Definition of Podcasting
Podcasting is creating episodic audio content that lets newsletter writers invade subscribers' earbuds when eyeballs are busy elsewhere. It's your written insights converted to sound, perfect for commutes, workouts, or pretending to listen to your boss while actually learning something useful.
A Podcast is the downloadable audio show itself. Your newsletter's cool cousin who gets invited to all the multitasking parties. Episodes live on subscribers' phones, ready to feed their brains whenever reading isn't an option but their curiosity remains.
Why you should care
Ever notice how your newsletter sits unread while people listen to podcasts during their commute? That's not a coincidence. That's the podcasting opportunity staring you in the face.
People consume podcasts while doing things they can't do while reading.
- Driving
- Running
- Waiting rooms
- Working
- And even when pretending to work.
Your newsletter can't compete for attention during these moments.
This isn't rocket science. Your audience has 8+ hours weekly when they literally cannot read your newsletter but their ears work just fine.
Podcasting lets you claim that time.
The podcasting industry numbers don't lie
The podcasting landscape is changing the creator economy while newsletter engagement rates plateau. Here's why smart newsletter creators are adding podcasting to their strategy:
- Backlinko projects 584.1 million podcast listeners worldwide in 2025, increasing by 6.83% every year
- Riverside shares that 55% of the US population 12+ now listen to podcasts monthly
- 70% of podcast fans listen while doing housework, time your newsletter can't touch
- 40% of US podcast listeners prefer video podcasts, up 28% in just 2 years
- Podcast audiences convert significantly better on calls-to-action than newsletter readers
- Podcast production costs have plummeted to less than $100/month
The message is clear. Audio and video podcasting isn't just another content channel, it's where attention is shifting.
While your newsletter remains valuable, you're leaving money and connection on the table if you're not giving your ideas a voice.
Recycling content without looking lazy
Here's the beautiful part. You've already done the hard work creating newsletter content.
- Research? Done.
- Outline? Done.
- Valuable insights? Done.
Now you're just giving it a voice. No need to reinvent the wheel every time.
The technical barriers to podcasting have basically disappeared. AI turns your text into scripts faster than you can make coffee.
We recently showed exactly how to start a podcast on Spotify without wanting to throw your computer out the window.
The voice-trust connection
There's something weirdly intimate about voice. When someone's literally in your ear, you trust them more than some words on a screen.
This isn't just feel-good nonsense. Podcast listeners drive huge conversions. Hearing a recommendation from a voice you trust hits different than reading it.
Sound professional without professional sound
Remember when podcasting required expensive microphones and sound engineers? Yeah, neither do we.
Today you can sound like NPR for less than $100 a month in software. AI and specialized tools have made production quality a solved problem.
While traditional media companies drown in overhead, you're running lean with nearly identical output quality.
Listeners don't care about your production budget anyway. They care if you're interesting, consistent, and real.
Be where your audience is heading
Smart content strategy isn't just about today. It's about setting yourself up for wherever attention flows next.
Look at the data. We're speeding toward a multi-format future where the best creators show up in multiple channels.
Podcasting isn't some side project. It's essential audience insurance.
The growth in podcasting shows we're shifting toward content that fits into chaotic, multitasking lives. The newsletter creators who adapt now are the ones who'll still have audience attention five years from now.
Starting your podcasting journey today isn't just another marketing task to check off.
It's future-proofing your entire creator business.
Some good resources
Ask Claude for help with Podcasting
Copy and paste this prompt into Claude or the AI of your choice. Be sure to tweak the context for your situation.
<goal>
Help me turn my newsletter content into a podcast using the exact Notebook LM + Descript + Transistor workflow.
</goal>
<context>
* I run a [FREQUENCY] newsletter with about [SUBSCRIBER_COUNT] subscribers
* My content focuses on [CONTENT_TOPIC] and typically runs [CONTENT_LENGTH] words
* I use [ESP_PLATFORM] for distribution
* I want to repurpose content I've already created, not make new stuff
* Need the simplest possible workflow (under 30 minutes per piece)
* My technical skills are [SKILL_LEVEL]
* I need to launch this podcast within [TIMEFRAME]
</context>
<output>
Please search the web and provide up-to-date information on:
* How to use Google's Notebook LM to convert my existing content into conversational audio
* Setup instructions for Descript to handle editing and transcript generation
* Step-by-step Transistor FM configuration for one-click distribution
* Guidance on claiming my show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
* Simple metrics to track beyond just listener count
</output>
<example>
Content repurposing workflow:
1. Take your handcrafted long form content and drop it into a Notebook
2. Add "Customization" instructions for the Audio Overview
3. Generate it and wait about five minutes
4. Listen to it and adjust the sources or custom instructions as needed
For production:
1. Use Descript to handle both audio editing and transcript editing simultaneously
2. Add background music from AudioJungle
3. Create a simple intro and outro
4. Use Descript's Overlord AI to generate show notes
5. Export subtitles in .srt format for platforms that support them
For distribution:
1. Set up your show in Transistor FM (takes about 15 minutes)
2. Upload your first episode and publish it
3. Use Transistor's one-click distribution to send to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music & Audible, plus 18 other platforms
4. Claim ownership by verifying through creators.spotify.com and Apple Podcast Connect
</example>
<guardrails>
* Stick to the Notebook LM > Descript > Transistor workflow exclusively
* Monthly budget of [BUDGET] for tools ($14.67/month for Google Workspace Plus, $35/month for Descript Creator, $49/month for Transistor Professional)
* Total investment is less than $100 per month in hard costs
* Time investment should be about 30 minutes per long-form content piece
* Focus on repurposing existing content, not creating new material
</guardrails>