531. Standing Out Online When Everyone Uses AI

542. YouTube Is Now the Top Podcast Discovery Platform

Finding new listeners has never been easier, yet getting discovered can still feel like one of the biggest challenges in podcasting. In this episode, the morning show cast and crew discuss how YouTube has become a major Podcast Discovery Platform, changing the way audiences find and engage with new shows. The conversation covers listener behavior, social media's role in growth, AI-generated content, advertising trends, and why creators need to think beyond traditional podcast apps. Most podcasts don't struggle because there aren't enough listeners. They struggle because those listeners are discovering content in places many creators aren't paying attention to. Episode Highlights: [02:41] Game Talk [06:13] News and Data Roundup [14:19] Business Bite: Beyond CPM Revenue [21:01] Amanda Returns Update [27:08] Shure Microphone Deals [28:51] The AI Podcast Flood [30:24] The Transparency Debate [32:06] Regulation Risks for AI Content [39:56] Netflix and Video Podcasts [47:49] YouTube's Discovery Shift [50:04] Podcast Growth Tactics Breakdown [53:29] Paid Ads and Podcast Websites [01:00:02] Using AI for Analytics Links & Resources: Empowered Podcasting LIVE! (live or recorded): https://podcastingmorningshow.com/epclive [https://e] Shure's 4-day Sale: https://www.shure.com/en-US/special-offers [https://www.shure.com/en-US/special-offers] 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]

541. Why Most Podcasts Don't Grow

Growing a podcast audience has never been easy, and today's creators face more competition and more choices than ever before. In this episode, the morning show cast and crew sit down with Rob Walch to talk about audience growth, discoverability, monetization, AI, video podcasting, and the lessons learned from more than two decades in the industry. One of the biggest takeaways is why most podcasts don't grow as quickly as many creators expect. Rob shares practical advice on podcast SEO, advertising, and building an audience that sticks around. Whether you're launching your first show or looking to grow an existing one, this episode offers a realistic look at what it takes to succeed in podcasting today. Episode Highlights: [02:01] Meet Rob Walch [07:11] Blue Yeti Microphone: Then and Now [09:27] Why the Old Podcasting Advice Still Works [10:40] Is It Too Late to Start a Podcast? [15:35] How to Spot Fake Podcast Numbers [17:19] The Basics of Real Podcast Growth [21:37] Podcast SEO and Search Discovery [25:55] The Podcast Discovery Myth [27:14] Why Podcasters Quit [30:28] Monetization Beyond CPMs [35:06] Programmatic Ads Explained [37:39] The Reality of HLS Video [53:23] AI Tools vs. AI Slop Links & Resources: Connect with Rob Walch: * https://www.podcage.com/podcast411/about/ [https://www.podpage.com/podcast411/about/] * https://www.inandaroundpodcasting.com/ [https://www.inandaroundpodcasting.com/] * https://captivate.fm [https://captivate.fm] 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]

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]