The How To Podcast Series - Podcast Co-Hosts, Practical Podcasting Tips, and Podcast Community

Episode 859 - Feed Drop - Oh That's A Fact with Joshua Hess - 30 Episodes in 30 Days NaPodPoMo

Supporting Another Podcaster

Podcasting becomes stronger when podcasters support each other. Dave highlights Joshua, a longtime member of the How To Podcast Series virtual meetup, who has committed to creating 30 episodes in 30 days during National Podcast Post Month.

Joshua brings a thoughtful approach to podcasting and a passion for voice work. His new show, Oh, That's a Fact, takes a fact and explores the research and information behind it. The result gives listeners interesting knowledge they can carry into everyday conversations.

Give the Support You Would Want

Dave asks listeners to support Joshua by listening to the podcast, following or subscribing, and making a commitment to return for the rest of his November episodes. The request comes from a simple idea. Think about the support you would want when you launch something new, then offer that same support to someone else.

Dave also emphasizes that Joshua did not need to ask for this promotion. Dave chose to share the show because he believes in Joshua and wants other podcasters to discover his work.

Community Matters

Joshua represents the kind of person Dave values in the podcasting community. He participates in conversations, shares his perspective, and makes space for other people to speak. His involvement in the meetup shows how podcast communities can create relationships that extend beyond publishing episodes.

The message reaches beyond Joshua's podcast. Podcasters need people who will listen, encourage them, and help their work reach another listener.

Support another podcaster today. Listen to their show. Follow it. Tell someone about it. A small action from one person can mean a great deal to someone building something they care about.

Oh That's A Fact - I'm Joshua, your KNOWLEDGE CURATOR with a podcast that challenges common concepts by offering fresh insights and unexpected twists on familiar ideas. Each episode bridges knowledge gaps and reimagines the familiar to reach listeners worldwide.

As you can tell, I have so many questions. So, if you have questions and an insatiable curiosity, this podcast aims to give you some answers, provide you with forgotten facts, tons of life hacks and lost lessons you may have missed. Expect to learn some quick tips, tricks and suggestions to help improve your life by doing things simpler, using less time, money and energy.

https://pod.link/1816671704

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Episode 858 - What Miranda Lambert Can Teach Podcasters About Finding an Audience

Think Local Before You Think Global

A local podcast can give a new podcaster an advantage that a global show struggles to create. Dave uses Miranda Lambert's "Famous in a Small Town" as the backdrop for a discussion about finding an audience and reconsidering the pressure to reach the entire world.

Dave challenges the idea that every podcast needs an enormous audience. A new creator can define a specific community and become its voice. A town, neighborhood, region, industry, hobby, or professional community can provide a focused audience with a genuine reason to listen.

Small Can Become a Competitive Advantage

Local communities often lose local radio, television, and news coverage as larger organizations concentrate resources in bigger markets. That creates an opportunity for a podcaster who lives in the community and understands what happens there.

A local podcast could cover community events, local businesses, tourism, agriculture, politics, music, organizations, or the people who make the community work. Local businesses could also become potential sponsors because the podcast already reaches the people they want to serve.

Dave's Dad Space Podcast provides another example of focused podcasting. He created the show specifically for dads and shapes its content around that audience. A clearly defined audience gives a podcast purpose.

Build From One Community

Dave encourages new podcasters to ask who in their own backyard would genuinely care about their content. That question creates a very different starting point from trying to compete for attention with every podcast, social platform, celebrity, news source, and creator on the internet.

A local podcast can grow beyond its original community when the audience gives it a reason to expand. Starting small can create a stronger foundation.

You do not have to become famous everywhere to become important somewhere. A focused local podcast could make you the person people turn to when they want to know what happens in their community. Start with the people you can actually reach. Serve them well. Let the audience grow from there.

Miranda Lambert - Famous In A Small Town (Official Video)

https://youtu.be/_xjy6EuMPGA?si=uFOStpOw9_foCmdW

https://music.apple.com/ca/song/famous-in-a-small-town/399836343

https://open.spotify.com/track/4oXOOBwZsHFnRRNBNXrr9X

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Episode 857 - How Do I Get A Review of My Podcast from Someone That Knows What They Are Talking About

Get Podcast Feedback From Someone Who Understands Podcasting

Podcast feedback can help you improve your show, but the source of that feedback matters. A guest may enjoy appearing on your podcast and offer encouragement, yet they may have little experience with podcasting themselves. Their comments may make you feel good without giving you practical direction.

Dave suggests finding someone who understands podcasting, actively creates a show, and has earned your trust. Look for someone a few steps ahead of you whose work you admire. Their experience can help you identify opportunities to improve while keeping the feedback useful and constructive.

Find Feedback That Helps You Grow

Dave also discusses his work on Podcast Feedback, a project designed to give podcasters non-judgmental, encouraging feedback they can actually use. He draws a clear line between coaching and criticism. Podcasters need someone willing to help them improve rather than someone looking for an opportunity to mock their work.

The How To Podcast Series takes that coaching approach into its community. The podcast meetup gives podcasters a place to ask questions, work through practical exercises, and see podcasting concepts demonstrated in real situations.

Community can make a difference when podcasting starts to feel isolating. Talking with people who understand the work can provide motivation and fresh perspective.

Your Feedback Matters Too

Dave turns the question around and asks listeners to provide feedback on the How To Podcast Series itself. A listener survey gives the audience a direct way to share what they enjoy, what could improve, and what they would like to see from the show.

Dave wants to hear from listeners because he cannot know what they think unless they tell him.

Choose your podcast feedback carefully. Find someone who understands the work, respects your goals, and can give you practical guidance that helps you become a better podcaster. Then stay open to feedback from your own audience because their perspective can shape the future of your show.

https://podcastfeedback.ca/

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Episode 856 - Trick or Treat - Rapid-Fire Podcasting Tips for Halloween

Trick or Treat: Rapid-Fire Podcasting Tips for Halloween

Podcasting can feel scary when you focus on everything that could go wrong. This episode uses Halloween as a playful backdrop for practical reminders that can help podcasters keep creating, publishing, and serving their listeners.

Avoid the Podcasting Pitfalls

Consistency matters. Once you establish a publishing schedule, your audience expects you to show up. Do not let perfection or the “someday” monster keep an episode from getting published.

Keep your episodes moving. Long intros can delay the reason someone pressed play. Check your audio before publishing, remove unwanted noise, keep your recording space quiet, and cut anything that does not serve the listener.

New equipment will not solve an unclear podcast. A backup recording can save an episode when technology fails. A clear call to action also gives listeners an obvious next step.

Give Your Listeners a Treat

Make every episode useful. Give listeners one clear takeaway they can carry with them.

Batch recording can give your future self some breathing room. Preparing guests with questions and a clear recording plan creates a better experience for everyone. Respond to audience comments and messages so listeners know you see them and value their participation.

Your show notes can also do more work. Include useful links, timestamps, and one simple next step. A checklist, template, or other free resource can give listeners another reason to stay connected.

The Haunted Podcast

The microphone becomes a wand when you learn how to use it. Your niche creates the house people enter. Your intro acts like the light that tells listeners your podcast is open. Editing sweeps away noise and dead air.

Old episodes can come back to life through repurposing. Your audience can become a community when you build relationships around your show. Your podcast can become a story that gives people a reason to return for the next chapter.

The Halloween story of Mara brings the message home. She spent years waiting to start until an old microphone reminded her that she only needed to begin. One listener eventually thanked her for going first.

The biggest podcasting obstacle often sits between the idea and the record button. Publish the episode. Serve the listener. Keep showing up. Your voice may give someone else the courage to press record.

Need another voice for your show - try this excellent text to voice tool

https://voicemaker.in/

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Episode 855 - What Is Your Podcast Signature - The One Thing Unique to Your Show That Stands Out

Your Podcast Signature Makes Your Show Unmistakable

Dave challenges podcasters to identify and lean into their podcast signature, the personal perspective, voice, and point of view that makes their show different from every other podcast on the same topic. He celebrates passing 200,000 downloads on The How To Podcast Series and thanks listeners for helping the show reach that milestone. He also thanks Valerie, a guest from Living The Next Chapter, for sponsoring the show through Buy Me a Coffee.

What a Podcast Signature Is

Dave compares a podcast signature to a handwritten signature or an autograph. It represents the individual behind the microphone. Your signature includes your opinions, humor, laugh, personal stories, interests, values, and the way you explain ideas.

He describes it as a fingerprint. Other podcasts may cover similar subjects, yet only you can bring your exact combination of experiences and perspective. That individuality gives listeners a reason to choose your show and return to it.

Why Being Yourself Matters

Podcasters often imitate shows they admire. Dave says that is normal at the beginning. Bands frequently start by playing covers before they write original songs. The same pattern can happen in podcasting.

The goal is to move from imitation toward originality. When you bring your real personality into your episodes, your show becomes easier to recognize, remember, recommend, and support. Dave believes listeners connect with a genuine person, especially when so much online content feels copied, automated, or impersonal.

When Others Copy Your Ideas

Dave shares that people sometimes borrow his stories, ideas, and content without credit. He admits that feels frustrating, especially when someone presents his work as their own on a stage or in another episode.

His response is to keep creating. Copycats can imitate an idea, but they cannot replicate the lived experience, voice, and perspective behind it. He encourages podcasters to treat imitation as motivation to create something new and distinctive.

Find Your Own Voice

Dave asks listeners to name what makes their podcast unique. Your signature may come from your background, the books you read, the people you meet, the stories you tell, or the opinions you are willing to share. The sooner you develop that voice, the sooner your podcast sounds like you.

He invites podcasters who feel stuck to reach out through HowToPodcast.ca for a virtual coffee conversation and support in defining their signature.

Your podcast signature is the personal combination of voice, perspective, stories, and opinions that only you can offer. Use other shows for inspiration, then create episodes that sound unmistakably like you.

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Episode 854 - Spotify Wrapped Video Opportunity - Don't Miss This, You Will Kick Yourself

Spotify Wrapped Video: A Free Way to Thank Your Podcast Audience

Dave urges podcasters to take advantage of Spotify’s year-end Wrapped opportunity by recording a short thank-you video for listeners. The message is simple: make the video today, upload it to Spotify for Creators, and use it to strengthen the connection with the people who already follow your show. He also thanks David Lomax for sponsoring the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee and reminds listeners that guests can become loyal audience members.

Why Spotify Wrapped Matters

Spotify Wrapped gives listeners a year-end recap of their music, podcasts, listening time, and favorite shows. For podcasters, Spotify offers a chance to place a personal video message inside that recap. When a listener shares their Wrapped on social media, that video can introduce the podcast to new potential listeners.

Dave sees this as a rare visibility opportunity. A listener’s friends may see the podcaster’s face, hear the show name, and decide to check it out because someone they trust follows it.

How to Create the Video

The video must be vertical, under 30 seconds, and recorded without music, filters, brand logos, or swearing. Spotify specifically encourages a simple phone recording, face to camera, with no AI-generated content.

Dave suggests keeping it natural and unscripted. Thank followers for supporting the show, mention the podcast name, and express excitement for the year ahead. Perfection is not the goal. A genuine message from the host matters more than polished production.

Claim Your Show on Spotify

Podcasters do not need to host their show on Spotify to participate. Whether the podcast is hosted through Buzzsprout, Captivate, or another platform, the first step is claiming the show through Spotify for Creators.

Claiming the show unlocks Spotify analytics, including listening data and episode performance. It also gives hosts access to listener comments on individual episodes, creating another way to engage directly with the audience.

Act Before the Deadline

At the time of recording, podcasters have 16 days to submit their video. Dave pushes listeners to avoid waiting until the final day. Record the clip immediately after hearing the episode, upload it, and move on.

His core message is that growth often comes from taking small, practical actions. A 30-second thank-you video can put a host in front of new people, deepen loyalty with existing followers, and show the human behind the microphone.

Record a simple, vertical, under-30-second thank-you video for your Spotify listeners and upload it through Spotify for Creators before the deadline. It costs nothing, requires only a phone, and can help your podcast reach new listeners through Spotify Wrapped shares.

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Episode 853 - When Podcaster's Lose Their Voice To A.I. - A Thought Leader Needs Their Own Thoughts if You Wish To Lead

AI can support your podcast, but it should not replace your perspective. Dave explores why listeners connect with a real person, how AI-generated scripts can flatten a host’s voice, and what it takes to remain a credible thought leader in your niche.The Problem With AI-Only Solo Episodes

Dave shares an observation from a podcast about podcasting. The host shines during interviews, yet the solo episodes feel generic and manufactured. The difference comes from heavy reliance on an AI tool to write the script, followed by a word-for-word read.

To demonstrate the issue, Dave creates a sample episode using Perplexity and a text-to-speech service. The result sounds polished, but it also reveals recognizable AI patterns that can make listeners question whether the host is truly present.

AI Writing Patterns to Watch

Dave highlights common signs that content may be AI generated. These patterns are not forbidden, but overuse can make your show feel impersonal.

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The “not X, but Y” formula, such as “It is not about working harder, it is about working smarter.”

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The rule of threes, where every point arrives as three parallel ideas or benefits.

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A balanced, textbook-like tone that avoids strong opinions, personal stories, and natural tangents.

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Unverified statistics presented as fact.

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Words the host does not understand or would not naturally use.

Thought Leadership Requires Your Thoughts

A thought leader brings lived experience, curiosity, and an honest point of view. Reading an AI output does not build authority. It turns the host into an interpreter for a machine.

Dave asks a direct question: if you outsource your thinking to AI, are you leading a conversation or simply repeating one? Your audience subscribes for you. They want your voice, your perspective, and the imperfect moments that make podcasting feel human.

Use AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement

Dave uses AI for practical support, including episode titles and clearer show notes. The key is keeping the final voice human. AI can help you organize ideas, but it cannot replace the connection created when you speak from experience.

Listeners can usually sense when something feels manufactured. They may not identify the exact cause, but they notice when a host sounds unlike themselves. That disconnect can weaken trust and reduce the sense of community around a show.

Start With Your Voice

If you are beginning a podcast, start with one idea you can discuss for ten minutes. Record it on your phone. Tell one story. Offer one takeaway. You do not need perfect equipment, a logo, or a media empire on day one.

Your podcast should give your ideas a home and give listeners something real to connect with. Build your audience around your personality, not around an AI result.

Use AI to assist your podcast, but never let it replace you. Your experiences, opinions, stories, and natural way of speaking are what make people trust you, return to your show, and feel part of your community.

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Episode 852 - Three Questions That Will Be The Connective Tissue in Your Next Conversation - Behind The Mic Series

Give Your Guest More Space

Podcast interviews improve when the host gives the guest room to speak. A common habit can get in the way. You ask a question, hear the answer, then immediately jump into your own story.

That move can pull attention away from your guest. It can also cause you to miss the opportunity sitting right in front of you.

Ask Three More Questions

Dave shares a simple technique that helps him stay focused on his guest. Before you tell your own story or move to the next subject, ask three follow-up questions about what the guest just said.

Your guest mentions a cottage? Ask where it sits. Ask how long they have had it. Ask what makes it meaningful to them.

Those questions keep the conversation centered on your guest. They also give you more material to explore because each answer can open another path.

Then you can bring your own experience into the conversation when it adds something useful.

Get Out of Your Own Head

Dave connects this technique with the active listening exercise he shared previously. Both techniques give him a way to refocus when his attention drifts during an interview.

The goal involves curiosity. Listen closely. Stay with the person speaking. Give them the attention their story deserves.

You can use the same approach outside podcasting. Try it with your partner, your kids, or someone at work. Ask a question, resist the urge to make the conversation about yourself, and ask three more questions before you jump in.

Before you tell your story, give your guest three more chances to tell theirs. You may discover a much better conversation waiting inside their first answer.

https://vinhgiang.com/before-we-forget-how-to-connect

Thanks Dave B for today's coffee refill

https://outrageoverload.net/

https://monetizethispodcast.com/

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Episode 851 - How to Become a Better Listener During Podcast Interviews - Behind The Mic Series

Stop Planning, Start Listening

Podcast interviews can lose their energy when the interviewer focuses more on the next question than the person answering the current one. The question list sits in front of you, your brain jumps ahead, and you miss what your guest actually says.

Active listening requires a different focus. Dave shares a simple trick that forces the interviewer to stay present.

Use the Last Letter

Wait until your guest finishes the answer. Listen for the final word, then take the last letter of that word. Your next question must start with that letter.

If your guest ends with the word "show," your next question starts with W. If they finish with "feedback," your next question starts with K.

That sounds awkward. It works because you cannot prepare your next question until your guest finishes speaking. Your attention stays with the person in front of you.

You do not need to use the technique throughout an entire interview. Dave suggests using it whenever you notice yourself getting trapped inside your own thoughts or rushing toward the next question.

Give Your Guest Your Attention

The exercise creates intentional listening. Your guest can feel when you actually pay attention, and that attention can create a stronger conversation.

Practice the technique with someone you know before using it during a podcast interview. The goal is simple. Listen closely. Stay present. Follow the conversation instead of racing ahead.

Your next question can wait. Give your guest your full attention, listen for the final word, and use its last letter to shape your next question. The technique gives your brain a reason to stay with the conversation, and your podcast interview can become more natural and meaningful.

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Episode 850 - The Progress Principle - A Harvard Publication and a Podcaster’s Secret Weapon

Based on: The Progress Principle is a concept developed by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer in their Harvard Business Review Press book, The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work (2011).

https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=40692Small Wins Keep Podcasters Moving

Podcasting can take a long time to produce meaningful results. The Progress Principle, a Harvard publication about small wins and creative work, offers a useful way to approach that journey. For podcasters, progress can come from publishing an episode, improving audio quality, receiving thoughtful listener feedback, or simply completing the next task.

Small wins create momentum. They also help protect podcasters from burnout when download numbers, money, or recognition take longer to arrive.

Consistency Builds Momentum

A podcaster can create progress through regular forward movement. Writing one segment, contacting a guest, recording an episode, or publishing on schedule keeps the creative process alive.

Dave connects this idea to his own commitment to record 365 episodes in a row. Consistency gives him greater satisfaction than chasing a specific download number. Each completed episode becomes another small win that builds on the previous one.

Setbacks still happen. A failed recording, guest cancellation, or disappointing download count can damage motivation. Expecting those moments helps podcasters recover instead of allowing one setback to stop the entire show.

Create Systems That Support Progress

The Progress Principle also highlights the conditions that help creative work continue. Podcasters can build useful systems through production calendars, batching, templates, organized workflows, and a reliable recording space.

Community provides another source of energy. Connecting with other podcasters creates opportunities for feedback, encouragement, shared experience, and accountability. Comparing your current work with your own earlier episodes can also reveal progress that download numbers fail to show.

Then remove the obstacles.

Overcomplicated editing, constant download checking, obsessive attention to rankings, and trying to maintain every social platform can drain the energy that originally made podcasting enjoyable.

Focus on the small wins you can control. Build systems that make progress easier, surround yourself with people who understand the podcasting journey, and remove the obstacles that drain your creative energy. Progress keeps you moving when instant success never arrives.

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Episode 849 - Pushing Back Against The Latest Podcast Gatekeeper - Video Podcasts Will Not Work For All

Video Podcasting Should Be a Choice

Video podcasting has become a growing source of pressure for creators. Podcasting experts increasingly suggest that audio alone no longer meets the standard, leaving new podcasters wondering whether they need cameras, professional lighting, editing software, and video strategies before they can launch a show.

Dave pushes back against this expectation. Podcasting opened the door for people from all backgrounds to share their voices without expensive equipment or professional production teams. Making video mandatory threatens that accessibility and discourages people who simply want to create an audio podcast.

The Hidden Cost of Video

Video production demands money, time, technical knowledge, and additional work. Creators may find themselves managing clips, learning new tools, and building complicated workflows when their original goal was to share a message with listeners.

Dave questions whose interests this pressure serves. Businesses selling video tools and training benefit when podcasters believe they must keep investing in new products and services. Meanwhile, creators risk turning an enjoyable project into an exhausting obligation.

Video can help people discover a show and connect with its host. However, it does not guarantee audience growth. Strong content still matters.

Choose the Format That Fits Your Show

Audio podcasters can build audiences through searchable episode titles, detailed show notes, transcripts, website episode pages, email newsletters, and direct relationships with listeners. Audio also lets people enjoy a show while walking, working, or taking care of everyday tasks.

Every podcaster has different goals and resources. Some creators love appearing on camera. Others prefer audio. Both approaches deserve a place in podcasting.

Dave challenges the idea that creators must become more professional or abandon their hobbyist approach to earn the right to be heard. Beginners need room to learn, experiment, and develop their shows at their own pace.

Video podcasting offers valuable opportunities, but it should remain an option rather than a requirement. Choose the format that serves your content, your audience, and your goals. You do not need to chase every trend or spend thousands of dollars to start a podcast. Your voice deserves to be heard.

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Episode 848 - Be Honest With Your Guest - Don't Lie, Be Truthful Instead of Shady

Why Honesty Matters in Podcast Interviews

When a podcast guest asks whether you know a particular author, have seen a movie, or listen to a musician, how do you respond if you have no idea what they are talking about?

Many podcasters instinctively say yes. They want to keep the conversation flowing, avoid awkwardness, and make a good impression. This people-pleasing habit can quietly damage an interview.

Dave shares a recent experience from Living The Next Chapter where a guest asked if he knew a particular author. He admitted he did not. Instead of creating an awkward moment, his honesty gave the guest an opportunity to talk passionately about an author they admired.

Let Your Guest Share What They Love

Pretending to know something can rob your guest of the joy of introducing you to it. When you claim familiarity with a book, movie, or subject you have never explored, you risk creating a conversation that lacks genuine connection.

Your guest may light up when you admit you have never heard of their favourite author. You give them room to explain why that person matters to them, what they love about their work, and how it influenced their life.

That honesty can lead to a far more interesting interview than pretending you already know everything.

Try This in Your Next Interview

The next time a guest mentions something unfamiliar, resist the urge to agree just to be agreeable. Say you do not know it. Then invite them to tell you more.

You do not have to know everything. Your guest brings their own knowledge and experience to the conversation. Give them the space to share it, and your audience gets to discover something new alongside you.

Dave also discusses Buy Me a Coffee as a way for podcasters to build listener support through one-time contributions and monthly memberships. The platform also offers options for bonus content and private podcasts.

Be honest when you do not know something. Your guest gets to share what they love, your audience learns something new, and your interview has a better chance of becoming a genuine conversation.

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Episode 847 - Shout Out Your Listeners On Your Podcast - It Is Great When You Are Called Out on Your Favourite Podcast

Shout Out Your Listeners On Your Podcast

Podcasters often ask for listener feedback, reviews, comments, and feature requests. Dave explains why acknowledging those people matters, using his own experience of having an idea recognized by Buzzsprout.

Dave had repeatedly asked Buzzsprout to make the column headings on its episode page sortable. After support told him the feature was not possible, he shared the request through Buzz Cast, the company’s podcast. Months later, Buzzsprout announced sortable episode-page columns and credited Dave’s original fan mail as the reason the improvement was added.

The Power Of Being Named

Hearing your name on a favourite podcast can be powerful. Even after hosting more than 2,500 episodes, Dave describes the moment as validating because it confirmed that his suggestion mattered and that Buzzsprout had listened.

For podcast listeners, a shout-out creates a personal connection. It tells them their feedback, praise, or idea reached the host and influenced the show. That recognition can turn a casual listener into a more engaged community member.

Respond To Listener Feedback

Dave encourages podcasters to treat feedback as an opportunity for connection. Do not let listener emails, Spotify comments, YouTube comments, or Apple Podcasts reviews sit unanswered in an inbox.

Respond to comments. Mention listeners on air. Thank people for reviews. Share listener suggestions when they lead to an episode idea or show improvement. These actions show appreciation and encourage more people to participate.

Build A Feedback-Friendly Show

If you want more listener interaction, create space for it. Acknowledge the people who support your podcast and make it clear that their voices matter. A simple shout-out can make someone feel seen and motivate them to keep engaging with your show.

Dave also thanks the Buzzsprout team for recognizing his contribution and shares an affiliate link for podcasters looking for a hosting platform.

Shout out the listeners who shout out you. Responding to feedback and recognizing your audience helps build loyalty, encourages participation, and keeps your podcast community growing.

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Episode 846 - Your Podcast Space Matters - Create a Podcast Space You Want to Enter

Your podcast space shapes whether you want to record. Dave reflects on losing his dedicated setup after floods and explains how podcasters can create an environment that supports consistency, comfort, and creativity.Your Podcast Space Matters

Dave opens the episode on a frosty October morning, recording outside because his basement podcast space remains unavailable after two floods damaged his home in August. The experience highlights a practical truth for creators: where you record affects how you feel about showing up.

Without a dedicated space, he has recorded at the kitchen table and outdoors, dealing with birds, highway noise, and passing horns. Those interruptions make the work harder. A podcast space should reduce friction, not create it.

Create a Space You Want to Enter

Dave asks podcasters to look around their recording area and ask whether it invites them toward the microphone. Some creators set up and tear down equipment for every episode. That repeated work adds stress and can make podcasting feel like a chore.

A dedicated podcast space gives you room to leave your gear ready, keep materials nearby, and return to the work with less setup. Your space does not need to look perfect to anyone else. It needs to work for you. Some podcasters thrive with organized shelves and labeled storage. Others work well in a creative mess because they know exactly where everything lives.

What Your Background Says

For video podcasters, the space behind you becomes part of the show. Dave suggests filling that background with objects that reflect your interests and make you happy. Listeners often notice the details behind a host, and those details can spark conversation and connection.

He also encourages creators to consider the off-camera side of the studio. Keep guest files, notes, pens, markers, and recording supplies within reach. Dave keeps printed guest files in a milk crate beside his desk, organized by episode number. That system gives him a fast backup when internet access or email fails.

Small Improvements Prevent Pod Fade

An uncomfortable or inconvenient workspace can contribute to pod fade. When recording requires too much setup, cleanup, or searching for supplies, episodes get delayed. Missed weeks can quickly become an abandoned show.

Dave challenges listeners to make one improvement before the next recording session. Clear the coffee cups. File loose papers. Put supplies where you can reach them. Make the room more comfortable and inviting. Then leave the space ready for tomorrow’s episode.

Do something today that makes your next podcast session easier. A welcoming podcast space helps you show up consistently, and your audience will hear the difference.

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Episode 845 - Procrastination Proof By Jon Acuff - Build Momentum for Tomorrow, The Future You Will Thank You

Procrastination Proof: Build Momentum for Tomorrow

Dave shares a timely recommendation for podcasters who struggle to start, finish, or return to the work in front of them. He highlights Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff, a book that reframes procrastination as more than poor time management. Acuff connects it to ego, identity, performance, and the pressure people place on themselves to succeed.

Dave discovered the book through Alex Sanfilippo’s Podcasting Made Simple interview with Jon Acuff. He encourages listeners to hear the full conversation and explore PodMatch, a platform for finding podcast guests and booking guest appearances. The book’s audiobook edition also includes bonus stories that do not appear in the print version.

Plan at Night, Act in the Morning

One idea stood out to Dave: Acuff plans in the evening and does the work in the morning. He recognizes that he does not plan well in the morning or work well at night, so he structures his day around those realities.

By preparing the next day before it begins, he gives his future self a stronger starting point. Dave calls this an advanced start. Instead of waking up to a blank page, an empty calendar, or an unclear first task, you begin with a path already laid out.

For podcasters, that could mean outlining tomorrow’s episode, preparing show notes, queuing an interview question, or placing your recording equipment where it is ready to use. Small preparations reduce friction and make the next session easier to begin.

Procrastination and Self-Image

Acuff also explores how procrastination can stem from how people view themselves. When success feels tied to performance, starting can feel risky. A delayed task protects the ego from a possible imperfect result.

Dave connects that idea to his own 365-day recording challenge. He admits that he did not want to record this particular episode. It was cold outside, everyone in the house was asleep, and he had no ideal place to record. Still, he had made a commitment to himself and to the challenge.

His point is direct. When you keep offering yourself excuses, eventually you stop doing the work. When you take action despite imperfect conditions, you build a foundation for future action.

Do One Thing for Tomorrow

The central question Dave leaves listeners with is simple: what can you do today that makes tomorrow better? You do not need perfect motivation, ideal conditions, or a flawless plan. You need one useful action that gives tomorrow’s version of you a head start.

Dave references the idea attributed to Hemingway of leaving some ink in the pen at the end of a writing session. Do not run your creative tank empty. Preserve a small reserve of energy, ideas, or momentum so the next day begins with possibility rather than pressure.

Set up tomorrow before today ends. Whether you are starting a podcast, recording an episode, contacting a guest, or continuing a long-term challenge, one intentional action now can remove tomorrow’s biggest obstacle. Check out Jon Acuff’s Procrastination Proof, the audiobook, and Alex Sanfilippo’s interview on Podcasting Made Simple for practical ways to move forward.

https://jonacuff.com/

Procrastination Proof: Never Get Stuck Again

https://a.co/d/0bPpdX9E

Podcasting Made SimpleHow to Stop Procrastinating as a Podcaster | Jon Acuff

https://pod.link/1470897857/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTE4MjE3Mw

While Ernest Hemingway never used the exact words "leave ink in the pen," the popular concept is a paraphrasing of his most famous piece of writing advice: always stop writing for the day when things are going well and you know what will happen next.

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Episode 844 - You Are Not Bad at Podcasting, You Are New at It - Lessons From A Student Driver

You Are Not Bad at Podcasting, You Are New at It

Changing one word can change how you see yourself as a podcaster. Instead of saying, “I’m not good at podcasting,” try saying, “I’m new at podcasting.” That small shift removes pressure, creates room to learn, and helps you give yourself the same patience you would offer a new driver.

A Better Way to Describe Your Skills

Many new podcasters judge their early episodes against the polished work of experienced hosts. They hear their nerves, notice awkward pauses, or compare their interview questions to shows that have been running for years. The result is often a harsh conclusion: “I’m not good at this.”

Dave encourages podcasters to replace that conclusion with a more accurate description. You are not bad at podcasting. You are new at podcasting. You are learning how to prepare, speak clearly, ask questions, edit, publish, and promote your show.

This applies beyond podcasting too. A person is not automatically “bad” at parenting, writing, cooking, or driving simply because they are still developing those skills. They are new at them.

The Student Driver Lesson

Dave uses the example of a slow driver pulling out in front of you. At first, frustration takes over. Then you notice the “student driver” sign, and your reaction changes. You understand that the person is learning, so you offer patience instead of judgment.

The same idea applies to your podcast. When you are only a few episodes in, you are sitting behind the microphone for the first time. You need space to make mistakes, practice, and improve. Seeing yourself as a student gives you permission to learn without expecting instant mastery.

Growth Comes From Reps

You cannot become a stronger podcaster by thinking about podcasting. Growth comes from action. Every episode gives you another chance to prepare, record, interview, edit, publish, and share your work.

Keep showing up. Ask better questions over time. Get more comfortable on mic. Learn what your audience responds to. The repetition builds skill, confidence, and clarity. If you stop after five or ten episodes, you deny yourself the practice needed to find out whether podcasting truly fits you.

Say “I’m new at podcasting” instead of “I’m not good at podcasting.” Give yourself grace, keep taking action, and let each episode become another rep toward the podcaster you are becoming. Your voice matters, and the world needs to hear it.

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Episode 843 - Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins and Theo Von Are Not The Best Podcast Gurus - What Works For Them Might Not Work For Your Podcast

Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins and Theo Von Are Not the Best Podcast Gurus

Big podcasts can make podcast growth look simple. Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins, and Theo Von appear to succeed by talking into a microphone, publishing clips, and attracting a huge audience. Dave Campbell explains why copying their approach can frustrate new podcasters and why your podcast audience needs a show built around its own needs.

Why Big Shows Start Ahead

Rogan, Robbins, and Von did not begin from zero. They brought existing fame, audiences, media connections, production support, and guest access into their podcasts. Their success reflects years of work in comedy, publishing, speaking, television, and social media before their shows became major platforms.

A new podcaster often does not have those advantages. Comparing a small show to a massive production can create unrealistic expectations. The goal is not to recreate a celebrity studio or chase famous guests. The goal is to serve a specific group of listeners well.

Build Around Your Listener

A smaller podcast has an advantage: it can stay close to its audience. When you know who your show is for, planning episodes, writing titles, and choosing topics becomes easier. You can respond directly to the questions, problems, and experiences your listeners bring to you.

Ask what your podcast gives people that other shows do not. A clear audience focus helps your show become useful, trustworthy, and memorable. That connection matters more than matching the scale of a famous host.

Create a Repeatable Podcast Format

A repeatable podcast format helps listeners know what to expect. Whether your show uses interviews, solo episodes, co-hosting, or storytelling, consistency builds trust over time. Listeners should be able to describe your podcast to someone else after hearing only a few episodes.

Your format does not need to be rigid. It needs a recognizable promise. A dependable structure gives people a reason to return and makes your show easier to recommend.

Use Searchable Episode Titles

Big-name hosts can title episodes with only a guest name because their audience already knows them. Independent podcasters need clearer titles. A title such as “How to Launch a Podcast Without Expensive Gear” gives a potential listener an immediate reason to press play.

Strong titles, clear descriptions, and topics that answer real questions help people find your show. Podcast growth for a smaller creator often comes from being discoverable, helpful, and relevant to the people searching for answers.

Learn From the Right Sources

It is fine to admire successful podcasters. Their clarity, consistency, personality, promotion, and distribution offer useful lessons. Still, they are not necessarily the best teachers for someone starting a podcast with limited time, money, and support.

Look for podcast communities, educators, and creators who actively help newer podcasters. Connect with people serving a similar audience, invite listener feedback, collaborate in public, and let audience conversations shape future episodes.

Do not build your podcast as a copy of Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins, or Theo Von. Build a podcast around a clear listener, a repeatable format, useful episodes, and genuine community. Your advantage as a smaller creator is proximity to your audience, not fame.

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Episode 842 - What If We Have Been Using A.I. Wrong As Podcasters - A Different Approach Than Other Podcasters

AI and Podcast Content Creation

AI can produce an answer quickly. That does not mean it produces an episode worth hearing. This episode challenges podcasters to stop treating AI as the source of their ideas and start using it to sharpen their own perspective.

When you type an episode topic into an AI tool, it returns a blend of common answers. Anyone can enter the same prompt and receive similar information. If your episode simply repeats that result, listeners can get the same value from a search box. Your podcast needs to add what AI cannot supply: your experience, your opinion, and your point of view.

Start With Your Own Ideas

Before searching AI, write down the points you already want to make. Then ask the tool about your episode topic and compare the results.

Remove anything that appears in both places. If AI repeats your planned points, those ideas may be too common. Build the episode around the material that remains yours. Offer a different angle, challenge the usual advice, or bring in a personal example that gives the topic real texture.

A health podcast could ask AI for weight-loss advice and receive familiar guidance about food, sleep, and exercise. Rather than repeating those answers, the host could explore movement from a specific lived perspective, such as staying active with a busy schedule or rebuilding strength after years away from exercise. The core subject stays useful. The delivery becomes distinctive.

Turn AI Into a Question Engine

AI becomes more valuable when it questions you. Share your episode idea and main points, then ask it to challenge your thinking. Request tough questions, awkward objections, and gaps in your argument. Ask for one question at a time.

This approach turns AI from an answer engine into a thinking partner. It can reveal assumptions you have not examined and help you prepare stronger explanations for listeners. You still decide what to believe, what to include, and what perspective your show will take.

The episode also suggests using AI to identify a missing angle. You might bring two developed points to the tool and ask what else deserves consideration. Take the suggestion as a prompt for your own work, then develop it yourself rather than accepting a finished response.

Be More Than Common Knowledge

Listeners do not need another version of the same information. They need a reason to choose your show. When your content sounds like every other result from the same prompt, your audience has little reason to stay.

Your advantage comes from specificity. Share what you have learned. Disagree where you have a reason. Tell the story only you can tell. Use AI to test, organize, and challenge your ideas, then bring the final perspective back to your own voice.

Use AI to expose gaps and test your thinking, then create the episode from your own experience and viewpoint. Give listeners something they cannot generate with the same prompt.

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Episode 841 - How Podcast Listeners Judge A New Podcast - Podcast Recency and Relevance

Podcast Recency and Relevance

Podcast recency and relevance can decide whether a new listener presses play or moves on. Dave shares a recommendation for a podcast about podcast gear and technology, then explains why the show lost his interest before he heard a single episode.

The podcast had not published new content since 2020. For a technology-focused show, that gap matters. Microphones, recording tools, software, apps, and artificial intelligence have changed dramatically since then. A listener searching for current advice may see the catalog as historical rather than useful today.

What Listeners Check First

When someone discovers your show through a recommendation, search, or social post, they often sort episodes from newest to oldest. They look for signs that the podcast is active and that the subject matter still speaks to their current needs.

Recency answers a simple question: has the show released something lately? Relevance asks whether the information still applies now. A show can contain strong evergreen episodes, but a technology podcast without recent episodes may not meet the listener’s immediate need for up-to-date guidance.

Why Relevance Changes

Some topics age well. Stories, principles, interviews, and foundational skills can remain valuable for years. Other subjects change quickly, including product reviews, industry news, sports results, weather, and technology.

Dave uses his Dad Space podcast as an example. Conversations about fatherhood and men’s mental health need to reflect what dads are facing now, not only what mattered years ago. A podcast grows when the host pays attention to the questions, challenges, and conversations happening within its audience.

The Cost of Going Quiet

Long breaks, abandoned seasons, and dormant feeds can make a podcast feel inactive. New listeners may assume the host has moved on, even when the older episodes still offer value. That assumption can cost the show attention, trust, and growth.

Dave encourages podcasters to look at their episode page as a listener would. Sort the episodes by date. Read the titles. Ask whether the newest work shows activity and whether the topics still serve the audience. This is not a judgment on the podcaster. It is a practical way to spot an opportunity to improve.

How to Fix the Gap

The fix for recency is straightforward: create and publish the next episode. Relevance requires more attention. Listen to your audience, follow the conversations in your niche, and adjust your content as your topic evolves.

You do not need to abandon your older episodes. You can build on them, revisit timely subjects, and create new material that reflects what your audience needs today. A recent, relevant episode gives both current listeners and newcomers a clear reason to stay.

Check your podcast through the eyes of a new listener. Ask two questions: How recent are my episodes, and how relevant are they? Keep publishing, keep listening to your audience, and give people a current reason to press play. Your audience deserves your best.

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Episode 840 - Earn Your Podcast Audience - You Started A Podcast, Do You Deserve An Audience or Do You Earn One?

Earn Your Podcast Audience

Dave explores the difference between believing you deserve listeners and doing the work to earn them. Starting a podcast gives you the right to speak. It does not guarantee that anyone will listen, follow, or return for another episode.

A microphone, a publishing account, and a first episode are starting points. They do not create podcast audience growth on their own. An audience forms when a show becomes useful, reliable, and worth a listener’s limited attention.

Deserving Versus Earning

Deserving says, “I launched a show, so people should support it.” Earning says, “I will keep showing up in a way that improves someone’s life.”

You may deserve respect as a person and encouragement for having the courage to begin. An audience is different. Listeners earn their place in your community by choosing to spend time with you, and you earn their continued attention by delivering value.

Trust works the same way. It grows through kept promises, honest communication, and respect for the listener’s time. One careless comment, misleading title, or unfiltered rant can damage that trust quickly.

Build Trust Through Value

Every episode makes a promise through its title, description, and opening. Your job is to fulfill that promise. Length matters less than value. A focused five-minute episode can serve listeners better than a padded 30-minute one.

Avoid clickbait, overpromising, and chasing trends that do not fit your show. Be honest about what you know, what you are learning, and what you do not know. Treat audience feedback as information that helps you connect more clearly.

Become Easy to Recommend

People do not wake up knowing who you are. You become known by being consistently present through episodes, social media, messages, email, and community spaces.

Give listeners simple language to describe your podcast. For example, “Dad Space is a podcast for dads, by dads, that helps men grow in fatherhood and relationships.” When listeners can explain your show easily, they can recommend it confidently.

Show up beyond the feed. Reply to comments, join conversations, meet your ideal listeners, and give generously without expecting an immediate return. Recognition grows when people see your show as worth recommending.

Start With Your First Listeners

Ten listeners are not failure. They are the foundation of your podcast community. Treat early listeners like founding members. Learn from them, support them, and build habits that can carry your show into a larger audience later.

A stronger mindset asks better questions. Did the last episode give someone a reason to return? Did it deliver on its title? Would you recommend it to one specific person? Are you making trust easier to build?

Replace “I deserve an audience” with “I am earning an audience.” Every future episode is another chance to earn attention, trust, and a lasting place in someone’s life.

Launching a podcast gives you a voice. Earning an audience requires consistent value, honest communication, and genuine service to the people who choose to listen.

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