The Podcast Industry is Like an Elephant
Multiple Apposing Opinions and They Are All Correct Based On Their Data
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Four Opinions and None of them Wrong
Last week, I put out an episode of the School of Podcasting where I threw Steve Goldstein and Jay Nachlis under the bus. I couldn’t understand how they were calling things like newsletters, TikTok a podcast. It just seems like everything was a podcast, the kitchen timer that’s sitting on my desk was a podcast, and it drove me absolutely bananas.
I was so upset that I recorded that episode four times, and each time I was telling myself to tone down the emotion and stick to the logic. In the end, I don’t think I ever achieved that.
The Low Blow
I even stooped so low as to making fun of their audio quality. Now, it’s not that their audio quality was good, but it made it a bit too personal to say, “Why are you listening to these guys when their microphones sound like crap?” I mean, they could easily go, “Why are you listening to Dave when that guy’s 40 pounds overweight?”
It reminds me of being a musician when you make an ever so slight mistake in a song. When you hear the recording of that song, all you hear is the mistake, and you kind of cringe every time you hear it. And I believe that part of that episode is one that I always kind of go, “ooh, I probably should have taken that out.”
Let’s Have a Dialogue
I sent an email to Steve the night before because I’ve known Steve since probably 2006, and I let him know that I was politely throwing him under the bus. It wasn’t personal; I just disagreed with his opinion. If he wanted to get on Zoom, I would love to hear his side of his findings. And in true fashion of Steve, who is a great guy and is always open to a great discussion, gladly accepted and we got together on Zoom.
Looking back, it would’ve made more sense to do that before doing a twenty minute rant on a podcast…
I’ve Looked at Podcasting from Both Sides Now
I am a guy with a technical background. I have a degree in education, but before that degree, I had a degree in electronic engineering. I canbe a very logical guy (per my ex-wives). And so when you ask me what a podcast is, I’m going to quote the specs from the RSS namespace that a podcast is audio, video, or a PDF delivered via RSS. If we wanted to get super nerdy, we could talk about enclosures. I’m not wrong based on what I see.
Steve is an old radio guy who is now teaching a podcast class at NYU, and he is surrounded by younger people better known as Gen Z. If you ask those people what is a podcast, they will tell you anything on YouTube. This is what Steve sees on a regular basis. So when you ask him what is a podcast, he’s going to include YouTube based on the evidence that is surrounding him. He’s not wrong based on what he sees, and that is enough for my logical brain.
Did I Change My Mind on What a Podcast Is?
Do I think we should be letting people that don’t understand podcasting define what it is?
No.
But I now see where Steve is coming from. And I see where people and companies like Sounds Profitable, who surround themselves with advertising people, and the people over at Oxford Road who are surrounded by advertising buyers, everyone has their own opinion. And none of them are wrong.
It’s what we all see from our chair. And we all try to pieces part these all together to get an accurate picture. But as everyone has said, getting podcasters together to agree on something is like herding cats.
No RSS No Podcast
I will continue to be the one that waves the flag that says if there isn’t an RSS feed, it’s not a podcast. That is my stand, and I believe in it 100%.
What I’m going to try to do in 2026 is when I hear a different opinion is to not let it get under my skin and just understand that they are reporting what they are seeing from their chair.
I might put an uptime counter on my site “X days since dave complained about YouTube being a podcast” and see if I can make it to double digits.
What Does This Have to Do With Elephants?
Here is the parable of the blind men and the elephant:
A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable". So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.
They all had different opinions based on what they felt. All had a different opinion, and none of them were wrong. Then again, they were blind - and we’re not… hmmm…
SIDE NOTE
I had quite a few people reach out to me because I started off that episode with a Christmas story explaining how if you keep changing the definition of something to achieve your goal, you end up ruining the thing that you are trying to build.
And that was creative, but I also thought it was kind of weird because yes, it included Dave doing his famous, horrible English accent, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go over. But by taking a chance, I had numerous people say, “That was hilarious. One of your best episodes.”
So maybe one of the things we all need to do is take those risks, be a little more creative, and do our best to entertain and not just educate those who are listening.
Podcast Hot Seat Black Friday Deal Still Going
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My Latest Content
School of Podcasting (follow)
Who is Peeing in the Podcast Pool (I’m naming names)
Ask the Podcast Coach (follow)
Is It a Podcast Without an RSS Feed? The Great Debate (kind of the warm up for the SOP episode)
Your Podcast Consultant (follow)
What is The Streisand Effect?
TODAY 12/27 is the Last Day to Submit to the Question of the Month
Every year I ask my audience (better known as YOU) to answer this question:
What is your favorite podcast (and I know it’s hard but you can only pick one) and then tell me why it’s your favorite show (we really want to know the WHY)?
Then tell us a little bit about your show, and your website address. If you want to be included I need it right now as I assemble it on the 28th (the original deadline was the 26th).
Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question
Stuff That Caught My Eye
Look Ma No Hands!
My buddy (and School of Podcasting member ) Craig Vanslyke (host of the AI Goes to College and Live Well and Flourish) turned me on to wispr flow.
Right now this app is just for Macs, but it is text to speech on steroids. Did you notice the above paragraphs were a bit more wordy that usual? It’s because I didn’t type a word. I held down two keys and talked into a microphone and it just typed it in. It has a cool dictionary feature, and lots of toys. You can get up to 2000 words a week for free, but as someone who types for 8 hours a day, I’m going to spring the $12/month for the unlimited plan
If you use my affiliate link, you get a free month of Pro, and I get a free month of pro if you dictate 2000 words.
It All Begins With A Song
Ok, I might get into this documentary a bit more because of my musical past when I played in bands from the age of 15. But there are so many things that are similar to songwriting that apply to podcasters.
these are professional songwriters, and they say things like, “If you want to be a songwriter, write every single day. That’s how you get better.”
Also, the best songwriters work with someone else because when you bounce ideas off each other, eventually you’ll say something that resonates. When it resonates with both of you, then you know you’re on to something.
For me, this is why I think every podcaster should get feedback on their episodes. I know it would be hard to do that on every episode, but feedback is a much-needed ingredient that is missing from much of podcasters’ toolbox today.
So if you want an inside look into professional songwriting, and maybe learn some tips and insights you could apple to your podcast. It’s on Amazon prime, and I was surprised it’s also on YouTube for free.
What’s Coming In The Future
My last episode of the year is always your answer to “What is your favorite podcast and why” and if want to be included, I need your answer now.
Need Help With Your Podcast?
Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned podcaster, the School of Podcasting can help. Helping podcasters is what I do, and I’ve been doing it since 2005
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