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Welcome to Smarter Podcasting, by Niall Mackay, The Podcast Guy, founder of Seven Million Bikes Podcasts.
Niall has years of experience in podcasting, producing, editing, and hosting podcasts in various fields. He’s now on a mission to help podcasters create, publish, and build their communities through podcasting by sharing the techniques and lessons he’s learned.
The show is designed to provide valuable insights and practical tips for any podcaster, whether they are individuals or businesses. Niall shares his tried and tested techniques for creating, publishing, and building a show, along with success stories of his own and his clients’ podcasts.
Whether you’re interested in starting a podcast or improving an existing one, Smarter Podcasting is a great free resource to help you.
Join Niall on this podcasting journey by subscribing or following Smarter Podcasting today.
113 Episodes
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"There's no perfect portion of the podcast that you need to get clipped, try something else if it doesn't hit the right demographic." Niall Mackay sits down with Arielle Nissinblatt, Community Marketing Manager at Descript, to discuss the evolution of podcast editing and the growing importance of video content in podcasting. Arielle shares her journey in the podcasting industry, from starting a podcast recommendation newsletter to her current role at Descript. The conversation delves into the...
In this episode I interview one of the biggest names in podcasting, Jordan Harbinger! We delve into the art of preparing for podcast interviews. Jordan, whose podcast has millions of downloads, shares his journey from being a Wall Street lawyer to a renowned podcaster. He discusses the importance of extensive preparation, including reading entire books, taking notes, and adjusting interview flow in real-time. Jordan emphasizes a structured approach to creating engaging content ...
"Podcast audiences absolutely love consistency." - Charlotte Lewis-West Niall Mackay sits down with podcast strategist Charlotte Lewis-West to uncover the keys to effective podcast planning and promotion. With years of experience in radio journalism and podcast consultancy, Charlotte shares invaluable insights on developing a solid podcast strategy, understanding your audience, and leveraging various platforms for promotion. The conversation delves into the importance of identifying your nich...
"Podcasting is a window to my world, and through it, I’ve met people I never imagined I’d connect with." Niall Mackay sits down with Radim Malinic, a creative designer, best-selling author, and the host of Creativity for Sale, now called Mindful Creative. They explore Radim's journey from his initial struggles with podcasting to building a platform that has reached listeners in 85 countries. Radim shares how the medium of podcasting allowed him to extend his message beyond books, making authe...
“If the marketplace is already crowded with podcasts that sound great, you’re going to have to start at that level.” — Mark Hunter Mark started way back in 2005, long before smartphones, video podcasts, or even basic podcast apps. Speaking to someone who has seen the entire evolution of the industry really opened my eyes to how much has changed… and how much hasn’t. What I loved most about this conversation is how aligned we are on the fundamentals: great audio, strong visuals, and a cl...
“Don’t underestimate who you can get—leaders in their field want to share their expertise with a dedicated audience.” - Hugh Hiemstra Talking to Hugh Hiemstra was truly a game-changer for me, both as a podcaster and someone who’s constantly looking for ways to improve the creative process. Hugh brought incredible insights into the power of curiosity and authentic questions in creating meaningful conversations. He emphasized how going into an interview with genuine interest—not just for the au...
I share my top 10 programs for podcasting and how much they cost. I discuss the importance of using these programs to create high-quality podcasts and streamline the editing process. I also highlight the benefits of using programs like Descript, Canva, ChatGPT, Adobe Enhance, Notion, Calendly, ActiveCampaign, and hiring a content writer and editor, emphasizing the value of investing in these tools to save time and improve the overall podcasting experience. Key Takeaways: Descript is a...
In this episode, I take you through my personal experience of evolving from a podcasting novice in 2019 to a professional editor and producer for over 30 shows globally. I provide my top five tips for those interested in starting their own podcast on a budget. My recommendations include selecting basic but vital equipment, creating a workable home studio, utilizing efficient recording and editing software, seeking assistance and guidance from friends and the online podcasting community...
“This sponsorship would never have come without TikTok. This brand did not hear my podcast… they saw a short video on TikTok.” When I recorded this episode, I wanted to share something that genuinely surprised even me: after years of being skeptical about TikTok, a sponsor reached out purely because of our short-form video content. They never listened to the show, never watched the YouTube version—they saw a clip on TikTok and decided Discover Vietnam was a brand they wanted to work with. It ...
"As soon as you start doing something for money, whether you like it or not. It's gonna change." Podcasting expert and host of Smarter Podcasting Niall Mackay is interviewed by Samantha an AI Voice powered by ChatGPT. Niall shares his journey from being an avid podcast listener to becoming a successful podcaster himself. He candidly discusses the challenges of podcasting, strategies for attracting and retaining an audience, and the future of the industry. Niall's wealth of experience...
“If I’d turned this on, even if I was interested in the topic, I would’ve turned it off immediately.” – Niall Mackay That’s what I said during this podcast audit, and I meant it. It wasn’t about the content, Arin’s show, Rock and Metal Faith, has a passionate host, a unique niche, and great energy. But the audio quality was so rough that it distracted from everything else. This episode is a perfect example of why good content isn’t enough if the sound quality turns people away. Arin’s doing s...
Thank you to Anii Hoang from The Aspiring CMO podcast for letting me share this episode with you! In my journey with Seven Million Bikes Podcasts, a pivotal moment emerged when a talented marketing graduate posted on Facebook, expressing her eagerness to contribute blogs for her portfolio. Our initial conversation left me astounded by her vigor, expertise, and most significantly, her knowledge, particularly in domains like SEO, domain authority, and content crafting. As t...
“It was silly then, and it’s become sillier now, the idea that if you build it, they will come.” – Joni Deutsch When Joni said that, it really hit home. So many podcasters (including me, in the early days) believe that great content alone will attract an audience. But as Joni explains, in today’s crowded world of podcasting, you have to market your show just as smartly as you produce it. This episode honestly blew me away. Joni is the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Audience Developm...
Niall Mackay, The Podcast Guy, shares his journey from starting a podcast about Saigon in 2019 to running a successful, end-to-end podcast production agency. Niall discusses the evolution of his podcast, including rebranding it to focus on Vietnam as a whole, and how he navigated significant challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of setting specific goals, learning to say no, and focusing on one's primary objective for achieving success. Niall also ...
“The reason I’m putting on a podcast is because I want to listen. I don’t want to read about the hosts - I want you to tell me about you.” — Adrie Mackay This episode is easily one of my favorites — not because of the guest (though she is my wife), but because I finally got to hear the raw, honest perspective of a real podcast listener. Adrie isn’t in the industry; she doesn’t care about gear or metrics. She just loves great stories, good sound, and shows that respect her time. Listening to h...
I'm opening up about my podcasting journey and the blunders I've encountered along the way. Join me as I share some valuable lessons learned from my experiences so that you can avoid these pitfalls and create a smoother path to podcasting success. Key Times to Listen: 00:01:00 - The Importance of Hitting Record 00:02:00 - The Power of Headphones 00:04:30 - Communicating with Guests for Video 00:06:00 - Embracing Dynamic Microphones 00:08:30 - Eliminating Interruptions and Disturbances Key Tak...
In this episode, I'm going to cover one of the most important questions you can find on Google. What editing software do I use to edit my podcast? And what is the difference between audacity and gavage band? And this episode, we're going to cover the pros and cons of each of those programs. And the one major difference that you need to know before you decide which program to choose. Send us a text Email me (niall@sevenmillionbikes.com) or contact me on Seven Million Bikes Podcast...
Tune in to our latest podcast episode featuring me, Niall Mackay, a stand-up comedian and teacher in Vietnam with Andrew Durning from That Mental Ginger Show. In this engaging conversation, Niall and host Andrew discuss the challenges of creating a successful podcast course, their experiences in content creation, the importance of finding one's niche, and much more. With insightful advice and inspiring personal stories, this episode offers both practical takeaways and behind-the-scenes glimp...
“I started with the Blue Yeti microphone, put it between me and the guest, and didn’t realize it was picking up everything—even my dog snoring on the couch.” When I recorded this episode, I wanted to share the exact journey I’ve been on with podcast equipment—from the mistakes I made when I first started to what I use today in my studio. Equipment is one of the biggest questions I see from new and experienced podcasters alike, and it can feel overwhelming. My goal in this episode ...
“Choose one thing that you want to focus on. Start saying no to everything else politely. Make everything you do about that one thing and I guarantee you’ll be successful.” That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned in my journey of turning a hobby podcast into a full-time business. Today, I opened up about the setbacks, surprises, and wins I’ve had along the way—from starting with one microphone in my living room, to working with RMIT Vietnam on an international project, to facing a health scare...
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