The End of Blog Talk Radio
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Blog Talk Radio is closing, and if you're a person who wants to take live phone calls on your show, you are now faced with a serious challenge. Keep in mind that one of the reasons Blog Talk Radio is going away is the audio it created (when both the host and the guest were using their phone) sounded awful. It worked in the early days of podcasting, but now you compete with CNN, NBC, etc. This does NOT mean you need to spend thousands on a microphone. The Audio Technica ATR2100X and the Samson Q2U are both under $100.
If you're looking for something that is simple, and easy to use. None of these fit that bill.
How Do I Take Phone Calls on My Podcast?
Call In Studio
You can use a service like callinstudio.com, where people dial a number and then enter a queue. You then log in to their website and choose to bring them into the show. If you have the staff, you can add a call screen, who could then get the name of the person and update their listing. When I used it, I didn't have a screener and would say, “Phone number ending in 1234, you're on with Dave and Jim. What's your name, and what's your question?” Call-in studio costs $9/month plus .03 per minute someone is calling in.
Zoom
While we all got very versed in using Zoom during Covid, one thing it does is allow people to join via computer (the host) and via phone (the audience). This can be risky as having a public meeting in Zoom can have people join that you don't want, who scream racial slurs and put porn on the screen (personal experience). Be sure to use the security settings (I didn't) in Zoom. Here is a PDF.
The downside of Zoom using dial-up is that you have to type in 13052241968, 84664714145#, and there are many chances to get it wrong.
Zoom is $16/month
Connecting Your Cell Phone to a Mixer
There are tools made for live shows, like the Rodecaster Duo ($499) which can connect to your cell phone via Bluetooth. This might be the easiest solution. However, you OBVIOUSLY don't want to give out your cell phone number. You could use a free Google Voice number. This is OK for taking one call at a time (there is no queue).
Another tool that makes it easy to connect a microphone and a phone is the Zoom Podtrak P4 (the most affordable, around $149). With this tool, it is an interface and a recorder. You could connect it to your computer so you can stream your show live (more on that in a minute) and record it simultaneously. You can plug your phone into the P4 to record the caller (here again, possibly using a Google Voice Number), and you will be on your microphone listening through headphones.
The Focusrite Vocaster ($59-$99) can connect a cell phone via TRRS cable. However, you would need to record on a device using software like Audacity.
But What If You Don't Have A Cell Phone?
My first advice would be to move. 🙂 However, I realize some rural places have horrible service, and all you have is a landline. JK Audio makes a Hybrid un
it ($242) where you can plug a phone line into the unit and then your phone into it. See it Here.
The Rolls PI9 is less expensive ($79), but you'll need some adapters as the output is via RCA jacks.
B&H has several devices to help you record a phone call.
How Do I Stream Live – Audio Only
Mixlr is a tool for streaming your show live. It also has a live chat room (more on that later). Prices start at $17 a month, and you can stream up to three hours per day. This may be the most cost-effective and easiest-to-use solution. You're just trading the voice of your audience to a chat room.
You Still Need a Media Host
In addition to the phone call-taking technology, Blog Talk Radio was a media host (one of which I was not a fan). They will more likely nudge you in that direction as they are owned by the same company that owns Spreaker. Spreaker was a good choice in 2007. It's not 2007 anymore. My top five choices are:
Captivate – One price for as many shows, as many episodes as you want and a KILLER dynamic tool for promoting you or sponsors. $19/month (less if you buy yearly)
Buzzsprout – Simple interface. A dynamic tool. Built-in Sponsorship tools – when you have enough downloads. $12/month
Libsyn – The OG of podcast hosts. No dynamic tools (unless you've got a serious budget). Prices start at $5. Use the coupon sopfree
Blubrry – Great stats and another “OG” of podcast hosts. $12/month
RSS.com is a solid choice for $15/month
Maybe It's Time For Video? Your Audience May Want to Chat
I wanted to be Phil Donohue and say, “Is the caller there?” So I was using Mixlr and callinstudio, as I was live streaming on YouTube. You can do this via Ecamm Live (mac only—$16/month) or EVmux ($25/month). Most of my audience was on YouTube. I would announce our callinstudio.com number, and you know what they did? They typed their question in the chat. With these tools, you can even put their comments on the screen.
I pushed and pushed and pushed the phone number. We might get one call a month. All the other questions (many) came through chat. I wanted to take phone calls, but my audience wanted to ask via chat.
Ecamm Live is $20 a month. I use this every Saturday for my “Ask the Podcast Coach” show.
EVMux is a good choice for both mac/pc users, costing $25/month.
If You Need A Website
I strongly urge you to check out Podpage.com. (I've been singing the praises of Podpage since 2020. I love it so much that I now work there.)
In The End
Blog talk radio can no longer assault our ears with some of the worst audio ever created for podcasts. That's the good news. There are a lot of passionate people who still want to share their message and reach a global audience. I would ask you to look at the top 200 of any chart and see if any shows are creating their podcasts with their phones. (Spoiler—they're not.)
If you need help with your podcast, join our fantastic community.
