I'm back from Podfest, and today, I want to talk about a strategy that gets way more attention than it needs: When to publish your podcast episodes.

Recently, while browsing Reddit, I spotted a question about the best time to post — specifically, whether 5:00 pm is a good time. The person wanted to launch a podcast focused on creepy stories and thought evening uploads would create the right mood. However, most advice online suggested otherwise, which led them to ask if evening uploads are uncommon, and whether others have succeeded with that schedule.

The Magic of time Shifting

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years: I personally follow at least 30 podcasts, but only two of them matter to me in terms of their schedule, and that’s because they’re news shows. For those, I want the latest information right away. For everything else, it doesn’t matter when the episode drops. Thanks to apps like Pocket Casts, new episodes go to the top of my list, and I listen whenever I want.

That’s one of the biggest perks of podcasting—it’s all about convenience for the listener. Most people aren’t refreshing their phone, waiting for your episode to appear. So you don’t need to obsess over the perfect release time, unless you have a news show or something that’s truly time-sensitive.

Going the Extra Mile

If you want to do a little extra homework, you could check out podcasts similar to yours. See when they publish, create a spreadsheet to spot days with less competition, and pick a time that works for you. But ultimately, the most important factor is finding a schedule that fits your life and allows you to be consistent.

For example, I have one show I catch on Fridays just because that aligns with my grocery shopping routine—but that’s rare for most podcasts I listen to. Unless it’s a news-based format, when you publish has far less impact than you might think.

So my advice:

Don’t get hung up on the specifics. Pick a time that works for you, stick to it, and focus on delivering great content. Consistency in both schedule and quality matters far more than the exact day or hour you hit publish.

If you have more questions about podcasting, come join me at schoolofpodcasting.com. We’ve got step-by-step tutorials, an amazing community, and hours of consulting to help you succeed. I’m Dave Jackson, and I’m here to help you on your podcasting journey!

In this episode, I tackled a common issue solo podcasters face: what do you do when you need to reference a stat, date, or chart on the fly while recording while on a LIVE STREAM?

I discussed some typical options: pausing to Google it (which can break your momentum), guessing (and risk sounding uninformed), or flagging it for post-production fixes (which adds editing time).

But I pointed out a missed option: coming prepared! If you do your research ahead of time, you can minimize disruptions when recording. However, I know that's not always possible—especially when recording live.

For example, on my weekly live show, Ask the Podcast Coach, I answer spontaneous questions from the chat room, so I can't always be ready with every fact.

When recording solo and I have a slip-up, I simply pause a few seconds to create a clear space in the audio. That pause makes it easy to spot and edit later. It’s a technique I use on all my solo recordings.

For my live show, Ask the Podcast Coach (askthepodcastcoach.com/live), I prepare as much as possible, but also rely on interacting with the chat. If I need to look something up, I'll edit the audio version but leave the video as-is since YouTube doesn't allow file replacement.

I also mentioned that preparation helps explain visuals for audio listeners, guiding them through what’s happening on screen. More planning always means less editing afterwards; if you wing it, expect more cleanup.

Running a live show is a juggling act—managing the sound, levels, chat room, and next questions. Thankfully, I have a co-host to help. If you're on your own, consider whether going live is the best option given your current workflow.

Finally, I shared some advice: practice any new tech or process before going live. Don't try something for the first time in front of an audience!

Websites mentioned:

1. Ask the Podcast Coach
2. School of Podcasting

If you want help not “wetting your pants” on your first try, check out the School of Podcasting where you get access to me for consulting, a supportive community, and step-by-step courses.

Thanks for listening—I'm here to help podcasters succeed!

In this episode, I reveal the reality that starting a podcast—just like starting something challenging, like football—comes with a few bruises. I share how, no matter what you do, you can’t please everyone, and that's perfectly okay.

I recount my own experience growing up, relating how being comfortable with myself, regardless of whether people liked me, set me up to handle audience feedback as a podcaster. I mention how, as a musician and fan, I observed that fans often love a band when they’re small and scrappy but sometimes move on once the band becomes more polished and successful. I explain that podcasting is much the same: as your show grows and improves, you might lose some early fans but connect with new ones too.

I tell the story of my friend, Jim Harold, who hosts the Paranormal Podcast. Despite working hard to improve his studio, add video, and upgrade his setup, some listeners complained it looked “too professional,” even though most of us strive to look and sound our best. I also mention the experiences of YouTubers Colin and Samir, who received harsh comments as their show became more successful.

I reassure you that it’s normal for people to not like changes—or even to just not like you and your show. The key is to remember your target audience; if constructive feedback comes from them and makes sense, it’s worth considering. Otherwise, it’s okay to ignore the noise.

I discuss how feedback—from the right people—offers a huge opportunity to improve. But at the same time, any change you make (adding a co-host, new music, more episodes) will always please some and upset others. Most importantly, you’ve got to enjoy making your podcast, because if you don’t, you’ll likely burn out and quit.

Thanks for joining me! If you’d like help with your podcasting journey, visit schoolofpodcasting.com/join and use coupon code LISTENR to save on your subscription.