
Podcasting tips, opinions, gear, technology and news from a Veteran podcaster of over 15 years. Have a podcasting question? Ask here at the Podcast Help Desk
By Mike Dell
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How Podcasting Works – Back to Basics – PHD158
January 31, 2021
Today I want to go back to the REAL basics of how podcasting works. So, without going into a history lesson, podcasting has worked the same way since it started 16 years ago. (some say longer).
Build Your Own Podcasting Platform – PHD157
January 10, 2021
Why would build your podcast on someone else's platform when you can build your own?
Review of 2020 in Podcasting – PHD156
January 06, 2021
In 2020, the podcast industry added over 1 million shows. Out of 1.7 million shows listed on Apple, 60% (ish) are inactive.
Podcaster’s Block – What do you do when you don’t feel like podcasting? – PHD155
December 28, 2020
Here is what I do. I do more show prep. It seems I get more motivated to podcast if I do show prep on a show I'm about to record.
My top 6 Podcast Listening Apps – PHD154
December 23, 2020
There are lots of apps you can use to play podcasts. As a podcaster I'm sure you are also a podcast listener. Here is my top 6 (in reverse order of use).
What is RSS? Why should you care?
December 19, 2020
RSS is what powers podcasting. In fact, this is why podcasting even exists. The enclosure tag in RSS2 allows you to “attach” a media file. Mainly an MP3 but you can also attach just about any media like a video file, a PDF or ebook file.
Why is Podcast Index so important to podcasting? – PHD152
December 16, 2020
Podcast Index: "Lets preserve podcasting as a platform for free speech!"
Podcast Help Desk going 2 times weekly starting December 16th – PHD151
November 30, 2020
I failed miserably at completing the NaPodPoMo 30 episodes in 30 days this year. OH well, Such is life getting in the way. The Good News and part of the "big" announcement I teased is this show is going 2 times weekly starting on Dec. 16, 2020.
My 8 Favorite Podcasts – PHD150
November 21, 2020
I'm not only a podcaster, but an avid podcast listener. I have something like 30 shows that I subscribe to plus I listen to a lot of one-off shows that I don't subscribe to. Here is my top 8 (as of late November 2020) Also, not in Rank order.
The beauty of Simple (Part 2) – PHD149
November 17, 2020
Keeping it simple makes it easy for you to produce your podcast and not worry about waisting a lot of time if you don't have a lot of time.
Do not look at your stats for the first 3 months – PHD148
November 16, 2020
YES, I really did just say don't look at your stats for 3 months! THIS MEANS YOU!
Who Is Your Show For? – PHD147
November 15, 2020
So, who exactly is your show for? - When you try to make a podcast for EVERYONE, you really are making a show for NOBODY.
8 Things YOU Need To Know (or learn) About YOUR Podcast – PHD146
November 12, 2020
There are many things about a podcast that a podcaster needs to know even if you don't do everything for your show. A lot of indie podcasters do everything. Prep, Talent, Recording, Editing, Producing, Publishing, Booking guests and ALL of it.
What is an RSS feed anyway? – PHD145
November 11, 2020
As a Podcaster, your RSS Feed is your connection to the world for your podcast. The transmitter for your "Radio Station". Your RSS feed address is just like a "Frequency" Like "101.9 FM".
ID3 Tags – PHD144
November 10, 2020
Do you use ID3 tags? If not, no worries. It's only used in very unique circumstances.
Numbering your Episodes in the Title – Yes or No? – PHD143
November 09, 2020
There are reasons you might want to number your episodes in the title of your post. Also, there are reasons you might not want to.
My Top 6 Web Hosting Platforms For Your Podcast Website – PHD142
November 08, 2020
We talked yesterday about why you need a website. Here are my top 6 web hosting platforms and why (Plus a few I don't recommend).
5 Reasons You Need A Website For Your Podcast – PHD141
November 07, 2020
Do you need a website for your podcast? YES! Here are my 5 reasons.
Advertising in your show – PHD140
November 06, 2020
Do you do advertising in your show? Do you WANT to do advertising in your show?
Be Everywhere with your Podcast – phd139
November 05, 2020
I don't care how you listen to Podcast Help Desk. I just want you to listen.
The perfect length of a Podcast episode – phd138
November 04, 2020
How long should your Podcast Episode be? Only as long as it needs to be to get what you want to say, said. Period.
How important are Shownotes? – PHD137
November 03, 2020
Do you need good shownotes? Yes, you should put SOMETHING for the search engines to find.
The Beauty of Keeping It Simple – PHD136
November 02, 2020
Today I talk about keeping your podcast simple. Simple to use, simple to subscribe, simple to produce, simple to post and keeping the website easy to manage. Complicated always turns out to be harder than simple.
Podcast Help Desk History – PHD135
November 01, 2020
I go into the history of Podcast Help Desk and why I am doing #NaPodPoMo in 2020. - This podcast is posted on PodcastHelpDesk.com. Go there and subscribe!
NaPodPoMo 2020 – PHD134
October 26, 2020
I I will be joining with a bunch of other podcasters this year doing National Podcast Post Month in November. That is 30 episodes in 30 days for the entire month of November. - This will be the 4th or 5th time trying it for me.
Freedom of Speech in Podcasting – PHD133
October 09, 2020
Free Speech,Spotify, Podcast Index, REAL podcast apps and more on today's show!
Show Notes Experiment and Why I Pulled My Show From the Spotify Platform – PHD132
September 05, 2020
I'm doing an experiment for Show Notes. This text is typed in the Description tag.
Leaving Spotify – Please resubscribe at PodcastHelpDesk dot com
August 30, 2020
Just a quick note to let you know I will no longer be on Spotify with this show. IF you are listening there, please go to podcasthelpdesk.com and resubscribe using another platform by September 7th, 2020. - Thank You! -
A walk in the woods – PHD131
May 30, 2020
I took my portable setup on a walk in the woods in a industrial park. I talked about RSS, big shows vs. Indie shows, Joe Rogan's deal with Spotify and a bunch more. - Recorded using a dynamic clip on microphone from Shure.
Podcast Episodic Artwork Test Results – PHD 130
March 11, 2020
The results are in! Thank you for those that reported what you saw in your app of choice. - I put different images in different places. I put a Green logo image in the ID3 tags (embedded in the mp3 file),
Episode Artwork Test – Revisited – PHD129 (repost)
March 06, 2020
In today's episode I am testing what episode artwork shows up in which apps and directories again. Things are changing and I want to see what apps show which artowrk. - - I have an RSS image for this episode with blue type,
Episode Artwork Test – Revisited – PHD129
March 06, 2020
In today's episode I am testing what episode artwork shows up in which apps and directories again. Things are changing and I want to see what apps show which artowrk. - - I have an RSS image for this episode with blue type,
Indefinite Hiatus Status – PHD128
February 12, 2020
I am going to leave PodcastHelpDesk active. Just going on 'indefinite Hiatus" or "once in a while" mode. So no expectations of an episode every week or even every month, but I will put stuff in this feed once in a while. Stay subscribed! -
Podcasting Crossroads – PHD127
February 04, 2020
Looking for some help here. What do you think I should do with this podcast? I am not consistent (as you can tell) and I want to pair down the number of shows I feel obligated to do. - Should I leave it online and just let it podfade and exist?
Podcasting Ramblings at the end of 2019 – PHD126
December 31, 2019
What is going to happen to podcasting in 2020? Who knows, but i make some predictions and ramble about podcast topics at random in this informal Podcast Help Desk episode. - Catch me on Evo's Podcast Pontifications as the Guest-host. -
Putting all your eggs in one basket – PHD125
December 15, 2019
Typed into the 'iTunes' Subtitle box
Gushing over the Rodecaster Pro – PHD124
August 31, 2019
Every part of my studio, other than the mic boom and cable is new. The Rodecaster Pro has replaced a whole rack of stuff. I gush about how much Love this thing. It may not be perfect but man-o-man does it make things a bunch easier for most average ...
PHD at Podcast Movement 2019 – PHD123
August 05, 2019
A quick update of what is going on with Podcast Help Desk and Blubrry. Will be at Podcast Movement with "Podcast Help Desk" office hours. Stop by the booth if you need some help with your show's tech.
Mike Dell’s World Studio Equipment – PHD122
June 22, 2019
Today I go through what I'm using currently for podcast production. Here is the list: - Mackie 1202VLZ4 Mixer Behringer Composter PRO XL 2 channel Compressor, Limiter, Gate Denon DN-300R Rack Mount Digital Recorder Heil PL-2T Boom
If you are going to Podcast, JUST PODCAST! – PHD121
June 13, 2019
The single best way to make sure your Title is what you want it to be EVERYWHERE is to use it as the blog title (assuming you are using WordPress to publish your podcast) or the TITLE box in whatever podcast service you are using.
Breaking News from PHD News – Apple is making changes to Apple Podcasts
June 05, 2019
This is Wednesday's episode of my Alexa News Breif Podcast Help Desk news. - In addition to killing off "iTunes" on the Mac Desktop, Apple is also changing up the categories. (Later this summer) - Also adding some search and photo settings. -
Changing Your Podcast’s Title – PHD120
May 28, 2019
One of the questions I get a lot is how to change your podcast's title. - In this short episode, I explain how to do it and why you might want to. Also some of the things that won't change because you change your title. -
6 Things Every Podcaster Should Know About Podcasting – PHD119
March 21, 2019
For those that do not know me, I’ve been podcasting since 2005 and made every single mistake in the book. I’ve also worked in support for a podcast company for 10 years (as of next month). I think I might know what I’m talking about,
Apple Backs Down on Episode Numbers in Episode Titles – PHD118
March 01, 2019
Apple seems to have backed down on Episode Numbers in Episode Titles. Here is a partial quote from the email they sent out... We’ve received a lot of questions about metadata best practices on Apple Podcasts.
The End of Episode Numbers in Apple Podcasts? – PHD117
February 28, 2019
Apple sent a letter to podcasters today (It was a bulk email NOT just to you). The big takeaway is that you need to remove episode numbers from your titles. I have a way of doing that and keeping them in your blog titles (as you can see above) and Keep...
Bad Podcast Advice? Not one size fits all – PHD116
February 24, 2019
Is all Podcast advice applicable to your goals in podcasting? Be careful about who you are getting your advice from. Do they have an agenda? (most do) Do they match YOUR goals in podcasting? Not everyone wants advertisers.
Paul Colligan Podcast Pioneer
February 21, 2019
Paul Colligan is a Podcast Pioneer, Marketing guy, Podcaster, Author and Speaker who was around in the early days of Podcasting. Paul sat down with me and we talked about, you guessed it, Podcasting (duh!). Paul's Links: PaulColligan.com
Spotify + Anchor + Gimlet Media - What it might mean to Independent Podcasters
February 07, 2019
What does this accusition mean to the average independent Podcaster? Not much is my guess. - This is just me doing a bit of a brain-dump about the big news of yesterday. Is it good for Podcasting in General? Is it Good/Bad for Indy podcasters?
Elsie Escobar talking about Podcasting
January 19, 2019
Elise Escobar stopped by the Podcast Help Desk a while back and we had a great conversation about podcasting (what else?) and what she is doing in podcasting. - Elsie is a Hall of Famer, Podcaster and Social Media at Libsyn - The Feed and She Podcasts...
PHD News 3 Days a week
January 14, 2019
My Alexa Skill (in the news brief area) is now 3 days a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Other days when there is breaking news. - Please enable the "Podcast Help Desk News" skill in your Alexa App. -