HOW TO HIRE A PODCAST MANAGER

what to know before you get help with YOUR PODCAST

You’ve decided you need help with your podcast. Maybe you’re ready to finally launch the show you’ve been planning. Maybe you’ve already launched and the backend work is eating up your life. Either way, you’re done going it alone.

Outsourcing your podcast production lets you focus on what only you can do — creating compelling episodes, doing your actual work, and making the change you set out to make — while someone else handles the rest.

Whether you’re launching from scratch or handing off an existing show, here’s what to know before you hire.

Know the difference between a podcast editor and a podcast manager

A podcast manager is your production partner. They can handle everything from editing and mixing to show notes, transcripts, promotional assets, scheduling, and distribution, so that all you have to do is record.

A good podcast manager also thinks strategically about your show — staying current on industry changes, flagging what’s working, and helping you make smart decisions about content and growth.

A podcast editor handles one thing: your audio. They clean it up, cut the filler, balance the levels, and send it back.

If you just want to hand off editing, a podcast editor will do. If you want to hand off the entire production side of your podcast so you can focus on your real work, you need a podcast manager.

Know what you want to hand off

Do you want full-service management where all you do is write and record? Or do you want to retain some tasks, like writing your own show notes, and outsource the rest?

Before you start talking to podcast managers, decide what you actually want to hand off. Maybe that’s:

things you don’t know how to do (like technical setup, SEO, platform submission)
things you don’t want to do (maybe editing, writing show notes, creating graphics)
things you don’t have time to do (perhaps all of the above, because you’re a professional, not a podcast producer)

Being clear on this will help you find a manager whose packages match your needs and avoid paying for services you don’t want.

The clearer you are about what you want to hand off before your first conversation, the faster you’ll find the right fit.

Know your budget (and don’t choose the cheapest option)

Podcast management is an investment. Packages range widely — from $500/month for basic editing to $2,000+ for full guest booking and marketing support, and launches range from $1,200–$3,500+. It all depends on the scope of what’s included.

If that feels like a lot, think about what it’s actually costing you to do it yourself. How many hours per episode are you spending on editing, show notes, and uploading? What could you do with those hours instead? For most professionals, like some podcasters I spoke with recently, the math on outsourcing is clear:

"I have so many things on my plate that editing, uploading, doing art, doing podcast notes… that's a terrible use of my time. I could be spending that doing more high-impact marketing things, or working with clients."

"It's just gonna take me longer, and it's just worth it for me to pay someone."

“Omg it takes so much fucking time. Doing a podcast added 4 hours a week to my workload, and I don’t even do the audio edit work."

“I still spend a lot of time on my podcast as my primary brand asset, but I outsource all of the functions that only slow me down, and frankly, [my podcast manager] is better at it than I ever could be."

“After editing my first episode and all my acknowledging 'ummmssss'…I was DONE."

Don’t make the mistake of choosing the cheapest option available. You’re paying for expertise, reliability, and the freedom to focus on the work that only you can do.

A cheap manager who delivers inconsistent work, misses deadlines, or doesn’t understand your niche will cost you more in the long run than a well-priced manager who gets it right from the start.

One more thing worth knowing is that while AI has changed some processes in the podcasting industry, it has not made episode production significantly faster. A thoughtful podcast manager is still doing skilled, time-intensive work.

Know the right questions to ask

A discovery call is your chance to vet a potential podcast manager just as much as it’s their chance to learn about you. Come prepared with questions like:

What does your process look like, from when I record to when the episode goes live?
What do you need from me, and when?
How do you handle revisions?
Have you worked with podcasters in my field or with my type of content before?
What does communication look like week-to-week?
How do you prefer to work?
What happens if I need to skip a month or take a break?

A good podcast manager will have clear, confident answers. If they’re vague about their process or can’t articulate what working with them actually looks like, that’s a red flag.

Know that your mission deserves a partner who actually cares about it

Whoever you hire will not just be writing in your voice for show notes and promotional materials — they’ll be handling your ideas, your message, and your public presence. Fit matters.

For me, fit means I work exclusively with progressive women podcasters, because:

women’s voices are still criminally underrepresented in podcasting, and I want to help change that
I want to see more podcasts that are advancing social justice, supporting nonprofit missions, or sharing progressive ideas that the world needs to hear

I understand the work my clients are doing because I’ve spent over a decade doing similar work myself.

You can hire any podcast manager. But I believe you should work with someone who shares your values, actually understands your work, and is passionate about it.

Finally, if you're launching a new podcast...

Know whether your podcast is ready for help

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you get help. You don’t need a final name, finished scripts, or even a fully formed episode list. But you do need a clear-enough vision that you can articulate:

who the podcast is for
what gap it fills in your space
what you want it to do for your work
what makes your perspective worth listening to

If you can answer those questions, you’re ready-enough for help — and having a strategic partner from the beginning to help you figure out the rest is smarter than trying to DIY it only to need help fixing things later.

Before you start having conversations with podcast managers, you’ll also need to nail down the basics they’ll need to know to quote you accurately and build a workflow that works for you:

how many episodes you plan to publish per month (this directly affects what a manager will charge and how they’ll structure your workflow)
how long your episodes will typically run (longer episodes take more editing time)
what format your show will have — solo, interview, co-hosted conversation, a mix? (each has different production demands)

Knowing your format and publishing frequency allows a podcast manager to create a package and workflow that fit your show, your budget, and your life.

How I can help you with your podcast

Ready to find the right fit?

I help progressive, mission-driven woman — think researchers, journalists, nonprofit leaders, founders, advocates, and other changemakers — launch and sustain audio-first podcasts that serve their work, without the overwhelm, the video pressure, or tactics that contradict what they stand for.