Today we start with the news of Marc Maron retiring his podcast, and a possible shake up at the New Media Show (two shows with 16+ years). So who will fill their space you?

Bri Leever is a community building strategist at Ember Consulting and host of the show "Dear Bri." I saw her present at a webinar put on by Hearbeat (my favorite community tool) and immediately joined her community (which lead to me asking her on the show).

Full show notes at schoolodposcasting.com/987

Mentioned in the Show:

Ember Consulting

Bri's Community of Community Builders

Heartbeat Community Tool

Circle Community Tool

Mighty Networks

Skool Community Tool

Honeycomb App

Dear Bi Podcast

Circle vs Skool Video

School of Podcasting Community

Takeaways:

• Marc Maron is hanging up his podcasting hat after 16 years, and that's a big deal.
• Having both free and paid communities can actually mess up your growth, who knew?
• If you want a thriving community, you gotta focus on what people actually want, duh!
• Starting a podcast with a small team is totally doable; you don't need a squad of 20.
• Don't be surprised if your free community outshines your paid one; it happens more than you'd think.
• People love talking about themselves, so just ask them questions and you'll be golden.

Mentioned in this episode:

You Have A Message That Needs to Be Heard

You have a message that needs to be shared. Discover the art of podcasting at the School of Podcasting. We teach you to shine a light on your stories, inspiring others one episode at a time. Let your voice be your legacy. Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join

School of Podcasting

Live Appearances

I'd love to meet you in person, I'm currently coming to July 12th, 20025 Higher Ed Podcon, Chicago, Ill AUGUST 18-21, 2025 Podcast Movement, Dallas, TX. September 26-28, 2005, Empowered Podcasting Conference, Uptown Charlotte, NC For more information and links, click the link below. If you'd like for me to speak at an in-person or online event, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/contact

Where...

Adding YouTube to your podcasting game? Well, grab a seat because Thomas Umstadt Jr. is here to share what works and what doesn't. We’re talking about the nitty-gritty of taking your audio-only podcast and slapping it onto the video platform that everyone and their grandma seems to be on.

Thomas recounts his journey from simple audiograms to full-blown video episodes, sharing the highs and lows of his transition. Spoiler alert: it turns out that just tossing your podcast audio onto YouTube won’t cut it. You need to think about titles and thumbnails—yes, those flashy little images that scream ‘click me!’ As he explains, those are your first impressions; if they’re not catchy, your content might as well be invisible.

He dives into the technicalities too, discussing everything from gear and lighting to the importance of having a good backdrop (hello, bookshelves!). Plus, he shares some gold nuggets about audience demographics that might just make you rethink how you approach your content. So whether you’re on the fence about YouTube or just curious about what the fuss is all about, this episode is packed with insights that might just give your podcast the boost it needs.

Novel Marketing.com (Thomas's website and podcast)

Author Update Show

Tube Buddy (YouTube tool that coaches you)

VidIQ (another tool to help you with YouTube)

Elgato Prompter

Pikzel YouTube Thumbnail Maker

1 of 10 YouTube Thumbnail Maker

Captivate and Buzzsprout Media Hosts with Dynamic Content Capabilities

School of Podcasting - Plan, launch, and grow your podcast

• Adding YouTube to your podcast can significantly boost audience engagement and visibility.
• Titles and thumbnails are crucial for YouTube success, unlike in traditional podcasting.
• The first 30 seconds of your video need to grab attention or viewers will bounce.
• Using your phone as a camera can yield better results than expensive gear for video.
• A strong opening is key for YouTube; don't dilly-dally with long intros like in podcasts.
• Experimenting with different content formats can lead to surprising audience growth on YouTube.

Did you get value from this show? You can give some of the value back and say thanks.

Mentioned in this episode:

Live Appearances

I'd love to meet you in person, I'm currently coming to July 12th, 20025 Higher Ed Podcon, Chicago, Ill AUGUST 18-21, 2025 Podcast Movement,...

Today, we are talking about keeping your audience listening after they press play. This starts with an opening hook. To have hooks that grab your audience and make them want to hear your episode, there are some common characteristics:

Relevance: A good hook connects directly to the theme or topic of your episode. It should hint at what’s to come without giving everything away.

Emotional Impact: Evoking curiosity, excitement, or even controversy can create an emotional connection with your audience, prompting them to stay tuned.

Clarity and Brevity: Your hook should be clear and to the point. Complexity can confuse listeners and cause them to lose interest.

Promises Value: Whether it’s information, entertainment, or inspiration, a strong hook promises something valuable to the listener.

All of this relies on you knowing who your target audience is. A hook that works on a business podcast may not work on your gaming show.

Ever wondered why some podcasts just suck you in while others make you want to run for the hills? Well, let’s break it down, shall we? The opening hook of your podcast can make or break your listener retention. You could have the most riveting content planned, but if your intro is as exciting as watching paint dry, good luck keeping anyone around.

We’re talking about how a killer hook can capture attention faster than a cat meme on social media. Dive into the psychology of why people stick around and learn five solid strategies to craft hooks that actually work. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about being clever. It’s about being relevant, emotional, and concise. So, grab your headphones, and let’s unravel the magical art of the podcast hook that’ll have your audience begging for more!

• A killer hook can make or break your podcast's first impression, so choose wisely!
• To keep listeners glued to your podcast, start with something that sparks curiosity and relevance.
• Your opening should promise value; otherwise, listeners might just hit the dreaded 'stop' button.
• Whether it's a shocking fact or a relatable story, your hook needs to resonate with your audience.

• Engaging Questions: Drawing listeners in by voicing their struggles or curiosities
• Personal Anecdotes: Using brief, vulnerable stories that are directly relevant
• Shocking Facts: Leveraging surprising statistics or statements (without clickbait)
• Intriguing Scenarios: Creating hypothetical situations that spark imagination
• Relatable Problems: Addressing common issues faced by the audience

School of Podcasting

Ask the Podcast Coach

Power of Podcasting Network

Podcast Review Show

Podcast Hook Example Cheat Sheet

Audience Survey: schoolofpodcasting.com/survey25

Mentioned in this episode: