Our indiepod legends have given us many insights, tips, and words of advice this season. They're speaking from positions of authority and experience, but they didn't get there overnight. On the final episode of Season 20, we'll dig into what they wish they'd known before they started and ask about some mistakes they see new podcasters make.

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On last week's episode of Podcraft, we agreed that sponsorship was broadly overrated for the average indie creator.

But... that doesn't mean it isn't the right fit for you.

Maybe you podcast within a specialist hobby, professional field, or enthusiast community.

In many niches, sponsorship fits naturally because you're talking about certain tools, products, or services anyway.

Getting paid for those endorsements can help support your work without any disruption to your content. It's only a matter of reaching out and asking.

But that's the tricky part. Does the person you speak to understand the power of audio? And do they want to make a split-second decision based on comparing your download numbers to the social media metrics of your average "influencer"?

On this quick episode of Podcraft, I run through what I learned after creating a 2026-proof media kit for my own hobby podcast. If you're even considering sponsorship, I think you'll get a lot from it...

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Which podcasting best practices are actually worth your time, and which ones are overhyped?

In this episode, we take a deliberately opinionated look at common podcasting advice, tools, and assumptions, and decide whether each one holds up in practice.

• Good mic technique - underrated or overrated?
• Written podcast descriptions - underrated or overrated?
• Podcast show notes - underrated or overrated?
• High bitrates and lossless audio - underrated or overrated?
• Short video clips for social - underrated or overrated?
• Researching guests and planning out interviews - underrated or overrated?
• "Celebrity" guests - underrated or overrated?
• Podcast sponsorship - underrated or overrated?
• Intro music - underrated or overrated?
• Hiring a podcast editor - underrated or overrated?

We also tackle a thoughtful listener question on how to relaunch a podcast with existing episodes. The answer outlines a practical two-week sprint focused on SEO, guest sharing, collaborations, email lists, and early momentum, without relying on social media.

Mentioned

• Beamley
• Rephonic Graph
• How to Title Your Episodes
• SCALE: Podcast Growth Framework
• How to Write a Great Podcast Description
• Hire a Podcast Producer
• Kit vs Beehiiv for Email Newsletters

Podcraft is brought to you by Alitu and The Podcast Host