Growing Your Audience Episodes

A few years ago I accidentally hit a guy on the golf course. I'm not proud of it — although it did bank in almost perfectly off his calf on its way toward the hole. But the swing that caused it taught me something I haven't stopped thinking about: my brother told me to quit trying to kill the ball and just make good contact. Looking at podcasting, it turns into the best explanation I've found for why so many podcasts stop growing. If you've ever chased a bigger download number, wondered why nob...

What I Learned (and Relearned) at Empowered Podcasting Conference I got triggered at a podcasting conference last week, and honestly? I almost jumped out of my chair. Someone in the room said something that stopped me cold, and it's become one of the biggest lessons I'm bringing back to you this week — along with a story about a $230 million quarterback who won't take feedback, why "cheating off the smart kid" with AI is quietly ruining your podcast, and the subscription I found on my own bank ...

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80. While most tributes are focused on the music, this episode looks at something else entirely: Dolly Parton the businesswoman and entertainer. She sang at the Grand Ole Opry at 13 and was still building her empire seven decades later, which is rare in an industry where most acts have a five-to-ten-year run. As we like to say around here, success leaves clues, and Dolly left a lot of them. Below are 12 lessons pulled from her career, each one transla...

What is Your Rock Bottom Podcast Downloads Number? Every podcaster wants more downloads. But I wanted to ask my audience the opposite question this month: what's the smallest number of podcast downloads that would still make it worth showing up to record? I put that question to the School of Podcasting audience — and the answers reveal something more useful than any download benchmark could: what actually keeps a podcaster going once the growth curve flattens out. What's a Good Number o...

You Down With YPP? Episode Description: I break down YouTube’s latest changes to its Partner Program, including doubled watch-hour requirements and higher Shorts monetization thresholds ahead of the February 2027 deadline. I also bring in YouTube expert Adam Ivey’s take on why the real story isn’t necessarily the new criteria, and I share my own channel’s numbers so you can set realistic expectations for your own YouTube journey. Then the AI kids stop by for story time as I take a look at Spot...

How Do You Hit 4000 Episodes Without Losing Your Mind? Today I'm talking with Glenn Hebert and Jamie Jennings from Horses in the Morning, the flagship show of the Horse Radio Network. They just crossed 4000 episodes, and since they're doing this daily, I had a ton of questions for them. Mainly: how do you keep your sanity? Glenn has been on this show more times than any other guest, and I'll drop links to a few of those past conversations below. We also talk about how "Glenn the Geek" became ...

If you look at movies that you love, and you think about them, and you remember how they made you feel. Today we talk about three things you can have in your tool belt to use in your show to not just have something to listen to, but to have content that moves your audience. We also answer the question what do Sportcasters, Movie Reviewers, and Christians all have in common? Pull Some Emotion Into Your Show Most podcasters focus on information—tips, tactics, and how‑tos. But your audience d...

When your CPMs start shrinking and programmatic ads feel like a losing game, it’s easy to wonder if podcasting is still worth it. In this episode, I want to show you a different path—one that doesn’t depend on ad tech behaving itself. I’m going to walk you through why community beats downloads, how smart feedback (like what Jack Rhysider does) can radically improve your show before it ever launches, and how simple tools like newsletters and Podpage can help you build a deeper relationship with y...

If you’ve ever thought, ‘I want feedback, but I’m terrified of the internet,’ stay tuned—I’ll show you how to get useful criticism without letting trolls live rent-free in your head. Handling podcast trolls is a skill worth investigating. Two Types of Feedback I’m sharing how I handle trolls, reviews, and feedback—and how you can turn all of that into fuel to grow your show instead of reasons to quit. I’ll walk you through when to ignore, when to engage, and how to build a trusted focus gr...

Nobody shares a video they didn't watch. Nobody shares a podcast they didn't listen to, so how do we get people to listen? This week we follow up form last week's episode about measuring success without downloads and today I talk about completion percentage in Apple, Spotify, as well as Google Analytics. Josh Liston explains how he and his co-host from the SAKÉ THIS show. How Long Should My Podcast Be? The stand ard answer is "as long as it needs to be an not a minute longer." However, ano...

How do you measure the success of your podcast that is NOT downloads? You’ll hear from a wide range of podcasters in different niches—storytelling, history, prepping, finance, faith, recovery, TV rewatch shows, local podcasts, health, creativity, and more—sharing how they really gauge success. Their answers include: Direct listener feedback & real‑life impact (behavior change, decisions, staying sober, safer driving, adopting, spending time with Jesus, handling conversations differently) ...

In this episode of the School of Podcasting, Dave Jackson shows you how to stop being “just another podcast” and start becoming someone’s favorite show (I love that line from Jay Acunzo). You’ll learn how to: Clarify what your podcast is actually about in one sentence Choose (or tweak) your name and description so they signal your unique angle Deliver on the promise of your premise so listeners trust you Use your own stories, quirks, and background as an unfair advantage no AI can copy Whet...

Why Joe Rogan Beat Late Night TV When I was a kid, hearing Johnny Carson’s theme music meant it was time for bed. Today, nobody has to stay up for anything. And that one shift explains a huge part of why late night is fading and why your podcast has to work harder to earn attention. Conversation vs Promotional Appearances In the early years of Johnny Carson, the show was 90 minutes and they actually had conversations as apposed to the "tell me about your family vacation, and let's roll the cl...

So many people think the only way you can have a successful podcast is to be famous. Today we have a quick Interview with Jordan Blair from the Dreamful podcast and the Buzzsprout podcast Buzzcast. Jordan share all the straggles she is using to monetize her show. Jordan's Been Podcasting For Seven Years This didn't happen overnight, but you will hear where Jordan recommends starting monetization efforts from day one. This way your family and friends who want to support the show can actually ch...

Today we are talking about your show that just won't grow. It's time for a podcast experiment. I often say "You podcast is a recipe - not a statue." Well here is the good news. You know how to build a podcast to the current level you are at. The bad news is you've been here for a bit and it's time to try something to break you out of your plateau. You Either Win Or You Learn When you try something new with your podcast we often feel like everyone will leave immediately, and that just doesn...

In this episode, we answer a question I know has been on the minds of so many podcasters: Where is podcasting headed? What We Covered Spotify, YouTube, and AI Slop: I kicked things off sharing my concerns about immoral creators, content exclusivity, and how blurry the definition of a “podcast” is getting. Optimism vs. Pessimism: We heard from multiple voices on whether the future looks bright or grim, and what keeps each of us going. Video, Discoverability, and Content Overload: How...

Have you ever wondered if the reason your podcast hasn’t “exploded” is actually the very thing that could help it last—and make it more rewarding? This week, I look into why having a smaller, passionate, and loyal audience (true fans) often leads to more meaningful wins (personally and professionally) than simply racking up big download numbers. If you want to learn how to create enduring engagement, avoid common pitfalls, and connect with listeners in a way that actually matters, this episod...

If listeners are quitting your podcast in the first five minutes, this episode is for you. In this annual ‘podcast pet peeves’ roundup, I asked my audience what makes them bail on a show— and they did not hold back. Participants You’ll hear from Kim Newlove (The Pharmacist’s Voice, Perrysburg Podcast), Steve Stewart (podcast editor extraordinaire), Todd ‘the Gator’ (Guardian Down Roundtable, Lessons in the Rear View), and York (Welcome to Earth Stories) as they unpack the habits that drive the...

The School of Podcasting has been acquired, and yes, that means changes are coming. But don’t panic! The essence of what we do is staying intact. We’re diving into the nitty-gritty of what this acquisition means for our loyal members and anyone thinking about joining. New Free Tier We’re adding a free tier, more courses, and even a way for you to connect with podcasting experts. This is all about making the podcasting journey smoother and more accessible for everyone. Brenden and I have...

Is PSO (podcast search optimization) different than SEO (search engine optimization)? I give an overview of free and paid tools to help you grow your podcast.

Welcome to the world of Big Lash Energy, where Jayna Marie takes us on a no-holds-barred journey through the ups and downs of her life and career. As a makeup artist, Jayna decided that her life was too colorful not to share, and she jumped headfirst into podcasting. It's like she hit the ground running, with tons of awards, 200 episodes, and one million downloads you might say she's unstoppable. Do You Need a Video Podcast? The conversation kicks off with Jayna reflecting on the pressu...

In this episode, I tackled the question submitted by Emily Kate: What sacrifices and shortcuts did you take in your podcasting journey, and did they work out well? A fantastic lineup of podcasters shared their wisdom, experiences, and favorite tools. Here’s an organized list of all the contributors with their URLs, plus every resource/tool we mentioned to help you on your own podcasting path. Contributors & Their URLs Emily Kate : emilykatecreative.com Kim Newlove ("The Pharmacist’s V...

In this episode, I’m walking you through why great podcast editing doesn’t start with software, plugins, or secret shortcuts — it starts with knowing your audience. Once you’re crystal clear on who you’re talking to and what they value, editing for your audience becomes a lot easier: you simply remove anything that wastes their time or doesn’t deliver value. Editing For Content I’ll share examples from real interviews (including Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” and conversations with my friends Dani...

Alright, so if you’re a podcaster looking to snag more listeners and get them hooked on your back catalog, then buckle up, because we’re diving into binge triggers straight outta the Netflix playbook. We’re breaking down three juicy strategies that can keep your audience glued to their headphones, even after they’ve finished your latest episode. Plus, we’ve got a heartwarming “because of my podcast” story that’ll make you believe in the magic of podcasting. So, if you're tired of people tuning i...