Head-to-head comparison
School of Podcasting vs Transom
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.
One of the oldest paid podcasting courses, founded 2005, now owned by Podpage.
Best for: Structured podcast course
Long-running public-radio storytelling resource: articles, tools, workshops, and showcase.
Best for: Audio storytelling craft
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
Transom
Pros
- Peabody-winning resource since 2001
- Free article archive and tools
- Public radio production lens
Watch-outs
- Site design is dated
- Strong narrative-podcast slant
- Workshops are competitive to get into
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick Transom if
You’re building around audio storytelling craft. Where serious audio storytellers learn craft. Launched in 2001 by Atlantic Public Media and recipient of the first Peabody Award given to a website (2003).
Also worth comparing
Frequently asked
What does School of Podcasting do better than Transom?
School of Podcasting's standout is "Two decades of continuous teaching". Transom doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Peabody-winning resource since 2001" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick School of Podcasting; if the second does, pick Transom.
What are the trade-offs?
School of Podcasting: curriculum in transition right now. Transom: site design is dated. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use School of Podcasting and Transom together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using School of Podcasting for one show or episode type and Transom for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.