Head-to-head comparison
Make Noise (Book) vs On Air Fest
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.
Eric Nuzum's book on podcasting and audio storytelling from a former NPR creative lead.
Best for: Strategy-and-craft book
Brooklyn audio festival mixing live tapings, performances, and industry conversations.
Best for: Creative craft festival
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Make Noise (Book)
Pros
- Strategic and creative, not technical
- From a senior industry creative voice
- Tape from Ira Glass, Terry Gross, others
Watch-outs
- Not a how-to-start guide
- Published 2019 — pre-video era
- US public radio worldview
On Air Fest
Pros
- Strong creative programming and live tapings
- Three walkable Brooklyn venues
- Ambies awards now embedded in the weekend
Watch-outs
- Smaller than Podcast Movement
- Mostly NYC-centric attendees
- Public passes sell out quickly
Which one should you pick?
Pick Make Noise (Book) if
You’re building around strategy-and-craft book. Nuzum led podcasting at NPR for a decade, helped create TED Radio Hour and Invisibilia, and co-founded Magnificent Noise in 2019. His book skips RSS tutorials and focuses on creative principles.
Pick On Air Fest if
You’re building around creative craft festival. Called the "Coachella of Podcasts" by Fast Company. Leans creative and editorial rather than ad-tech and sales.
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Frequently asked
What does Make Noise (Book) do better than On Air Fest?
Make Noise (Book)'s standout is "Strategic and creative, not technical". On Air Fest doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Strong creative programming and live tapings" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Make Noise (Book); if the second does, pick On Air Fest.
What are the trade-offs?
Make Noise (Book): not a how-to-start guide. On Air Fest: smaller than podcast movement. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Make Noise (Book) and On Air Fest together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Make Noise (Book) for one show or episode type and On Air Fest for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.