In-house vs. outsourced podcast production: what’s best for your business?

I’ve lost count of how many companies I’ve spoken to over the years who wanted to start a podcast, but just never got around to it. Or, they started, got a couple of episodes in, and then abandoned the project. 

It’s not that they didn’t have good ideas or great intentions—most of them were excited, even passionate, about the possibilities. But then reality hits. Podcasting takes time, resources, and expertise, and most in-house teams are already stretched thin trying to keep up with their day-to-day tasks. In fact, according to Amplifi and Podnews, 44% of podcasts never make it past the third episode. That’s not a random statistic—it’s a reality check.

I get it. You want full creative control, you’re worried about costs, and you think you can pull it off with your existing team. The problem is, more often than not, companies start their shows with absolute excitement, then they notice the work and friction, episodes get delayed, excitement wears off, and the project is abandoned. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.

So, what’s the alternative? Outsourcing. 

Hiring someone who doesn’t know your brand or industry might seem like giving up control. In reality, outsourcing your podcast production gives you the freedom to focus on what you do best while a team of experts takes care of the heavy lifting. You’ll free up your team, ensure you publish a high-quality show, and it might just save your podcast from the dreaded “podfade.”

Why in-house podcast production falls short.

In-house podcast production sounds great in theory—after all, you’ve got full control, you can move fast, and the communication is direct. But when it comes down to it, most teams realize they’re in over their heads with all the extra responsibilities: researching topics, scheduling with guests, shopping for equipment, recording episodes, editing audio, writing show notes, promoting the show.

What could go wrong? A lot, actually.

Producing a high-quality podcast that resonates with your listeners demands time—three something most in-house teams don’t have in abundance. And when your team is stretched thin, the result is delayed episodes, inconsistent quality, or worse, a complete halt.

That’s why the classic “Cheap, Fast, and Good” rule applies to podcast production. You can only pick two. And as a business, you always want your show to be good, otherwise you run the risk of tarnishing your brand’s reputation. So you’re left with two options. Want a great podcast done quickly? It’s going to cost. Want the same great podcast done cheap? It’s going to take forever, and there will be a steep learning curve.

Of course, you could hire all the experts in-house so you can own the process. I’m talking expert audio engineers, producers, project managers, writers, and designers. But as Rand Fishkin explains in his article “Why You Should Hire Agencies & Consultants (for everything you can)”, hiring agencies or consultants for specialized tasks makes far more sense than building these capabilities in-house. He even shares cost calculations comparing the options. Why spend time and money on hiring, training, and managing a team when you can outsource to people who already have the experience?

Nonetheless, in-house podcast production has pros and cons, and you are the only one who can decide what’s best for your business. 

Pros of in-house podcast production:

• Full control over the creative direction.
• Direct and immediate communication with the team.
• Potential cost savings if you already have the necessary skills or equipment.
• Easier integration with internal brand and marketing teams.

Cons of in-house podcast production:

• Significant time commitment across planning, recording, editing, and promotion.
• Requires investment in professional equipment and software.
• Steep learning curve for team members with no podcasting experience.
• High risk of inconsistent content or delays due to other priorities.
• Difficulty maintaining long-term quality and consistency without specialized skills.

While in-house production has its perks, it’s not the right choice for everyone. I, for the most part, recommend all businesses at least evaluate outsourcing your podcast.

5 Reasons to outsource your podcast:

1. Outsourcing your podcast gives you access to expertise and quality.

Podcasting isn’t just hitting “record” and hoping for the best. It requires balancing technical skills like audio engineering and editing with storytelling and strategic planning. You need a team that understands how to make every episode sound professional while delivering your brand’s message in a way that connects with your audience.

At Come Alive, we’ve been producing podcasts since 2016, and our team covers everything from audio engineering to narrative development. With multiple audio experts and producers on staff, we bring decades of collective experience. Additionally, we’ve spent years refining our podcast production process over hundreds of projects. So, when you hire a full-service podcast production company like ours, you’re not just getting technical skills—you’re getting the benefit of years of practice, diverse perspectives, and a streamlined process that’s been fine-tuned over hundreds of projects.

2. Outsourcing your podcast saves you time and resources.

One of the most underestimated aspects of podcasting is how much time it actually takes. It’s not just about showing up with a mic and talking for 30 minutes—it’s everything that happens before and after. Planning, scripting, recording, editing, distributing, and promoting all add up.

I’ve had plenty of conversations with business owners who’ve been meaning to start a podcast for years, but just couldn’t find the time. And it makes sense, an hour-long podcast can take anywhere from 2 to 50 hours to produce. And while it might seem like a huge range, it all depends on the podcast format and style you are looking for. 

For example, one of our long-term clients has been running an interview-based podcast for over five years. For every single episode, they have to:

• Identify and book guests
• Research the guest and craft questions
• Conduct the interview
• Handle rough transcriptions
• Provide detailed production notes for the editor
• Edit the audio and review the edits
• Create final transcriptions and show notes
• Post the episode to their media host and website
• Communicate with the guest and manage post-launch promotion

And that’s just for a simple interview format! I recently broke down the time it takes to run a company podcast in more detail here. And trust me, the numbers are no joke. 

By outsourcing to us, our clients free up their internal resources to focus on core business tasks. In fact, we can produce the same project faster because we have multiple people working different tasks simultaneously. This way you don’t have to worry about missed deadlines or subpar quality because we’ve got the team, the tools, and the experience to manage these kinds of projects without breaking a sweat.

3. Outsourcing your podcast grants you access to specialized tools and technology.

Professional podcast production companies have access to tools and technology that would be expensive and impractical for most in-house teams to invest in. We’re talking about thousands of dollars in software (Riverside, Descript, Adobe Suite, Pro Tools, Artlist, Epidemic Sound, to name a few) and tens of thousands in equipment for recording, editing, and composing. 

And let’s not forget: it’s not just about having the tools—it’s about knowing how and when to use them to get the best results.

Take one of our previous clients, Coach Factory, which is a sub-company of Motivations AI. Their leadership team was in the middle of restructuring and had a million things going on. They needed to launch a podcast quickly but didn’t have the bandwidth to do it in-house. Our team stepped in and got their heavily produced podcast up and running in just two months—far faster than they could’ve done on their own. 

Here’s what their CEO and VP of Learning had to say:

“One of the biggest benefits in working with Come Alive was getting the podcast up and running so fast. We would not have been able to do that on our own. You were invaluable in getting season 01 launched.”

— Shawn Hesketh, VP, Learning Strategy and Design

“Come Alive was invaluable in getting season 01 of the podcast done and launched. You allowed us to take faster steps forward. The benefit of hiring experts like you is you go from zero to 60 in three seconds instead of zero to 60 in three months. And when time is money, getting it done faster is a huge benefit.”

— Chris Lema, CEO

That’s the advantage of outsourcing. You get access to specialized tools and a team of experts who know exactly how to use them. Whether it’s creating custom sound design, composing original music, or handling complex edits, we’ve got the experience and the technology to produce high-quality content quickly and efficiently.

4. Outsourcing your podcast means you receive strategic guidance.

Successful podcasting means aligning your podcast with your larger business goals, ensuring every episode serves a purpose—whether that’s building brand awareness, generating leads, or nurturing relationships with your audience. This is where you can benefit the most, as long as you hire the right podcast production company.

The best podcast production companies don’t just handle the technical side. They also offer strategic guidance that aligns your podcast with your business objectives.

For example, when we work with clients, we don’t just focus on sound quality or editing. We start with the bigger picture: What are you hoping to achieve with this podcast? Who’s your target audience? What’s the long-term goal? We help our clients align their podcast strategy with their overall marketing and business strategies, ensuring each episode has a purpose beyond just filling airtime.

I’ve had many conversations with business leaders who hesitate to outsource because they’re worried they’ll lose control or that the production company won’t “get” their brand. But that’s the difference between a transactional vendor and a true partner. We take the time to understand your industry, your audience, and your goals, and we work with you to create a podcast that’s not just a show—it’s a valuable marketing asset that drives results.

And here’s the best part: while we handle the strategy and technical details, you remain the expert in your field. We bring our expertise in podcasting, and you bring your industry knowledge. It’s a partnership that ensures your podcast isn’t just another content piece, but a carefully crafted tool that advances your business goals.

5. Outsourcing your podcast provides consistency and scalability.

One of the biggest challenges in-house teams face is maintaining consistency. It’s easy to get excited at the start of a new podcast project, but as time goes on, other priorities take over, and suddenly the podcast is the first thing to get pushed aside. Before you know it, episodes are delayed or, worse, your podcast becomes another statistic—one of the 44% that never make it past three episodes.

Outsourcing helps solve this problem. When you work with a dedicated production team, consistency becomes part of the package. We set up a schedule, stick to it, and ensure that episodes are released on time, every time. No more scrambling to meet deadlines and best of all, you don’t have to put your project on hold because you simply don’t have the time.

Scalability is another huge benefit. As your podcast grows in popularity or your business goals evolve, your needs might change. Maybe you want to produce more episodes or experiment with different formats. Outsourcing makes this easy. For example, we worked with one of our clients to scale their podcast from a single show to multiple shows across different formats. And when Coach Factory needed 30 interviews conducted in just one month, we made it happen—something that would have been nearly impossible for an in-house team to manage.

Outsourcing gives you the flexibility to scale your podcast production without worrying about overburdening your internal resources. Whether you require more episodes, new formats, or faster turnaround times, a professional podcast production team has the capacity and experience to grow with you.

Wrapping Up.

Producing a great podcast requires time, technical expertise, and consistency—things that can be hard to manage with an in-house team. Outsourcing gives you access to a team of experts who can deliver high-quality episodes while freeing your internal resources to focus on what matters most: growing your business.

Ultimately, it’s about what’s right for your brand. If you’re ready to explore how outsourcing can help you create a podcast that stands out, we’d love to chat. Schedule a discovery call with us at Come Alive and let’s talk about how to bring your podcast project to life.