Podmastery: podcasting insights and advice for indie creators

The Podmaster (Neal Veglio)

Are you a podcaster who's looking to improve and grow your podcast? You're in the right place. Together, we'll help you attain 'podmastery'.
I'm Neal Veglio, a veteran podcaster who first started dabbling with RSS in the early 2000s.
Podcasting is such a complex medium, with so many factors that can impact your success. It's my goal to cover all these topics with you, and help you maximise the results you're getting from your efforts.
And while my shows now enjoy thousands of listeners every single week, it wasn't always easy.
When I took a career break from radio for a few years in 2007, I had to learn how to build audience without the lift of an FM frequency.
I learned a lot from that experience.
I now help other podcasters to achieve their goals.
Each episode, I'll be offering you some insights into what I've done and what I've helped my podcasting agency clients to do with all our podcasts in the hope we can help YOU increase your podcast's chances of becoming more successful!
And ensuring you can avoid the dreaded 'podfade'!
Take one step closer to Podmastery. Click follow in your favourite podcast app, and let's grow together.

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21 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes21

Newest first

Yesterday · 15 min
Opinion: Spotify Now Decides Which Bits Of Your Show Are Worth Hearing
Spotify has secretly built a button that tells your listener which bits of your episode aren't worth hearing. It's called Skip Ahead. It's in testing, they haven't announced it, and the excellent podcast industry journalist James Cridland broke it on Podnews. One tap and you're past the entire ad break — not fifteen seconds, everything. The ad still gets delivered to the device, so the impression still counts and the advertiser still pays. They're just encouraging nobody to hear it. Including, in some cases, ads Spotify sold themselves. That's the industry story and it's been well covered. This episode is about the bit that hasn't. This isn't an advertising story. It's a platform applying editorial judgement to the stuff you made. And then there's the part where I have to be a little bit honest with you - you might have brought this on yourself. In this episode: — What Skip Ahead does, and why "you could always skip" doesn't hold up — Why "we're not affecting ad delivery" is technically true and completely dishonest — James Cridland on the terms and conditions nobody read — The membership pitch that got flagged as skippable — Why your intro is on the list too — The one thing a machine can never skip Clip from Podnews Weekly Review with James Cridland and Sam Sethi, used with thanks. Subscribe at weekly.podnews.net — he does the reporting, I just have opinions about it. Want in on the Podmastery Community? We're opening the doors to the public soon. Founding members: podmastery.co/waitlist Stuck on something specific? Get your next podcasting challenge solved one-to-one at podmastery.co Got your own opinion and want to share? Great! I love hearing from you. Here's where to do it - https://podmastery.co/get-in-touch/
Monday · 12 min
You Only Ever Have To Make One More Episode
It's stupid o'clock in the morning. You've just finished editing. And instead of feeling good about it, one horrible little thought is living rent free in your head where the zzzzzzs should be: do I have to do this forever? In this episode I troll the consistency doctrine which the gurus peddle. The show-up-every-week-forever commandment that gets drummed into you from day one, usually by someone whose whole business model is selling you the cure for the anxiety they just handed you. I also make the case that publishing in seasons is one of the worst ideas going for most indie shows. Not for the reason you'd expect. Seasons aren't a strategy, they're something else entirely. Want in on the Podmastery Community? We're opening the doors to the public soon. To join the founding members, go to podmastery.co/waitlist. Stuck on something specific? Come and get your next podcasting challenge solved one-to-one with me at podmastery.co.
July 28 · 14 min
I Use AI to Make This Show. Here’s the Line I Won’t Cross.
Ninety seconds into another consultant’s podcast, I got the 'shiver'. it wasn't over the mic quality. It wasn't because of bad editing. It was the words. They were tidy, warm... and hauntingly empty, like a very confident ghost had written the lot. This episode's about the single line that decides whether AI sharpens your show or hollows it out. Plus a confession I fully expect to get grief for...
July 22 · 12 min
The Hidden Failure Around Podcasting Failure
Here's the super uncomfortable truth this episode's built on: the day you publish makes not the slightest difference to a single download you receive. I will stake this whole show on it. And yet I still missed my Monday slot, published on a Wednesday, and felt like a failure anyway. That first feeling — the flicker of disappointment — is fine. It's just data. It's the second feeling that does the damage. In this one I'm being properly honest about the trap nobody warns you about when they tell you to "build your personal brand": you make the thing personal on purpose, and then every wobble in it feels personal too. So what do we do about it?... The Podmastery founding-members waitlist is open. Doors to the community open to the public soon — get in first at podmastery.co/waitlist. Got a podcasting thing you're quietly beating yourself up about? That's exactly the kind of problem I love to solve. Head to podmastery.co, click "Need Help", and book a 60-minute call. It's him on the other end — not a sales funnel.
July 13 · 12 min
Is "Be Everywhere" The WORST Podcasting Advice Now That YouTube 'Dominates'?
YouTube just overtook Spotify as the UK's most-used podcast platform. By one point. Everyone reported the crossover — almost nobody read the rest of the data, which says your podcast is effectively now a radio station, and you're broadcasting on every frequency at once. Hi, I'm Neal Veglio, founder of Podknows Podcasting and the Podmastery community. Edison Research's latest UK numbers gave the podcasting press its headline: YouTube 29%, Spotify 28%. Tectonic plates, apparently. One percentage point. I spent 25 years in radio before I ever touched a podcast, and the first thing that world drums into you is that a station is never for everyone. Which is exactly what this data is saying — if you read past the crossover. Different platforms. Different people. Different reasons. This is Radio 1 and Radio 4 all over again, just dressed up with an app icon instead of a frequency. And a lot of podcasters are currently trying to be all three stations at once. In this one: The four-year trend that matters far more than the 1% headline (YouTube 19 → 29; Spotify 33 → 28) BBC Sounds, the station that didn't panic — and what its flat 15% is quietly teaching everyone Why these aren't the same listeners switching apps: the age, gender and trust splits nobody quoted The platform growing fastest is also the one people trust the least. Amazing. The Sheffield podcaster making three versions of one episode every week — while 80% of her downloads come from a platform she barely thinks about Why “post everywhere equally” is busy work wearing a growth strategy's coat “But won't narrowing my focus lose me everyone else?” — no, and here's why Today's tip: the five-minute hosting-dashboard check that tells you which radio station you already are PODMASTERY LINKS The Podmastery community is opening its doors to the public soon. To join as a founding member with lifetime perks, go to podmastery.co/waitlist, fill in the form and ask me to add you to the list. Got a podcasting problem you'd rather just get solved? Go to podmastery.co and click “Get your podcasting challenge solved”. Just got a specific thing you need help to solve? You can pick my brain! Do that here - https://podknows.co.uk/pick-my-brain
July 7 · 9 min
What 5,000 Podcast Listeners Just Told Us About Indie Show Growth
New research from Signal Hill Insights, presented by Tom Webster at Sounds Profitable, surveyed over 5,000 podcast listeners — and the findings are uncomfortable for most indie podcasters to hear. Probably the most uncomfortable for me to hear, considering they contradict everything I've ever told people around podcast growth. But, as with all things, this research is not gospel. It's, as usual, a soupçon of insight into a complex and wide challenge. It challenges what our audio is, what our newsletter does and why our video clips should be. So listen as I break down the Podcast Atlas findings and what they actually mean for indie shows without a publisher, PR team, or paid clip editor behind them. You’ll hear: — Why the 43% trust number matters — and why it’s useless until someone finds you first — What the data says about clips as a discovery engine (and my nuanced take on whether that shifts my position) — Why 61% of your potential audience is untapped and ownable — and what to do about it — The only two things in this whole system you actually own 📊 Download the full Podcast Atlas report (free): https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-podcast-atlas/ Three ways to work with me: 1. Start the free 7-day podcast makeover email course at podmastery.co 2. Take the listener survey and receive a free download: podmastery.co/listener-survey/ 3. Ready to work directly? podmastery.co/need-podcasting-help/
June 30 · 21 min
I Added Video to My B2B Podcast Using Apple Podcasts’ HLS — Here’s What Actually Happened
A couple of episodes back I made the case for Apple Podcasts’ new HLS video. Then I had to go and actually do it — because the theoretical version of podcasting-about-podcasting is slightly embarrassing, and I hold myself to a better standard than the people spouting expertise about things they’ve never tried. So I enabled video for B2B Podcasting Insights, my other show, in Captivate. A real show, in a crowded market, with real numbers. This episode is the field report. In this one: What HLS video actually is — and why it isn’t the old MP4-in-the-RSS-enclosure trick that nobody could see What the listener experience really looks like (spoiler: “clean” is a Michelin star in podcast infrastructure) The hosting catch — it lives or dies on who you host with Three workflow changes nobody warns you about, including the upload time and editing for two audiences at once What two weeks of data actually showed — told straight, no fake growth-hack victory lap The honest verdict: who should switch it on now, and who should wait LINKS Got something about your show bugging you at half eleven at night? Go to podmastery.co and click get in touch. Let’s sort it rather than just theorise about it. Recorded on Boomcaster — free trial + 50% off your first three months (affiliate link): podmastery.co/boomcaster And go follow B2B Podcasting Insights if you want more on getting the most from a B2B show: podknows.co.uk/b2bpi
June 22 · 11 min
Why Your Podcast Episode Sounds Good But Feels Empty... And How To Fix That
Your show sounds cleaner than it ever has. You've sorted the room, fixed the levels, maybe even brought in an editor. And when you listen back — nothing. No connection. No feeling. Just technically correct audio with nobody in it. Hi, I'm Neal Veglio, founder of the Podmastery community from Podknows Podcasting. And this week, I'm exploring why that hollow feeling has nothing to do with your equipment — and why the fix is simpler than you think. I share a story from my radio days about a presenter who went from compelling-but-rough to polished-and-forgettable, what broadcast training actually teaches about the difference between performing and talking, and the 30-second exercise I even use myself before every recording. If you'd like a proper look at what's sitting between your show and where you want it to be, head to podmastery.co, hit the Get In Touch page, and tell me what's going on.
June 16 · 8 min
They Just Changed What a 'Play' Means In Podcasting. Did You Notice?
Somebody just moved the goalposts on podcast metrics. And most podcasters didn’t even notice. The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting — AMP — has defined a new cross-platform standard for what counts as a ‘play.’ Spotify has already adopted it. In this episode, Neal breaks down what this actually means for indie podcasters — why your dashboard numbers are about to look fairly different, why that doesn’t mean your show is doing better, and why optimising for any play-count threshold is optimising for the wrong thing. You’ll hear: — What AMP is and why they’re trying to standardise this — What is ‘intentional consumption’ in Spotify’s words, and what that actually means — Why Apple’s definition is still extraordinary (and not in a good way) — The one metric that actually tells you if your show is working 🔗 Listen to other episodes here: https://podmastery.co/ 📊 Free 7-day podcast makeover email course — one tip per day, no filler. Sign up at podmastery.co 💡 Want to work through your specific show? podmastery.co/need-podcasting-help
May 18 · 9 min
Why podcast guest cross-promotion as a growth strategy is a fairytale
Every podcaster who's ever had a guest on has felt it. You do the edit, write the show notes, create the clips, tag them everywhere — and hear absolutely nothing back. No share. No repost. Not even a like. So is it you? Is it them? Is this just how guests are? In this episode, I'm getting into why podcast guest cross-promotion is one of the most persistent myths in indie podcasting. If you're booking guests to borrow their audience, this episode is going to save you a lot of disappointment. Free 7-day podcast makeover: head to podmastery.co and sign up — one practical tip per day, straight to your inbox.
May 12 · 8 min
Apple Podcasts Video: The Benefits
In the previous episode I explained why we need to be cautious around Apple Podcasts new video HLS streaming feature. Well, this podcast about podcasting is about balance. So now, it's important we look at all the good things about the feature.
May 5 · 5 min
Apple Podcasts Video: The Painful Truth
With Apple Podcasts video now becoming a mainstream feature as the main hosting platforms roll it out, there are more and more creators leaning into creating this content. But should you be joining them? Well, before we can answer this question, we need to establish the answer to another one; do you understand the algorithmic differences surrounding video and audio? Click play. I'll explain. Companies mentioned in this episode: LinkedIn YouTube Apple Podcasts
April 21 · 9 min
Your podcast audience may not be what you thought it was
This episode will challenge a lot of assumptions you may have about your audience. If you’ve been losing sleep over whether you need to shift all your energy into video, or feel the pressure to keep up with multi-camera setups just to stay relevant, you’re going to want to pay attention to this one. We’re sharing new research from Tom Webster and the Sounds Profitable team that uncovers who your most valuable listeners really are — and it’s not who you think. Link to report: https://soundsprofitable.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Audio-Primes-2026-Webinar-Version.pdf
April 2 · 4 min
Is Beehiiv The Ideal New Platform For Indie Podcasters?
Beehiiv are targeting podcasters with offers to join their new creator platform. But is this the solution podcasters have been waiting for? Link to check out their teased offer: https://www.beehiiv.com/beehiiv-for/podcasters
March 30 · 20 min
Don’t Compare Your Podcast to “Diary of a CEO”. Here’s why
Diary of a CEO is doing something genuinely damaging to indie podcasters. Not maliciously. The damage is the business model. Hi, I'm Neal Veglio, The Podmaster. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why comparing your show to mega-podcasts like Diary of a CEO, High Performance Podcast, and Young and Profiting isn't just unhelpful — it's statistically irrational. Using Phil Rosenzweig's Halo Effect, Nassim Taleb's Silent Graveyard, the Columbia Music Lab experiment, and Daniel Kahneman's narrative fallacy, I'll explain the intellectual architecture behind why these shows exist, who they're actually designed to serve, and why their 'success strategies' are largely retrospective fiction. You'll hear why the gap between what these shows promise and what they can actually deliver is not a flaw — it's the product. Also in this episode: Listener email: Do you actually need a trailer episode before you launch? Experiment: Listen back to your three most downloaded episodes and steal from yourself. If you've been measuring your show against something that was never real — head to podmastery.co and click 'Get your podcasting challenge solved'. Useful links: Phil Rosenzweig's The Halo Effect summarised: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klngdRa8nOI Nassim Taleb's Fooled by Randomness: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fooled-Randomness-Hidden-Chance-Markets/dp/0141031484 The music lab study: https://www.princeton.edu/~mjs3/salganik_dodds_watts06_full.pdf
February 3 · 9 min
When Tools Make Bad Audio Sound ‘Good’, Who Loses?
A lot of people are excited about AI tools that promise instant, studio-quality podcast audio. Record on your phone. Click a button. Sound professional. But that story deserves a closer look. Hi, I'm Neal Veglio, founder of Podknows Podcasting and the Podmastery community. In this episode of Podcasting Insights, I unpack what happens when technology starts erasing the difference between effort and outcome — and ask what podcasting quietly loses when “good sound” becomes a default instead of a craft. This isn’t an anti-AI rant. And it’s not about gatekeeping beginners. It’s about incentives. Standards. And what we’re rewarding at scale. You’ll learn: • Why AI audio tools raise standards and lower effort at the same time • How one-click fixes create a podcasting “house sound” • The difference between accessibility and erasing craft • Why effort still matters, even when listeners can’t hear it • The question creators should be asking before relying on AI cleanup Links: Waves Voice Regen: https://www.waves.com/voice-regen I’d love YOUR feedback: https://www.podmastery.co/survey I’ve been doing this for 20+ years and run a successful podcast marketing agency. Want me to audit your podcast? https://podmastery.co/lite
January 31 · 6 min
Is Edison Research Correct? Is Video Podcasting Creating New Podcast LISTENERS?
A lot of people are saying video is the future of podcasting. That video is the gateway drug — the thing that creates new podcast listeners. But that story deserves a closer look. In this episode of Podcasting Insights, I question the growing narrative around video podcasting, discovery, and conversion — and ask whether we’re confusing reach with commitment, and visibility with attention. This isn’t about dismissing the data. It’s about questioning the story we’re telling around it. You’ll learn: • Why “discovery” is an incomplete metric • The difference between conversion and gravity • Why video often benefits from defaults, not desire • What podcasting’s real strength has always been • The question creators should be asking instead of “Should I do video?” Links: Podnews story on charting clips based podcast: https://podnews.net/update/complete-rankers Edison Research – The Evolving Ear: https://www.edisonresearch.com/how-new-consumers-are-shaping-podcastings-next-chapter-the-evolving-ear-webinar/ I’d love YOUR feedback: https://www.podmastery.co/survey I've been doing this 20+ years and run a successful podcast marketing agency. Want me to audit your podcast? https://podmastery.co/lite
January 30 · 5 min
Podcast Feedback vs Strategy: Rebrand? Or Just Ask?
A lot of podcasters don’t actually need any kind of new strategy. They just need honest podcast feedback that tells them what it actually feels like to listen. In this episode of Podcasting Insights, I explain why so many shows stall at “fine,” why polite feedback keeps podcasts forgettable, and how growth usually comes from being braver with what already exists. You’ll learn: • Why “competent” podcasts struggle to grow • The real question listeners ask in the first 30 seconds • Why delivery matters more than structure • How feedback beats endless strategy tweaks Links: I'd love YOUR feedback: https://www.podmastery.co/survey https://podmastery.co https://podmastery.co/lite
January 23 · 8 min
‘Evergreen’ podcast content is a total myth!
Seriously. It's become a buzzword of basic b*tch podcast coaching. Evergreen podcast content is definitely not timeless. It is just content you have not looked at in ages. If your back catalogue feels a bit… awkward, this episode is for you. Not because you need more episodes. Because you probably need to stop pretending. Hi, I’m Neal Veglio, and in this episode of Podcasting Insights, I’m breaking down why “evergreen” became a polite way of saying “I’m never thinking about this again”, and what to do instead. In this episode, I cover: What evergreen was supposed to mean, and what it turned into Why podcasters stop sharing old episodes (it gets weirdly emotional) How to reintroduce older episodes without pretending they’re new How to update the context without rewriting history When to let an episode die, on purpose A practical idea usingCaptivateor Buzzsprout to dynamically inject fresh audio into old episodes If you have episodes you avoid because they make you cringe a bit, or because you mentioned a tool that no longer exists, you’re not broken. You’ve just progressed. Now treat the work you already did with a bit more honesty. Links: 🔗 Podmastery site – https://podmastery.co 🔗 Book a Podcast Audit – https://podmastery.co/lite
January 16 · 7 min
Your Podcast Doesn’t HAVE To Be Weekly, Ya Know!
Most podcasts don’t struggle because the ideas aren’t good. They struggle because the release schedule quietly starts to drain the energy out of them. Somewhere early on, a lot of podcasters decide they probably 'should' be weekly. Not because it makes sense. Because it feels serious. In this episode, I talk about why recording less can actually make your podcast better. I also share a simple way to decide your schedule based on intent, not pressure, and explain why consistency isn’t about never missing a release day. It's about something far deeper. If your podcast is starting to feel heavy, rushed, or obligation-driven, this episode will help you reset without disappearing. Chapters 00:00 – You Probably Overcommitted (And You Know It) 00:53 – Why Weekly Feels “Serious” (But Usually Isn’t Thought Through) 01:36 – The Guilt Loop That Quietly Ruins Podcasts 02:12 – Recording From Obligation vs Recording With Intent 02:47 – What Actually Happened When I Missed Episodes 03:19 – The Spotlight Effect (And Why No One’s Watching You That Closely) 03:53 – Frequency Doesn’t Build Trust. Intent Does 04:15 – What Listeners Really Respond To 05:07 – Consistency vs Frequency (They’re Not the Same Thing) 05:50 – Recording Less Without Disappearing 06:46 – Choosing a Schedule That Actually Fits You 07:27 – Why People Forget Podcasts (And It’s Not Because You Missed a Week) Links: 🔗 Podmastery site – https://podmastery.co 🔗 Book a Podcast Audit – https://podmastery.co/lite