Episode 76: 11 Ways to Turn Old Podcast Episodes Into New Growth: Part 2

Episode 77: How She Grew Her Podcast Downloads 43% in 3 Months with Simple Strategies with Kellie Lupsha

What if a few micro tweaks could grow your podcast by 43% in three months without a heavy lift? That is exactly what happened for my guest Kellie Lupsha, and in this episode she is sharing everything she did. Kellie is the host of Thriving in Midlife, a former physical therapist turned entrepreneur who helps women navigate their 40s, 50s, and beyond through health optimization and wellness. She publishes two episodes a week, runs a women's membership and an intensive 12-week program, and recently built two quiz funnels that completely changed what she knows about her audience. Kellie was one of my students in my beta mastermind, and she is one of the best implementers I have ever worked with. After making small, strategic changes to her podcast titles, descriptions, and show notes, she saw 43% growth in downloads in just three months. Then she switched to Captivate, applied everything she had learned about SEO, and matched four years of total downloads in just four months. In this episode of Podcast Growth Tools, Kellie shares the exact changes she made, what surprised her most about her quiz data, how she manages two episodes per week without burning out, why her first membership failed and how it led her to build a better podcast, and her honest advice for anyone wondering whether podcasting is worth the long game commitment. Here's a glance to the episode: * How Kellie grew her podcast downloads by 43% in three months through micro tweaks * How she matched four years of total downloads in just four months after switching platforms and optimizing for SEO * The two biggest needle movers: SEO-optimized titles and quiz funnels * Why her quiz data surprised her and told her exactly who to create content for * How she built two new quizzes after learning the process (one product-based, one for audience segmentation) * Why quizzes outperform traditional PDF lead magnets for driving email opt-ins * How she publishes two podcast episodes per week with minimal editing and a VA * Why her first $19 membership failed and what it taught her about what her audience actually wanted * Why raw, unpolished podcast content is connecting with female audiences more than ever * Her strategy for finding and vetting guests through relationships instead of cold pitches * Why building an email list from day one is the number one thing she wishes she had done sooner * Her advice for anyone thinking about starting a podcast: the 10-episode test * "It is never crowded because nobody is in your space" TIMESTAMPS: * 4:00: How she started podcasting during COVID and let the show evolve * 6:35: Why her first $19 membership failed and what it taught her * 7:30: How she realized her audience wanted conversations, not courses * 8:45: Letting your podcast name and format change without fear * 9:15: How she publishes two episodes per week * 10:05: Batching content, minimal editing, and hiring a VA * 12:05: Why raw and real content is winning with female audiences * 16:05: How her podcast feeds into her business * 16:30: Why she never looked at her analytics before the mastermind * 17:15: Her goal to guest on more podcasts in 2026 * 18:05: Finding and vetting guests through relationships * 21:30: Creating content from program questions and real life experiences * 25:00: Why two or three conversations give you your best episode topics * 27:05: The two biggest aha moments from the mastermind * 27:25: SEO in podcast titles and show notes * 28:05: Why quizzes outperform traditional lead magnets * 28:30: How her first quiz drove leads and what she learned * 29:00: Building two new quizzes * 30:05: The quiz data surprise: what she expected vs. what happened * 31:05: How the quiz told her exactly who to create content for * 32:55: Why the curated quiz experience creates raving fans * 34:25: The growth results: 43% in three months, four years of downloads in four months * 36:05: Why monthly analytics tracking is now part of her workflow * 36:25: Advice for anyone thinking about starting a podcast * 37:00: The 10-episode test * 38:25: It is never crowded because nobody is in your space Your Next Steps If you want weekly insights on podcast growth, marketing strategy, and turning listeners into subscribers, join the newsletter at: www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe] Take the Podcast Growth Quiz: www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz] Mentioned in This Episode * Full Show Notes and Blog Post [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/kellie-lupsha-43-percent-growth] Connect with Kellie * Podcast: Thriving in Midlife [https://kellielupsha.com/podcast/] (available on all major podcast apps) * Instagram: https://instagram.com/kellielupsha@kellielupsha [https://instagram.com/kellielupsha] Connect with Kylee * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.compodcastmarketinghub.com [http://podcastmarketinghub.com] * Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826Podcast Growth Tools [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler@kyleejchandler [https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler] Let's Connect! Share your favorite takeaway from this episode or tell me your hot take on virality. DM me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thepodcastmarketinghub/@thepodcastmarketinghub [https://www.instagram.com/thepodcastmarketinghub/].

Episode 76: 11 Ways to Turn Old Podcast Episodes Into New Growth: Part 2

You have already audited and optimized your back catalog. Now it is time to turn all of that content into things that actually grow your email list, generate leads, and bring in revenue without recording a single new episode. In Part 1 of this series, we covered auditing your catalog, optimizing underperformers, updating show notes, strategic re-airs, and creating curated listening paths. Today in Part 2, I am walking you through five creative strategies that take the content you have already created and turn it into a system that works for your business on repeat. Most of these strategies can be set up in an afternoon or a weekend. They are not complicated. And they will continue to work for you for months. This is what it looks like when your podcast becomes the cornerstone of your marketing. Here's a glance to the episode: Strategy 1: Episode Bundles * How to bundle your best episodes by topic and gate them behind an email opt-in * Why the curation is the value even when the episodes are already free * How to align your bundles with your paid offers so you grow your list with the right people * Adding a PDF guide or checklist to make the bundle feel more substantial Strategy 2: Podcast-Centric Quiz Funnels * How a quiz segments your audience and points them to personalized episode bundles * Real results: 15,000 leads with Amy Porterfield, 2,000+ with Cathy Heller, 10,000+ for Savannah in less than a year * How quiz data tells you what episodes to create, what offers to build, and where the gaps are * The 6-Week Quiz Creation Blitz waitlist (coming late fall/early winter) Strategy 3: Best-Of Compilations and Start-Here Playlists * How to clip together your top moments into a best-of episode * Turning clips into short-form social content * Creating a start-here playlist that gives new listeners a clear entry point Strategy 4: Private Podcast Experiences * How a private podcast works as a lead magnet, a bonus, or a paid product * The case for public bundles vs. private podcasts (and when each makes sense) * How Megan Yelaney uses Hello Audio for her Main Character Energy private podcast * How to charge $27 to $47 for a curated private podcast series built from content you already have Strategy 5: Using Your Back Catalog as an FAQ and Authority Tool * Creating an FAQ page that links to specific episodes * Keeping a running "send this episode" list on your phone * Referencing your own episodes in new content to drive downloads on older episodes * Why every time you point someone to an episode you are boosting downloads, building trust, and saving time The Full Series Recap (11 Strategies Across Both Parts): 1. Audit your back catalog 2. Optimize underperforming episodes 3. Update blog-style show notes 4. Strategic re-airs 5. Curated listening paths 6. Track which episodes drive action with Google Analytics 7. Topic-specific episode bundles 8. Podcast-centric quiz funnels 9. Best-of compilations and start-here playlists 10. Private podcast experiences 11. Back catalog as an FAQ and authority tool TIMESTAMPS: * 01:30: Strategy 1: Creating episode bundles gated behind an opt-in * 02:30: Why someone would give you their email for content that is already free * 03:45: How to align your bundles with your paid offers * 04:15: Adding a PDF guide or checklist to make the bundle feel more substantial * 04:35: Strategy 2: Building a podcast-centric quiz funnel * 05:00: The 6-Week Quiz Creation Blitz (waitlist open now) * 07:00: How a quiz connects to your back catalog with personalized bundles and playlists * 07:40: Real quiz results: how data from your quiz shapes your content and your offers * 08:55: Why treating your podcast like a product changes everything * 09:05: Strategy 3: Clipping together your top-performing content * 09:45: Best-of compilation episodes (and who does this well) * 10:25: Turning clips into short-form social content * 10:35: Creating a start-here playlist for brand new listeners * 11:25: Strategy 4: Reworking your best content into a private podcast experience * 12:00: The case for bundles vs. private podcasts (and when each makes sense) * 12:35: How to use Hello Audio for a private podcast * 13:55: Using a private podcast as a lead magnet, a bonus, or a paid product * 14:20: Strategy 5: Using your back catalog as an FAQ and authority tool * 15:00: Creating an FAQ page that links to specific episodes * 15:30: Keeping a running "send this episode" list * 15:50: Referencing your own episodes in new content * 16:50: Bringing the full series home: 11 strategies across both parts * 17:45: Pick one and start this month Your Next Steps If you want weekly insights on podcast growth, marketing strategy, and turning listeners into subscribers, join the newsletter at: www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe] Want to build a podcast-centric quiz? Get on the waitlist for the 6-Week Quiz Creation Blitz: www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quizblitzwaitlist [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quizblitzwaitlist] Take the Podcast Growth Quiz: www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz] RESOURCES AND LINKS Mentioned in This Episode * Part 1: How to Activate Your Back Catalog [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/activate-back-catalog-part-1] * Episode 73: How to Create Your Authority Stamp with Megan Yelaney [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/megan-yelaney-authority-messaging] * 6-Week Quiz Creation Blitz Waitlist [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quizblitzwaitlist] * Hello Audio [https://helloaudio.fm/] (private podcast hosting platform) * Lewis Howes, School of Greatness [https://lewishowes.com/sogpodcast/] (example of best-of compilations) * Full Show Notes and Blog Post [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/activate-back-catalog-part-2] Connect with Kylee * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.compodcastmarketinghub.com [http://podcastmarketinghub.com] * Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826Podcast Growth Tools [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler@kyleejchandler [https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler] Let's Connect! Share your favorite takeaway from this episode or tell me your hot take on virality. DM me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thepodcastmarketinghub/@thepodcastmarketinghub [https://www.instagram.com/thepodcastmarketinghub/]. Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, hit subscribe and leave a review. Reviews help more podcasters like you discover this show. *

Episode 75: 11 Ways to Turn Old Podcast Episodes Into New Growth: Part 1

When was the last time you actually did anything with your old podcast episodes after they went live? If the answer is never, you are sitting on a goldmine and you do not even know it. In this episode of Podcast Growth Tools, I am walking you through five strategies to audit, optimize, and reactivate your podcast back catalog so it starts working for your business again. Every episode you have ever published has the potential to grow your email list, bring in new listeners, and drive people to your offers. But most podcasters publish an episode, promote it once, and never touch it again. This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Today is the strategic foundation: auditing your data, optimizing what is underperforming, and setting everything up. In Part 2, we are turning your back catalog into podcast bundles, quizzes, private podcast experiences, freebies, and more. Even if you only have 15 or 20 episodes, listen in. You are at an advantage because you can start thinking ahead about how every episode you create today will work for you months and years from now. 🔑Here's a glance to the episode: Step 1: Audit Your Back Catalog * How to identify your top 10 evergreen winners and your bottom 10 underperformers * How to find patterns in your data (solo vs. interviews, topics, episode length) * Which platforms to pull your analytics from for the most complete picture * How to use Google Analytics to see which episodes are driving action on your website Step 2: Optimize Your Underperforming Episodes * Why great content with bad packaging gets ignored * Before and after example: "My thoughts on making money" vs. a keyword-rich title * How to rework descriptions for SEO discoverability on Apple Podcasts and Spotify * Real results: episodes going from 30 downloads to 150-200 just from a title and description change Step 3: Update Your Blog-Style Show Notes * How to add internal links between episodes to keep people on your website * Why you need to refresh old CTAs with your current offers * How to turn thin show notes into full blog posts that Google can index Step 4: Strategic Re-Airs * How to record a fresh intro and updated CTA for a republished episode * Three use cases: launch weeks, maternity leave, and seasonal relevance * Why this is not secretly recycling content but being intentional about it Step 5: Create a Curated Listening Path * The five-episode framework: awareness, deeper dive, possibility, quick win, CTA * How to turn your back catalog into a sales funnel * Three ways to deliver it: bundles, re-releases on your feed, or private podcasts * How to use the listening path on sales pages, in DMs, and in email sequences Timestamps: * 01:50: Part 1 of a two-part series: the strategic foundation * 03:15: Step 1: Audit your back catalog * 04:50: How to identify your top 10 evergreen winners * 05:15: Why you need to look at your bottom 10 (this is where the opportunities hide) * 05:40: Finding patterns: solo vs. interviews, topics, episode length * 06:30: Which platforms to pull your data from * 07:00: How to check which episodes are driving action (Google Analytics, quiz opt-ins, website traffic) * 08:00: Step 2: Optimize your underperforming episodes * 08:50: Why great content with bad packaging gets ignored * 09:10: Before and after: "My thoughts on making money" vs. a keyword-rich title * 09:55: Reworking your episode descriptions for SEO * 10:30: Adding tags and keywords in your hosting platform * 11:00: Why this is the lowest effort, highest reward thing you can do * 11:10: Real results: episodes going from 30 downloads to 150-200 just from a title and description change * 11:20: Step 3: Update your blog-style show notes on your website * 12:15: Adding internal links between episodes * 12:45: Refreshing old CTAs with current offers * 13:25: Beefing up thin show notes into full blog posts * 14:05: Step 4: Strategic re-airs * 14:45: How to record a fresh intro and updated CTA * 15:15: Three use cases: launch weeks, maternity leave, and seasonal relevance * 16:30: Step 5: Creating a curated listening path * 17:00: The five-episode listening path framework * 18:35: How to use the listening path on sales pages, in DMs, and in email sequences * 19:30: Three ways to deliver the listening path: bundles, re-releases, or private podcasts * 19:45: Recap and homework before Part 2 Mentioned in This Episode * Join the newsletter [http://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe] * Take the Podcast Growth Quiz [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz] * Full Show Notes and Blog Post [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/activate-back-catalog-part-1] Connect with Kylee * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.compodcastmarketinghub.com [http://podcastmarketinghub.com] * Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826Podcast Growth Tools [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler@kyleejchandler [https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler] 💬 Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more podcasters find these strategies and means the world to me. Part 2 drops in two weeks. Make sure you are subscribed so you do not miss it.

Episode 74: 26 Million Downloads Later: The Podcast Growth Strategy That Actually Works with Kelly Smith of Mindful in Minutes

What if the 50, 100, or 650 episodes sitting in your back catalog could be working for you right now, bringing in new listeners, growing your email list, and generating revenue without you creating a single new piece of content? That is exactly what my guest Kelly Smith has built. Kelly is the host of Mindful In Minutes (26 million downloads across nearly nine years) and Meditation Mama. She runs two podcasts, raises two kids, and works roughly 40 hours per month. And her back catalog is one of the most strategic assets in her entire business. In this episode of Podcast Growth Tools, Kelly and I go deep on how she uses a quiz funnel to turn 650+ episodes into personalized playlists for every listener, how she plans her entire podcast calendar six to nine months in advance using a color-coded spreadsheet and real performance data, and the honest numbers behind podcast advertising and monetization. This is one of the nerdiest and most transparent conversations I have had on this show. Kelly gives it to you straight, and if you have been sitting on a back catalog wondering what to do with it, this episode is your answer. 🔑Here's a glance to the episode: * How Kelly grew Mindful In Minutes to 26 million downloads over nine years * Why your back catalog is your most valuable asset and how to activate it * How a quiz funnel turned 650+ episodes into personalized playlists (1,200+ quiz takers from organic traffic alone) * The eight meditation archetypes and what the quiz data revealed about her audience * Why cross-referencing quiz data with episode performance data changed her entire content strategy * How she plans her podcast calendar six to nine months ahead using a color-coded spreadsheet * Why she tracks her stats every single week and lets the data speak instead of her ego * The real numbers behind podcast advertising: CPM rates between $12 and $20, agency minimums of 10,000 downloads per episode, and the math that shows why ads alone are not the answer * Why selling a $44 mini course can make more money than running ads on a 10,000 download episode * How 80% of her retreat attendees are podcast listeners (including one who waited six years for the timing to work) * The two-year rule: why Kelly tells aspiring podcasters to be prepared to show up for free for at least two years * How she balances two podcasts with two kids and a husband who works seven days on, seven days off * Why the trust recession makes longform podcast content more valuable than ever Timestamps: * 03:00: How Kelly started her podcast in 2017 to stay connected with her yoga students * 07:00: The COVID moment: losing $15,000 in a day and then seeing a quarter million downloads in a week * 10:00: How she started her second podcast, Meditation Mama * 11:30: Why consistency and a searchable back catalog are her biggest growth drivers * 14:00: How she infuses her podcast and her business together to create a flywheel * 16:10: How she stays consistent as a mom of two with a husband who works seven days on, seven days off * 17:00: The color-coded spreadsheet: planning six to nine months of content ahead of time * 19:00: Her data-driven approach to content: top categories, what performs, and taking ego out of it * 23:00: Why podcasting is the most intimate form of content in the age of AI * 24:30: The quiz strategy: why she built it and what it does for her listeners * 27:00: Eight quiz results, eight meditation archetypes, and the data behind who is taking the quiz * 31:00: Cross-referencing quiz data with episode performance data (the nerdiest and best part) * 35:00: Client success story: 10,000 quiz takers, 8,500 email subscribers, and 77% revenue growth * 38:00: The real numbers behind podcast monetization and advertising * 40:00: CPM rates, agency minimums, and why ads alone are not the best path for most podcasters * 42:00: Why selling your own micro offers is more profitable than ad revenue * 45:00: Kelly's mini course and virtual retreat strategy for monetization * 47:00: Where to find Kelly, take the quiz, and get a personalized meditation playlist Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode * Join the newsletter [http://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe] * Take the Podcast Growth Quiz [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz] * Full Show Notes and Blog Post [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/kelly-smith-back-catalog-quiz-monetization] Connect with Kelly * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.comyogaforyouonline.com [https://yogaforyouonline.com] * Podcast: Mindful In Minutes [https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/copy-of-podcast] (available on all major podcast apps) * Podcast: Meditation Mama [https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/meditation-mama] (available on all major podcast apps) * Quiz: https://yogaforyouonline.com/quizyogaforyouonline.com/quiz [http://yogaforyouonline.com/quiz] * Mini Course: Mastering Guided Meditations [https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/minicourse] ($44) Connect with Kylee * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.compodcastmarketinghub.com [http://podcastmarketinghub.com] * Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826Podcast Growth Tools [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler@kyleejchandler [https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler] Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more podcasters find these strategies and means the world to me.

Episode 73: 3 Marketing Mistakes Killing Your Podcast & Business Growth (+ What to Do Instead) with Megan Yelaney

Would you publicly share your revenue goal and let people watch you chase it? My guest Megan Yelaney did exactly that, and in this episode we are breaking down everything behind it. Megan is a business coach, messaging strategist, and the host of the Business Not As Usual podcast. She has built a million-dollar brand helping coaches become the one person their clients cannot stop thinking about. She is a former musical theater actress turned entrepreneur, a twin mom, and she is currently on a public mission to hit $200K in 90 days while working under 30 hours a week with two toddlers at home. In this episode of Podcast Growth Tools, Megan shares what she calls the "authority stamp" (or 10K one-liner), how to build thought leadership content that positions you as an expert, three marketing strategies that no longer work and what to do instead, how she uses private podcasts as a launch tool, and what it actually feels like to set a public revenue goal and let people watch the messy middle unfold. This was one of the most tactical interviews I have ever done. By the end of this episode you will have things you can implement today. 🔑Here's a glance to the episode: * What the authority stamp (10K one-liner) is and how to create yours * Why authority comes from lived experience just as much as credentials * An exercise you can do right now to find your authority stamp * The two types of content that build authority faster than anything else * How private podcasts work as a lead magnet and launch tool * Why almost everyone who bought Megan's program had listened to her private podcast first * Three marketing strategies that no longer work in 2026 * Why "people do not care how you get them there" is now completely false * How to name your framework and create tangible tools that make people say "I need that" * Why the post with the most saves of the year barely sold anything * The difference between content that gets saves and content that gets sales * Why sharing the messy middle converts better than polished expert content * How video series are outperforming static educational content right now * What Megan learned about fear of failure from her public $200K challenge Timestamps: * 03:35: What the 10K one-liner is and how it became the "authority stamp" * 05:00: A real-time marketing lesson: why the first version did not sell and what she changed * 07:15: What authority actually means (credentials vs. lived experience) * 09:03: An exercise to find your authority stamp right now * 11:20: How to create authority content: thought leadership and storytelling * 13:50: Video series and why they are working so well right now * 16:00: How private podcasts work as a launch tool (Main Character Energy) * 19:00: How the private podcast led directly to program sales * 20:00: Using podcast testimonial episodes to warm up leads * 23:10: Three marketing strategies that no longer work * 25:00: Shift 1: People now care about the HOW, not just the result * 28:00: Naming your framework and creating tangible tools within it * 29:03: Shift 2: Stop only sharing from your expert perspective * 31:00: Why sharing the messy middle converts better than polished content * 32:30: Shift 3: Educational content alone will not sell your offer * 35:00: The post that got the most saves of the year but barely sold anything * 37:00: The public $200K challenge: why she did it and what she has learned * 41:00: Main Character Energy private podcast: where to listen 📌Resources and Links: * Join the newsletter [http://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe] * Take the Podcast Growth Quiz [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/quiz] * Full Show Notes and Blog Post [https://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/podcast/megan-yelaney-authority-messaging] Connect with Kylee * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.compodcastmarketinghub.com [http://podcastmarketinghub.com] * Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826Podcast Growth Tools [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-growth-tools-podcast-marketing-seo-and/id1790335826] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler@kyleejchandler [https://instagram.com/kyleejchandler] Connect with Megan * Website: https://podcastmarketinghub.comhttps://meganyelaney.com [https://meganyelaney.com] * Podcast: Business Not As Usual Podcast [https://meganyelaney.com/main-character-energy] (available on all major podcast apps) * Instagram: @meganyelaney [https://instagram.com/meganyelaney] 💬 Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more podcasters find these strategies and means the world to me.