Bluetooth headphones and music headphones like Beats or AirPods feel convenient. No cables. No snags. No accidental coffee slingshot. The problem is that they’re not built for recording or postproduction, and they can quietly wreck your workflow. LATENCY Bluetooth can cause latency between your voice and what you hear. It doesn’t seem like much until you start talking over your guest or second guessing your own timing. SOUND DROPPING OUT Bluetooth is sensitive to interference from routers, phones, and even your own movement. You may end up hearing tiny pops or dropouts that make you think your recording is glitching when it’s actually fine. MUSIC HEADPHONES Bluetooth codecs and tuning on Beats or AirPods boost certain frequencies. That makes it harder to judge EQ, noise reduction, or mouth clicks. Basically, those styles of headphones can make things sound better than they are, or worse, completely mask bad audio. While this is definitely important during recording, it's absolutely crucial during post that you hear raw audio. NOW WHAT? Use wired studio headphones when you record or edit. They give you accurate monitoring and consistent timing so your edits translate everywhere. If you want help choosing the right pair. There are some really good Black Friday deals going on, so you can pick up some high-quality studio headphones at reduced prices. I’ll be happy to point you to options that fit your budget and workflow.

>>>Why Hosting Feels Overwhelming There are a ton of podcast hosting services: Buzzsprout, Podbean (one of the earliest), Castos, Spreaker, SimpleCast… the list goes on. It can feel overwhelming when all you want to do is get your podcast out into the world. The truth is most hosting services do the same thing. They create an RSS feed, which works like a radio station’s broadcast signal but for the internet, and they give you stats. >>>What You Actually Pay For Most services charge about the same monthly rate for about the same stats. Some cheaper ones cap your usage by limiting episode length, the number of uploads, or the number of downloads. If your show is just starting out and pulling only a handful of downloads, that cap can save you money. For the average podcaster, advanced analytics are unnecessary. You only need the basics. The Core Stats You Need - Downloads - Listening apps - Devices used - Geographic location That is plenty. Advanced stats are built for podcasts with hundreds of thousands or millions of downloads per episode, and those plans cost hundreds or even thousands a month. Not for us. >>>The Free Stat No Host (well, most) Gives You: COMPLETION RATES! You can get them from Apple Podcasts for Creators and Spotify for Podcasters. Each platform tracks this slightly differently, but the insight is priceless. Completion rates show you how long people actually listen. Downloads tell you who pressed play. Completion rates tell you if they stayed. For instance, 500 downloads looks great! But if I went over to my Spotify for Podcaster account and saw my completion rate is 35%, that tells me all my listeners left early in that episode. I need to rethink my podcast, probably how I'm introducing the podcast. On the other hand, 50 downloads might be a little defeating. Then you go check out your Apple Podcast account and see your episodes are averaging an 89% completion rate. Well, that indicates listeners are really connecting with your podcast. You're on the right path for audience growth.