The How To Podcast Series - Podcast Co-Hosts, Practical Podcasting Tips, and Podcast Community

Episode 740 - How To Assess and Plan Your Podcast Better - How To Get Your Podcast Back On Track - Practical Podcast TipsThis episode of The How To Podcast Series focuses on a challenge many creators face but rarely admit out loud: feeling overwhelmed, behind, and out of control with their podcast. Dave addresses this head-on, reassuring listeners that falling behind does not mean failure. Instead, it signals the need for a reset and a smarter approach.Using a relatable driving analogy, Dave explains how podcasting can feel like constantly shifting gears without ever settling into a rhythm. The goal is to reach “cruise control” where your workflow feels steady, predictable, and manageable. Many podcasters, especially those producing interview-based shows, get stuck in a reactive cycle by recording and releasing episodes at the last minute. This creates stress and leaves no room for unexpected disruptions, like guest cancellations.Dave shares a practical solution: step away briefly to move forward more effectively. Taking a short break from publishing allows you to batch record episodes and build a buffer. This “in the can” content gives you breathing room and protects your schedule from last-minute issues. By planning ahead, you shift from scrambling week to week to operating with intention and control.He emphasizes the importance of assessing why you fell behind in the first place. Whether it is personal commitments, burnout, or a lack of fresh ideas, identifying the root cause is essential. Sometimes the best creative decision is to pause, reset, and allow new ideas to develop naturally rather than forcing content.Planning also plays a critical role. Creating a 52-week content calendar helps map out your year, making space for seasonal and themed episodes while reducing decision fatigue. Recording episodes well in advance, even months ahead, allows you to stay consistent without pressure and maintain a higher quality of content.If your podcast feels overwhelming, do not push harder. Pause, assess what caused the stress, and build a simple plan with buffer content and a clear calendar so you can regain control and enjoy the process again.Evaluate Your Situation: Understand why you fell behind. Was it due to personal commitments, burnout, or lack of content? Identifying the root cause can help prevent similar issues in the future.Create a Content Calendar: Plan your upcoming episodes. This can help you visualize your production schedule and ensure consistent content delivery. Aim to have a buffer of episodes ready to avoid future delays.⁠___⁠⁠⁠Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6⁠⁠⁠

Episode 739 - 2 Things That You Can Do Today To Make You A Smarter Podcaster - Podcasting TipsThis episode revisits a powerful idea: becoming a smarter podcaster does not require complicated strategies, just intentional habits that shape how you show up behind the mic. The focus is on two practical shifts that can immediately improve your podcast and the experience you create for your listeners.The first is the work no one sees. Great podcasting happens long before you hit record. Preparing your guest, having meaningful pre-conversations, and building a strong connection all contribute to a better episode. When you take time to align on purpose and audience, you create a bridge between host and guest that translates into a more natural, engaging conversation. Like any skilled craft, the pride you put into the unseen details shows up in the final product. Your audience may not know the effort involved, but they will feel the difference.This idea is reinforced through real-life examples of craftsmanship, where quality and care are evident even when the work is hidden. Whether it is painting a wall or cleaning a window, doing your best work, even when no one is watching, builds a reputation that speaks for itself. Podcasting is no different. A smart podcaster takes ownership of the entire process and prioritizes genuine connection over shortcuts, including over-reliance on tools.The second shift is simple but transformative: ask shorter questions, complicated questions often confuse guests and dilute the conversation. A concise question creates clarity and invites stronger, more focused answers. Instead of overexplaining, get straight to the point and allow space for your guest to respond. Then listen carefully and follow up naturally. This approach turns an interview into a real conversation, which benefits both the guest and the listener.By reframing interviews as conversations and staying present in the moment, you create a more engaging and authentic experience. It is not about sticking rigidly to a script but about responding to what is being said and exploring it further with curiosity.Smart podcasting is built on intentional preparation and clear, concise communication. Put in the unseen work, focus on your listener, and simplify your questions to create stronger, more meaningful conversations.Do you want to be the smartest podcaster? Is that attainable? Not sure, but our podcasts could benefit from acting on these two things.First - put in the work behind the scenes that nobody sees - be proud of your work, your research, your show and your audience and show up for them every time!Second - the shorter the question, the smarter the host - short, pointed questions are better by far than 4 minute question setups, back story to why you are asking this specific question and layered questions with questions within a question that confuses the guest, the listener, heck, even you as a host forgets what you even asked...Don't loose your audience with wordy questions - keep your questions shorter! Try it!___⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6⁠⁠

Episode 738 - A Podcast Idea for Authors - Create An Editors Cut for your book that your readers would pay to consumeIn this episode, Dave introduces a powerful and often overlooked opportunity for authors to expand the life, impact, and income potential of their books. Drawing from years of conversations with writers on Living the Next Chapter, he highlights a common gap: authors create incredible worlds and stories, but rarely leverage everything that didn’t make it onto the page.The core idea is simple but transformative. Instead of stopping at the book and even the audiobook, authors can create a private, companion podcast that acts like an “editor’s cut” of their work. This is not a retelling of the book, but a deeper, behind the scenes exploration of it. It gives readers access to the author’s thinking, creative decisions, deleted scenes, character backstories, and the real life moments that shaped the narrative.Dave explains how this kind of short-run, intentionally structured podcast can enhance the reader experience while also creating a direct-to-audience revenue stream. Rather than relying solely on book royalties, authors can offer exclusive audio content through a private feed, strengthening their connection with their audience and turning casual readers into engaged fans.He also shares practical ways to approach this, from episode ideas like origin stories and chapter breakdowns to incorporating unused material and reader questions. For nonfiction authors, this opens the door to expanded insights, updated perspectives, and deeper teaching that goes beyond the limitations of a printed page.At its heart, this episode is about ownership, creativity, and connection. It challenges authors to think differently about their content, not as a finished product, but as the foundation for a richer, ongoing experience that serves both their audience and their creative business.Your book is only part of what you’ve created. By building a companion podcast, you can deepen audience connection, extend the life of your work, and unlock new value from content you already own.____Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 737 - Podcasters that Make Noise - A Guitar Lesson for Podcasters and Guesting Strategy Insights with CO-HOST Nick McGowanIn the second half of this conversation with podcast host, editor and coach Nick McGowan, the discussion moves beyond AI and into the heart of what makes podcasting meaningful. Rather than chasing shortcuts or creating the illusion of success through automation, the conversation explores why genuine connection, thoughtful strategy and authentic creativity continue to matter most.Nick shares why podcasting gives creators a unique opportunity to build relationships with their audience instead of distancing themselves behind technology. The discussion challenges the growing temptation to automate every aspect of podcasting, arguing that replacing real conversations with artificial interactions ultimately weakens the trust that makes podcasts so valuable.Drawing on lessons from music, business and years of creative experience, Nick explains why mastering the fundamentals will always outperform relying on the latest trends. He reflects on the importance of understanding your audience, developing a clear strategy, and creating systems that support your workflow without replacing your voice.The conversation also dives into guest selection, revealing how a strong podcast strategy influences who belongs on your show. Nick explains why every guest should contribute to the core conversation your podcast is known for, while also emphasizing the importance of bringing diverse perspectives and lived experiences to your audience. Listeners will hear practical insights into guest outreach, preparation, podcast workflows and why intentional processes create better experiences for both hosts and guests.Throughout the episode, both hosts encourage podcasters to experiment, refine their approach and build a podcast that reflects their own goals instead of following someone else's blueprint. Rather than accepting one prescribed way of podcasting, creators are reminded that every show can develop its own process through testing, feedback and continual improvement.The episode concludes with an invitation to embrace community over competition, seek mentorship when needed and remember that podcasting is ultimately about serving listeners through honest conversations and authentic human connection.Key TakeawayThe strongest podcasts are built on authenticity, clear strategy and meaningful relationships. Technology can support your workflow, but your unique voice, thoughtful conversations and genuine connection with your audience remain the most valuable assets your podcast will ever have.____⁠https://nickmcgowan.com/⁠⁠https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/⁠____Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 736 - Musical Know How that Helps You Edit Your Podcast and the Onslaught of AI Editing and Promo in Podcasting with CO-HOST Nick McGowanThis episode explores a creative and intentional approach to podcast editing while unpacking the growing tension between human craft and AI-driven convenience. Dave introduces a narrative-style edit, reshaping a long conversation with co-host Nick McGowan into a tighter, more engaging listening experience. By removing and re-recording his own parts, he adds clarity, context, and flow, demonstrating how editing itself can become a storytelling tool rather than just a cleanup process.At the heart of the conversation is the influence of musical thinking on podcast production. Both Dave and Nick highlight how a background in music can sharpen an editor’s ear, from understanding pacing and rhythm to shaping audio with tools like EQ, compression, and leveling. This perspective goes beyond technical skill, encouraging podcasters to think about how their show feels, not just how it sounds.Nick emphasizes that many creators overlook the fundamentals of audio, often jumping straight to AI tools for quick fixes. While AI can simplify processes, it can also create distance from the craft. Without understanding the basics, podcasters risk losing control over their sound and their ability to troubleshoot or improve. More importantly, they miss the opportunity to develop skills that elevate their content long term.The discussion also challenges the current trend of mass-producing content through automation. Flooding platforms with AI-generated clips may increase output, but often sacrifices quality, context, and connection. Nick shares examples of poorly generated promotional content that lacks intention and fails to represent the creator effectively. Instead, he advocates for a focused, human-led approach that prioritizes meaningful content over sheer volume.Beyond technique, the episode touches on broader implications, including the environmental cost of AI and the cultural shift toward speed over substance. Both hosts question whether the industry will return to a more balanced approach, where technology supports creativity rather than replacing it.Ultimately, this conversation is a reminder that podcasting is both an art and a craft. Whether editing your own show or working with others, understanding the process matters. It shapes not only the final product but also your identity as a creator.Key takeaway: The more you rely on intentional, human-driven creativity and understand your tools, the more your podcast will stand out in a space increasingly filled with automated noise.____https://nickmcgowan.com/https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/____Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6