Episodes

Will Joining the School of Podcasting Help Me? I got an email from someone who has been podcasting three months and they wanted to know if my "Grow Your Podcast" live classes would help them. Do I Need a Coach? Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Bill Gates all had personal coaches. With this in mind having a coach is good (as I spotted three things wrong with your show after spending five minutes looking at it). I want to monetize eventually ...

Ready to Start Your Podcast? Starting August 19th we are doing an experiment, we are bringing back the "Podcasting in Six Weeks" course (and this time it's FREE). Go to Podcasting in Six Weeks Grow Your Podcast Course Also starting August 19th is the Grow Your Podcast Live courses where we will meet for an hour and go through the strategies to grow your show. Expect some feedback, more downloads, reach and influence. This is for members of the School of Podcasting (so join today with the coupon ...

I Love Howard Stern I'm a huge fan of Howard Stern and have listened to him for decades. About five years ago, he said something that I didn't hear because I became very inconsistent in listening to him when he became very inconsistent in his schedule. His recent contract will have him broadcasting once a week, which, to me, just says, "Why not just retire?" This is how you lose your audience, though. How to Lose Your Audience I realized that some people like to talk about politics, and that ...

The Key To Great Podcast Episode Titles Episode titles can make or break your podcast’s appeal, but there’s one crucial mistake you must avoid: clickbait. In this episode, Dave Jackson explains what makes a great episode title. Start with the listener’s benefit, including relevant keywords, and, above all, being truthful. He shares why misleading titles erode trust and waste your audience’s most valuable resource: their time. Join Dave as he explains how to craft honest, enticing titles that d...

Stop Obsessing Over Your Downloads Obsessing over your podcast download stats isn’t gonna magically make them grow, folks. Trust me, I’ve been there, and it’s a wild ride of checking stats every five seconds like it’s some sort of lottery. We look into why fixating on those numbers is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. It’s all about the real connections we make and the value we bring, not just the digits on a dashboard. So, let’s chat about how to actually measure success in...

Episode Show Notes: The "Urgency Trap" vs. Quality In this episode, we tackle the paradox of the "Urgency Trap"—why we feel an overwhelming need to rush our creative projects, even when we've been sitting on them for years. Key Takeaways The "Anus GPS" Effect: Why do we make bad decisions when we're close to the finish line? Much like the frantic urge to reach the bathroom in time, when we get close to launching something, we hit a panic button. We start rushing, and that's when mistak...

Today I’m digging into the importance of honest self-review and seeking feedback from your listeners to make your show even better. Inspired by an interview I heard with Geddy Lee of Rush by Rick Biato, I’ll share how even the pros take time to reflect on their work and look for ways to improve. I’ll talk about why it’s crucial to revisit your older episodes, ask your audience the right questions, and be open to constructive criticism, even if it stings a little. My goal is to help you move beyo...

I Can't Tell What Is Working! When you just promote your podcast everywhere, it's hard to tell what is working. One way that makes it easy to see what's working is to track the links you share. Newsletters like Kit, Beehiz, Mailerlite enable you to see what is getting clicked on. I use Fathom stats on my website so I can see where my traffic is coming from (and enables to see where I get more traffic from my newsletter than social media). This content may contain affiliate links, meaning I...

My Podcast is Great, but It's Not Growing Ever feel like you’re pouring your soul into your podcast and the audience just isn’t showing up? Yeah, me too. In this episode, we tackle that painful realization that sometimes, the problem isn’t with the promotion, but with the content itself. We take a hard look at what happens when listeners start dropping off like flies. Is it that they’re just not your target audience? Or maybe, just maybe, your content isn't hitting the mark? Take It Outside of...

Why Am I Podcasting Again? Have you ever stopped and wondered if you're podcasting for the right reasons? Sometimes it can feel like we're shouting into the void while the rest of our lives demand our attention. Between work, family, and everything else competing for our time, it's easy to look at your podcast and wonder if it's still worth the effort. When Life Gets in the Way In this episode, I talk about the challenge of keeping your podcast momentum alive when life gets messy. No...

Are you eager to promote your podcast but worried about breaking the rules in online groups? In this episode of "Your Podcast Consultant," I share practical advice on how to approach forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit communities the right way. Drawing from my own stories and hard-earned lessons, I explain why simple self-promotion often leads to bans—and what you can do instead to build genuine connections and grow your audience. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your reach...

In this episode, I share some insights from the world of podcast interviews, sharing surprising experiences from a marathon of guest appearances on brand-new shows. Maybe Not Use AI Research Discover the pitfalls of relying too heavily on AI-generated questions, the importance of audio quality, and why genuine research and thoughtful preparation make interviews truly valuable. Whether you're a podcasting newbie or looking to sharpen your hosting skills, I've got some practical advice and candi...

How is this still happening? You ever have one of those moments where you see something so ridiculous you can’t help but roll your eyes? That’s basically the theme of this episode. I’m talking about the world of podcasting and, honestly, it’s kind of wild. It’s 2026, and people are still posting “New episode out! (and that's it)” on social media like that’s some kind of marketing strategy. Seriously? Yes, It's Better Than Nothing... In this episode, I talk about why podcasters need to s...

Podcast promotion breaks down to this: Identify who your audience is Go to where they are (online and offline) Make friends with them Tell them about your show Don't Overthink it So a person on Reddit mentioned they wanted to grow their podcast about horror movies. Let's see.... where could I find a bunch of people who like horror movies... if only there was a place where people who like horror MOVIES go. If only...... Go to Where They Are So go to the movie cinepl...

July 4th was supposed to be a festive day filled with fireworks, but instead, it turned into a disaster for me. Picture this: I’m all set to enjoy the show, but as I step out, the sky starts drizzling. Naturally, I whip out my phone to scroll through social media, because who doesn’t love seeing what everyone else is up to while ignoring the world around them? Fast forward a few moments, and bam! My foot hits an uneven sidewalk, my phone goes flying, and I’m face-first in the concrete. My knee...

I've been researching the current challenges creators are facing on YouTube, particularly with demonetization issues. I share my thoughts on why YouTube, as great as it is for discovery and stats, can be risky for creators—especially those who rely on it for income. I spotlight the story of Steven song, a talented animator who invested hundreds of thousands of dollars and over a decade into his channel, only to be demonetized without warning. You’ll hear how the lack of human customer support a...

What Day Should I Publish My Podcast? We're diving into the age-old question that plagues all budding podcasters: when should I drop my episodes? I mean, it’s not like we’re all sitting around waiting for the next serial to drop, right? Shoot For the Empty Day of the Week Strategy So, here’s the scoop: you could play the spreadsheet game, tracking when your competition releases their episodes. Picture it: you’ve got a spreadsheet with a bunch of podcast names and dates. You notice that Wednes...

Should Your record Your Podcast Outside? Ever tried recording a podcast outside? Yeah, it's like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. You think, "Hey, this'll be fun!" Then the wind starts howling, dogs are barking, and your neighbor decides it's the perfect time to mow his lawn. Welcome to the chaotic, unpredictable world of outdoor podcasting! Survivor: Podcast Edition So, I’m sharing my past outdoor recording adventures, where I quickly realized that my ...

Is your podcast just a fun side gig, or could it be something more? We tackle this question head-on, inspired by a listener who’s got a budding podcast and some serious self-doubt creeping in. Podcast Reality Check We break down the reality of podcast growth and the often disappointing truth of monetization. Let’s face it, just because you’ve got listeners doesn’t mean you’re rolling in dough. We dive into strategies for gauging your audience’s engagement and the importance of asking them for ...

Back in 1980, Robert Palmer was already trying to figure things out with his jam, "I'm Just Looking for Clues." Fast forward to today, and here we are, diving into the murky waters of podcasting where someone is asking why their downloads are nosediving. This isn't just a casual inquiry; it’s a cry for help amidst the chaos of the podcasting world! The Gut Punch of Reality I mean, who hasn’t felt that gut punch when you realize your audience is slipping through your fingers like sand? So what ...

Imagine this: you’ve got a podcast that’s hotter than a summer sidewalk, and then—bam!—you decide to take a little 'me time' and vanish. That’s exactly what happened to our friend from a horror movie review channel. He thought he could whip up a slasher flick and come back to a fanfare. But spoiler alert: he forgot the most important thing—keeping his audience in the loop. Now, he’s got a loyal fanbase that’s gone MIA. Turns out, if you ghost your audience, they might just ghost you right back. ...

Let’s get real for a minute. Nothing stings quite like getting left hanging by a podcast guest, right? Guest now shows are frustrating. I heard someone talk about his no-show problem, he tossed out this idea of a $500 cancellation fee. That's not gonna work, folks. Life is unpredictable—people get sick, kids break arms, and sometimes, they just don’t feel like it. Instead of turning into the Podcast Police, we suggested a friendly reminder email on the day of the interview. Make it personal. ...

I saw on Reddit where someone was potentially making the classic blunder of podcasting: mixing unrelated shows into one feed. You know, like if you went to a restaurant for a burger but ended up with sushi on the same plate. I point out that our buddy Joey has a bi-weekly podcast that covers both video games and TV shows. With a measly two downloads per episode, Joey's mixing it up like a bad cocktail. The main takeaway? Split those shows! Seriously, if someone clicks on a gaming episode expe...

Hey, it’s Dave Jackson. In this episode, I’m talking directly to those of you who want to start a podcast but feel paralyzed by fear, perfectionism, or that nagging voice telling you you’re not good enough. I share my personal tips for getting your content out of your head and into the world—without letting things like criticism or imperfect editing stop you. I start by reflecting on a post I saw on Reddit, where someone struggled with overthinking, fear of criticism, and worrying about makin...