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The Future IS Audio

Josh Liston, Australia

Theatre of the Mind is real, and great audio is where the magic starts. In this show long-time Podcaster and Pro Audio Editor Josh Liston wants to share both his love and appreciation for the audio medium (Podcasting, Audiobooks, Audio-dramas, and Voice-Over) as well as share all the lessons he's learned in his 14+ years in Podcasting that have helped him make better (and more sustainable) shows. We're here to help you make great audio programs.

To be clear, we're not anti-Video Podcasting over here, we're just pro Audio-first Podcasting.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 4 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S2 · E36
    September 1 · 5 min

    36. The #1 reason I was scared to end my longest-running show

    I guess as long as you gave an f, someone for sure gave-an-f. Ending a podcast can be really hard, and in this episode of The Future IS Audio, Josh shares his greatest fear when ending his longest-running podcast On The Bubble podcast. Josh's number 1 fear ending a podcast. Facing the fear of ending a long-running podcast [01:09]. What creators leave behind (also) matters [03:52]. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcalmediagroup.com.au

  • S2 · E35
    August 19 · 47 sec

    35. Your ai-thingo isn't Art, it's just a shadow

    When you make things by hand, when you toil and you discover, you’re building artifacts of experience. When you press enter on a prompt, you’re simply echoing someone else’s experience (and effort). It’s not inherently wrong to make things with little effort, but please stop getting hurt when the world tells you your ‘ai-thingo’ is not art; all you’ve made is a shadow of a thing. .... Email: josh@jcaldigital.org

  • S2 · E34
    May 7 · 1 min

    34. Thanking You for 200 Readers - You Guys Rule!

    Thanks so much for 200 Readers on LinkedIn. Recorded with the Shure KSM32 >>> MixPre-6. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E33
    April 25 · 3 min

    33. Is Podcasting Really Worth It? - plus a shoutout to Bandrew Scott

    What has Podcasting given me, Josh Liston from Australia? Podcasting has given me a best friend, a network of friends around the world, tech and audio skills that I wouldn't have otherwise, and greater ability to communicate and story tell. Congrats to Bandrew Scott: https://www.bandrewscott.com .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E32
    March 28 · 2 min

    32. AI Slop Detox (2026)

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ Quick update on taking an AI Slop Detox over the month of April 2026. Be Safe, Be Well. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E31
    February 5 · 3 min

    31. Gear Doesn't NOT Matter in Podcasting - TFIA Newsletter Audio Version

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gear-doesnt-matter-podcasting-josh-liston-2rx9c/ [ Episode Recorded with the Røde Wireless Micro for iPhone ] ... Gear Doesn't NOT Matter in Podcasting: I'm getting pretty sick of the Podcasting Gear Shaming that I'm seeing more and more online at the moment, in particular on LinkedIn. If you want to have pretty things, and you can afford them, go out and get them. Just make sure you understand the following two things: Often, more expensive audio gear has a steeper learning curve than entry-level gear. You will need to spend the required time to get the most out of your equipment. ...and Quality gear should improve the fidelity of your show, but it can't guarantee the success of your show. It's just getting you in-the-game with a little more professional edge. The narrative that Gear Doesn't Matter and a Creator or Host having an interest or passion for gear is leading to their inevitable failure, simply pisses me off! ...and it's wrong. Wanting good or better gear is fine if that's how you approach your interests and passions. Sometimes the technical and the tinkering IS what people find engrossing about making things, and it's not so much about the output. If that's you, keep being you. 3 Reasons Caring About Gear IS Worth It: It's fun! Some of us just like to tinker. We think microphones, mixers, headphones, plug-ins, (Guitars even) are interesting and awesome in and of themselves. Having decent gear from day one means that your earliest episodes will at the very least sound good, and if you do video, look good. It's a sign that people (read: former Real Estate Agents with an AI) don't really know Podcasting when they say "Gear Doesn't Matter", as they clearly don't understand that new Listeners may go back and listen from episode 1 after finding your show. I think having those episodes sound and look as good as they can, only helps you in Podcasting. Besides the improved fidelity of the output, better gear should allow for more robust recording processes and fewer issues with lost and corrupted recordings. Enjoy your week in Podcasting, and if you've got the cash and want that microphone or whatever, go get it. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E30
    January 27 · 7 min

    30. Respectful Interrogation and the Art of Great Podcast Interviewing

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ What gets covered in this episode: The problem with underperforming Podcast Guests, it's not what you think. Defining Respectful Interrogation in Podcasting. Focus on your Guest, not the questions list. What are spark moments in Podcast Interviews? Curiosity is the single most important factor in creating memorable and unique Podcast interviews. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E29
    January 26 · 4 min

    29. 3 Sources of Noise that Can Negatively Impact Your Podcast Audio

    3 Sources of Noise that Can Negatively Impact Your Podcast Audio: Your Printer. Your Fridge. Your Air-conditioner. .... Email the Show: josh@jcaldigital.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SOUNDRAPPORTING Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter for free here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E28
    January 22 · 2 min

    28. Even Avengers: Endgame Needed a Press Tour (Human Stories About Human-made Things)

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/even-avengers-endgame-needed-press-tour-ai-absolute-yawnfest-liston-kkeqc Even Avengers: Endgame needed a press tour (AI is an Absolute Yawnfest): Part of what makes Art meaningful (and why it touches people) is the Creative Risk the person (or persons) making it took to create it. That's the one aspect of entirely AI-generated things that I still haven't heard a satisfactory answer for: "How do you tell a compelling story about a thing that has no story?" If you remove the making (struggle and toil) and the triumph (actually getting the thing out the door), how do you talk about the thing you've made? Remember, even Avengers: Endgame needed a press tour, panel show appearances, and gripping storytelling around the making of the film to get people to turn up and watch it. Much of the lore around great things, is the making of those great things. .... This episode was recorded using the following kit and workflow: Røde Wireless Micro >> iPhone Voice Memos App >> Auphonic's web service (for Levelling, Voice EQ and De-Noise) >> Adobe Audition (+ iZotope de-Reverb and Waves X-Crackle) >> mp3 encoding. .... Email the show: josh@jcaldigital.org

  • S2 · E27
    January 18 · 10 min

    27. How to Name Your Podcast (7 questions to help you pick the perfect name)

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ 7 questions to help you pick the perfect Podcast name: Is the name available? What names are common in the genre of show you’re considering entering with your show? Do you feel more comfortable fitting in with genre conventions? Or do you want to push back against them with a more differentiated show name? Does the name you have in mind sound good when you say it out loud? Does it feel good to say out loud? Is there an energy to it? Is the name easy to understand, spell and remember? Is the point of your show name to make the topic of your show obvious, or it designed to create a little mystery in the minds of potential Listeners/Viewers? .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E26
    January 17 · 5 min

    26. 3 (Entirely Selfish) Features I'd Love to See Added to My Podcast Media Hosting

    3 (Entirely Selfish) Features I'd Love to See Added to My Podcast Media Hosting: 1. RSS +1. For shows where the back-catalogue has been hidden or the feed is being re-used for a new show, when new episodes are being added to the public feed, I wish I didn't have to go in and expand my RSS by 1 episode each time. If I could turn on a RSS +1, it would save me from having to manually expand the public RSS with each new release (read: help me NOT forget to do this). Just give me a global ON/OFF and also a pop up at Publishing with a RSS+1 Yes/No. (This function would need to be toggled ON, to avoid all regular Hosting Users having to navigate the extra Yes/No publishing step). 2. Automatic Gap Finder. When the Hosting processes the episode, if the system sees a gap of no audio or super low audio greater than a chosen length, it flags the section for review. Perhaps the gap is an Artistic choice, but perhaps I had left space at the end of export for no reason (besides being a dope). 3. YouTube Title Length Warning. For show's that have been sent via RSS to YouTube a character limit warning that the title you're considering in your main RSS Feed is likely to be truncated by YouTube in the future. Just a warning is enough. .... josh@jcaldigital.org

  • S2 · E25
    January 5 · 3 min

    25. 3 Things I Hope Podcasting Leaves Behind, Back in 2025

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ 3 Things I Hope Podcasting Leaves Behind, Back in 2025: Excessive Feed drops, and "You Might Also Like" Promo drops. (The intentions of these two types of drops are very different, but the annoyance remains the same). Shows trying to sound, look, and feel like "Dairy of a CEO." Clips and Reels where the Hosts and Guests are 2 inches from their cameras. Ease up on the zoom. If I find myself thinking "why is this giant forehead speaking right now?" ..you're too freakin' close to the camera. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E24
    Nov 15, 2025 · 8 min

    24. My Top 5 (New) Podcasts of 2025: incl. Lehto's Law, Monday Match Analysis, and ReDriven

    Josh discovered several new Podcasts in 2025 on YouTube and then quickly migrated over to Subscribing to the shows via audio/RSS. 1) Lehto’s Law - with Steve Lehto. https://lehtoslaw.com/ 2) The ReDriven Podcast. https://theredrivenpodcast.podbean.com/ 3) Monday Match Analysis - with Gill Gross. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/monday-match-analysis/id1432259450 4) Scratch Track - with Chris Robley. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/scratch-track-build-a-fearless-music-career/id1830015934 5) Geologic Podcast - with George Hrab. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/geologic-podcast/id213468056 .... Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E22
    Sep 22, 2025 · 2 min

    22. Keep Going: The Good Stuff might be just beyond the Bad Stuff.

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ Keep Going: the Good Stuff might be just beyond the Bad Stuff. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E21
    Sep 20, 2025 · 7 min

    21. Inception Point or Rejection Point? (AI Podcasts Are Even More Low Effort Than You Think).

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ Inception Point AI are pumping out entirely AI-generated "Podcasts" at scale, but are they any good? In this episode, Josh listens to three random Podcast episodes from Inception Point AI and shares his thoughts on their quality. Spoiler: Quality is not the metric Josh should have used when reviewing these episodes, "Can low effort work as a corporate mission statement?" would have been a much better approach to this listening session. Shows in Review: Weather in New York City. Cristiano Ronaldo Audio Biography. Serial Killer: The True Crime Podcast. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E20
    Sep 18, 2025 · 4 min

    20. 8 Things to Add to Your Podcasting Go-Bag.

    Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/ If you record your Podcast on-location, or you're travelling and need to record outside of your normal recording environment, make sure you have the following 8 items in your Podcasting Go-Bag wherever possible: A roll of good quality Gaffer Tape. A small Phillips Head Screwdriver, and a small Flat-head Screwdriver. A spare Mic Clip. A spare basic Mic Stand. A spare XLR Cable and/or a spare USB Cable. A spare mini-SD Card. Anti-bacterial wipes. Chewing Gum - it's great for your breath and to get your instrument moving and working. .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E18
    Jul 26, 2025 · 16 min

    18. TIME Magazine's "The Best 100 Podcasts of All Time" List - 10 Shows That Absolutely Should've Made the Cut

    10 Podcasts that absolutely should've made TIME Magazine's "The Best 100 Podcasts of All Time" List. https://time.com/collections/100-best-podcasts 1. Joe Rogan Experience. 2. Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast. 3. Cordkillers. 4. The Bugle. 5. Making Sense. 6. Your Mom's House. 7. Abroad in Japan. 8. Crime Junkies. 9. Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. 10. Roderick on the Line. Instagram: @futureisaudio .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

  • S2 · E17
    Jul 22, 2025 · 4 min

    17. Mics in the Wild: The IsoPop Broadcast Pop Filter. (Is it the Best Pop Filter for the Shure SM7B?)

    Is the IsoVox IsoPop Broadcast the best Pop Filter for the SM7B and other broadcast-style microphones in Podcasting? See some pics of the IsoPop on the SM7B >>> Instagram: @futureisaudio .... Email your thoughts to Josh: josh@jcaldigital.org. Get 'The Future IS Audio' Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-is-audio-7283949012901076992/

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