Cubase

Cubase is Steinberg's flagship DAW, built for composers and mixing engineers, and it happens to be more than capable of editing a podcast if you can stomach the learning curve. It has proper multitrack editing, automation, VST plugin support, and a mixer console that feels like a real studio desk.

If you're already a Cubase user for music, there's no reason to buy a second tool just for your show. You get real EQ, compression, and noise reduction chains without leaving the app, and punch-in recording works cleanly for solo hosts.

The catch is the interface was not designed with podcasters in mind. There's no transcript-based editing, no automatic loudness normalization for podcast delivery presets, and the menus assume you know what a side-chain is.

Tip: start with Cubase Elements rather than Pro, it's cheaper and includes everything a spoken-word show actually needs. Save the upgrade for when you're mixing multitrack music beds under narration.