Since SquadCast launched in 2016, we’ve been on a mission to amplify collaboration for content creators. Now, we’re gearing up for a major update to the SquadCast platform — our biggest yet.

For the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing podcast episodes recorded on SquadCast with feed drops from creators like Jordan Harbinger, “tech super-connector” Espree Devora, Pat Flynn of the Smart Passive Income Podcast, Sabrina Ricci and Garret Kruger of I Know Dino and hip-hop advocate Manny Faces, to name a few.

We love showing off the incredible content recorded on this platform and bringing it to a wider audience. And there’s more to come. In fact, maybe one of our next feed drops could be… you. (More on that later).

Plus, it lets us take a bit of a break because we’ve been exceptionally busy lately.

On an episode of the SquadCast Podcast (aka Between Two Mics), co-founder and CEO Zach Moreno talked to Community Manager Arielle Nissenblatt about the big news: Version 5 (v5) of the platform is coming soon.

1. SquadCast v5: Amped-up all around

Our cloud recording studio is built for collaboration, empowering content creation from anywhere. We don’t need to be in the same location to sound and look our best. But SquadCast is more than just the studio. As we ramp up to the release of v5, we’re reimagining what “amplifying collaboration” means for the platform as a whole.

What does it mean to amplify collaboration when it comes to scheduling and setting up recording sessions in pre-production? What does it mean for editors and producers in the post-production phase? We’ve thought about every stage of creation, from planning to mixing, and everything in between.

As podcasting has grown in popularity, it has also evolved to become more collaborative. It’s common for teams to create multiple shows together.

We want our platform to be an optimized experience for everyone. We’ve taken what we learned from years of recording and improved upon it.

When you launch v5, you’ll notice right away — it’s not just new pixels. It’s a much faster experience. We’re really excited about bringing that experience to life.

2. A fresh ~aesthetic~

First up: A fresh coat of paint, so to speak. Our new branding includes a revamped logo that communicates what we do more clearly while looking equally great on big and small screens. We also rolled out a new typeface, icons and colors in v5.

3. One account for multiple shows, teams and roles

We know we’re not the only ones who work on multiple podcasts and collaborate with many different people on each. Many SquadCasters host one show and produce another. Some folks edit or mix multiple shows. Now, you can access everything in one place according to your role(s) on a team or teams. You can switch between shows and roles, all from a single SquadCast account with one login.

4. Streamlined pricing

As we built v5, we talked to a lot of creators, both within our customer community (shoutout to the SquadPod) and in the podcasting space overall. One thing was clear: Our pricing has become complex because there are so many options to choose from.

So we’re taking the opportunity to simplify pricing while making some of the features that set SquadCast apart more accessible. That’s all we can share right now, but we think you’ll love it.

5. One-click SquadShots

We’ve been calling screenshots of our sessions “SquadShots” for a while (how could we resist?). In v5, it will be easier than ever for you to take and share them too.

Right now, capturing a screenshot is a manual process that creators have been asking us to simplify. Now you can do it in one click, while session participants can opt in or out of the shot. Each person can download the portrait (which will feature your podcast branding) and post it on all major social media platforms. It’s never been easier to amplify your content.

You can also tag us on Twitter or Instagram so we can retweet your SquadShot or add it to our story. We love to show off SquadCast creators’ content!

Now, it’s your turn…

We’re tremendously proud of our reliable, high-quality platform. So while we prepare to launch v5, we want to make sure it’s up to the standards you’ve come to expect. The SquadCast team is hard at work testing v5, which is in the final stages of beta, and we’re on track to launch sometime this month.

We’re really excited for you to try the new SquadCast. We’ll keep you up to date on everything here on the blog, on YouTube and (naturally) on the podcast. Make sure you’re following us on social media so you don’t miss anything!

Meanwhile, we’ll go back to dropping SquadCast-created episodes into our feed next week –– and that next episode could be yours. All you have to do is submit one of your episodes to squadcast.fm/share. If we think your content is a great fit for our feed, we’ll get in touch via email.

It’s just one more way to amplify collaboration. Stay tuned!

Be sure to subscribe to get all the SquadCast goodness in your preferred podcast feed.