Alternatives to Out on the Wire (Book)
9 Out on the Wire (Book) alternatives,
ranked.
Looking for something different from Out on the Wire (Book)? We rounded up the 9 closest resources tools — what they do, what they cost, who they're for.
Why people look for alternatives to Out on the Wire (Book)
Jessica Abel's illustrated book unpacks how This American Life, Radiolab, Planet Money, and others actually construct stories. The graphic-novel format makes it readable in a sitting. Named a Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015. Pair with the companion podcast for tape examples.
The common trade-offs:
- Published 2015 — pre-video-podcast era
- Narrative podcasts only
- Not a practical step-by-step how-to
The 9 alternatives below all sit in the same resources category and address similar use cases — but each has its own personality. Here's how they compare.
All 9 alternatives to Out on the Wire (Book)
Daily podcast industry news read every weekday morning by working podcasters.
Long-running educational blog for independent podcasters started in 2011 by Colin Gray.
Editorial site recommending podcasts across genres with curated lists and award programs.
One of the oldest paid podcasting courses, founded 2005, now owned by Podpage.
Largest in-person podcasting conference, returning in New York City in September 2026.
Brooklyn audio festival mixing live tapings, performances, and industry conversations.
Longest-running annual in-person podcasting conference, held each January in Orlando.
UK and Europe's largest podcasting festival, held annually at London's Business Design Centre.
Monthly podcast download rankings produced under IAB Tech Lab measurement guidelines.
Direct comparisons
Want a side-by-side breakdown? See how Out on the Wire (Book) stacks up against each alternative.
Frequently asked
What's the closest alternative to Out on the Wire (Book)?
Podnews. If you only read one podcast newsletter, this is it. James Cridland's daily dispatch is short, dense, and global — heavy on platform moves, hires, and tech changes.
Why would someone switch away from Out on the Wire (Book)?
The honest answers: published 2015 — pre-video-podcast era; narrative podcasts only. Whether either matters depends on your specific workflow — for plenty of people, neither does.
Are there free alternatives to Out on the Wire (Book)?
Yes — Podnews, The Podcast Host, Discover Pods all have free or freemium tiers worth trying first.
How is Podnews different from Out on the Wire (Book)?
Podnews leans into "Updated every weekday since 2017". Out on the Wire (Book) leans into "Unique illustrated graphic-novel format". They overlap in the resources category but solve slightly different parts of the workflow.