Mastering Your Podcast Description: How to Hook Listeners

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, discusses the importance of a podcast description. He explains its dual role in positioning and discovery, and offers a five-part structure for crafting an effective description. Key points include starting with a strong hook, defining the value, clarifying the format, injecting personality, and incorporating a call to action. Ed also covers the role of SEO and common mistakes to avoid. Enhance your podcast's reach and relevance with these practical tips.

00:00 Introduction

00:39 What Does a Podcast Description Do?

01:31 Five Elements of a Great Description

02:48 SEO Considerations

03:45 Common Mistakes to Avoid

04:30 Closing and Next Episode Preview

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Effective Strategies for Naming Your Podcast

In this episode of Showmakers, host Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, discusses the importance of naming your podcast effectively. He explains how a good podcast name does more than sound clever; it helps with discovery, signals the show's content, and makes it easy to remember and share. Ed outlines two main naming approaches: descriptive and keyword-rich names for better searchability, and branded or metaphorical names for more identity and flexibility. He also provides a checklist to test potential names and highlights common pitfalls to avoid. Lastly, Ed gives actionable advice on brainstorming and validation for selecting the perfect podcast name.

00:00 Showmakers Episode 5 Naming Your Podcast

00:00 Introduction to Show Makers

00:32 The Function of a Podcast Name

01:14 Two Effective Naming Models

03:24 Common Naming Pitfalls to Avoid

04:18 Naming Checklist

04:59 Practical Naming Process

06:02 Closing and Next Episode Preview

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Essential Podcast Gear: What You Really Need to Get Started

In episode four of Showmakers, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, outlines the essential gear you need to launch your podcast, whether on a budget or with a bigger investment. He breaks down the must-haves and nice-to-haves in microphones, headphones, interfaces, and software. Ed provides specific recommendations for budget, mid-range, and pro-level setups, and offers crucial tips for creating a good recording environment. Finally, he shares advice on selecting and using recording and editing software effectively.

00:00 Introduction to Showmakers

00:08 Essential Podcast Gear

01:30 Microphone Options for Every Budget

03:32 Optimizing Your Recording Environment

04:14 Choosing the Right Headphones

04:57 Interfaces and Mixers Explained

05:41 Simplifying Podcast Software

06:54 Editing and Publishing Tips

08:53 Additional Accessories

09:59 Conclusion

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding Your Unique Angle in a Crowded Podcast Space

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 talks about the importance of identifying and honing a unique angle for your podcast. He addresses the common pitfalls of brand podcasts sounding generic and provides three key questions to help find your distinct voice: Who is your specific audience? What unique viewpoints or insights do you offer? Why is a podcast the best format for your content right now? Using examples from successful brand podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, Inside Trader Joe's, and Andreessen Horowitz's a16z, Ed illustrates how to create a compelling, original podcast. Additionally, he offers tips for crafting a one-sentence positioning statement to clearly define your podcast's unique value proposition. Subscribe to catch the next episode where Ed will discuss how to achieve studio-quality sound on any budget.

00:00 Introduction to Show Makers

00:11 The Importance of Finding Your Unique Angle

01:12 Key Questions to Define Your Podcast's Angle

03:10 Examples of Successful Brand Podcasts

04:21 Crafting Your Podcast's Positioning Statement

05:16 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Showmakers Podcast, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, discusses different types of podcast formats and how to choose the best podcast format for your show. He emphasizes that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, offering valuable podcasting tips for brands who are considering launching a podcast to help tailor your podcast type to your content and audience needs. Discover how to start a podcast that truly resonates!

00:00 Introduction to the Showmakers Podcast

00:48 Why Podcast Format Matters

01:39 Exploring the Solo Podcast Format

02:40 The Popular Interview Format

03:55 The Dynamic Co-Hosted Show

05:16 Narrative or Story-Driven Formats

06:41 Choosing the Right Format for Your Podcast

07:44 Recap and Next Steps

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ Why Start a Brand Podcast?

In the first episode of the Showmakers Podcast, host Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, explores the world of podcasting. Ed discusses why launching a podcast can be valuable for businesses or brands, highlighting the deep engagement and lasting connections it fosters. Ed covers the key benefits of podcasting, including building authority, engaging with your audience, owning your platform, and expanding your network. He also addresses common concerns such as the saturation of podcasts, having a small audience, and disliking the sound of your own voice. This episode sets the stage for future installments, which will cover essential topics like formatting, tech, marketing, and monetization.

00:00 Introduction to the Showmakers Podcast

00:31 Why Start a Podcast?

00:57 The Podcasting Boom

02:08 Building Authority and Engagement

03:15 Owning Your Platform and Expanding Your Network

04:22 Addressing Common Concerns

05:43 Conclusion and Next Steps

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ Welcome to The Showmakers’ Podcast, hosted by Ed Barker. Each short-form episode offers straight-talking advice on podcast strategy, production, and growth. Whether you're launching your first show or scaling an existing one, this series helps you make smarter audio decisions—one episode at a time.

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.