The Pod Stack Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:42:59 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2656210/free_share_page en © 2026 The Pod Stack yes e11bc0ec-d2f6-5480-8157-2cf5e14312af Jesse of The Pod Stack episodic false You're starting a podcast — or you're five episodes in and drowning in tool advice. Every YouTube video says buy twelve apps. This show helps you buy three.

The Pod Stack is short, practical episodes about podcast tools for new hosts: hosting, remote recording, editing, cover art, show notes, and email. No hype. No coaching pitches. Hosted by Jesse of The Pod Stack.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in show notes may be affiliate links.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Jesse of The Pod Stack https://storage.buzzsprout.com/tj8u6wgikluwxd6irzeenq965ku9?.jpg The Pod Stack https://www.buzzsprout.com/2656210/free_share_page Headphones for Podcasters: Closed-Back Basics and Why Monitoring Saves Remakes Headphones for Podcasters: Closed-Back Basics and Why Monitoring Saves Remakes You finish a "great" take. You listen back on phone speaker. There's a truck. There's a click. There's you saying "um" forty times next to an open window you somehow didn't notice live. Monitoring isn't audiophile flex. It's how you catch problems while you can still do a second take — before you've burned free hosting upload minutes on a bad export. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack.


Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit


Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: StreamYard (browser-based studio for live streaming & recording): https://streamyard.com/?fpr=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> You finish a "great" take. You listen back on phone speaker. There's a truck. There's a click. There's you saying "um" forty times next to an open window you somehow didn't notice live. Monitoring isn't audiophile flex. It's how you catch problems while you can still do a second take — before you've burned free hosting upload minutes on a bad export. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack.


Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit


Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: StreamYard (browser-based studio for live streaming & recording): https://streamyard.com/?fpr=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923523 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 272 20 full false Cheap Room Fixes Before You Buy Another Mic (Blankets, Closets, and Distance) Cheap Room Fixes Before You Buy Another Mic (Blankets, Closets, and Distance) The internet will sell you a new microphone for an echoey kitchen. A four-hundred-dollar condenser in a hard box of a room still sounds like a hard box of a room. A decent USB mic in a softer space, closer to your mouth, often sounds "expensive" for twenty minutes of furniture moving. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: cheap room fixes before you buy another mic — free-first,...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> The internet will sell you a new microphone for an echoey kitchen. A four-hundred-dollar condenser in a hard box of a room still sounds like a hard box of a room. A decent USB mic in a softer space, closer to your mouth, often sounds "expensive" for twenty minutes of furniture moving. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: cheap room fixes before you buy another mic — free-first,...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923521 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 232 19 full false MP3 Export Settings That Won’t Get You Rejected (Bitrate, Sample Rate, Mono vs Stereo) MP3 Export Settings That Won’t Get You Rejected (Bitrate, Sample Rate, Mono vs Stereo) Somewhere in a forum, someone will tell you your podcast failed because you exported at the wrong bitrate. Sometimes settings matter. Often the real failure was never hitting publish — or uploading a huge WAV to a host with a tiny free allowance. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: MP3 export settings that won't get you rejected — practical defaults, free-first, and when stereo is just...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Somewhere in a forum, someone will tell you your podcast failed because you exported at the wrong bitrate. Sometimes settings matter. Often the real failure was never hitting publish — or uploading a huge WAV to a host with a tiny free allowance. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: MP3 export settings that won't get you rejected — practical defaults, free-first, and when stereo is just...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923520 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 258 18 full false Loudness for Beginners: LUFS, Peaks, and “Why Does My Episode Sound Quiet?” Loudness for Beginners: LUFS, Peaks, and “Why Does My Episode Sound Quiet?” You publish an episode. You play it in the car next to a big interview show. Suddenly yours sounds like it's whispering from another room. Cue the shopping spiral: hardware compressors, paid "AI mastering," a YouTube comment that says you need a thousand-dollar chain. Usually you need a level habit — not a new invoice. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: loudness for beginners — LUFS,...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Async (browser recording + AI audio cleanup, formerly Podcastle): https://async.com/?ref=zwu0zjk

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> You publish an episode. You play it in the car next to a big interview show. Suddenly yours sounds like it's whispering from another room. Cue the shopping spiral: hardware compressors, paid "AI mastering," a YouTube comment that says you need a thousand-dollar chain. Usually you need a level habit — not a new invoice. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: loudness for beginners — LUFS,...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Async (browser recording + AI audio cleanup, formerly Podcastle): https://async.com/?ref=zwu0zjk

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923519 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 281 17 full false Chapter Markers: How to Add Them, Why Listeners Love Them, Which Hosts Make It Easy Chapter Markers: How to Add Them, Why Listeners Love Them, Which Hosts Make It Easy Chapters turn a seven-minute episode into a map. Listeners skip to the part they need. You look organized. And on many hosts, chapters are a built-in field — not a reason to buy another platform. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: chapter markers — why they matter, how to add them without overbuying, and when to skip them entirely. Some Resources links may be affiliate links. If you...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Opus Clip (turn long audio/video into short social clips): https://opus.pro/?via=jesse

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Chapters turn a seven-minute episode into a map. Listeners skip to the part they need. You look organized. And on many hosts, chapters are a built-in field — not a reason to buy another platform. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: chapter markers — why they matter, how to add them without overbuying, and when to skip them entirely. Some Resources links may be affiliate links. If you...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Opus Clip (turn long audio/video into short social clips): https://opus.pro/?via=jesse

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923518 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 226 16 full false Episode Titles, Descriptions, and Explicit Flags: Metadata That Helps Discovery Episode Titles, Descriptions, and Explicit Flags: Metadata That Helps Discovery Your audio can be excellent and still get skipped because the title sounds like a mystery novel and the description is three vague sentences about "diving deep." Metadata is free leverage. No new subscription required. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: titles, descriptions, and explicit flags — small fields that help humans and apps understand the episode before they hit play. Some...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Fireflies.ai (call & meeting transcription): https://fireflies.ai/?fpr=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Your audio can be excellent and still get skipped because the title sounds like a mystery novel and the description is three vague sentences about "diving deep." Metadata is free leverage. No new subscription required. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: titles, descriptions, and explicit flags — small fields that help humans and apps understand the episode before they hit play. Some...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Fireflies.ai (call & meeting transcription): https://fireflies.ai/?fpr=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923516 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 255 15 full false Directory Submissions Beyond Apple & Spotify: What Actually Matters in Year One Directory Submissions Beyond Apple & Spotify: What Actually Matters in Year One There is a particular kind of productive-looking panic where you submit your brand-new podcast to forty directories before you've published episode three. It feels like growth. Mostly it's spreadsheet cosplay. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: which directories actually matter in year one — and which submissions can wait so you don't burn an evening that should have been a recording...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Podseeker (podcast directory & guest research database): https://www.podseeker.co/?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> There is a particular kind of productive-looking panic where you submit your brand-new podcast to forty directories before you've published episode three. It feels like growth. Mostly it's spreadsheet cosplay. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: which directories actually matter in year one — and which submissions can wait so you don't burn an evening that should have been a recording...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Podseeker (podcast directory & guest research database): https://www.podseeker.co/?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923515 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 319 14 full false How to Migrate Podcast Hosts Without Breaking Your Apple & Spotify Listings How to Migrate Podcast Hosts Without Breaking Your Apple & Spotify Listings Migrating podcast hosts feels like changing banks while payroll is mid-run. Do it wrong and subscribers stall, episodes 404, and you live in support inboxes for a week. Do it right and listeners barely notice — and you stop paying for two hosts the moment the bridge is stable. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: migrate without breaking Apple and Spotify — checklist-style, affordable,...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza · Castos (podcast hosting + done-for-you editing service): https://castos.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Migrating podcast hosts feels like changing banks while payroll is mid-run. Do it wrong and subscribers stall, episodes 404, and you live in support inboxes for a week. Do it right and listeners barely notice — and you stop paying for two hosts the moment the bridge is stable. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: migrate without breaking Apple and Spotify — checklist-style, affordable,...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza · Castos (podcast hosting + done-for-you editing service): https://castos.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923514 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 311 13 full false RSS Feeds Explained: The Boring Superpower Every New Host Must Understand RSS Feeds Explained: The Boring Superpower Every New Host Must Understand Apple Podcasts does not host your show. Neither does Spotify — not in the way beginners mean when they say "host." They *read a feed*: a plain, boring, powerful file your podcast host publishes. If you understand that file, migrations get less scary, "where's my episode?" bugs get diagnosable, and you stop buying mystery tools to fix problems that were always about the pipe. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse — Quail...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Apple Podcasts does not host your show. Neither does Spotify — not in the way beginners mean when they say "host." They *read a feed*: a plain, boring, powerful file your podcast host publishes. If you understand that file, migrations get less scary, "where's my episode?" bugs get diagnosable, and you stop buying mystery tools to fix problems that were always about the pipe. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse — Quail...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923513 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 380 12 full false Your Hosting Objections, Answered (Free Forever, Too Basic, Video Day One) Your Hosting Objections, Answered (Free Forever, Too Basic, Video Day One) "I'll stay on free forever." "Buzzsprout is too basic." "I need video on day one or I'm invisible." If any of those lines have lived rent-free in your head this week, this episode is for you. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Short, honest tool picks for people starting a podcast. Today: your hosting objections, answered — without shame, without upsell theater, and with a clear free-first...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack · Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> "I'll stay on free forever." "Buzzsprout is too basic." "I need video on day one or I'm invisible." If any of those lines have lived rent-free in your head this week, this episode is for you. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Short, honest tool picks for people starting a podcast. Today: your hosting objections, answered — without shame, without upsell theater, and with a clear free-first...

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack · Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923511 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 347 11 full false Tool Mistakes That Waste New Podcasters' Money (And What to Do Instead) Tool Mistakes That Waste New Podcasters' Money (And What to Do Instead) Most new podcasters don't fail because they bought nothing. They fail because they bought the wrong three things in the wrong order — then burned the budget and the motivation. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: the expensive mistakes I see most often, and what to do instead.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Most new podcasters don't fail because they bought nothing. They fail because they bought the wrong three things in the wrong order — then burned the budget and the motivation. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: the expensive mistakes I see most often, and what to do instead.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923408 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 401 10 full false My Current Pod Stack (Full Tour) — What's Staying, What's Getting Cut My Current Pod Stack (Full Tour) — What's Staying, What's Getting Cut Enough theory. Here's the stack I'm actually using right now for The Pod Stack and related shows — what earns a seat, what got demoted, and what I'm watching before I pay another monthly bill. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Full tour, honest cuts.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Buzzsprout (the host The Pod Stack runs on): https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2584495

Disclosure: this is a referral link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Enough theory. Here's the stack I'm actually using right now for The Pod Stack and related shows — what earns a seat, what got demoted, and what I'm watching before I pay another monthly bill. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Full tour, honest cuts.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Buzzsprout (the host The Pod Stack runs on): https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2584495

Disclosure: this is a referral link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923406 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0400 432 9 full false Podcast Hosting Compared: Buzzsprout vs Captivate vs Transistor Podcast Hosting Compared: Buzzsprout vs Captivate vs Transistor Hosting is boring. Hosting is also the one tool you can't skip. You can record on your phone. You can edit in a free app. You can design cover art in a browser tab. But without a host, your episode is a file on a hard drive — not a show people can find on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today we're comparing three hosts.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Hosting is boring. Hosting is also the one tool you can't skip. You can record on your phone. You can edit in a free app. You can design cover art in a browser tab. But without a host, your episode is a file on a hard drive — not a show people can find on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today we're comparing three hosts.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923403 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 374 2 full false Email for Podcasters: Why You Want a List Before You Chase Ads Email for Podcasters: Why You Want a List Before You Chase Ads Ads feel like the grown-up monetization path. An email list feels like homework. But if a platform changes the algorithm — or you take a month off — the list is still yours. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: why a simple listener list beats chasing ads too early, and what tool shape actually fits a new show.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Podspun (website builder for podcasts & creators): https://podspun.com/?via=thepodstack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Ads feel like the grown-up monetization path. An email list feels like homework. But if a platform changes the algorithm — or you take a month off — the list is still yours. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: why a simple listener list beats chasing ads too early, and what tool shape actually fits a new show.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Podspun (website builder for podcasts & creators): https://podspun.com/?via=thepodstack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923398 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 405 8 full false How to Publish Episode One: Checklist from Raw Audio to Apple & Spotify How to Publish Episode One: Checklist from Raw Audio to Apple & Spotify You've got a finished file. Now comes the part that feels bureaucratic: titles, artwork, categories, RSS, Apple, Spotify, and the quiet fear that you missed a checkbox and nobody will ever find you. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: a clear publish checklist from raw audio to directories — without turning launch day into a second full-time job.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack · Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> You've got a finished file. Now comes the part that feels bureaucratic: titles, artwork, categories, RSS, Apple, Spotify, and the quiet fear that you missed a checkbox and nobody will ever find you. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: a clear publish checklist from raw audio to directories — without turning launch day into a second full-time job.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack · Captivate (podcast hosting with a growth & analytics lean): https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yze2yza

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923393 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 414 7 full false Cover Art, Show Notes, and Audiograms: A Minimal Design Stack Cover Art, Show Notes, and Audiograms: A Minimal Design Stack Cover art, show notes, and a simple audiogram are the packaging layer — not the show itself. You can overbuild this stack into a full design studio, or you can ship a clean square image, a readable notes block, and one shareable clip. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: a minimal design stack that doesn't eat your recording time.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: Podpage (podcast website builder): https://www.podpage.com?via=the-pod-stack · Opus Clip (turn long audio/video into short social clips): https://opus.pro/?via=jesse

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Cover art, show notes, and a simple audiogram are the packaging layer — not the show itself. You can overbuild this stack into a full design studio, or you can ship a clean square image, a readable notes block, and one shareable clip. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: a minimal design stack that doesn't eat your recording time.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: Podpage (podcast website builder): https://www.podpage.com?via=the-pod-stack · Opus Clip (turn long audio/video into short social clips): https://opus.pro/?via=jesse

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923391 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 397 6 full false Mic and Interface Buying Guide for First-Time Hosts (USB vs XLR) Mic and Interface Buying Guide for First-Time Hosts (USB vs XLR) The internet will tell you your microphone is the problem. Sometimes it is. Usually it isn't. Usually it's the room — hard walls, a fan, you sitting too far from the mic — dressed up as a gear emergency. And a four-hundred-dollar condenser won't fix an echoey kitchen. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: USB versus XLR for first-time hosts.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Async (browser recording + AI audio cleanup, formerly Podcastle): https://async.com/?ref=zwu0zjk

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> The internet will tell you your microphone is the problem. Sometimes it is. Usually it isn't. Usually it's the room — hard walls, a fan, you sitting too far from the mic — dressed up as a gear emergency. And a four-hundred-dollar condenser won't fix an echoey kitchen. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack. Today: USB versus XLR for first-time hosts.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Async (browser recording + AI audio cleanup, formerly Podcastle): https://async.com/?ref=zwu0zjk

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923390 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 428 5 full false Descript vs Traditional Editors: When Text-Based Editing Is Worth It Descript vs Traditional Editors: When Text-Based Editing Is Worth It There are two ways to edit a podcast. One looks like a music studio: waveforms, a timeline, a playhead you scrub back and forth until your eyes blur. The other looks like a Google Doc: your episode is text. You delete a sentence — and the audio goes with it. Neither is morally superior. One of them might save you three hours a week. The other might already be fast enough.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Castos (podcast hosting + done-for-you editing service): https://castos.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> There are two ways to edit a podcast. One looks like a music studio: waveforms, a timeline, a playhead you scrub back and forth until your eyes blur. The other looks like a Google Doc: your episode is text. You delete a sentence — and the audio goes with it. Neither is morally superior. One of them might save you three hours a week. The other might already be fast enough.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: Castos (podcast hosting + done-for-you editing service): https://castos.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923389 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 395 4 full false How to Record Remote Guests Without Sounding Like a Phone Call How to Record Remote Guests Without Sounding Like a Phone Call You booked a great guest. They show up on time. The conversation is gold. You hit stop — and when you listen back, it sounds like… a phone call. Thin. Compressed. One side drops for half a second when the Wi-Fi hiccups. And you realize you recorded the cloud mix, not separate clean tracks. That tax is optional. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack.


Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit


Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: Podseeker (podcast directory & guest research database): https://www.podseeker.co/?via=the-pod-stack · StreamYard (browser-based studio for live streaming & recording): https://streamyard.com/?fpr=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> You booked a great guest. They show up on time. The conversation is gold. You hit stop — and when you listen back, it sounds like… a phone call. Thin. Compressed. One side drops for half a second when the Wi-Fi hiccups. And you realize you recorded the cloud mix, not separate clean tracks. That tax is optional. This is The Pod Stack. I'm Jesse of The Pod Stack.


Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit


Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool picks: Podseeker (podcast directory & guest research database): https://www.podseeker.co/?via=the-pod-stack · StreamYard (browser-based studio for live streaming & recording): https://streamyard.com/?fpr=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: these are affiliate links; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923386 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 414 3 full false The $0 → Paid Podcast Stack: What to Buy First (and What Can Wait) The $0 → Paid Podcast Stack: What to Buy First (and What Can Wait) You're starting a podcast. And if you've spent any time online this week, you've probably been told to buy twelve tools before you record a single word. A host. A remote studio. An AI editor. A design suite. A newsletter platform. Maybe a mixer. This episode cuts that list down to what to buy first — and what can wait.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> You're starting a podcast. And if you've spent any time online this week, you've probably been told to buy twelve tools before you record a single word. A host. A remote studio. An AI editor. A design suite. A newsletter platform. Maybe a mixer. This episode cuts that list down to what to buy first — and what can wait.

Resources & tools mentioned: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOjUFlOwQ8M1lUr5clUK3NUnYiRLiOKTehRcncAtC3A/edit

Some links may be affiliate links — if you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure on the Resources page.

🧰 This episode's tool pick: RSS.com (podcast hosting & distribution): https://rss.com?via=the-pod-stack

Disclosure: this is an affiliate link; The Pod Stack may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

]]> Jesse of The Pod Stack Buzzsprout-19923385 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 446 1 full false