PodSchool
117 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsDo you want to create a kick-arse podcast people will want to listen to?
Podcasting expert, Rachel Corbett, shares her short actionable tips to help you create compelling content, connect with an audience and keep listeners coming back for more.
If you want even more help with your podcast check out Rachel's online podcasting course at podschool.com.au
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Episodes
Should you upload your podcast to YouTube?
December 17, 2023 13:10 - 16 minutesWondering what all the fuss is about when it comes to YouTube Podcasts? Not sure if you're going to need a complicated video set up to submit your show? Rachel Corbett takes you through what YouTube Podcasts is all about and why you should think about it as a new distribution platform for your podcast. Got a podcasting question you want answered? Let me know via this Google Form. Want more information about how YouTube Podcasting works? Check out YouTube's support pages. About me… My name is...
Why you shouldn't start a podcast
November 08, 2020 22:00 - 10 minutesPodcasting is a great way to get your message out into the world but it’s also a lot of hard work. For every show that’s listened to by millions of people, there are hundreds with an audience consisting of the host and his or her mum. So before you buy the latest gear, don the headphones, and start sprinting towards your dreams of podcasting glory, I share some questions you should ask yourself to work out whether you should start a podcast. Check out the full episode show notes: https://r...
How to launch a podcast when you've got no following
November 01, 2020 22:00 - 8 minutesLaunching a podcast is hard at the best of times but what if you’ve got no social media following or email list to share your show with? If you’re starting from scratch that doesn’t mean your show can’t be a success. In this episode I share how to launch a podcast with no following so you can bring new listeners to your show and make it a success. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/blog/podcast-launch-no-following/ About me… My name is Rachel Corbett and ...
How do the Apple Podcasts charts work?
October 25, 2020 22:00 - 3 minutesThe Apple Podcasts charts are one of the ways people find new shows. So how do they work and how do you get your podcast in there? In this episode I explain what goes on behind the scenes of the podcast charts, what stats influence them the most and why you don’t need a huge amount of listeners to get featured. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/blog/podcast-charts/ About me… My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two decades ...
Podcast stats explainer
October 18, 2020 22:00 - 8 minutesNot sure what all the numbers are in the back end of your podcast host? Podcast stats are really important but they’re not a perfect science. In this episode I explain what some of the most common podcast statistics mean, which ones you can rely on and the best way to use them to measure the success of your show. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-stats/ About me… My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two decades in r...
How to get multiple pieces of content from one podcast episode
October 11, 2020 22:00 - 13 minutesReleasing a podcast episode is already a pretty involved process so I’m sure you’re not looking for more things to add on your to do list. But if the only content you’re creating is the actual episode you’re missing a huge opportunity. If you’re going to put that much time and effort into releasing an episode you want to squeeze as much content out of that time as possible. So, in this episode I share how you can turn one podcast episode into multiple pieces of content which can not only he...
How to set yourself up for podcasting success
October 04, 2020 22:00 - 12 minutesIf you want to launch a successful podcast there are a lot of things you need to think about both before you get started and once your show is live. Making your podcast a success takes a lot of hard work and consistency in both creating content and promoting it. So how can you make sure you give yourself the best chance of nailing it? In this episode I take you through some really practical ways to improve your chances of podcast success so you don’t become one of the millions of shows that...
How to start a podcast
September 27, 2020 23:00 - 12 minutesWondering what steps are involved in starting up a podcast? There’s a lot to do before you’ve pressed publish on your first episode so in this episode I step you through everything from coming up with an idea all the way through to getting your show into podcast directories like Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. At the end of this episode you’ll know everything you need to do to launch your own podcast. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-s...
The one thing you should never do on your podcast
September 20, 2020 23:00 - 4 minutesI can’t believe I’ve had to dedicate an entire episode to this but the fact I’ve heard it twice is two times too many so here we go! In this episode, I’m getting on my soapbox and sharing the one thing I don’t think you should EVER do on a podcast. It might seem obvious but people are still doing it and since this show is all about best-practice podcasting it’s time to call out this massive podcasting no-no. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/what-not-to-do...
How to improve your podcast with audio production
September 13, 2020 23:00 - 6 minutesSo you’ve got your concept down and your episodes are sounding good but you want to add a little something to take your show to the next level? Audio production is just a snazzy term for anything in a podcast that isn’t the speaking bits and it can include everything from simple sound effects to fully produced podcast intros and outros. In this episode, I take you through the audio production you should have at an absolute minimum in your podcast as well as options for other fun bits and pi...
How long does it take to launch a podcast?
September 07, 2020 02:00 - 8 minutesSo you want to get your podcast up and running but don’t know how much time you need to set aside to launch your show? Can you get a podcast launched in a matter of weeks or is it a dream you’ll have to put on the calendar for months or years in advance? In this episode I take you through the one thing you’ve got no control over when it comes to the timing of your launch and what you need to get sorted before you press publish on your show. Check out the full episode show notes: https://ra...
Should you use Zoom to record a podcast?
August 31, 2020 00:30 - 6 minutesZoom.us has become one of the most popular video conferencing platforms in the world so it’s understandable people want to know if they can also use it to record a podcast. But is the fact a platform is convenient enough? In this episode I take you through whether Zoom is the right platform to record a podcast and what settings you should change if you want to get the best quality audio possible. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcasting-zoom About me…...
How to be a great podcast guest
August 24, 2020 03:38 - 9 minutesSo, you’ve pitched yourself out as a guest on other people’s podcasts and someone has said yes! How do you make sure you bring your podcast guest A-game and deliver the best quality content possible? In this episode I share tips on what you can do before, during and after a record to make sure the host of the podcast is desperate to have you back. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-guest-tips/ About me… My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked pr...
Why you shouldn't read on your podcast
August 17, 2020 04:45 - 4 minutesHave you got a mountain of written content and you want to turn it into a podcast? Repurposing existing content on a blog or from a book is a great idea. But if you want to build an audience of highly-engaged podcast listeners (you do!), reading your content isn't a good way to go about it. A podcast is a show, not an audiobook so in this episode I share why having a lot of written content to repurpose is great but how to turn that into audio content so you don’t bore your audience. Check ...
How to pitch yourself as a guest on other podcasts
August 10, 2020 04:22 - 8 minutesGetting featured on other podcasts is one of the best ways to grow your audience because the easiest people to convert to listening to a new show are people who are listening to podcasts already. So how do you pitch yourself to other podcasters in a way that makes them think “I want this person on my show!” and not “I want this person to go away!” Getting your pitch right can be the difference between never getting a response and getting yourself in front of an audience of potential listene...
Do you need social media accounts for your podcast?
August 03, 2020 07:20 - 7 minutesSo you've got your podcast up and running and now you want to make sure you're doing the best possible job of marketing your show through social media. Do you need to create new social media accounts for your podcast or can you use your personal one? Do you have to be on every single social media platform or can you choose one or two? And how do you strike the balance between informing people about your podcast and annoying them? In this episode, I explain when you need to separate your pod...
What happens if you change podcast hosts?
July 27, 2020 10:30 - 7 minutesSo you want to shift to a new podcast host? Is it a pain or a simple process? In this episode I take you through some things you need to think about if you’re moving from one host to another and how to make sure you pick the right one. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-hosts/ About me… My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two decades in radio and podcasting. I've hosted and produced shows for some of the biggest radi...
How silence can improve your podcast interviews
July 20, 2020 06:25 - 5 minutesIf you want to get the best possible audio in your podcast interviews it's important to use silence well. It might seem like a weird concept when a podcast is all about speaking. But silence can help you not only get better responses from your guests but also give you the best audio to work with in your edit. So, in this episode I explain how to use silence to get the most out of your podcast interview guests. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-inte...
How do your downloads compare to other podcasts?
July 13, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutesIt seems the two topics people are most interested in when it comes to podcasting is money and numbers. So in this episode I'm focusing on the latter to hopefully make you feel a little bit better if you've been looking at your analytics thinking "Is that it??" Since download numbers aren't public, when you're a new podcaster it can feel like the only message you hear is from other shows yelling "We've hit (insert gigantic number here)!" This can be really disheartening but if you compare ...
Should you use video when remote recording your podcast?
July 06, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutesRemote recording platforms give you a way to record your show with people in different locations which is fantastic because your podcast isn't limited by geography. They also help you achieve audio quality that compares with being in the same room as someone but you shouldn't forget about the impact of distance on your performance. In this episode I take you through why, if you want to get the best possible conversational chemistry, it's important to use video when remote recording. Check ...
Can you choose a podcast name that already exists?
June 29, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutesSo, you've been waiting for your brain to come up with the perfect name for your podcast. And when it finally does you realise there's already a show with that name out there. So, can you just pretend you never saw it and release your show anyway? Or do you need to come up with a different podcast name? In this episode I share what to do if the podcast name you love already exists. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-names/ About me… My name is Rac...
Should you start a new feed for every new podcast idea?
June 22, 2020 07:00 - 9 minutesIf you've worked hard to build an audience for your podcast it's hard to imagine why, if you come up with a brand new podcast idea, you'd start building listeners from scratch when you've got a feed full of subscribers who love your stuff. So, in this episode I take you through whether it’s ok to sneak a new podcast idea into an existing feed or if you need to start a brand new podcast feed for every single podcast concept. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au...
Should you launch your podcast with multiple episodes?
June 15, 2020 12:35 - 8 minutesI get a lot of questions from people confused about whether they should launch their podcast with one or multiple episodes. As with any advice I give on this podcast, the best option is the one that makes the most sense for your audience and your content. If that's dropping multiple episodes, great! Go for it. But if you're doing it because you’ve read that's the right way to launch a show, I'm going to tell you why I don't think it's the best option. Check out the full episode show notes:...
How to submit your podcast to Google Podcasts
June 08, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutesSince Google decided to dip its toe into podcasting there hasn't been a way to submit your show like you do with podcast apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Until now. Submitting to Google Podcasts is now much simpler since they’ve introduced Google Podcasts Manager… https://podcastsmanager.google.com/ In today’s episode I take you through what’s changed, why it’s a good thing and what you need to do to make sure your podcast turns up in the Google Podcasts app. Check out the full episod...
What makes a great podcast?
June 01, 2020 08:45 - 12 minutesSo you want to start a podcast but you don’t want it to fade into podcast oblivion like so many others? In today’s episode I take you through some of the things you need to think about if you want your podcast to be a success. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/what-makes-a-great-podcast/ About me… My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two decades in radio and podcasting. I've hosted and produced shows for some of the biggest ...
How to get your podcast featured in New & Noteworthy
May 25, 2020 10:55 - 10 minutesGetting featured in Apple’s New & Noteworthy section has become something of an obsession for new podcasters. There’s a lot of information floating around the internet suggesting you should release multiple episodes when you launch your podcast to trick the New & Noteworthy algorithm into featuring your show. In this episode I take you through whether that actually works and whether if you do get your show featured in New & Noteworthy it’s everything it’s cracked up to be. Check out the fu...
What is a podcast RSS feed?
May 18, 2020 07:53 - 5 minutesIf you've been researching how to start a podcast you've probably come across the term "RSS Feed." If you don't know what it is, don't worry. To be a podcaster you don't need to know how your podcast RSS feed works, you just need to know where to find it and where to submit it so your show can be found by as many people as possible and that’s what I take you through in this episode. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-rss/ About me… My name is Rache...
How loud should your podcast be?
May 11, 2020 07:19 - 4 minutesIf you've been podcasting for a long time you'll probably know the frustration of flipping from one podcast to another, or even from one episode of the same show to another and having to increase or decrease your volume. At best this is annoying, at worst it's enough to blast your eardrums off. But having a standard level for the volume of a podcast (podcast loudness) means a better user experience for podcast listeners and no angry complaint letters for you because someone got tinnitus fro...
How to make great podcast ads
May 04, 2020 05:00 - 12 minutesSo, you’re getting sponsors interested in your podcast but you want to make sure you keep your audience and your advertisers happy? To get the most out of your podcast ads you need to consider them as important as the content that’s around them. Monetising your podcast shouldn’t come at the expense of your show so in this episode I take you through how to make sure your podcast ads aren’t the bit of your show people skip through. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbet...
Do you need a website for your podcast?
April 27, 2020 07:10 - 11 minutesCreating a website for your podcast might seem like a lot of extra effort when you're already putting together so much content for your show but it's really important if you want a truly professional podcast. A podcast website is also a way to communicate with your audience, monetise your show and bring new listeners. So in this episode I take you through why you definitely need one and what kind of content you can include. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/...
What are private podcasts?
April 20, 2020 07:22 - 8 minutesEver since podcasts began they’ve been public and the idea has been to get your show into as many ears and podcast apps as possible. But what if you want to communicate with an audience privately but you still want them to have the same podcast listening experience they’re used to? Well, now you can with private podcasts and in this episode I take you through what private podcasts are and how they can be a huge benefit for your show. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbe...
How to promote your podcast
April 13, 2020 11:00 - 22 minutesIf you want to grow your podcast audience, you have to promote your podcast to get it in front of more eyes and ears. So how do you do it in a way that's interesting and engaging and that encourages more people to listen? In this episode I take you through the different ways to promote your podcast so you can get your show in front of more listeners and grow your audience. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-promote-your-podcast Links to other relevan...
How to record a podcast remotely
April 06, 2020 04:00 - 25 minutesThere are a number of different ways to record your podcast remotely and the option that's right for you will depend on what technology you have access to and how experienced the people on your show are with recording audio. If you're remote recording interviews you can get away with having your guest at a lower audio quality than you, but if you're hosting your podcast with a co-host remotely you want to try and record both hosts at as similar audio quality as possible. So, what are your opt...
What podcast directories should you submit your show to?
December 15, 2019 19:56 - 8 minutesListeners access podcasts via directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. And since growing your audience and getting more listeners is high on the list of priorities as a podcaster, you want to make sure your show is available in as many places as possible. You don't need to submit your show to every podcast app that's ever been created but you do need to make sure your show can be accessed by people on both iPhone and Android. So, what podcast directories should...
Five questions to ask yourself before starting a podcast
December 08, 2019 19:00 - 12 minutesNot sure whether you should start a podcast? Podcasting is something a lot of people are interested in but there’s no guarantee of success so you want to do everything you can to make sure your show doesn’t fade out like thousands of others. In this episode I take you through a few questions you should ask yourself before you jump in the podcasting deep end. They’re designed to help you work out whether you’re starting a podcast for the right reasons. Because if you’re not, there’s a high ch...
How to get the best quality audio when you’re remote recording
December 01, 2019 19:00 - 11 minutesIf you're recording a podcast with people in different locations and you’re not careful about how you record, your show can sound really bad. And a podcast with poor audio quality isn’t a podcast that grows a big audience. So, if you’re planning to remote record your podcast using programs like Skype, Zencastr or Ringr, in this episode, I share my tips for how to get the best quality podcast audio possible. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-audio-qu...
How to get the best quality audio when you're remote recording
December 01, 2019 19:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBIf you're recording a podcast with people in different locations and you’re not careful about how you record, your show can sound really bad. And a podcast with poor audio quality isn’t a podcast that grows a big audience. So, if you’re planning to remote record your podcast using programs like Skype, Zencastr or Ringr, in this episode, I share my tips for how to get the best quality podcast audio possible. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-audio-q...
How to choose the right rating for your podcast
November 24, 2019 19:00 - 6 minutesNot sure whether to rate your podcast clean, explicit or no rating? Or whether you have to bother rating your podcast at all? The ratings in the back end of your podcast host were actually created for iTunes music, not podcasts so at the moment there aren’t any clear regulations around rating podcasts. Essentially you want to make sure you always have your listeners in mind, but not just listeners you know. Think about who might stumble across your content and try it while they’ve got kids ...
A beginner's guide to podcast SEO
November 18, 2019 04:31 - 17 minutesUnless your great dream is to podcast to no one you’ll want to do everything in your power to get your show in front of new listeners. And this includes making sure your podcast SEO is on point. SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimisation and if you get it right it can be a powerful way to grow your podcast audience organically because it increases the chances of your show turning up in search results. In this episode, I dive deep on the dark art of podcast SEO and take you through why...
A beginners guide to podcast SEO
November 18, 2019 04:31 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBUnless your great dream is to podcast to no one you’ll want to do everything in your power to get your show in front of new listeners. And this includes making sure your podcast SEO is on point. In this episode, I dive deep on the dark art of podcast SEO and take you through why it’s important, how it can help you grow your podcast audience and what you can do to give your show the greatest chance of being found in search engines like Google and Apple Podcasts. Check out the full episode ...
How to record multiple USB microphones
November 10, 2019 19:00 - 7 minutesHave you tried to record a podcast with multiple USB microphones and it hasn’t worked? Don’t worry, you don’t need to hand in your podcasting licence. If you want to record more than one person on your show and you want to do it via your computer you’ll need to do some configuring to make sure your editing software registers more than one USB microphone. It’s a lot easier than it sounds and in this episode I take you through what you need to do to make sure you can record your podcast using...
Are these things holding you back from starting a podcast?
November 25, 2018 19:00 - 16 minutesStarting a podcast can be daunting. Especially when the only thing you've pressed record on is your VCR (hello to anyone who remembers what they are). It's understandable if you're worried that no one will listen, or that you don't have the right voice to host a podcast, or that you don't have to time to fit it into your life. Doing anything new is daunting so in this episode I take you through a few of the most common reasons people don't start a podcast. And I tell you why they shouldn't ...
What is Anchor?
November 19, 2018 10:55 - 20 minutesMost podcast hosts are just that...podcast hosts. They’re a place to upload your MP3’s, look at your stats and fill in your show details but apart from that, there aren't many bells and whistles. Anchor is different because it’s designed to be a podcast host but also a place to edit and create your show. Inside Anchor, you can drag and drop audio elements directly into your episode and if you've never worked with audio before this can make piecing together an episode way less daunting. But...
Do you need a mixer for your podcast?
November 12, 2018 09:37 - 10 minutesBuying the right equipment when you're starting a podcast can be confusing and it's easy to get stuff you don't need. Like a mixer. In this episode I explain what a mixer does and go through some of the common reasons people think they need one. So, if you haven't bought your podcasting gear yet and you think you might need a mixer let's make sure you're buying one for the right reasons. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/mixer-podcast/ About me... My nam...
Why you need a trailer for your podcast
November 04, 2018 19:00 - 5 minutesA podcast trailer can help you drum up interest in your show before you've dropped an episode because it gives potential listeners a taste of what they can expect. Just like a trailer for a movie, a podcast trailer includes highlights of what's on the way and gives people a reason to get excited about what's to come. In this episode I share my tips on how to create a kick-arse podcast trailer so you can get people excited about your show. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rach...
Should you tell people to 'subscribe' to your podcast?
October 29, 2018 05:00 - 8 minutesGetting more podcast listeners is important if you want your show to last but you also want those listeners to subscribe. This is because the more subscribers you have the more chance you've got of ranking in podcast charts. It also makes it much easier for people to listen because they'll get a new episode delivered straight to their podcast app. So how do you get more podcast listeners and in turn subscribers? The best way is often to avoid using the word 'subscribe' and in this episode I...
How to write great episode titles
October 21, 2018 18:00 - 9 minutesYou should think about your podcast episode title like the headline of an article. It's the thing that makes people click, so you need to pack as much information as possible into a small number of words. But you also want to be truthful. The rules of click-baiting apply here just as they do on blogs and websites...don't do it, unless you want to suffer the consequences. If you want listeners to keep returning to your show, week after week, you have to build a relationship with them. And ju...
How to write great podcast descriptions
October 14, 2018 19:00 - 9 minutesAfter your podcast name and logo, the next thing potential listeners look at is your podcast description. So you've got to make it good. While you don't want to write an essay, you're not as restricted in your word count as you are with your podcast name. That means you've got more real estate to tell listeners exactly what they can expect from your show. So how do you write a podcast description that makes people think "OMG! This show is exactly what I'm looking for!"? Check out the full ...
How to come up with a great podcast name
October 08, 2018 11:41 - 14 minutesI know we're all told not to judge a book by its cover but the truth is, we do. When people find your show in their podcast directory it's often the combination of your podcast name and podcast logo that will entice them to give it a try. You haven't got a lot of words to make an impact so this isn't an easy task. But ideally, you want to give your podcast a name that's going to stop people scrolling by. So how do you pick something that makes them want to listen? Check out the full episod...
How to come up with a great podcast idea
October 01, 2018 07:59 - 15 minutesIf you're thinking "I want to do a podcast but I'm not sure what it should be about," you're not alone. Coming up with an idea for your podcast can be really difficult. So in this episode, I'm going to take you through a few exercises to help you refine your podcast idea. Or come up with one if you've got nothing. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-ideas/ About me... My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two decades in...