The Audio Insurgent

Is Audio A Destination Or A Waypoint?

As podcasting experiences its own “pivot to video” era, it's time for a bit of existential thinking.

Aug 11 • 

Eric Nuzum

July 2024

The Potpourri Dispatch: My TED Talk, NYT’s Paywall, and Public Radio “News”

A collection of smaller items circulating in my summer brain.

Jul 18 • 

Eric Nuzum

June 2024

Why Podcasts Fail

Everyone takes inspiration from their favorite hit shows, but you can probably learn more from the shows that didn’t do so well.

Jun 22 • 

Eric Nuzum

Introducing a new thing for subscribers only: Analog Dispatches

Everything is so digital and at scale. Let's do something that is absolutely the opposite.

Jun 4 • 

Eric Nuzum

May 2024

What If You Held A Podcast Conference And No One Listened?

Isn’t audio the reason we gather together? If so, why don’t I ever hear any?

May 30 • 

Eric Nuzum

The Unbelievable and Unlikely Tale of (A Podcast About) John Todd

It took six years, three different distributors, and a lot of highs and lows to bring this extraordinary story to life–host Paul Murphy and I share the…

May 13 • 

Eric Nuzum

If You Are Asking How To Get More People To Listen To What You Make Now…You Are Probably Going To Fail

Reaching new audience is about creating what THEY are interested in, not finding a way to convince them to listen to what you make now.

May 7 • 

Eric Nuzum

April 2024

The Half-Life of Your Production Skills Is Probably Less Than Three Years

It’s easy to point at companies that are stuck in place, but what about the skill sets of our workers?

Apr 14 • 

Eric Nuzum

March 2024

The Power of the Table Read

It’s often listed as a production best practice, because they are magical. But everyone (including me) often lets them slide.

Mar 16 • 

Eric Nuzum

The Anatomy of Hit Making

Every company and network is desperate to create hits, but no one is taking the time to think how hits are made.

Mar 12 • 

Eric Nuzum

February 2024

An Open Letter to NPR’s Incoming CEO Katherine Maher

In short: we are all rooting for you; please seize the moment.

Feb 23 • 

Eric Nuzum

Now Is The Time to Support The Audio Insurgent

These dispatches will always be free to everyone, but now is the time for you to help make that possible.

Feb 6 • 

Eric Nuzum