Still think LinkedIn is just for job seekers or recruiter pitches? Think again. It’s one of the last platforms where organic reach actually works—and it might be one of the fastest ways to get new listeners to your podcast every week. In this episode, Jay Schwedelson breaks down the exact LinkedIn strategy he's used to help grow Do This, Not That into a Top 10 marketing podcast in the U.S., with over 390 episodes and 2,000+ glowing reviews—all in under two years. By the end of this episode, you’...
Jul 02, 2025•25 min•Ep. 349
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Where in my episode should I put my call to action?” — this one’s for you. Because even if your CTA is perfectly worded, it won’t drive action if it’s in the wrong spot or the listener payoff isn’t clear. And if your audience isn’t taking the next step, you’re not just missing out on listener engagement—it’s a hidden leak in your lead flow, costing you potential clients and revenue you don’t even realize you’re losing. In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly ...
Jun 25, 2025•18 min•Ep. 348
You KNOW you should give a call to action in every podcast episode. But every time you sit down to record, your brain short-circuits — should you tell them to follow the show? Join your list? Download the freebie? Book a call? Support your sponsor? Buy your thing? Say too much and you sound desperate. Say too little and you miss your chance to turn listeners into leads. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason CTAs feel awkward, the difference between a call to engage and a call to act...
Jun 18, 2025•25 min•Ep. 347
You’re showing up. You’re publishing every week. So why does it still feel like no one’s listening? That’s the question Conrad—documentary filmmaker and host of The First Responder Wellness Podcast—was asking when he came to me for help. He's nearly 80 episodes in and reaching first responders across the country… but getting no reviews, no shares, and not enough listener engagement to know if the podcast is actually helping anyone. In this Fix My Pod coaching session, we dig into why this happen...
Jun 11, 2025•25 min•Ep. 346
Downloads are the most unreliable metric for measuring a podcast’s true success. The problem? Most podcasters still rely solely on them to decide if their show is “working.” In this episode, find out why the podcasting metrics that matter most aren’t the ones at the top of your dashboard, and learn to decode what these five key data points say about your show's growth. If you’re ready to make sense of your numbers and finally build a show that grows (without guessing and without wasting time on ...
Jun 04, 2025•24 min•Ep. 345
Spotify just rolled out a new feature called “Plays” that shows your episode play counts publicly inside their app. But this move isn’t about helping creators. It’s about algorithmically manipulating what used to be a level playing field—and it benefits Spotify, not you. Worse? It distracts you from the metrics that actually show if your podcast is working. And for independent, niche hosts, this one visible number will breed unhealthy comparison, magnify self-doubt, and drive thousands of talent...
May 29, 2025•14 min•Ep. 344
Quick—nothing’s batched and an episode’s due tomorrow. What do you do? Panic? Procrastinate? Skip it and hope no one notices? Sure, you could ghost your audience—but what does that really cost you? Authority. Credibility. The listener trust you’ve worked so hard to build. That’s why in this episode, I’m giving you 8 plug-and-play ideas you can use anytime your production schedule falls apart and you’re about to spiral into “I’m failing at podcasting.” These are the exact strategies I’ve used whe...
May 28, 2025•17 min•Ep. 343
It’s the day before your episode goes live—and you still have to outline it, record it, edit it, and get it all done before 6:00 am tomorrow morning when your listeners will be looking for it. You tell yourself you work better under pressure, but this pace is unsustainable. It drains your energy, kills your creativity, and honestly? It makes you hate your podcast. In this episode, I’m answering a listener’s question about finding time to prep your episodes—and exposing what’s really behind the l...
May 22, 2025•20 min•Ep. 342
You’ve probably Googled it. You’ve definitely heard five different answers from five different podcast “experts.” But how long should your episodes be? That depends entirely on your listener—and in this episode, I’m showing you how to figure out your perfect episode length using real data from your show. You’ll learn the two metrics that matter most (and exactly where to find them), how to run a simple 10-episode audit to calculate your ideal episode length, and why nailing this is the fastest w...
May 21, 2025•16 min•Ep. 341
Most podcasters want more revenue from their podcast—but few have a plan for getting there. In this episode, Danielle Hayden (reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting) is back to break down the numbers side of podcast growth. If you’ve ever wondered how to track conversions from your podcast, how to budget for your show, or how to confidently decide where to invest, this episode gives you the strategy most podcasters struggle to figure out alone. So if you’re ready to learn how...
May 15, 2025•20 min•Ep. 340
Your podcast isn’t making money yet, so you think twice before investing in it. But without investing in the help you need to grow your show, it keeps struggling to bring in revenue. Ready to break out of the cycle? Meet Danielle Hayden—reformed corporate CFO, founder of Kickstart Accounting and host of Business by the Books . She joins me to break down why most podcasters never reach profitability, what your podcast spending habits reveal about you, and what needs to change if you want your pod...
May 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 339
Most podcasters think the problem is low downloads. But do you know what actually causes low downloads? When people can’t tell—within seconds—why your show is for them. Fellow podcaster Desiree Petrich shares the messy, emotional (and ultimately empowering) process of rebranding her show—from trying to be everything for everyone to creating a bingeworthy podcast that speaks directly to first-time managers. You’ll hear what happened when she finally narrowed her focus, brought more of her real vo...
May 08, 2025•20 min•Ep. 338
You’re second-guessing your content. Overthinking your numbers. Wondering if podcasting is even worth it. And it’s not because you’re doing it wrong—it’s because you’re doing it alone. In this episode, I’m joined by longtime podcaster and founder of the New England Podcasters Group, Andy Lyons, to expose the hidden costs of podcasting in isolation—and why plugging into a room of serious podcasters could be the thing that finally gets your show the numbers it deserves. So if you’ve been white-knu...
May 07, 2025•19 min•Ep. 337
If you’re still airing interviews you wouldn’t listen to yourself—just because you feel obligated toward your guests—you’re not building trust with your listeners. You’re breaking it. And once your audience feels like their time isn’t valued? They won’t complain. They’ll just stop listening. If you want a podcast that builds authority and drives loyalty, you need to lead interviews that earn attention. In this episode, you’ll learn how to ask questions your guest hasn’t answered a dozen times, p...
May 01, 2025•20 min•Ep. 336
If your guest could’ve given the same answers on five other podcasts, you didn’t lead the interview—you hosted a rerun. And when every guest episode sounds the same? Listeners don’t blame the guest. They stop trusting you. In this episode, you’ll learn the three host mistakes that quietly erode your authority, why “just letting the convo flow” leads to copy-paste content your audience has already heard, and how to stay in control of the conversation without sounding stiff or losing rapport. Beca...
Apr 30, 2025•19 min•Ep. 335
Most podcasters know they need a website. But the wrong kind of site can bury your show in search and cost you the listeners, leads, and visibility you're working so hard to earn. In this episode, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about podcasting websites—from what to include (and what to avoid), to where it should live, to the one mistake that could be sending all your search traffic (and Google authority) to someone else’s site instead of yours. So if you’ve ever Googled “Does my ...
Apr 24, 2025•19 min•Ep. 334
Krissy Bold launched a parenting podcast with a confusing name, hour-long episodes no one finished, and a message no one was clicking on. Then she made a few key changes and hit #3 in Parenting—outranking Big Bird, Blippi, and Frozen in under a week—and she’s been ranking on the top podcasting charts ever since. What changed? In this episode, we’re unpacking the key differences between a podcast people scroll past and one they binge, share, and rave about. Even better? You'll learn how to apply ...
Apr 23, 2025•26 min•Ep. 333
Still waiting to feel “ready” before you start pitching the guests or sponsors you really want? In this episode, HuffPost contributor and media expert Alice Draper is back to show you the exact process she uses to turn rejection into a measurable growth strategy for your podcast. You’ll learn how to build your “rejection muscle,” set rejection goals that lead to more yeses, and use data from ignored or declined pitches to refine your messaging and land bigger and better opportunities. So if you’...
Apr 17, 2025•19 min•Ep. 332
You know that pitch you *almost* sent? Or that big guest or sponsor you’re telling yourself you’ll reach out to “once you’re ready”? That idea you keep researching but haven’t acted on yet? This episode is about that moment—when you're stuck between wanting more for your podcast and actually going after it. HuffPost contributor and media expert Alice Draper has helped clients land guest spots on 500+ podcasts, including WorkLife with Adam Grant and UnF*ck Your Brain . She joins me to unpack the ...
Apr 16, 2025•20 min•Ep. 331
You’ve heard “niche down” is the key to podcast growth. But what if your niche is actually too narrow to scale? In this live coaching session, I walk Dennis through why his podcast wasn’t attracting the audience he really wanted—and the simple repositioning moves we made to fix it. We're breaking down how his show's branding was confusing listeners instead of converting them, and how these core podcast content gatekeepers will either earn the click or cost you the download. So if you’re tired of...
Apr 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 330
You’ve got the mic. You’ve got the mission. So why isn’t anyone listening? That’s the question Dennis—high school athletics coach turned podcaster—was asking when he came to me for help. He knew who he wanted to serve, but a few months in, he was still struggling to get people to notice his show. In this first-ever Fix My Pod on-air coaching session, we’re breaking down the gap between knowing your audience and actually getting them to click play—because nothing kills momentum faster than showin...
Apr 09, 2025•24 min•Ep. 329
You’ve been told video podcasting the only way to grow your show—but the ones shouting the loudest about it? They’re the ones profiting from your overwhelm. In this episode, Buzzsprout’s Head of Marketing Alban Brooke is back to expose what no one is talking about: the hidden costs, the inflated promises, and the hard data that shows how video might actually be hurting your show more than helping it. He also shares what *really* happened behind the scenes when Buzzsprout went all-in on video—and...
Apr 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 328
You could record another episode. You could double down on promotion. You could even guest on a hundred other podcasts. But if your show isn’t built to attract the right listeners? None of it will work. In this episode, Alban Brooke, Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, rips apart the most common (and costly) podcast growth myths—like why simply “putting out great content” isn’t enough and why most marketing tactics are a waste of time. So if you’re ready to quit the endless cycle of more content, m...
Apr 02, 2025•26 min•Ep. 327
Spending hours on your podcast but still waiting for it to pay off? PodLaunch® graduate Jen Edmonds was too—booking guests last minute, scrambling to release episodes, and promoting nonstop with nothing to show for it. The fix? A streamlined podcast strategy that turned her show into an audience growth engine. In this episode, we’re breaking down the exact shifts Jen made, what happens when you treat your podcast like an asset instead of an afterthought, and the podcast systems you need to actua...
Mar 27, 2025•21 min•Ep. 326
If you’ve been told that sharing your podcast on social media will grow your audience—spoiler alert—it won’t. And if you’ve been stuck at the same download count despite posting, guesting, and promoting your show, this episode will show you why. We’re busting the biggest misconceptions about podcast growth, including why consistency alone won’t build your audience (and what will), why guesting on bigger podcasts doesn’t guarantee more listeners, and the one thing you must have in place before an...
Mar 26, 2025•22 min•Ep. 325
If you don’t have a guest release form in place, this episode is your wake-up call. If you do have one, are you sure it actually protects you? Podcasting attorney Gordon Firemark is back to break down why every podcaster (yes, even small shows) needs a rock-solid guest release before hitting record. He shares exactly what it should include, when your guests should sign it, and the real-life story of a podcaster who skipped this step—and got sued for it. So if you want peace of mind knowing your ...
Mar 20, 2025•13 min•Ep. 324
You put in the work. You craft your episodes. You build your brand. But what if someone swoops in and steals it—your content, your show name, even your audience—because you didn’t have the right legal protections in place? That’s exactly what we’re tackling today with podcast and entertainment lawyer Gordon Firemark. From copyrights and trademarks to AI-generated content and guest releases, we’re breaking down the most overlooked legal protections every podcaster needs to have in place before it...
Mar 19, 2025•19 min•Ep. 323
Ever stare at your podcast stats, searching for proof your show is actually working—only to wonder if anyone even cares? Pressing play isn’t the same as listening. If people drop off early, skip episodes, or never engage, your podcast isn’t holding their attention. And if your show keeps getting swiped past, it’s time to figure out why. In this episode, I’m breaking down the four unmistakable signs that prove your podcast is resonating with listeners (or not). You’ll learn why downloads don’t te...
Mar 13, 2025•22 min•Ep. 322
Ever spent hours crafting a podcast episode packed with expert knowledge, only to watch it get fewer downloads than the one you threw together last minute? Or worse—seen another podcast with generic advice rack up five-star reviews while your in-depth, value-packed episodes keep getting ignored? In this episode, I’m breaking down why what you think is valuable and what your listeners perceive as valuable are two completely different things. If you don’t bridge that gap, your podcast won’t just s...
Mar 12, 2025•20 min•Ep. 321
So, you want your audience to see you as a pro? Good news: it’s not about having the latest gear. It’s about knowing when to upgrade and how to maximize what you’ve got. Home studio expert Junaid Ahmed is back to share his simple, no-BS advice on building a home studio setup that grows with you. We’re breaking down when to invest in new gear, when to hold off, and the small tweaks that make a big difference in your sound—without blowing your budget. If you think better gear is the key to earning...
Mar 06, 2025•21 min•Ep. 320
