the softer cast: podcast advice for small-business owners & creatives

Hosted by Amelia Hruby

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Nov 2025

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About the show

Podcast support for beginners & pros from your favorite feminist podcast studio. Our host, Softer Sounds founder Amelia Hruby, answers your questions about podcasting topics like — Should I put my show on Youtube? How much do editors really cost? and Why isn’t anyone listening to my podcast?? 🏆 Named one of the 25 Best Business Podcasts for Beginners by Feedspot & one of the 50 Best Podcast Industry Podcasts by Million Podcasts.

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28 recent

November 25, 20257 min

Your Podcast is a Portal ⊹ ₊ ⟡ ⋆

Ten years ago today, the very first podcast episode I ever created was published. (You can still listen to it right here .) To celebrate, I've lowered the price of our podcast launch course, Your Podcast is a Portal , to only $99 USD. *** Update: this course now has pay what you can pricing! *** ⠀⠀ Your Podcast is a Portal will teach you all the technical aspects of podcasting. But even more than that – it includes my tender approach to the vulnerable parts of making a show. Because podcasting is not just for white, middle-aged men or Gen Z podcast bros. It's not only for the ideologically-oriented, the technically-savvy, or the pointlessly-chatty. ⠀⠀ Podcasting is for the sensitive people, the softies, the weirdos, the freaks, the outcasts, the geniuses, the dropouts. ⠀⠀ Podcasting is for everyone on the margins and beyond. ⠀⠀ Podcasting is FOR YOU! ⠀⠀ When you create your own show, you're not entering the manosphere arena of podcasting. ⠀⠀ You're carving out your own sacred space to share. ⠀⠀ And you don't have to do that alone. ⠀⠀ Softer Sounds is here to stand behind and beside you in that journey. ⠀⠀ It begins with taking the first step: ⠀⠀ Open your podcast portal today.

October 14, 2025Episode 2715 min

What is a private podcast? & How do I create one for my course/membership?

Today’s question comes from Rachel of the Money Healing Club podcast . She’s back asking about private podcasts and how to make them — because she noticed I just launched one for my membership the Interweb . Tune in to hear my thoughts on: What a private podcast is & 2 types of them How to set up your own private podcast with Helloaudio , Captivate , or Transistor Ways that people can sign up to hear it How to handle metrics, cancellations, and more FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

July 15, 2025Episode 2613 min

How do you promote your episodes? & Can I copy your workflow?

Today’s question comes from Stephanie of NoseyAF . She’s wondering how I handle the publication and promotion workflow for my podcast Off the Grid . And can she copy my process? (Yes!) Tune in to hear my advice on: Why I write a blog post and email for every episode of my show How far ahead I work on episodes and scheduling Ways to prioritize your podcast tasks with the nice, necessary, ideal framework The difference between podcast promotion and marketing Why I place ads for my episodes in ilovecreatives FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

June 17, 2025Episode 2512 min

Is it better to have podcast seasons or publish without breaks?

Today we're taking on podcast seasons! Are they good? Bad? Better for some shows than others? 🧐 Should your podcast probably be publishing every week forever if you really want to grow?? 😅 Let's talk about it! Tune in to hear Amelia's take on: The purpose of seasons & how to take breaks Whether or not you lose listeners between seasons Reasons you might want to publish in a consistent rhythm The benefits & drawbacks of an ongoing schedule FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

May 13, 2025Episode 2412 min

Should I create a podcast trailer? & What about hosting a launch party?

In this episode, we're answering two questions for all our friends out there launching new shows or new seasons of your show: What's the point of a podcast trailer? & Are podcast launch parties cool anymore? Tune in to hear Amelia's take on: Two purposes for podcast trailers 🎬 Taking inspiration from Trailer Park Podcast 🏁 Why you probably want to host a launch party 🎈 A simple recipe for podcast success 🧾 FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

April 22, 2025Episode 2313 min

Is my podcast audience too small for guests?

We love podcasts of all sizes! But what happens when you invite someone on your show and they ask you how many listeners you have? 🫣 Tune in to hear Amelia's take on: How to right-size your audience 🧮 What to emphasize instead of download numbers 🤗 Two ways to reframe your pitches if potentials guests are asking about your audience size 🖼️ Why you might want to refocus your podcast growth efforts 🌱 FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

March 18, 2025Episode 2213 min

What should go in my podcast show notes?

What are we all doing with our show notes? ...and why are some of them so long? Today’s question comes from Rachel of the Money Healing Club podcast . She’s curious about best practices for podcast show notes — including what we should put in them and what we shouldn't. Tune in to hear Amelia’s advice on: Why your show notes should always start with a hook 🪝 What everyone's doing wrong with bullet points 🎯 Our hot take on timestamps 🔥 How many links is too many links 🔗 Why you really need two versions of your show notes 🗒️ The importance of copywriting vs content-writing ✏️ FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

February 11, 2025Episode 2116 min

How often should I release my episodes? & Do I need to be consistent every week?

Sometimes I joke that half my job is giving people permission to skip a week of their podcast. So in this episode, I'm diving into the questions I hear most often as a producer: How often should my podcast episodes release? Does it need to be every week? And what if I'm not consistent...? Tune in for clear advice on the pros and cons of weekly, biweekly, and monthly release schedules. And stick around for a permission slip to take things at your own pace — even if it's rather inconsistent. FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

December 10, 2024Episode 2012 min

What’s the best way to invite guests onto my podcast?

Today’s question comes from Charelle. She’s starting her second podcast and wondering how to invite people onto the show when she doesn’t have any episodes live yet. 🤔 Tune in to hear Amelia’s advice on: The best guest invitation process How to write a guest invite email Ways to share your show before it’s live How to pitch when you do have episodes published The worst things a pitch can be FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media

September 24, 2024Episode 1919 min

Should I host my podcast on Substack?

Today I'm answering the question — should I host my podcast on Substack? Or if you already have a show — should I move my podcast to Substack? If you've been considering podcasting on Substack, you'll definitely want to tune in to learn: What Substack is (in case you don't know!) Why cost is a major factor in choosing Substack to host your podcast How to think about email in relationship to your show Why you need to consider ads & listener behavior How Substack streamlines listener support & paid subscriptions And then let me know what you decide to do! Is Substack for you? Not for you? Use the info below to reach out and let me know! FREE SUPPORT 🚀 Want to launch a podcast? Get our FREE launch toolkit today 💘 Wish your podcast was easier & more fun to make? Grab our FREE podcast audit 📱 Got a question for Amelia? Submit a voice message COURSES & MORE 🌈 Learn to launch your own pod with — Your Podcast Is A Portal 💸 Grow your show & make more $$$ with — DIY Podcast Marketing & Monetization ⭐️ Get Amelia’s new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media