PodCraft by Alitu: Honing the Craft of Podcasting

Whether we like it or not, potential listeners are judging our podcasts on our artwork before they've even hit play. Some even decide not to hit play, based on the artwork alone. So what can we do about it? We could start by asking Podcast Hall of Famer and EarBuds Podcast Collective founder Arielle Nissenblatt for some pointers. She's presented to rooms full of podcasters on the dos and don'ts of...

With the right amount of background info and a good prompt, an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude can write you a brilliant podcast description. But does outsourcing this task miss the entire point of the podcast planning process? Is cold email outreach necessary for contacting podcast guests, or is it almost always flagged as spam and ignored? Is paywalled bonus content really worth the extra time an...

Does sending over questions in advance help interview guests prepare? Or can it lead to them rehearsing their answers? Does listening at double-speed mean there's more room for your show in your listeners' lives? Or does it miss the point of podcast consumption altogether? And is the Blue Yeti the perfect podcast starter mic, or an overpriced tarpit that gets beginners stuck on their sound? In thi...

"A creative assistant" is a common label many podcasters assign to LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude. There's no getting around it; these tools are incredibly powerful. But what hidden cost do we pay if we outsource cognitive practices like writing and idea development? In the fitness world, "use it or lose it" is a much-repeated phrase about muscle, and it might be time to treat our brains in the same...

According to a new report from Sounds Profitable , Audio Primes are podcast consumers who listen to at least 75% of their content as audio. It's easy to imagine these listeners as eccentric holdouts from a bygone age; in it since 2004, fiercely loyal to their MP3 players, and manually downloading shows on the iTunes desktop app. (Not that there is anything wrong with this, by the way!) But the dat...

When Apple Podcasts announced vastly improved video capabilities back in February, I'll admit that my first thought was, "Will anyone care?" To my mind, if someone already watches video podcasts on YouTube, what incentive would there be to change platforms? But, I missed one crucial aspect. Delivery. On YouTube, you can hit subscribe and smash as many bells as you like; there's still no guarantee...

Does agreeing too much make for boring conversations? Will your podcast fail if you don't listen to other shows? And does the definition of a podcast really matter? We tackle these hot takes and more on this week's Podcraft . It was a fun yet thought-provoking chat, and we're really enjoying the new format. Here's the full list: No one cares what microphone you own Authenticity is just a lack of e...

Back in November, our Independent Podcaster Report found that only 15% of creators were actively monetising their shows. Of those that did, the majority were running ads and sponsorship. If you missed it, ​ the full report is here ​. This week on Podcraft, we got into the thornier side of that: can ads erode audience trust? Are they an annoyance? And how many is too many? We picked apart some othe...

If you build an audience on a third-party platform, it's often said that you don't "own" that audience. But does this miss the point of what an audience actually is ? That's just one of the discussion points this week as we continue our 'agree or disagree?' journey through podcasting. Are Solo podcasts harder to grow than interview shows? Are interviews the laziest form of podcasting? Is owning yo...

"Podcasting should never feel like hard work". It sounds nice, but is it true? If it were that easy, wouldn't everyone have a massively successful podcast? On the latest episode of Podcraft , we’re back with our “agree or disagree” format, running through a few statements and giving our take on each. Here's everything we discussed... You should plan at least 10 episodes before launching The narrow...

Is your podcast growth at the mercy of "the algorithm", or do you have more control than you think? On this episode of Podcraft, we run through a few statements about podcasting and debate on whether we agree or disagree with them. Podcasters need to keep in touch with industry news and trends Paid subscription requires extra work or content Podcasters control their own discoverability YouTube is...

How do you know if your podcast sponsorships are actually driving results? Here are four practical ways to track listener engagement and show sponsors what’s really working. These tips make it easier to prove value, strengthen partnerships, and grow your show’s revenue! Mentioned Alitu: The Podcast Maker Google Campaign URL Builder

If running your podcast has started to feel like a grind, you risk losing your creative spark. This week, I want to try something that'll help rekindle your enthusiasm for podcasting. The episode of Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Have you ever noticed that a podcast you follow hasn't put out an episode in months, only to find they're still actively publishing on YouTube? In this episode, Colin’s away, so I’m joined by Jacob to unpack a shift we’re seeing more and more. Creators recording for YouTube and letting the audio feed fall away. Sometimes intentionally. Sometimes just because it feels easier. We talk about why this...

Our indiepod legends have given us many insights, tips, and words of advice this season. They're speaking from positions of authority and experience, but they didn't get there overnight. On the final episode of Season 20 , we'll dig into what they wish they'd known before they started and ask about some mistakes they see new podcasters make. Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

On last week's episode of Podcraft , we agreed that sponsorship was broadly overrated for the average indie creator. But... that doesn't mean it isn't the right fit for you . Maybe you podcast within a specialist hobby, professional field, or enthusiast community. In many niches, sponsorship fits naturally because you're talking about certain tools, products, or services anyway. Getting paid for t...

Which podcasting best practices are actually worth your time, and which ones are overhyped? In this episode, we take a deliberately opinionated look at common podcasting advice, tools, and assumptions, and decide whether each one holds up in practice. Good mic technique - underrated or overrated? Written podcast descriptions - underrated or overrated? Podcast show notes - underrated or overrated?...

What will podcasting actually look like by the end of 2026, once the hype settles and habits stick? In this episode, we make grounded predictions about where the medium is heading and what creators may want to do less of. We examine the growing pushback against video-first shows that neglect audio listeners, why audio-only content may regain strength, and how screen fatigue could reshape creator p...

Do you still need all the “must-do” podcasting advice that gets recycled every year, or has some of it quietly expired? In this episode, we revisit a long list of podcasting essentials and ask one question of each: Does this still matter in 2026? We look at what still earns its place, what has changed, and what you can stop worrying about entirely. The focus is on practical decisions, not trends....

Can you legally use music, TV clips, or radio audio in your podcast, or is it a fast track to takedowns and trouble? In this episode, we unpack how copyright actually works for podcasters. What fair use really means, why it is a legal defence rather than permission, and where creators most often get caught out. We look at the practical risks, including automated copyright detection, platform remov...

Almost all the benefits of podcasting stem from one thing – and that’s consistency. If you publish quality content over a prolonged period of time, you eventually hit a critical mass of episodes you can now call your “back catalogue” – and it’s a powerful tool. On this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to look at the benefits of this published body of work, which includes the ability for new listen...

We test your podcasting knowledge in a series of quizzes and challenges. Along the way, we tackle industry stats , listener behaviour, gear trends, and a mix of real and not-so-real podcasts, while reflecting on the numbers and themes that shaped podcasting over the past year. Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host

Are you using AI to sharpen your thinking, or quietly letting it replace it? Can podcasters and creators still work with AI without losing the slow, human thinking that makes ideas worth sharing? We talk about using AI as a sounding board rather than a generator, why “thinking walks” still matter, and how convenience can flatten creativity if you are not careful. There are practical lessons, too....

Imagine a podcaster who has been publishing for a couple of years. Every time they check their stats, the number is the same. They assume they have hit a plateau. So they spend more on marketing. They push harder on promotion. Nothing changes. The number stays flat. What that number does not show is what is happening underneath. New listeners are finding the show. At the same time, existing listen...

Fiction podcasts often hold listeners for longer than non-fiction shows. But what can non-fiction creators learn from this? We break down the simple storytelling tools that keep audiences hooked, including open loops, stronger intros, clearer arcs, and themed seasons. We also highlight some easy wins that improve retention, such as smoother transitions, cleaner audio, and titles that set clearer e...