It took a lot of time to figure out the best tools so for the podcasters out there, here is what I use:
Scheduling/Booking
Filemaker Pro — I use this to keep my shows organized. This software helps me keep track of my research and guests in a heavily customized database. I know it can be a pricey tool, so AirTable is a good alternative.
Calendly — This allows my guests to book a mutually convenient time. Once I started using this, booking guests became a lot easier. They have a free plan, but the paid has many great options, including confirmation emails, reducing no-shows.
Graphics
Canva — Episode art is essential but time-consuming. Setting up templates in Canva and using the stock photos provides great cover art that can be created quickly.
Social
Postoplan — I used to use Buffer, but it was a bit pricey, and I kept running into issues, so I moved to Postoplan because I got a deal at AppSumo. It allows me to schedule posts, and while it’s not perfect, it is affordable and getting better.
TweetDeck — This provides an essential view for Twitter so I can keep tabs on various searches in a single interface.
Automation
IFTTT — This is web automation made simple, and it helps me in several ways. I can connect my RSS feeds to a ton of other web apps. I use the software to send RSS feeds to a Google Sheet for tracking, send social messages to Slack, and notify me of various other mentions of my podcast.
Recording & Editing
Zencastr — While many rely on Zoom for recording, I use Zencastr. Zoom is excellent for meetings, but Zencastr video and audio is just better for editing and podcasting. Because the audio and video records on both ends and are then auto uploaded to Google Drive when you finish recording, you get great quality. They are free right now to help podcasters out during Covid, so you have nothing to lose on this one.
Descript — This app is magical. You edit your podcast and video like you edit a Word doc. Seriously, no joke, this is amazing. While I do final edits in Adobe Audition, I use this to prep audio. My favorite feature is the ability to remove “um,” “uh,” and other stop words with a quick find and replace. I just discovered this recently, and I can’t wait to start digging into the other features.
Adobe Audition — While there are free editors out there, I opted for Audition because it allows me to edit quickly, reduce noise and automatically match the volume of various tracks. I used to work in radio and loved ProTools, which is impressive, but I do feel that now, Adobe has a clear advantage. I also tried Garageband and various other free apps, but my editing time was too long. With Audition, on average, I can edit 30 minutes of audio in about 45 minutes which is more than half the time of other apps.
Hosting
Acast — I used Anchor for my first six months, and I still use Anchor for one of my podcasts, but I moved my main podcasts to Acast earlier this year. With Acast, you have easy distribution, the ability to auto-upload to YouTube, and great analytics. After moving, I noticed significantly better SEO for my podcast on Google search and, as a result, a lift in downloads.
Mac Specific Software
Rogue Amoeba — I use four different Rogue Amoeba apps that help make recording and playback easier. I use Loopback, Audio Hijack, Farrago, and SoundSource.
Loopback allows me to route inputs and outputs to various channels. With the app, I can send my microphone audio and theme song to Zencastr while recording only my voice in Audition.
Audio Hijack is my go-to for recording audio from anything or anywhere. While I don’t use it for interviews, I use it to capture internet audio or other sources.
Farrago is my sound effects machine, and it allows me to record my podcast live with additional sound at the push of a button.
SoundSource gives me better control over selecting audio inputs and outputs. When recording, I listen in headphones, and when editing, I use speakers. This app helps to toggle back and forth quickly.
Bettertouchtool — This allows me to use an iOs device as a keyboard and mouse while also allowing me to create shortcut buttons. I can send a keyboard shortcut to Audition while I am in a different app with the app. I can also trigger Farrago audio from anywhere.