Coffee with a Podcaster: Love Podcasting Again

Hosted by Matthew Bliss | Podcaster, Optimist, Philosopher

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Podcasting Industry has supported open-standard audio and video production for independent podcasters, business owners and creative minds across the world. But the industry has changed. New podcasters are trying to find the fastest way to "success" by chasing the most popular podcasters they know. Companies are pushing products to grab your money with one hand, and give you a bunch of low-affect tasks to do in the other. Podcast Influencers are sharing advice they've sourced from the Internet, but never tried themselves. Or they make armchair assumptions about what SHOULD work, not what DOES. The "Common Wisdom" isn't wise anymore. And there are more unhappy and unfulfilled podcasters today then ever. "Coffee with a Podcaster" is your podcast industry reality check. I (Matthew Bliss) sit down with you, over a coffee, and help you find fulfilment and optimism in a podcasting world filled with bad advice dressed up as self-improvement. I want you to listen if: ⁉️ You're no longer a beginner and overwhelmed with uncertainty. ⁉️ You feel like you're running on the podcast production treadmill. ⁉️ Your podcast doesn't make you happy. ⁉️ You're constantly asking how you should change your podcast. ⁉️ You feel anxiety when you hear new advice, and feel like you're leaving growth on the table. ⁉️ You've forgotten why you started Podcasting in the first place. I've been in the podcast game as a podcaster, editor and producer since 2020. I've seen all the changes, the rhetoric, the financial incentives, and the bad advice. I've grown through it, and I want to use my experience to help you find happiness with your podcast. Too many people have dug too deep on podcasting, and they're stuck. I want to lift you out of the hole and help you find the reason you started podcasting in the first place. Let me be your friend in podcasting, and let's find your happiness in your podcast together. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Listen to episodes

29 recent

August 10, 202612 min

Podcast Definitions don’t Matter [to the listener]

A brand new consortium of self-selected industry pundits have made their sentiments known about the industry of podcasting recently with the AMP Accords. And who could have guessed? It kicked up, once again, what the definition of a "podcast" is. You'll have opinions about this topic. You'll think they're either wrong, right or on the right track. But in this episode, I ask (and answer) what I think is the most important question: does an industry definition of podcasting REALLY matter to your listeners? The AMP Accords: https://www.ampaccords.com/ Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ Mentioned in this episode: Share the Episode for a Bonus! To reward you as a listener, I'd love you to share and episode with another podcaster and I'll give you something special. If you: 1. Share this episode on social media or directly to a friend. 2. Tag me in the post, or send a screenshot to podcast@mbpod.com. ... then I'll get in touch with you and either answer a question just for you or give some feedback on your podcast. on a future episode of CWAP. I appreciate you as a founding listener of the show, so I wanna help you out too. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bliss/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattblisspod/ Email: podcast@mbpod.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

August 7, 20268 min

Something to Help you Pick a Podcast Editor

There is a *sometimes* contentious issue among Podcast Editors, which doesn't have a definitive answer but must be considered. Should a Podcast Editor have (currently or previously) their own podcast? I am of the opinion that they should. It helps with professional development, understanding the client, adaptation of skills... plenty of advantages! Especially when you're trying to find a great editor for YOUR show! In the episode, I extrapolate on my reasons for finding an editor with their own podcast as an advantage when looking to outsource the production of your podcast. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

August 5, 20265 min

Remember to Forget

There's a threshold that we step over when we transition from being a podcast listener to a podcast creator. Suddenly, the podcasting world envelopes all our creative decisions, and it becomes harder than ever to put our ideal listener's shoes on. In this short one, I talk about why remembering to forget your podcast industry knowledge might help you make the best decisions for your podcast, and perhaps a way to enjoy your own content as a listener again. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

August 4, 202610 min

The Problem isn't that AI is Sloppy — We are Smitten

There aren't many cases where people hear what Brené Brown has to say and dismiss it. I jumped right on top of something she said on her podcast, "The Curiosity Shop" with her co-host Adam Grant: "With AI, we are smitten with what's written." She explains that we love what AI gives us because we can see it from our own context. But when we send it to someone else, they have to work much harder to figure it out. So we call it sloppy. In this one, I tell you my thoughts on being smitten with AI, the bias that clouds our judgement and the conceit that podcast pundits use to sell us AI-powered content engines. Resources: "The Curiosity Shop" episode I refer to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PraP5eIqp6s&t=1997s Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

July 14, 202611 min

Trust Yourself, Ask Better Questions & Embrace Uncertainty

In the beginning, your podcast knowledge was growing fast. Everything's new, and you can't get enough from social media and courses to build your knowledge base. But eventually you learn everything there is to learn, and the common wisdom is tapped out. So where do you go for better answers after you begin podcasting? Enter my pet theory: "Podcaster Knowledge Divergence". Seek the path of uncertainty at the fork in the road, and reflect internally on your podcasting questions to find better answers (and questions) so you take responsibility for your own podcasting growth. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

July 10, 20267 min

Hyberbolic Clickbait Means They Don't Care About You

I read a LinkedIn Post today that started with, "Your branded Podcast is Dead because..." blah blah blah. Calling time of death on podcasting for one reason or another is a chief marketing tactic to bring about existential dread in a podcasting world of uncertainty. We all know that podcasting may never die. So what does it mean when we see these posts? In this episode you'll get a dramatic reading, a humble criticism and what I want you to do when you see one of these leading hyperbolic lines on marketing copy. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

July 9, 20266 min

Don't be Steven Bartlett. Or Joe Rogan.

It's so easy to be a fan of Jay Shetty, Steven Bartlett or Joe Rogan, and be inspired to create a successful show. A similar show. ... The same show. This episode is a quick reality check to remind you that you can copy them to get started, but YOUR podcast has to be made by you. You can't be Joe Rogan. You just won't find your happiness that way. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

July 8, 202621 min

The Average is not Ideal & Taking Responsibility for Your Advice

The moment that I saw how PodcastingStack.com was constructed, it irked me. Not only does it brandish recommendations for podcasters without apologies, but it minimises the power of learning how and what to choose for equipment and software for your circumstances. In this episode, I level my criticisms against the website (despite the good intentions) and share what you should take away from it, with a splash of optimism for how you can approach your own podcast learning journey. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

July 7, 202613 min

Why I'm Here and Loving Your Podcast Again

In this first returning episode, I'm sharing why I've revived Coffee with a Podcaster, why I need to get some criticisms and commentary off my chest, and why you'll benefit with a new way to navigate podcasting to find joy and love in your podcast again. Have a question for me? Email: podcast@mbpod.com Interested in what I do? MBPod Website: https://mbpod.com/ My Daily Journal: https://journal.matthewbliss.net/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

July 7, 20262 min

TRAILER: Anti-Optimisation. Pro-Optimism. Love your Podcast Again.

The Podcasting Industry has supported open-standard audio and video production for independent podcasters, business owners and creative minds across the world. But the industry has changed. Podcasting is no longer about creativity, art and finding your people. Its littered with million-dollar companies driving market share, influencers pushing “content engine” products by inventing trends and tips, and the biggest podcasters telling us how they made the big time. All this doesn’t sound bad, until you realise that podcasts themselves haven’t really changed much at their essence. But the advice has. The incentives have. And what was once “common wisdom” is no longer wise. I’m Matthew Bliss, and I’m reviving Coffee with a Podcaster because I have found myself buried in all podcast nonsense being talked about in the industry. I’m forlorn and overwhelmed — all of it is focused on tasks to optimise hooking an audience and making money. Its all external. No one loves making their podcasts anymore. So I’m here to give you my two cents on products, news and advice in the podcasting space in my casual “over-a-coffee” format. I’m going to tell you what I think of a particular issue, and provide an objective view on it. Companies don’t want you to think beyond their marketing, but I want you to rethink everything. And a lot of this stuff makes me frustrated - but I’m optimistic. I want to share that optimism with you, and give you my own thoughts to guide your thinking and love your podcast again. And there’s no end to podcasting podcasts for beginners to get the fastest, easiest, best tips for growth and optimisation. Go listen to them, but come back here for a show that explores more than just HOW to podcast. I want to help you find your WHY. Ultimately, this podcast is about love. I love podcasting, and love the people in it. And I want you to love your podcast again too. Anti-optimisation. Pro-Optimism. Join me on Coffee with a Podcaster: think differently and love your podcast again. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy