Google Podcast Manager – How to Register a Podcast with Google

Google has launched it’s official podcast manager! This service is promoted as “an easy way to understand your audience on Google Podcasts.” Admittedly, as a podcast producer, managing the variety of websites for my production is becoming a full-time job. Fortunately Google makes this process seamless for podcast producers to integrate with the tech-giant.

Step One: RSS Feed

Every month or so podcast hosts need to dig up their RSS feed for something. I recommend keeping it saved in a Word Document or Notes App for easy access. Simply plug your RSS feed into Google and it should be able to find your show. 

If your podcast only exists on Soundcloud, you’re going to need to sign up for a podcast hosting site to create an RSS Feed.

Step Two: Preview your Feed

Take a minute to make sure that the information portrayed is accurate. Also, this step ensures that you do not accidentally claim someone else’s show.

Step Three: Verify your Email

If you are already logged into Google, you may be able to skip this step. Simply plug in your email address and click submit.

Step Four: Verify Ownership

This final step is literally the click of a button. Easy as pie. Verify that the last three steps were accurate by clicking one last time.

Signing up for Google Podcast Manager sooner rather than later could be beneficial. Google currently is not collecting the data for podcasts that are not verified, meaning that you only have information from the day you sign up, into the future.

Google is emerging as a major player in the podcast market as the search engines makes shows more accessible. Make sure your show is easy to find!

How to Record a Podcast with Zoom

The Coronavirus Pandemic and ensuing quarantine has taken podcasters and broadcasters out of the studio and onto Zoom. Just a few months ago, Zoom was a conference call app just like Skype, GoToMeeting, and WebEx, but weeks into the quarantine Zoom has proven to be the teleconference app of choice.

Zoom’s easy recording function and superior sound quality have attracted producers, like myself, who are typically skeptical to video interviews. 

How to Record?

Zoom has conveniently placed the “record” button prominently on the primary toolbar. Upon ending your “Meeting” – the audio file should load directly onto your laptop. Simple as pie.

Podcast-Settings

It’s important to remember that Zoom was originally created for conference calls, meaning Zoom planned for multiple parties to be speaking into internal mics & Bluetooth headsets in their cubicles. This matters because Zoom’s interface naturally performs noise cancelling, reverb, and other audio adjustments to your conference call. 

Podcasters likely have external mics or an in-home studio. In order to get the standard quality of your podcast equipment, go to “Audio Settings” then click “Preserve Natural Audio.” 

Always have a backup.

As a rule of thumb, ask your podcast guest to record the meeting along with you. If I’m recording a podcast in person I will record with two mics just to be careful. Even if both you and your guest are recording on Zoom, consider recording both of your audio tracks on your laptop for safety sake. 

In recording, I try to be as careful as humanly possible. During this pandemic, I recorded an episode of my podcast using my iPhone and a microphone because I was worried about Zoom’s reliability.

Basic vs. Pro

If you need to use Zoom consistently, you may want to consider upgrading Zoom from the “free” basic settings to the Pro settings. The free settings allow you to have 1 on 1 Zoom calls for 40 minutes and works just fine. If you need more guests or more time, the $15/month plan may be a better fit.

Once you’ve recorded all your podcast audio, simply export it to your editing software and make your masterpiece.

Podcasts for the Coronavirus Quarantine.

The economy may be halted, people may be quarantined, but the podcast world is booming. As millions of people are trapped at home, they are turning to their “friendship simulators” in a time of need. It’s likely that podcast listener-ship will spike in these trying times, let’s look at some of the podcasts that are making the most of the Coronavirus Quarantine. 

Coronavirus Daily

NPR has launched a podcast to keep people informed on the expansion of the Coronavirus. Hosted by Kelly McEvers, from Embedded, the show looks to talk about the impact of Coronavirus on society & culture, as well as general health. Coronavirus Daily is expected to have ten minute episodes, and will feature various NPR hosts and contributors.

This show is a perfect way for the NPR-crowd to stay in the loop.

CNN: Coronavirus – Fact or Fiction 

Dr. Sanjay Gupta hosts a podcast titled “Coronavirus – Fact or Fiction” in which he breaks down vital information about the spread of COVID-19 into digestible bits. This series is factual and informative, providing a steady and familiar voice in a time of mostly panic.

This podcast would be great for concerned citizens looking for quick facts about COVID-19.

TrueAnon

Liz Franczak and Brace Belden typically host a show in which they wish for the death of various pedophiles and rail against those they perceive to be bad actors in the general discourse. The brand themselves as “the only anti-pedophile podcast” as they conspire about the life of Jeff Epstein. However, this pandemic has pushed them into uncharted waters. 

The otherwise irreverent duo plunged into sincerity, warning their listeners (who are normally not inclined to trust the media or politicians), to take this issue seriously. TrueAnon has done multiple Coronavirus episodes, but the most engaging encounter with the topic came in the episode titled “Love in the Time of Corona.”

This podcast would be great for anyone who is considering going to a party or bar, it also could provide some much needed clarity and warmth. 

Coronavirus 411 

If you’re looking for straight facts, the Coronavirus 411 podcast gives you just that. These episodes are simple little 4-minute chunks made entirely of statistics and tightly packed information. This show is perfect for efficiency freaks looking to get the information as quickly as possible. Coronavirus 411 sources information from the CDC & WHO, making palatable content from a reliable source.

Comedy Bang Bang

This podcast is nothing like the aforementioned shows. Comedy Bang Bang will likely not acknowledge the existence of Coronavirus & that’s something people might need right now. It’s extremely overwhelming to have the entire world focusing on one subject, CBB will provide an escape.

Scott Aukerman has been hosting this Improv podcast for more than a decade, highlighting some of the best improvisers in America being as outrageous as humanly possible. If you’re looking for an escape, Comedy Bang Bang is a safe space. 

Stay safe and stay clean.

 

@Jpeters2100

2020 Presidential Candidates as Podcasts

The 2020 election is finally thinning out! We originally had 26 candidates, but now we only have ten. Below I’ve listed each candidate from most liberal to most conservative and the podcasts that embody their campaign! 

 

Bernie Sanders – Chapo Trap House

Chapo Trap House’s origin stems from their support of Bernie Sanders in 2016. Often painted to be “ the scumbag left” or “Bernie Bros” by people who do not understand them, this podcast provides interesting insight to a large percentage of the country’s ideology. Each host provides a different skill set, whether it’s as a reputable journalist or as a ranting lunatic. They are sick of “business as usual.” The Chapo folks believe in socialism, and they do not care what you think. Bernie Sanders and Chapo Trap House embody the frustration that a portion of America has towards large banks, big pharma, and a stagnant political left. 

Elizabeth Warren – Worst Year Ever 

Cody Johnston, Katy Stoll, and Robert Evans all are members of the progressive left. Evans is a journalist, Stoll is an actress & producer, and Cody Johnston is a comedian – they are diverse in their views. This show provides a rare insight into the differences between members of the progressive left. There are often disagreements on gun rights, Bernie vs. Warren, and whether or not “Bernie Bros” exist. This show focuses on the 2020 election, while also shining light on under-reported stories like the chemical attack at a Furry Convention. 

Tom Steyer – Deconstructed with Mehdi Hasan

Tom Steyer is the poorest billionaire running for the Democratic nomination. His original strategy was to spend millions of dollars on ads in hopes that he could win people over and get onto major media outlets at his will. Unfortunately for Tom, Mike Bloomberg came along who has 50 billion more dollars than him. For Tom Steyer it was hard to find a podcast that completely embodies him, because he’s an ideological blank canvas, aside from hating climate change & wanting to defeat Trump. This episode of Deconstructed with Mehdi Hasan in which Tom Steyer talks about what he believes and why he’s running for president would be great for anyone subtly interested in Thomas Steyer. 

Tulsi Gabbard – The Joe Rogan Experience

Many people were introduced to Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang through the Joe Rogan Experience, & that says a lot about their candidacy. The average JRE listener is young, likely pro-marijuana and anti-establishment, odds are they don’t like Trump and they like Hillary Clinton even less, but no one likes Hillary Clinton less than Tulsi Gabbard. For people looking for an interesting outsider in the Oval Office, Tulsi certainly fits the bill. The Joe Rogan Experience has guests who are ignored by the mainstream media, making Tulsi a perfect guest. Gabbard has been on JRE three times. 

Amy Klobuchar – NYT’s The Choice 

The New York Times hedged it’s bet and endorsed both Elizabeth Warren & Amy Klobuchar for President. You can listen to this entire process in a podcast produced by the New York Times. Klobuchar is a center-left politician, who gained enough momentum from the New York Times endorsement to win some delegates in New Hampshire. She’s someone whom the establishment is very comfortable with, and there is almost nothing more “establishment” than an endorsement from the New York Times. 

Pete Buttigieg – Pod Save America 

The Pod Save America guys are some “hip dudes” that really feel like a fresh face in the political sphere. Hosted by the former Director of Speech-writing for President Barack Obama, a former Senior Adviser to Barack Obama, and a former Obama staffer. They are proving that what happens in Washington stays in Washington. Pete Buttigieg is modelling his campaign after the “Obama Playbook.” Both the guys from Pod Save & Pete Buttigieg are valedictorian types that firmly believe they have the best vision for America. If you loved 2013 & love neo-liberalism, Pod Save America and Pete Buttigieg are the right people for you.

Joe Biden – FiveThirtyEight Political Podcast 

After doing terribly in both the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary, a host of the FiveThirtyEight Podcast said “I don’t know why but I feel like Joe Biden is in second place.” FiveThirtyEight is centered around data-tracking and analytics, their hosts breakdown the data and then give their opinions on it. Despite the former Vice President being 5th in the delegate count through 2 States, the folks over at FiveThirtyEight still have him positioned in second place. 

Honorable mention – this episode of the E1 podcast features three people impersonating Joe Biden for one whole hour.

Bill Weld – The Bulwark Podcast

If you’ve never heard of Bill Weld, I completely understand, however he does have more delegates through 2 states than Tom Steyer or Tulsi Gabbard. Weld is a Republican candidate for President who proudly has 1 delegate. Weld has appeared on the Bulwark Podcast three times. The show describes itself as “No shouting, grandstanding, or sloganeering.” The Bulwark is a Conservative-Opinion website operated by Bill Kristol.

Mike Bloomberg – The Ben Shapiro Show 

Ben Shapiro is a popular right-wing commentator known for his fast-paced speech and “epic take-downs of the libs.” Odds are, if you agree with Mike Bloomberg’s policies, you’d also like the things that Ben Shapiro has to say. Much of Shapiro’s show focuses on the ills of progressive dogma and the disastrous deterioration of social norms, he appeals to people’s fear of change and offers something familiar – much like Mike Bloomberg.  

Donald Trump – Louder with Crowder 

With titles like “BUTTIGIEG IS A RADICAL LIBERAL!” and “WARREN’S STUDENT DEBT SCAM! | Ben Shapiro Guests” this is the perfect podcast for a Trump supporter. Host Stephen Crowder is what would happen if a Trump tweet came to life. Crowder’s sense of humor very much aligns with the average MAGA fan who hates political correctness. This podcast is not for people who are sensitive to race, gender, and religion, or believes in cancel culture.

 

The beauty of the internet is that we get to pick the media that makes us feel the best about our world-view. If you already listen to one of these podcasts and support a candidate, maybe listen to another candidate’s podcast to test your convictions. It’s important to avoid echo-chambers and to understand what other people are believe in. 

Top Political Podcasts Like Pod Save America Bring Balance To Current Tribalistic Political Environment

Operating in an era of unprecedented political divisiveness, the podcast industry is delivering balance to an audio platform that was formerly owned, pre-Trump, by the conservative right.  Since last years Presidential election, more than 1,600 political podcasts have launched. You heard correctly…one-thousand, six hundred. And obviously, a majority of these shows have tried to counter-punch Trumps seismic move into the White House.

The leader of the pack, according to the podcast hosting company  RawVoice, is ‘Pod Save America’, hosted by three former Obama aides. The overwhelmingly successful podcast has nearly 120 million downloads to date.  And the success of PodSave America has brought balance to a sector that was previously dominated by conservative talk pundits.

What Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett and Jon Favreau have accomplished at lightening speed cannot be discounted.  As Jason Zengerle wrote in a recent New York Times article titled “The Voices In Blue America’s Head”:

With a shoestring budget and no organization backing, its hosts seem to have created something that liberals have spent almost two decades, and hundreds of millions of dollars, futilely searching for: the left’s answer to conservative talk radio.

Just as important to the podcast industry is the massive awareness and revenues that the show is capturing. The article quoted an anonymous executive at an ‘un-named’ podcasting company (psst- The New York Times is also a Podcast company — they need not look any further than the insights of their overwhelmingly popular podcast The Daily, to make internal revenue assumptions)…they said:

…assuming standard industry rates, Crooked Media is most likely bringing in at least $50,000 in advertising revenue for each episode of “PodSaveAmerica” – which at two episodes a week is about $5 million a year.

For shits and giggles, lets do a little math…

If, as reported, Pod Save America averages 1.5 million downloads per episode…and lets assume each show has a minimum of three advertisers per show…here’s how the math shapes out if sold at a $15 CPM:

$22,500 per spot x 3 spots = $67,500 per show x 2 shows per week = $135,000 per week

If the show delivers a 50 week schedule, that means revenues could conceivably be approaching $7 million annually!  Not too shabby! Let’s just say that’s hitting ‘pay-dirt’…in only 1 year!

Bottom line, the heated political discourse in this country shows no sign of abating. And that means one thing…that political podcasts will continue to be overwhelmingly popular….and that doesn’t hurt the podcast industry!

So why not explore for yourself some of the top political podcasts — simply by clicking on the below icon of each show, you can ONE-CLICK LISTEN for your enjoyment pleasure!

TOP POLITICAL PODCASTS

 

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