- The Noise Gate by Podcast Movement
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- 🎉 Celebrating 2 years of The Noise Gate!
Presented by Transistor.fm
The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.
🎂 Has it been 2 years already?
Creativity is a shared frequency, and it sharpens when other people tune in.
Every reply, every forward, every “this made me think” message, you’re helping shape the signal. You’re the reason this thing has a heartbeat.
So thank you, truly.
Not in the generic newsletter-signoff way, but in the way creators thank the people who make the work worth doing. I’m grateful for your attention, your time, your curiosity, and your willingness to explore the creative edges with me.
And if you have 60 seconds, I’d love your help shaping what comes next by taking The Noise Gate reader survey.
Grateful to be in your inbox—and on this journey—every week.
After two years of interviewing creators, producers, hosts, and podcasting game changers I admire, I’ve been fortunate to receive more wisdom and creative insights than I could ever fit in one issue. But I’d like to share a few favorites.
Editor’s note: The following interviews have been edited for flow and clarity.
No matter how boring somebody seems, crazy shit happened in their life at one point. And they have a story to tell about it. We should never think there are people who are beneath listening to.
Conversations, like writing, can reveal parts of ourselves we hadn’t realized were there. Studs Terkel was interviewing a woman and he let her listen to the recording. And when she stopped listening, she took the headphones off and said, “I didn't know I felt that way.”
I started this nine years ago with nothing but an idea and a conviction that it mattered. It took years of pitching, rejection, and waiting for the right collaborators. But stories like this only happen if you refuse to let them go.
Of course, I’ve had my share of “oh no” moments. Once, a last-minute change unmuted a track that should’ve stayed silent. I skipped a final quality check, and sure enough, my host called the next morning after the episode went live. It happens. But I’ll never forget the advice from an early boss: “CYA: cover your ass.”
I started a podcast manifesto before we even launched our first episode. It’s a document of guiding principles—things we aspire to, even if we don’t always get them right. One of the rules is Beware of Banter. There’s fun, purposeful chat, and then there’s rambling that makes listeners think, “Why are they still talking?” We try to keep things intentional.
I had hermit crabs growing up. And eventually they’d outgrow their shells, crawling across the sand as these horrible, naked, pink, vulnerable little things. That’s kind of what starting this podcast felt like. Exposed. Out in the open in ways I hadn’t been before. And I’m pretty sure that’s a good sign.
- Steve Burns, former Host of Blue’s Clues (and current Host of Alive with Steve Burns)
I’ve learned the power of shutting up. I used to hate awkward silences. I'd rush to fill them, prove I was smart, keep momentum going. But I’ve found more value in listening, in curiosity. These days, I use AI tools that literally tell me when I’m monologuing. It’s humbling. It helps.
What worries me is the flood of meaningless audio that automation makes easy. Not because the tech is evil, but because the world doesn’t need more noise. The question I always come back to is: Why make this? If the answer isn’t that it adds clarity or connection, maybe it’s not worth making.
We were trained as prosecutors to have one thought or idea per question. The technical term for it, legally, if you do the opposite, is called a compound question. Let’s say you ask, “Were you in New York City on March 14th and did you witness a traffic accident?” That's actually two questions. A compound question is confusing for the interviewee and the audience. It also allows the interviewee to either dodge or collapse or answer only whichever part they want to answer. So one thought per question, and ask short, direct questions.
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I convinced myself, out of fear, that I might be able to get 10% of my audience to support me at $1 per month. Listener feedback really helped during this process. Two separate listeners I had gotten to know were like, “Is that really what you think your show is worth? Don't you work on it a ton? You’re really only asking for $1?” And someone was like, “Are you sure this isn't your self-esteem or your fear of getting in the way of things? Are you doing what's best for you and the podcast?” That was so helpful to get that honest feedback. Subscription services and crowdfunding helped turn the show from a hobby into a full-time gig.
Not every source is happy with how they’re portrayed. That’s a tough reality of this job. My job isn’t to make people look good—it’s to tell the truth. As long as I know we’ve reported the story fairly and accurately, I stand by it.
Being independent means every feather in your cap is functional. It’s not just decoration, it helps you fly. I didn’t just show up and talk into a mic. I cut the tape. I wrote the scripts. I made the thing. And when you do all that, the recognition means something deeper. It’s personal.
I think it could go one of two ways. Either podcasting becomes something you do just because you love it, with no money in it. Or creators start to realize they don’t need networks. Like the music industry, they’ll say, “We don’t need a label.” With Patreon or other direct support, some shows may find stability on their own. Something has to change, because right now, a lot of amazing talent is being pushed out, and that doesn’t feel healthy for the industry.
Podcasting is the nucleus. It’s the center of everything we do—books, toys, memberships, live shows. The podcast fuels it all. That's the strategy: create great content first, then build from there.
🎧 Podcast of the Week: Practical AI
If you want a podcast that makes AI feel less like a mysterious monolith and more like a practical tool you can actually use, check out Practical AI. Each episode breaks down real-world applications, emerging tools, and industry insights in a way that’s accessible without being watered down. It’s a great listen if you want to spark new ideas for how AI can support your creative work behind the mic.
🥾 Further Exploration: Podcasting Activity Reaches Record High in 2025 – What Creators Should Do
This quick read breaks down the surge of new shows entering the field, and why that’s both exciting and a little daunting. More importantly, it outlines what creators can do now to stand out: sharpen your niche, deepen your craft, and rethink how you show up for your audience. A useful pulse-check on where the medium is headed and how to stay ahead of the wave.
ICYMI:
đź’ˇ The Quiet Spark
A weekly question to ignite fresh thinking, stir self-reflection, and fuel your creative process behind the mic.
What emotion are you not letting into the work?
đź‘Ť Enjoying The Noise Gate? Why not share it with a fellow podcaster?
Until next time, have a bold week.
- Doug
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