The Best Podcasts for Indie Authors 2023
🎧12 Indie Author Podcasts to Listen to in 2023🎧
Looking for some podcast recommendations for authors?
Here you’ll find the 12 best podcasts for indie authors in 2023—with links so you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Android/Google Podcasts, and YouTube (if available).
These podcasts offer you great tips on writing and publishing, author interviews, FAQs and Q&As for authors, roundups of author conferences, helpful information on author platform building, book marketing, and publicity, and plenty of inspiration and motivation.
There’s a little something for authors of all levels and genres!
Whether you’re on your first book or your eighth book, whether you call yourself a self-published author, an indie author, or a traditionally-published author (or want to), these podcasts are for you!
If you’re looking for full transcripts of these podcasts, visit the podcast’s website. Transcripts are sometimes available.
⬇️ Scroll down for the list⬇️
The Indy Author Podcast
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube
Welcome to The Indy Author Podcast, where we explore the writing craft, the publishing voyage, and how we can navigate our way to the readers who will love our work. Hosted by novelist Matty Dalrymple.
Listen if you’re interested in insider knowledge on how to best write, publish, and sell books from a great author with the best interview questions.
Format: interviews by host
New episodes: weekly, on Tuesdays (full transcripts are available)
Episode length: 30–60 minutes
Best episodes:
Dec. 7, 2021: Episode 109 - Wide Retailers and Aggregators: NOT the Usual Suspects with M. K. Williams
July 6, 2021: Episode 087 - Looking Back and Forward at Indy Publishing with Dan Wood
Mar. 9, 2021: Episode 069 - Writing Memoir with Beth Kephart
Mar. 25, 2020: Episode 019 - Judging a Book by Its Cover with Jane Gorman
Wish I’d Known Then . . . For Writers
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube (audio)
Join authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett as they interview indie authors about how they found success as well as what they've learned from their mistakes.
Listen if you’d like to listen in on two friends talking about how to succeed as indie authors, sharing their experiences, and generously giving their advice.
Format: conversational with interviews by hosts
New episodes: weekly, on Tuesdays
Episode length: 60–75 minutes
Best episodes:
Apr. 6, 2021: 060 – Jami and Sara Dish on Newsletters and Answer Other Burning Questions
Oct. 20, 2020: 037 – Q & A: Developmental Editing, Going Wide, and Marketing Tips
Aug. 18, 2020: 031 – How to Get and Use Book Reviews
Self-Publishing with Dale
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube
Learn how to publish books that sell and build an unstoppable author brand. The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast is devoted to teaching you relevant and up-to-date information in the world of self-publishing. [The show’s YouTube channel sorts the episodes into topics including Self-Publishing Online, Self-Publishing Audiobooks, Self-Publishing on Amazon, Book Marketing & Promotional Strategies, and more.]
Listen if you’re looking for quick, focused insights on various topics relating to self-publishing—especially author tools and self-publishing platforms.
Format: solo/monologue
New episodes: weekly, on Mondays
Episode length: 20–25 minutes
Best episodes:
Mar. 29, 2021 / Why Best-Selling Books on Amazon are a Farce
Dec. 7, 2020 / Amazon Keyword Optimization | How to Leverage KDP Metadata
Mar. 8, 2020 / How to Rapidly Write & Publish High-Quality Books
Ask ALLI: Self-Publishing Advice Podcast
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube
On Fridays, the self-publishing advice podcast offers guidance to authors about publishing their own fiction, nonfiction and poetry books, with ALLi director Orna Ross and co-hosts (includes ALLi Member Q&A). And on every other Sunday, multimedia manager Howard Lovy interviews ALLi members and advisors about their books in the Inspirational Indie Authors series.
Listen if you’re wondering what’s new and what’s helpful for indie authors and you enjoy listening to q&a; if you’re just starting or you’re doing this for a living (there are episodes geared toward career authors and toward newbies).
Format: Conversations between co-hosts, sometimes q&a format, and short newsbrief–style episodes
New episodes: weekly or twice weekly, on Fridays and sometimes on Sundays
Episode length: 45 minutes (average), short episodes average 15 minutes
Best episodes:
Jan. 7, 2022: Your Author Business Plan for 2022: Advanced Self-Publishing Podcast With Orna Ross and Joanna Penn
Oct. 22, 2021: An Overview of the Writing Craft, With Orna Ross and Dan Parsons: Foundational Self-Publishing Podcast
Oct. 8, 2021: Focus on Your Strengths as an Indie Author to Beat ‘Comparisonitis’
Mar. 5, 2021: Indie Authors and Literary Prizes and Awards: Advanced Self-Publishing Podcast with Orna Ross and Joanna Penn
Minorities in Publishing
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
Minorities in Publishing is a podcast founded in 2014 by writer and editor Jenn Baker. It’s a platform for discussing diversity—or the lack thereof—in the publishing industry at large, talking to authors about their process, and other aspects of the literary scene.
Listen if you’d like to learn more about everything related to diversity in the publishing industry, especially the complexities and nuances resulting from the lack of diversity in it and the ways in which people are challenging the status quo.
Format: interviews by solo host
New episodes: monthly
Episode length: 30–60 minutes
Best episodes:
Aug 18, 2021 / Episode 112: Interview with Anton Treuer
May 13, 2020 / Episode 99: Interview with Hannah Oliver Depp
July 16, 2019 / Episode 89: Interview with Tanisha C. Ford
Mar. 5, 2018 / Episode 73: Interview with Jalissa Corrie & Bianca Salvant
Aug. 23, 2016 / Episode 44: "Realities of Publishing" Panel (Career Segment)
Self Publishing Insiders
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
Each week, Self Publishing Insiders features an interview with a new guest, covering self-publishing topics from writing and craft to marketing and promoting your books, and anything that can help you build and grow your author career. Learn about new tools, new software, new markets—and of course, all the inside information that D2D can provide! Join us [hosts Kevin Tumlinson, Mark Leslie Lefebrve, and Dan Wood], and get your questions answered during the live broadcast, when you visit D2DLive.com!
Listen if you’re an author looking for an edge in self-publishing, you want to ask a question during a live event, or if self-publishing with Draft2Digital is (or might be) for you.
Format: interviews by host(s)
New episodes: weekly, on Thursdays (full transcripts are available)
Episode length: 45–60 minutes
Best episodes:
September 10, 2020 / E14: Audiobooks for Authors with Findaway Voices’ Will Dages
August 27, 2020 / E12: Making a Career Out of Writing with Patricia McLinn
June 25, 2020 / E3: David Gaughran - Marketing Your Books with Facebook and BookBub Ads
Writers, Ink
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
A podcast for about the business of writing with two self-published authors and one self- and traditionally-published author.
Listen if you’re up for for great interviews and insights; if you’ve listened to and enjoyed The Career Author Podcast; or if you’re interested in hearing from horror novelists.
Format: discussions between hosts and interviews
New episodes: weekly, on Mondays (show occasionally goes on hiatus)
Episode length: 45–60 minutes
Best episodes:
May 31, 2021 / Question and Answer Episode
Mar 29, 2021 / Why You Need a Mailing List
Nov 30, 2020 / The Thinning Line Between Indie and Traditional Publishing
Apr. 20, 2020 / Beating Resistance with Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
Write Now with Sarah Werner
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
A podcast for all writers (aspiring to professional) looking to find a healthy work/life/writing balance. Get the encouragement, honest advice, and inspiration you need to pursue your passion and write every day.
Listen if you’re looking for variety and inspiration and if the show description appeals to you, because it delivers on what it promises.
Format: solo/monologue and interviews
New episodes: weekly, on Mondays (show occasionally goes on hiatus)
Episode length: 25–45 minutes
Best episodes:
Jan 20, 2022: No Rules, Just Write – WN 142
Apr. 23, 2020: My Creative Process – WNP 080
July 22, 2019: Finishing What You Start – WNP 072
Feb. 19, 2018: Coffee Break 063: Monica Leonelle
Kobo Writing Life Podcast
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube (audio)
The Kobo Writing Life Podcast features exciting interviews with bestselling authors, tips on the craft and business of writing, and advice for successfully self-publishing.
Listen if you’re interested in hearing self-published authors discuss their work and their author journey and learning about Kobo’s self-publishing platform.
Format: interviews by co-hosts
New episodes: weekly, usually on Tuesdays
Episode length: 30–60 minutes
Best episodes:
Sept. 13, 2022 / #300: The Journey of an eBook with the KWL Team
June 21, 2022 / #294: How to Become a Bestseller on Kobo
Nov. 9, 2021 / #272: Building Your Beta Reader Team with Marni Mann
July 7, 2020 / #203: Establishing Your Author Brand with Dana Kaye
Mar. 31, 2020 / #190: Finding the Motivation to Become a Published Author with Glenn Dyer
Mar. 17, 2020 / #188: Writing Advice and Finishing Your First Draft with Andrew David MacDonald
Self Publishing School
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube
Learn how to write a book that grows your business. Every week, [Chandler Bolt] interview[s] your favorite authors—the most successful authors on the planet—to see how they write & launch their books and to learn how they use books to grow their business.
Listen if you want to hear big-name nonfiction authors talk about how they did it, you’re interested in self-publishing, or you want to know how a book can help you sell other products and services.
Format: interviews by solo host
New episodes: weekly, on Thursdays
Episode length: 40–60 minutes
Best episodes:
May 6, 2020 (SPS 052): Traditional vs. Self Publishing: . . . with Ruth Soukup (And How I Sold 500,000 Copies Of My Self Published Book)
Feb. 13, 2018 (SPS 042): Writing Words That Sell Your Books with Ray Edwards
Oct. 17, 2017 (SPS 025): You Are a Writer, So Start Acting Like One with Jeff Goins
Aug. 15, 2017 (SPS 016): My Exact Process for Writing 16 Books with Joanna Penn
Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
Join Penny Sansevieri and Army Cornell for fun and frank discussions packed with clever ideas and easy-to-implement book marketing strategies! Designed to help self-published authors and traditionally published authors at any level, the Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast will definitely inspire you with new ideas for how to sell books and grow your platform.
Listen if you’d appreciate quick, focused tips on book marketing—especially for beginners and those who need a reality check.
Format: conversation between co-hosts
New episodes: weekly, on Fridays
Episode length: ~30 minutes with short episodes under 10 minutes
Best episodes:
Oct. 14, 2021 / E19: How to Battle Amazon Publishing (KDP) and Win
Sept. 10, 2021 / E17: 10 Easy Ways to Revive an Older Book
May 21, 2021 / E9: Avoid Looking Like a Book Marketing Amateur
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Website | Apple Podcasts | Audible | YouTube
Drawing upon more than a quarter century of experience as a bookseller, a writer, an editor and a respected and trusted book industry representative, Mark Leslie Lefebvre provides context to help you make informed decisions to build your own writing and publishing life.
Listen if you’d like to hear insights on the current and future state of publishing from one of the kindest, most genuine, and most knowledgeable people in the publishing industry today—insights drawn from years of experience as a bookseller, book distributor, and fiction and nonfiction author.
Format: interviews and solo monologues by host
New episodes: weekly, on Fridays
Episode length: usually about 50 to 60 minutes with occasional 20-minute episodes
Best episodes:
Dec. 31, 2021 / Episode 227 – Publishing Trends and Reflections for 2022
Aug. 20, 2021 / Episode 207 – Library and Bookstore Strategies
March 12, 2021 / Episode 181 – Things I Hate About KDP Select
December 24, 2020 / Episode 169 – The World Needs Your Book with Monica Leonelle
Let’s make it a “baker’s dozen.” Here’s one more great podcast you should be listening to this year!
Novel Marketing Podcast
Author Media presents Novel Marketing the longest-running book marketing podcast in the world. This is the show for writers who want to build their platform, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about. Whether you self publish or are with a traditional house, this podcast will make book promotion fun and easy. Thomas Umstattd Jr. interviews, publishers, indie authors and bestselling traditional authors about how to get published and sell more books.
Listen if you’re looking for lots of actionable advice, clearly delivered, by a Christian author and book marketing expert.
Format: solo/monologue and interviews by host
New episodes: weekly, on Wednesdays (full transcripts are available)
Episode length: 20–45 minutes
Best episodes:
May 12, 2022 / Why Do Good Books Fail to Sell While Poorly Written Books Fly Off the Shelves?
Nov. 10, 2021 / How to Create an Author Press Kit with Susan Neal
Sept. 30, 2020 / How to Get Published with a Traditional Publishing House
Jul 6, 2020 / Publishing Myths That Will Waste Your Time and Money
There are many great podcasts for authors that are no longer actively posting new content but that are well worth listening to. I recommend the following:
Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach
Beautiful Writers Podcast
Begin Self Publishing Podcast
Book Faces Live
Book Launch Show
Create If Writing
The Publishing Profits Podcast
The Career Author Podcast
Portfolio Life by Jeff Goins
Six Figure Authors
Smart Author with Mark Coker
Successful Writer Podcast
The Book Marketing Show with Dave Chesson
Wordslinger
Which of these podcasts do you listen to?
Have you discovered any other great podcasts for authors? If so, I’d love to hear from you.