Ever have one of those weeks when you try to solve one problem and end up creating 30 more for yourself? That was me this week. I realized I need to update some of my sales automations to make communications easier for me as we look ahead to the new year and what we’ve accomplished over the past year.
So I embarked on a journey to start sending emails, which led me to build multiple new web pages and rearrange our menus. I figured I needed to make it easy for people to connect with HumblePod on social media and subscribe to the newsletter. That’s when I realized I had no active newsletter subscription page and that our Linktree was way out of date and busy.
They’re all needed updates, but, wow, I did not expect to be so “in the weeds” this week.
That’s also why you’re getting the newsletter today. I’ve been reflecting on what kind of content makes sense for the newsletter, and I’ve realized we’re missing quite a bit. If we’re just promoting We Built This Brand and pulling some information from the week’s news, it’s pretty weak. So I wanted to give myself time to draft a solid newsletter and start drafting new content as well. Ideally, these will be sent out on Mondays from here on out… but we’ll see. Regardless, we’re aiming for a week(ish) newsletter release schedule.
So now we’re beefing it up with more content, and I’m adding some automations to the process to make writing it easier and more widely distributed than before. Part of how we’re doing that is by posting our newsletter articles on the website. Prior to this email, any newsletters you received via email were either read on LinkedIn or sent from our email service, Bento. If you’ve been receiving this newsletter via email, you’ll know that if you view the web version of this message, it’s a randomly generated page on Bento’s website. While that’s helpful, it’s not helpful for our SEO, so I’m moving the newsletter to the website. This will also give us newsletter archives for the future and more consistent content updates on the website… all of which apparently are really helpful for AI search optimization (AISO?).
[Big sigh of relief]
Now that we’ve got that updated, I am pleased to announce that you can find our newsletter landing page on the website here. If you haven’t already, please do subscribe to it, too. We’ll have some key features exclusive to the web and email versions of that newsletter, like our “Content of the Week” section.
You can also find HumblePod online by checking out our new and improved Linktree account here, and We Built This Brand’s account here.
And, with that lengthy preamble over, we’ve got a lot to talk about this week! Everything from pilgrim problems to new podcast trends, and even a quick tip on how to format timestamps for your podcast! So check it out!
🍁🦃 Pilgrim Problems 🌽🍗
Are we really that different from the pilgrims? What modern comforts are making our lives harder? Join Gene, Megan, and me as we discuss “pilgrim problems” in our latest un-podcast for HumblePod. 🦃
You can view the latest social posts on Instagram and TikTok, and we’ll have the full episode out on Thanksgiving!
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Also, if you’re not already, be sure to follow us wherever you frequent for more fun content and future updates from HumblePod.
Podcasting Tip Of The Week!
Welcome to the Podcasting Tip of The Week. A new segment we’re testing out to add some “meat” to this newsletter. Let us know if you like it!
How to format podcast timestamps
Since Apple announced the time stamp feature enhancements this past week, I think it’s important to point out the best way to ensure your time stamps are detected by Apple and other platforms. The good news? It’s easier than you think. The bad news? It could change tomorrow; however, it’s worth noting that our approach has been in use for years and has been adopted by Apple.
The quick and easy (QuEasy) way to format your timestamps
Let’s do a quick TL;DR. If you want to do the least amount of work and get the best result, you need to format the timestamps in a MM:SS (minute, minute; second second) format enclosed with a parenthesis. You also need to start the podcast with a 00:00 timestamp at the opening of your show.
The end result should appear as follows:
- (00:00) Introduction
- (01:30) Host Welcome
- (02:34) Questions about the guest
- (7:30) Sponsor: Acme Beds
- (12:24) Guests’ questions about the host
- (15:00) Interview Conclusion
- (16:45) Connect with the guest!
- (18:30) Wrap-Up
This will ensure your podcast timestamps are read by Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. There are a number of other players that also read timestamps in this format as well.
What if my audience is obsessed with having chapters readable directly in the MP3?
Great question. You can add metadata to your MP3’s that you’re exporting for podcasts. There are a number of ways this can be done, but I’ll address the simplest ways below.
Option #1: Embed the Chapters through your DAW
Our team primarily works in Adobe Audtion, so we’ll focus on their process first since it’s really easy to follow. You can find the “how-to” on this in mind-numbingly deep detail here. The key part to look for is the segment talking about adding ID3 tags to your content.
Now, keep in mind that most podcast hosts remix your MP3s, but they also read them before they do, and this information will help ensure you get the right information into the player. Just make sure you don’t update the title at the last minute in your podcast host, or you risk having a different title between the audio and the description.
To add the timestamps, you’ll need the MP3 pulled up in Audition. Simply add your timestamps per your notes (or as you listen) using the “M” hotkey to create a marker. Also, make sure the Markers window is open (Window > Markers). Once you’ve marked a spot, you can either right-click on the marker title in the timeline or double-click on the marker name in the Markers window and rename it as needed.
Click “Save” on the MP3, and all that content will be saved to your file. No need to re-export anything. It’ll just be there.
Last note here, ID3 information cannot be added to WAV files. You must save it as an MP3 to have access to the ID3 information.
I will also add that this process will work with other DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) as well. The process just may vary depending on what you use.
Option #2: Add timestamps to your podcast host
With Apple’s announcement (and, frankly, for a while now), many podcast hosts offer you the ability to upload a separate CSV file or manually enter the timestamps for your episode. The next time you go to upload your podcast, be sure to check the page and see if they offer a place to add timestamps. This is great if your show notes format doesn’t lend itself to having a bunch of timestamps but you still want to have chapter markers for listeners.
What if I don’t want timestamps (manually or automatically) added to my show?
I get it. You want to be in control, and you don’t want AI taking over in your absence. Well, if that’s how you feel, Apple allows you to opt out of both the chapter markers and the link markers. You can opt out by following these steps:
- Sign in to Apple Podcasts Connect.
- Go to your show’s Availability tab.
- Deselect the option to display chapters created by Apple Podcasts.
If you’ve got more questions or want more information, check out the full article from Apple here.
📰 Podcast Stuff You Should Know
Audio Remains Primary Mode of Podcast Consumption, Despite Growing Video Use
A study of 603 weekly podcast consumers in October 2025 revealed that the vast majority prefer listening to audio versions when given a choice between audio and video formats of the same show. Notably, 70% of weekly YouTube podcast consumers indicated they would switch platforms if their favorite podcasts moved, and 52% already listen to the same podcasts on other platforms. This underscores the enduring preference for audio and the potential for audience migration if content shifts exclusively to video-centric platforms. The full report will be discussed in an upcoming webinar on November 20th.
Understanding Podcast Audience Loyalty Through “Average Lifetime Value Score”
A new metric, the “average lifetime value score,” is being utilized to gauge audience loyalty by tracking the average number of distinct calendar days listeners engage with a show. This score condenses a listener’s history into a single number, providing insights into audience growth or churn. Daily podcasts and those with extensive back catalogs typically exhibit higher scores due to consistent listener engagement. This metric can help creators understand whether their audience is actively expanding or if a declining core audience is being “super-served” at the expense of broader appeal.
Apple Podcasts Unveils Most Popular Shows and Trends of 2025
Apple has announced its annual year-end charts, highlighting the most popular podcasts of 2025. These charts cover top shows, new debuts, most followed, and most shared podcasts globally and regionally. Notable U.S. podcasts include “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “The Daily,” “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” and new successes such as “Good Hang with Amy Poehler.” Apple’s editorial team also compiled a “Best Shows of 2025” list across over 15 markets, with the “Apple Podcasts Show of the Year” winner to be revealed on December 4. This offers crucial insights into current content trends and audience preferences.
📸 Content of the Week
I’m calling this a newsletter exclusive for now. You can only find it on the website or in the email version of the newsletter. If you follow us on LinkedIn, you’re not getting it. You gotta check it out here.
Since we’re “talking turkey” this week, we’ll end with some great turkey content.
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With that said, Happy Thanksgiving!
