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Is it too early to launch an Apple Podcasts subscription? And is it too early to put an independent podcast forward for an Apple Podcasts editorial feature?

In this episode of The Creator’s Log, I'm talking about taking The Physical Cut to the next level. After seeing some growth and receiving feedback from listeners, I decided to experiment with an Apple Podcasts subscription, creating an opportunity for exclusive episodes, early access, and additional content focused on physical media releases.

But there's a bigger question: how do you grow and monetize an independent podcast without losing sight of what made people listen in the first place?

I also discuss the possibility of submitting The Physical Cut for an Apple Podcasts editorial feature, the episodes I'd choose to represent the show, the fear of attracting the wrong audience, and why getting discovered shouldn't mean changing your creative identity.

In this episode:

• Launching an Apple Podcasts subscription for The Physical Cut.
• Finding a balance between exclusive content and regular episodes.
• Listener feedback and the decision to explore release-focused episodes.
• Podcast monetization and covering the costs of independent production.
• Preparing an editorial feature pitch for Apple Podcasts.
• Choosing episodes that represent the different sides of The Physical Cut.
• Why podcast growth isn't just about download numbers.
• Taking your independent podcast seriously, even before the big audience arrives.

Find The Physical Cut and more at KR PodLab.

Mentioned episodes and Why This Film? podcast:

• The Sequence: Inside the Making of an Horror Short Film with Joe Bandelli | & Hell House LLC 10th Anniversary
• Criterion Collection, Film Deep Dives & Physical Media with Ron (Why This Film?)
• Physical Media Hunting in Rome and Madrid... Only One Won
• Why This Film? - podcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Audio problems can turn a simple podcast recording into hours of troubleshooting. In this episode of The Creator’s Log, I talk about my ongoing struggles with recording quality, why my voice sometimes sounds muffled or distorted when recording with guests, and how audio enhancement can sometimes make things worse instead of better.

From testing microphone settings and comparing gain levels to working across Descript, Riverside, and Adobe Podcast Studio, I’m sharing what I’ve been trying to fix my audio and the lessons I’m learning along the way.

In this episode:

• Why my audio sounds different when recording with guests
• Testing microphone gain and settings on the Shure MV7+
• When audio enhancement makes recordings sound worse
• Why I’m learning to edit before applying enhancement
• The frustration of troubleshooting as an independent podcaster
• Finding the balance between clean audio and perfectionism

The Physical Cut episode: Horror Monsters, VHS Nostalgia & the Movies That Stuck With Us | with Face the Movies

Sometimes the solution isn't more processing. It's knowing when to stop tweaking and work with what you have.

If you're an indie podcaster dealing with audio issues, I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

Follow The Creator’s Log for more honest conversations about podcasting, the tools we use, the problems we encounter, and the lessons learned along the way.

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Do I Really Need to Be Everywhere With My Podcast?

Does putting your podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your own website actually help people discover it?

In this episode of The Creator’s Log, I’m experimenting with podcast SEO, video, distribution, and different ways to get the show in front of new listeners — without creating more work just for the sake of being everywhere.

I take another look at Zencastr’s new free podcasting plan and ask the obvious question: what’s the catch? I also talk about continuing to experiment with video podcasting on YouTube and Spotify, whether adding Apple video is worth the extra cost, and how much effort I’m willing to put into video when the podcast is still the priority.

I also give an update on my podcast website and SEO strategy, including adding blog posts, embedding YouTube videos, using searchable content to bring people to the site, and creating another way for listeners to discover the podcast outside of traditional podcast apps.

The bigger question throughout the episode is simple: Does podcast SEO mean being everywhere, or does it mean figuring out where people are actually searching for your show?

Check out Beamly for 15 days free!

Also, podcast for free with RSS.com and record with Descript at 50% off for two months.

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