Podcast Creation Tips

I built a Top 100 Global video podcast on Spotify. Here’s exactly how I did it. Six months ago, I launched Hot Smart Rich, a video-first podcast for anyone obsessed with the future of culture, creators, startups, and self-growth, on Spotify. We hit Spotify’s Top Business Podcasts in week one. Since then, we’ve charted 7 times, peaked at #5 in the U.S., and landed in Spotify’s Top 50 US podcasts overall. What surprised me most? How quickly video unlocked growth. On Spotify, my audience could seamlessly switch between watching and listening—just like the 300M+ listeners on the platform doing the same thing. That flexibility helped us attract not just more fans, but the right fans. The kind who binge episodes, send me DMs, share clips with their group chats, and now proudly call themselves HSR Angels. And yes, I turned it into a business. Through the Spotify Partner Program with Spotify for Creators, creators can monetize video content without giving up creative control. It’s real revenue, real reach, and a real community. (And let’s be honest: most platforms can’t say that.) If you’re thinking about launching, here’s what I’d tell you: - It is not too saturated. But you do need a plan. Get clear on your tone, flow, format, and point of view. Your audience doesn’t want a copy—they want something new. - Don’t waste money on aesthetic fluff. No one cares about your new photoshoot. Spend that cash on solid audio, decent lighting, and a camera that works. We started with iPhones. - Cut up your clips like your life depends on it. Post. Everywhere (Including Spotify). All the time. - Be consistent. Experiment early. When no one’s watching, try things. Switch formats. Get weird. Then double down on what hits. - Make it your personality. If you’re not hyping your own show, no one else will. You don’t need millions to start. You just need a camera, a mic, a message, and Spotify. Check out how to grow your video on spotify below. https://lnkd.in/gnB5ejaS #podcast #business #spotify #spotifypartner #videopodcast #growth

the odds of success in podcasting are so low right now. tons of supply. discoverability sucks. ad market is softer. so why am I the schmuck who’s relaunching his podcast next week & how do I plan to make it a win? here’s the breakdown: 1. innovate on format longform interviews & cohosted shows are so crowded. i don’t want to play where there’s hyper competition. im going to own the bite-sized (15 min) solo show in my niche (entrepreneurship) 2. make it a win even if you don’t go mainstream first, anchor your show in a valuable niche. B2B advertisers are willing to pay me high CPMs to get in front of founders even if I don’t hit 7-figure downloads per month. second, monetize beyond ads. I use my pod as a top of funnel for all of my businesses that have customer values worth way more than I could ever charge an advertiser. third, find wins beyond money. my pod allows me to memorialize the founder journey so that I can revisit it 50 years from now. plus, I hope to create a culture of founders documenting their business building process as a way of educating the next generation. 3. leverage YouTube & shorts for distribution podcast discovery & sharing sucks. the only way to build a great top of funnel & grow downloads is by making it a vodcast from day 1. this has been huge for shows ranging from mfm to lex fridman to dwarkesh. 4. experiment constantly & lean into short-form the cliche of “a tweet became an email became an essay became a book” has truth. I view every X post or IG video as a cheap experiment to test an idea before putting greater effort into it. i also remind myself constantly that im close-minded to the mission of my podcast (to increase the odds of a founder’s success), but im open-minded to the way in which that mission is fulfilled. hope this helps & sub to my pod (link below) to watch me execute on this plan in real-time. new episode of founder’s journal comes out 3/3!

This is how I've helped big brands launch podcasts that currently have 10 million+ subs without a celebrity host. Creators think they only need star power in the long run, but my framework works without it. In reality, your host needs one core trait, and it's not followers, a big budget, or virality. The best hosts aren't the most agreeable or the most knowledgeable. They're just the most curious. Look at successful business podcasts: Ranveer Allahbadia:  Questions conventional wisdom in every BeerBiceps Media World Private Limited episode. Raj Shamani:  Figuring Out on YouTube challenges guests to share their real entrepreneurship struggles. Here's the framework learned from then and used: 1. Start with the listener journey Map out their current beliefs, fears, and aspirations. Your content should bridge this gap. 2. Design your conversation arc The opening should challenge a common assumption. The middle must explore unexpected angles and then land on actionable insights. 3. Host selection strategy We didn't chase industry experts but instead found someone who: - Asks questions like a 5-year-old - Highlights all the inconsistencies - Steers away from obvious questions 4. Production Approach We recorded 3 episodes before launching only to - Get feedback from target listeners - Iterate on format and flow That's how we created a podcast that isn't about the host or the guest. It's about creating intriguing moments to keep listeners entertained. But most branded podcasts fail because They're platforms instead of solutions. Focus on serving your audience, not showing your expertise. So, what's your favorite podcast and why? #podcast #marketing #influencer #brandbuilding

Evidence-Based Tips for Building Strength, Muscle Mass & Recovery In today's episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of exercise science and human performance with Andy Galpin. Dr. Galpin holds a PhD in Human Bioenergetics, has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, and is a co-founder of BioMolecular Athlete and Vitality Blueprint. In this episode, you'll learn about: - Complex scientific concepts - Actionable tips for everyday well-being and longevity -Covering everything from sleep optimisation to enhancing workouts and more. Full Episode: https://lnkd.in/dqXAdKBR

Paper-to-Podcast 🎉: Transforming Research Papers into Riveting Three-Person Conversations Ever wish you could listen to cutting-edge research instead of reading dense PDFs? Meet Paper-to-Podcast, a groundbreaking tool that turns academic papers into dynamic, dialogue-driven audio experiences. Imagine tuning into a lively, three-person discussion—complete with a host, a curious learner, and a seasoned expert—breaking down even the most complex studies into stories you can absorb on your morning commute. What’s the Magic Behind It? I. Host Persona: Think of them as your friendly guide, setting the scene and making the intellectual journey feel warm and inviting. II. Learner Persona: This character asks the questions you’re probably thinking, clarifying jargon and teasing out key insights. III. Expert Persona: No fluff, just depth. The expert persona delivers knowledge-rich commentary that puts every detail of the paper into context. The Secret Sauce: 1. Planning Chain: Keeps the conversation laser-focused, ensuring each section of the paper is transformed into a structured, meaningful exchange—no tangents or confusion. 2. Discussion Chain: Harnesses retrieval-augmented models to stay 100% true to the source material. The result? An ultra-engaging script that still honors the integrity of the research. 3. Enhancement Chain: Polishes the final draft, eliminating redundancy and sharpening transitions. 4. Text-to-Speech Integration: Realistic voices for each persona bring the conversation to life, making it feel like you’re eavesdropping on three colleagues chatting over coffee. Cost-Effective & Scalable: From a 19-page paper to a polished, ~9-minute podcast at around $0.16, thanks to OpenAI GPT-4o-mini, this approach redefines “bang for your buck.” Why Does This Matter? In an era where information overload is the norm, Paper-to-Podcast offers a refreshing human touch to academic content. It’s a bridge that connects time-strapped professionals, inquisitive students, and lifelong learners to the bleeding edge of research—on their own terms, in their own time. REF: https://lnkd.in/d4pCc6yC #ai #genai #python #github #machinelearning

How can we best make use of research that doesn't simply confirm what we believe? In this excellent podcast journalist Emma Varvaloucas explores the complexities and controversies surrounding classroom mindfulness programs, prompted by the findings from our My Resilience in Adolescence (MYRIAD) trial. Her perspective highlights the challenges and nuances of introducing mindfulness universally in schools. She underscores the problematic aspects of making students engage in mindfulness practices without clear explanations, the opportunity to opt in (and out), and appropriate support. Varvaloucas emphasizes the importance of developmental appropriateness, particularly regarding adolescents who may lack fully developed metacognitive skills necessary for mindfulness practices. She also critiques the role of classroom teachers tasked with leading mindfulness sessions on top of all their other work, pointing out their struggles to shift effectively between traditional teaching roles and mindfulness facilitation. Ultimately, Varvaloucas advocates for a more cautious, tailored approach to mindfulness education, arguing against one-size-fits-all implementations. She encourages pairing mindfulness initiatives with robust mental health support services and greater attention to individual student needs, suggesting that mindfulness, while beneficial for some, may not be suitable universally across diverse adolescent populations. Listen here => https://lnkd.in/gHMRpMCy

I've had some excellent conversations with companies looking to create or elevate their B2B podcasts since The Podcast Show last week. I joined a thoughtful panel hosted by the European Central Bank alongside leaders from YouTube, Deutsche Bank and others to explore how we can turn complexity into curiosity. Here are the insights I shared around podcasting for complex brands: Many people underestimate what it takes to launch a successful business podcast. It’s not as simple as recording a conversation and uploading it. If you're dealing with complex subjects like cybersecurity, investment banking or public policy, the content must be carefully shaped to be meaningful, accurate and genuinely resonant with your audience. 1. Podcasting is a strategic investment Think carefully about brand alignment, your goals, your audience, your communications approach, how you’ll use data, and how you’ll maintain quality and consistency over time. 2. Your audience is your customer Whether you're speaking to Gen Z or global CISOs, every piece of content should serve your audience rather than your ego. If your neighbour or friends don't get it, that’s probably fine. Aim to educate, to entertain, or ideally both. 3. Challenge technical guests communication style We brief all guests thoroughly. We ask them to avoid jargon, explain acronyms, and use metaphors to keep things tangible. Even senior decision-makers don’t always understand the technical details of subjects like quantum decryption. Engage your audience by speaking clearly and with confidence. 4. Retention matters more than reach If one client is worth £45,000 to your business, then the value per listener is high. Focus on building a loyal, relevant audience. Don’t waste energy chasing huge numbers if your business doesn't need them. Measured influence with the right people will always matter more than broad reach with the wrong ones. 5. Use real-life events to amplify engagement We launched the latest series of Cyber Made Human with a live event. Forty business leaders and influencers joined us in the room, listened to two episodes, and gave feedback. Many would never have found the podcast otherwise. These experiences create connection, insight and value. If you're working on a podcast or want to make your content clearer, sharper and more human, drop me a message or have a look at Cyber Made Human Podcast #podcaststrategy #b2bmarketing #cybersecurity #contentmarketing #CyberMadeHuman #ThePodcastShow

90% of podcasters quit after episode three! Of the 200,000 left, 90% quit after 20 episodes. To be in the top 1% of podcasts in the world, you only need to publish 21 episodes. Sound achievable? It is. So what makes the difference between success and failure? And why is it fundamental to ALL marketing? The best podcasts have a super clear 'mission'. This sets the foundations for every episode you create and helps you deliver on a promise to your audience. They will know you for one thing. The mission will help you make the right type of content. You will know if the episodes you are creating meet the mission or if you are deviating. Content is hard and along the way you will be tested. When speaking with Grace Andrews, Marketing Director at the fastest growing podcast in the world, The Diary of the CEO, I discovered their ‘Why’: "Inspire, motivate and engage with as many people as we possibly can" This mission is super broad. Yours may be more specific. But it provides a vital framework for every piece of content they create: Is it going to inspire, motivate or engage someone? Is it going to reach as many people as possible? This informs the types of guests and topics they target on the show. Guests with mass, global appeal. Topics with mass, global appeal. Content that inspires, motivates and provokes engagement. So how can you set your own mission? I use this simple framework with our clients: 1) Be super specific. So you are really clear on the content and audience you are creating for. 2) But have sufficient ambition that you are scared or excited – you should be fired up and nervous! For example: "I'm building the world's no 1 podcast for entrepreneurs & creators to build insanely successful businesses leveraging content marketing" This mission is fundamental to my podcast's success. I can assess every piece of content I make through the mission. Is it serving my mission and my audience/customers? If not - it needs to go in the trash. If something underperforms, did it at least deliver on the mission? If something overperforms, should we do more? Or are the numbers misleading? Does that content actually serve the mission? You can see how useful this question becomes. Ok. Found this useful? Let me know what you think in the comments! Want to listen to my full conversation with Grace? Comment "Mission" and i'll send you it. #podcasts #marketing

Some podcasts take forever to plan… and still flop. Some podcasts launch quickly… and perform. What’s the difference? Most people assume a great podcast is all about: → A studio → A big production team → Professional editors Not true. What you actually need is: → Knowledge of what your ICP care to know. → A clean workflow and AI tools to power it. → A hybrid PMM and editor mindset. When I launched my GTM Engineer School podcast, I gave myself 7 days and a $100 budget. Two weeks later, we had: → 10 episodes recorded → Clips formatted for every social feed → A repeatable system to keep distributing content Here’s our step-by-step playbook: Day 1: Define ICP, messaging, positioning Structure your target audience, value prop, competitors, so you know how to stand out in a crowded market. → Use Octave Day 2: Develop content pillars & core topics Based on your ICP and messaging, select 3–5 main podcast themes. Create sample episode questions under each theme. → Use Claude Day 3: Build guest list Scour your feed for trusted guest types. Share questions with them — same questions for each guest save you time and allow you to go deep on topics and extract common patterns for internal research. → Use LinkedIn Day 4: Record your first episodes You need high-quality audio/video, but not a full studio setup. If you record 30 mins episodes, you can record 4-5 in a day. → Use Riverside (or Zoom) Day 5: Upload episodes & generate clips Upload your episodes on Substack and YouTube. AI automatically creates show notes and metadata. → Use Substack / YouTube Day 6: Create clips and share on social Automatically creates and distributes clips for LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and X — automatic captions and cross-channel bulk scheduling included. → Use OpusClip Day 7: Repurpose into SEO content Now you have a podcast and a library of content to fuel distribution — re-invest your time in turning transcripts into blog and newsletter articles. → Use Claude __ My biggest surprise wasn’t the tooling or the cost, but how quickly momentum built once we hit “record.” AI made the podcast cheaper, of course, but it also made the entire process possible for one person. __ What's your excuse for not starting your own podcast?