There's not just ONE podcast tech stack
There’s no such thing as a “simple podcast.” Behind every good one is what I would essentially boil down into a 3-headed tech beast: Production, Distribution, and Monetization. Let’s break them down.
If you’re building or scaling a podcast operation — whether it’s a single show, a growing network in a niche like true crime, or the online content arm of a major legacy media company — your tech stack isn’t just a jumble of software. It’s your efficiency engine, your visibility layer, and ultimately, your revenue pipeline.
Most people conflate the whole thing into one blob of “podcast tools.” But really, while I could probably break this down further over a nice glass of irish whiskey, there are really three distinct “parent tech stacks” in podcasting. And while they do generally all inform one another, they also serve very different roles.
Stack 1: The Production Stack
Your workflow engine. This is where the podcast is actually made. “Where the magic happens”, if you will.
From coordinating guests to recording clean audio and editing into publishable content — this stack defines your speed, quality, and consistency.
Tools I recommend vary to some degree based on the type of show or the magnitude of your content operation, but some examples of commonly used or popular tools include:
Squadcast.fm – Remote recording with separate tracks, video support, and live call-ins.
Descript – Edit audio via text like a Word doc. Also does transcripts, filler word cleanup (BE CAREFUL with this functionality), and rough cuts fast. It really reduces the learning curve for new audio editors in my opinion but somewhat at the expense of good habits and/or exceptional quality audio.
Adobe Podcast Enhance – AI-driven audio cleanup. Especially great for guest voices recorded in bad environments. Powerful but should not be your go-to.
Calendyze – Calendar links for booking guests without email tag.
Notion / Airtable – Episode tracking, guest CRM, SOPs.
Zapier – Automate episode workflows (move files, notify editors, update dashboards).
Why It Matters:
Of the largest drivers of pod fade, which are:
Burnout
Bad quality audio which leads to declining listenership or failure to launch
Inconsistency in schedule, content, story which affect listenership experience
Every single one comes down to making your tech stack work together to make high quality content easier to produce. Remember: If you don’t control your production stack, you don’t control your bandwidth or your show quality - making it much easier to drown in the deep end of the pool.
Stack 2: The Distribution & Discoverability Stack
Your pipes to the public… or rather, their pipes to you. This is how your show gets out there — and how people find it.
This tech stack controls your RSS feed, metadata optimization, thumbnails, and episode titling strategy all live here.
AGAIN - Tools I recommend vary to some degree based on the type of show, but some examples of commonly used or popular tools include:
RSS.com / Libsyn – Hosting platforms that syndicate your RSS feed, insert ads, and offer listener analytics.
And SHOUTOUT to RSS.com - an upcoming interviewee of the newsletter - for providing a SPECIAL
Apple Podcasts Connect – Where you optimize show and episode-level metadata (critical for search and discoverability). This is also an important one because this is where MANY of the other distribution platforms scrape from.
YouTube Studio – For video podcast content, or repackaged clips. Still king of SEO.
MowPod Charts – Real-time search rankings, chart visibility, and metadata insights across Apple & Spotify.
Podfollow – Smart linking for social posts and newsletters. Don’t just link to Spotify. Chartable used to have a smartlink as well, which is also dead. RIP.
Why It Matters:
A perfectly edited show no one can find is a ghost ship. This stack is about being where the listeners are.
Stack 3: The Monetization Stack
The part of your tech stack that turns attention into revenue.
This includes dynamic ad insert tech, subscriber tools, affiliate integrations, and analytics that help sell your show — not just track it.
Basic tools I recommend (read FYI about tools above, not rehashing it again, you get the drift):
PrefixManager – These guys are newer on the scene and are a TREMENDOUS tool for enterprise level networks that rely on programmatic over host-reads - they’re a key member of my newsroom tech stack recommendationas. Advanced pre-roll/post-roll ad slot control. Boosts CPM with better VAST tag handling and prioritizing competition over favoritism in delivery (looking at you, Spotify. Thought you were slick.)
Apple Podcast Subscriptions – High-retention subscriber monetization. Native to the largest U.S. podcast platform. The ease of it will more than make up for the steep commission.
Supercast / SupportingCast – For subscriber-only feeds and bonus content.
SHOUTOUT to SUPERCAST for supporting the newsletter. Get $25 in SuperCast Credit for signing up right here!
Affiliate platforms – Like Amazon Affiliates for gear links.
Why It Matters:
Most shows don’t fail because they don’t have listeners, they fail because they have listeners but get tired of it because of the time value of money. Share your story and get paid to do it, entertainment and education - whatever your niche - is a viable business. Stop being shy about it.
BONUS - Stack 4: The Marketing + Discoverability Stack
’m not gonna lie. “3-headed beast” was too cool a line not to include, so consider this your surprise boss level.
This is the part of your tech stack that funnels in new listeners, keeps current ones warm, and fights churn. Because even the best content dies in silence if nobody knows it exists — or forgets it does.
📈 What this stack does:
Builds top-of-funnel awareness
Drives repeat engagement
Increases lifetime value of a listener
Turns casual listeners into fans, and fans into advocates
Some Tools I Recommend:
MowPod’s Self Serve Boost – Paid campaigns that drive real Apple/Spotify subs (not just plays or junk traffic)
SHOUTOUT to MowPod for a discounted self-serve download growth engine link!
ConvertKit / Beehiiv / Substack (woot!) – Email is a good retention tool. Start a newsletter. Yesterday. You can even use it to source high quality guests.
Recast / Headliner – Clip and share highlights natively to social. Earn shares and surface your best content.
Podpage – Create a listener-friendly website or landing page without coding.
LeadPages / Tally / Notion – Funnel ad traffic to a custom lead capture page (with email opt-ins and follow-up automations)
MowPod’s Enterprise Audience Development Tools: They have a bunch of them, and the team does an amazing job aligning productized offerings with what makes podcasts tick - from qualified listens, to long tail followers and core audience, to remarketable top-of-funnel potential listeners who’ve shown interest.
Why It Matters:
If production is the engine and monetization is the fuel, this stack is the throttle. Most podcasters think “marketing” means spamming links and sharing the shit out of some reels on Facebook or Instagram. The pros build flywheels — and this is the tech that powers them.
Final Thoughts:
Each of these stacks supports the other two. If one’s weak, the whole system wobbles:
Strong production means you ship episodes on time and keep your audience satiated and give them a reason to keep returning.
Smart distribution gets them seen because it puts your content WHERE YOUR AUDIENCE IS instead of trying to call them from one place to another.
Solid monetization makes it sustainable — or even scalable.
If you’re struggling with one of these layers, book a “Stack Consult” with me. I’ll review your tools, goals, and recommend the upgrades you actually need — no BS, no bloat.