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Hey everyone! I'm Virginia Sole-Smith, I do the Burnt Toast podcast (and newsletter). Happy to answer questions and generally chat podcasting on Substack!
Hi writers...and podcasters!! Here is some encouragement from one tiny newsletter to all of you: It can be really easy to lose motivation to post every week when it seems like no one is reading/listening, or no one cares. Why bother? I'll tell you why: we NEED your voice. Someone out there NEEDS to read what you've written or listen to your thoughts, even if it's only one person. You don't know it yet, but you're someone's favorite creator...or you will be soon! Write for them! Post for them! And if nothing else, showing up to your newsletter/podcast is like an exercise regimen. You'll never regret a weekly excuse to practice your craft! 🌿
I use the podcast feature to record my "Long Read" essays. I am a huge fan of reading aloud and I love connecting with people via this way. Some people even wait for that version. I think this was a great feature to up the ante.
Hi, I brought my podcast (and newsletter!) over to Substack semi-recently and I was curious if there was ever going to be a way to publish a new episode while keeping the text below (which in this case is a transcript) behind a paywall. Currently, if I add a paywall anywhere on the post that also includes the audio.
I have been podcasting with Substack for over about 18 months with MarketingBS - https://marketingbs.substack.com/ (back when it was beta). About a year ago I started a second publication that was podcast-first (with attached newsletter) - https://www.superserious616.com/
Some thoughts for people thinking about doing podcasts:
1- Quality matters. A lot. Adding another newsletter is usually possible for most people - it might replace time spent on Twitter or Facebook. But adding another podcast comes out of "audio listening time" - and that usually means it needs to replace an existing podcast they are enjoying. So you need to be better than the next best alternative (maybe a lot better as people are generally risk adverse and will judge you quickly vs a feed they have enjoyed in the past)
2- Quality is about content, but it is also about sound quality and sound editing. Getting to NPR level is difficulty and/or expensive. But getting much better than Anchor is not that hard if you invest a little. If you aren't going to make a small investment in doing this right, I'm not sure it is worth your time to bother doing it at all
3- What does investment look like? Here is where I have landed with a lot of trial and error and speaking to many people in the podcasting space (Hi Adam Davidson!)
-- For settings you want it on high volume, medium gain (experiment!), and the pattern that looks like a little heart. Then you speak very close to the front of the mic. The heart pattern means the mic only picks up sound from directly in front of it. With that setting you are usually safe from street noise and kids downstairs. It might not be as good as a full podcasting studio, but its pretty close and much cheaper!
- Cost $118 right now on Amazon
- If things don't sound great (which they did not at first when we did Super Serious) the most likely issue is the cable. Try to fix that before buying a new computer (my partner did it in the opposite order...)
b- Use recording software. DON'T use Zoom's included feature. I use AudioHijack and like it a lot (~$40 for software one-time - not a subscription!)
-- You will want to create 1-2 "recording templates". One for when you record on your own, and one for when you record over Zoom
-- Record on your own is pretty straightforward. For recording someone else on Zoom:
--- Ideally you have the person on the other end record their audio locally and then send you the file. I have found that this is not worth the effort (especially for one-time interviews. But even when I am recording with my partner on Super Serious)
-- Here is what the template looks like (two 'paths', with both joining up in the final step into one file):
-- This will result in 3 files - two large WAV files - one for each individual, and one combined MP3
-- When I work with an audio cleanup company I send them all three. They work with the WAV files and just use the MP3 for reference. They send me back a final MP3 file built from the WAV files
-- When I edit myself (which I generally do now), I mostly just use the MP3. Only when something has gone wrong with the recording do I use the WAV files (maybe 2-5% of the time)
- Sometimes the audio does not record, but you should be able to see that visually. Test before you start, and if it is not working, I have found the answer is usually (always!) "update the software" or "re-boot the computer"
c- Cleaning up the audio with professionals
-- I had my assistant create a short list of professional companies that clean the audio. I then spoke with and tested four different companies at different price points and effort levels. I found the highest levels (add background music, etc.) were not worth the $$s - and many listeners actually complained about it - the background music messed up listening at 1.5x speed for example. But the "next level down" was usually worth it. At that level they clean up all the audio, balance the levels, and also listen to the entire show and take out ums, ahs, you knows, and remove longer spaces between dialog. For most episodes this shortens episodes by 10-20% (!), without removing any content, and having the remaining content sound a LOT better. This top level also allows you to give instructions within the audio, i.e., "Oops. Audio engineers, please take out that last statement. I am going to ask the question again...". This is handy and makes recording with a guest seem way more professional. The lowest level just does the balancing, etc. (also important to do!). If interest I can pass along my short list of who I tested, but there are lots out there and prices and capabilities have likely changed in the last 18 months. Cost for this should be just under or around $100 per episode for "level 2" (and include transcription)
d- Cleaning up on your own
- For Super Serious I clean all the audio on my own. I've gotten a lot better over time. If you listen to the early episodes you will notice a HUGE difference from the latest episodes (I think). It's enough of a different that one of these days I will go back and re-edit the early episodes
- For this I use Audacity (but again, lots of options). I have a "project" that has my intro and out-tro music, then I upload the MP3 audio file. You can see visually where you need to adjust levels. For the ums and ahs, I listen to the entire episode "zoomed in" and every time I hear an um, or a repeated word or "see" a long pause, I just cut it out. Then I listen to it again and if it sounds right I move on and keep listening. For a 12 minute episode I usually takes me ~20 minutes to edit these days. There are a few judgement calls. I should likely be outsourcing this, but there is value in my hearing the full episode again after it was recorded (it's like feedback on my performance), and doing it this way is more mentally stimulating for me than just listening to a full edited version by a professional
e- Transcripts: I do transcripts for Marketing BS, but we do not for Super Serious. There are two ways to do transcripts for two different purposes:
1- "AI transcripts" - there is software that will do this for you. It's pretty good! I would say about 90% accurate. If you just need something for SEO purposes and you are upfront that it is AI 90% accurate, this is a cheap way to do it (and something we are considering for Super Serious). It is also very cheap
2- Professional transcription: You can pay someone to listen to your entire show and manually transcribe it. This will be someone from a low wage country, and you should be about to transcribe an hour long show for $50 or so (if I remember correctly - don't hold me to it). This will get you a fully edited transcription in whatever format you agree to (i.e., I had them put in the speakers name in bold with a colon every time they speak). This is what you need if you are expecting people to read your episodes (which a LOT of people do. I think my Marketing BS podcasts are something like 70% read, 30% listen).
3- Hybrid: You can use AI to transcribe the show, and then a professional to listen and fix the 10% errors. This is not worth doing. The cost is going to be the same (or higher!) than just the pro version.
f- Indexing your podcast: You will want to submit your podcast to the major podcast players. Its a bit of work, but once you get it on Spotify, Apple and 1-2 others, the rest will just do the work without you having to do anything. I believe Substack even has a primer on how to do this (just google it)
I think those are the major points. Feel free to ask questions and I can try and be helpful.
When I started the Podcasting tools on Substack were pretty terrible. I only used it because I already knew how to do it from my newsletter experience. But now the analytics are MUCH better!
tl/dr: Invest in quality. Your subscriber's time is valuable, don't waste it with low quality audio or low quality content. Better to not do it at all rather than create something that lowers the quality of your newsletter brand.
Hi everyone! Will catch up on your posts in a moment! But just wanted to ask...
I’m currently writing on a serialised podcast, a sort of fictional memoir, and was wondering if anyone is doing anything similar here on Substack? Narrative podcasts, created specifically for audio, with sound design etc? Would love to connect if so!
I’ve looked at the idea of podcasts but I prefer writing instead. Maybe using a narration app to create audio versions of the articles I write for paid subscribers. But I don’t necessarily like the apps that currently exist. Perhaps a new feature for Substack to create?
I use the audio feature to add original music to posts. And to do audio versions of posts. I refer to them as audio posts since I don't do podcasts. I have only done a couple so far, but I plan to do more when I get time. I suppose if I did enough of them, I could release them as podcasts. But they are just special posts right now.
I started my newsletter 6 months ago and I've barely found my sea legs with it. So, starting a podcast seems like it would be too too much. But, how do podcasts compare with newsletters as generators of followers?
Something that I've noticed in the last few weeks is that the podcast audio is of a much lower quality than it used to be. Before, when I uploaded an audio file (which is a song), it maintained its quality. But now, it seems like the site compresses it and makes it sound really grainy and of lower quality. It sounds more garbled/gravelly. Not great.
I've noticed this on other musicians' posts, too.
I'm wondering if someone from the Substack team can speak to this, and maybe find out what's going on? Would love to find a solution for this. Thank you!
I used the podcast app for the first time this week; not for a podcast, but to "hold" a sound file of a rare demo recording from a singer/songwriter about whom I'm writing.
I didn't know the app could only hold one sound file (which, I guess, would be nice if it did/could/might), but as the songwriter sent SIX demos, we're making lemonade by making 6 separate articles using podcast forms, with each, of course, featuring one of the sound file demos!
I know this is off the podcasting topic, but I'd like to renew my request for "anchor tag" functionality so I can create URLs for social that will direct readers to specific parts of my often lengthy newsletter. I hit many topics and getting promo from curators would be easier if they could send readers right to where they want to go. It's a common html code feature and wouldn't be hard to implement. Thanks!
No questions. Just want to thank you all again or the hard work you guys do. The app is great. We moved here from Squarespace and we've gotten nothing but positive feedback from both staff and readers.
i have mental block in spite of all the support i have gotten. there is something about recording a podcast and then waiting a few days for editing/transcription to post. are there any easyish to use tools that allow the process to be more immediate? i have heard riversidefm decent but have not tried it
Hi all! Your wisdom requested: I've got a pretty good ratio of paid-to-free subs for the size of my Substack, but I'd like to grow it, of course. My paid subscribers know at minimum they're getting an ebook of my seasonal poetry every month and that's chiefly what they're paying for, but I'd like to scatter smaller perks more often just as a "thank you" and I would love some ideas! What have you found are some of the most appreciated perks you give your paid subscribers? Are audio or visual perks popular? Thanks in advance! 🌿
I want to APOLOGIZE if at times some of my remarks have been insistent, or intemperate or ill considered (How's that for assonance, the repetition of initial vowel sound)
Sometimes I have been impatient because I have waited for a long time to get responses to my queries (after two cups of cafe Bustello, anything more than a minute is a long time) and sometimes I have voiced fears that my queries have been deleted.
Now, since I have so courteously extended my heartfelt apologies, I expect you guys to promptly read my newsletter, copiously click "like" on my posts, subscribe to me and spread the gospel according to me.
Hi all! I'm using the podcast feature to share audio recipes narrated in the local dialect - a nod to the traditional way of passing down recipes orally.
I few weeks ago I asked about being able to add audio to a post without formally making it a podcast. I was told to hang tight and that something is in the works. The only thing I've seen so far is an update for podcasting in the Apple app (which doesn't pertain to me since I'm an Android person). Any updates on being able to add audio without making it a podcast?
Hi. So i have spent a life time in tv and radio. How do you think audio compliments my substack newsletter with potential for growth? And my podcast is on Buzzsprout. How should I tie it in?
Hi there! I've loved hosting my podcast on Substack: a question/request, if I may!
I was wondering if there's any plans to have a separate 'show notes' option, so that the newsletter that gets sent out on publication also show as the show notes. Changing in social preview looks really messy. Thanks!
I'm interesting in collaborating with other Catholic authors (I'm also the author of https://prodigalparishioner.substack.com) to start a podcast. I've never done a podcast before and honestly know nothing about it, so I'm looking for those with more experience than me. I'm hoping to network, share thoughts, and maybe put together a collaborative effort. If anyone is interested, please let me know!
I’d like resources and instructions on the technology of doing a podcast. What equipment do I need? What software do I record? How do I do interviews? What platforms let me upload to substack?
Last week when we did the Substack Office Hours “poem,” Katie introduced me to descript.com, which is a great online tool for audio. When you record (and you can use Zoom if you want to do an interview or podcast with someone else) it will create a live transcript - and if you edit the transcript, it will edit the audio simultaneously. This could be a great tool for people doing podcasts for Substack, as a lot of your work would be done for you.
I am using the Podcast for my second and new eNewsletter Wild West Diversity sharing narrated historic legends and they are behind the paywall … my list is small as i have just started marketing so don’t know the response yet.
The metadata is a little wonky, still. It pulls from the post instead of from the file. Does anyone know whether that's something Substack is working on?
Hello everyone! I recorded a huge library of podcasts from the Lizzie Borden trial and I'm not sure if I can interest Substack readers into trial testimony without the narrative context to go with it. I already have 7 episodes from season 1 and I had asked last time if I should import them over and it appeared that someone was about to answer me when it suddenly struck 11am. Perhaps someone could offer some feedback before my 10am webinar. Thank you!
I love the new podcast updates. The new design looks great. It's fantastic to see podcasts treated as a first class citizen on the platform!
For some reason, I'm still not seeing the episode notes field show up when I edit old podcast episodes or create a new one. That's a bit of a bummer, as I'd love to get those fixed up!
Additionally, a feature request: can you please add a way for us to add our publicly distributed Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other app links to that player dropdown menu? It'd be doubly great if they automatically showed up on our Podcasts tab as well.
I know you have to balance this with promoting the private, individual feeds, but for those of us who choose to distribute feeds via those apps it's key that we're able to promote them to regular podcast listeners!
Hey all! Lovely to be here! I have a question - I'd like to go back and edit all my podcasts so far to have an intro and outro. Is it possible to update old podcasts with a new audio track?
I read my articles and post those as "podcasts" by linking them in the original article. I really want to be able to hide the podcasts from my homepage so it's less cluttered.
What about the episode image cover beeing removed by Substack? Was it fixed? Would be nice the option to choose an episode cover as other plataforms do.
While there is a focus on podcasting, I've launched a new Substack aimed at current and novice Google Apps Scripts developers. Yeah... it is truly for nerds who write code or want to write it.
I sent a message to the SS folks asking about micro-pricing. I will be sending out code-snippets every week to subscribers and want to charge $3/month or $30/year. However, SS forces a $5 minimum on pricing - which I suppose I understand from a fees standpoint.
What I've done so far is set my price at $5/month & $50/year then created a 40% off forever discount/offer. It works for the pricing but is this my only option?
Definitely new with substack! I am currently using squarespace for my podcasting hosting service using rss towards the rest of the platform. I am slowly drifting towards substack simplicity and the newsletter idea and podcast. Would you recommend just linking to substack for newletter and blogposts and RSS feed the rest through substack? I'm looking for more ways to make everything work!
I would like to better understand the analytics page. For example in the Overview, the total number of downloads is different from the total cumulative number in the graph. Also, in the top player section, when it indicates a percentage for any of the other platforms, does that include the downloads listed on Substack or is that people who have moved from Substack to the other platform?
Roll call 🎙️ Who's currently using the podcasting tools on Substack? What have you learned?
Hey everyone! I'm Virginia Sole-Smith, I do the Burnt Toast podcast (and newsletter). Happy to answer questions and generally chat podcasting on Substack!
Thank you all for joining us today! We're learning about podcasting alongside you and appreciate the thoughtful questions you asked. More to come.
Special thank you to Virginia for joining us and sharing about her experience podcasting on Substack.
See you next week,
Katie, Bailey, Kelsa, Jasmine, Chris, Shaiyan, Hanne, Farrah, Jonathan, Becca, and Thoomas
Hi writers...and podcasters!! Here is some encouragement from one tiny newsletter to all of you: It can be really easy to lose motivation to post every week when it seems like no one is reading/listening, or no one cares. Why bother? I'll tell you why: we NEED your voice. Someone out there NEEDS to read what you've written or listen to your thoughts, even if it's only one person. You don't know it yet, but you're someone's favorite creator...or you will be soon! Write for them! Post for them! And if nothing else, showing up to your newsletter/podcast is like an exercise regimen. You'll never regret a weekly excuse to practice your craft! 🌿
I use the podcast feature to record my "Long Read" essays. I am a huge fan of reading aloud and I love connecting with people via this way. Some people even wait for that version. I think this was a great feature to up the ante.
Hi, I brought my podcast (and newsletter!) over to Substack semi-recently and I was curious if there was ever going to be a way to publish a new episode while keeping the text below (which in this case is a transcript) behind a paywall. Currently, if I add a paywall anywhere on the post that also includes the audio.
I have been podcasting with Substack for over about 18 months with MarketingBS - https://marketingbs.substack.com/ (back when it was beta). About a year ago I started a second publication that was podcast-first (with attached newsletter) - https://www.superserious616.com/
Some thoughts for people thinking about doing podcasts:
1- Quality matters. A lot. Adding another newsletter is usually possible for most people - it might replace time spent on Twitter or Facebook. But adding another podcast comes out of "audio listening time" - and that usually means it needs to replace an existing podcast they are enjoying. So you need to be better than the next best alternative (maybe a lot better as people are generally risk adverse and will judge you quickly vs a feed they have enjoyed in the past)
2- Quality is about content, but it is also about sound quality and sound editing. Getting to NPR level is difficulty and/or expensive. But getting much better than Anchor is not that hard if you invest a little. If you aren't going to make a small investment in doing this right, I'm not sure it is worth your time to bother doing it at all
3- What does investment look like? Here is where I have landed with a lot of trial and error and speaking to many people in the podcasting space (Hi Adam Davidson!)
a- Get a good mic. I use Blue Yeti. It was out of stock for a long time, but it looks like it is available for delivery tomorrow now - https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Recording-Streaming-Podcasting-Adjustable/dp/B00N1YPXW2/
-- For settings you want it on high volume, medium gain (experiment!), and the pattern that looks like a little heart. Then you speak very close to the front of the mic. The heart pattern means the mic only picks up sound from directly in front of it. With that setting you are usually safe from street noise and kids downstairs. It might not be as good as a full podcasting studio, but its pretty close and much cheaper!
- Cost $118 right now on Amazon
- If things don't sound great (which they did not at first when we did Super Serious) the most likely issue is the cable. Try to fix that before buying a new computer (my partner did it in the opposite order...)
b- Use recording software. DON'T use Zoom's included feature. I use AudioHijack and like it a lot (~$40 for software one-time - not a subscription!)
-- You will want to create 1-2 "recording templates". One for when you record on your own, and one for when you record over Zoom
-- Record on your own is pretty straightforward. For recording someone else on Zoom:
--- Ideally you have the person on the other end record their audio locally and then send you the file. I have found that this is not worth the effort (especially for one-time interviews. But even when I am recording with my partner on Super Serious)
-- Here is what the template looks like (two 'paths', with both joining up in the final step into one file):
APPLICATION (Zoom) [playback gaps filled with silence] -> Peak/RSM -> Output device (airpods) -> Recorder (WAV) -> Recorder (MP3)
INPUT DEVICE (Blue Yeti) -> Peak/RSM -> Recorder (WAV) -> Recorder (MP3)
-- This will result in 3 files - two large WAV files - one for each individual, and one combined MP3
-- When I work with an audio cleanup company I send them all three. They work with the WAV files and just use the MP3 for reference. They send me back a final MP3 file built from the WAV files
-- When I edit myself (which I generally do now), I mostly just use the MP3. Only when something has gone wrong with the recording do I use the WAV files (maybe 2-5% of the time)
- Sometimes the audio does not record, but you should be able to see that visually. Test before you start, and if it is not working, I have found the answer is usually (always!) "update the software" or "re-boot the computer"
c- Cleaning up the audio with professionals
-- I had my assistant create a short list of professional companies that clean the audio. I then spoke with and tested four different companies at different price points and effort levels. I found the highest levels (add background music, etc.) were not worth the $$s - and many listeners actually complained about it - the background music messed up listening at 1.5x speed for example. But the "next level down" was usually worth it. At that level they clean up all the audio, balance the levels, and also listen to the entire show and take out ums, ahs, you knows, and remove longer spaces between dialog. For most episodes this shortens episodes by 10-20% (!), without removing any content, and having the remaining content sound a LOT better. This top level also allows you to give instructions within the audio, i.e., "Oops. Audio engineers, please take out that last statement. I am going to ask the question again...". This is handy and makes recording with a guest seem way more professional. The lowest level just does the balancing, etc. (also important to do!). If interest I can pass along my short list of who I tested, but there are lots out there and prices and capabilities have likely changed in the last 18 months. Cost for this should be just under or around $100 per episode for "level 2" (and include transcription)
d- Cleaning up on your own
- For Super Serious I clean all the audio on my own. I've gotten a lot better over time. If you listen to the early episodes you will notice a HUGE difference from the latest episodes (I think). It's enough of a different that one of these days I will go back and re-edit the early episodes
- For this I use Audacity (but again, lots of options). I have a "project" that has my intro and out-tro music, then I upload the MP3 audio file. You can see visually where you need to adjust levels. For the ums and ahs, I listen to the entire episode "zoomed in" and every time I hear an um, or a repeated word or "see" a long pause, I just cut it out. Then I listen to it again and if it sounds right I move on and keep listening. For a 12 minute episode I usually takes me ~20 minutes to edit these days. There are a few judgement calls. I should likely be outsourcing this, but there is value in my hearing the full episode again after it was recorded (it's like feedback on my performance), and doing it this way is more mentally stimulating for me than just listening to a full edited version by a professional
e- Transcripts: I do transcripts for Marketing BS, but we do not for Super Serious. There are two ways to do transcripts for two different purposes:
1- "AI transcripts" - there is software that will do this for you. It's pretty good! I would say about 90% accurate. If you just need something for SEO purposes and you are upfront that it is AI 90% accurate, this is a cheap way to do it (and something we are considering for Super Serious). It is also very cheap
2- Professional transcription: You can pay someone to listen to your entire show and manually transcribe it. This will be someone from a low wage country, and you should be about to transcribe an hour long show for $50 or so (if I remember correctly - don't hold me to it). This will get you a fully edited transcription in whatever format you agree to (i.e., I had them put in the speakers name in bold with a colon every time they speak). This is what you need if you are expecting people to read your episodes (which a LOT of people do. I think my Marketing BS podcasts are something like 70% read, 30% listen).
3- Hybrid: You can use AI to transcribe the show, and then a professional to listen and fix the 10% errors. This is not worth doing. The cost is going to be the same (or higher!) than just the pro version.
f- Indexing your podcast: You will want to submit your podcast to the major podcast players. Its a bit of work, but once you get it on Spotify, Apple and 1-2 others, the rest will just do the work without you having to do anything. I believe Substack even has a primer on how to do this (just google it)
I think those are the major points. Feel free to ask questions and I can try and be helpful.
When I started the Podcasting tools on Substack were pretty terrible. I only used it because I already knew how to do it from my newsletter experience. But now the analytics are MUCH better!
tl/dr: Invest in quality. Your subscriber's time is valuable, don't waste it with low quality audio or low quality content. Better to not do it at all rather than create something that lowers the quality of your newsletter brand.
Ed
Are newsletters or podcasts more popular in regard to open rate and views?
I’m curious if there’s going to be a way to INVITE IN a guest to interview right from the substack app?
Hi everyone! Will catch up on your posts in a moment! But just wanted to ask...
I’m currently writing on a serialised podcast, a sort of fictional memoir, and was wondering if anyone is doing anything similar here on Substack? Narrative podcasts, created specifically for audio, with sound design etc? Would love to connect if so!
Can I embed a podcast within a newsletter post to give the reader the option to listen or read?
I’ve looked at the idea of podcasts but I prefer writing instead. Maybe using a narration app to create audio versions of the articles I write for paid subscribers. But I don’t necessarily like the apps that currently exist. Perhaps a new feature for Substack to create?
The "Podcasts" feature is not just for podcasts!
I use the audio feature to add original music to posts. And to do audio versions of posts. I refer to them as audio posts since I don't do podcasts. I have only done a couple so far, but I plan to do more when I get time. I suppose if I did enough of them, I could release them as podcasts. But they are just special posts right now.
I started my newsletter 6 months ago and I've barely found my sea legs with it. So, starting a podcast seems like it would be too too much. But, how do podcasts compare with newsletters as generators of followers?
Hi all!
Thanks again for hosting these!
Something that I've noticed in the last few weeks is that the podcast audio is of a much lower quality than it used to be. Before, when I uploaded an audio file (which is a song), it maintained its quality. But now, it seems like the site compresses it and makes it sound really grainy and of lower quality. It sounds more garbled/gravelly. Not great.
I've noticed this on other musicians' posts, too.
I'm wondering if someone from the Substack team can speak to this, and maybe find out what's going on? Would love to find a solution for this. Thank you!
I used the podcast app for the first time this week; not for a podcast, but to "hold" a sound file of a rare demo recording from a singer/songwriter about whom I'm writing.
I didn't know the app could only hold one sound file (which, I guess, would be nice if it did/could/might), but as the songwriter sent SIX demos, we're making lemonade by making 6 separate articles using podcast forms, with each, of course, featuring one of the sound file demos!
I know this is off the podcasting topic, but I'd like to renew my request for "anchor tag" functionality so I can create URLs for social that will direct readers to specific parts of my often lengthy newsletter. I hit many topics and getting promo from curators would be easier if they could send readers right to where they want to go. It's a common html code feature and wouldn't be hard to implement. Thanks!
No questions. Just want to thank you all again or the hard work you guys do. The app is great. We moved here from Squarespace and we've gotten nothing but positive feedback from both staff and readers.
i have mental block in spite of all the support i have gotten. there is something about recording a podcast and then waiting a few days for editing/transcription to post. are there any easyish to use tools that allow the process to be more immediate? i have heard riversidefm decent but have not tried it
Is Substack considering adding video capabilities to the podcast platform?
I'm a newbie blogger on ss and happy to join! Latest post here https://pathfindings.substack.com/p/young-blood-old-monsters-and-rejuvenated?s=w
Hi all! Your wisdom requested: I've got a pretty good ratio of paid-to-free subs for the size of my Substack, but I'd like to grow it, of course. My paid subscribers know at minimum they're getting an ebook of my seasonal poetry every month and that's chiefly what they're paying for, but I'd like to scatter smaller perks more often just as a "thank you" and I would love some ideas! What have you found are some of the most appreciated perks you give your paid subscribers? Are audio or visual perks popular? Thanks in advance! 🌿
What's the latest ETA on the Android app please?
Who has technology recommendations for remote interviews and the best quality for them?
I want to APOLOGIZE if at times some of my remarks have been insistent, or intemperate or ill considered (How's that for assonance, the repetition of initial vowel sound)
Sometimes I have been impatient because I have waited for a long time to get responses to my queries (after two cups of cafe Bustello, anything more than a minute is a long time) and sometimes I have voiced fears that my queries have been deleted.
Now, since I have so courteously extended my heartfelt apologies, I expect you guys to promptly read my newsletter, copiously click "like" on my posts, subscribe to me and spread the gospel according to me.
Hi all! I'm using the podcast feature to share audio recipes narrated in the local dialect - a nod to the traditional way of passing down recipes orally.
I few weeks ago I asked about being able to add audio to a post without formally making it a podcast. I was told to hang tight and that something is in the works. The only thing I've seen so far is an update for podcasting in the Apple app (which doesn't pertain to me since I'm an Android person). Any updates on being able to add audio without making it a podcast?
Hi. So i have spent a life time in tv and radio. How do you think audio compliments my substack newsletter with potential for growth? And my podcast is on Buzzsprout. How should I tie it in?
Hi there! I've loved hosting my podcast on Substack: a question/request, if I may!
I was wondering if there's any plans to have a separate 'show notes' option, so that the newsletter that gets sent out on publication also show as the show notes. Changing in social preview looks really messy. Thanks!
I'm interesting in collaborating with other Catholic authors (I'm also the author of https://prodigalparishioner.substack.com) to start a podcast. I've never done a podcast before and honestly know nothing about it, so I'm looking for those with more experience than me. I'm hoping to network, share thoughts, and maybe put together a collaborative effort. If anyone is interested, please let me know!
Good morning!! Would love to start podcasting on substack so joining in!
Hi Chris Best. Thanks for the technology.👍
This is a pretty good article about audio and video recording: https://www.benkuhn.net/vc/
I’d like resources and instructions on the technology of doing a podcast. What equipment do I need? What software do I record? How do I do interviews? What platforms let me upload to substack?
To those that know--How does Substack podcast features compare to places like Anchor FM and Backtracks?
Last week when we did the Substack Office Hours “poem,” Katie introduced me to descript.com, which is a great online tool for audio. When you record (and you can use Zoom if you want to do an interview or podcast with someone else) it will create a live transcript - and if you edit the transcript, it will edit the audio simultaneously. This could be a great tool for people doing podcasts for Substack, as a lot of your work would be done for you.
How do I get on today's discussion - 10 a.m. PDT?
I am using the Podcast for my second and new eNewsletter Wild West Diversity sharing narrated historic legends and they are behind the paywall … my list is small as i have just started marketing so don’t know the response yet.
I looked it up online. It does look amazing.
The metadata is a little wonky, still. It pulls from the post instead of from the file. Does anyone know whether that's something Substack is working on?
Hello everyone! I recorded a huge library of podcasts from the Lizzie Borden trial and I'm not sure if I can interest Substack readers into trial testimony without the narrative context to go with it. I already have 7 episodes from season 1 and I had asked last time if I should import them over and it appeared that someone was about to answer me when it suddenly struck 11am. Perhaps someone could offer some feedback before my 10am webinar. Thank you!
I love the new podcast updates. The new design looks great. It's fantastic to see podcasts treated as a first class citizen on the platform!
For some reason, I'm still not seeing the episode notes field show up when I edit old podcast episodes or create a new one. That's a bit of a bummer, as I'd love to get those fixed up!
Additionally, a feature request: can you please add a way for us to add our publicly distributed Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other app links to that player dropdown menu? It'd be doubly great if they automatically showed up on our Podcasts tab as well.
I know you have to balance this with promoting the private, individual feeds, but for those of us who choose to distribute feeds via those apps it's key that we're able to promote them to regular podcast listeners!
Hey all! Lovely to be here! I have a question - I'd like to go back and edit all my podcasts so far to have an intro and outro. Is it possible to update old podcasts with a new audio track?
So here's my question. Do you really need the bumper and outro music for a podcast?
I read my articles and post those as "podcasts" by linking them in the original article. I really want to be able to hide the podcasts from my homepage so it's less cluttered.
What about the episode image cover beeing removed by Substack? Was it fixed? Would be nice the option to choose an episode cover as other plataforms do.
While there is a focus on podcasting, I've launched a new Substack aimed at current and novice Google Apps Scripts developers. Yeah... it is truly for nerds who write code or want to write it.
I sent a message to the SS folks asking about micro-pricing. I will be sending out code-snippets every week to subscribers and want to charge $3/month or $30/year. However, SS forces a $5 minimum on pricing - which I suppose I understand from a fees standpoint.
What I've done so far is set my price at $5/month & $50/year then created a 40% off forever discount/offer. It works for the pricing but is this my only option?
Thanks.
Definitely new with substack! I am currently using squarespace for my podcasting hosting service using rss towards the rest of the platform. I am slowly drifting towards substack simplicity and the newsletter idea and podcast. Would you recommend just linking to substack for newletter and blogposts and RSS feed the rest through substack? I'm looking for more ways to make everything work!
I would like to better understand the analytics page. For example in the Overview, the total number of downloads is different from the total cumulative number in the graph. Also, in the top player section, when it indicates a percentage for any of the other platforms, does that include the downloads listed on Substack or is that people who have moved from Substack to the other platform?