'm more motivated now than ever before
📲 Follow the New Journey:
📺 YouTube – Cool Cars with Chris
📸 Instagram – @CoolCarsWithChris619
🚘 Website coming soon!
Whether you've been with me since the start or just found this show, thank you. I hope you'll join me in the driver's seat for this next chapter. – Chris
Why I'm Ending Podtastic Audio — A Personal Farewell to Podcasting
After years of helping indie podcasters improve their sound and stay inspired, this is the final episode of Podtastic Audio.
In this honest and personal farewell, I open up about why I've decided to end the show, how podcasting changed my life, and where things are headed next.
Whether you've been here since episode one or just found the show, thank you for being part of the journey.
🎧 In this episode, I talk about:
- Why I'm stepping away from podcasting (for now)
- The story behind starting Podtastic Audio during the 2020 lockdowns
- Lessons from the Kris and Kristine Show and the indie podcast scene
- What happens when life shifts and your passion projects need to pause
- Why most podcasts podfade — and why that's okay
- Thoughts on AI in podcasting and staying human in a tech-heavy space
- Where I might go next — YouTube, vlogging, or something new
- A full replay of Episode 1 to bring things full circle
▶️ Plus: Listen to the very first solo episode I ever recorded — raw, nervous, and 100% real.
🎵 Ends with the Podtastic Audio theme song
The Podtastic Playbook: How to Build, Grow, and Monetize Your Podcast
Podgagement® (formerly "My Podcast Reviews") is all about simplifying your podcasting and helping you engage your audience and grow your podcast!
Over 25,000 podcasters use Podpage! Create your own podcast website that looks great, runs smoothly, and is optimized for search engines. Get started today! Podpage Link
Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it so much. Sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a moment. Podtastic Audio Newsletter
00:00 - Farewell message: Why this is the last episode
00:33 - How Podtastic Audio began (from Kris & Kristine Show)
01:30 - Podcasting boom during 2020 and pandemic shows
02:43 - Most hobby podcasts fade without audience or strategy
04:08 - Companion to Kris & Kristine Show and early learning curve
05:14 - Divorce, podfade, and personal challenges
06:40 - Letting go and reevaluating priorities
07:49 - Creative passions and content love
08:22 - Not tied to companies — an indie perspective
09:29 - Authenticity vs. industry agendas
10:14 - The cost of podcasting events vs. ROI
11:22 - Podcasting as a hobby (and expense)
12:09 - Life demands a pause from content creation
13:14 - Losing spark after relationship ended
14:42 - AI-generated podcasts and the soul of audio
16:08 - The future of content in the AI age
17:05 - New creative direction: YouTube & travel vlog
18:42 - Real-world video content and possibilities
20:08 - What creators should ask before launching
21:19 - Thank you to listeners and final reflections
21:57 - Intro to Episode 1 playback
22:30 - Replay of Podtastic Audio Episode 1
44:33 - Podtastic Audio theme song begins
If you're an indie podcaster who's ever felt completely drained, discouraged, or on the verge of giving up... you're not alone. In this brutally honest episode, I open up about the real-life challenges I've been facing—personally and creatively—and how podcasting has both helped and hurt along the way.
From going through divorce, to ending The Kris and Kristine Show, to watching the numbers on this very podcast unexpectedly grow—this episode is raw, vulnerable, and 100% real.
I'm not here to sugarcoat the podcasting journey. I'm here to talk about the parts no one tells you when you're first setting up your mic and dreaming big:
- What happens when your co-host leaves... and it's also your spouse.
- What it's like to podcast while selling your house and dealing with life-altering burnout.
- How to keep creating even when it feels pointless.
- And why authenticity, not algorithms, is still your biggest advantage.
🎧 In This Episode, I Cover:
- The messy, emotional side of independent podcasting
- Why downloads aren't the only thing that matter (but still hurt when they're low)
- The difference between being "seen" on TikTok vs. being heard on a podcast
- How I built Podtastic Audio during the peak of The Kris and Kristine Show
- Real, actionable tips to keep going when your motivation is at zero
Whether you're a solo podcaster, part of a co-hosted show, or just feeling like no one's listening—this episode is for you.
The Podtastic Playbook: How to Build, Grow, and Monetize Your Podcast
Over 25,000 podcasters use Podpage! Create your own podcast website that looks great, runs smoothly, and is optimized for search engines. Get started today! Podpage Link
Podgagement® (formerly "My Podcast Reviews") is all about simplifying your podcasting and helping you engage your audience and grow your podcast!
Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it so much. Sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a moment. Podtastic Audio Newsletter
00:00 When Life Gets Messy… and You Still Hit Record
01:05 Why Audio Podcasting Still Matters
03:22 What People Think Podcasting Is
04:24 Starting The Kris and Kristine Show
06:17 Lockdown Interviews & Cleanfeed Lessons
08:03 The End of the Show—and the Relationship
09:44 Selling the House, Selling the Dream
11:00 Podtastic Audio's Growth (and What It Means)
13:02 Indie Podcasting Realities: Burnout & Walls
14:15 Why Personality Beats AI and Trends
16:08 The Numbers Game: Podcasting vs. TikTok
18:13 Why Podcast Discovery Is So Much Harder
20:11 Authenticity and Consistency in a Noisy World
22:10 Tip 1: Short, Honest Episodes
23:07 Tip 2: Rerun Past Episodes with a Fresh Intro
24:13 Tip 3: Batch Record When You're Feeling Good
25:02 Tip 4: Cut the Overproduction, Keep It Simple
26:34 Tip 5: Talk to One Person—Not an Audience
28:01 It's Okay to Pause (Even If You're Not Done Yet)
30:04 Podcasting Isn't Just for the Big Guys
30:26 🎵 Outro: "Podtastic Audio Anthem"
#IndiePodcaster #PodcastingLife #PodcastBurnout #PodcastStruggles #PodcastTips #SoloPodcasting #PodcastAdvice #PodcastGrowth #AuthenticPodcasting #PodcastJourney #WhyPodcastingMatters #PodcastingThroughIt #PodcastMotivation #PodcastingWhileBurntOut #RealTalkPodcast #PodcastBreakup #PodcastingTruth #PodcastConsistency #PodcastingOverVideo #PodcastingReality #ContentCreationStruggles #PodcastingWithHeart #PodcastSupport #PodcastHelp #KeepPodcasting
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This week on Podtastic Audio, I took on a wild experiment: what if you didn't have a human co-host… but an AI one instead? Yep, in this episode, I actually had a full-on conversation with ChatGPT to find out if AI could pull it off as a podcast partner.
We cover a lot — from what a podcast even is (seriously, I told ChatGPT to pretend it didn't know), to how indie podcasters like us can use AI tools to plan, edit, organize, and even improve our show's workflow.
You'll hear what worked, what didn't, and why I think AI still has a long way to go before it can totally replace that real human connection — but man, it's getting close.
🤖 In This Episode:
- Can AI really host a podcast?
- My recorded conversation with ChatGPT (including a funny moment about AM radio)
- How to explain podcasting to someone who's never heard one
- Smart ways to use AI for show planning and content discovery
- Editing tips for busy indie creators
- What to do when guests have bad audio
- Interview advice (especially for nervous or quiet guests)
- Audio vs. video podcasting: where should you focus?
This was one of the most unique episodes I've ever made — and honestly, it made me think about the future of podcasting in a whole new way. If you're a solo podcaster or just AI-curious, give this one a spin. 🎧 Want to try your own AI co-host experiment? Let me know how it goes — I'd love to hear about it!
The Podtastic Playbook: How to Build, Grow, and Monetize Your Podcast
Over 25,000 podcasters use Podpage! Create your own podcast website that looks great, runs smoothly, and is optimized for search engines. Get started today! Podpage Link
Podgagement® (formerly "My Podcast Reviews") is all about simplifying your podcasting and helping you engage your audience and grow your podcast!
Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it so much. Sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a moment. Podtastic Audio Newsletter
00:00 - Can AI Replace Your Co-Host?
00:25 - Welcome to Podtastic Audio
00:40 - Meet Chris, Your Host
00:58 - Why Riverside is a Game-Changer
01:46 - AI Tools Built into Riverside
02:56 - The Rise of AI Content
04:00 - Viral AI Videos and Talking Babies
05:05 - The Cost of AI Tools for Creators
06:00 - The Scroll-Stopping Power of Real Humans
07:03 - Talking to ChatGPT: The Experiment Begins
08:05 - What's a Podcast? Explained to "Dad"
10:15 - You Could Start a Podcast Too
12:17 - Podcasting's Global Flexibility
14:05 - Mac vs. PC for Podcasters
15:33 - Editing Challenges with AI Voices
16:44 - Phase 2: ChatGPT as Full-On Co-Host
17:55 - Using AI to Plan Podcast Episodes
19:11 - AI for Show Notes and Content Discovery
21:10 - Advice for First-Time Podcasters
22:33 - Editing Yourself vs. Hiring Help
24:30 - Batch Recording: Pros and Pitfalls
26:10 - Are You Rusty After a Break?
27:24 - Interview Tips for Indie Podcasters
28:44 - Dealing with Dry or Nervous Guests
31:10 - What If a Guest Has Bad Audio?
33:10 - Best AI Tools to Fix Audio
34:50 - How to Market Your Podcast
35:54 - What Does "Value" to Your Audience Really Mean?
36:26 - Video vs. Audio Podcasting
37:09 - Final Thoughts on AI Co-Hosts
38:19 - Recording Setup Using RODECaster Pro II
40:03 - Is ChatGPT 5 the Future of AI Podcasting?
41:18 - Connect with Chris + Final Sign-Off
#PodcastingTips #IndiePodcaster #AIinPodcasting #ChatGPT #PodcastCoHost #AIContentCreation #PodcastTools #ContentWithAI #VoiceAI #PodcastEditing #SoloPodcasting #PodcastWorkflow #PodcastProduction #CreativePodcasting #PodcastAI #PodcastExperiment #AudioQualityMatters #PodcastStrategy #PodcastAdvice #PodcastGrowth #PodcastersOfInstagram #PodcastLife #FutureOfPodcasting #ChatGPTPodcast #PodtasticAudio
So, Libsyn just flipped the script on podcast monetization.
No more minimum download requirements. That's right — whether your show gets 5 downloads or 5,000, you can now run programmatic ads and make some money just for publishing your podcast. But here's the real question: just because you can… should you?
In this episode of Podtastic Audio, we dig into what this change really means for indie podcasters. Is this the golden ticket to finally "getting paid," or does it risk turning your passion project into a string of ads your listeners skip in 30 seconds flat?
We're talking:
🎯 What Libsyn's new ad rules actually are (and what types of content still don't qualify)
💵 How much money you realistically can expect to make as a small show
🤖 The pros and cons of running automatic ads vs. host-read spots
🎙️ Better ways to monetize — like affiliate links, listener tips, and actually selling something
❤️ Why podcasting for the love of it still matters more than CPMs or download stats
If you've ever been asked "How much money do you make from your podcast?" — or wondered if you should be monetizing at all — this episode was made for you.
And hey, if you're already running Libsyn ads, I'd love to hear how it's working out. Spoiler alert: it might only cover your hosting… but maybe that's enough.
The Podtastic Playbook: How to Build, Grow, and Monetize Your Podcast
Over 25,000 podcasters use Podpage! Create your own podcast website that looks great, runs smoothly, and is optimized for search engines. Get started today! Podpage Link
Podgagement® (formerly "My Podcast Reviews") is all about simplifying your podcasting and helping you engage your audience and grow your podcast!
Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it so much. Sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a moment. Podtastic Audio Newsletter
00:00 - Libsyn Opens Ads to All Podcasters
00:24 - Welcome to Podtastic Audio
01:04 - Why Audio Podcasting Still Wins
01:40 - Apple Podcasts and Simplicity
03:07 - What is "Podcasting Classic"?
03:35 - Choosing a Podcast Media Host
04:43 - How Podcast Hosting Works
06:23 - Libsyn's New Ad Policy: No More Minimums
07:29 - Can Any Show Really Make Money Now?
08:43 - My First Experience with Paid Ads
10:10 - Host-Read Ads vs. Programmatic Ads
11:11 - Why the 2,000 Download Rule is Gone
12:09 - Content That Still Doesn't Qualify
13:38 - Realistic Earnings from Libsyn Ads
14:30 - Breaking Down CPM and Payout Math
15:46 - Monetizing Your Back Catalog
17:07 - Why Did Libsyn Change Their Policy?
18:29 - Advertisers and Micro Shows
19:13 - Libsyn's Business Strategy
20:10 - Do Indie Podcasters *Need* to Monetize?
20:48 - The "How Much Do You Make?" Question
21:45 - Success Without Money or Downloads
22:14 - Why Fun Comes First in Podcasting
24:04 - Pros of Running Ads on Libsyn
26:17 - The Downsides of Programmatic Ads
28:17 - Losing Control of Your Content
28:37 - When Ads Ruin the Listener Experience
29:42 - Skipping Ads is Easy (and Common)
31:07 - Better Monetization: Host-Read Ads & Affiliates
32:20 - Patreon, Tips & Listener Support
33:28 - Selling Services or Coaching
34:41 - Don't Turn Your Show into a Commercial
35:07 - Podcasting for Love, Not Just Money
36:02 - Audio Podcasting = Personal Connection
37:14 - Thinking About Running Libsyn Ads?
37:25 - Final Thanks & Outro 3
38:25 - "Podtastic Audio" Theme Song
#Podcasting #IndiePodcast #PodcastCreator #PodcastTips #PodcastLife #PodcastMonetization #PodcastAds #PodcastRevenue #CPM #MakeMoneyPodcasting #Libsyn #PodcastHosting #PodcastTools #ProgrammaticAds #PodcastPlatforms #GrowYourPodcast #PodcastStrategy #PodcastMarketing #HostReadAds #PodcastSuccess