The Best Podcast Apps of 2021

Written By Lauren Popish

✴ The Best Podcast Apps of 2021

This video is for the podcaster who’s been around the block and is perhaps ready to move to a new block where the trains run regularly and there’s a Trader Joes. In other words, you know the ins and outs of the podcast process and you’re looking for an easier, breezier approach to making it all happen. 

10 years ago, the tried and true podcast process was...I’ll say it, a real pain in the (bleep). You had to create your own RSS feed and store it in the sketchiest corners of the internet. Glitches were standard and episodes would get lost as easily as boyfriends in IKEA. Luckily we’ve come a longgg way since then and there are all kinds of companies and apps offering to help make podcasting easier. The problem we face now is not knowing which tools are worth learning and purchasing. We have a million options at our fingertips and yet we can’t figure out which to choose, or as I call it, The Netflix Conundrum. 

Lucky for you, we’ve scrolled the queue and created a line-up of only the best tools to help your podcast be more efficient, reach more people, and look good doing it. Aka, Podcast + Chill.

 

✴ About This Video

If you’re new here, I’m Lauren Popish, the founder of The Wave. The Wave helps women like you grow and monetize their podcasts! I’m here to make your life easier, help put out some fires, and impart some podcaster life lessons. Like Mrs. Doubtfire, except this is my real face.

I release weekly videos on the subjects of crafting, producing, growing and monetizing your podcast, so if this sounds like it’s right up your alley, be sure to subscribe to our channel by hitting the Subscribe button in the lower right and be sure to hit the bell so you can get notified every time we have a new episode.

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✴ The List You’re Waiting For

Let’s start the pod party with a list of our favorite tech tools to date:

✴ Tool 1: The Wave Editing for Production Outsourcing

Okay, I’m not trying to make everything about us, but my company, The Wave, just launched a brand production service for female podcasters. And not to toot our own horn, but it’s really cool. We have our own client portal and we can help you edit, write knows, create transcripts, generate marketing assets, and even upload everything to your hosting platform and website. We believe getting help with production is one of the best ways to grow your podcast, so we don’t want there to be any barriers. That’s why we keep pricing extremely affordable. Check it out for yourself here.

✴ Tool 2: Auphonic for Audio Leveling 

The Auphonic Leveler is an intelligent Desktop Batch Audio File Processor that analyzes your audio and corrects level differences between speakers, between music and speech, and between multiple audio files to achieve a balanced overall loudness. To put it simply, it makes your audio sound profesh as figs. Leveling your audio on your own can be an extremely painstaking process. Auphonic makes audio clean-up easy giving you time and sanity back. 

✴ Tool 3: Audacity | Editing

Audacity is a multi-track audio editor and recording software. We use it first hand for podcast editing over here at the Wave. It’s free, easy to use, works for Mac or Windows, and includes numerous effects including being able to change the speed, pitch, or tempo of a recording.

✴ Tool 4: SquadCast | Remote Recording

As podcasting and remote work both explode in popularity, so does the need for quality remote content production. Squadcast is our favorite remote recording software. It captures quality audio and video conversations (on multiple tracks for the win), and allows for an easy scheduling and recording process for your guests so they can focus on what they are there for: to tell their story. 

✴ Tool 5: Calendly | Guest Booking

Make being a guest on your podcast as easy as possible for those VIPs you’re scouting. Calendly provides you a customized scheduling link to share with guests that pairs with your calendar and works around your availability. No more crazy scheduling back and forth via email. Put the ball in their court and watch the interview appointments come flying into your inbox. 

✴ Tool 6: Simplecast | Hosting

When it comes to hosting platforms, there are several you can choose from that would work just fine. However, here at the Wave, we love Simplecast. Say hello to a modern independent podcast hosting and analytics platform. Hosting on Simplecast is one of the easiest ways for podcasters to publish audio to the world—with one-click publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your audience listens. Plus, their deep-diving analytics will help you better understand your listeners and compare episodes trends.

✴ Tool 7: Flodesk | Email service provider

We’ve found Flodesk to be the most intuitive and design-forward email service provider around. Whether you decide to use one of their dreamy templates or design your own from scratch, we promise you’ll be saving hours of time while making sure your email list is getting all the need-to-know’s straight to their inbox. Have we mentioned how important building your email list is? More on that in another video...

✴ Tool 8: Canva + Creative Market | Marketing Graphics

Ah, Canva. The lifehack of all lifehacks. Create custom podcast graphics, social media posts, and literally anything else you might need to design in life. Choose from hundreds of fully customizable templates, size and resize for custom projects, and even save your branding assets (think fonts and hex codes) for easy access. Do NOT sleep on this platform, people. 

✴ Tool 9: Later | Social Media Management 

If there’s one thing we love when it comes to the podcasting process, it’s being able to set it and forget it. ESPECIALLY when it comes to marketing and social media. Later, currently known as “the world’s favorite Instagram marketing platform,” helps you visually plan your social posts, publish automatically, and get tailored insights to help you reach more people. Track your analytics, schedule that first comment of hashtags, and most importantly automate your social presence so you can focus on literally anything else. 

✴ Tool 10: Transcription | Descript or Rev.com

When it comes to podcast transcription Descript lends itself to that function as well, and very nicely I might add.  But for the sake of having options, we’d also recommend checking out Rev.com. You can transcribe episodes, caption videos, and even provide subtitles in another language all with transparent pricing and quick turnaround service. 

✴ Tool 11: PodMatch | Finding Guests 

Now I know swiping for the perfect match online is as easy as ordering delivery these days. But what about when it comes to finding your perfect podcast match? PodMatch uses A.I. to match ideal podcast guests and hosts for quality interviews and love at first mics...sorry, I clearly can’t help myself. Create a free profile and schedule interviews right in the app! 

✴ Tool 12: Headliner | Audiogram maker

Ready to make promoting your pod super easy? Check out Headliner, your one-stop shop for eye-catching, thumb-stopping audiograms that will no doubt drive traffic to your podcast. Add waveforms, animated text, and even video, and get social graphics in no time.

✴ Money Saving Goods

Now before handing over them, I’m going to ask that if you learned something on this episode, please hit the like button. Your feedback helps steer this tip ship and we want to hear from podcasters like you. Be sure to check out my own podcast.

As promised! If you want the full list of resources we discussed today with DISCOUNT CODES, I’ve created a downloadable list linked in the description, so you can start pod-hacking your process without breaking the bank. Thank me later.

Download list of resources with discount link here.

✴ Let’s Review the Apps from our list

  • Tool 1: The Wave Editing for Production Outsourcing

  • Tool 2: Auphonic for Audio Leveling

  • Tool 3: Audacity | Editing

  • Tool 4: SquadCast | Remote Recording

  • Tool 5: Calendly | Guest Booking

  • Tool 6: Simplecast | Hosting

  • Tool 7: Flodesk | Email service provider

  • Tool 8: Canva + Creative Market | Marketing Graphics

  • Tool 9: Later | Social Media Management

  • Tool 10: Transcription | Descript or Rev.com

  • Tool 11: PodMatch | Finding Guests

  • Tool 12: Headliner | Audiogram maker

That’s all for now, podqueens. Be sure to subscribe to my channel and new podcast for more essential podcasting tips.

Thanks for watching. Keep podcasting, and enjoy the ride.

 
Lauren Popish
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