Podcast Bestie is a best friend to podcasters trying to grow and monetize their shows. First, a popular Substack, now also a podcast! Hosted by Podcast Bestie founder Courtney Kocak.
From Podcast to Page: Cara McGoogan on Turning Bed of Lies Into Blood Farm
Monday, September 9, 2024 • Duration 01:00:33
Hey Besties! Today we've got a special bonus episode featuring Cara McGoogan, who ticked off a major item on my bucket list when she successfully transformed the second season of her podcast Bed of Lies into her book Blood Farm (The Poison Line in the UK). In this episode, Cara breaks down the process of adapting a podcast into a book and the opportunities and challenges that come along with it. This conversation explores how podcast writing differs from book writing, how to structure a compelling narrative in each format, the research and fact-checking processes, IP considerations, and so much more.
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio.
A big thanks to our BFFs for sponsoring this episode:
* Ready to claim your time back? Outsource your editing and social media with Edit Pods. We are your one stop shop for podcast audio/video editing and social media management. We make it easy for you! The Best Podcast Editors
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
Have you considered turning your podcast into a book?
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.podcastbestie.com/subscribe
What Is V4V? A Primer on Value4Value Monetization for Indie Podcasters with Kyrin Down
Friday, January 12, 2024 • Duration 01:06:20
Hi Besties! For the season finale, Kyrin Down, co-host of the Mere Mortals Podcast, is here to give us a primer on V4V, or Value4Value, which is a new way to think about value in podcasting. Basically, V4V enables payment directly from podcast listener to podcaster using Bitcoin, making it easy to support your favorite podcasters, no matter where in the world they are based. Value4Value is a good option for pretty much every indie podcaster's monetization strategy, and in this episode, Kyrin explains why.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Organic Growth Hack: Recurring Collaborations with Niche Podcasts with Aakshi Sinha of Tink Media
Friday, May 26, 2023 • Duration 24:22
Hey Besties! This episode is such a treat because I had the chance to chat with Aakshi Sinha, a Podcast Marketing Specialist from Tink Media, all the way from India. Connecting with people around the world is one of the many reasons I love podcasting!
Prepare to be inspired as we delve into Aakshi's podcasting origin story — exploring her gateway podcast, her desire to be a part of the podcasting community, and how she landed her job in the podcast industry. She also shares her love for creating curated playlists (Podcast Bestie playlist to come soon!), along with expert advice from her time at Tink, especially the importance of finding joy in podcast marketing for long-term sustainability and how to set up effective podcast collaborations, including promo swaps, guest swaps, and feed swaps.
Aakshi highlights the value of collaborating with smaller shows that have a niche audience, rather than solely focusing on larger shows with higher numbers. And I preach my cardinal rule for indie podcasters trying to engineer organic growth: recurring collaborations. Plus, the likely necessity of making strategic investments to propel podcast growth before achieving meaningful monetization.
So grab your headphones, Besties, and treat yourself to this fun and informative podcasting pep talk!
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on and @plasticaudio.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Podcast Marketing Is About Finding Your Podcast Besties with Lauren Passell of Tink Media + How to Get Featured on Apple Podcasts
Monday, May 8, 2023 • Duration 49:44
Hey Besties! Can't afford PR right now? Don't worry — Sweet Mama Swap is in the house to help you get started all by yourself! That's right, today's guest is Lauren Passell, the founder of Tink Media, and she's giving us the Tink treatment for free, generously sharing the strategies she uses to help her clients get coverage and grow their shows. She dishes her expert advice on how to make podcast collaboration effective, fun, and EASY, land a coveted Apple Podcasts feature, pitch bigger shows for feed swaps, get good press, and more. This is a master class in podcast marketing from a PR master.
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on and @plasticaudio.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Cross-Media Promotions for Your Podcast with Anna Van Valin of Every Day is a Food Day
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 • Duration 34:07
Hey Besties! Today, we're taking an out-of-the-box approach to podcast collaborations. Our guest is Anna Van Valin, an independent podcast producer, consultant, and host of the Every Day is a Food Day podcast. Anna is an advocate for cross-media promotions, which is a different way to go about the whole promo swap strategy. In this episode, she shares how she got started, some great case studies, and tips for pitching brands for this type of collaboration. Plus, we discuss whether Instagram Reels are worth it for indie podcasters.
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
From Zero to 100K Real Quick: How Mina AF Engaged Mina Starsiak Hawk’s Existing Audience with Producer Megan Hayward
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 • Duration 27:59
Hi Besties! Today’s special guest is Megan Hayward from editaudio. We are very lucky because she has a delightful British accent that is very easy on the ears! Megan is here because last month (March 14th, to be exact), I saw on Twitter that the show she’s producing hit 100K downloads. The show is called Mina AF, and it’s hosted by HGTV star Mina Starsiak Hawk. In this episode, we discuss how Megan and the team approach the creative and producing on this new show, plus how they engaged Mina’s pre-existing audience (and tapped a podcasting headliner) for a successful launch. Megan also shares tips on how to get started in freelance producing, the software tools that help her stay organized, her philosophy on video’s place in podcasting — a hot-button topic right now — and more.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Art of Podcast Marketing with Devin Andrade from Tink Media
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 • Duration 29:33
Hey Besties! I’ve got Devin Andrade on the podcast today. She’s from Tink Media—Lauren Passell’s company that crushes it on the podcasting marketing side—so we discuss the creative side of podcast promotion and marketing lessons she’s picked up from working at Tink, including a great cross-promo example. Devin also shares her top tip for indie podcasters trying to grow their shows, how to make your content more accessible, some of her favorite recent podcast discoveries, and more.
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
From Globetrotting Travel Photographer to Daily Podcaster with 13 Million Downloads with Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere Daily
Monday, April 3, 2023 • Duration 48:03
📣 Attention: Season one of Podcast Bestie, the Podcast is now in session! New episodes will drop every Monday in April and May.
Today, I’ve got Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere Daily on the show unpacking his journey from globetrotting travel photographer and blogger to daily podcaster. His latest podcast was a lucky pandemic pivot that now has 13 million downloads and counting. Gary shares his strategies for making Everything Everywhere Daily a successful show — everything from shorter episodes to paid advertising to promo swaps to joining a network.
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio.
A big thanks to our BFF for sponsoring this episode:
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with : https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Podcast Websites That Convert, Plus SEO for the Web & Podcast Players with James Cridland of Podnews
Friday, March 3, 2023 • Duration 40:52
Hi Besties!
Today is the day… Podcast Bestie, the Podcast has officially dropped its debut episode.
I’ve got James Cridland of Podnews on the show today talking all about SEO for websites and podcast apps, how he’s helping audit your podcast, press release tips, and more. First, we discuss James’s place in podcasting history, which I found very interesting, but if you’re just here for the tips and the fish ‘n’ chips references, jump ahead to the six-and-a-half-minute mark.
A big thanks to our BFFs for sponsoring this episode:
* What happens when the watchdog tasked with overseeing the largest law enforcement agency in the country looks the other way? In Bad Watchdog, host Maren Machles exposes a series of shocking cover-ups at the Department of Homeland Security. Listen now.
* Hey Canadian Podcasters! Are you tired of feeling like the podcasting space is fractured between indies and networks? Pod the North is the Canadian podcasting newsletter that's changing all of that.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Announcing Podcast Bestie the Podcast!
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 • Duration 02:11
I have an exciting announcement: Podcast Bestie is now a podcast! I just dropped the trailer. Please give it a listen.
I love doing Q&As for the newsletter, but I want the chance to ask follow-up questions and dig even deeper into our guests’ craft and marketing advice.
Don’t worry, Podcast Bestie will continue in its current form with the newsletter as the main thing, but moving forward, I’ll be sprinkling in some long-form interviews that help us make better content and grow and monetize our shows.
I want to cover things like SEO as an engine for show growth, successful cross-promotional and advertising campaigns, archival and SFX sourcing for sound design, and much more.
So if you’re a podcasting professional or indie podcaster who is crushing it and are willing to share your industry secrets with the Besties, please reply to this email and let me know about your area of expertise and what you can teach the Besties with 4-5 talking points.
Check out the trailer for more about my Podcast Bestie podcast vision and how you can be a part of it. I would also love it if you could help me spread the word.
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio.
And thank you to Matt Gilhooly for fine-tuning the video and creating the social media assets for this episode. Follow him on Twitter @theliftshiftpod.
A big thanks to our BFFs for sponsoring this episode:
* Being successful with podcasts and video is a full-time job that most people don’t have the time or experience to do. Momento is an end-to-end AI video marketing tool that finds your shareable moments, creates beautiful shorts, and even schedules straight to social. Can it do more? Yes! Momento can write high-quality show notes, social posts, tweets, and even jokes from your content. Your first upload is FREE, go see what AI can do with your video! https://trymomento.ai?via=podcastbestie
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with this link: https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
* The Life Shift podcast recently celebrated 100 episodes! Tune in to hear host Matt Gilhooly bring candid conversations about life-changing moments. The 100th episode features Justin Moore's inspiring journey. Listen to The Life Shift!
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
Do you use V4V as a monetization strategy for your podcast? If so, how do you make the pitch to your listeners?
A big thanks to our BFFs for sponsoring this episode:
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with this link: https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
* Podcast strategist Eric Nuzum describes Skye Pillsbury’s The Squeeze as “an utterly fantastic addition to the journalism looking at podcasting.” Don’t miss a single issue; subscribe for free here.
* That Wasn't In My Textbook Podcast helps us uncover the things we always wished we learned from that boring, bulky textbook- From History of Taxes to Cannabis, it's the history you always wanted to know! Check it out!
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
Thank you to the following Besties for their reviews:
A big thanks to our BFFs for sponsoring this episode:
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with this link: https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
* The Wild West Extravaganza is a weekly history podcast that delves into the fascinating and often tumultuous world of the American Old West. From famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James to lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok to Native Americans and trailblazing pioneers and frontiersmen, this podcast tells the true stories of the real-life characters who shaped this iconic period in American history. So, saddle up and discover the true history of the American frontier — the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s a journey you don’t want to miss. Listen to The Wild West Extravaganza on your favorite podcast player and follow @wildwestxtra on Twitter.
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
Have YOU been featured on Apple Podcasts? If so, what was the hook of your pitch? Do you have any tips for how to stand out based on your experience?
A big thanks to our BFF for sponsoring this episode:
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with this link: https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
Have you tried any cross-media promotions for your podcast? If so, what were the results?
Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio.
A big thanks to our BFF for sponsoring this episode:
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with this link: https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
Thank you to the following Bestie for their review:
A big thanks to our BFF for sponsoring this episode:
* mowPod is an effective, targeted way to promote your show. It's already trusted by industry giants like Conde Nast, iHeartMedia, and HubSpot Podcast Network, and that's because it works. But mowPod isn’t just for the big guys — mowPod Boost is perfect for indie podcasters. It’s actually been my favorite paid advertising experiment to date, and you can try it for just $100. Plus, if you are a Bestie, you get 10% off with this link: https://boost.mowpod.com/?referrer=podcastbestie. Try it, and let me know what you think!
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
Thank you to the following Besties for their reviews:
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
Thank you to the following Besties for their reviews:
Smash that like button, and let me know what you think of this episode in the comments below! What were your big takeaways? What do you want to learn next?
* Pop Culture Retrospective Podcast - In March of 2019, host Amy Lewis lost her sister. She decided to use her grief for something productive and fun, so she started a podcast as a way to re-live and share memories from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.
* Soothe your promotional aches and pains with a FREE subscription to the Podcast Clinic from Podspike. Get monthly tips, tricks & articles to help your podcast marketing become that little bit easier.
I’ve also got a FREE promo opportunity for the Besties: Leave a five-star rating with a review on Apple Podcasts, email me a screenshot with your name and the name of your podcast, and you’ll get a free shout-out on the next episode.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
Smash that like button, and let me know what you think of this first episode in the comments below! What do you want to learn next?
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