Podcasting 2.0 in Practice

Listeners and podcasters connect: a case study.

This is the story of how I communicated and became friends with the hosts of Buzzcast and Podnews Weekly Review (my favourite podcasts about podcasting) by commenting on the shows through boosts.

Gift micropayments (small amounts of money of your choosing) to the podcasts you love without leaving your modern podcast app.

Boosts (we'll talk about streaming too soon!) are in-app payments that also serve as a discovery mechanism for shows. These micropayments, enabled by Bitcoin – which can be converted into local currencies – not only enhance the monetization potential for podcasters but also increase visibility for their content. By sharing boosts, listeners can let their networks know about the shows they enjoy, creating a powerful feedback loop between creators and their audience.

Fountain.fm's Oscar Merry explains how boosts function similarly to traditional support platforms but with a significant advantage: they happen in real-time and foster a sense of community. Listeners become ambassadors for the content they love, sharing their support in a way that promotes further discovery and engagement.

We also touch on the importance of actively inviting listeners to support the show through boosts. It’s clear that communication is key; if podcasters don’t ask for support, their audience might not think to provide it. Oscar shares insights on how successful shows incorporate regular calls to action, highlighting the value of their content and the role of listener contributions in continuing their work. This not only builds a stronger connection with the audience but also encourages a culture of support and feedback, vital for the growth of any podcast.

If we want podcast apps and hosting companies to implement the features we like, we need to communicate our needs directly—after all, they’re not mind readers!

From simple feedback to organized group requests, we can encourage these platforms to embrace the Podcasting 2.0 features that we believe are beneficial to all.

Persistence is key; by continually advocating for our needs, we can influence the uptake of 2.0 technology. So, let’s get proactive and show them we care about the features that matter most to us!

Let's look at the ways you can start tapping into the potential of podroll, even though the name and implementation of this feature are a bit up in the air!!!

Tasks:

• Locate the podroll recommendations for Podcasting 2.0 in Practice
• Claim your show in TrueFans
• Add your own podroll recommendations in TrueFans
• See how Spotify does something similar – but not as good 😊
• Add your own podroll recommendations with your hosting company

Recommend podcasts you value to your listeners and share the love.

With podroll, creators can curate a list of shows that align with their content and audience interests. In this episode, Buzzsprout's Jordan Blair details how the 2.0 podroll feature can enhance discoverability and foster a sense of community among podcasters.

We discuss practical ways to implement it, and get excited about its capacity to foster collaboration among podcasters, encouraging us to think creatively about our content and our community.