The Best Platforms for Podcasters
Image by ConvertKit on Unsplash
I have always dreamed of becoming a radio DJ. Spinning the latest and greatest records of the year. Talking to people who influence the world. Bringing celebrities to their fan base. Becoming the female Chris O’Brian, local legend. You get the idea. I even had my radio station picked out. I wanted to work for WACI radio.
Then I began to have seizures and strokes, and my rising radio star didn’t even get off the ground. The station shifted focus. Boom, dream over! At least I thought, until I heard about podcasting.
Podcasting takes the role of a radio talk show host to the next level by reaching millions of listeners worldwide to chat about their areas of interest. Sign me up, please! You may be wondering what a podcast entails? According to Wikipedia “a podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening”.
I am totally in favor of setting personal goals for creative development. So, it’s time to put the goal of becoming a Podcaster on my vision board. No need to wait for a new year. Now is a good time to make the leap and try my hand at this rapidly growing medium. I will definitely be in good company with thousands of other talented podcasters.
According to Buzzsprout there are “2,394,926 valid podcasts, with the top spots going to Comedy Podcasts or News”. People search out podcasts for many reasons using various search engines, but how do you know what platform will attract the most listeners? That is a burning question, especially if I want millions of them.
As of March 7, 2025, these are the highest rated platforms for podcasters. It should be noted that some are free and others have subscription fees for creators. Consider long-term goals and expectations, pricing, features and tools, and audience reach before you choose.
- Podbean
- Redcircle
- Spreaker
- Acast
- Spotify for Creators
- Buzzsprout
- Captivate
- Castos
- Libsyn
- Megaphone
- Transistor
- RSS.com
- Simplecast
- Substack
- Blubrry
There are more hosting sites available all the time with both pay and free options. Pay sites have the benefit of providing your podcast a larger audience due to advertising. If budget is tight, free is always good. My friend’s podcast, Doctor Who’s Line is it …Anyway?, is on both Apple iTunes and Anchor for free. It is doing well, and he works at keeping it that way by remaining consistent and recording podcasts well in advance of his release dates.
Consistency is key whether I decide to go free or paid, but especially free. You need to keep that audience engaged or they will find another podcast to catch their attention.
Now on to the next step. What will be the focus of my podcast? The possibilities are endless. Will it be about dog training, service dogs, poetry, or jewelry? Stay tuned to see what I finally decide to talk about. This will be a year to remember – the year of the Pod!
Need more creative joy? Check out some other resources, audio works, and related here at the MockingOwl Roost.
- Keep Your Voice Healthy: A Review for Singers, Actors, Podcasters, and Others Who Use Their Voices Regularly
- 15 Podcasts to Listen to in 2021 – Podcast Roundup
- At Daybreak – A Poetry Reading
- Be Ye Awkward or Be Ye Cheeky – Audition Tips
- Being Edited – Positivity Corner
- My Favorite Carving – a Love Poem Reading
- 8 Exciting POC-Led TV Shows – TV Show Roundup
- The Flying Housewife, a True Story – Feature Length Audio Drama
- Writing Tip: Create Character Bios
- Your Goal Guide – A Book Review
- Letting Go – Poetry Reading
Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.
