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

Episode 866 - Feed Drop - Outrage Science Bites with David Beckemeyer #NaPodPoMo Outrage Science Bites Explores Election Reform Dave shares a feed drop from Outrage Science Bites, a podcast hosted by David Beckemeyer and his wife as part of National Podcast Post Month. Their series examines American election reform through short, conversational episodes. This installment continues a four-part discussion about the Electoral College, the national popular vote, swing states, and public opinion. The Case for a Popular Vote David and his wife explain that public support for choosing the president by national popular vote has remained strong for decades. Gallup polling cited in the episode shows 63 percent support for a popular vote, compared with 35 percent opposition. Support differs by party, with 80 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of Republicans favouring the change, a pattern shaped partly by reactions to recent election results. They argue that neither party holds a permanent advantage under a popular vote system. Instead, short-term political outcomes can shape how people view the rules. The conversation also highlights how swing states currently receive outsized attention, while voters in heavily partisan states can feel politically powerless. How the Electoral College Works The hosts unpack the role of electors and state laws in presidential elections. In most states, electors follow the statewide popular vote result, although the rules can vary. David explains that states hold significant authority over how they allocate electoral votes, which creates room for different approaches across the country. The discussion challenges the idea that the Electoral College gives every state an equal voice. It was designed partly to prevent large states from dominating smaller ones, yet David argues that the balance has shifted. Today, a small number of competitive states can determine the outcome, while millions of voters in reliably partisan states may feel ignored. Changing the System Changing the Electoral College through a constitutional amendment remains difficult because the system is embedded in the Constitution. The episode notes that proposals to reform or eliminate it have appeared throughout American history, though none has produced the required constitutional amendment. The hosts then introduce an alternative path: the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. They tease that approach as the focus of the next episode, setting up a discussion about whether states can change the practical impact of presidential elections without amending the Constitution. Why This Feed Drop Matters Dave frames the episode as an example of thoughtful political conversation. Rather than simply arguing, David and his wife explain complex ideas, question assumptions, and invite listeners to understand the system more clearly. Dave also encourages podcasters to join National Podcast Post Month, pointing to the challenge of publishing 31 episodes in 30 days and the value of building a consistent publishing habit. The Electoral College shapes which voters receive attention during presidential elections. Understanding its history, public support for reform, and possible alternatives helps listeners engage with election debates more clearly.Outrage Science BitesI’m publishing one podcast episode per day again in the month of November 2026 as part of a challenge called NaPodPoMo. It stands for National Podcast Post Month. November is National Podcast Post Month, and the goal of the challenge is 30 podcast episodes in 30 days. ____ Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 865 - Tell Your Face!! Why Your Facial Expressions Matter When Podcasting Tell Your Face: Bring Energy to Your Podcast Delivery Dave explains why facial expressions matter when podcasting, even for an audio-only show. A listener cannot see your face, yet they can hear the difference between a flat, scripted read and a host who genuinely feels the words. When your face goes blank, your voice often follows. When you smile, raise your eyebrows, or react naturally, your delivery becomes warmer, clearer, and more engaging. Script Reading Kills Connection Dave responds to a podcaster who feels lifeless while reading from a script. He encourages them to stop treating the microphone like a task and start treating the episode as a conversation. Podcasters are companions in a listener’s day, so the goal is communication, not word-perfect recitation. Reading a script without emotion can make even useful content sound monotonous. Dave urges hosts to deliver the words. Be curious when asking a question. Let excitement rise during an announcement. Slow down and soften your voice for a meaningful story. Reconnect with the feeling behind the story rather than simply reciting it. Try the Expression Test Record the same sentence three times: once with a smile, once with a frown, and once with a neutral expression. Listen back. The words stay the same, but the tone changes dramatically. A smile can make your voice sound brighter and more inviting. A frown can make it heavier and more serious. Raised eyebrows can add curiosity. Relaxed, expressionless features can flatten your delivery and leave the listener with nothing to hold onto. Use Your Body on Audio Audio podcasting does not mean emotion-free podcasting. Dave records while sitting upright, moving his hands, projecting his voice, and playing with tone. Those physical choices shape the sound the microphone captures. He compares this to a voice actor recording an animated character. The actor may move, gesture, and become physically animated even though the audience will only see a cartoon. Podcasters can borrow that energy. You do not need to perform or become someone else. You simply need to bring a little more of yourself into the recording. Make Video Work for You For video podcasters, facial expression becomes part of the content itself. Look into the camera with confidence. React when a guest shares something serious, surprising, or funny. Use your eyebrows, smile when appropriate, and let your face show that you are listening. Dave suggests imagining one person sitting across from you at a coffee shop rather than broadcasting to a crowd. That mindset helps you stay present, make eye contact, and respond like a real person rather than a cardboard cutout. Let Stories Breathe Good storytelling needs variation. Show surprise when something unexpected happens. Pause after a funny moment so listeners have room to react. Use silence, inflection, and changing facial expressions to help the audience experience the story instead of merely hearing a summary of it. Dave reminds podcasters that personality adds value. Professional does not have to mean expressionless. If your show feels robotic, summarize the script instead of reading it word for word. Give yourself permission to be a little more animated, imperfect, and real. Tell your face. Your expressions shape your voice, and your voice shapes how connected listeners feel. Bring energy, emotion, and presence to every episode, whether they can see you or only hear you. ___ Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 864 - National Podcast Post Month and the Mega Feed National Podcast Post Month and the Mega Feed Dave explains National Podcast Post Month, a November challenge where podcasters publish 30 episodes in 30 days. Participants can add their shows to the event’s Mega Feed, a shared feed that collects new episodes from many creators in one place. The feed includes every kind of podcast, from business shows to short daily updates, without curation. How the Mega Feed Works The Mega Feed gives listeners one place to discover podcasts from people taking part in the challenge. Each day, new episodes from multiple creators appear in the same feed. Dave shares the link in the show notes for the 2026 edition and encourages podcasters who want more exposure to check it out. Because the feed is open and uncurated, listeners will encounter a wide range of voices and formats. For podcasters, it creates a simple way to reach new audiences while participating in the daily publishing challenge. Why Dave Opted Out Dave is publishing about 90 episodes across his podcasts during November, so he chose to keep his episodes on his regular feeds rather than add them to the Mega Feed. He does not want to take up too much space in a shared feed that other creators are using. He has also prepared his existing audience for the higher volume of episodes this month. His choice shows that podcasters can join National Podcast Post Month without changing their normal distribution strategy. Another Option for Podcasters The Mega Feed offers a separate distribution channel for creators who do not want to flood their main podcast feed with 30 extra episodes. A podcaster can publish challenge episodes through the Mega Feed while keeping their regular show schedule intact. Dave says it is still possible to join, and the National Podcast Post Month page in the show notes includes instructions for adding a podcast. He invites participants to tell him about their challenge through howtopodcast.ca, YouTube comments, or messages. He wants to listen to shows outside the Mega Feed and support creators taking on the challenge. National Podcast Post Month gives podcasters a structured way to publish daily, and the Mega Feed offers an optional discovery channel for creators who want to reach new listeners without overwhelming their regular audience. NaPodPoMo 2026 MEGA Feed https://pod.link/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLmluZm9ybWVyLmNvbS9kaWdlc3RzL1dGTkUwVlJRVlkvZmVlZGVyLnJzcw https://napodpomo.org/ ___ Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 863 - Feed Drop - In Real Life With Holly B - A podcast about the real connections that shape our lives Celebrating Daily Podcasting During National Podcast Post Month Dave celebrates National Podcast Post Month by spotlighting members of his podcast meetup group who accepted the challenge of publishing daily episodes throughout November. He highlights Holly B, a newer podcaster and meetup member, who is taking on 30 episodes in 30 days with her show, In Real Life with Holly B. Dave sees the challenge as a powerful way for podcasters to build confidence, develop their voice, and gain practical experience behind the microphone. Why Daily Episodes Help New Podcasters For someone brand new to podcasting, committing to a daily episode can feel intimidating. Dave frames the effort as bold because it asks creators to show up, record, publish, and keep moving forward without waiting for perfect conditions. He believes that creating episodes in a condensed month gives podcasters valuable reps. Each recording offers a chance to experiment with ideas, improve delivery, learn from mistakes, and become more comfortable speaking into the microphone. The challenge benefits Holly, Dave, and other participants because it turns podcasting from an occasional project into a consistent practice. Spotlight on In Real Life with Holly B Dave shares a sample from In Real Life with Holly B and encourages listeners to support Holly as she works through the 30 day challenge. He includes links to her podcast in the show notes so listeners can follow her progress and hear more of her work. Holly also appears in the November 2026 edition of the Canadian Podcaster online magazine at Canadianpodcaster.com. She wrote an article for the issue, and readers can find her photo and learn more about her there. Dave points out that listeners do not need to be Canadian to enjoy the magazine. More From Holly B Holly hosts a second podcast, Ramblings from the Little Shed. Dave includes a link to that show as well and jokes that spending time around the meetup group can inspire people to launch another podcast. His message to Holly is simple: thank you for joining the group, accepting the challenge, and creating daily episodes with full commitment. Daily podcasting builds skill through repetition. When you keep showing up, you give yourself room to grow, experiment, and connect with an audience that appreciates your consistency. In Real Life With Holly B. is a solo podcast about the real connections that shape our lives. Each episode, Holly B. shares honest stories, reflections, and lessons about friendship, love, loss, and community, and what it really means to show up for one another. Unscripted, relatable, and deeply human. https://pod.link/6826591159 Ramblings From the Little Shed Where pets and creativity curl up together. Welcome to the coziest corner of the creative world, where art, literature, and our beloved animal companions come together in conversation. Join us in the little shed—a space where ideas flow freely and creativity thrives—as we explore the profound ways animals influence and inspire our creative lives. Whether you're a writer crafting your next novel, a painter finding inspiration in nature, or simply someone who believes their best work happens with a dog at their feet or a cat on their lap, this podcast is for you. https://pod.link/1852258364 ____ Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 862 - How to Repurpose Podcast Transcripts Into Articles for LinkedIn and Substack Turn Podcast Episodes Into Articles Dave explains how he turns strong podcast episodes into written articles for LinkedIn and Substack. He uses the process to reach readers who prefer articles over audio or video, while continuing to publish daily episodes across The How To Podcast Series, Living The Next Chapter, and Dad Space. The How To Podcast Series has released an episode every day for a full year. During November, Dave is also publishing daily episodes on his other shows, bringing the combined total to 90 episodes for the month. He invites new listeners to explore the archive and share the show with anyone considering starting a podcast. Start With Your Best Episodes Dave begins by reviewing his best performing episodes on YouTube and his podcast hosting platform. He looks for topics that attract attention, generate interaction, and clearly connect with his audience. Once he identifies a strong episode, he takes its transcript and uses Perplexity to shape it into an article. He keeps the prompt focused on the transcript alone, so the article stays rooted in his own words and ideas. Make AI Writing Sound Like You Dave treats the AI generated draft as a starting point. He removes phrases that do not match his voice, cuts unnecessary formatting habits, and rewrites sections until the piece sounds like the person listeners hear on the show. He stresses that AI can structure a transcript, yet the podcaster still needs to edit it. Dave calls this process putting “Dave” back into the article. His goal is writing that feels natural, conversational, and consistent with how he speaks at meetups or in person. Publish Where Readers Already Are After editing, Dave posts the article on LinkedIn and republishes a lightly adjusted version on Substack. Both platforms are free to join, which makes them practical starting points for podcasters who want to test written content. He has begun seeing traction from the articles. He also notes that LinkedIn brings unwanted sales messages and connection requests from people more interested in selling services than engaging with his work. Dave ignores those approaches and keeps his focus on genuine audience growth. A Three Part Content Approach Dave encourages podcasters to think beyond audio alone. Some audience members listen, some watch video, and some prefer to read. He compares these options to the legs of a stool, with each one supporting a broader way for people to discover and enjoy a show. A podcast newsletter can be an easy entry point. Rather than converting every future episode into an article, Dave suggests starting with a few proven back catalog episodes. If those articles get a response, create more. If nobody engages, adjust the approach or spend less time writing. Use What You Already Have Dave repeats a guiding idea throughout the episode: do what you can with what you have, where you are. A podcaster can publish one article a month, use a free AI tool, and build a simple workflow over time. He uses the free version of Perplexity and Adobe’s transcript service. He suggests starting without a paid subscription until the process proves valuable. The aim is to create another discovery path for the podcast without overwhelming your calendar, family life, or budget. Your existing podcast episodes already contain material worth repurposing. Choose a top performing episode, turn its transcript into an article, edit it until it sounds like you, and share it on LinkedIn or Substack. Written content can help new readers find your show and give current listeners another way to connect with your ideas. ___ Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6