As the podcasting industry has grown in popularity, so have the resources dedicated to keeping listeners and superfans informed.
Substack has been a key resource for podcast information, news, industry updates, reviews, and trends. Indeed, there are several "go-to" resources for those interested in podcasting or podcast listening.
If you are interested in becoming a podcaster or a better podcaster, Substack has a host of resources for you. And, if you are a passionate listener of podcasts and are always on the hunt for a new show, Substack has you covered with some excellent newsletters on podcast reviews and recommendations.
Check out these Substack podcast resources.
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Elaine Appleton Grant has been publishing Sound Judgment, the newsletter and podcast, since late 2022. In that short time, her conversations with today’s most celebrated audio storytellers have been called “your online master’s degree in audio storytelling,” “a masterclass in podcasting,” and “required listening for our profession.”
Grant says: “So I set out to go behind the scenes with them. On every podcast episode, a world-class storyteller and I dissect one of their favorite or most challenging episodes. The point: To unpack their creative choices in the moment, in a living, learning, example-rich lab, and to bring their lessons to you.”
Every other Thursday, Sound Judgment, the newsletter, will come to your inbox with analysis, tips, recommendations, and more, drawn from hands-on experience, the shows we listen to, and the audio producers, hosts, editors, and growth experts we work with and learn from. This newsletter is for you if:
You’re an audio storyteller or dream of becoming one
You’re a media or marketing content leader considering how to best include high-quality storytelling in your communications mix and how to help your team improve their storytelling
You’re an avid listener curious about how producers and hosts make your favorite shows
You want to strengthen your connections with your audience, no matter your medium. Writers, public speakers, TV producers, and filmmakers all say they find Sound Judgment’s storytelling, interviewing, hosting, and producing insights incredibly valuable.
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Samantha Hodder's Substack newsletter Bingeworthy is the mother ship for narrative podcast opinion, review, trends, and analysis. Hodder began the newsletter in September 2022 and has already amassed an impressive following.
You can subscribe to Bingeworthyhere.Bingeworthy is a listener-supported newsletter.
Samantha is an award-winning audio producer and writer. She has been making media across multiple formats for over two decades. She publishes regularly on Medium and on Substack. Her narrative storytelling podcast This is Our Time launched in 2017.
Here's how Hodder explained Bingeworthy: "Everyone knows that pickleball is not tennis, and it’s not badminton. Even if you’ve never played pickleball, you know not to bring a badminton racquet to that game. That’s because you know pickleball is its own sport, with its own rules…ones that are both similar and different to its neighboring sports.
"I want the same thing for podcasts. But I want Bingeworthy to help us see narrative podcasts as their own thing. Not chatcasts. Not celeb gossip. Not short news segments. Narrative podcasts, or narrative audio, or narrative storytelling…whatever you want to call it…is its own thing."
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Joe Casabona is a podcast systems coach who helps busy solopreneurs take back their time. Some even say he perfectly blends content creation and technology like it’s the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had (he says that).
Joe is also the host of the Podcast Workflows podcast. While there are many masters in podcasting, there are few true gurus. Joe is one of them.
His podcast, Podcast Workflows, is recommended listening for any aspirational podcaster.
Joe says, "I started this Substack to provide insights into how to improve your podcast systems and workflows. By showing you how to best spend your limited time, I hope to allow you to create and grow a high-quality podcast.
Joe shares: "Recently, I was asked how I can run my business, produce 3+ podcasts, and raise 3 kids (we welcomed our 3rd in December 2021). It’s all thanks to my workflows. I save 12 hours per week because of how much I took off my plate. Of course, I know that what I did then may not work now. That's why I started Podcast Workflows. So I can see what works now."
You'll get deep dives into how popular podcasters create their shows, industry news, experiments, and tutorials about automation, tools, and productivity.
Recently, Joe has renamed his Substack and created an exciting new logo. Stay tuned.
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If you're looking to be a better podcaster but you don't have time to go through hours and hours of advice, Be a Better Podcaster is for you. As a complementary publication to the popular One Minute Podcast Tips podcast, this newsletter brings you tips you can use on your podcast, with advice on improving your recording, editing, publishing, sharing, growing, networking, and more.
This includes what hardware and software you should use and how they'll help you and your show, no matter where you are in your podcasting journey. And if you want more specific tips just for you and your podcast, check out the Magic Mic Membership on the Substack site.
One Minute Podcast Tips is designed for people who want to be better podcasters. Considering that millions are either podcasting now or have tried their hand at podcasting, that's a potentially large and motivated audience.
Host Danny Brown makes good on his promise to help people "be a better podcaster in just a minute a week."
Brown is the Head of Podcaster Support and Experience at Captivate.fm, "the world's only growth-oriented podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization platform for the serious indie podcaster."
Check out One Minute Podcast Tips for expert help with your podcast.
Danny Brown is one of the most knowledgeable people in the field. Plus, he's from Canada, where podcasting is booming.
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If you're interested in podcasting in Canada, be sure to check out the Pod The North Substack newsletter by Kattie Laur.
Pod the North is a free, biweekly newsletter aimed at uplifting the Canadian podcast ecosystem and fostering community. In each issue, you’ll find ecosystem commentary (to keep you in the loop), podcast recommendations, opportunities for your podcast ($$$ and notoriety!), and digestible interviews with Canadian podcasters who you need to know about.
Kattie Laur is an Award-Winning Freelance Podcast Producer, Consultant, and Writer based in the Greater Toronto Area.
Last October, Kattie hosted a live anniversary celebration of Pod the North in Toronto. I'm sure there'll be more live events to come.
You can reach Kattie: @Podkatt (Twitter, Spotify, and Goodpods) | @ PodtheNorth (Bluesky)
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Podcast Marketing Magic is your podcast marketing concierge. The folks at Tink Media "make podcast marketing relatable, digestible, and accessible for podcasters at any stage of creation. Oh, and for making it super fun, too!"
This newsletter was started by Tink Media founder Lauren Passell and has grown to include the voices of Shreya Sharma, writer of
Audio Currents and Shreya’s Audio Affairs, and Devin Andrade, writer of Podstack. Shreya and Devin are podcast marketers at Tink Media and support the editorial production of Podcast Marketing Magic.
One of the most esteemed podcast journalists is also part of the team, and that's Wil Williams.
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Into The Podverse by Tony Doe is "your gateway to the dynamic world of podcasts with a uniquely African perspective." Formerly known as "Podcast Related: This Week In The Podverse," they have rebranded to create a unified brand that encapsulates the essence of who we are and what we bring to your podcasting experience.
Into The Podverse delves into the latest releases, industry news, and emerging trends, offering a comprehensive view that reflects the richness of the podcasting world from a Nigerian and African standpoint. Its mission is to be your go-to destination for podcasting insights. Whether you're a podcaster looking to stay ahead of trends, an industry professional seeking valuable perspective, or someone simply curious about the diverse and exciting African podcast landscape, Into The Podverse with Tony Doe has you covered.
Tony Doe is a Radio and Podcast Consultant with international experience and extensive media knowledge.
You can subscribe here.
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BlkPodNews is the official newsletter of the Black Podcasters Association. Its mission is to provide informative news and resources to Black podcast creatives and professionals, connecting them to industry-related news, events, educational resources, and more - all from a Black perspective.
Their goal is to become the go-to source for the latest information and insights from Black creatives and professionals within the podcast industry.
The Black Podcasters Association ensures that its members are prepared to capitalize on the early growth and momentum of the podcasting industry as it continues to evolve.
They are looking for contributors and content submissions to our newsletter. Contact them at newsletter@blackpodcastersassociation.com to apply.
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The Podcast Critic Newsletter -- Great Pods by Captain Ron is billed, quite accurately, as "the Rotten Tomatoes for podcasts." With Captain Ron at the helm, you'll get weekly podcast recommendations from professional critic reviews.
Captain Ron says: "Finding podcast recommendations can be difficult. Great Pods is making it easier with one Critic review at a time"
Great Pods features weekly podcast recommendations from:
Critic Reviews and Ratings
Occasional Top Lists from various publications
Our journey as a podcast resource startup
Podcasts w/ reviews that were just added to the site
Coming Soon trailers
They are a team with over 10 years of experience in the audio/podcast industry. Their ecosystem includes this newsletter and greatpods.co (if you don’t want to wait for the newsletter recs!)!
Captain Ron encourages you to take a look and send them feedback and suggestions.
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The Johnny Podcasts Newsletter offers insights about podcasting, content, production from a podcast producer who "has actually done shit."
Johnny's proposition to his subscribers is simple: "Every Monday Morning. One Email. Only about podcasting."
Johnny says, "I write something interesting about the world of podcasting. These could be tips on improving your audio, how to improve as a host, or something relevant to the culture and its impact on podcasting."
Johnny also shares some short thoughts on one news story that happened recently that affects the podcast industry and shares a link so you can read it, too. They're usually short, and Johnny is proud to proclaim that "I am very picky with what I deem as valuable to your time."
Johnny also posts content to his YouTube channel to help subscribers be better podcasters.
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There are many more Substack newsletters about podcasting worthy of your time, such as the superb Podcasts Recapped, and there are many more in their startup phase. You can access them here.
Substack has just announced a package of upgrades to empower the next generation of podcast and video shows on Substack.
Substack podcasters can now sync and distribute all their free and paid episodes to Spotify. This highly requested feature makes a podcast instantly available and discoverable via the Spotify network, making it easier than ever to reach and monetize your audience.
I would make Ear Worthy into a podcast, but I've been told that I have the voice of Lina Lamont, the silent-film actress in Singing In The Rain, whose voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Even the webcam on my laptop won't turn on because it doesn't care for the image in front of its lens.
First, thanks so much for the inclusion, mate, sincerely appreciated, and this is why I love the indie podcaster space - such a supportive community with good people like you highlighting others regularly.
Second, happy to see so many names on here I already know and subscribe to, and agreed - their wisdom and sharing is second to none.
Third, thanks for introducing me to both Captain Ron and Johnny - looking forward to checking their content out and following!
Elaine, have you ever congratulated a group of people, invited folks to an event, recognized people and had that knee-crippling fear that you've forgotten someone. I knew that when I wrote that Substack article about wonderfully talented Substack podcast writers, I would neglect someone. What I did not know was that it would be one of my most favorite people, newsletters, podcasts, and thematic messages. I've just completed my morning six-mile walk (humblebrag included!). I listened to the entirety of the Anna Sale and Kelly Corrigan episodes and just started the new one. I hope I've completed my penance. If you really want to punish me, you could force me to listen to Joe Rogan!