10 Oct 🔄 A Shift in the Podcasting World
👋Hey there Podcaster!
My wife Amy and I are beyond grateful to have raised over $10,000 and delivered essential supplies to Asheville and nearby neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene. The past few days have been an emotional journey filled with stress, hope, and love from our local and online communities. If you donated or helped to spread the word, thank you so much for your help. You can hear me sharing the entire experience on today’s PMC: Episode #172: Asheville’s Community Recovery After Hurricane Helene.
We’re thinking of everyone in Florida after Hurricane Milton.
In this week’s newsletter, I want to talk about two shifts in podcasting that may affect how you record and listen to your favorite shows. Let’s get into it!
🔄 A Shift in the Podcasting World: Adam Carolla’s Move to Substack
In a world where podcasting has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, it’s no surprise that podcast pioneers are exploring new ways to connect with their audiences—and Adam Carolla, one of the trailblazers of the medium, is doing just that. Recently, he made waves by launching an exclusive podcast on Substack, a platform more commonly known for newsletters.
This was a hot topic in The Podcasting Morning Chat last week, and it’s easy to see why. Carolla’s move signals a broader shift in the industry, one that could reshape how podcasters distribute and monetize their content. Let’s take a closer look at why Substack might be the next big thing for podcasters:
1️⃣ Built-in Monetization
One of Substack’s biggest advantages is its subscription model. Like Carolla, podcasters can offer exclusive content behind a paywall, keeping 90% of the revenue. This is a stark contrast to other platforms like Apple Podcasts, which take a significant 30% cut. For podcasters looking to maintain more control over their income, this is a game-changer.
2️⃣ Free Podcast Hosting and Wide Distribution
Substack isn’t just for newsletters. They offer free podcast hosting without any upfront costs. Plus, Substack generates an RSS feed that allows podcasters to distribute their episodes across all major platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This means creators can still reach a broad audience while using Substack’s powerful tools for monetization and audience engagement.
3️⃣ Engage Your Audience with Newsletters
One of the unique aspects of Substack is its roots in newsletter creation. Podcasters can easily integrate written content with their episodes, offering behind-the-scenes insights, bonus material, or personalized updates for their listeners. This integration of podcasts and newsletters creates a stronger, more loyal community, where the audience isn’t just passive listeners but engaged followers.
Adam Carolla’s decision to launch on Substack is a sign that more creators may want to explore this platform’s potential. The landscape of podcasting is evolving, and tools like Substack are making it easier for podcasters to take control of their content and revenue streams.
🤔 So, What Does This Mean for You?
Are you a podcaster looking to engage your audience in new ways? Or maybe you’re exploring ways to monetize your content without sacrificing too much of your revenue? Substack might just be the solution you’re looking for.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you tried using Substack for your podcast? Let’s talk about how you’re connecting with your audience.
🤖 The Future of Podcasting: Are We Headed Toward Full Automation?
Imagine creating a podcast that’s nearly entirely automated, with minimal human input needed—from script generation to the voices behind the mic. This is what Nick Nalbach has been experimenting with on his podcast, The AI Briefing. Remarkably, Nick has managed to automate about 90% of his podcasting process, and he recently took things a step further with his latest experiment.
🦾 Using AI to Create Podcasts
Nick shared on a recent episode of The Podcasting Morning Chat that he’s been working with Google’s Notebook LM, an innovative tool that turns written documents into podcast episodes. This technology offers a new and exciting way to consume dense documents, transforming them into engaging audio content, potentially revolutionizing how we experience information-heavy content.
For this experiment, instead of relying on his usual AI-generated voice from ElevenLabs, Nick decided to take the AI-generated script and hand it over to Notebook LM to see how it would handle the narration.
✅The Results: Surprisingly Realistic
The AI-generated hosts had a natural-sounding conversation, complete with pauses and subtle human-like details, such as breathing and even the occasional lip-smacking. These small touches added an element of realism that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from an AI-driven podcast.
However, Nick also pointed out an interesting nuance: the final result was perhaps a bit too polished. While the AI voices were impressively natural, the overly perfect quality might detract from the organic feel that listeners typically expect from human hosts. Sometimes, imperfections make us relate more to the content, and the “too perfect” execution could potentially put off some listeners.
🔮 Is Fully Automated Podcasting the Future?
This experiment raises a big question: Are we moving toward a future where podcasts are fully automated? Could AI replace human hosts entirely, or will the human touch always be essential for creating an engaging and authentic listening experience?
Automation in podcasting is clearly advancing at a rapid pace, offering the potential for content creators to scale production while maintaining high quality. But there’s still something irreplaceable about the unique personality and spontaneous interactions that only human hosts can bring.
As AI technology continues to develop, the possibilities for automating creative processes like podcasting are expanding in exciting ways. Nicholas Nalbach’s experiment with Google’s Notebook LM demonstrates just how far this technology has come, but it also highlights the delicate balance needed between automation and authenticity.
The future of podcasting may lie in a hybrid approach: combining the best of AI automation with the irreplaceable qualities that human hosts bring to the table.
Where do you see podcasting going? Will AI take over completely, or will human hosts remain an essential part of the experience? Join the conversation on LinkedIn.
🎙️Podcasting Morning Chat Highlights🌅
Welcome to your essential morning brew of ideas and insights, the “Podcasting Morning Chat” is a daily show that’s by creators, for creators. A dynamic team of experienced podcasters, entrepreneurs, and producers hosts the PMC. Each episode peels back the curtain on the art of podcasting and content creation. The conversation is a mix of insights, stories, and strategies, tailor-made to keep your content fresh, your audience engaged, and your creative spark alive.
Recorded live every weekday at 7 AM EST on Clubhouse and available via podcast at 7 AM PST, our show has become a cornerstone for podcasters worldwide, offering a unique blend of expert advice, real-world success stories, and innovative ideas. Whether you’re here to enhance your content, expand your audience, or just soak in the collective wisdom of fellow content creators, the PMC is your source for inspiration, empowerment and connection in the podcasting world.
Catch up with the latest episodes and join our global community of creators to kick-start your day with creativity, strategy, and insight.
- October 3rd, 2024: Episode #168: Headlines: Substack’s Growing Potential & NaPodPoMo’s Creative Challenge
- October 7th, 2024: Episode #169: How to Avoid Social Media Fatigue and Grow Your Podcast
- October 8th, 2024: Episode #170: Creating Content That Engages and Resonates
- October 9th, 2024: Episode #171: Midweek News: Headliner’s New Video Tool & The Rise of Kids Podcasts
- October 10th, 2024: Episode #172: Asheville’s Community Recovery After Hurricane Helene
I’m so grateful to be connected with you and a part of your podcast journey.
All My Best,
👋Marc Ronick