077: Podcast Basics: How I Normalize Podcast Audio with Auphonic

077: Podcast Basics: How I Normalize Podcast Audio with Auphonic

Ever clicked from one podcast to the next and had to scramble for the volume knob because the sound levels are wildly different? Kim breaks down her secret weapon for fixing that: Auphonic. She walks through what the tool does, from normalizing loudness to the correct negative 16 LUFS standard, to removing background hum, tinniness, and echo, to its newer video feature that lets her upload one file and get both polished audio and video back. She also shares her actual workflow, pairing Descript for a first editing pass with Auphonic for the second pass, plus the specific settings she uses (filtering, noise reduction, adaptive leveling, and loudness normalization), pricing details, and how metadata inside Auphonic can support podcast SEO. If your podcast audio has ever sounded too quiet, too loud, or just a little off compared to other shows, this episode explains the tool Kim credits for fixing that every time. Try Auphonic: https://kpcreativemedia.com/auphonic Podcast Production Course: https://go.kpcreativemedia.com/production-course

076: How an Empath Feels Your Energy with Sophie Watson

What if your body already knew what was blocking you, long before your mind caught up? Sophie Watson, an award-winning intuitive guide and soul coach, joins Kim Parkinson to unpack what it actually feels like to sense another person's pain, energy, and unspoken truths. She shares stories of physically feeling clients' old wounds, from a shoulder ache tied to a decades-old divorce to a heaviness in her chest that surfaced a hidden heartbreak, and walks through the rituals she uses to protect her own energy and clear what isn't hers to carry. Sophie also opens up about the personal crisis that pushed her to leave a job she hated and build a healing practice from nothing. Her story is a reminder that noticing what's really going on inside you is always the first step toward change. Connect with Sophie Watson: sophiewatson.co.uk [https://sophiewatson.co.uk] Join my newsletter: https://kpcreativemedia.com/podnews [https://kpcreativemedia.com/podnews] Mentioned in this episode: Rooted to Rise: https://pod.link/1894314207

075: Podcast Basics: The Editing Software I Actually Use for My Podcast

Editing your podcast doesn't have to mean choosing between free and fancy, you can actually use both. Kim Parkinson breaks down the two editing platforms she relies on at KP Creative Media, Audacity and Descript. Audacity is free, open source, and waveform-based, great for simple audio-only editing, noise reduction, and crafting intros and outros with music. Descript is the paid, transcription-based platform she uses for the bulk of her editing, especially when video is involved, offering AI features like automatic filler word removal, a built-in screen recorder, and repurposing tools, though she cautions listeners to watch their AI credit usage and dial back Studio Sound so they don't sound underwater. Both tools have a learning curve, but neither is difficult to pick up if you want to edit in-house. Kim's bottom line: audio-only podcasters can get by on Audacity, while anyone doing video will want Descript or a similar platform. Podcast Production Course: https://go.kpcreativemedia.com/production-course Join the newsletter: https://kpcreativemedia.com/podnews/ Mentioned in this episode: Creative Permission Slip: https://pod.link/1845331984

074: Podcast Reviews and Why They Matter

You just found out someone left you a five-star review, so now where do you actually go to see it? Kim breaks down everything about podcast reviews after a client asked why she was the only one who'd left one. Turns out Apple Podcasts reviews are country-specific, so listeners in different countries can't see each other's reviews, which explains a lot. Kim walks through where reviews live across Apple, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Podchaser, and lesser-known apps like Goodpods, Castbox, and Podyssey, plus how each one handles ratings versus written comments. She also covers how a burst of reviews within about 72 hours can push a show up the category rankings, and why asking listeners directly is still the most reliable way to get reviews at all. Reviews aren't just ego boosts; they're social proof for new listeners and a real lever for podcast discoverability. Kim's biggest takeaway is simple: ask for reviews, make it easy, and don't be afraid to sweeten the deal with a small freebie. Have you left a review for us on Apple? Stop by and do that today! Mentioned in this episode: Your Productivity Pulse: https://pod.link/1867957851

073: Podcast Basics: Real Rules for Cover Art Size, Fonts and Keywords

Your podcast cover art might be the reason someone scrolls right past your show, even when the content inside is incredible. Kim Parkinson breaks down everything you need to know about podcast cover art, from Apple's exact size and file requirements to the fonts and colors that actually get read on a tiny phone screen. She shares why the words people search for need to be the biggest thing on that image, why scrolly fonts belong on Instagram and not your hosting platform, and how she redesigned her own cover art around her keywords. She also walks through the AI and design tools worth trying, including Canva, ChatGPT, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and Ideogram, plus her honest take on which ones are worth your time. Whether you're launching your first show or thinking about a refresh, this gives you a clear, practical checklist for cover art that actually gets found. A little intention here goes a long way toward turning browsers into listeners. Check out Emerald Temple: https://www.emeraldtemple.com/Kim Find out more tips weekly with my newsletter: https://kpcreativemedia.com/news Mentioned in this episode: The Resilient Kid - https://pod.link/1572235687