Showmakers

In this episode, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, emphasizes the importance of aligning production budgets with the strategic goals of a podcast to ensure its sustainability. He provides a detailed breakdown of the various components involved in podcast production, such as research, recording, editing, quality control, and asset creation. Ed discusses different budget tiers, their trade-offs, and how production choices impact the overall quality and longevity of a podcast. He stresses the significance of carefully planning production to avoid burnout and ensure long-term success, and concludes by highlighting the importance of maintaining clarity and realistic schedules.00:00 Introduction: Production as Strategy01:21 What Production Actually Includes02:48 Production Time Breakdown04:25 High Production vs High Quality05:53 Budget Tiers and Trade-offs08:42 Time as the Real Constraint09:53 In-House vs External Production11:13 Episode Frequency and Sustainability12:15 Designing for Longevity13:12 Key Takeaways13:59 Next Episode PreviewAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: hello@1878.studioMobile: 425-520-3483

How to Keep Listeners EngagedIn this episode, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, delves into the importance of episode structure for podcasts. He explains that while topics and guests are often the focus, listeners mainly care about whether an episode feels worth their time. Good structure helps guide listeners effortlessly through an episode, leading to higher completion rates and stronger audience relationships. Barker highlights common pitfalls such as meandering conversations and outlines strategies for maintaining listener engagement through clear narrative arcs and recurring segments. He also discusses the significance of pacing and impactful openings and endings. Ultimately, well-structured episodes not only benefit the audience but also make the host's job easier and improve the overall success of the podcast.00:00 Introduction: Why Structure Matters01:00 The Data on Drop-Off Rates01:23 Why Conversation Alone Isn't Enough03:09 What Listeners Actually Want03:48 The Shape of a Good Episode05:41 Openings: The First Minute07:09 Pacing Over Length08:47 Using Segments to Create Rhythm11:31 How Structure Helps the Host12:29 Why Endings Matter13:44 Structure Respects the Listener14:47 Next Episode PreviewAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: hello@1878.studioMobile: 425-520-3483

Podcast Formats as a Strategic ChoiceIn this episode, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, talks about why choosing a podcast format is a strategic decision rather than a creative one. He explains how the right format influences the sustainability and operational load of a podcast. Barker outlines various formats like loose conversational interviews, structured interviews, narrative storytelling, and co-hosted conversations, discussing their respective pros and cons. He emphasizes that an ill-informed format choice can lead to burnout, inconsistency, and ultimately, failure to build an audience. By understanding the demands of each format, podcast creators can make informed decisions that lead to a more coherent and sustainable show.00:00 Introduction: Format as Strategy00:47 What Format Determines01:19 Format Examples in Practice02:30 Why Interviews Become the Default03:14 The Booking Trap04:37 Guest-Led Trade-offs05:53 Where the Thinking Happens06:07 Single Host Monologue06:48 Co-Hosted Conversation07:52 Structured Interview Format08:45 Narrative or Reported Format09:46 Why to Avoid Panel Shows10:43 Why Constraints Make Shows Better12:10 Format and Sustainability13:18 Format as a Positioning Tool13:58 Questions to Ask About Format14:45 Wrap-up and Next EpisodeAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: hello@1878.studioMobile: 425-520-3483

Designing a Resonate Show: The Blueprint for Show Design SuccessIn this episode, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, explains why designing a show is crucial for creating a successful podcast. He differentiates between a podcast and a show and discusses the importance of having a clear, repeatable idea that builds audience trust and loyalty. Ed compares two companies' podcast strategies to illustrate the difference in outcomes when a show is well-designed versus simply producing content. He emphasizes the risks of replicating other successful formats without understanding their core value and guides marketing teams on how to strategically plan their podcasts from the ground up.00:00 The Power of Podcasts for Brands00:39 Starting with the Right Question01:21 Podcast vs Show: Understanding the Difference02:16 Example: Two Companies, Different Outcomes03:24 Why Interviews Alone Aren't Enough04:50 The Importance of a Central Idea05:53 The Risk of Copying Successful Shows06:49 Three Strategic Questions to Ask08:22 Designing for the Return08:50 Reducing Risk Through Upfront Design09:51 Closing and Next StepsAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: hello@1878.studioMobile: 425-520-3483

Future Podcast MeasurementIn the final episode of the Showmakers analytics series, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 explores the future of podcast measurement. He discusses the limitations of current metrics and predicts significant advancements in attribution, brand lift studies, and sentiment analysis using AI. Ed emphasizes the shift from mere data collection to actionable insights that enhance both internal and external brand storytelling. By focusing on audience emotion, brand trust, and improved integration with overall marketing strategies, this episode presents a vision where podcasts become a crucial part of a brand's intelligence system.00:00 Introduction00:22 The Current State of Podcast Measurement01:17 The Future of Attribution02:50 Smarter Brand Lift and Sentiment Analysis03:59 Measurement as Brand Health Indicator05:04 AI and Automation in Podcast Analytics06:38 Internal Measurement and Employee Engagement07:01 From Proving Value to Using Insights08:45 The Next Five Years of Podcast Measurement09:53 Closing ThoughtsAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: hello@1878.studioMobile: 425-520-3483

Building a Lasting Podcast Measurement SystemIn the final episode of Showmakers’ analytics series, Ed Barker of Studio 1878 discusses how to create a measurement system that endures leadership changes and budget reviews. He emphasizes the importance of turning data into a rhythm that the business understands and ensuring measurement becomes part of the working culture. Barker outlines the creation of a measurement stack, setting up a cadence, assigning ownership, and designing dashboards tailored for different audiences. He stresses the significance of incorporating feedback and institutionalizing the measurement system to future-proof it. Finally, Barker highlights the need for measurement to be a cultural pillar, driving better decisions and long-term success for brand podcasts.Chapters00:00 Introduction 00:19 The Importance of a Lasting Measurement System01:40 Building Your Measurement Stack02:51 Setting Up Cadence and Ownership03:47 Creating Effective Dashboards05:02 Feedback Loops and Continuous Improvement05:56 Institutionalizing Your Measurement System06:49 Leadership and Long-Term Value07:46 Measurement as a Cultural Practice08:27 Conclusion and Next StepsAbout Your HostEd Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎Studio 1878A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.ContactWeb: www.1878.studioEmail: hello@1878.studioMobile: 425-520-3483