Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! The end of the year can be a tough stretch for podcasters! Schedules shift, and even the most consistent shows feel the strain of missed recording windows or rushed edits. If your routine has been harder to protect lately, there are ways to simplify your workflow so you can keep publishing without burning out! This week’s Buzzcast episode digs into the full process we use to keep Buzzsprout podcasts running. The team walks thr...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! One of the most common questions we hear is also one of the most important: Which microphone should I use for my podcast? The right mic can improve your sound and remove a lot of unnecessary friction as you get started! To help simplify the decision, we put together ​a new video​ that walks through our top five USB microphones for podcasting. Each pick is tested and ranked with real audio examples, so you can hear the differences fo...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! The holiday season is officially here, which usually means two things: more joy and way less time to podcast. Between travel plans, family gatherings, school breaks, and end-of-year deadlines, this is one of the hardest seasons to stay consistent. Nearly every podcaster I know hits a point where they think, “Should I just skip a few weeks?” If that's you, keep reading! This week, we’re talking about how to handle your podcast during the b...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! I talk to a lot of people who want to start a podcast. Whether it's friends, creators, or podcasters-to-be, I hear the same thing all the time: “I’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… but I don’t know if now is the right time!” And every time, I give the same answer: “If you’re thinking about it, now is exactly the right time.” So if you find yourself asking, "Why should I start, and how do I launch without overcomplicating it?" That’s ex...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! For years, adding chapters to podcast episodes felt like extra credit. It was great if you had the time, but most of us didn’t. Now, with iOS 26.2, Apple Podcasts is taking care of it for you! The next update will automatically generate chapters for every episode, even if you don’t create them yourself. That means listeners can skip to key moments of your episode and engage with your content more easily than ever before. Here’s what’s new...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey Podcasters! At Buzzsprout, most of our collaboration happens through screens. Messages, calls, and pull requests keep everything moving, but once a year, we step away from our desks and meet face-to-face. This year, we gathered in Tampa, Florida so our fully remote team could reconnect, build trust, and spend time together. Here’s a look behind the scenes at our week! Kicking Things Off We started in Ybor City, where our digital avatars turned back ...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey Podcasters! When Buzzsprout's podcast producer, Jordan Blair, started Dreamful Bedtime Stories, it was just a creative way to help her kids fall asleep. She never expected it to become a podcast with more than 13 million downloads, or that she’d test nearly every monetization strategy along the way. After six years of experimenting with sponsorships, affiliates, subscriptions, and listener support, she’s learned what actually works (and what doesn’t) ...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! Let’s be honest: everyone wants to know the secret to ranking higher in Apple Podcasts, but for years, no one really knew how it worked. I’ve sat through countless conference sessions promising to “crack the code” on podcast SEO, and most turned out to be pure snake oil. But now we have credible data straight from Apple. If you’ve ever wondered how to help your show climb the charts and get discovered by more listeners, this one’s for you...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! Coming off a long weekend can throw off your rhythm! Your schedule changes, your workflow shifts, and podcasting can feel harder to fit in. With the holidays and more travel approaching, keeping your podcast on track can feel tough. But, staying consistent through the end of the year is easier than you think! So, here are some of my favorite ways to stay on top of my podcast when life gets busy: 1. Keep Your Podcast With Yo...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! Podcasting is full of well-intentioned advice. Some of it helps, but sometimesit's a myth. In our latest Buzzcast episode, Kevin, Jordan, and Alban unpack three common myths that often slow podcasters down and explain what actually moves a show forward. Myth 1: You must launch with three episodes This advice has been passed around for years. The theory is that more episodes mean more downloads and a better shot at being featured by Appl...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey Podcasters! Have you ever had an amazing idea for a show… only to get completely stuck on the name? You brainstorm a dozen options, check Apple Podcasts, and they’re all taken. Or worse, you find one you like, but it doesn’t really capture what your podcast is about. Naming is one of the biggest roadblocks for new podcasters. Too clever, and no one can find it. Too generic, and it blends in. No wonder so many shows stall before they ever launch. That’...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! When I launched my first podcast, I thought 1,000 downloads would unlock everything. I assumed advertisers would show up and the show would start paying for itself. Instead, I found myself in the same spot as so many podcasters in the Buzzsprout Community: excited about growth, but unsure how to turn that momentum into real support. The Ad Model Problem Most of us start out thinking ad revenue is the finish line. The reality is that adv...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! Have you ever felt like your show just can’t pass a certain threshold, no matter how many downloads you’re getting? You're not alone! Every podcaster has been there at some point in their journey. Here’s the twist: downloads don’t always equal growth. You can have thousands of casual listeners and still feel stuck because the real driver of momentum isn’t more downloads, it’s deeper connections. Growth comes when a small slice...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! If you’ve ever stayed up late scrubbing through waveforms, you know how podcast editing can easily go from a "quick polish” into an all-night project. But the reality is, editing will take as much time as you give it. And that doesn't need to be a long time. Changing a few habits before and during recording can make the whole process faster and less stressful! Where to Start Rethinking your workflow can feel overwhelming. It...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! Every podcast is a brand, whether you planned it that way or not. Your name, artwork, and content should all work together to show listeners exactly what your show is about. But what happens when they don’t? Maybe your name locks you into one topic. Maybe it no longer fits your podcast. Or maybe… you just don’t like it anymore. Good news, your podcast is allowed to evolve! That’s where rebranding, or sometimes just relaunching, comes in. ...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey Podcasters! We just got back from Podcast Movement in Dallas, and it was awesome to connect with so many Buzzsprout podcasters in person! This year’s conference introduced a new format with silent-disco style headphones and featured plenty of conversations about where podcasting is headed. If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, our producer Jordan sat down with top speakers to hear their best advice from the conference. From choosing the right monetization s...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey Podcasters! Coming up with new episode ideas can feel easy in the beginning, but a few months in, it’s common to hit a wall. If you’ve ever sat down to record and thought, “What am I even going to talk about this week?” you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of Buzzcast, Jordan and Alban sit down with Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting to talk about how to never run out of ideas for your podcast. Dave’s been podcasting for over 20 years an...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! This week, we’re sharing one of the easiest ways to improve your sound without new equipment: microphone technique! With a few easy mic technique tweaks, you can get cleaner, more consistent audio. We’ve pulled together resources to help you get started: This ​Reddit thread​ with tips from Buzzsprout podcasters This ​blog post​ on mic technique And a ​quick video​ if you're short on time And if you don't have a mic yet, he...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! Let’s be honest: we all judge podcasts by their cover. In fact, 62% of new listeners are more likely to check out a podcast if they like the cover art. That means your artwork isn’t just a placeholder, it’s your show’s first impression! And that can either be a good thing or a bad thing. Here's how to make sure your artwork is doing its job and standing out to new listeners: 1. Keep It Simple The best artwork does one thing really well. Tha...

Send a question for 'Ask Megan' Hey, Podcasters! This week, we are switching things up! We're going to talk about a feature that doesn’t get nearly enough love: Dynamic Content. Let's get to it! If you’ve never used it before, ​Dynamic Content​ is a tool in your Buzzsprout account that lets you easily add or remove pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll segments to any of your episodes. Think of it as being able to add a quick message, announcement, or promotion, and swap it out whenever you ...