The Overnight Sensation of Podcasting (Big Podcast Insider Issue 196)


Learn how to grow your podcast, find quality equipment on a budget, and make your show truly matter in this episode of Build a Big Podcast!

Main Objectives of this Episode

  • Growing your podcast audience

  • Making a podcast that sponsors are interested in

  • Creating a podcast that people will miss if it's gone

Topics Covered in This Episode

  1. Building a Successful Podcast

    • Importance of perception in life and podcasting

    • Example of the podcast "20VC" and its growth journey

    • Realistic expectations about the time it takes to succeed in podcasting

    • David’s first radio experience and its evolution

    • Coming soon ... 30-day Solo Podcast Challenge to improve hosting skills

    • Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program)

  2. The $99 Miracle

    • Reduction in costs for quality podcasting equipment

    • Example of Shure SM 57 and SM 58 microphones

    • Cost comparison of recording equipment over the years

    • What's your "$99 miracle" story?

  3. Exclusive Podcast Deals

    • Historical example of exclusive deals in media ... MTV and Friday Night Videos

    • Potential pitfalls and benefits of exclusive deals

    • David's personal experience with CBS offer

    • Joe Rogan's Spotify exclusive deal and its evolution

  4. 70,000,000 Listeners Can't Be Wrong

    • Marketing vs. product quality

    • The importance of editing and making content look effortless

    • Example of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the extensive effort put into the final product

    • Reference to an NPR-style narrative piece David is working on

  5. Free Productivity App: Twos

    • Features and benefits

    • Collaboration capabilities

    • Comparisons to other productivity apps like Things and Marvin

  6. Free Sound Effects: Audio

    • Website for high-quality, free sound effects

    • Encouragement to utilize sound effects to enhance podcast production

  7. A Light-hearted Joke

    • Instagram model and soldier on Call of Duty joke

    • Analogy about the importance of real-world experience and engagement with the audience

Episode Timestamps

  • 03:21 Success in podcasting: patience, persistence, daily effort
  • 06:44 Radio career shifted from promotion to hosting
  • 11:51 Audacity helps remove tape hiss
  • 15:08 Exclusive deals risk isolating broad audiences
  • 19:15 Podcast creation: Editing is the real work
  • 23:05 Instagram model vs Call of Duty soldier
  • 25:59 Grow your podcast audience and monetize effectively
  • 27:20 Grateful

The Newsletter for Podcasters

This episode of Build a Big Podcast is brought to you by Riverside ...​

Riverside is online recording software that makes it easy for podcasters to record studio-quality interviews from anywhere. Try it free and, if you like it, get 15% off any membership plan when you use the code BIGPODCAST.​​

About this episode of Build a Big Podcast:​

This is the audio companion to Issue 196 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go. On this episode, I dive into where the money is made in podcasting. how to get more reviews (and subscribers) for your podcast, podcast hosting, and more.   ​

Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.​

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