Podcasting Morning Chat

449. Stop Letting Trolls Kill Your Podcast Momentum

What do you do when hateful comments land harder than you expect? Today, we’re cracking into the mailbag and starting with a candid conversation about dealing with trolls and the inner critic that can flare up when your work is put out in public. That’s just one of the listener questions we tackle. We also continue the ongoing audio vs. video discussion, exploring why this question keeps coming up and what podcasters should consider before changing their format or adding more to their workflow. To wrap up a valuable week of conversations, we share a round of wins from our community and take a moment to celebrate progress, growth, and showing up. Episode Highlights:  [05:43] Mailbag: listener feedback on promoting older episodes [09:27] Handling hateful comments [18:43] Audio versus video for guest interviews [30:29] Starting with audio and overcoming barriers [31:46] Improving Zoom quality with practical tips [36:25] Standing firm in your podcasting strategy [37:51] Balancing video and audio podcasting [44:11] Wins of the week and celebrating successes [46:39] Community, collaboration, and support Links & Resources:  The Podcasting Morning Chat:  www.podpage.com/pmc [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/?utm_source=clubhouse] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header] Book A Free Call With Me:  https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] Upcoming Obsession Worthy Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-birds-one-hundred-stones/id1762447440?i=1000696517634 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-birds-one-hundred-stones/id1762447440?i=1000696517634] Upcoming Evaluation, "Movies in a Nutshell":  https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularity [https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularity] Improve Your Zoom Audio & Video Quality: https://bit.ly/4bGrc2s [https://bit.ly/4bGrc2s] Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community. Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠ [https://youtube.com/@marcronick%E2%81%A0] Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠  Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you! --- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/] or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:  ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠ [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

448. Why Most Podcasters Are Pricing Sponsorships Wrong

Do you really need massive download numbers to earn an income in podcasting? Today, we’re digging into the mailbag to answer listener questions that get to the heart of how podcasts actually grow and earn. We start with a smart question about marketing your back catalog and why older episodes can still work for your show long after they’re published. That conversation opens the door to discussion on podcast sponsorships. Co-host Sid breaks down how independent podcasters can think about pricing in a way that makes sense for smaller, loyal audiences. Instead of chasing download counts or copying what big shows do, we talk about understanding your costs, the value of your audience, and why monetization is something you build toward over time. This doesn’t happen overnight, and it's part of the process. If you’re an indie podcaster trying to figure out what sponsorships could look like for your show, this episode offers an intentional way to think about value and long-term sustainability. Episode Highlights:  [03:41] Breaking news on the Substack data breach [05:21] Password security tips and best practices [09:32] Marketing your podcast’s back catalog [27:43] Analyzing data in Apple Podcasts Connect [29:49] The Wheel of Jargon: understanding podcast terms [32:21] Understanding shadow banning on social media [38:09] Deciding sponsorship rates for your podcast [39:04] Sid’s sponsorship strategy and real-world success [43:38] Understanding the value of your podcast audience Links & Resources:  The Podcasting Morning Chat:  www.podpage.com/pmc [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/?utm_source=clubhouse] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header] Book A Free Call With Me:  https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall [https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall] The Trend Report with Sid Meadows:  https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast [https://www.sidmeadows.com/podcast] Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community. Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠ [https://youtube.com/@marcronick%E2%81%A0] Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠  Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you! --- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/] or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:  ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠ [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

447. Joe Rogan Refused Validation and Proved a Point

Joe Rogan made headlines this week by refusing to pay the $500 entry fee required to be considered for a Golden Globe. Was it a publicity move, or simply someone who doesn’t need another trophy to prove a point? On today’s news day, that moment became the spark for a much larger conversation about power, recognition, and how podcasting is colliding with mainstream media. From there, we widen the lens to look at the shifts shaping the industry right now. We unpack new platform moves, evolving rules around monetization, growing conversations about AI-generated voices, and what all of it means for indie podcasters. We also take a closer look at Open Claw, an emerging AI tool that hints at where true digital assistants may be headed. Episode Highlights:  [02:43] Top podcasts on Spotify and Apple [04:15] Upcoming podcasting events [09:59] Apple’s new billing rule and what it means for Patreon creators [16:56] Substack’s new TV app [22:23] New York’s AI voice regulation bill [26:16] Legal implications of AI in podcasting [28:31] Joe Rogan and the Golden Globes controversy [35:38] South by Southwest and Podcast Movement Evolutions [42:40] Introducing Open Claw and the future of AI assistants Links & Resources:  The Podcasting Morning Chat:  www.podpage.com/pmc [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/?utm_source=clubhouse] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header] PodNews: www.podnews.net [http://www.podnews.net] Podcasthon:  https://podcasthon.org [https://podcasthon.org] CBC Podcasts Accepting Pitches:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJMh0HVboS2Wlt773SLJe1IvBaHVst9Fr954bBtHnwjQcCWw/viewform [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJMh0HVboS2Wlt773SLJe1IvBaHVst9Fr954bBtHnwjQcCWw/viewform] Meet Up & Match Up:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJMh0HVboS2Wlt773SLJe1IvBaHVst9Fr954bBtHnwjQcCWw/viewform [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJMh0HVboS2Wlt773SLJe1IvBaHVst9Fr954bBtHnwjQcCWw/viewform] Waves Audio:  https://www.waves.com/voice-regen [https://www.waves.com/voice-regen] Joe Rogan’s Take on Not Winning a Golden Globe Award: https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/joe-rogan-not-nominated-golden-globes-podcast-award-submission-fee-1236644807/ [https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/joe-rogan-not-nominated-golden-globes-podcast-award-submission-fee-1236644807/] SXSW Welcomes Podcasting to the Big Stage:  https://www.netinfluencer.com/podcasting-claims-its-seat-at-sxsw-as-measurement-roi-conversations-intensify [https://www.netinfluencer.com/podcasting-claims-its-seat-at-sxsw-as-measurement-roi-conversations-intensify/] Open Claw:  https://openclaw.ai [https://openclaw.ai] Three Peaks Retreat:  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/891499709595204971?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76&source_impression_id=p3_1770218315_P31LWTuSPuj2x56R [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/891499709595204971?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76&source_impression_id=p3_1770218315_P31LWTuSPuj2x56R] Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community. Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠ [https://youtube.com/@marcronick%E2%81%A0] Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠  Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you! --- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/] or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:  ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠ [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

446. What Every Podcaster Can Steal from 'How I Built This'

Today, we’re asking you to rethink how you judge progress in podcasting. Is it really about choosing quantity or quality, or does the answer depend on where you are and what you’re building? In this installment of our Obsession Worthy Podcasts series, led by co-host Jonathan Howard, we break down How I Built This, focusing on the Taylor Guitars episode. We look closely at how a strong cold open widens the audience, builds curiosity, and signals that a show is worth sticking with. From there, the conversation moves into systems, completion, and why finished work teaches you more than half-done ideas ever will. Hopefully, after hearing this, you’ll consider the process and rethink what growth actually looks like when you’re trying to build a podcast with staying power. Episode Highlights:  [03:04] Flight delays and boarding frustrations [05:06] Customer service lessons from a travel experience [15:07] Obsession-worthy podcast series overview [26:15] The origin story behind Taylor Guitars [31:38] Balancing cold opens for video and audio [35:17] Why human stories matter in podcasting [43:53] The quality versus quantity debate [53:56] Taylor Swift guitar story Links & Resources:  The Podcasting Morning Chat:  www.podpage.com/pmc [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/?utm_source=clubhouse] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header] How I Built This:  https://wondery.com/shows/how-i-built-this/episode/10386-taylor-guitars-kurt-listug-and-bob-taylor-from-3700-shop-to-global-icon/ [https://wondery.com/shows/how-i-built-this/episode/10386-taylor-guitars-kurt-listug-and-bob-taylor-from-3700-shop-to-global-icon/] Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community. Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠ [https://youtube.com/@marcronick%E2%81%A0] Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠  Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you! --- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/] or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:  ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠ [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]

445. How the Pre-Interview Creates Better Stories Every Time

The most compelling interviews don’t start when you hit record. They start before your guest ever shows up. Today, we’re talking about why pre-interviews are not extra work. They are more like insurance. We walk through how a short pre-interview can prevent awkward moments, poor energy, and the dreaded moment when your guest drifts off topic. This conversation is especially helpful for newer podcasters booking guests and for experienced hosts who want smoother, more focused interviews. To wrap up the week, we take a moment to share the wins happening in our community, no matter how big or small. Episode Highlights:  [01:44] Why pre-interviews matter [03:42] Key elements of effective pre-interviews [04:01] Personal experiences using pre-interviews [07:24] Handling sensitive topics with care [17:59] Common challenges and best practices [27:45] Supporting nervous or long-winded guests [28:47] Maintaining energy during recordings [31:33] Making smart adjustments in real time [40:11] Celebrating Wins Links & Resources:  The Podcasting Morning Chat:  www.podpage.com/pmc [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/?utm_source=clubhouse] Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting] Empowered Podcasting Conference 3: Use discount code ‘Podfest26’ to get your ticket for under $200:  https://empoweredpodcasting.com [https://empoweredpodcasting.com] Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header] Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community. Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠ [https://youtube.com/@marcronick%E2%81%A0] Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠ [http://ironickmedia.com/]⁠  Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you! --- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ [https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/] or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠ Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:  ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠ [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b]