This week in podcast news and tutorials: We have an article with a detailed look at the changes in podcast listening behavior, helpful resources for folks who’ve jobs have been disrupted by the Coronavirus, a couple articles with tips for improving your podcast content, and then a couple about improving your podcasts’s audio quality.

It’s Sunday, April 12th, 2020.

1. It’s the disappearance of the morning commute that seems to be hurting podcast listening most
2. COVID-19 Resources for Freelancers and Independents
3. Top Side Hustles for Podcasters That Need Extra Income
4. Pro Storytelling Tip: The Plus/Minus System
5. bidens-podcast-is-bad-heres-how-to-make-it-better.html">5 Ways Joe Biden Can Make His Bad Podcast Better
6. How to Improve the Acoustics in Your Home Podcasting Space
7. Podcasters: You do not need a pop-filter or a shockmount. Here’s why.

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1

It’s the disappearance of the morning commute that seems to be hurting podcast listening most

From Nicholas Quah in Hot Pod 253, a look at the changes in podcast listening over the past few weeks:

Yesterday, Stitcher sent over some data points on how social distancing measures have affected listening across its shows, and here’s the big takeaway: Overall listening across the Stitcher portfolio — that is, both owned-and-operated shows and shows they rep for ad sales — decreased 8 percent over the past four weeks relative to the first week of March — a stand-in baseline for the pre-pandemic environment. But there are signs that the listening decline may be leveling out.

It might take another week before we can feel good about saying a 9 to 11 percent decline is the “New Normal” here, but the team sees the past three weeks as largely stable in terms of listening. And so the big question, then, is whether we’re seeing a true leveling off with regards to the pandemic-related dip.

Like many others, Stitcher sees the absence of the morning commute as the primary cause of decrease in overall listening: Average listening between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. dropped about 20 percent, while average listening in other hours was down just 4 percent. By the start of April, their data saw a slight uptick in listening during non-commute hours, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the commute loss.

Smog is down in some big cities too.

If you live somewhere where you can go for a walk or run or bike ride before and/or after work, take advantage of your good fortune and get a little podcast listening time in too.

I miss having a 30 minute bike ride for a commute.

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2

COVID-19 Resources for Freelancers and Independents

Another one from Mr. Quah:

If you’re a US-based freelance producer or independent creative whose livelihood has been disrupted by the pandemic, there’s an array of resources out there that could be helpful to your situation.

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3

Top Side Hustles for Podcasters That Need Extra Income

From the Podcast Movement website:

It is a challenging time for many members of our community, but we’re constantly doing our best to find solutions to help you as much as possible. Our team put together a shortlist of online “side hustle” jobs for podcasters that are looking to make some extra money.We’ll kick off the newsletter with the Top 10. Also, last week, we announced an important upcoming project that we’ve been working on. This is our last call for feedback via a short survey!Finally, we wrap up with some bonus financial resources and links for podcasters.

Lots of great ideas for how to make money from home in this article.

If you've got skills or something creative or helpful that you’re willing to do in exchange for money, make a website and write about what you do and specify that you’re available to hire.

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4

Pro Storytelling Tip: The Plus/Minus System

From Doug Fraser on podcastmovement.com:

If things are always sunny in a story, listeners get numb to the happiness. If it’s always bad, they ache for a light at the end of the tunnel. So unless your aim is to be either the next Care Bears or an utterly depressing podcast, then come with me on a journey into the +/- system of storytelling.

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5

bidens-podcast-is-bad-heres-how-to-make-it-better.html">5 Ways Joe Biden Can Make His Bad Podcast Better

From Will Leitch on the New York Magazine’s Intelligencer site:

As someone who envisions no scenario in which Joe Biden is not the Democratic nominee for president, and therefore someone who desperately wants to make sure Joe Biden is well and okay so that we do not all die, I am relieved to know that there is a podcast that proves the man is upright, or at least capable of speech.

But as a longtime podcast aficionado — and an amateur podcast producer myself — I find the show nearly impossible to get through. In fact, it is so stilted and awkward that it makes me legitimately alarmed: If they can’t get something this simple right, what’s going to happen in November?

Hey, everyone’s gotta start somewhere, I guess! I don’t think I’ll be listening to this show, but there's a few lessons to be learned in this article.

Is making a great podcast simple, though?

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6


How to Improve the Acoustics in Your Home Podcasting Space

From Kevin Finn on the Buzzsprout blog:

As we were recording our first remote episode for Buzzcast, something didn't sound right on my end. I was using the same mic, headphones, and audio interface, but something was off. I was recording in a small room with hard surfaces, and it was a noticeable difference. Luckily we've written about Acoustic Treatments for Podcasters before. So I headed to the Buzzsprout blog and started working on a solution.

Even a couple pillows or couch cushions around your desk can help reduce the room echo you so often hear in podcast recordings. Hard flat surfaces are not your friends.

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7

Podcasters: You do not need a pop-filter or a shockmount. Here’s why.

From Tanner Campbell on his Medium blog:

Speak across the capsule, not into it. Keep the mic at 6-inches and a 45-degree offset and you’ll never need a pop-filter.

I’m slightly embarrassed that I only learned about the 45-degree offset for recording a few years ago. But then again, there’s so much to learn if you want to make a good podcast. It’s a great thing we have people like Tanner who are willing to share tips and tricks.

Closing Thoughts

Another beautiful week at home.

It’s been 4 weeks since I arrived in Los Angeles and 4 weeks since I’ve been around more than 3 other people at a time (the new roommates), with the exception of the grocery store trips.

Thursday I had the uncomfortable realization that I am growing comfortable with this new way of life even while there are constant reminders all around me (online and off-line) that things are very much NOT fine and NOT normal.

I’m thankful for work, it keeps my mind occupied, but damn, sometimes everything gets heavy and April 2020 has been a gut-punch of a month so far.

Phew. Deep breath.

Those of us who are healthy and able-bodied, we need to step up and support the ones who need support. Let’s help the people that need help and solve the problems that we’re facing and find joy in the beautiful things around us when we can.

Exercise and meditation, y’all. Exercise and meditation.


In the way of an announcement: I’m live-streaming/recording a new episode of The Podcast Dude (my other show) this Saturday, April 18.

I hosted a live Q&A this weekend where I shared some Logic Pro X workflows and tips and answered questions for a few internet friends. It was a lot of fun, so this coming Saturday I’m going to record try doing a Podcast Dude episode live.

I'm planning to talk about how podcast downloads are counted by podcast hosting platforms, and how IAB compliance or certification affects the numbers they report to the podcasters.

Share any questions you'd like me to answer, and I'll either include them in the episode or answer them in the Q&A section. If you'd like to join, here's the Google Meet link.

Stay safe and I'll talk to you next weekend, and happy podcasting.