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Spotify is giving listeners a new way to skip past ads, intros, and calls to action. Some podcasters are calling it the beginning of the end of podcasting, and some listeners are singing praises. 

We put the outrage in perspective, debate whether easier skipping could actually strengthen podcasting, and explore how creators can make sponsorships and calls to action too entertaining to miss.

We’re also celebrating several big Buzzsprout launches, including streamlined video distribution to Spotify and YouTube, a major WordPress plugin upgrade, and one-click submission to iHeart. 

We also get into the EU’s new AI disclosure requirements, consider when podcasters may need to label AI-generated content, and explain what AI tools don't actually fall under the AI Act. 

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

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Publishing a video podcast shouldn’t mean juggling multiple platforms, logins, formats, and workflows.

With Buzzsprout’s new video distribution to Spotify and YouTube, you can upload your video once and we’ll publish it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and audio podcast apps all from one place!

We also discuss early video stats from Buzzcast, and talk about why YouTube is such a powerful way to reach new audiences, while traditional podcast apps continue to build deeply loyal listenership. And we’ve got another distribution update to share: one-click submission to iHeartRadio.

Video distribution to Spotify and YouTube is available on all Buzzsprout video plans, with 1080p HD included.

Links mentioned:

• Ed Mylett's 21 days a week routine

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

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We’re diving into how to script a podcast without ever sounding scripted so you can get the clarity and structure of a written plan while still keeping your natural voice!

We break down the difference between scripts and outlines, which parts of an episode are actually worth writing word-for-word, how to prep guests without over-rehearsing them, and why reading your script out loud is one of the best ways to spot stiff language and tighten your message so you get to the point faster.

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

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What does it take to publish 800 podcast episodes without burning out? Turns out, it's treating your podcast like a media supply chain. 

We’re talking about the biggest lessons from Buzzsprout podcaster Tom Raftery’s fine-tuned podcast workflow built through years of consistent publishing. In his blog, he explains why consistency comes from removing friction, how a foolproof pre-recording process can protect your time and energy, and why the right tools and responsive customer support matter most when something goes wrong.

Read Tom's blog

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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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A great podcast can still get ignored if the packaging doesn’t convince anyone to press play!

Courtney Elmer, founder and CEO of PodLaunch and host of Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast, joins us to put Buzzcast through a live audit of the five Podcast Content Gatekeepers: cover art, podcast name, podcast description, episode titles, and show notes. 

Score your own podcast along with us, while she helps Buzzcast figure out where it may be losing potential listeners, and why small changes can make a bigger difference than chasing the latest podcast growth tactic.

Links mentioned:

• PodLaunch
• Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast
• Bingeworthy Episode Title Cheat Sheet
• Podcast Health Score™ waitlist
•  (Post show) Check out Courtney's AirBnB!

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

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We're explaining why we originally pulled the podcast from Spotify, what changed, and why Spotify’s role in video podcasting finally brought us back. 

We also discuss our lingering concerns about open podcasting, targeted advertising, and what we’ve learned from working directly with Spotify’s podcast team.

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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 talking through creating a healthy feedback filter so you can tell the difference between criticism that helps, confusion that needs clarification, and negativity that deserves to be ignored! 

We discuss where podcasters are likely to get feedback, why public comments can feel so much heavier than private messages, and how to stop one bad review from drowning out all the people who are cheering you on.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet
• This American Life: Everyone's a Critic
• Happy to Help: Using Psychology to Thrive in Customer Support with Melody Wilding 
• Buzzcast: 8 Tips To Make Podcasting more Fun And Less Like A Chore
• Buzzcast: How To Get Listeners To Actually Do What You Ask
• Buzzcast: Creative Ways To Use Voicemail In Your Podcast

Contact Buzzcast

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

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!

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After a month of publishing Buzzcast as a video podcast, we have some real stats, workflow notes, and one very painful mistake to talk about.

In this episode, we check in on our video podcasting experiment: how many people are actually watching, what Apple Podcasts video stats seem to tell us, and what surprised us most.

We talk through what happened when a full video recording failed, why editing video is so much harder than audio, how difficult video files are to transfer, and why an audio setup is much easier than a video setup.

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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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Finding a podcast co-host can make your show more fun, sustainable, and dynamic! But picking the wrong person can also make podcasting way harder than it needs to be.

In this episode, we talk through where to actually find a good co-host, why a “anyone want to start a podcast?” post is probably not the strongest strategy, and what to look for before you commit to recording together.

We also discuss how to test a potential co-host before making things official, why recurring guests or people in your life can become great co-hosts, and why writing down a few simple expectations early can save you from a lot of awkward conversations later.

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

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WWDC26 dropped a set of Apple Podcasts changes that could seriously improve how people discover and consume podcasts! We're talking about the few updates podcasters should know about.

And if you have a story about how you found a cohost, or advice from your experience with a cohost, let us know by sending Fan Mail!

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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 talking about the signs you might be ready to start another podcast, whether that means launching a second show, creating a limited series, or letting your current podcast evolve into something new.

Check out examples like Potterless, The History of Rome, StartUp, and Presidential to see why some shows naturally reach a finish line while others become the starting point for the next big idea. 

So if you feel burned out: are you tired, trapped, or finished?

• If you’re tired, your show may still be worth continuing, but at a slower pace or after a real break. 
• If you’re trapped, the topic, name, or format may be too limiting, and a few small experiments could help you find the spark again. 
• And if you’re finished, it might be time to let the show stand as a completed body of work and put your energy into what comes next!

We also talk about how the skills you build as a podcaster carry over into every future project, even if your next podcast serves a completely different audience.

Plus, Jordan shares a tiny QR code podcast promotion idea involving Sasquatch, mini resin figures, and a very unexpected dentist’s office ad.

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

Thanks for listening and Keep Podcasting!