A Podcast Year in Review for Authors all about Publishing, Distribution and Creative Possibilities

A Podcast Year in Review for Authors all about Publishing, Distribution and Creative Possibilities

December 30, 2025

Here are some of my favourite podcast eps of the year for entrepreneurial authors – all about publishing, book production methods and global distribution.

If you’re an author thinking about creativity,  improving your reach or simply doing things a little smarter in 2026, this end-of-year podcast roundup is my little gift to you.

And these podcasts have been a gift to me all year, because as one of the hosts of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, I get to step inside so many different corners of the indie publishing world globally and share it with you. We get to hear from authors, publishers, technologists, creatives, suppliers and platforms who are generous with their knowledge and refreshingly open about what’s working for them. And what isn’t.

From audiobooks and accessibility to zines, literary role-playing games, augmented reality, library distribution, and the wonderfully practical nuts and bolts of production and distribution – this roundup brings together the episodes that authors have told me stretched their thinking, sparked new ideas, or helped them make clearer, calmer publishing decisions.

If you’re a writer heading into 2026 feeling curious, cautious, or quietly ambitious, perhaps ready to try one new thing, this might make for some useful holiday listening.

Who is this roundup for?
Traditionally published authors who hold some rights or are buying rights back, Indie authors, self-publishers, hybrid authors and small presses looking for practical insights into publishing, production and global distribution.

And as a bonus at the end, I also pop in some of my favourite non-ALLi podcasts too!

Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Finding a Niche

Literary Role-Playing Games (LitRPGs)
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, niche publishing, creative freedom, Kickstarter, or encouraging others to build on your copyright, these two episodes are a highlight. I hadn’t even heard of LitRPG’s until I ran into these two at SXSW Sydney 2025 and how they approach their creativity and community might get you thinking differently about your creations too!

Featuring Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon with Anna Featherstone

Audiobooks: What’s Changing (Fast)

Audiobook production continues to evolve at speed. This episode explores how authors can now create audiobooks more affordably, including:

  • AI-assisted narration

  • Using AI versions of an author’s own voice

  • Multi-voice audiobooks and cast narration

A must-listen if audio is part of your publishing or backlist plans for 2026.

Featuring Phil Marshall from Spoken with Anna Featherstone

Zines: Small Format, Big Creative Impact

Could a zine spark your creativity or help you connect more deeply with readers?

This conversation looks at zines as a playful, low-pressure format that encourages experimentation, authenticity and reader connection—particularly appealing if you’re feeling creatively stuck or overwhelmed by the idea of “the next big book,” or are looking for another potential storytelling or marketing format.

Featuring Rebekah Lambert from Freelance Jungle with Anna Featherstone

Updating, Rebranding & Managing Your Books

How to update your books once they’ve been published—and why it matters

Books don’t need to stay frozen in time. This episode unpacks the benefits of updating your books and shows how to do it without breaking links, metadata or distribution channels.

Especially useful for authors managing a growing backlist or revisiting earlier titles. Catherine Bilson is an absolute font of knowledge in this ep!

Featuring author Catherine Bilson with Anna Featherstone

How Indie Authors Produce & Distribute Their Books

One of the aspects I love most about the indie author community is how generously authors share their processes with others.

These episodes dive into real-world production and distribution decisions, covering what works at different scales:

You’ll come away with ideas you can adapt immediately, whether you’re publishing one book or many. There’s some solid gold info in these episodes thanks to these fabulous authors!

Augmented Reality for Authors

Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital content—such as audio, video or animation—onto physical books, often via QR codes.

This episode offers a clear, grounded look at:

  • what AR actually is

  • where it adds genuine value

  • and why it may not be right for every book

Perfect listening if you’re curious about emerging tech but want practical context, not hype.

Featuring Stuart Grant with Anna Featherstone

Creating Accessible Books

Accessibility is no longer optional (especially if you want to sell your books in the EU)—it’s part of good publishing practice.

This episode explores practical ways authors can:

  • reach more readers

  • work more efficiently

  • design books that are inclusive from the start

An essential listen for today’s diverse reading landscape.

Featuring Julie Ganner and Dr Agata Mrva-Montoya with Anna Featherstone

Getting Your Books into Libraries Worldwide

Libraries remain one of the most trusted—and under-used—discovery channels for authors.

This episode shares practical pathways for getting books into libraries globally, and how authors can think strategically about library distribution as part of a long-term publishing plan.

Featuring Mark Leslie Lefebvre with Anna Featherstone

Indexes for Non-Fiction Authors

If you write non-fiction, this episode is gold.

A professional index can dramatically improve your book’s usability, credibility and longevity. We explore when you need one, how they’re created, and why indexing is often misunderstood—but incredibly powerful.

Featuring Madeleine Davis, professional book indexer with Anna Featherstone

Saving Money on Book Production

Outsourcing editing, design and production doesn’t have to blow the budget.

This practical episode focuses on how authors can save money when outsourcing—without cutting corners that matter to readers. So if you’re working with an assisted or hybrid publisher or service provider or coordinating your own editors, proofreaders and printers, have a listen.

Featuring Michael Hanrahan from Publish Central with Anna Featherstone

Platform-Specific Tools for Authors

These conversations focus on tools authors are actively using as part of their publishing workflows:

Looking Ahead – Would You Like to Contribute to the Podcast, Suggest Ideas for Topics of Recommend an Author to Interview?

What continues to surprise and delight me is just how opportunity-expanding these conversations are. Every guest brings a new lens, and I always come away with fresh ideas for my own publishing practice too.

As I begin planning episodes for 2026, I’d love your input. If there are publishing or distribution topics you’d like explored—or guests you’d love to hear from—please get in touch. The podcast is shaped by the questions authors are asking right now, and your suggestions help keep these conversations practical, relevant and genuinely useful.

Other Writing Podcasts I’ve Enjoyed in 2025

It’s been a packed year so my podcast listening time has been reduced, but I always find time for these ones:

  • Of course, number one on the list are my fellow hosts from the Self Publishing with ALLi Podcast, including Matty Dalyrymple, Orna Ross, Sacha Black, Michael La Ronn, Joanna Pen, Joe Solari, Dan Holloway and Howard Lovy . You can access all the ALLi podcasts here or via your favourite streaming service.
  • The Booksellers Podcast: This gives you the view from the other side of the bookshelf as book store owners share what’s important to them. With Jaye Chin-Dusting from the Mary Martin Bookshops and Mark Rubbo from Readings and guests.
  • The ContentByte Podcast: For freelance writers with Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni
  • Secrets from the Green Room with the Karen Viggers and Irma Gold
  • James and Ashley Stay at Home with Ashley Kalagian Blunt and James
  • Spa Girls Podcast with Trudi Jaye, Cheryl Phipps, Wendy Vella and Shar Barratt

Happy listening out there!