In this episode, I share why podcasting conferences still matter in 2026. Attending podcast-focused conferences has shaped my entire career. From the early days of missing the very first podcasting events to the way conferences eventually accelerated my growth, my relationships, and my income, this episode is a reflection on why rooms full of podcasters change everything.

For the first few years of my podcasting journey, I was creating alongside others, but I was not yet connected to the larger community of podcasters who lived and breathed this medium the way I did. That changed the moment I started attending podcasting conferences.

In this episode, I walk you through:

• Why missing the earliest podcasting events created some of the biggest regret in my career.
• How attending my first industry conference shifted the trajectory of my business.
• What actually happens when you get in rooms with other people who love podcasting.
• Why conferences collapse years of learning into just a few days.
• How events like BlogWorld, Podcast Movement, and PodFest shaped the podcasting industry.
• Why I am intentionally returning to podcast conferences in 2026 and beyond.

I also share a recent conversation with Nick Pavlidis, CEO of PodFest Expo, where we talk about:

• How he got into podcasting through conversations with his kids.
• Why he bought PodFest and what he is trying to protect and grow.
• How PodFest is different from other podcasting conferences.
• Why the event is built around independent creators.
• The Podcast Hall of Fame and why it now lives at PodFest.
• The changing needs of podcasters and how in-person events meet those needs.

Key ideas from this episode

• The highest value of podcasting conferences come from the in-person relationships.
• Being in the same room with other creators changes how you see yourself and your work.
• The best opportunities in this industry almost always come from conversations, not presentations.
• If you keep the same people around you, your life and business will look the same in five years.
• PodFest is designed to serve independent podcasters first, not corporate sponsors.

Resources and links mentioned

• PodFest Expo

  https://podfestexpo.com

• Promo Code for PodFest

  Use PAM for 10 percent off your ticket

• Podcast Hall of Fame

  https://podcasthall.com

If this episode reminded you that podcasting is better when you are in a room with other creators, then Podcasting A to Z might be exactly what you are looking for.

Podcasting A to Z is my live, step-by-step coaching experience for people who are ready to launch, relaunch, or level up their podcast. It is a group of podcasters who are showing up, asking real questions, and building real momentum together.

We meet for four weeks.

We solve real problems.

And we move your podcast forward with clarity and confidence.

The next session begins January 26.

Learn more and register at: PodcastingAtoZ.com

One of the most common questions I get from podcasters is how long a podcast episode should be, and in this episode I go much deeper than just throwing out a number.

In the first half of this episode, I answer a SpeakPipe voicemail from Nate about episode length and whether it is okay to mix short and long episodes within the same show. I explain why episode length is about how your show fits into the daily habits and routines of your listeners.

In the second half of the episode, I respond to a voicemail from Jim about video podcasting. I talk honestly about the current hype around YouTube, Spotify video, and the pressure some people feel to turn every podcast into a video show.

I pull back the curtain and explain exactly how I am producing Podcast Answer Man today in a way I never have before. I am recording and editing in small segments inside Adobe Audition, building the episode piece by piece, cutting, refining, and reshaping as I go.

I also share updates about Podpage, including new features they added in response to my feedback and the SEO scoring tools that help optimize episode pages for search. I explain why Podpage has replaced the WordPress and Pretty Links systems I used for years.

• Podcast Answer Man - https://PodcastAnswerMan.com
• SpeakPipe (Affiliate) - https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/speakpipe
• Podpage (Affiliate) - https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/podpage
• RV Podcast (Mike and Jennifer Wendland) - https://rvpodcast.com
• TheCliff Ravenscraft Show - https://TheCliffRavenscraftShow.com
• Podcasting A to Z - https://PodcastingAtoZ.com

If you have been thinking about starting a podcast in 2026, or if you already have a podcast and you know it is capable of so much more, I want to personally invite you to join me in Podcasting A to Z, which begins January 26.

This is four weeks of direct access to me as your coach. You get to ask me an unlimited number of questions about podcasting, business strategy, content, audience growth, mindset, and anything else that stands between you and what you want to create.

If you are ready to finally bring your voice into the world or take your existing efforts to the next level, I would love to walk with you through that journey.

You can learn more and register right now at https://PodcastingAtoZ.com

Let us make this the year you stop waiting and start creating.

Podpage Features For Podcasts: In this episode, I share the full story behind why I’ve rebuilt the Podcast Answer Man website using Podpage and why I now believe it’s an excellent turn-key solution for podcasters who don’t want to deal with custom design, WordPress architecture, CSS, plug-ins, developers, maintenance, or the expense and complexity of building a fully customized site.

For three decades, I've used everything from WordPress to managed VPS hosting to Kajabi to power my online presence. Recently, I discovered Podpage and decided to rebuild my PodcastAnswerMan.com site on their platform.

Today’s conversation walks you through:

• Why I moved away from WordPress and external hosting
• The limitations I ran into inside Kajabi for podcast website needs
• How Podpage works as a complete website builder for podcasters
• The features that immediately sold me on switching
• How Podpage integrates with podcast feeds automatically
• Why Podpage is now the home of PodcastAnswerMan.com
• Practical reasons Podpage may be a good fit for your show too

If you’re a podcaster looking to build a professional presence online, without spending years managing plugins, code, hosting, updates, backups, and design headaches, Podpage is the solution I recommend you to try out.

You can begin testing Podpage instantly by importing your RSS feed and seeing a live preview of your show website: https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/podpage

This is my affiliate link. If you sign up using it, I will earn a commission.

• Podpage: https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/podpage
• Kajabi: https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kajabi
• Kit (Formerly ConvertKit): https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kit
• My Podcast Reviews: - http://PodcastAnswerMan.com/reviews

If you want to launch a podcast but feel stuck, unsure where to start, or overwhelmed by the tech, Podcasting A to Z was created for you.

This is a live, four-week guided experience where I personally help you launch a great-sounding podcast with clarity and confidence.

Learn more and see if Podcasting A to Z is right for you at PodcastingAtoZ.com.

The Real Definition of a Podcast

Podcasting has been around for more than two decades. You would think the definition would be settled by now. Yet here we are in 2025, and people are still confidently giving advice in large Facebook groups while misunderstanding what actually makes a podcast a podcast.

In this episode, I walk you through a recent thread inside a group, devoted to the topic of podcasting, with more than 103,000 members. Someone asked a simple question about whether video is required for podcasting. I explain how after reading the answers that followed, I felt compelled to jump in. I also share the exact comments I made, along with the misinformation that prompted them.

You’ll hear the real definition of a podcast. Not the internet myth. The accurate definition that has been true since the beginning.

That is the foundation this entire industry was built on.

I also talk about why this matters.

When tens of thousands of newer creators are watching these conversations, I want them to understand the medium they are working with. I want them to know why audio only is still a powerful choice. I want them to see that video can play a role, but it isn’t required. And I want them to understand the technical heart of podcasting so they can make informed decisions rather than follow trends.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why the debate about “audio only” versus “video podcasts” keeps resurfacing.
2. How misinformation spreads inside creator communities.
3. The real, technical definition of a podcast.
4. When video files can, in fact, can be a podcast.
5. Why audio first is still my personal preference.
6. A mention of two podcast episodes from 2024 where I have shared thoughts on the role of video in your content strategy.
7. A reminder that Podcasting A to Z is officially back for a new session starting January 26.

• Episode 469 - Is It Worth Having A Video Version of Your Audio Podcast?
• Episode 473 - The Magic of Audio First Content Production
• You can submit them through SpeakPipe - http://speakpipe.com/podcastanswerman

If you are ready to launch a podcast with clarity, confidence, and a proven step-by-step workflow, my next session of Podcasting A to Z begins soon. I will personally coach you through every stage of the process so your show is live by the end of our four weeks together.

Register today at PodcastingAtoZ.com

Your P4next Questions Answered

After several years focused on business strategy and mindset coaching, I am stepping back into the role that shaped two decades of my work. Podcast Answer Man is officially back. This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter that honors my roots while embracing everything I have learned since.

Inside this episode, I answer thirteen of the most common questions I’ve received about the Zoom PodTrak P4next. This tiny device has quickly become my favorite portable podcast studio, and today I walk you through what it can do, why it matters, and how it compares to the gear many of you already own.

I also share a deeply meaningful update about my friend and mentor, Dan Miller. His impact on my life and on this community is immeasurable, and I am honored to tell you how he is being recognized on the podcast industry’s biggest stage.

And near the end, I explain why now is the perfect time for me to return to Podcast Answer Man and what that means for the content I will be creating moving forward.

• PodTrak P4next Amazon Affiliate Link
• Episode 474: My first impressions of the P4next
• Video walkthrough of the P4next on YouTube
• Podfest Expo Registration Link (Use Promo Code PAM for 10% off)
• My Keynote from Free the Dream: MindsetAnswerMan.com/free

If you are attending Podfest Expo, email me at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com and let me know. I would love to meet you in person.

Podcasting A to Z is returning one week after I get back from Podfest Expo.

This four-week program is the most comprehensive podcast training experience that has ever been available. Nearly 700 students have gone through it with me as their personal coach, and many of them credit this course as the reason they launched with clarity, confidence, and long-term momentum.

For four weeks, you get direct access to me. No limits on your questions. No limits on the support you can ask for. If something is confusing, I will walk you through it. If you need strategy, gear advice, workflow help, or technical direction, I will guide you step by step.

If you’re launching a podcast or you want to take your existing show to a higher level, this is the place to do it. I would love to work with you and help you build something you are proud to share.

Learn more at PodcastingAtoZ.com.

Thank you for being here for this chapter of the journey. I am grateful to be back behind the mic, and I cannot wait to serve you at the highest level in the years ahead.

In this episode I return to my Podcast Answer Man roots and share an in-depth review of my newest and most unexpected favorite piece of podcast gear. The Zoom PodTrak P4next!

This tiny device delivers almost everything I rely on from the Rodecaster Pro 2 at a fraction of the size and a fraction of the cost, coming in at only $179.

I'll walk you through how I discovered it, my initial skepticism, and why seeing the Zoom name made me give it a chance. I'm so glad I did.

I'll share what the Zoom PodTrak P4next does, how I'm using it, why it has already earned a permanent place in my travel setup, and why I might even replace my Rodecaster Pro 2 in the studio.

I recorded this episode from the front seat of my car to demonstrate how powerful this device is for portable recording. You'll hear the quality of the preamps and the impressive noise reduction capabilities in action.

I talk about the power options, multitrack capability, four XLR inputs, mix-minus support, sound pads, four independently controlled headphone outputs, built in audio recorder and more.

I also share the story of why this little recorder solves technical problems I have carried for years.

If you have been looking for a reliable way to record multiple microphones on the road, or if you want to build a complete podcast studio that fits in a backpack, this episode will show you how simple, and inexpensive, it can be.

Many listeners and viewers ask for my current recommendations for a complete portable recording setup. Here's the list with affiliate links.

Zoom PodTrak P4next - https://amzn.to/4rA85fY

Heil PR-40 - https://amzn.to/4iofavZ

If you want something more portable, my long-time favorite was the Audio Technica ATR-2100. It is no longer manufactured, so my best current guess for a quality budget dynamic mic is the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone found at https://amzn.to/4rgUIBf

Three foot XLR mic cables - https://amzn.to/43UbqMC

Portable mic stand options - https://amzn.to/3MmDMJf

Sony MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0apwo

Replacement ear pads for the MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0gj0z

If this episode inspires you to pick up the Zoom PodTrak P4next, I would love to hear about it. Send me an email and let me know how this episode inspired you. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.

In this episode, I speak about the enduring power and benefits of audio-first content creation, specifically podcasting. Even as the media landscape continues to evolve, I firmly believe that audio podcasting remains a highly valuable and underutilized strategy for building your message, business, and influence.

I share my own extensive experience in the podcasting world, having launched over 50 of my own shows and published more than 4,800 episodes over the past 19 years. I also reflect on my role as the "Podcast Answer Man," helping over 40,000 people successfully launch their own audio podcasts.

Throughout the episode, I highlight the 6 key benefits that audio podcasting offers, which include:

1. A smaller "haystack" for content discovery compared to other platforms
2. The ubiquity of smartphones and the convenience of audio consumption
3. The captive audience that audio content can command
4. The ease of connecting with experts and mentors
5. The ability to build rapport and trust over time, even while you sleep
6. The greater influence that comes from dedicated, binge-listening audiences

I also address the impact of platforms like Clubhouse and short-form video, acknowledging the shifts in attention, but emphasizing the enduring value of consistent, high-quality audio content.

Ultimately, I make a strong case for the power of audio-first content creation and encourage listeners to consider implementing this strategy as a means of elevating their message and business.

I invite you to reach out to me directly if you're interested in exploring opportunities to work together on your entrepreneurial journey. My email address is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com