500+ Episodes Later: What Every Podcaster Needs to Hear Before Hitting Record

We quit our jobs to build this. Here's what The Podcast Department actually is.

Something shifted this month. Sunjay handed in his resignation. I lost my locum pharmacist role unexpectedly. And instead of panic — we both felt the same thing: relief. Because we already knew what we were supposed to be doing.In this video, we're sitting down together for the first time to talk honestly about what The Podcast Department is, why we built it, and what we're building next — including our own podcast, this YouTube channel, and a very clear vision for the kind of clients we want to work with.📩 Join our newsletter [https://the-podcast-department.kit.com/newsletter] — weekly podcast strategy for healthcare professionals building a business.We talk about: ✅ Why Sunjay left his job — and what 'freedom' looks like on day one✅ The identity crisis we both went through trying to build separate brands and separate audiences✅ Why Pharmacist Diaries became too broad to monetise — and what that taught us✅ The one thing principle — why doing fewer things better changes everything✅ What The Podcast Department actually is (and why the name says it all)✅ Who we want to work with — and why we'll never work with more than a small number of clients at once✅ What's coming on this channel and why we're building in publicWho is The Podcast Department for? Healthcare professionals, clinicians, and health and wellness experts who are building a service-based business — coaching, courses, clinics, bootcamps — and want to use a podcast to grow their authority, build trust with their audience, and convert listeners into paying clients.We help you launch it, grow it, and make it do what it's supposed to do for your business. You show up and record. We handle everything else.Work with usWe offer two ways to work together:1️⃣ Full service — strategy, editing, repurposing, publishing, social content. Everything handled. From £1,500/month.2️⃣ Mentoring — strategy and guidance for healthcare experts who want to build it themselves with expert support. From £500/month.We work with a maximum of five clients at a time. If you'd like to explore working together, book a free discovery call by emailing anisha@thepodcastdepartment.comStay connected: 📩 Join our newsletter [https://the-podcast-department.kit.com/newsletter] — weekly podcast strategy for healthcare professionals building a businessSunjay Vyas on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/⁠]Anisha Patel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-patel-a95b9562/⁠]Sunjay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sunj_av/]Discounts and affiliate links: Music by Audiio [https://audiio.com/partner?oid=1&affid=1974]. Get 70% off! (affiliate link)Try Descript [https://get.descript.com/tjoig46vlks0] for all your video editing needs (affiliate link)Try Auphonic [https://auphonic.com/landing?source=AnishaandSunjay] your AI audio engineer (affiliate link)Get £20 off quality used video and audio gear from MPB [https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ma0em-sunjay-vyas] (affiliate link)

Forget Views — This Is the REAL Reason to Start a Podcast

In this episode of Podcaster Diaries, Sunjay sits down with Gemma Downing-Mapp and Christopher Mapp, founders of Mixxos, to dive deep into the real behind-the-scenes of building a successful business podcast from scratch. From converting an empty office into a working studio 48 hours before launch, to juggling careers, parenthood, guest logistics, brand identity and consistency — this conversation reveals everything most podcasters never share. This episode explores the real reasons Chris and Gemma started their HR and Talent–focused podcast “In The Mix,” examining why perfectionism holds most people back and how consistency matters far more than polished production. They talk about banking ten episodes in advance to avoid burnout and pod fade, navigating co-hosting dynamics as two very different personalities, and why video-based content builds trust faster than anything else. Connect with Mixxos: Gemma Downing-Mapp https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmadowning4/ Christopher Mapp https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismappsomnium/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixxpodcast

Why Most Podcasters Fail (and How to Avoid It)

In this episode of Podcaster Diaries, Sunjay Vyas sits down with Todd Eury, founder of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, to unpack the real reasons most podcasts fail. From humble beginnings on BlogTalkRadio in 2009 to building one of the largest niche podcast networks in healthcare, Todd shares his lessons on consistency, passion, business development through podcasting, and why giving value always comes before ROI. Whether you’re a new podcaster, a business owner, or a creator looking to grow your audience — this episode will inspire you to stay the course, niche down, and build a podcast that truly lasts. ⏱️ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Introduction Sunjay welcomes podcasting legend Todd Urie, the “Podfather” of the Pharmacy Podcast Network. 02:00 – How It All Started Todd shares how he began podcasting in 2009 — before most people even knew what a podcast was. 05:30 – The Power of Consistency Why showing up every week (even when no one’s listening) is the #1 trait of successful podcasters. 09:15 – Podcasting: The Ultimate Cheat Code How podcasting became Todd’s secret weapon for business development, networking, and learning from industry leaders. 13:20 – Give Before You Get The mindset shift that transformed Todd’s career — and why podcasting is really about generosity, not downloads. 17:50 – Turning Passion into Business How the Pharmacy Podcast Network grew from a passion project into a thriving business model. 23:00 – Building in a Niche Why niching down attracts loyal audiences and bigger sponsorships — and why “the riches are in the niches.” 30:40 – Chasing Impact, Not Metrics Sunjay and Todd discuss why podcasters should focus on engagement and value over vanity metrics. 44:00 – Monetisation & Sponsorships Todd breaks down how niche audiences can attract sponsors even with modest download numbers. 50:00 – Tech Talk: From 800 Numbers to Rodecasters How podcast tech evolved from phone calls to pro gear, and Todd’s current setup. 56:00 – Audio vs Video Podcasts Do you really need video? Todd explains why the answer in 2025 is yes. 1:03:00 – Advice for New Podcasters Todd’s biggest tip: before starting your own show, guest on other podcasts to find your voice and grow your network. 1:06:00 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Todd Todd shares how to connect with the Pharmacy Podcast Network and his community of pharmacy changemakers. Todd Eury on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddeury/ Pharmacy Podcast Networkhttps://linktr.ee/PharmacyPodcast

How He Uses an iPhone & Makes Money Podcasting

In this powerful episode of the podcast, I sit down with Nitin Sharma, founder and host of RECtalk, the UK’s most popular podcast in the recruitment industry. Nitin shares how he grew his YouTube channel to over 68,000 subscribers and built a thriving content business — without chasing viral fame, hiring a production crew, or investing in expensive gear. If you're wondering how to start a podcast, grow a niche audience, or monetize your podcast without sponsorships, this episode breaks it all down with honesty, clarity, and real-life experience. Whether you're a recruiter, entrepreneur, content creator, or aspiring podcaster, you’ll get massive value from Nitin’s journey — from starting a podcast as a sales and brand tool, to turning it into a revenue-generating product 👉 Topics include: - The truth about starting a podcast as a business tool - Monetization without millions of views - Consistency vs. creativity - How recording at industry events created new opportunities - Why you don’t need a £5K camera setup to succeed 🎯 Key Quote:*"You’re not going to be Joe Rogan. Get over yourself — and find your ‘why.’"* — Nitin Sharma Connect with Nitin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/] RecTools Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@rectalkpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@rectalkpodcast] Music by Audiio. Get 70% off! (affiliate link)https://audiio.com/partner?oid=1&affid=1974 [https://audiio.com/partner?oid=1&affid=1974] Full shownotes on the website: https://www.podcasterdiaries.com/ [https://www.podcasterdiaries.com/]

500+ Episodes Later: What Every Podcaster Needs to Hear Before Hitting Record

In this episode of Podcaster Diaries, I sit down with Tim Ulbrich, founder and host of the Your Financial Pharmacist podcast. Tim shares how he took his personal finance struggles and turned them into a niche podcast that’s now been running for almost eight years with over 500 episodes—a remarkable achievement in the podcasting world. 💡 What We Cover: * How Tim’s journey from pharmacist to personal finance educator led to starting a podcast * Why podcasting was the right medium in 2017—and still is today * The evolution of his show: from student debt to mid-career wealth strategies * How storytelling helps demystify personal finance * The power of building trust and community through podcasting * A deep dive into his workflow and content planning strategy * How his podcast became the #1 referral source for his business * His monetization journey: from affiliate links to long-term sponsorship deals * Gear, tech, and software tips for beginner and advanced podcasters 🎧 Tim’s Podcast Setup Includes: * 🎤 Mic: Shure SM7B (previously Audio-Technica) * 🎧 Monitoring: Apple EarPods * 🛠️ Tools: Riverside (moving to SquadCast), Descript, Google Drive, Notion, Libsyn Connect with Tim LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/timulbrich/] Website [https://yourfinancialpharmacist.com/] Auphonic your AI audio engineer (affiliate link): ⁠https://auphonic.com/landing?source=AnishaandSunjay⁠ [https://auphonic.com/landing?source=AnishaandSunjay] Get £20 off quality used video and audio gear from MPB (affiliate link): ⁠https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ma0em-sunjay-vyas⁠ [https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ma0em-sunjay-vyas] Get 20% OFF all Naked Pharmacy branded products (affiliate) Use the code THEASS at checkout:⁠ ⁠https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/⁠⁠ [https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/⁠] Connect with us:Sunjay Vyas on Linked In⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/⁠] Anisha Patel on Linked In⁠h ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-patel-a95b9562/⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-patel-a95b9562/⁠] Anisha & Sunjay Instagram Page: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anishaandsunjay⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/anishaandsunjay]