Metacast: Behind the scenes

In this holiday episode, we celebrate reaching over 300 paying subscribers and 1,500 monthly active users. We also discuss recent backend infrastructure optimizations, critical bug fixes, and future plans, including a new pro plan with expanded features like higher private podcast limits and custom audio uploads. Chapters: Download the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

New app features: listening history, continue listening, and transcript exports + navigating LLM-induced team drama. Chapters: Links Metacast v1.25 blog postPodcasts: Tech Brew Ride Home Oct 16Scott & Mark: The AI productivity trapAmerican GodsThe SandmanDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

We celebrate Metacast's one-year "survivalversary" with a special $10/year sale and share what we're working on. Chapters: Links SurvaviversaryCreator transcriptsBuy Me A CoffeePodcasts: The PanelBig ThinkEndless: A Sandman PodcastDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

What we've been up to in the second half of the summer + update on the just released Metacast v1.24. Chapters Show notes Birkin: The Handbag That Costs More Than Your HouseNetflixComicsAudioDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

We've GA-ed private podcasts! In this episode, we talk about the feature, the extra perks for Premium users and celebrate completion of the table stakes features. We end the episode with a banter about Claude Code and a few German phrases. Show notes Michelin Guide: The Tire Company That Accidentally Conquered FoodFalling In Reverse - "Watch The World Burn" (live)Download the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

We're on the finishing line to launch private podcasts in GA, but it takes a while because we've wasted a lot of time dealing with ops post-Google billing incident. Show notes Back To The Future... And Back - 40 Years of Marty, Doc, & Mayor Goldie WilsonDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Preparing to launch private podcasts, marketing projects, ops stuff, and a huge (with a capital "H") bill from Google Show notes The Side Hustle King: “I’m making $8K/DAY from easy businesses”My First MillionThe Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal PerformanceFlybotDennis E. Taylor, author of best-selling sci-fi series BobiverseBuilders Gonna BuildDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every week, we meet for a standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings. In this update, we discuss launching private feeds, the new podcast search feature on the web app, and making money. Show notes The Really Good PodcastAndre AgassiNews in Slow SpanishThe Game with Alex HormoziDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every week, we meet for a standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings. In this update, we discuss episode summaries, chapters, and performance improvements. We also cover ongoing backend work, in-person meeting experience (!), planning for upcoming features like private feeds, and share podcast recommendations. Show notes Asterix and ObelixEverything Everywhere DailyDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

In this episode we discuss why and how we built the new sharing experience (see blog post for v1.19). Download the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.playerSegments Show notes New sharing experience announcement blogWeekly Update (May 6, 2025): New sharing experience, new logo & branding67. Attack of LLM botsblog42. Equity compensation at a pre-revenue bootstrapped startup with Jennie BuechnerVoices in my headGet in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠

Every Tuesday, we meet for a weekly standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings. Show notes 311: The Long TermWhen Exactly Did the Roman Empire Fall?Download the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every Tuesday, we meet for a weekly standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings. Show notes Calendar Reform10 growth tactics that never work | Elena Verna317: Optimizing for Battery LifeDownload the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every Tuesday, we meet for a weekly standup. We'll summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings. Show notes Attack of the LLM botsBig Takeaways From Podcast Movement Evolutions 2025Episode 2 - “Through the Valley”Download the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

In this episode we recap our Q1: what we shipped, distribution challenges, siloing engineering workstreams + a bunch of tangential topics. Download the Metacast podcast app for free: iOS:https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.playerSegments Show notes Blog posts Metacast: Q1 2025 RetrospectiveOur biggest struggle — distributionEpisode chapters now available in Metacast podcast appPodcast Inbox now available in Metacast podcast appLLM bots + Next.js image optimization = recipe for bankruptcy (post-mortem)DIY Delaware C-Corp taxes for a new startup with no funding, no payroll and no assetsPodcasts 661: The Nightmare Before OvercastGrumpy Old GeeksEverything Everywhere DailyDo trade deficits matter?Planet MoneyJosh WaitzkinThe Joe Rogan Experience#792: Seth Godin on Playing the Right Game and Strategy as a SuperpowerBooks The Art of LearningGet in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠

Our website got slammed by LLM bots from Amazon and Anthropic, which could've cost us $7k in Vercel image optimization costs! Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit. Segments Show notes Posts LLM bots + Next.js image optimization = recipe for bankruptcy (post-mortem)Books Red RisingLittle Golden America Get in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

In the first episode of 2025, we discuss the lowlights of last year and sharing our high-level plans for 2025. Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit. Segments Show notes Podcasts Bootstrapped WebThe PanelPosts What's happening with founders over 40Books Red RisingThe Pragmatic ProgrammerLittle Golden America Get in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

In this holiday edition episode, we discuss the past year's highlights, a recent outage, and the rapid emergence of Bluesky as a social media platform. Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit. Segments Show notes Podcasts The Joe Rogan ExperienceGet in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've chatted with a VC-backed founder who is on the brink of closing shop. Listen to our reflections on this. Plus, a breakdown of latest Metacast features! Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit. Segments Show notes Podcasts Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and storiesBroken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond7. Jason Fried on building products, calm companies and the Jeff Bezos investmentMy Dad Wrote A PornoThe Big Porn Debate (3 Experts Debate): The Unseen Dangers Of Nofap, The Adult Industry Is Exploiting Our Brains, How Porn Will Change Your Brain!Books Obviously AwesomeOther LinkedIn post about speed control in audioGet in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've launched with a price of $49.99/year, but we realized it's too high. We're lowering it to $19.99/year or $1.99/month. Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit. Segments Show notes Podcasts 42. Equity compensation at a pre-revenue bootstrapped startup17. From Teacher to Software Engineer at AmazonHandsomeThe Mark Zuckerberg InterviewMeta’s Race for Your Face + Google’s Hit A.I. Notebook + HatGPT#446 – Ed Barnhart: Maya, Aztec, Inca, and Lost Civilizations of South America#369 – Paul Rosolie: Amazon Jungle, Uncontacted Tribes, Anacondas, and Ayahuasca#429 – Paul Rosolie: Jungle, Apex Predators, Aliens, Uncontacted Tribes, and GodBooks Fast Second: How Smart Companies Bypass Radical Innovation to Enter and Dominate New Markets Get in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've launched Metacast in Apple App Store. In this episode, we talk about the process and Apple's feedback. Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit. Segments Show notes Podcasts #2190 - Peter Thiel#442 – Donald Trump Interview Books Not Till We Are Lost: Bobiverse, Book 5 Get in touch https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com