Head-to-head comparison
Make Noise (Book) 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.
Eric Nuzum's book on podcasting and audio storytelling from a former NPR creative lead.
Best for: Strategy-and-craft book
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
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
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 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 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.
Also worth comparing
Frequently asked
What does Make Noise (Book) do better than School of Podcasting?
Make Noise (Book)'s standout is "Strategic and creative, not technical". 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 Make Noise (Book); if the second does, pick School of Podcasting.
What are the trade-offs?
Make Noise (Book): not a how-to-start guide. 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 Make Noise (Book) and School of Podcasting 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 School of Podcasting for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.