Ask the Podcast Coach

Getting Real About Podcast Improvement: Audio, AI, and Authenticity

Send us feedback/questions via TextToday Jim is back and we are looking at 2026 and what podcasters may be considering to improve their show. Sponsors:PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear youBasedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?Video Version (unedited)Mentioned In This EpisodeSchool of Podcastinghttps://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/joinPodpagehttp://www.trypodpage.comHome Gadget Geekshttp://www.theaverageguy.tvPodcast Hot SeatWhispr Flow Talk to Text ToolAuphonic - Sound Leveling and MoreMagai - AI Suite of ToolsCastmagic - AI Transcripts and Show NotesBuzzsprout - Media HostingCaptivate - Media HostingAI Goes to College ShowLive Well and FlourishFeatured Supporters: Jill and Alison from the Keep the Flame Alive Podcast.The podcast for fans of the Olympics and Paralympics at flamealivepod.com Podcast Hot Seat Black Friday DealNot happy with your downloads? Get some honest, constructive, feedback to get your show going in the right direction AND get a free month at the School of Podcasting (now through the end of the year). Take advantage of this black friday deal and get your podcast going in the right direction. Go to podcasthotseat.com Leave Your QuestionGo to askthepodcastcoach.com/voicemail and leave your message to be answered on the next show.Support the showBE AWESOME!Thanks for listening to the show. Help the show continue to exist and get a shout-out on the show by becoming an awesome supporter by going to askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome

Is It a Podcast Without an RSS Feed? The Great Debate

Send us feedback/questions via TextWelcome to another episode of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting, joined by podcasting legend Rob Greenlee. In today’s episode, we dive into a ton of topics ranging from the definition of a podcast to AI-generated content, and industry trends. Sponsors:PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear youBasedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?Video Version (unedited)Mentioned In This EpisodeSchool of Podcastinghttps://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/joinPodpagehttp://www.trypodpage.comNew Media Showhttps://www.newmediashow.comPodcaster Hall of Famehttps://www.podcasthof.comPod SEOhttps://www.podseo.com (use coupon schoolofpodcasting )Answer Socrateshttps://answersocrates.com?via=sopAnswer the Publichttps://www.answerthepublic.comFeatured Supporter: Shane from SpybraryWe interview spy authors, espionage historians and fans of spy books, spy movies and spy TV series! Check it out at https://spybrary.com/ Podcast Hot Seat Black Friday DealNot happy with your downloads? Get some honest, constructive, feedback to get your show going in the right direction AND get a free month at the School of Podcasting (now through the end of the year). Take advantage of this black friday deal and get your podcast going in the right direction. Go to podcasthotseat.com Leave Your QuestionGo to askthepodcastcoach.com/voicemail and leave your message to be answered on the next show.PodMatchPodMatch Automatically Matches Ideal Podcast Guests and Hosts For InterviewsSupport the showBE AWESOME!Thanks for listening to the show. Help the show continue to exist and get a shout-out on the show by becoming an awesome supporter by going to askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome

New Tip Legislation May save you Big in taxes

Send us feedback/questions via TextOn this episode, I was joined as always by Jim Collison, and we had the pleasure of welcoming Ralph Estep from AskRalph.com—the Content Creators' Accountant—to dive into recent changes in how the IRS handles tips for content creators. Ralph walked us through the new law allowing up to $25,000 in tip income (like Super Chats, Buy Me a Coffee, etc.) to be excluded from income taxes in 2025, provided you track it properly. We talked about the importance of keeping tip income separate from memberships or other payments where the customer receives something tangible or access in exchange.We also took questions and comments from our live chat about accounting software, prepping for taxes, and even how certain types of Patreon support could possibly qualify as tax-free tip income under this new law (with a big emphasis on always consulting your own accountant!). Whether you’re using Super Chats, Patreon, or other support methods, this tax year might look a little different.Sponsors:PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear youBasedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?Video Version (unedited)Mentioned In This EpisodeSchool of Podcastinghttps://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/joinPodpagehttp://www.trypodpage.comHome Gadget Geekshttps://www.homegadgetgeeks.comContent Creator's Accountanthttps://www.contentcreatorsaccountant.com/Podcaster Hall of Famehttps://www.podcasthof.comFeatured Supporters: Jill and Alison from the Keep the Flame Alive Podcast.The podcast for fans of the Olympics and Paralympics at flamealivepod.com Podcast Hot Seat Black Friday DealNot happy with your downloads? Get some honest, constructive, feedback to get your show going in the right direction AND get a free month at the School of Podcasting (now through the end of the year). Take advantage of this black friday deal and get your podcast going in the right direction. Go to podcasthotseat.com Leave Your QuestionGo to askthepodcastcoach.com/voicemail and leave your message to be answered on the next show.Featured Supporter: Keep the Flame AliveDo you love the Olympics? Then you will love the Keep the Flame Alive PodcastDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showBE AWESOME!Thanks for listening to the show. Help the show continue to exist and get a shout-out on the show by becoming an awesome supporter by going to askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome

The Truth About Podcast Guesting in 2025 (And AI Pitch Slaps)

Send us feedback/questions via TextWelcome to this holiday edition of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson, flying solo with special guest Chris Stone from Castahead.net. In this lively episode, we kick things off debating the most overplayed Christmas songs (sorry, Mariah Carey!), slide into podcast mic setups—covering everything from phantom power to Cloudlifters and USB/XLR combos—and share our biggest podcast merch mistakes. Sponsors:PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear youBasedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?Video Version (unedited)Mentioned In This EpisodeSchool of Podcastinghttps://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/joinPodpagehttp://www.trypodpage.comChris' Podcast ProductionCastahaed.netDealcastershttps://www.podpage.com/dealcastersHome Gadget Geekshttps://www.homegadgegeeks.comPodmatch Guesting Toolhttps://supportthisshow.com/podmatchFourth Wall Merchhttps://supportthisshow.com/fourthwallPodcast Hot Seat (Podcast Audits)https://www.podcasthotseat.comFeatured Supporter: Shane from SpybraryWe interview spy authors, espionage historians and fans of spy books, spy movies and spy TV series! Check it out at https://spybrary.com/ Podcast Hot Seat Black Friday DealNot happy with your downloads? Get some honest, constructive, feedback to get your show going in the right direction AND get a free month at the School of Podcasting (now through the end of the year). Take advantage of this black friday deal and get your podcast going in the right direction. Go to podcasthotseat.com Leave Your QuestionGo to askthepodcastcoach.com/voicemail and leave your message to be answered on the next show.Support the showBE AWESOME!Thanks for listening to the show. Help the show continue to exist and get a shout-out on the show by becoming an awesome supporter by going to askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome

Rechargeable vs. Alkaline: Best Batteries for Podcasting Gear

Send us feedback/questions via TextWelcome to this week’s episode of Ask the Podcast Coach! I’m Dave Jackson, and I’m excited to be joined by my good friend Jim Collison as we kick back after Thanksgiving and dig into everything from surviving power outages as a podcaster to getting serious about connecting with your audience. We’ll swap stories from behind the mic, share practical tips for managing your listeners, debate the best batteries for your gear, and tackle questions about websites, live show feedback, and the ever-changing world of podcast tech. Let’s get into it!Sponsors:PodcastBranding.co - They see you before they hear youBasedonastruestorypodcast.com - Comparing Hollywood with History?Video Version (unedited)Mentioned In This EpisodeSchool of Podcastinghttps://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/joinPodpagehttp://www.trypodpage.comHome Gadget Geekshttps://www.homegadgegeeks.comKit Email List Toolhttps://partners.kit.com/wcqdcqy9cu40Substack Email Platformhttps://substack.com/refer/davejacksonAweber Email List Toolhttps://podcastcoach.aweber.com/Beehiv Email List Toolhttps://www.beehiiv.com/?via=Dave-JacksonPabbly Automation Toolhttps://supportthisshow.com/pabblyZapierhttps://zapier.com/ElfSight (Faq and other Scripts)https://supportthisshow.com/elfsightRSS.com Media Hostinghttps://supportthisshow.com/rssdotcomCaptivate Media Hostinghttps://supportthisshow.com/captivateBuzzsprout Media Hostinghttps://sFEATURED SUPPORTER: Dr. Craig Van Slyke from AI Goes to CollegeGenerative artificial intelligence systems, like ChatGPT, are transforming the world of higher education. AI Goes to College covers the latest developments in generative AI as they relate to higher ed. Each episode is filled with insights and practical tips that you can use to navigate an AI-enabled world. Check it out at aigoestocollege.com Podcast Hot Seat Black Friday DealNot happy with your downloads? Get some honest, constructive, feedback to get your show going in the right direction AND get a free month at the School of Podcasting (now through the end of the year). Take advantage of this black friday deal and get your podcast going in the right direction. Go to podcasthotseat.com Leave Your QuestionGo to askthepodcastcoach.com/voicemail and leave your message to be answered on the next show.Support the showBE AWESOME!Thanks for listening to the show. Help the show continue to exist and get a shout-out on the show by becoming an awesome supporter by going to askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome