The Podcast Advice Show: Make a Better Podcast

If you’re an indie podcaster, when does something you love making start to feel like another job? In this mental health special in aid of CALM, Damien St John and Ant McGinley talk about the pressure to stay consistent, obsessing over podcast analytics, feeding the social media machine and knowing when it’s time to take a break. With insight from podcasting advocate and Hall of Famer Elsie Escobar, they explore what a healthier, more sustainable version of podcasting might actually look like, especially when you’re making your show alongside everything else in life.

Busy podcasting alongside work, family and everything else?The Podcast Advice Show is back with practical advice, honest experience and useful conversations for independent podcasters. Damien St John and Ant McGinley talk to podcasters like you about advice growth, audience, analytics, promotion, monetisation and workflow advice learned along the way.Hear what’s working (and why), what isn’t and how you can make a better podcast without it taking over your life.

Tired of your podcast vanishing into the social media void? Discover how AI can revolutionise your keyword research and boost discoverability without the hefty price tag. Learn platform-specific strategies for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts that actually work for indie podcasters. From trending hashtags to niche targeting, get actionable steps to make algorithms work for you, not against you. Hosted by Damien St John and Ant McGinley.If you find this battle-tested insight is useful, why not buy us a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/podcastadviceshowAffiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at https://bit.ly/podomedy-riverside

In this special episode recorded at the Podcast Show in London, Adam Jarrell and Joel Emery from Holy Smokes Audio discuss their journey from The Offensive to creating Sherlock & Co, the hit modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. They share insights on found-footage audio drama techniques, building passionate fan communities, effective Patreon strategies, and working with Goalhanger Productions. The duo reveal how they balance writing with production, create authentic podcast-style storytelling, and develop sustainable creative partnerships in the competitive audio drama landscape. Special thanks to ⁠Spiritland Podcast Studio⁠ in London for providing the recording equipment for this episode.Hosted by Damien St John and Ant McGinley. If you find our battle-tested insight is useful, why not buy us a coffee!Affiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at ⁠https://bit.ly/podomedy-riverside

In this special episode recorded at the Podcast Show in London, Damien St John and Ant McGinley explore AI's impact on podcasting for UK creatives with Cliff Fluet of Lewis Silkin/Eleven Advisory. Topics include voice cloning, automated editing and legal concerns like copyright and deepfakes. Hit play to discover how podcast creators are blending human creativity with AI innovation. If you find our battle-tested insight is useful, why not buy us a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/podcastadviceshowAffiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at https://bit.ly/podomedy-riversideSpecial thanks to Spiritland Podcast Studio in London for providing the recording equipment for this episode.

Award-winning podcasters Damien St John and Ant McGinley expose the make-or-break element most creators overlook: your podcast artwork. That tiny square is digital real estate making thousands of first impressions daily. While you obsess over content, potential listeners judge your show in milliseconds based on visuals alone. Is your artwork inviting new listeners or sending them scrolling? We uncover the critical mistakes that kill discoverability, reveal what top-performing shows understand about visual psychology, and share free tools to transform your brand today. The truth? Your brilliant content means nothing if your artwork doesn't stop thumbs from scrolling.Affiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at https://bit.ly/podomedy-riversideIf our battle-tested insight is useful, why not buy us a coffee? Get started at https://buymeacoffee.com/podcastadviceshow

Award-winning podcasters Damien St John and Ant McGinley reveal how to avoid a cringe-worthy car crash and make your next interview an all-time classic. Together with actor Craig Parkinson (Line of Duty, Two Shot podcast) and journalists Eva Krysiak (Everyone Else podcast) and Jon Weeks (Which?, Evening Standard), we explore the delicate art of drawing authenticity from guests. From pre-interview rituals that establish trust to recovery techniques when conversations hit walls. Whether you're seeking opening strategies, hunting for revelation triggers, or navigating guarded responses, this episode unveils the counterintuitive truth: sometimes the most powerful questions aren't questions at all. Get ready to transform your interview approach forever.Affiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at https://bit.ly/podomedy-riversideIf our battle-tested insight is useful, why not buy us a coffee? Get started at https://buymeacoffee.com/podcastadviceshow

Hosted by award-winning podcasters Damien St John and Ant McGinley, this episode dives into the world of content promotion with Oliver Wellington, Co-Founder of Headliner. Learn how a new solution looks set to revolutionise how audiences discover and consume podcasts through snackable content - and what this means for indie podcasters looking to grow their audience. Plus the usual healthy dose of expert opinion that could level up your podcasting strategy in less 30 minutes. Try Headliner for yourself for free at https://www.headliner.appAffiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at https://bit.ly/podomedy-riversideIf our battle-tested insight is useful, why not buy us a coffee? Get started at https://buymeacoffee.com/podcastadviceshow

Hosted by award-winning podcasters Damien St John and Ant McGinley, this episode explores the ethical challenges facing true crime podcasters. Together with Adam Lloyd from the UK True Crime podcast, we examine when coverage becomes exploitation, whether creators should contact victims' families, how to ensure accuracy without journalism training, the ethics of monetising tragedy, and balancing engagement with dignity. For independent podcasters navigating these moral complexities, we offer guidance on creating compelling content while maintaining ethical standards and respecting those affected by crime.Subscribe to Adam's post for more True Crime coverage at https://www.uktruecrime.comAffiliate: Bad internet ruining recordings? Riverside captures perfect audio and video, whatever your set up. Start recording with Riverside for free now at https://bit.ly/podomedy-riversideIf you find our battle-tested insight useful, you can buy us a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/podcastadviceshow