The Real Ultimate Podcast Directories List and Service – links to over 70 sites
After millennia of using the spoken word to transmit information and understanding from one person to another, millions of enthusiastic talkers have started a podcast to move their message to the next level.
Podcasting has transformed time by creating endless spaces where a listener can hear conversations they never had access to, get training they could not otherwise afford, document advice that can change their lives, extend their entertainment options, and provide revenue opportunities by attracting a niche audience.
But finding podcasts – discovering the shows you want – is a challenge for even the most committed listener. The podcast directories are not robust search engines, and have unique approaches to organizing and delivering podcast information.
To get the most out of podcasting as a podcaster, listener or potential guest, you need to understand how to navigate the podcast directories.
What is a Podcast Directory?
A podcast directory is the list of all podcasts that are available through a podcast platform like a website or an app. Popular directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music are also the platforms where podcast listeners search for shows.
But no two directories are alike in their search capabilities, categories or listings, which means podcast discovery is a challenge. Once a podcast listener learns to navigate a specific directory, and is satisfied with the search results, they tend to stay with their selection.
Types of Podcast Directories
Podcast directories can be desktop-only, app-only or both. Some are designed simply to list all podcasts, others are aimed at specific listener groups or languages.
Podcast search capabilities typically allow searching by keyword that returns all podcasts using the keyword in the show or episode title. Some directories also incorporate tags into their search.
Directories have show pages for each podcast in their listing. Most also have links to listen to episodes. Show pages have the show description, sometimes links to the show website or RSS feed, and episode information.
How to Use a Podcast Directory
Podcasting has a few best practices, but no rules. Podcasters create show titles, episode descriptions and tags based on their own assessment of their content. Podcast directories take these terms verbatim, and return search results based on the podcast definitions. This means podcast discovery is a huge challenge.
Word-of-mouth, advertising, and popular blogs tend to drive podcast attention and listener growth. But to find the podcast in a directory, a listener has to know how the directory search works.
While initial search will be by the podcast name or a keyword, some directories also provide suggested search which displays similar programs or subjects. Suggested search recommendations also connects shows that are about similar topics, but are not using the same keywords in the title.
For Podcasters
Since listeners come from all directions, podcasters should make sure their podcast is in every directory they know. Many podcast hosting services will automatically distribute the podcast to the most popular directories, but no service distributes the program to every directory.
Podcasters should use the lists like the this website’s Real Ultimate Podcast Directory list to check for their podcast in every available directory. If the show is not listed, the podcaster should submit it for consideration.
If the show is listed, bookmark the show page for future reference.
For Guest Podcasting
Potential podcast guests use the podcast directories to find shows that are speaking about their specific subject or issue. Understanding how the directories display information and search results is critical to D-I-Y Guest Podcasting, where guests search for shows on their own, and do not pay an agency or service to find shows for them.
For potential guests, start by listing all the possible keywords that are associated with your subject. For example, if you speak about tulips, you will want to search for flowers, gardening, outdoor activity, fragrances, and other key terms.
As you understand the search results, you will be available to refine your keywords to identify the most relevant programs.
For Listeners
With the rise of podcasting, interested listeners are having to learn how to find shows that are of interest to them.
Listeners must also use keywords to find new podcasts. For example, if you are interested in entrepreneurship, you would search for words like ‘entrepreneur’ or ‘entrepreneurship,’ or phrases like ‘start an online business.’
The directory will return thousands of results, often in no particular order, and you will still have to sift through the results to find the types of shows that you are seeking.
Unfortunately for listeners, the lack of a robust search engine limits their potential to find the full scope of programming that may fit their search needs.
Dead Shows
In the list of nearly three million podcasts are every podcast that has ever been posted. But many, probably the majority are not active or have not done more than a handful of episodes. Because podcasters come and go as they please, directories do not know if a show is finished or on hiatus.
If you are just intending to listen to a podcast, you are simply checking for availability. But if you intend to do guest podcasting, you have to know if the show is active. In directories, look for the last updated episode date or timeframe, this will help you understand if the show still has new episodes.
The Best Directories for Search
The best podcast directories for search provide two levels of relevant information. On initial search by keyword, the directory returns the show name, at least part of the description, and last episode uploaded date (to confirm if still active).
On the specific show pages, you can see the full show description, episode title, episode description, and episode uploaded date, plus links to the show website, RSS feed or even email, and recommendations about similar shows.
Only a handful of directories provide this type of information, and none of them are the big platform names that most people search by default.
To find quality search results take a look at:
Listen Notes – initially free to use but after a number of searches you will be prompted to sign-up and pay
Player.fm – free to use, also has search by tags which returns all podcasts using a specific tag
Podknife – free to use, one of the only directories that flags ‘inactive’ or ‘archived’ shows on initial search
TuneIn – free to use, but accessing information requires an extra click to collapse/uncollapse each section
Know Your Directories
To successfully navigate the podcast directories, you want to first identify your goals – confirming your podcast listing, searching for listening, or guest podcasting – and then understand how the directory is going to return results.
As you use the different options, you will decide which one best suits your purposes and will become your go-to directory in the future.
Podcasters! Confirm Your Show is Available in all Directories…click here to Get the Real Ultimate Podcast Directory List and Service today!
Author’s note: This blog by the same author is also available on https://podcastgueststar.com/
How to be a Welcoming Podcast Interview Host: The Best and Worst Practices
The Podcast Discoveries Series
by Case Lane
With the rise of podcasts as an open market of free-for-all conversations, entertainment, knowledge and jokes, podcast hosts are free to manage their shows as they see fit.
There are no rules, requirements or regulations.
But after researching 1,117 podcasts to find relevant and interesting podcasts that might have me on as an interview guest, I decided to distribute the information about what I discovered.
As a podcast host, guest and listener, I found the observations from my research to be compelling, and helpful to those in the industry.
So this post is being offered only as a list of potential ideas for podcast hosts who are not sure what they would like to do with interviewing, or who would like to attract more potential relevant guests.
Everyone else, stop reading before you start complaining that you do not want to implement any of these practices, okay!
This post also does not apply to those who are, or are using, paid public relations services who have connections inside podcast networks and other means for directly contacting shows.
This is for podcast D-I-Yers and their teams who are looking for insight into the process.
The Inadvertent Podcast Research Project
The latest statistics state there are probably now at least 1,000,000 podcasts. If you are interviewing guests to provide relevant information or entertainment, and to help differentiate yourself in the market…
How do you find the people you want to talk to?
During a months long quest to be interviewed on podcasts, I was startled to gather information, and learn more than I imagined about the podcast industry.
In this blog series, I am going to let you know what I learned from my inadvertent deep research dive into best practices for podcast industry hosts, and how you can implement them in your own podcast world.
When searching for relevant guests, some podcasters can actively pull people from their community, past lives, or even their neighborhood. But others may not have anyone around who fits their ideal description for a guest.
However, you may be able to easily attract these guests through the overlooked idea of simply making sure that potential guests can find you.
You can put out a welcome mat that says ‘yes, I want to interview interesting people,’ and make it clear through your podcast, website or social media that you want people to reach out and talk to you.
The Background
Months prior to the release of my new book Recast, I set a goal to be interviewed on 50 podcasts as part of a virtual promotional tour. What I did not know then, is I would have to research more than 1,000 podcasts to find the 50 who have now said ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ so far.
On purpose, 100% of the podcasters I approached, I had never heard of before. The podcasters I have heard of are some of the biggest names in the business. I immediately put them on my dream list to be approached in the future. But for this tour, I wanted to find the relevant podcasters, who were speaking to the audience I wanted to reach.
For your reference, here are the results from which I draw the conclusions in this post:
I researched 1, 117 podcasts, meaning I looked at the podcast details, first to determine if it was relevant to my search, then to find contact information.
About two-thirds were not relevant to my topic as defined by me, but you may think differently when you understand my process.
The balance were sent an interview request (either an e-mail or communication through their own form)
Of those who were sent an interview request, 25% replied – that’s double the rate quoted in most how-to articles.
Of those who replied:
Nearly half said ‘Yes’ and those interviews have taken place or have been scheduled.
About one third said maybe, for mostly scheduling reasons
And the balance, less than one-quarter said an outright ‘No.’
For the 75% who never responded…that is absolutely expected and understandable.
Based on my learnings from the above, here is my take on best practices for podcast hosts, who want to put out a welcome mat for potential guests
- Provide a Way to Communicate
- Understand the Consequences of Asking for Payments, Reviews and other upfront requests
- Use Relevant Categories, Clear Descriptions and Specific Keywords
- Try to Un-conflict Conflicting Show Names
- No Need to Respond
- Confirm Technical Requirements
- Confirm Promotional Expectations
Provide a Way to Communicate
Potential podcast guests need a process for telling you they exist, and the most welcoming podcast hosts present this opening front and center on their website.
Podcast Guest Interview Request Form
Podcasters use a specific guest interview request form to gather upfront information about potential guests. These forms can be long or short, have general questions or specific, and be a great source for potential ideas.
However podcast hosts must understand that the presentation of the form is also a reflection on them. And potential guests will make a decision about the host based on the form content. This may be exactly what you want.
Create the form as you see fit for your show, content and audience. But keep in mind the potential concerns from possible guests.
Online business is all about niches, and reaching your specific community. However, if you find that few guests are completing your form, you may want to look at your requested content.
Among the concerns:
Lack of space: An answer box without a stated character limitation becomes a source of frustration when a potential guest wants to explain their pitch, but finds no room for entering the information. A good option for this is a ‘do you have anything to add’ type of box.
Phone numbers: Asking a potential guest for a phone number before you have agreed to the interview could be considered scammy, and an attempt to load up your email list with personal information.
Irrelevant questions: Questions that are unrelated to the podcast may appear to be a waste of time. The potential host is unlikely to be the only person the potential guest is approaching. Quirky, extraneous questions just take up more time to complete. However, if this is the personality you want guests to also reflect on your show, the questions can be legitimate.
A standard Website Contact Form that specifically mentions podcast guests
This is a great alternative to the specific podcast guest form. Specifically stating that potential podcast guests should complete the standard website contact form indicates the host is open to attracting guests, and is likely to read the submitted information. In most cases, this also provides sufficient space for the guest to submit their pitch.
A website e-mail address
An ‘open’ e-mail address that is not specifically limited to clients or the media can be used by the potential guest. The assumption is the email whether it says info@ or support@ or hello@, will still go to the host or podcast team.
Email in podcast description
Providing your email exactly where people are researching the podcast is extremely helpful, but rarely used. No doubt podcasters are concerned about spam. But if you do not have a website, or are using a free hosting service, you may want to include an email where it can be easily found.
Website Generic contact form
If you do not want to display your e-mail, but have a generic contact form, guests can fill that out. However, since people are leery of those contact requests going into a no-reply black hole, a note about your expected response time or other welcoming comments would make usage more likely.
Social Media
Although podcasters will likely want to drive potential guests to their social sites, you should be aware that this would be the most time consuming, and potentially, least used approach by podcasters approaching multiple hosts.
With the exception of those who spend most of their time on social media, the time and effort required to go back and forth in trying to make a cold pitch may discourage some people.
But again, this may be your intention. If you only want to work with people who engage with you on social, you can leave social media sites as your only public communication process.
Understand the Consequences of Asking for Payments, Review Requests and other contentious practices
In my research, a small number of podcasters asked for payment, review requests (often 5-star), listens or subscribers before they would commit to an interview. Sometimes before they would even consider an interview.
A host must decide if these practices are valuable to the podcast’s brand, reputation, and viability. For example, how valid are commanded reviews? For some people, it’s the number of reviews that hold meaning, not the method in which they are obtained. For others, organic reviews are more valuable and encouraged.
Given that there are tens of thousands of potential podcasts for guests to choose from, hosts can expect that some percentage of potential guests will not be willing to accept any type of ‘extra’ command in exchange for an interview. In other cases, they will almost certainly say ‘yes.’
No doubt the ‘big names,’ are not asked, nor respond to additional requests, however that does not mean they are not aware of who participates in these practices and who does not. Some podcasters are striving to build a recognized, formal podcaster community that delivers value to listeners, and sets an example for model online entrepreneurship behavior.
So do what you believe is right for your show, and expect both understanding, and negative feedback from your decision.
Use Relevant Categories, Clear Descriptions and Specific Keywords
Potential guests are going to search for relevant podcasts by categories and keywords. Make sure your title, description and category convey the message you want to communicate.
If possible, select more than one category since your topic may cover more than one area.
For podcasts that cross multiple categories, use the description to specifically describe your content. If you want to encourage guests, state in your description that you will be interviewing guests of X,Y,Z background or interest.
The descriptions for each episode are also important. If you want potential guests to understand the types of people you interview, include background, knowledge, interests and other relevant facts in the episode description.
In the Apple Podcasts show page, the first three lines of the episode description are visible. A potential guest can scan through the information, and determine if they would be a good fit.
You can always look at the descriptions of other podcasts to develop ideas about what you would like to do.
If you really want to attract only a certain kind of guest, for example one who may speak on topics like spirituality, mental health, politics, religion, and so on, put that message in your description.
Neither side is served by misunderstandings or conflicts over the meaning of certain words.
Un-conflict Conflicting Podcast Names
For our purposes, to un-conflict is to take the conflict away. Do a search for your podcast name, and see if you own the first page of the Google search results.
If you don’t own the first page, get your podcast listed in all available directories. In my research, a podcast listed in multiple directories, beyond the most obvious, typically owned the first page of the search results because Google returned the locations where the podcast appears.
If you don’t own the first page, check on the status of the conflicting name podcasts, especially the ones that come out above you. Even if a podcast is dead, losing search results domination means that if someone is looking for you, they might not find you, or they might go to another podcast with a similar name, see that it’s dead, and assume that you are no longer recording.
Conversely, in the research, a podcast that had only one listing for its name was usually either in a name conflict with one or many other podcasts, or was dead.
No Need to Respond to Pitches
The majority of cold interview requests never receive a response, and that is expected.
If you are interested in the guest, but have a full calendar, a legitimate ‘maybe next year’ is relevant.
Sending an outright ‘no’ typically depends on the circumstances. If you want to give the potential guest a reason, such as your podcast is coming to an end, then you eliminate the possibility of follow-up requests.
Robo-replies with specific information like you are no longer accepting guests are also helpful.
Confirm Technical Requirements
In the short span of a few months, Zoom video has gone from a ‘new’ app some people use, to the default provider of face-to-face global communications.
Zoom was by far the dominant choice for podcast interviewers.
When you schedule an interview with your potential guest, confirm the technical requirements especially if you have special requests or want to use a less popular communications app.
Existing podcasters may already be set-up for a quiet discussion, but new interviewees could have limited experience.
You can put the technical requirements in your confirmation email or calendar event.
Confirm Promotional Expectations
Unsurprisingly, podcast hosts are frustrated if podcast guests do not promote the show. For hosts, the minimum requirement is to advise the guest when the show is available, and the link you prefer for posts.
If you do not provide your preferred link, the guest will have to select their own preferred option, like the Apple Podcasts link, or not link to the show at all.
When the show is available, promotion usually extends only to social media and the guest’s e-mail lists. You will see the social posts, but not the e-mail list unless you sign-up for the guest’s community.
Good practice is to also provide your social media handles so the guest can tag you on social, and you’ll know when the episode is promoted.
An even more effective promotion is to provide graphics for the episode that the guest can use to promote on their own. But this is not necessary unless you are creating graphics for your own promotion, then you can share those with the guest.
NOTE: Podcast guests: there are some tips for creating your own consistent graphics for posts in the next article in this series: How to Be a Valuable Podcast Guest.
Conclusion
If you are a podcast host who wants to have guests on your podcast, and you welcome cold requests from potential guests in the world, these practices can help attract more of the people you are looking for.
You can also reverse engineer the requests to ensure you narrow your guest list to those who best meet the vision for your podcast and your intentions.
The general best practice is communication and mutual understanding. If someone sends you a pitch that provides value for your audience, then together you can arrange a productive interview that you both use to grow your show.
More Information
The best part about researching 1,117 podcasts was being accepted as a guest on so many awesome shows! You can find links to all of those fabulous podcasts here.
The second best part was my new found insight into the podcast industry.
This research was so eye-opening that this post is one of five about what I learned about the podcast industry from researching 1,117 podcasts.
Here are the links to all of the posts in the Podcast Discoveries Series:
Introduction to the Podcast Discoveries Series
How to Become A Guest on a Podcast
How to be a Welcoming Podcast Interview Host: The Best and Worst Practices
How to be a Valued Podcast Interview Guest: The Best and Worst Practices
Maximize Your Podcast Listening: Use Interviews to learn from Virtual Mentors
Additional Resources
Research Checklist: Podcast Guests: If you would like a free checklist for how to research and find the right podcast for you. Click here to download.
Podcast Directories: If you would like to get your own copy of the podcast directory listing and instructions based on my research click here (coming soon)
Podcast Guest Interview Blueprint Package (the ultimate course for podcast guests): Podcast Guests: If you would like the comprehensive guide to finding and contacting podcasts that are right for you, including as bonuses the Interview Checklist and the Directories List. Click here for this special offer.
Podcast Discoveries Book: Readers: If you would like the entire story of this epic research journey to discover and contact podcasts for guest interviews. Click here to download at Amazon.com. NOTE: the book is also available at Apple Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and other popular sites where ebooks are sold.
Research Report: To purchase, the entire research report click here (coming soon)
Podcast Discoveries on the Ready Entrepreneur Podcast: This information will be explained in upcoming episodes of The Ready Entrepreneur Podcast. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts to stay up to date.
Podcast Discoveries on YouTube: To watch videos explaining the Podcast Discoveries process for finding your new favorite podcasts, click here (coming soon)
Disclosure: Links to Amazon.com and related companies are affiliate links that earn for eligible purchases at no additional cost to you.
Podcast Discoveries: What I Learned About Podcasting from Researching 1,117 Podcasts in Search of an Interview
The Podcast Discoveries Series
by Case Lane
Podcasts are the next big thing that’s already here.
Many individuals have one, so do companies, organizations, and your next door neighbor. Everyone is interested in what this rising medium means for their work, industry, knowledge, and entertainment, and everyone wants to know where it’s all going.
The numbers are impressive. One million podcasts…and growing!
But what does that really mean?
If you read my previous posts in this inadvertent podcast research series on How to Get a Guest Interview on a podcast, you may have noted some of the ‘behind the scenes’ issues that come up in this young and rapidly-growing industry.
To be clear, there are two types of podcasters. The big names backed by big money (and big publicity)…and everyone else.
This article is for everyone else…
The #101 to #1,000,000 ranked podcasters who are trying to determine how best be discovered in this new media world.
In an industry with zero barriers to entry, zero rules, zero formal structures or established reference sources, hundreds of providers, limitless locations, and money to be made, what exactly is going on with podcasting?
After setting out to find podcasts that may have me on as a guest while promoting my latest book release, I was surprised to be swept up into a much more intensive investigatory process around the entire podcast industry.
To my surprise, podcasting may not be the floating in its own competition filled airwaves, but it’s not a bastion of narcissistic hear-me activity either. There are issues in structure, reference, research and consistency, but that’s also what makes the medium an opportunity for so many…
…Until you try and exercise the niche franchise podcasting is said to have created.
Then you are back in high school, where the popular earn all the spoils, and the undiscovered scrape at the door in search of entry.
The irony is the undiscovered operate in niches that would absolutely welcome them…if only they could find them.
The current challenges for both potential podcast guests and listeners who are searching for specific categories of podcasts are:
The Directories
The Land of the Living Dead
The Definitions of Descriptions, Categories and Keywords
Hidden Contact Information
Overlapping Show Names
Inefficient Search Options
The Directories
To find a podcast, you search a podcast directory, in an app or online…or not…
Listeners find podcasts through word of mouth. I personally had never heard of Joe Rogan until Elon Musk smoking pot on his show became international news. That is both the joy and frustration of podcasts.
Podcast creators can thrive in their own communities – of millions of listeners – outside pop culture, the mainstream, regulators, an established industry or any barriers to entry, or limitations to growth.
But podcast listeners must wade through this labyrinth in search of news, knowledge, entertainment or information for their ears that is often more intimate, compelling and informative than any other medium.
The existing podcast directories have none of the product suggestion sophistication of Amazon, or algorithmic memory of Google. They have broad sweeping categories, selected by the producers, and sorted by relevancy based on popularity.
And most directories limit search results to only the top podcasts. Even a podcast searched by an exact name may not come out ahead of more popular offerings that use the same word (as the name) in a description or episode title.
The definition of ‘popular’ lies with the directories who are responding to ‘mass’ audience appeal, for a medium that thrives on niche content. This presents the top podcasts with unlimited search results real estate, and all the rest lost behind their wind.
My Inadvertent Podcast Research Project
When I set out to promote my new book Recast, through a global virtual podcasting tour, I had no idea I would end up spending months researching hundreds of podcasts.
Much to my surprise, I also discovered much more about the podcast industry than I expected…and I’m a podcaster! I have attended two podcast conferences in the past year, listened to many of the top gurus, and talked to dozens of podcasters, and never had I heard what I actually discovered on my quest to obtain a guest interview.
For the new podcaster hoping for an opportunity, rest assured the industry is still wide open and available to anyone with a good idea.
But there are also challenges.
In this unexpected podcast research blog series, I am going to let you know what I learned from my inadvertent deep research quest into what’s really going on in the podcast industry.
But first, I’ll explain my results…
The Method
You can see the details of how my research evolved in the first post How to Become a Guest on a Podcast. But here are the highlights to understand the context for the rest of this post.
I researched 1, 117 podcasts, meaning after I found the podcast name, I went in to Google and podcast directories to learn if the podcast was relevant to my topic.
70 % of the podcasts I researched were not relevant to my topic, based on criteria I established.
The rest were sent an interview request (either an e-mail or communication through their own website form)
Of those who were sent an interview request, 25 % replied – that’s double the rate quoted in most how-to articles.
Of those who replied:
Almost half said ‘yes’ and those interviews have taken place or have been scheduled. Another one-third said ‘maybe’ usually due to scheduling issues. The rest were a ‘no.’
On purpose, 100% of the podcasters I approached, I had never heard of before. The podcasters I have heard of are some of the biggest names in the business, the top 100. I immediately put them on my dream list to be approached some day in the future.
I wanted to find all the shows in the 99.99% that are speaking to the audience I wanted to reach.
And here’s what I discovered…
Many Podcasts are in the Land of the Living Dead
Somewhere in the oft-stated existence of 1,000,000 podcasts is my new question: How many of them are active?
The biggest shock in my research was the discovery of hundreds of dead podcasts that continue to occupy the world’s most important search results real estate – the first page of a Google search.
They also continue to feature in directories, coming up for categories and keywords before other shows that are still recording.
In my research, one-third of the podcasts I looked for had not had an episode in the past six months.
This is not actually a problem for podcasting. The episodes can live forever as long as someone pays the hosting fees. Great interviews, stories and dramatizations can be referred by others for years to come.
Dead podcasts are also not an issue for podcasters. There are no rules. Shows are not canceled (unless you belong in a network that does in fact cancel you). Anyone can start and end the podcast at will. A podcaster can take a year long break, and then just start talking again. There is no allotted timeslot to fill as in radio or television. Podcasters may even put all their episodes in an archive on their website.
But dead podcasts are definitely a problem for anyone hoping to guest on a show. Dead podcasts do not do interviews. My number one piece of advice when researching podcasts for interview is to check the last episode post date – before reading the description.
The possibility of a movement towards platform exclusivity will eventually end the relevancy of this rule. A podcast currently appearing in all directories will look ‘dead’ unless you know for sure that it is exclusive to one platform. However for now, this issue only applies to the biggest names, and checking first for the podcast’s active existence is the first rule of relevancy.
In all cases – regardless of the reason the show has no recent episodes – their online presence remains in place. The last post date of a podcast does not apply to relevancy for the show. You search for podcasts by name. And the name will continue to come up, until it is forced out of results by another. This effectively puts the show in the search results, and forces the researcher to look further.
If a podcast has a similar name to another, you may get both results, and have to research each possibility to find the one that could still be a good fit.
Even more frustrating for new podcasters is when Google appears to be serving up aggregated results on the first page of search – but some of the podcasts are dead.
For example if you search, Side Hustle podcast , you get this result on the first page. Looks like a great list until…
… you research each podcast and you find out that almost half are already dead!
This is an observation about how Google search works, not a commentary on the podcasts or podcasters. The podcasts marked with an X either could not be found by that name, or had a last episode date more than six months ago.
The actual recording status of the podcast is not known to this author. The only point is that these podcasts do not appear available as potential interview opportunities even though they come up on the first page of Google search results – in a curated list!
Similar results were often discovered for other ‘curated’ search result lists when multiple podcasts have a similar name. If you have a podcast with that name…and you don’t make this prominently placed list…my guess is you are cringing.
Would a deeper filtered search have generated more relevant results? Not likely. Everyone wants to see everything that is possibly available on page one, especially when you know after a few hundred searches that the process is going to take awhile.
The reality is, if you are looking for podcasts by name, and only want active shows to appear in search results, you are probably out of luck.
The Definition of Description
Podcasting is audio, all about talking – comments, observations, interviews, jokes, discussions, anecdotes – as presented by hosts.
To understand the content of a show, you can look at the title, description and episodes.
Podcasters write their own show descriptions. Some are detailed and specific, others are vague and limited. When researching the podcast, the description becomes paramount to determining if the podcast is the right fit. But it is no guarantee that you’ll find what you are looking for.
You can also look at descriptions for the actual recorded episodes, but those are as likely to be inconsistent. Some podcasters do not include descriptions for the episodes, or they write short or repetitive lines.
If a researcher is absolutely committed to finding out more, the next option is to listen to two or three random episodes with different subject titles to try and decide if the content can be confirmed.
Even if directories use descriptions to scrape for keywords, the podcaster’s intention may still not be recognized, and the podcast would be undiscovered.
Categories, Keywords and Vague Ideas Dominate Search
Podcasters typically select their categories from an existing list. Podcasters put their show wherever they see fit. Searchers have to determine if the selection matches their own definition of the same keyword.
For example: searching: ‘entrepreneur,’ ‘entrepreneurship,’ ‘business,’ and ‘success,’ led to ‘startup,’ ‘side hustle,’ ‘action,’ ‘boss,’ and all variations of ‘boss lady.’ But the descriptions behind these terms varied widely.
The descriptions can also stray into territory you may not want to cover like politics, religion, life stories, mental health and struggle issues, specific industries or careers, or spirituality. Even listening to a few episodes does not always make it clear why the words are included in the description.
A researcher has no idea how to apply correct criteria for accepting or ignoring a podcast. At that point, the best option is to make a guess.
In the Welcoming Host post in this blog series, I suggest podcasters hoping to attract guests state in the description that the podcast will include guest interviews.
Deciding on the podcast relevancy becomes a gamble for the guest who is trying to target specific types of podcasts. This is a dilemma that is unlikely to end anytime soon, as the individuality of podcasting is what makes the platform so unique.
Potential Guests are on Their Own
In a world of bubbles, niches, and tribes, potential podcast guests are the proverbial outsiders tapping at the door with goods to offer, and asking to be allowed in.
Even though many podcasters claim to want to have guests, they are either finding them within their own community, or unaware that their welcome mat has become decidedly frayed.
The companion post in this series How to Become a Guest on a Podcast provides a detailed account of how to get a podcast interview.
Given the difficulty in finding relevant podcasts, a potential podcast guest has the added struggle of determining if a podcaster is even interested in what they have to say.
Putting aside public relations companies that offer podcast guest spot services, the availability of a podcaster’s contact information was the strongest indicator as to whether or not a podcaster was open to the attention of cold guest pitches.
Since there are apparently 1,000,000 podcasts, the expectation was that there would be more ‘open’ shows than not. But the quest to find contact information indicated the opposite was true.
However, note this research does not take in to consideration podcasters who encouraged people to reach out on social media. For the most part, these requests seem to be aimed at their potential community, not podcast guests. However podcast guests may find social a more relevant place for communication than e-mail.
From best to worst option, contact information was discovered in:
1. Email in the Podcast description
Rarely, but cleverly, some podcasters put their contact email in their description. This was just joyous when this happened, ending the need to search elsewhere unless the podcaster specifically stated the e-mail was for questions and/or they had a separate direction for potential show guests.
2. Podcast Guest form on Website
This type of form, specifically aimed at prospective podcast guests, is the best indicator of a podcaster’s commitment to attracting guests.
These forms are specific to each show’s interests and include questions as generic as: why do you want to be a guest on our show; to as esoteric as: what’s your favorite ice-cream?
Potential guests must decide how to answer these questions, and whether or not it’s even worth it to take the time. But whether or not these forms attract or repel potential guests is an open question.
3. Standard Website Contact Form that specifically mentions podcast guests
The next best indication that the podcaster cares about having guests is to invite potential guests to apply through their standard ‘Contact Me’ form on their website. The greeting provides potential guests with the hope that the pitch will be read, and the host is expecting to hear from people.
4. A website e-mail address
Not every website provides an e-mail. But when they do that direct form of contact is a good alternative to having a specific form. Any form of: info@ or support@ or hello@ generic opening indicates that somewhere on the other end a host or their team will read the request.
5. Directory e-mail address
As of this writing, two directories – Listen Notes and TuneIn – provide a visible link or view of the show’s e-mail address. The emails are not 100% available, but this service was indispensable.
6. RSS feed
As of this writing, Listen Notes was the only directory I found that provided access to the RSS feed, not the URL, the actual code. If you look closely enough, you will find an email.
This information for how to use the RSS feed to obtain an email is actually in Listen Notes’ own instructions (that’s how I found out about it), so it’s available to see.
Podcasters probably used a ‘public’ email to set-up their podcast on hosting, and should not be surprised to receive an email at that address.
For the record, so far no one asked how I got their e-mail address.
7. Website Generic contact form
Many people, although not all, do have generic website contact forms. Although there is often some trepidation about whether or not your email will be read, the generic form is a good option, if there is no other choice.
8. None of the above
For podcasts with no website, no listing in Listen Notes or TuneIn, no word in their description, no accessible RSS feed, and no social media, the opportunity to reach out is lost. If these podcasters expect to receive guests, they need to create a welcome mat.
Anchor podcasts
For podcasts on Anchor, and potentially other free hosting services, the RSS feed provided a cryptic e-mail address that looked something like this: podcastsnn+nnnnnnnn@anchor.fm. The ‘n’ equals a number. The destination of these emails is unknown, and none of the few tried received a reply.
The Specificity and Confusion in Show Names are a Challenge
No two podcasts appeared to have the exact same name…but search results can return dozens of overlapping possibilities. There were many examples of this, but since I do not want to call out any one podcast name, in the example below imagine the [Podcast Name] is the same word.
The most common adaptations go like this:
[Podcast Name] [Podcast Name] with Podcast Host NameSomething! [Podcast Name] [Podcast Name] Show
[Podcast Name] Radio ShowThis [Podcast Name]
That [Podcast Name]
My [Podcast Name]
The [Podcast Name]
Your [Podcast Name]
Since my method for finding podcasts was to discover a long list of names in a directory, and then search them all one-by-one afterwards, each time a [Podcast Name] was used I could go off on a tangent for an hour looking at all the variations of that one [Podcast Name].
This is bad news for any host who had the [Podcast Name] I was actually looking for. I rarely went to page two of Google search so having an overlapping name means you are being denied discovery on page one. This did not necessarily mean the podcast was dead, but it extended the time needed to try and find the exact podcast.
And if the exact podcast name could not be found, the search was dropped.
Search Options are Limited in Efficiency, not Numbers
One could expect that the best place to find podcasts would be inside a podcast directory. But the number one challenge with directories is that it appears that none offer a full listing of all 1,000,000 podcasts – dead or alive. Even if you wanted to find every ‘entrepreneur’ podcast in the world, you could not.
This is a shame because listeners are looking to niche down to their type of information or conversation, and are constantly hoping to find podcasts that appeal directly to them.
For example, I want to know who is talking about life between personal development and success. You know when you’ve done all your Tony Robbins exercises, but have not yet achieved your Tony Robbins life. (If you know a podcast covering that gap, email me).
There are so many potential discussions in every category. Yet the ability to niche down your search through search does not appear to exist. With loose description writing, no opportunity to declare sub-categories, and the lack of robustness with search engines, the capping of results means you are only seeing a fraction of the listings.
Even knowing exactly which show you are searching for does not give exact results. Searching Apple podcasts by a specific name (on iTunes desktop), does not put that podcast at the top of the list. My podcast, Ready Entrepreneur had to yield the first nine slots to others who happened to use the word ‘ready’ in their description.
This left Google Search as the place to start when looking for a particular ‘category’ podcast. But even that had its limitations. As noted above, Google does not know when a podcast is dead.
Google Images was also a good option as results displayed rows and rows of podcast art for the category. But Images does not know when the art referred to a show, an episode, or even a course with the word podcast in the title.
In Search of a Searching Directory
Certain directories provide access to longer lists of search results. Listen Notes and TunedIn both go a few hundred deep, before capping results.
Directory suggestions when looking for another podcast such as “iTunes Listeners also subscribed to” and ” Listen Notes recommendations” were also helpful. But those suggestions have no descriptions, and still require further search.
Social media has millions of podcast-related posts. Searching by hashtag produced a wide variety of results that rarely led to actual shows. Like all social media, the option to spend the time to thoroughly search is available, but hardly efficient.
Host websites sometimes listed the host’s appearances on other shows, which provided a trail to similar shows or themes.
Podcast Networks group shows together, but there was surprisingly only a few of these that provided relevant options. The reason is likely that the top shows are in the top networks, and therefore not accessible to the 99.99%.
Conclusion
The podcast industry is not formal, structured or regulated, and that’s what makes it fabulous.
For a rising podcaster, researcher or listener, the challenge is to understand the vagaries and adjust accordingly. Given the information in this post, you can make your podcast accessible. You can also learn from others and model best practices.
Established podcasters who want to champion efficiencies in the industry can also stay on top of these challenges, and set an example with descriptions, art and categories that provide listeners with the best information for finding the show they want.
For all podcasters, the common effort will be in ensuring the viability of the industry by highlighting best practices, and eliminating negative ones, to create the best overall experience for all.
More Information
The best part about researching 1,117 podcasts was being accepted as a guest on so many awesome shows! You can find links to all of those fabulous podcasts here.
The second best part was my new found insight into the podcast industry.
This research was so eye-opening that this post is one of five about what I learned about the podcast industry from researching 1,117 podcasts.
Here are the links to all of the posts in the Podcast Discoveries Series:
Introduction to the Podcast Discoveries Series
How to Become A Guest on a Podcast
How to be a Welcoming Podcast Interview Host: The Best and Worst Practices
How to be a Valued Podcast Interview Guest: The Best and Worst Practices
Maximize Your Podcast Listening: Use Interviews to learn from Virtual Mentors
Additional Resources
Research Checklist: Podcast Guests: If you would like a free checklist for how to research and find the right podcast for you. Click here to download.
Podcast Directories: If you would like to get your own copy of the podcast directory listing and instructions based on my research click here (coming soon)
Podcast Guest Interview Blueprint Package (the ultimate course for podcast guests): Podcast Guests: If you would like the comprehensive guide to finding and contacting podcasts that are right for you, including as bonuses the Interview Checklist and the Directories List. Click here for this special offer.
Podcast Discoveries Book: Readers: If you would like the entire story of this epic research journey to discover and contact podcasts for guest interviews. Click here to download at Amazon.com. NOTE: the book is also available at Apple Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and other popular sites where ebooks are sold.
Research Report: To purchase, the entire research report click here (coming soon)
Podcast Discoveries on the Ready Entrepreneur Podcast: This information will be explained in upcoming episodes of The Ready Entrepreneur Podcast. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts to stay up to date.
Podcast Discoveries on YouTube: To watch videos explaining the Podcast Discoveries process for finding your new favorite podcasts, click here (coming soon)
Disclosure: Links to Amazon.com and related companies are affiliate links that earn for eligible purchases at no additional cost to you.
