Unlike traditional radio, podcasts allow listeners to tune in at their convenience anytime and anywhere, pausing and resuming episodes as needed. This feature has broadened the potential audience for podcasters, transcending geographical, temporal, and personal constraints.

Yet, this evolution from radio to podcasting initially omitted one key element: the dynamic nature of live shows. Live broadcasts have a distinct appeal, primarily due to their real-time interaction with the audience, such as taking phone calls or engaging with listeners through social media.

As podcasting has evolved rapidly over the past few years, the lack of live interaction emerged as a significant limitation for many creators and listeners alike. In response, the Podcasting 2.0 initiative has introduced the Live Item Tag (LIT). Through LIT, a growing array of podcast hosting services and applications now supports live podcast episodes. This technology has effectively reintroduced the dynamic nature of live shows, bringing real-time engagement back into the world of podcasting.

Live podcast episode streaming across three modern podcast apps using the Live Item Tag: Podcast Guru (left), Podverse (middle), and Fountain (right). These apps are available for both Android and iOS.

Why Live Podcasting Over Traditional Live Streaming?

Some podcasters might wonder why they should invest time and effort into live podcasting when they can simply live stream using platforms like Zoom or Streamyard. Here’s why live podcasting offers unique benefits:

Podcasting Ecosystem Integration

Live podcasting integrates seamlessly into the podcasting ecosystem, leveraging existing RSS feeds and podcast apps that support live features. This ensures that live episodes are easily accessible to your current listeners.

Interaction and Monetization Opportunities

Through the Value4Value (V4V) model, live podcasting enables real-time financial support from listeners. Personalized messages known as “boostagrams” allow fans to engage with the host and send donations during the live broadcast, providing instant feedback and support to creators.

How to Encourage Listeners to Use New Podcast Apps

Introducing your audience to new podcast apps that support live podcasting can be challenging. Here are some strategies to ease this transition:

1. Highlight the Benefits

Explain the unique features of live podcasting and how it enhances the listening experience. Emphasize the real-time interaction and the ability to participate actively during live shows. On top of that, live podcasting is not limited to audio; it seamlessly supports video as well. Apps like Podcast Guru, which supports live video podcasting, make this possible right out of the box.

2. Provide Clear Instructions

Offer step-by-step guides on how to download and use the new podcast apps. Make this information easily accessible through your website, social media, and during your podcast episodes.

3. Incentivize Participation

Create exclusive content or host special live events that are only available through these new apps. Offering something unique and valuable can motivate your audience to make the switch.

Live Podcasting from Anywhere

Live podcasting is versatile and can be adapted to various settings, whether you are broadcasting from a professional studio, an event or your bedroom. Here’s how to make the most of it:

From Professional Studios

Using professional studios for live podcasting provides access to top-tier equipment and expert technical support, ensuring the highest production quality. This setting is ideal for producing polished, professional content and can be particularly beneficial for interviews and large-scale broadcasts.

From Events

Live podcasting at events adds an element of immediacy and exclusivity. It allows remote listeners to experience the event in real time, making them feel part of the action. Use platforms that support high-quality audio and video to capture the essence of the event.

From Home

Live podcasting from a personal studio offers a controlled environment where you can ensure high-quality audio and visual elements. Engage with your audience through interactive segments, live Q&A, and boostagrams to maintain a lively and dynamic session.

Setting Up Live Podcasting

For podcasters eager to launch their first live episode, a typical live podcasting setup via LIT involves three main components: a recording platform, a podcast hosting service, and a streaming server. Each component plays a critical role in enabling live podcast episodes.

1. Recording Platform Supporting Live Broadcasting

Unlike traditional podcast episodes, which are recorded and edited offline, live podcast episodes need a platform capable of live broadcasting. Riverside and StreamYard are good examples of web-based applications that provide broadcasting capabilities, allowing for the inclusion of guests, much like platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet. This flexibility is key for creating interactive and dynamic live sessions.

StreamYard enables broadcasting audio and video podcast episodes to a custom streaming server (RTMP destination).

2. Podcast Hosting Service Supporting LIT

Ensure your podcast hosting provider supports this functionality to effectively deliver live shows via LIT. Typical features provided by supporting hosting companies include scheduling a live episode, initiating live streaming, and concluding the broadcast as needed.

Behind the scenes, the podcast hosting service integrates the LIT into your podcast’s RSS feed, ensuring that all necessary content is ready for live broadcast. A significant advantage of LIT is its support for video, enabling a richer multimedia experience directly within the podcast RSS feed – even if the hosting company does not typically support video podcasts.

RSS.com simplifies the live podcast experience for audio and video episodes, providing an intuitive and user-friendly interface.

3. Streaming Server

The streaming server is the critical link between the recording platform and the podcast hosting service, facilitating the actual broadcast. It’s a designated URL where the live content is sent from the recording platform. This URL is also embedded by the podcast hosting service into the Live Item Tag within the RSS feed, to enable the live streaming process. In essence, the streaming server acts as the glue that binds the technical aspects of live podcasting together, ensuring a seamless delivery of live content to listeners.

For those not inclined to set up their own streaming servers – a complex and potentially costly endeavor – various services, like Wowza and DaCast, provide comprehensive live broadcasting solutions.

Explore Live Podcasting

To experience live podcasting firsthand, tune into shows like The New Media Show and Podcasting 2.0 on podcast apps that support LIT. 

Whether you’re a podcaster looking to connect more intimately with your audience or a listener seeking a more interactive experience, live podcasting offers a compelling new dimension to explore!

A big thanks to podcast hosting provider RSS.com for this guest post!

Originally posted on June 6, 2024 @ 2:25 am