Podcast Bestie, the Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

* Connect with Cara @cjmcgoogan on Twitter.

* Follow Cara @cjmcgoogan on Instagram.

* Listen to Cara’s podcast Bed of Lies.

* Buy Cara’s book Blood Farm.

* Sign up for my upcoming class, Podcasting for Writers: How to Start, Sustain & Grow Your Podcast.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out What Is V4V? A Primer on Value4Value Monetization for Indie Podcasters with Kyrin Down.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates.

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.

* Connect with Kyrin @meremortalspod on Twitter.

* Follow Kyrin @meremortalspodcast on Instagram.

* Listen to Kyrin’s podcast Value 4 Value.

* Download the Fountain app and get started now!

* Sign up for my upcoming class, Creating Your Podcast.

* Sign up for my upcoming workshop, Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network & Business.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

Watch the video version of Kyrin’s interview on YouTube.

If you missed the last episode, check out How to Rebrand Your Podcast with Angie Griffith of Podfluencer Society.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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!

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates.

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!

* Connect with Aakshi @aaklovesaudio on Twitter.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out Podcast Marketing Is About Finding Your Podcast Besties with Lauren Passell of Tink Media + How to Get Featured on Apple Podcasts.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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:

* 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!

* To all the women podcasters: Submit your news to Podcasting by the Moon & subscribe for FREE! You’ll join 1,000+ readers keeping up with women in podcasting news & recs each full moon (& more!).

* 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.

* Having many passions doesn't have to be overwhelming. Join Multi-Passionate Mastery for actionable tips on how to prioritize, focus, and succeed as a multi-passionate creative. Find Multi-Passionate Mastery on your favorite podcast app!

* 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!

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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:

* Raphaël Titsworth-Morin of The Small Tech Podcast by EC

So… ROLL CALL! 🗣

Do you have any recurring collaborations underway? Share your experience in the comments below.

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates.

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.

* Connect with Lauren @laurenpassell on Twitter and Instagram.

* Subscribe to Lauren’s newsletters Podcast The Newsletter and Podcast Marketing Magic.

* Sign up for my Pandemic University Grow Your Show and Make Money Podcasting One-Day Intensive.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out Cross-Media Promotions for Your Podcast with Anna Van Valin of Every Day is a Food Day.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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:

* 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.

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates.

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.

* Connect with Anna @annavanvalin on Twitter and Instagram.

* Check out Anna’s podcast, Every Day is a Food Day.

* Sign up for my Pandemic University Grow Your Show and Make Money Podcasting One-Day Intensive.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out From Zero to 100K Real Quick: How Mina AF Engaged Mina Starsiak Hawk’s Existing Audience with Producer Megan Hayward.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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!

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates.

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.

* Subscribe to editaudio’s monthly newsletter.

* Visit Megan and the editaudio team at The Podcast Show 2023 on May 24th and May 25th in London. Check out thepodcastshowlondon.com for more information.

* Sign up for my Pandemic University Grow Your Show and Make Money Podcasting One-Day Intensive.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out The Art of Podcast Marketing with Devin Andrade from Tink Media.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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!

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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:

* Kyrin Down of Mere Mortals Podcast

So… ROLL CALL! 🗣

What are YOUR favorite software tools for staying organized and making great podcasts?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates.

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.

* Subscribe to Devin’s newsletter Pod Stack on Substack.

* Find out how to participate in Tink Media’s Adopt-A-Listener Month at tinkmedia.co/adopt.

* Check out the latest episode of Pod-At-Me and call 1-844-POD-AT-ME to leave a message for a chance to be featured on the show.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out From Globetrotting Travel Photographer to Daily Podcaster with 13 Million Downloads with Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere Daily.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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!

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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:

* Kate Lavender of Lizzie Borden Audio

* Angie Griffith of 4 Things for Your Podcast (Stay tuned for more about her upcoming rebrand!)

So… ROLL CALL! 🗣

Smash that like button, and share your favorite out-of-the-box podcast collaboration in the comments below.

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Here’s info about offerings and rates.

📣 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.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

If you missed the last episode, check out Podcast Websites That Convert, Plus SEO for the Web & Podcast Players with James Cridland of Podnews.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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!

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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:

* Ken Volante of Something (Rather Than Nothing) Podcast

* Gene Liverman of Volunteer Technologist

* Matt Gilhooly of The Life Shift Podcast

* D'Ana Joi Spencer of Multi-Passionate Mastery

* Lauren Passell of Tink Media and Podcast the Newsletter

* Arielle Nissenblatt of Earbuds Podcast Collective and The Trailer Park Podcast

* Madison Lewis of Just A Person

* Becky Taylor of This Sounds A Bit Woo Woo To Me

* Jodi Murphy of Dorktales Storytime

So… ROLL CALL! 🗣

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?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Here’s info about offerings and rates.

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.

Here’s a link to the TRANSCRIPT.

For more from James, check out his previous Podcast Bestie Q&A: Business & Tech 101 for Indie Podcasters.

Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://podcastbestie.substack.com/welcome

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. Read the latest issue!

* 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.

If you want to sponsor a future newsletter AND episode, you can purchase your ad spot here.

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?

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.

💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Here’s info about offerings and rates.

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.

Subscribe to Podcast Bestie on Substack and your favorite podcast player.

Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.