538. Why Most Podcasts Never Grow (and What Actually Works)

540. Building a Private Podcast That Solves a Real Problem

Building a loyal audience is one thing, but finding new ways to serve them can open up entirely different opportunities. In this episode, the morning show cast and crew talk with Sid Meadows about using private podcasting for education, onboarding, community building, and paid podcast content. Drawing from his experience launching a training program for newcomers in his industry, Sid shares how solving a specific problem led to a new revenue stream and a scalable way to deliver valuable content. Here's the thing, a paid podcast doesn't have to be complicated or reserved for large audiences. Sometimes the best ideas come from identifying a need, creating a solution, and being willing to test something new. Episode Highlights: [02:00] Why Private Podcasting Matters [05:53] Core Foundations of a Private Podcast [08:28] Revenue Opportunities and Industry Challenges [14:31] Audio vs. Video Strategy [18:00] Selling and Distribution Plans [24:23] Keeping Content Updated [30:41] Lessons Every Creator Can Apply [31:34] Building Scalable Content Offers [31:51] Solve Real Problems, Not Just Create Content [36:25] Choosing Joy Over the Grind [43:40] Automation and Drip Content [54:08] Launch Plans and Funnels Links & Resources: Core Foundation I Contract Interiors Training: https://www.corefoundations.co/ [https://www.corefoundations.co/] Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show: https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlight [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/spotlight] The Podcasting Morning Show: ⁠⁠www.podcastingmorningshow.com⁠⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com] Ways to Watch or Listen:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/] Meet the PMS Cast and Crew: ⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Book A Free Call With Marc: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval] Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/⁠⁠ [http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/] Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Powered by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠ and⁠ ⁠ContentCreatorsAccountant.com⁠⁠ [http://contentcreatorsaccountant.com] Send in your mailbag questions:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact] Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b [https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

539. Spotify Changes Podcast Analytics Again | Podcast News

The numbers behind your podcast can reveal a lot, but only when you know how to interpret them. In this episode, the morning show cast and crew discuss Spotify's latest platform updates, changing measurement standards, and what these shifts could mean for creators trying to better understand their audience. The conversation dives into podcast analytics, listener behavior, video consumption trends, sponsorship opportunities, and the ongoing challenge of measuring meaningful engagement. Here's the thing, bigger numbers don't always tell a bigger story. Sometimes the most valuable insights come from understanding how people connect with your content, not just how many people press play. Episode Highlights:[03:19] Camp Footprint Story  [08:19] Candy Man at Camp  [13:45] Podcast Stats and Summer Schedule [16:29] Canada Podcast Report [25:21] Business Bite: Side Careers for Creators [27:16] Print-on-Demand Profits [28:41] Sell Digital Products [30:10] Fund Your Dreams Smartly [32:44] The Podcast Monetization Debate [35:48] Trust and Sponsorship Fit [37:12] Relationships Over Metrics [41:48] Instagram-to-RSS Automation [44:24] Spotify 30-Second Plays Explained [49:04] Sponsor Value Beyond Downloads Links & Resources: Content Creator’s Accountant Blog Post: Earn While Growing https://www.contentcreatorsaccountant.com/blog/money-while-your-podcast-grows/ [https://www.contentcreatorsaccountant.com/blog/money-while-your-podcast-grows/] Stampede Social:  https://www.stampede.social/ [https://www.stampede.social/] Empowered Podcasting Conference on August 21-23, 2026: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/ [https://empoweredpodcasting.com/] PodSummit: Canada's Premier Podcasting Event  https://www.podsummit.com/ [https://www.podsummit.com/] Podcast Movement:  https://2026.podcastmovement.com/ [https://2026.podcastmovement.com/] Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show: https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlight [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/spotlight] The Podcasting Morning Show: ⁠⁠www.podcastingmorningshow.com⁠⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com] Ways to Watch or Listen:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/] Meet the PMS Cast and Crew: ⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Book A Free Call With Marc: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval] Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/⁠⁠ [http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/] Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Powered by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠ and⁠ ⁠ContentCreatorsAccountant.com⁠⁠ [http://contentcreatorsaccountant.com] Send in your mailbag questions:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact] Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b [https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

538. Why Most Podcasts Never Grow (and What Actually Works)

Growing a podcast is harder than most people expect, and there are real reasons why most podcasts never grow. Podcast Hall of Famer Arielle Nissenblatt joins the morning show cast and crew to break down what actually works, from audience development and podcast discovery to newsletter marketing and building genuine connections with listeners. If your download numbers have felt stuck, her perspective might shift how you're thinking about it. Growth rarely comes from one big break or a single clever tactic. It comes from small improvements over time, smarter positioning, and testing things until you find what actually resonates with the audience you're trying to reach. Episode Highlights: [09:15] Meet Arielle Nissenblatt [15:59] The Origins of the EarBuds Newsletter [21:04] How to Get Press Passes for Events [28:50] How to Get Featured in EarBuds [39:19] Audience Growth Myths [42:49] Consistency vs. Quality [47:22] How to Audit Your Show [51:48] Low-Hanging Optimization Opportunities [53:40] Collaborations and Pre-Pitching Strategies [56:23] Paid Media Options for Growth [01:00:18] Objective Feedback and Podcast Audits [01:05:45] Why Podcasting Is Thriving Links & Resources: Connect with Arielle Nissenblatt:  https://www.ariellenissenblatt.com/ [https://www.ariellenissenblatt.com/]  Jason Cercone's Podcast:  https://www.bombtrackmedia.com/simplified [https://www.bombtrackmedia.com/simplified] Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show: https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlight [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/spotlight] The Podcasting Morning Show: ⁠⁠www.podcastingmorningshow.com⁠⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com] Ways to Watch or Listen:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/] Meet the PMS Cast and Crew: ⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Book A Free Call With Marc: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval] Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/⁠⁠ [http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/] Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Powered by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠ and⁠ ⁠ContentCreatorsAccountant.com⁠⁠ [http://contentcreatorsaccountant.com] Send in your mailbag questions:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact] Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b [https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

537. When Your Family Doesn't Understand Your Podcast

Podcasting can change more than your audience, it can change the relationships around you. The morning show cast and crew talk about what it means to understand your podcast through the eyes of spouses, partners, children, and family members who may not always share your passion. From navigating tough conversations about time, money, and support to handling feedback from the people closest to you, the discussion is filled with honest stories and personal reflections. Here's the thing, understanding your podcast isn't just about downloads and growth. Sometimes it's about recognizing how the people in your life experience the journey alongside you. Episode Highlights: [08:02] Partners and Podcasting [10:07] Supportive Spouse Stories [14:39] When Support Is Missing [19:14] Family Listening and Tension [21:24] Mailbag: Partner Doubts [24:21] Explaining Podcasting at Home [28:12] Partners Just Need Joy [29:34] Money Talks: Podcast Revenue [32:06] Podcasting Is a Job [33:45] Handling Spouse Critiques [35:28] The Ego-Free Feedback Mindset [39:26] When Kids Feel Embarrassed Links & Resources: At the Counter with the Baking Pastor: https://bakingpastor.com/atc-podcast/ [https://bakingpastor.com/atc-podcast/] Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show: https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlight [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/spotlight] The Podcasting Morning Show: ⁠⁠www.podcastingmorningshow.com⁠⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com] Ways to Watch or Listen:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/] Meet the PMS Cast and Crew: ⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Book A Free Call With Marc: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval] Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/⁠⁠ [http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/] Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Powered by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠ and⁠ ⁠ContentCreatorsAccountant.com⁠⁠ [http://contentcreatorsaccountant.com] Send in your mailbag questions:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact] Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b [https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

536. How to Create Podcast Interviews People Remember

Anyone can create a podcast, but creating interviews that listeners remember takes a different set of skills. The morning show cast and crew sit down with podcasting veteran Dave Jackson to talk about what it really takes to create podcast conversations that feel natural, engaging, and worth sharing. From researching guests and asking stronger follow-up questions to building lasting relationships and using AI without losing the human touch, the discussion is full of practical lessons from years behind the microphone. Here's the thing, the best interviews aren't driven by a list of questions. They're built on curiosity, preparation, and a willingness to truly listen. Episode Highlights: [02:29] Guest Intro: Dave Jackson [04:28] Pre-Interview Preparation [08:54] Researching Guests More Deeply [10:23] Avoiding Generic Interviews [13:45] The Skills Behind Great Conversations [19:53] Common Mid-Interview Mistakes [21:32] How to Disagree with Guests Respectfully [31:07] Pitching Guests the Smart Way [33:46] What Great Interviewers Do Differently [41:03] Post-Interview Follow-Through [44:41] Using AI to Create Better Episodes [48:44] Keep It Human Links & Resources: Dave Jackson's links:  School of Podcasting:  https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/ [https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/] Podcast consulting:  https://www.podcastconsultant.com/ [https://www.podcastconsultant.com/] Book: Profit from Your Podcast https://a.co/d/0bjJUCxh [https://a.co/d/0bjJUCxh] Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show: https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlight [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/spotlight] The Podcasting Morning Show: ⁠⁠www.podcastingmorningshow.com⁠⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com] Ways to Watch or Listen:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/] Meet the PMS Cast and Crew: ⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Book A Free Call With Marc: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval⁠⁠ [https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval] Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:⁠⁠⁠ http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/⁠⁠ [http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/] Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Powered by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠ and⁠ ⁠ContentCreatorsAccountant.com⁠⁠ [http://contentcreatorsaccountant.com] Send in your mailbag questions:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ [https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact] Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b [https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]