I’m a podcast expert with 20 years experience in radio and podcasting: Ask me anything!

@lorenzsell hey Lorenz, thanks for your questions. - we primarily use Megaphone for enterprise solutions but that’s not to say it’s the best. It depends on what interface suits you (do you program host read ads yourself? For example) . Transistor comes highly recommended and looks great. Simplecast manages scale well, as does Art19, and the likes of Podbean seems to service amateur shows well at a reasonable price. - yes, but only if you’re offering up other content too (newsletter, video etc). They seem to be the biggest competitor to Patreon at the moment and it looks great and easy to use. Beware their commission though. - it really depends on the format of your show and how you work best (and your skill set- do you need more time to edit? Or are you take a light touch approach?) the main thing is that you’re delivering your show consistently because audiences expect it. Routine is key. - big names: this is a tricky one because a lot depends on your contacts and perhaps the size of your audience. However, a well thought out email / msg on social media can go a long way. If it resonates, you may be in luck! Aim for the stars but set realistic expectations to sustain momentum. - the most proven way to grow an audience is promotion on other podcasts where your ideal audience also listens. The more authentic the promo the better so if the host can personally recommend your show, happy days! Elsewhere, use any leverage or advantage you have- get guests to promote and pitch to Apple to promote as well. It’s fairly easy and accessible. Also, a true metric of success is usually listen through rates rather than volume. Only 1% of all podcasts reach those dizzying heights. Keep going and believe in your purpose, listeners will follow.

@mplebl hey Marie-Philippe, thank you for your question: it’s important to remember, there’s no ‘golden bullet’ with these things but consistency (cadence) of delivery is everything. Think about how you could leverage your expertise and passion on a subject to bring genuine and consistent insight to the listener. Most formats have been done, so think about exactly who will listen and (more importantly) why. Everything flows from there (marketing etc). Yes, start up podcasts have been done a lot but if you’re bringing something truly unique to the table, a subscriber is there to soak it all in. It’s hard work to deliver a podcast week on week, however, the engagement you get from subscribers will be worth it, I promise. It’s a long game. Hope that helps!