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  • Libsyn extends ad revenue to all, The Walls have Ears residency, money for Arizona artists, ECCO wants your audio, and more

Libsyn extends ad revenue to all, The Walls have Ears residency, money for Arizona artists, ECCO wants your audio, and more

Plus, Signal Hill's insights about YouTube, Maxine Miles and the Loose Ends, iZotope Velvet for de-essing, and how to break The Comparison Trap

Author

Lindsay Harris Friel
June 13, 2025

Issue 305 of The Fiction Podcast Weekly is brought to you by The Song of Orpheus – an Oblivity musical.

Out now: The Song of Orpheus – an Oblivity musical! In this special, genre-hopping episode of Oblivity, artificial intelligence unit Orpheus faces an existential crisis. Can listening to the humans he serves save him? Enjoy songs inspired by Gilbert & Sullivan, Lloyd Webber, Hamilton, rock’n’roll, James Bond themes - and clowns.

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Mindset Moment: The Comparison Trap - How comparing your new podcast to established shows hinders growth

Comparison is the thief of joy, as the old saying goes. We recommend comparing your podcast to other shows in your niche, but only to determine whether or not they’d be a good fit for cross-promotion campaigns. Other than that, though, I don't recommend comparing your podcast to others in your niche, particularly established shows. Here’s why: 

  • Time. Over the past ten years or so, podcasters know that consistent production over time makes a big difference in their podcast becoming a habit for their audience. For audio drama and fiction podcasts, this is especially tough, because our shows have more variables than nonfiction shows. If you compare your newly launched show, or your show with 100 episodes, to a podcast that’s produced thousands of episodes over years, that’s not fair. Repetition has helped them develop a consistent workflow, and stick in their audience’s minds. 

  • Invisible resources. Many chart-toppers make podcasting appear as effortless as rolling out of bed and sitting in front of a microphone. What’s behind the curtain, though, might be a team of audio engineers, personal assistants, and marketing pros, working full-time to make the host sound and look like a guru. 

  • Invisible deficits. These shows also have equally invisible obstacles. Maybe the host cracked a tooth on their trail mix that morning, the audio engineer showed up on the brink of a migraine, the personal assistant is taking their kid to soccer practice, and the marketing professional quit to take a better job elsewhere. If the audience can't detect the work behind the scenes, it’s working. 

So, what should you do when shows like yours are successful? When you learn about a podcast's milestones, it’s hard to avoid a flash of envy. Instead, ask yourself:

  • How does that show do what it does? What are their resources? Are they part of a network? Does their funding come from a larger organization? Are the show’s credits a list of 50 people in different roles? They may claim to have hit a triple play when they were born on third base. 

  • What does this show do that you could? For example, does this show have a website? Do the show’s website and show notes have straightforward links for the audience to follow, get in touch, and support the show? How do the hosts reward the audience for paying attention? Do they answer audience questions, thank supporters by name, or give out prizes? 

  • How can you expand on the difference between your show and theirs? For example, there are zillions of spaceship shows. But, how many shows are adaptations of Titus Andronicus, or use sci-fi as a metaphor for the problems of gentrification? Making more out of what makes your show different doesn’t have to be gimmicky. Instead, think about your podcast’s unique premise and ideal audience. Then, strategize on how to clarify your premise and what matters most for your audience..

If you see podcasting as a competition, comparison can take the fun out of your show. Instead, focus on what you can do with your unique voice, skills, and talents. And, if your show has any deficits, fix them. Life is too short to waste your energy on envy. 

Opportunities

Milestones & Debuts

  • Dearest is an epistolary podcast that harkens back to the 1870s, featuring a mysterious love story set along the banks of the Ohio River. The finale will be published on June 18th.

  • Apogee. A private research coalition funds a mission aboard the ISS—an experiment in the future of long-term space habitation. When orbital debris severs communications, the international crew aboard the ISS finds themselves stranded.

  • The Chester Higgensworth Detective Series An unorthodox modern-day vigilante is on a mission to reclaim stolen land, one plot at a time.

  • The Thread: Echoes Through Time Tanzanian techie and folklore ghostwriter Amani stumbles upon an ancient digital relic—an audio file from the future.

  • We’ve Gotta Get Out of Here! Tale as old as time– you try to drive your newly-ex boyfriend home after he breaks up with you, and you’re so busy fighting with him that you take a wrong turn straight into a pocket dimension. Classic.

Keep sharing good stories.

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