Embrace the Enemy (Insider 231)


Viral myths, the power of naming your enemy, 100+ ChatGPT prompts for podcasters, embracing imperfection, and how to make your Blue Yeti sound amazing in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...

Why You Should Listen

  • The dirty little trick pro wrestlers and radio jocks use to hypnotize audiences—and how you can steal it to make your show irresistible

  • Why obsessing over that “one thing” is killing your podcast dreams (and the liberating secret that leads straight to viral growth)

  • Make your podcast the envy of your niche—here’s the real reason audiences flock to certain shows (hint: it’s not just sound quality)

  • The dark art of identifying an “enemy”—and how this psychological trigger makes listeners glue themselves to your content

  • The copywriting secret politicians use to seize power (and how you can use it to control how listeners see you—no matter your size or budget)

  • Are you making this fatal marketing mistake? The hidden danger in oversimplifying complicated podcast topics

  • The forbidden magic of ChatGPT—100+ prompts to outwork, outsmart, and outpace your competition, even if you’re lazy

  • The path to a perfectly imperfect show: why chasing “flawless” is keeping you broke and stuck in podcast obscurity

  • How to transform embarrassing podcast mistakes into rabid fans (and why your screw-ups may be your greatest weapon)

  • The 5-step ritual that turns the “worst mic in podcasting” into a secret weapon for lush, studio-quality sound

  • Why most podcasts are happily ignored—and how to make your show impossible to forget

  • The little-known workaround to make even your blandest episodes go viral (your competitors will hate you for this)

  • How to seduce your audience by speaking their language, then lure them up to your level of mastery (while your rivals stand in the dark)

  • The shameful truth about your listeners’ attention spans—and how you can exploit their laziness to rack up downloads

  • What every beginning podcaster secretly gets wrong (and how early-stage imperfection can put you on the fast track to podcasting power)

You want these links ...

Episode Timestamps

  • [00:03:53] The “enemy” trick: How politicians and pro wrestlers use a single narrative to win massive support—and how you can use it to attract listeners.

  • [00:06:11] Why every podcaster needs a “villain”—the surprising psychology behind how having an enemy (even as a joke) instantly grows your audience.

  • [00:07:24] The secret to connecting with listeners who aren’t “on your level”—why bringing your audience up (not talking down) is the key to loyalty.

  • [00:09:34] Embrace imperfection: The three little-known truths every obsessive podcaster needs to hear about mistakes and “getting it right.”

  • [00:11:25] The best time to mess up: Why making rookie mistakes at the start of your podcast journey is a superpower—not a failure.

  • [00:12:41] The Liver King cautionary tale: What happens when your podcast (or personal brand) finally blows up—and the dark side of having everyone watching you.

  • [00:14:03] Blue Yeti redemption: Why the most-mocked mic in podcasting isn’t the enemy after all—if you know how to use it.

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 231 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.​

Want more help growing your podcast audience?


Check out the episode!