In this month's "Question of the Month," I wanted to explore the discrepancy between Spotify's perceived dominance and the actual listening habits of podcasters. Despite frequent headlines touting Spotify as the number one streaming platform, my personal statistics and community feedback tell a different story. By surveying my audience about their platform preferences, I uncovered that Apple remains the top choice for most listeners, challenging the narrative often presented in media reports about Spotify's market leadership.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in!

Gear Review: HollyLand Lark M2s Wireless Lavalier System

Quick Take:

I was genuinely impressed by the Holly Land Lark M2s - this tiny microphone packs a surprisingly warm sound. At around $150, it's a solid investment for podcasters and content creators.

Key Features:

• Compact wireless lavalier microphone system
• Versatile receiver with USB-C and headphone jack connectivity
• Compatible with phones and recorders (I used my Rodecaster Duo)
• Built-in noise reduction app
• Option to record two mics on separate channels for post-production editing

Pro Tip: Grab this from Sweetwater. They offer:

• Extended warranties
• Killer customer service
• Competitive pricing
• Free shipping (often cheaper than Amazon)
• FREE CANDY<<<<<

Noise Reduction: The app's built-in feature is decent - not perfect, but definitely helpful. Pro move? Set up both mics on separate channels so you can fine-tune your audio in post-production.

Bottom Line: The Lark M2s is a compact, versatile mic system that punches above its weight. Definitely worth checking out for podcasters looking to upgrade their audio game.

Takeaways:

• The new Hollyland Lark M2S microphone sounds surprisingly warm, which totally blew my mind!
• Spotify claims to be the number one podcast platform, but the real stats tell a different tale.
• Charging guests to appear on your podcast? Brace yourself, the FTC has some rules you need to follow!
• Using music in your podcast? Be careful, because Spotify's bots don’t care about your permissions!
• It's always a good idea to double-check the facts you find online, especially from big companies!
• Exercise is tough, but once you get through it, you'll feel so proud of yourself, like you just conquered a mountain!

Links referenced in this episode:

• Hollyland Lark M2S Wireless Lavalier System
• schoolofpodcasting.com
• thehoodratrecap.com
• createartpodcast.com
• findapodcastabout.xyz
• passacls.com
• tkbpodcaststudios.com
• castahead.net
• Deal Casters Podcast
• Financially Confident Christian
• Grit and Growth Business
• Truth Unveiled with Ralph
• Because of My Podcast
• Akron Podcast
• Feeding My Faith
• Podcast Hot Seat
• Podcast Review Show
• Podcast Rodeo Show
• Podcast Website Tips
• Profit From Your Podcast
• Future of Podcasting
• Your Podcast Consultant
• Heartbeat Community Tool
• Circle Community Tool
• Switchy (Dave's favorite marketing tool)

Mentioned in this episode:

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Question of the Month

This question comes from the AMAZING Steve Stewart from the Podcast Editors Academy (see schoolofpodcasting.com/pea and yes that is my affiliate link) and he wants to know what steps, practices, strategies, etc you are doing to speak better (with less, um, you know, like, you know crutch words). I need your answer by July 25th, 2025. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question

Question of the Month

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