What is your podcast crutch? We all have them.

So I was sitting at a Detroit Tigers game with a friend the other day. Sadly, we were at a Detroit Tigers game. And we were talking about the WJPZ at 50 podcast that I had done. And he was teasing me that the "whispered wow" is what he called the hallmark of any JAG podcast. When somebody says something compelling or interesting, I tend to sit back and say, "Woooow."

And I thought about it. He was probably right. And then he joked that other people have stolen it from me. I don't think it's original to me. That said, I was recording a podcast the very next day and I caught myself saying, "Wow," when somebody said something interesting. Now, there's nothing wrong with occasionally using a crutch or occasionally having a trademark of your podcast. And my friend wasn't criticizing me, but it got me thinking. We all have verbal crutches.

I know one podcaster that as she gets ready for her next question, she says, "aaaaand," until she thinks of what she wants to look for. Some people say, um, uh, you know, like- those words that we all use in regular conversation.

And this is not something that you are going to know off the top of your head what it is.

My challenge to you, once you're 10, 15 episodes deep in your podcast, go back and listen to yourself. Now, I know this is something that's difficult for a lot of people because physiologically, your voice does not sound the same on a recording as it does inside the bones conducting inside your skull. Nobody likes how they sound recorded. But go back and listen to yourself and see if you can find certain crutch words you use and be aware of them. That way you can sort of...try to avoid using them, or at least overusing them in the future. It's okay to have crutch words, but as with everything in podcasting, all things in balance.

Okay, one pet peeve for this week before we wrap up. The lavalier mic. These guys here. If you're a podcast or especially on YouTube, I see this all the time on YouTube.

Do not use a clip on tiny lavalier mic as your interview mic. I can't tell you how many times he somebody on YouTube go back and forth, hey, quick, quick, let's do this. These mics are designed to clip on to a lapel and be "this far" from somebody's mouth, not right up here. It's going to sound distorted. It's not going to sound good. Then that goes for these old school lapel mics, lav mics and these new school mics that clip on.

And Rode makes these, this is a knockoff version of a those. They're designed to clip on and be a certain distance from your mouth. You risk having the audio distort and clip and be too loud if you don't use mics as they're designed. If you're going to interview somebody, have a handheld mic and do it the old school way. Use mics the way in which they're designed.

If you need me, I'll be telling the neighborhood kids to get off my lawn and their music is too loud. Lata!

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com

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This year’s Podcast Movement convention marked a clear turning point in the evolution of the podcasting industry. I’ve been attending this event since 2018, and it has always been a valuable space for independent creators like us. But now, the shift toward corporate interests is more evident than ever. With the merger of Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable, and the major announcement that the 2026 event will move from its usual summer schedule to New York City in September, it’s clear the focus is shifting toward advertisers and industry execs. While this move might serve the broader industry well, it raises valid concerns for independent creators who may be priced out or feel sidelined.

In a candid conversation with Tom Webster and James Cridland, I asked for clarity on where indie podcasters stand. Tom acknowledged that not everyone will fit into the new model, but there will still be space carved out for us. So while we’re keeping an eye on how this transition plays out, we’re also considering events like Podfest, which may better cater to creators.

One of the most actionable takeaways came from producer Jay Yow, who stressed the importance of wearing headphones while recording. It’s not just a technical recommendation—it’s essential for clean audio. Poor sound can sabotage a good show, especially on remote platforms like Riverside or Squadcast. His argument? If Taylor Swift can wear headphones on camera, so can we.

We also revisited the ongoing debate between video and audio podcasting. While video is great for discovery—especially on YouTube—audio remains the foundation. As Johnny Podcasts puts it: audio is your shoes, video is your socks. You can skip socks, but you can’t skip shoes. Resources should go to audio first, especially since many YouTube “viewers” are actually just listening in the background.

The biggest research insight came from Hal Rood and Tim Bronsil's "The Podcast Study," who revealed that most listeners focus on just three main podcasts, spending 75% of their time with their favorite. To stand out, we need to avoid wasting those critical first 30 seconds of our show. Open strong, skip the fluff, and immediately give listeners a reason to stick around. It’s what separates a casual listener from a loyal one.

Rob Walch of Libsyn reminded us again that shortcuts like “buying downloads” are scams. Real growth takes time, and authenticity matters more than inflated numbers. Despite claims of 4.6 million podcasts, only around 354,000 are active. The space is wide open if we’re consistent and committed.

Finally, we dove into SEO and PSO strategies. SEO helps our episodes show up in search results, while PSO focuses on discoverability within platforms like Apple and Spotify. To win at both, we need smart titling, backlinking, frequent publishing, and full show notes on our websites.

All in all, the industry is changing fast—but with the right tools and mindset, there’s still room for independent voices like ours to thrive.

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com

Today, I'm breaking down 5 popular mics that you may have seen in your search for the perfect podcast mic.

We start with the well-advertised, terribly performing Blue Yeti. I explain why you're better off to skip it, and buy a dynamic microphone for cheaper.

Next, the nearly interchangeable Samson Q2U and Audio Technica ATR-2100X. The ATR has a USB-C option, but has been in very short supply lately. The Q2U is only USB-A, but you can buy an adapter/dongle and use a USB-C port on a newer computer. Both are around $60-$70.

Middle of the road, you can upgrade to the Shure MV7 - for around $300. High quality mic for a little bit more than entry level.

If budget isn't a concern, or you're spending a marketing budget, splurge on the Shure SM7B. You'll see it in most high-end podcast productions. And it's been used by everyone from Michael Jackson to Eminem....to me.

Microphone questions, reach out any time.

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com

In this episode, we explore the significant impact listener surveys can have on a podcast's success, especially during the holiday season. Listener surveys allow us to connect directly with our audience and understand their preferences, making it easier to create content that resonates. In the radio world, we called this “Hugging your P1s”—a term for our most loyal listeners. Providing incentives, like gift cards, can increase participation, especially during this time of year when engagement may naturally decline.

Listener surveys also serve as valuable content. By dedicating an episode to discussing survey questions and linking a Google form in the show notes, we can keep our audience engaged and gather data simultaneously. Credit for many of these survey strategies goes to Melissa Joy Dobbins of the Sound Bites podcast. Here are the ten questions we recommend asking:

1. How long have you been listening? This helps us gauge listener loyalty and the effectiveness of outreach over time.
2. How did you discover the show? Knowing whether it was through social media, a search engine, or word of mouth can refine our marketing strategies.
3. Where do you follow or subscribe? Asking this not only provides insight but also reminds listeners to follow or subscribe on platforms like Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
4. How do you consume the show? Identifying whether listeners prefer audio, video, or both informs future production plans.
5. What topics or guests should we cover more? This ensures our content aligns with audience interests.
6. What topics should we cover less? Feedback on what isn’t working is just as valuable.
7. Have you shared an episode? Understanding how listeners share the show helps us improve its reach.
8. Would you leave a review? While not a primary call to action, reviews offer social proof and strengthen credibility.
9. Would you support the show financially? Options like listening to ads, Patreon subscriptions, or buying merchandise can diversify our revenue streams.
10. Demographic insights: Gathering age, gender, and other details respectfully helps us better understand our audience.

By using these questions, we gain actionable insights to refine our content, marketing, and engagement strategies for 2025

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com

In this episode of The Jag Show, we dive into the lessons learned from the highly anticipated Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight and how these insights can be applied to podcasting and content creation. Join us as we explore the essential elements of creating buzz, the unpredictability of viral moments, and the critical importance of technology in delivering a seamless experience.

• Create Buzz and FOMO: Learn how to generate excitement and the fear of missing out to make your content irresistible, just like the buzz surrounding the Tyson vs. Paul fight.

• Embrace Viral Moments: Discover why you can't plan for virality but can prepare your content to seize the moment when it arises, illustrated by the unexpected viral moment from the fight.

• Ensure Reliable Technology: Understand why having robust tech is non-negotiable in 2024 and beyond, as seen with Netflix's buffering issues during the fight.

• Build Up vs. Payoff: Find out why the payoff must match the buildup, and how a lackluster main event can leave audiences disappointed, drawing parallels to the fight's outcome.

Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, these insights will help you create compelling content that keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.

If you have questions about content creation, especially in the podcast realm, reach out to us at jagindetroit.com.

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com

SPOTIFY WILL NOW PAY FOR YOUR CONTENT

The world of podcasting is constantly evolving – and Spotify is now trying to keep up with YouTube.And that means PAYING its creators!

This week, Spotify announced they are rebranding their Spotify for Podcasters interface, now calling it Spotify for CREATORS. This comes on the heels of allowing all podcasters to upload video files of their podcast to the platform – regardless of whether you use Spotify as your host.

Now, one of the reasons YouTube has made such strides in podcasting, in addition to video of course, is how easy it is to monetize the platform. It’s way more turnkey than Apple or Spotify – with their subscription and advertising options. Well Spotify figured this out too.

According to PodNews and Sounds Profitable, the new Spotify for Creators program is open to creators who’ve published 12 episodes, had 2,000 unique Spotify users interact with your show in the last month, and have 10,000 streamed hours in the past month.

Now, those bars are much higher to clear than YouTube’s benchmarks of 1,000 all time subscribers and 4,000 streamed hours in the last year, but it’s a step in the right direction for Spotify.

Now, aside from the tougher requirements, here’s the million dollar question. How do you want to track your analytics? In the old days of podcasting, your host tracked downloads or streams via your audio host, and who grabbed your content from your RSS feed. To track metrics on VIDEO podcasts – be it Spotify OR YouTube, those views will NOT come from your RSS feed. So now you’re in a position where you have to take your downloads, then add your views from YouTube and/or Spotify. And of course, downloads, streams, and views are NOT apples to apples comparisons.

So you have to decide – is having your podcast on video important enough to you, to not have the same consistency in evaluating and reporting your numbers? Maybe the video presence and monetization opportunities say yes. Or maybe you have stakeholders that need consistent measurement and KPI’s, such as a corporate podcast, and audio is just fine.

These decisions are yours to make as a creator, as the world of podcasting continues to evolve. And as always, if you have any questions about the industry, or your specific podcast, find me at JAGinDetroit.com. Lata!

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com

Could podcasts help decide the election?

Here we are in the final days before the most consequential Presidential Election of our lives.Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are criss-crossing the battleground states – and the podcast studios!

Sure, we’ve got wall-to-wall TV and radio ads as always. My wife and I have YouTube TV as our cable provider -the ads are also there, and on traditional YouTube, where we spend a fair amount of time as well.

But as Trump and Harris make their closing arguments to Americans, they’ve found a new arena this cycle– podcasts. And with podcasts having pretty well-defined audiences, even the largest ones, both candidates are staying in their respective lanes. No matter how you slice it, 45% of the country’s going to vote for Harris, and 45% is going to vote for Trump. Now while both would love to reach that 10% in the middle, they are also trying to drive turnout among their predicted supporters. Harris has been on one of the top podcasts consumed by females, Call Her Daddy, to talk about reproductive rights. She’s also been on All The Smoke, with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Club Shay Shay with former NFL player turned analyst Shannon Sharpe, and Unlocking Us with Brene Brown.

For Trump’s part, he’s gone on the world’s biggest podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, as well as Barstool Sports’ Bussin With The Boys, and the comedy Podcast Flagrant.

Now, I’m not saying that podcasts are GOING to decide the election, but their influence and reach are certainly being considered by both campaigns. Yes, our media landscape is split among ideological lines, and podcasts are no exception. But media as a whole is now so fragmented. Gone are the days were network news shows were the end-all be-all of media reach. You’ve got to meet your audience – and your potential voters – where they are. And they’re listening to – and watching podcasts. Lata!

Find jag on social media @JAGPodcastProductions or online at JAGPodcastProductions.com