Head-to-head comparison
EarBuds Podcast Collective vs School of Podcasting
Two of the resources tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Weekly curated podcast recommendations newsletter, each themed by a different guest curator.
Best for: Podcast discovery newsletter
One of the oldest paid podcasting courses, founded 2005, now owned by Podpage.
Best for: Structured podcast course
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
EarBuds Podcast Collective
Pros
- Different curator each week
- Themed lists are focused
- Human-curated, not algorithmic
Watch-outs
- Curator quality varies
- Five episodes per week is light
- Listener-focused not creator-focused
School of Podcasting
Pros
- Two decades of continuous teaching
- Hall of Fame instructor with unlimited coaching access
- Free tier rolling out via Podpage acquisition
Watch-outs
- Curriculum in transition right now
- Older content still being refreshed
- Tone is folksy rather than slick
Which one should you pick?
Pick EarBuds Podcast Collective if
You’re building around podcast discovery newsletter. Arielle Nissenblatt's EarBuds has been running since 2017 and just celebrated eight years. Each weekly email is themed and curated by a different volunteer — five episode recommendations on one topic, made by humans not algorithms.
Pick School of Podcasting if
You’re building around structured podcast course. Dave Jackson has been teaching people to podcast for two decades and was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2025, Podpage acquired the school and is rolling out a free tier and rebuilt curriculum in 2026.
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Frequently asked
What does EarBuds Podcast Collective do better than School of Podcasting?
EarBuds Podcast Collective's standout is "Different curator each week". School of Podcasting doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Two decades of continuous teaching" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick EarBuds Podcast Collective; if the second does, pick School of Podcasting.
What are the trade-offs?
EarBuds Podcast Collective: curator quality varies. School of Podcasting: curriculum in transition right now. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use EarBuds Podcast Collective and School of Podcasting together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using EarBuds Podcast Collective for one show or episode type and School of Podcasting for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.