ReThinking Podcasting: Deep Reflections for Thoughtful Podcasters

BONUS: Preview of my Yearly Themes Episode with Valentin Farkasch

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another special bonus episode of Rethinking Podcasting! I, Matthew Bliss, am usually your host but, as a treat for those of you thinking about what 2026 will bring for you, Valentin Farkasch is back and we’re talking about Yearly Themes over on his podcast, “Orbit For Creators”.

This is just a portion of the conversation, and we’re paying homage to one of our favourite creators, CGP Grey, and the podcast “Cortex” that he cohosted with Myke Hurley. Every year they talk about making “Yearly Themes” to plan the direction of their year without the burdensome (and ultimately futile) new year resolutions.

This is just a taste of the ep, and if you like what you hear than you can head over to Orbit For Creators wherever you watch/listen to podcasts and get the full version. Its my first time officially doing a yearly theme, and I really enjoyed thinking it through on the show with Valentin.

Check out the rest of the episode on "Orbit For Creators":

Explore doing your own Yearly Theme:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

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This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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BONUS: Preview of my guest spot on The Sincere Practice with Helen Garcia

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

After having Helen on the show, I thought I’d return the favour and I had a brilliant time as a guest on "The Sincere Practice" talking about my philosophy background, my contrarian takes on the podcast industry, and my experience with creativity in entrepreneurship while building a personal brand.

I loved this chat with Helen, particularly as she was curious about philosophical flourishing! Its not often I get to wax lyrical on that side of myself on other shows.

So, as a special gift for you, I’m sharing the first 30 mins of that episode with you on this feed and if you’re keen to listen to the rest of the conversation, you can find “The Sincere Practice with Helen Garcia” on all podcast platforms and on YouTube. I’ll add the links into the shownotes to make it easier for you to find.

Listen to the rest of the episode:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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On How Podcasters Will Evolve in 2026: Intrinsic Resilience

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

To register your interest in "The Resilient Podcaster" program coming in 2026, sign up at ResilientPodcaster.com.

You may have noticed that the world around us is starting to change. Economically, socially… there’s terms being thrown around like Enshittification and Late-Stage Capitalism. They all point at a paradigm shift that’s coming soon that we need to prepare for.

Podcasting is not immune from this potential shift, and the podcasters like you and I that love the medium will have to change. But its resilience to change and strength of adaptation that will see us through the hard times, and build an unshakeable foundation to support our podcasting efforts.

Today I’ll be talking about The Resilient Podcaster: what I believe is the next stage of evolution for podcasters.

So much of the podcasting world has changed in such a short time, and there’s a lot of uncertainty with what comes next. Keeping up with growth hacks and strategies will see you through the short-term, but there’s only so long that you can hack your way to a sustainable creation journey.

I’ll be sharing a brief reflection on this evolution that I believe podcasters will be making next year, and how I intend to help other podcasters become Resilient. This will also be the last episode of 2025, after which I’ll be taking a small break and coming back next year but listen to this episode to find out what to expect from me in 2026.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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BONUS: Mini-update and break for this week

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Hello there, dutiful Rethinking Podcasting listener! If the title didn't give it away, I need to take a breather this week because at this exact moment, my Internet Provider is getting changed over!

This obviously makes the podcasting stuff hard (and shows a bit of my hand with how close to release I put these together!)

I did want to follow my own advice as well, and make a bit of space for the final few episodes of this year. So you'll be getting two more solo episodes from me in the lead up to December, and then I'll be taking a few months off to revise and review the podcast.

The episodes have been really fun to make so far, but I want to make sure the direction the podcast is going is of the most benefit to you.

So I guess this turned out to be a short update on the state of things! If you got this far, thanks for sticking around and if you do have any notes or feedback on Rethinking Podcasting, let me know by emailing podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com. Anything you can share directly with me will help build the topics and interviews that help you the most as a podcaster or podcasting professional.

Thanks for listening, keep rethinking and I’ll see you next week.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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Creative Practices, Sincerity and Podcasting for Mental Health (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

When we seek self-improvement, its easy to pick podcasts as a medium for learning. But what if I told you that *creating* a podcast might be the best way to explore your creativity, reduce your anxiety and steady your life’s journey?

This week I’m chatting to Helen Garcia - a Mental Health Professional, Therapist, and host of The Sincere Practice podcast & newsletter.

I met Helen through a mutual acquaintance in a Mastermind back in 2023, and since then I’ve been following her content creation journey. She has a penchant for exploration and growth through the podcasting medium by exploring creative practices in her content.

The motivation behind it all caught me by surprise, though. Helen understands herself so well, which makes sense with her background as a therapist, but the depth of her intrinsic understanding has allowed her to build a creative environment that activates her.

She talks of diagnosed anxiety, and how her podcast helps to keep her thinking on-track and healthy. And this led to the biggest revelation for me: Helen creates her podcast as a tool to maintain her creative life, not for fame and fortune. And she makes her podcast for the younger version of herself, that needed a guide through the turbulent times.

We also talk about the state of the podcasting industry and charlatans in it, why she left, her favourite microphone (she’s tried a lot!) and she even asks me a few questions that you might be interested in too.

Follow Helen Garcia's Journey:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro & meeting Helen
(00:21) Exercise as creative medicine for a creative brain
(02:12) Three-notebook system, nature walks & analog habits
(04:32) Anxiety, depression, immigration & finding freedom in creativity
(08:13) Hustle bros vs wholesome creativity & Matthew’s own practices
(11:15) Flow, biology and growing up around microbiology talk
(14:20) Social media, limbic hijack, video games & flow states
(18:20) Bringing a therapist lens into podcasting & self-help skepticism
(26:06) Questioning experts, cult followings & defining a meaningful life
(33:59) Rebrands, self-discovery & landing on “The Sincere Practice”
(44:03) Being too hard on ourselves as podcasters & learning to accept choices
(51:05) Creating for your younger self, future kids & what listeners really want

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On Your Path of Growth & Learning: Your Podcast Philosophy

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

The more you create your podcast, you’ll find that you’re changing and learning. It starts to become more than just about bitrates, shownotes and platforms. There’s an abstract experience to creating your show. Something that can’t be validated by anyone but you.

This is the beginning of your unique journey, where the principles of your podcast philosophy are growing, your basic knowledge is taking a backseat, and you’re on the path to the growth and impact you wanted to make from the very start.

Today we’ll be talking about a phrase I’ve non-chalantly inserted into the beginning of almost every episode: about what a Podcast Philosophy is. This is a term I feel like I’ve coined myself, at least in the context of podcasting.

I’m going to explain what it means to me, when to start thinking about it, and why we need a philosophy to transcend the rigid knowledge we seek in the beginning about how podcasting works.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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Changing Podcast Strategy, A.I. Opinions, and Finding Joy Again (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Every podcaster knows the struggle of content creation. Sometimes it feels like we’re constantly fighting against the pressure of release as our production gets closer and closer to the red zone of burnout. Podcast Service Providers, despite our skills, are no different in this sense.

This week I’m chatting to Laura McRae, the owner and operator of Podcast Support Services in Australia, and host of her podcast: “Podcast Strategy that Brings in Clients”. Being a Podcast Manager for hire, she knows her way around the dos and don’ts of podcast creation for her clients.

But we, as podcast service providers, can often be our own worst enemies. And she, like myself, found after a year or so of recording episode for her own show, that it wasn’t giving back to her anymore.

In this episode, we talk about the pains of having a podcast as a podcast manager or editor, why it likely looks easy to our clients, and how a change of direction is the catalyst we need to revitalise a podcast direction. And as a bonus, we talk a little bit about the current state of the podcasting space, her opinions on AI, and some answers to those questions we love to ask other podcasters.

Listen to Laura's podcast: Podcast Strategy that Brings in Clients

Get in touch with Laura McRae:

Website: https://podcastsupportservices.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajmcrae/

Instagram: @podcast.support.services

Facebook: Australian Podcasters Collaborative

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) The Pressure of Podcasting and Creative Burnout
(01:06) Introducing Laura McRae – Podcast Manager and Host
(02:34) From Virtual Assistant to Podcast Professional
(05:29) Learning Podcast Management and Early Lessons
(06:16) AI, Efficiency and the Solo Operator’s Dilemma
(07:09) Why Podcast Managers Struggle with Their Own Shows
(08:55) Realigning a Podcast That No Longer Fits
(13:48) Overcoming Resistance and Relaunching a Show
(16:58) Doing Less, Doing Better – Avoiding Overwork
(19:11) Finding Meaning, Voice and Confidence in Podcasting
(26:17) Audio Perfectionism and the Podcaster’s Curse
(32:47) AI Voices, Creativity and the Future of Authenticity
(34:11) Storytelling, Strategy and Finding Your Creative Voice
(38:23) Building Trust and Challenging the “Podcast Gurus”
(40:04) Rapid Fire: Video, Social Media, AI and Mics
(49:35) Redefining What Makes a Podcast
(51:16) Closing Reflections and Where to Find Laura McRae

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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On Consistency, Validation and Podcast Data Analysis

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Have you ever walked up to the microphone, ready to record and not quite sure what to say? Yeah, that’s me this week. So I’m trying something different.

And you’re going to learn some stuff today - about consistency, rumination and data science. Because we don’t always need a treatise on the podcasting world. Sometimes a grab-bag of different topics is enough.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Storyselling, Authenticity and Asking the Right Questions (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

As podcasters and business owners, it can often feel like our marketing is pure tactics. But when you think about it, since early civilisation we’ve been telling stories around campfires and in village taverns. Your podcast is your campfire to tell your story and with the right conversation partner it naturally reveals you and your authenticity to your ideal audience as easily as talking to a friend.

In this episode, Rob Drummond of StorySellingLab.co.uk shares a bit of his background in marketing and digital ads, until he had the realisation that his penchant for drawing out a story by actively listening and asking the right questions should be the unique talent that he offers the world.

This conversation is great fodder for you, as a solo or interview podcaster, to think a bit more about asking the right questions to draw out the core story in your guests and yourself.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Get in touch with Rob:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-drummond-a88a8443/

Website: https://storysellinglab.co.uk/

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) Your Podcast Is Your Campfire
(02:08) Introducing Rob Drummond and Story Selling
(03:16) What Story Selling Really Means
(05:01) The Inner Demons of Storytelling
(08:32) Storytelling as Authentic Marketing
(11:02) From Advertising to Story Systems
(20:20) Overcoming a Fear of Speaking
(26:43) The Journey Through Podcasting
(32:23) Imposter Syndrome and the Learning Curve
(36:09) Becoming a Better Conversation Partner
(42:23) The Art and Fatigue of Deep Listening
(48:22) Intentional Content Repurposing and AI
(55:09) Storytelling as a Path to Self-Understanding

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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On Asking "What's a Podcast?" and Why it's Wasted Effort

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Defining a "podcast" is seen as important to many, but often falls short. In this episode I explain why the definitions often fall short, how incentives drive our definitions, why the Platonic Realm of Forms gives us the essence we need, and how my previous job made the same mistake in defining sustainable remote work for its employees.

Resource Mentioned in this Episode:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Curiosity, YouTube and the Evolving Creator’s Mindset (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

A few years ago, you never would have thought that talking to a YouTube professional would make sense for a podcast about podcasting. With many of us pivoting to video, all the YouTube stuff has become more relevant than ever. And who better than a YouTube expert AND podcaster to set our expectations, and our minds at ease, for this new direction.

This week I’m chatting to Valentin Farkasch - a YouTube Creator from Vienna who makes his living supporting Small YouTube Creators to make their way in the wild west of the algorithmic medium.

One of the ways he does this is with his podcast: Orbit For Creators, and a community by the same name. Far more than just a YouTuber proclaiming his content a podcast, Valentin’s approach has been deliberate and intentional by marrying his expertise with what we commonly understand podcasting to require.

His podcast about Content Creation has been through three seasons and grown each time, but more importantly he has grown to understand what can reasonably be expected of us as podcasters on YouTube with some sound advice about how to manage those expectations of ourselves.

His reflective and ponderous nature is why I wanted to bring him on for a chat, and also why our conversation started with his advice and journey through creating the podcast, and became a reflection for both of us on where we are in podcasting and where to go next. I think you’ll really like it.

How to get in touch with Valentin Farkasch:

Follow his LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vfarkasch/
Visit the Orbit For Creators website
Subscribe to his YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@orbitforcreators

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) Why a YouTube expert for podcasters? Intro to Valentin
(02:24) Press Publish in NYC: closing the loop, community, connections
(06:35) Orbit for Creators — Season 1: from studio tours to remote
(12:31) Season 2: remote unlocks, growth & longevity
(19:59) Season 3 experiments: retention-first intros & packaging
(21:27) 100 views vs 100 million: reframing success
(24:40) Money, ads, and realistic monetisation
(30:28) Packaging for YouTube when it’s a conversation
(37:21) Newsletters: why they matter—and rethinking consistency
(47:03) Reflective practice, goals, and sustainable change
(59:55) Solo essays vs conversations: what should this show be?
(1:21:23) Industry reality check + Bartlett takeaways (pre-release testing)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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BONUS: An AI Inquisition & What’s Important in Podcasting with Jesse McCune

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

I’ve got something a bit different for you today - a bonus, you might say! I get together with a lot of my peers in the podcasting space to create content outside of this show, and every so often I’d like to share that content with you.

What I’m sharing here is the full audio from a livestream I did with Jesse McCune of Tansy Aster Creative on his YouTube Channel. Every two weeks, we jump on the livestream to discuss the latest events, innovations and changes to the podcasting industry as it regards podcast editors and podcasters. If you’re keen to tune in, jump into the shownotes for some links.

The reason I’m sharing this particular stream with you, though: this stream started as us getting out our gripes about the squeeze AI-based podcast production is putting on production services - in particular, talking about Inception Point AI and its 3000+ episodes per week production scheduled. What it turned into was me querying and questioning Jesse, just like Socrates would, to find out what is the most important maxim or principle regarding the podcasting experience.

Is Podcasting just a format? Or is there a necessary, parasocial connection? The method by which I question Jesse is a common dialogic format that would be ascribed to the Socratic Method, and so I wanted to showcase it here for you.

This is a long one, but while we do a lot of musing (and deal with the occasional tech issue) I’m sure you’ll enjoy the philosophical, reflective and dialogic nature of how we come to our conclusion. Enjoy.

Watch the Livestream every 2nd Tuesday: Tansy Aster Academy YouTube Channel

Check out Jesse McCune's work: Tansy Aster Creative (Audio & BBRemix)

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

On the Harmful Obsession of Podcasting as a Discipline

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

I’ve been a Podcast Producer, and an expat in a foreign country, for over two years now. A necessary function of having a career in podcasting is that the discipline itself became the focus of my professional development. Getting great at podcasting… sounds awesome, right?

However, over the last few months I’ve been thinking differently about how the world is moving around podcasting as a format, the in-fighting about drastic technical changes, and I’m wondering if we’re all in too deep. Whether we’re focusing too much on Podcasting: The Discipline and ignoring the more important part of what podcasting creates: the opportunity to share your voice, expertise and stories with the world.

This week I’m going to share three specific instances in the last few months where I’ve thought about podcasting knowledge, how much of it helps us create our shows, and how its too easy to get absorbed in the mics, tech, optimising format structure, and podcast news.

Its a distraction and might be limiting how well we can create the podcasts we want to put out into the world, but a moderated approach to seeking podcasting knowledge specifically can help reduce that obsession.

Resources Mentioned:

Interview with CEO of Inception Point AI (PodNews Weekly Review)

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

On Armchair Analysis, a priori Deduction and Growth Mindset

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Once you’ve made it as a podcaster, its easy to presume you know it all. An academic with tenure, sitting in a leather armchair by the fire, swirling a McCallen 24 in your hand, ready for any question that comes along.

The truth is that theoretical deduction and inference doesn’t a good podcaster make. We’ve made podcasting so available and easy to start, we think we’re all experts simply by taking part.

Today I’ll be talking you through something that’s been niggling at me for a while: The collective nature of social media and our ability to share whatever we want has meant that our knowledge & experience doesn’t really matter - we are an expert if we want to be.

And in flooding the Internet with that “expertise”, it is shared and reiterated without practise, evidence or even a basic knowledge of the craft. This results in a collective hivemind of misinformation that is supported by anti-gatekeeping rhetoric to ensure the individual voice is still relevant.

I have no problems with the individual being vocal and appreciated online, but I think we need to address the elephant in the podcast studio: the apparent “skill” of Armchair Experts.

This one could be a bit spicy, but stick with me - I think you’ll like where I’m going with this…

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) Opening — Why Armchair Expertise Hurts Podcasting
(01:35) Part 1 — The Problem with Crowd-Sourced “Advice”
(05:35) Part 2 — A Priori vs. A Posteriori (Get Out of the Armchair)
(08:01) Part 3 — Armchair Experts, Gatekeeping, and Credibility
(12:13) Part 4 — Growth Mindset over Ego
(13:56) Closing Reflections
(14:10) Listener Mail & Contact

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Parasocial Relationships, Trust, and the End of Algorithm Dependence (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

There’s only one thing you can guarantee in the Podcasting Industry: change. Changes to the roles we see, the shows we create and how we communicate with our audiences. 2025 has been a massive year for change, and Richard Clark was right on the money.

This week I’m joined, once again, by Richard Clark: Founder & Owner of Area Code Audio based in Chicago to cover his predictions made at the beginning of this year for how podcasting was going to change in his Podcasting For Humans newsletter.

You were introduced to Richard in last week’s episode, in addition to finding out about his newsletter efforts and the first two of his main predictions for 2025. This is Part 2 of that conversation, so if you’d like to fill in the blanks, scroll up the Rethinking Podcasting feed and listen to Part 1 first.

In this episode, we’ll round off our discussion about human connection and tackle three big predictions Richard made about big funding for podcasts, companies creating their own engaging shows, and the marketing spend moving from social media to newsletters and podcasts. There’s a lot here to chew on, and there’s so much that he got right, that it’s well worth the listen.

What I picked up from this chat with Richard is that engagement and investment are the two major things changing this year. As podcasters, we get swept up in the short-term pivots and growth hacks, but keeping an eye on the long-term affectations on the industry will help you build your sustainable goals for your show.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Get in touch with Richard:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) Change as the Only Constant in Podcasting
(01:10) Predictions for 2025: Engagement and Investment
(02:09) Parasocial Relationships in Podcasting
(04:11) When Trust Breaks Between Podcasters and Listeners
(06:14) Consistency, Growth, and the Friendship Analogy
(06:44) Independent Podcasts Rising After Big Studio Cuts
(09:23) Sustainability Over Profit in Podcasting
(13:11) Why Every Podcast Needs Resources to Survive
(14:28) Branded Podcasts Done Well (and Done Wrong)
(16:33) Aligning Brands, Hosts, and Values
(19:11) Marketing Dollars Shift to Newsletters and Podcasts
(28:41) Final Reflections and Richard’s Work at Area Code Audio

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Overhyped A.I., Human Connection & Podcasting Newsletters (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Reflecting on the Podcasting Industry today, it’s easy to wonder how we got here. AI rollouts, Social App take-downs, video podcasting as the new-old trend… its easy to think we couldn’t have predicted it. And yet, we have experts like my guest today who has their finger on the pulse of podcasting to help give us a guiding light in times of uncertainty.

Welcome back to Rethinking Podcasting, and this week I’m joined by Richard Clark: Founder & Owner of Area Code Audio based in Chicago, Illinois, helping nonprofits and mission-driven organizations drive meaningful change through podcasting. He is (or was) the author and voice behind “Podcasting For Humans”: a newsletter/podcast that talked to podcasters about their podcasting goals, and shared his thoughts about podcasting - and, of course, I was an avid enjoyer at the time!

It’s currently on a hiatus, but back in March when I recorded this conversation with Richard, he had only months prior sent his last newsletter with his predictions for the podcasting industry in 2025 - which is why I brought him on for a chat.

Across this two episodes, we’ll be unpacking Richard’s Five Predictions for Podcasting this year and exploring the big changes that have rocked podcasting and marketing. In this Part 1 we’ll get Richard’s background in podcasting, his business and the first two predictions about AI replacing podcasts, and how people will find the human connection in podcasting.

Next week in Part 2, we’ll hear about podcast production funding, companies creating well-resourced, engaging podcasts and how marketing dollars will be spent differently.

Get in touch with Richard:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) Industry Reset & Episode Setup
(00:36) Meet Richard Clark & Area Code Audio
(03:00) Podcasting for Humans: From Pod to Newsletter
(05:01) Do Podcasters Care About Podcasting? (And Why That’s OK)
(08:39) Producer vs Talent: The Film Analogy
(11:02) Going Daily: Writing, Marketing, and Connection
(14:38) Refocusing on Nonprofits & Audience Fit
(17:51) How the Newsletter Primed Clients for Trust
(23:10) Predictions #1: Why AI-Made Podcasts Will Fail
(33:56) AI’s Best Use Cases: Audiobooks & Accessibility
(36:59) Prediction #2: Craving Human Connection & Safe Spaces
(42:45) Outro, Part Two Teaser & Contacting ReThinking Podcasting

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

On Alive Internet Theory, and Actually Seeing Your Listeners

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

The online world is a different place, where in every interaction we’re second-guessing whether its actually a person, or if its a bot or algorithm trying to push some content on our plate. Dead Internet Theory seems the most apt to describe a world where we are connected, but not to other people, but there is a glimmer of optimism hidden in the depths for ourselves and for our podcasts.

Today I’ll be exploring Alive Internet Theory and how it can help us as podcasters reframe our Analytics Dashboards to better align our work as creators to find the human in the online world. Because, after all, we’re here to share our voices with the world and see the listeners that gather around us - not get distracted with optimisation and growth at the expense of our message and goals.

And thanks to "struthless" on YouTube for his excellent video on the subject, that inspired this episode.

Resources Mentioned:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:19) - Part 1: Dead Internet Theory
(04:38) - Part 2: Podcasting and the Data Problem
(06:31) - Part 3: The Alive Internet and your Ideal Listener
(09:53) - Conclusion

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Creativity, Sound Design and Podcasting for Joy (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

When we begin as podcasters, its easy to become mired in the logistics, the admin, the perfection and optimisation of equipment, structure, distribution… It takes a unique individual like Mason Amadeus to remind us to ask, “Where has the creativity gone?”

This week I’m joined by Mason Amadeus: Creative Director at 8th Layer Media, Expert Audio & Broadcast Engineer, and self-proclaimed All-Terrain Professional Bodge Technician.

I first met Mason through a podcasting Discord Community, and found that he and his good friends had made PodCube - a sketch comedy audio-only podcast that is soundscaped to perfection. That perfection shows in everything he does, and since we met I’ve watched him create Digital Folklore with Perry Carpenter and more recently, The Bug and Moss Telephone Show.

Its not just my delight in chaos and whimsy that brought me to his inner circle. He is a creative without peers, an audio expert without measure and has such a deep curiosity about the world that learning could almost be his full time job.

In our chat, we talk about making podcasting a thing you enjoy, art as a reflection of the world - not to save it, that creativity is your unique talent in podcasts and the key to enjoying your work is to satisfy your curiosity and learn constantly!

Check out Mason's work:

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Chapters:

(00:01) Introduction: Where Has the Creativity Gone?
(02:19) Mason Amadeus Joins the Conversation
(02:25) The Origin of “All-Terrain Professional Bodge Technician”
(04:09) From Breaking a Server to Building Software
(05:14) Working with Perry Carpenter and 8th Layer Media
(06:22) Mason’s Networked Audio Setup Explained
(08:09) Why Signal Processing Is So Fascinating
(09:48) Learning Audio Through Trial and Error
(12:12) Fundamentals of Audio and Active Listening
(12:38) How PodCube Was Created and Why It Works
(14:19) Podcasting as a Creative Labor of Love
(17:00) Playing With Time, Place, and Audio Lore
(19:39) Editing to Capture the Live Improv Energy
(21:00) Audio-Only Podcasting vs. The Pivot to Video
(23:32) Redefining What Counts as a Podcast
(24:47) Collaboration and Shared Creativity in PodCube
(26:15) The Power of Audience Activation and Patreon
(29:11) Building a Universe: Little Rubber Men & Corn Urns
(30:17) Making Podcasts as a Labor of Love, Not Obligation
(31:37) Success, Privilege, and Redefining Podcast Value
(35:07) Why Authenticity Always Wins in Creative Work
(36:47) Defining Podcast Success Beyond Downloads
(39:02) Art as Rearranging the Broken Pieces of the World
(41:07) Make Something for Yourself — and Your Friends
(43:06) From Alabaster’s Haberdashery to PodCube
(44:00) The Role of Improv in Creative Podcasting
(46:29) Why Copy-Paste Podcasting Doesn’t Work
(47:25) Learning Fundamentals Instead of Quick Fixes
(50:19) Be Curious: Learning as a Creative Superpower
(54:10) Understanding Waves, Phase, and Audio Effects
(55:12) The Value of Creative Time vs. Deep Work
(57:08) Digital Folklore and Soundscaped Storytelling
(58:37) Creativity, Generalism, and Learning by Doing
(59:49) Podcasting for Happiness and Creative Fulfillment
(1:00:01) Closing Thoughts & Next Episode Preview

#PodcastGrowth #CreativePodcasting #PodcastSoundDesign #PodcastContentStrategy #IntentionalPodcasting

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

On Podcast Failure, Toxic Positivity and How the Data Lies to us

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

As a podcaster, you’ve probably heard the term “PodFade” before. And if you’ve been doing a podcast for long enough, you’ve felt the inevitable scope-creep of the work and the fear that you’ll quit.

But there’s a fundamental problem what the podcast industry describes as “failure”, and the data they use to support it is hurting podcasters more than it helps.

Welcome back to Rethinking Podcasting: where I take a Socratic approach to reflect on the podcasting world, and help you build your own Podcast Philosophy.

Today I’ll be unpacking the use of podcasting data and statistics, why correlation isn’t causation, how toxic positivity is the real killer of podcasts and why changing your perspective and setting your own measure of success is the best way forward.

Resources:

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro to the Episode
(01:02) Alex Sanfilippo and Podcast Data
(03:20) Part 1: Podcast Failure is defined extrinsically
(05:23) Part 2: Correlation does not imply Causation
(08:33) Part 3: Redefining Success & Changing Perspectives
(12:06) Wrapping up the Episode

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Empathy, Introspection, and Rethinking your Podcast Branding (DIALOGUE)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This year, Aveline Clarke undertook a rebrand and relaunch of what was previously the 6Star Business and 6Star Leaders podcast after she took a break. I asked her about the impact of the rebrand on her podcast performance, and the process she undertook to reflect on her own by asking three questions.

We also discuss her unique interview style that isn’t a blueprint for scripting an interview - instead, she prepares the constraints within which she can adapt and change the conversational flow while simultaneously reflecting with the guest to show how she listens.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Aveline tackles brilliant conversations, self-care, rebranding a podcast and how she stays in touch with her inner goals and avoids the external pressure. I always enjoy chatting with Ave, and I know you’ll enjoy our conversation.

Get in touch with Aveline:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avelineclarke/

Website: https://journeypoint.com.au/meet-aveline/

Podcast: https://journeypoint.com.au/mission-activated-podcast/

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

UPDATE: Activations, Conversations & Submissions (What's coming for RTP!)

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Hi, Matt here! This episode will tell you what to expect over the next few months with the podcast and, more importantly, how you can get in touch with me to respond to my ideas, and send your own through!

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

A Pivot, A Reality Check, and Why I'm Here (Foundational Episode 05)

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Its easy to start your podcasting journey and feel far away from the top 1%. And if you feel like you can get there easily, you might find the journey harder than you thought. But the key is not to be stuck in the quagmire of the present, but build your grand vision of where podcasting can take you.

This is the fifth and final foundational episode of this podcast as an introduction to me, Matthew Bliss, the host of RE:Thinking Podcasting through sharing with you my career, a bit of my life and how my thinking has changed on my podcasting journey so far.

In this episode you will hear about my pivot into why this podcast came about, a few choice opinions about the direction of the podcast industry, and a reality-check: that its not about what the rest of the world is doing... Its about what you do.

And, once again, you'll hear Coffee with a Podcaster mentioned: where this show began and has transformed into Re:Thinking Podcasting. I'm now creating what I had always intended: helping podcasters think and reflect deeply about podcasting - but there's still a few other projects waiting in the wings...

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Interested in Episodes like this for your podcast?

Activate Your Podcast is a service I offer with Peter Daly-Dickson and Rob Drummond where we help you launch your podcast with a marketable set of five introductory episodes, built from a 90 minute conversation with a Conversation Partner.

We'll even host and distribute the podcast for you.

It's basically Done-For-You marketing with everything included - all you need to do is have a conversation.

If you're interested, head to ActivateYourPodcast.com to schedule an introductory call and make sure to mention Re:Thinking Podcasting when you get there.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Burnout, Freelance Editing and Finding Intrinsic Value (Foundation Ep04)

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Many podcasters sharing their experiences talk about "Podfade" (otherwise known as "podcaster burnout") as something to avoid at all costs for fear of failure.

Whatever failure could mean in podcasting, anyway.

Burnout can also hit the podcast professionals as well, in a world where competing with AI means we have to keep adding more and more to our offering. So what can we do?

This is the third foundational episode of this podcast as an introduction to me, Matthew Bliss, the host of RE:Thinking Podcasting through sharing with you my career, a bit of my life and how my thinking has changed on my podcasting journey so far.

In this episode I talk about the nature of podcasting today from my perspective as an editor & producer, how much value is in the podcasting process and what I've learned from working in the red zone of burnout.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Interested in Episodes like this for your podcast?

We'll even host and distribute the podcast for you.

It's basically Done-For-You marketing with everything included - all you need to do is have a conversation.

If you're interested, head to ActivateYourPodcast.com to schedule an introductory call and make sure to mention Re:Thinking Podcasting when you get there.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Socrates, Philosophy in Podcasting and Challenging the Status Quo (Foundation Episode 03)

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Everyone says that we don't teach critical thinking anymore, and everywhere, collective group-think is dominating discussions. This is why philosophy, and particularly Plato's work featuring Socrates, is incredibly useful when we explore podcasting. Thinking and internal discussion is more important now than ever, and what we interrogate and unpack ourselves is just as important as what we're told.

And in this episode, you'll hear about my background in Philosophy from High School to University, why Socrates was such a strong influence on how I think and why reflecting and reframing to find the truth is so important for the podcasting world today.

A note as well, here I reference Georgias as Plato's text where Socrates drank the hemlock - I'm pretty sure it was Phaedo on reflection but that's what happens when its been 16 years since studying it. Alright, let's get into it.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Interested in Episodes like this for your podcast?

We'll even host and distribute the podcast for you.

It's basically Done-For-You marketing with everything included - all you need to do is have a conversation.

If you're interested, head to ActivateYourPodcast.com to schedule an introductory call and make sure to mention Re:Thinking Podcasting when you get there.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

My First Podcast, Fixing Poor-Quality Audio and a Blue Yeti (Foundation Episode 02)

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

It's easy to think that producing a great-quality podcast is only about the tech, but there is much more to it. An idea, some audio troubleshooting and acknowledging my unique path were the ways that I became a podcaster. And once I had laid the groundwork, I could realise my podcasting goals and become the Podcast Producer & Editor I am today.

This is the second foundational episode that will give you an introduction to me, Matthew Bliss, as the host of Re:Thinking Podcasting through sharing with you my career, a bit of my life and how my thinking has changed on my podcasting journey so far.

And in this episode, you'll hear how I started my first podcast, how my background in mediation and debating helped, and why the journey to creating great-sounding audio can be a long and frustrating one!

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Interested in Episodes like this for your podcast?

We'll even host and distribute the podcast for you.

It's basically Done-For-You marketing with everything included - all you need to do is have a conversation.

If you're interested, head to ActivateYourPodcast.com to schedule an introductory call and make sure to mention Re:Thinking Podcasting when you get there.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Early Beginnings, a Career in Tech & never becoming a Teacher (Foundation Episode 01)

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This is the first of five episodes that will give you an introduction to me, Matthew Bliss, as the host of RE:Thinking Podcasting by sharing with you my career, a bit of my life and how my thinking has changed on my podcasting journey so far.

If you've met me before, it's incredibly likely I haven't mentioned a lot of what you'll hear in these episodes. I used to think my background was largely irrelevant, but I've since realized that its our unique talents and stories that lead to the epiphanies and emergent realizations that carry us to the next step on our journey.

In this first episode, you'll hear an early childhood memory, my background in technology and education, and, as usual, I sneak a video game reference in there as well.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

Support this Podcast:

Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast:

Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast (30 Day Free Trial)

Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io (€5 off when you sign up)

Interested in Episodes like this for your podcast?

Activate Your Podcast is a service I offer with Peter Daly-Dickson and Rob Drummond where we help you launch your podcast with a marketable set of five introductory episodes, built from a 90 minute conversation with a Conversation Partner.

These five "Activation" episodes will help you get started on your podcast, give you a foundation to build your marketing from and the provided transcripts will give you a strong base to kick-start your introductory email automation sequences.

We'll even host and distribute the podcast for you.

Not only that, but as the Head of Podcast Engineering, I'll be editing your episodes together with the highest production value on offer. And if you love our process, you can choose to continue with the service ongoing for your podcast.

It's basically Done-For-You marketing with everything included - all you need to do is have a conversation.

If you're interested, head to ActivateYourPodcast.com to schedule an introductory call and make sure to mention Re:Thinking Podcasting when you get there.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

On How this Podcast will Help You & Misinformation in the Podcasting World

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Certainty in podcasting feels like a warm bed on a cold evening, but the truth is that there is more variability in the podcasting world than you know. You may have been sold this certainty in advice, but the only real way to find your path in podcasting is to create your own Podcasting Philosophy.

In this episode of Rethinking Podcasting, I explain the problem of bad advice in the podcasting world, how creating your own thinking system will help you separate the bad from the good, and why I’ve chosen Socrates and his Method as a way to show you.

Let's Start a Dialogue

The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to:

📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com

🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com and select "Send a Voicemail"

Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response!

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NEW PODCAST: Your Philosophical Approach to Podcast Flourishing

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Imagine the Agora in Ancient Athens: a bustling marketplace of citizens and slaves living their lives. The chipping of ceramics echo across the square, the shuffling feet of crowds across cobbled streets, the tinkle of coins changing hands... and you may even hear Socrates, a philosopher known to walk the streets engaging in his infamous dialogic technique with the masses. He was beloved and maligned in equal measure for his ability to push his interlocutors to deeply interrogate and reflect on their thoughts and ideas.

Podcasting, just like the Athenian Agora, is a marketplace of ideas, conversations and advice that, if we're honest, could use some shaking up. And we may need our friend Socrates to help.

"RE:Thinking Podcasting" shares a philosophical approach to how you should think about your life as a podcaster. Through philosophical thinking and the Socratic Method, Matthew Bliss unpacks commonly accepted podcasting ideas and advice, and asks questions of his guests and of himself to help you discover your own reflective, self-sustaining podcast workflows and strategy.

For too long, Podcasters have been asking the same basic questions:

❌ How do I get more listeners?

❌ What's the best microphone?

❌ Which app is best for algorithmic growth?

❌ What should I talk about on my podcast?

"RE:Thinking Podcasting" will help you ask the right questions to get the answers you need to make the biggest impact to your podcast. It's through reflective practice and conversational reframing that you will grow to ask for what you really need, and you may even be able to answer your own questions.

It's time for the podcasting conversation to ascend and empower us all to create the shows that bring us happiness and flourishing in all its forms. Join Matthew Bliss on the journey to raise your thinking and find your own podcasting philosophy.

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This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy