Prologue
Killing a YouTube Channel
I did an interview with Rick Beato last week. We talked about his YouTube channel, what it takes to get five million subscribers, etc.
Rick has a full-time attorney to handle the copyright claims he gets for using music, which he estimates around 4000 over nine years.
YouTube has a "three strikes" rule, so if Rick ever loses, his channel is gone.
This week, he posted a video called This Record Label is Trying to SILENCE Me and it's worth watching, because a lot of what he's talking about applies to you and your podcast.
Some (non-legal) advice ...
- Keep meticulous records and timestamps for interviews and fair-use commentary that reference copyrighted music (so you can argue context and purpose).
- Build a workflow to quickly detect and catalog Content ID claims (dates, claimant, type: monetization vs. takedown) so you can prioritize which to fight.
- Consider a legal budget or retainer if your channel routinely addresses copyrighted music as fighting claims repeatedly can be expensive and time-consuming.
- When possible, use short clips, on-camera discussion, and clear transformative commentary to strengthen fair use arguments, but still be prepared to dispute claims.
- Communicate transparently with your audience about threats to your channel. This helps mobilize community support and keeps your audience engaged if videos are removed or demonetized.
Have a YouTube copyright story? Let me know! I'm putting together an episode about this and would love to share it.
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Podcaster Opportunities
Friction = What Makes Podcasts Great
This sums up the argument ...
So much of what made culture great between the '60s and '90s is that you had to work for it. There was friction. Maybe we need more of that on the internet.
In general, I agree with this. While it's great to have "everything" at our fingertips, there's definitely something about "the dig" that makes you appreciate what's at the other end ... music, movies, books, etc.
Maybe something to learn into when we promote our podcasts? Making "the dig" a selling point rather than complaining how "there's no discovery in podcasting."
Yes, there is discovery.
Also consider this:
- Ubiquity flattens meaning. When everything is feed-driven and instantly available, the path is erased. And the path is part of the value.
- Discovery is cultural glue. The dig creates identity, status (“I found this before it hit”), and belonging (“these are my people”).
- The algorithm can surface something, but it doesn't bring significance. Significance comes from effort, context, and community around the find.
Steal This Idea
National Radio Day
National Radio Day was this week, and it’s a good reminder that radio isn’t a relic, even for those of us who love (and maybe even prefer) podcasting.
Here’s why:
Radio is live and in the same moment you are. When news breaks, a storm rolls in, or traffic stalls, radio reacts now, not after an edit, upload, and push notification. Its immediacy builds trust.
To compete, stations have become even more “local.” Good stations have hosts who live where listeners live. They pronounce the street names correctly, know the high schools in the area, and plug the food truck down the block. That sense of place is something algorithms can’t fake.
Radio is a companion, not just content. Radio rides with you: in the car, at the job site, on the morning run. It keeps you company without demanding your full attention—no scrolling required. And it does the same for others in your area, which builds community.
Podcast Hosting Skills
WKRP: Venus Flytrap Aircheck
What if you took EVERY DJ break Tim Reid ever made, as Venus Flytrap (WKRP in Cincinnati), and just ... followed his lead?
Would it be possible to construct a three-hour show, with Venus as host?
Yes! Listen here.
Want to be a better podcast host? Listen to other hosts.
Seriously, LISTEN TO AIRCHECKS! What I'm listening to.
Podcast Production
How to Return to Podcasting After a Break
Have you lost count of how many days it's been since your last podcast?
It happens to the best of us. Writers face something similar.
Some suggestions ...
- Resist the urge to make up what you missed.
- Troubleshoot what led to the break in your podcasting streak.
- Resume the routine that was helping you podcast.
- Adjust your plan to acknowledge your current circumstances.
- Stick to your plan, even in small ways.
- Have an accountability partner.
- Treat yourself like you would a friend in a comparable situation.
- Recognize the value of breaking a streak.
- Embrace imperfect starts.
Good luck getting back on track! I just did the same thing.
The Wrap Up
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