Head-to-head comparison
Make Noise (Book) vs The Podcast Host
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
Long-running educational blog for independent podcasters started in 2011 by Colin Gray.
Best for: Beginner education
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
The Podcast Host
Pros
- Massive free article library since 2011
- Updated regularly for 2026
- Friendly beginner tone
Watch-outs
- Heavy upsell to the Alitu editing app
- Some posts feel SEO-driven
- Less depth on industry trends
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 The Podcast Host if
You’re building around beginner education. One of the oldest "how to podcast" blogs that's still actively publishing. The free articles cover everything from mic recommendations to episode structure, refreshed regularly with 2026 updates on video podcasting and AI tooling.
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Frequently asked
What does Make Noise (Book) do better than The Podcast Host?
Make Noise (Book)'s standout is "Strategic and creative, not technical". The Podcast Host doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Massive free article library since 2011" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Make Noise (Book); if the second does, pick The Podcast Host.
What are the trade-offs?
Make Noise (Book): not a how-to-start guide. The Podcast Host: heavy upsell to the alitu editing app. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Make Noise (Book) and The Podcast Host 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 The Podcast Host for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.