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In this quickcast, we’re talking about the rise of AI-generated “podcasts” from companies like Amazon and Spotify, and why the word is getting stretched pretty thin.

Amazon is turning product reviews into conversational audio. Spotify is experimenting with personalized AI audio experiences. And suddenly, a lot of things that feel more like chatbots, summaries, or audio briefings are being labeled as podcasts.

So should podcasters be worried? We don't think so.

Links mentioned:

• Amazon shopping podcasts
• Spotify Studio's AI Agent 
• Alexa's generated podcasts

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• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

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We’re joined again by Alex Sanfilippo from PodMatch to talk about one of our favorite podcast growth strategies: getting booked as a guest on other podcasts!

We talk about why podcast guesting is valuable beyond promotion, including how it helps you sharpen your message, become a better communicator, and build real relationships with other podcasters. 

We'll also give tips on how to build a podcast guest profile that actually helps hosts say yes. We talk about why your guest profile should not read like a résumé, what hosts are really looking for, how to suggest episode ideas, what links and assets to include, and how to make your pitch feel authentic.

We also answer listener questions about shared episodes across multiple feeds, and whether Apple Podcasts Video is worth trying if you are already making video for YouTube.

Links mentioned:

• PodMatch
• Podcasting Made Simple
• Buzzcast episode: How to Find Great Podcast Guests: Expert Tips from PodMatch's Alex Sanfilippo
• Jordan's PodMatch profile
• Podcasting Made Simple episode with Tom Rossi: Creating a Brand That's Different

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• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

Send us Fan Mail

Small podcasts are often treated like smaller versions of big podcasts, but a niche audience is not just a tiny audience. It can be a more focused, more trusting, and more valuable audience.

Inspired by an article in Podnews, we talk about why download numbers do not tell the full story of a podcast’s value. 

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• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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Most podcast repurposing advice sounds the same: turn your episode into clips, blog posts, newsletters, and social captions.

That can be useful, but it is not the only way to get more value from your podcast.

In this episode, we look at creative ways podcasters are turning their existing content into something new: conversation cards, games, kid-friendly feeds, real-world meetups, field guides, downloadable resources, and more!

We also talk about how to use AI to find themes hiding in your archive, why great repurposing starts with what your audience already loves doing, and how to create something additive instead of just changing the format.

Plus, we share early stats from the Buzzsprout video launch!

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• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

Send us Fan Mail

We did something new…you can watch this episode as a video on Apple Podcasts! Make sure you're on the latest version (26.4 or higher).

But the bigger story is that any independent podcaster can now publish video directly to Apple Podcasts through Buzzsprout!

In this episode, we break down why this isn’t just “another place to upload video,” and how it’s fundamentally different from platforms like YouTube. We talk through the opt-in nature of podcasting, why that matters for creators who are tired of chasing algorithms, and where video actually fits into a sustainable podcast workflow.

We also walk through how to publish video through Buzzsprout, what happens with your stats, and why this might be one of the easiest windows to get featured on Apple Podcasts.

And if you try it, let us know!

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• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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We break down why “crowded” is usually a clarity problem, not a competition problem, then map the difference between a podcast category and a real niche. 

We also study five popular business story shows to prove how audience, format, tone, and payoff make similar topics feel completely different! 

Read Jordan's mention in the WSJ: Why People Who Listen To Podcasts Are Suddenly Feeling Left Out

Topics discussed:

• Defining category versus niche through audience, format, tone, and promise 
• Using promise and payoff to stop sounding generic 
• Reframing "oversaturation" as "demand" and "popularity" 
• What makes shows fade into the background, from unclear positioning to recycled guest circuits 
• Case study breakdowns of business story podcasts and how each one niches down 
• Practical steps to write down and refine your niche over time

Contact Buzzcast

• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

Send us Fan Mail

Publishing more often can help your podcast stay top of mind, get more downloads, and keep your audience engaged. But if you increase your cadence the wrong way, it can also make podcasting feel heavier, more rushed, and a lot less fun.

In this episode, we answer a listener question from Rich (Two Guys on a Plane) about moving from biweekly to weekly episodes and break down what has actually worked for us. We talk about the benefits of adding shorter episodes, why quick wins can sometimes perform just as well as longer releases, and how publishing more often has helped us stay in practice without doubling the workload.

We also get into the real risks of pushing your schedule too hard, including burnout, lower-quality episodes, missed deadlines, and losing the energy that makes a podcast worth doing in the first place.

Listen for different ways to make a higher publishing frequency sustainable, including lighter episode formats, Q&A episodes, bonus conversations, two-part episodes, and experimenting without feeling locked into a forever commitment.

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• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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Where do listeners actually find new podcasts? We're breaking down the biggest ways people discover new shows today, from podcast apps and search to word of mouth, social sharing, and AI-driven discovery. 

We also talk about why being easy to recommend matters more than ever, how podcast titles and transcripts can improve discoverability, and why trying to be everywhere online is usually the fastest path to burnout. 

In this episode:

• What Alban learned from editing a full episode himself in CapCut
• Why podcast apps are still one of the biggest discovery channels
• How search inside podcast apps helps listeners find specific episodes
• Why word of mouth now includes social shares, guesting, and promo swaps
• What makes a podcast easy for listeners to recommend
• How transcripts can help with search and AI-powered podcast discovery
• Why social media works better when you focus on one or two platforms
• Listener reactions to new voicemail, Fan Mail, and chapter marker tools
• A surprisingly practical answer to “what happens to my podcast when I die?”

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• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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Jordan is out sick, so we talk through Voicemail and why hearing a listener’s voice can change the energy of a show. We share practical ways to collect, edit, and feature voicemails without turning the episode into a messy mailbag. 

If you'd like your voice featured on the podcast, leave us a voicemail and tell us how you found your latest, most favoritist, podcast episode.

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• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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We're digging into improved podcasting tools that can make your show easier to manage, easier to discover, and easier for listeners to engage with. (And the best part is its all built into your Buzzsprout account!)

Learn how better transcripts can help surface your episodes in search and AI tools, why chapter markers are getting more and more practical to use, and how listener interaction through Fan Mail is getting a big bump with replies and voicemail! 

Discussed in this episode:

• Automatic transcripts for more podcasters: why transcripts matter more than ever for accessibility, productivity, and discoverability
• Back catalog transcript generation: how to add transcripts to older episodes so your full archive becomes more useful
• Chapter markers inside the transcript editor: an easier way to add and adjust chapters while reviewing your transcript
• Bulk chapter editing: a faster workflow with the Express Chapter Editor for podcasters who already keep timestamps or chapter notes in their editing tools
• Fan mail replies: how to respond to listener messages without turning your podcast into another full-time inbox
• Listener voicemail submissions: a simple way for your audience to send voice messages you can feature in your episodes

Contact Buzzcast

• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

Send us Fan Mail

We break down how to make a call-to-action that listeners actually complete without turning your podcast into a list of chores. 

In this episode, we cover:
• defining a podcast call to action and why it matters across platforms
• avoiding stacked asks by choosing one priority
• planning CTAs during the outline so they feel intentional
• preventing listener selective hearing by varying the wording and prompt
• using the Benjamin Franklin effect to ask for help in a compelling way
• following the why, what, where formula for clearer direction
• testing CTA placement with listener retention and drop-off data
• simplifying everything by sending listeners to one website landing page

Contact Buzzcast

• Send us Fan Mail
• Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!