Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gear-doesnt-matter-podcasting-josh-liston-2rx9c/

[ Episode Recorded with the Røde Wireless Micro for iPhone ]

...

Gear Doesn't NOT Matter in Podcasting:

I'm getting pretty sick of the Podcasting Gear Shaming that I'm seeing more and more online at the moment, in particular on LinkedIn.

If you want to have pretty things, and you can afford them, go out and get them. Just make sure you understand the following two things:

1. Often, more expensive audio gear has a steeper learning curve than entry-level gear. You will need to spend the required time to get the most out of your equipment. ...and
2. Quality gear should improve the fidelity of your show, but it can't guarantee the success of your show. It's just getting you in-the-game with a little more professional edge.

The narrative that Gear Doesn't Matter and a Creator or Host having an interest or passion for gear is leading to their inevitable failure, simply pisses me off! ...and it's wrong.

Wanting good or better gear is fine if that's how you approach your interests and passions. Sometimes the technical and the tinkering IS what people find engrossing about making things, and it's not so much about the output. If that's you, keep being you.

3 Reasons Caring About Gear IS Worth It:

1. It's fun! Some of us just like to tinker. We think microphones, mixers, headphones, plug-ins, (Guitars even) are interesting and awesome in and of themselves.
2. Having decent gear from day one means that your earliest episodes will at the very least sound good, and if you do video, look good. It's a sign that people (read: former Real Estate Agents with an AI) don't really know Podcasting when they say "Gear Doesn't Matter", as they clearly don't understand that new Listeners may go back and listen from episode 1 after finding your show. I think having those episodes sound and look as good as they can, only helps you in Podcasting.
3. Besides the improved fidelity of the output, better gear should allow for more robust recording processes and fewer issues with lost and corrupted recordings.

Enjoy your week in Podcasting, and if you've got the cash and want that microphone or whatever, go get it.

....

Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org.

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

What gets covered in this episode:

1. The problem with underperforming Podcast Guests, it's not what you think.
2. Defining Respectful Interrogation in Podcasting.
3. Focus on your Guest, not the questions list.
4. What are spark moments in Podcast Interviews?
5. Curiosity is the single most important factor in creating memorable and unique Podcast interviews.

....

Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org.

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

3 Sources of Noise that Can Negatively Impact Your Podcast Audio:

1. Your Printer.
2. Your Fridge.
3. Your Air-conditioner.

....

Email the Show: josh@jcaldigital.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SOUNDRAPPORTING

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter for free here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/even-avengers-endgame-needed-press-tour-ai-absolute-yawnfest-liston-kkeqc

Even Avengers: Endgame needed a press tour (AI is an Absolute Yawnfest):

Part of what makes Art meaningful (and why it touches people) is the Creative Risk the person (or persons) making it took to create it. That's the one aspect of entirely AI-generated things that I still haven't heard a satisfactory answer for: "How do you tell a compelling story about a thing that has no story?"

If you remove the making (struggle and toil) and the triumph (actually getting the thing out the door), how do you talk about the thing you've made?

Remember, even Avengers: Endgame needed a press tour, panel show appearances, and gripping storytelling around the making of the film to get people to turn up and watch it.

Much of the lore around great things, is the making of those great things.

....

This episode was recorded using the following kit and workflow: Røde Wireless Micro >> iPhone Voice Memos App >> Auphonic's web service (for Levelling, Voice EQ and De-Noise) >> Adobe Audition (+ iZotope de-Reverb and Waves X-Crackle) >> mp3 encoding.

....

Email the show: josh@jcaldigital.org

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

7 questions to help you pick the perfect Podcast name:

1. Is the name available?
2. What names are common in the genre of show you’re considering entering with your show?
3. Do you feel more comfortable fitting in with genre conventions? Or do you want to push back against them with a more differentiated show name?
4. Does the name you have in mind sound good when you say it out loud?
5. Does it feel good to say out loud? Is there an energy to it?
6. Is the name easy to understand, spell and remember?
7. Is the point of your show name to make the topic of your show obvious, or it designed to create a little mystery in the minds of potential Listeners/Viewers?

....

Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org.

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

3 (Entirely Selfish) Features I'd Love to See Added to My Podcast Media Hosting:

1. RSS +1. For shows where the back-catalogue has been hidden or the feed is being re-used for a new show, when new episodes are being added to the public feed, I wish I didn't have to go in and expand my RSS by 1 episode each time. If I could turn on a RSS +1, it would save me from having to manually expand the public RSS with each new release (read: help me NOT forget to do this). Just give me a global ON/OFF and also a pop up at Publishing with a RSS+1 Yes/No. (This function would need to be toggled ON, to avoid all regular Hosting Users having to navigate the extra Yes/No publishing step).

2. Automatic Gap Finder. When the Hosting processes the episode, if the system sees a gap of no audio or super low audio greater than a chosen length, it flags the section for review. Perhaps the gap is an Artistic choice, but perhaps I had left space at the end of export for no reason (besides being a dope).

3. YouTube Title Length Warning. For show's that have been sent via RSS to YouTube a character limit warning that the title you're considering in your main RSS Feed is likely to be truncated by YouTube in the future. Just a warning is enough.

....

josh@jcaldigital.org

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

3 Things I Hope Podcasting Leaves Behind, Back in 2025:

1. Excessive Feed drops, and "You Might Also Like" Promo drops. (The intentions of these two types of drops are very different, but the annoyance remains the same).
2. Shows trying to sound, look, and feel like "Dairy of a CEO."
3. Clips and Reels where the Hosts and Guests are 2 inches from their cameras. Ease up on the zoom. If I find myself thinking "why is this giant forehead speaking right now?" ..you're too freakin' close to the camera.

....

Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org.

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

Josh discovered several new Podcasts in 2025 on YouTube and then quickly migrated over to Subscribing to the shows via audio/RSS.

1) Lehto’s Law - with Steve Lehto. https://lehtoslaw.com/

2) The ReDriven Podcast. https://theredrivenpodcast.podbean.com/

3) Monday Match Analysis - with Gill Gross. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/monday-match-analysis/id1432259450

4) Scratch Track - with Chris Robley. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/scratch-track-build-a-fearless-music-career/id1830015934

5) Geologic Podcast - with George Hrab. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/geologic-podcast/id213468056

....

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org.

Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/