Level Up Your Podcast: 7 Tips for Improving Your Podcasting

Improve Your Podcast One Step at a Time

By: Katie Hart

Growing Through Collaboration & Connection

When Angela and I meet, we spend a lot of time collaborating on what needs to be done to improve our work, up our podcast game, and we maintain a constant flow of feedback on the tasks we’re working on. And while these types of conversations are extremely helpful in improving our craft, we still have to acknowledge that if we only have each other as a sounding board, we could still end up limiting ourselves…after all, we don’t know what we don’t know.

Because of this, we also have to invest time independently into doing our own outside research to learn from others in the industry. And trust me, with so much amazing free content available, a lot of what we know now is taken from someone else who was amazing enough to share their insights with the world.

So, what can be done to up your podcast game? Read on to find out!

How Can I Improve My Content?

Here are a few ways we at The AGN Group constantly continue improving our podcast quality:

1. YouTube/Podcasts/Books

Listen to industry-specific content, and take note!

Angela listens to these when she falls asleep at night, puts on her makeup, drives, exercises, and even blow-dries her hair (anything is possible with noise-canceling earbuds). I think this multitasking is the way she manages to make the most out of the 24 hours she gets in the day, since sometimes it seems like there’s no way to get everything done in the time she has!

2. Feedback

Seek out feedback from previous podcast guests.

We send out feedback forms to our podcast guests a few weeks after their episode airs. And yes, we do read each and every response! We have a ton of appreciation for our guests for taking the time to fill out the form, so we always want to honor that by reading and implementing their thoughtful feedback.

If you plan to implement a feedback system, be sure to keep the questions simple and straightforward. Even the kindest guest doesn’t want to spend 30 minutes filling out a survey. We keep ours at about 4 questions with the aim that it should take the guest less than 5 minutes.

3. Watch Ourselves

Review your content and notice areas of improvement and where to repeat.

Angela and I both watch or listen to each interview (me during the editing process, and Angela as she reviews the final version.) While we’re consuming the episode, we emphasize listening with a critical ear and constantly thinking of ways we can improve.

Whether it’s a full episode, a piece of promotional content, or a short-form clip like a Reel, it could always be improved. Paying attention to these things helps us create better content in the future! The key is that we want to be our best and are continually working toward it.

When watching back content, you can also notice what you did well and make a point of repeating it next time. While you might cringe while watching early content, it can be super helpful!

4. Breaks

Give yourself time to take a step back and come back stronger.

As the podcast’s executive producer, I just did a “gentle” nudge for a break between seasons 1 and 2. As much as I love working on the show, sometimes a rest period is in order, and since we started the podcast this year there is no precedent yet!

Luckily, Angela really does take my suggestions to heart (which is unfortunately not the case in every workplace), so when I said we needed to break our podcast into seasons and have some time to rest and regroup in December, Angela said, “yes ma’am”.

When we take the time to step back, reflect, and refresh, we return stronger and more equipped to produce amazing content.

Podcast creation is truly a creative endeavor, and it is possible to burn out if you don’t give yourself time to unwind.

5. The Right Stuff

To maintain high podcast quality, you have to be discerning in your guest selection.

Just because a guest is interested in being on your podcast does NOT mean they’re automatically a good guest. As the executive producer, I take my job choosing guests seriously.

Sometimes, Angela knows someone who she can say with confidence will be a great guest. Easy peasy! But when someone cold emails us to be on our show (which happens often), then I have full permission to say yes or no.

When you get guest inquiries, take the time to review their bio, check out their social media, and watch clips from their past guest appearances. Make sure your values align, and ensure they will help cross-promote your content as well. We send out a guest inquiry form to gather this information, and the time spent pre-screening is extremely valuable.

6. Join Online Communities 

Find online groups where you can learn and grow together.

Angela and I are both part of various online forums specific to podcasting. If you’d like advice on which groups to join, please email us and we’ll be happy to help you out!

Having an engaged podcasting community is great, as it serves as a space for you to ask questions when you run into a roadblock (“Has anyone else had an issue with getting the audio levels normalized?), get feedback (“Any thoughts on which of these podcast covers is better?”) and learning from other people’s discoveries (“I just figured out how to use the new Premiere Pro update, here are some key things I learned!)

It’s great to connect with others in the space, and it can be an invaluable tool for learning and collaborating.

7. Core Belief

Remember what fuels you.

Stay tied to what you are truly trying to accomplish. When in doubt, say, “What does our success look like?” and pull up your core belief.

It can be easy to become discouraged if you lose sight of why you started. However, when you keep this in mind (on both good days and bad), it’s easier to maintain the hard work and continue pushing toward your goals.

About the Author

Katie Hart is the Executive Podcast Producer for the Badass Leaders Podcast. She serves as the go-to person who brings each podcast episode to life—from concept to launch—and is the driving force behind branding, social media, and strategic partnerships.

When she’s not immersed in podcasts and marketing, you’ll find her exploring Spain’s stunning landscapes, practicing Spanish through language exchanges, rock climbing, or enjoying a great podcast and coffee during a long walk.

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn here!