How Do I Podcast?

Your follower count doesn’t matter.

That’s what leading talent manager (and creator herself) Mikhailla Fitzgerald says. She is head of Huume Management and looks after creators like Steph Pase, Tash Invests and Cass Advantures and today we’re talking about what you should charge and how to win over brands EVEN if you have a tiny audience.
As well as what the best creators are offering right now to stand out.

You’ll learn
🎙️How a creator with fewer than 25,000 followers secured $8,000 for one reel
🎙️Why follower count shouldn’t determine how much you charge
🎙️The reason you should never send a brand your rate card
🎙️How to pitch brands before you have a manager or talent agency
🎙️The contract clauses that could cost you future brand deals
🎙️When to stop accepting gifted collaborations and ask to be paid
🎙️What to do when a brand ghosts you after asking for your rates

00:00 – Why so many creators have no idea what to charge
02:25 – How a creator with under 25,000 followers secured an $8,000 deal
03:27 – Why small, highly targeted audiences can attract major partnerships
04:31 – The first brands you should approach
05:20 – How to capture a brand’s attention before sending a pitch
06:39 – Why your content should become the pitch
07:20 – What to do when a brand asks for your rates
10:26 – How podcasts with tiny audiences secure five and six-figure deals
12:18 – What to include in a customised pitch deck
17:38 – How to price reels, stories, emails and podcast placements separately
20:14 – The difference between a media kit and a pitch deck
21:16 – The best negotiation tactics
22:43 – How to increase your rate without adding more deliverables
24:26 – Why monetising your podcast too early can damage its growth
26:15 – The clauses that should protect you as your audience grows
28:10 – The reputation clause every creator should know about
29:52 – How brands can own and use your content forever
33:34 – What talent agencies look for before signing a creator
35:30 – When to stop accepting gifted collaborations
37:00 – How to turn past content into a case study brands will pay for
38:46 – What to do when a brand ghosts you after seeing your rates
39:43 – The biggest myth in the creator industry
42:07 – Why Instagram links can hurt your story views

Connect with Mikhailla over at  https://www.instagram.com/mikhailla and Huume at https://www.instagram.com/huume.mgmt/?hl=en 

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

The first time Simon Beard tried to sell something or run an ad … nothing.
But he founded Culture Kings, worked with Drake, Snoop Dogg and ASAP Rocky and ended up exiting for $600 million dollars. 

When he first started he was selling at the markets. One day he had sold nothing and changed one part of his process.
Not the product, not the price … it was how he presented it … And that’s exactly what I’m talking to him about today.

Because as content creators we are constantly packaging episodes, hoping to find a new audience and that someone will subscribe or follow.
There is more content than ever before and the wave of AI generated content is just beginning.

If you want to become the go-to podcast for your niche stay until the end of this episode.

You’ll Learn: 

🎙️The reason most creators fail right now 
🎙️Should organic content creators and podcasters run ads? 
🎙️The psychology of building trust and rapport with your audience in under 3 seconds 
🎙️How to overcome your fear of building a personal brand 
🎙️How to build a content flywheel 

We Talk About: 

00:00 - What Simon changed to go from $0 in sales to $1,000 in 30 minutes  
01:30 - The routine every creator needs to do before they start making content
03:33 - How to build demand 
05:01 - The metrics to pay attention to if you want to grow 
06:56 - The Trust Matrix  
10:10 - Should you niche? 
13:52 - Lo-Fi vs. Green Screen: What Content Actually Converts? 
19:30 - Why businesses that create content don’t build loyalty
25:36 - The best performing content right now 
29:38 - The $250 Million Hat that No One could try one
33:24 - How to get people wanting more
38:40 - The one AI tool every creator should use

See the man behind DOAC Trailers Anthony Smith here  @anthonyr.smith - https://www.instagram.com/anthonyr.smith/?hl=en
Connect with Simon @simonbeard - https://www.instagram.com/simonbeard/?hl=en
Check out Creator Army - https://www.creatorarmy.com/marketing/landing/creators

If you love todays episode check out Part One of this episode with Grace Miller from Diary of A CEO - https://youtu.be/v32vjCgywMw

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

Everyone is saying IRL is the place to double down on in 2026 … but how do you do it? 

Amy Dickinson is a TikTok creator with over 175,000 followers, co-founder of The Social Summit (Australia's only conference for creators, marketers, and brands) and host of 1800 Chatline, a comedy podcast about dating and life in your 30s that hit 50,000 downloads in under six months.

Amy built all of it without an agency, without a big budget, and without ever making a single person feel like just a ticket sale.

In this episode, Amy breaks down exactly how and why making people feel important is the only community strategy that actually scales.

Whether you're building a podcast, planning your first event, or trying to turn followers into a real community, this one is the playbook.

We chat about: 

🎙️Why your first event should never try to make money (and what it should do instead)

🎙️The speaker dinner strategy that built hype before a single ticket was sold

🎙️How spotting a new CEO announcement turned into a 3-event brand partnership

🎙️Why the merch flooded feeds for weeks… and what made it a collector's item

You’ll hear: 

0:00 - 175,000 TikTok followers, the difference between short form and long form

7:08 - How to get your first speaker to say yes, when nobody knows who you are

9:45 - Why speaker dinner before your even changes everything

10:17 - How one personal touch turns a stranger into a loyal community member

11:56 - Why your first event should never try to make money

12:42 - What MMFI means and why it’s the only community framework you need

13:44: This is the Partnership strategy that got a 3 event deal

15:35 - The tote bag that has become an iconic all on it’s own

16:42 - How to build a content first conference that creates its own marketing 

30:53 - Why 50,000 followers feels like nothing until you stand in a stadium

Instagram & TikTok: @amzdicko

The Social Summit: @thesocialsummit | thesocialsummit.au

1800 Chatline: @1800chatline

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

Even with the best prompts if you’re using AI to write your questions … it’s probably giving you the same questions your guest got asked last week.

But the tool isn’t the problem it’s the way that most people are using it.
This week I’m sharing our exact scripting strategy we use to create questions that every single guest comments.

You’ll learn 

🎙️ Why we stopped using Claude 

🎙️ How to stop AI feeding you false information 

🎙️ What Chris Williamson did that grew his show (and how you can use it) 

🎙️ The 3 things that have made every guest say “that was an amazing interview” 

Get your prompts here - https://project-c-2.kit.com/b42e31a009

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

If your podcast isn't growing, the problem probably isn't your content. Kayleigh built 20,000 YouTube subscribers by fixing something most creators never think to look at…their brand world.

Kayleigh started as a makeup artist who couldn't get booked during COVID. She launched a podcast to fill the time and 200 episodes later, she's built a YouTube channel with over 20,000 subscribers, a membership community, and a personal branding framework pulled directly from studying celebrities.

In this episode, Kayleigh breaks down why the strategy most podcasters use to grow is actually working against them and what the biggest names in pop culture do instead.

We chat about: 

🎙️ The real reason why copying what's already working is the fastest way to stay invisible

🎙️ What a "brand world" is and how to start building one today

🎙️ The YouTube data that shows exactly what your audience wants to hear… and doesn’t

🎙️ Why your visual is your in-real-life hook and how a mullet booked more jobs

🎙️ What your brand's magic only appears when you stop being who you think you should be

You’ll hear: 

3:35 - What do you talk about for 200 episodes  and how do you know when it's time to change direction

5:07 - How do you find your identity on a platform where everyone already seems to have it figured out

6:40 - Why your data is the key to unlocking what your audience actually wants to hear

7:37 - The two things that decide whether someone ever watches your video 

13:37 - What actually makes a video go viral. And how much of it is really in your control

16:58 - How do you grow two completely different audiences without one destroying the other

24:16 - What is a brand world and how do you know if you're already inside one

35:15 - How do you become the celebrity of your niche without being famous

38:35 - What is an in-real-life hook  and how does a mullet explain everything about personal branding

47:40 - Why having an opinion is the one thing most podcasters are scared to do

To see exactly how Kayleigh has built her brand world, you can find her on 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@by.kayleigh

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bykayleighpodcast/)

And listening her on By Kayleigh Podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3Aylj79yaYpG7aOnMUDz0V?si=098cbc7d3c604f92) or Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-podcast-by-kayleigh/id1676257018)

Grace Miller Part 1 episode on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VFciIdwvHbMYVJLxa2pg2?si=DwwCvmRLTKaP47LZaHDlgg), Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/bts-of-diary-of-a-ceo-billions-of-views/id1840086977?i=1000764562578) or Youtube (https://youtu.be/v32vjCgywMw)

Grace Miller Part 2 episode on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/17x2NmcLijtu3RUg8HWexR?si=ssja5DggRx-j81PyVmfSaw), Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/every-podcast-needs-these-3-things-to-grow-with-grace/id1840086977?i=1000766302898) or Youtube (https://youtu.be/aSoWhoST2dA)

Tom Noske episode on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/6INN0ctde2hED5ASTIc8kw?si=536jpS0iSxO8-ow8naRJzg), Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-most-huge-podcasts-make-no-money-with-tom-noske/id1840086977?i=1000771911372) or Youtube (https://youtu.be/sH7hEyVE-Ww)

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

Why are there some podcasts you could listen to for hours and others you don’t absorb a single word they say? 

Today I'm talking to voice coach, former TV journalist, and author Sally Prosser about the hidden vocal habits that quietly undermine even the most knowledgeable podcasters and content creators.

Sally has worked with spokespeople, executives, and creators to help them find and own their unique voiceprint. Not a polished, scripted version of someone else, but a refined, confident version of themselves.

We chat about:

🎙️ Why your voice changes the moment the mic goes on (and what to do about it)

🎙️The belief, body, breath framework that shapes your sound before you even speak

🎙️How rising inflection and vocal fry are undermining your credibility without you realising

🎙️The voice warmup every podcaster should be doing before they hit record

🎙️What your voiceprint actually is and how to find yours

You’ll hear: 

0:00 - Why people lose their voice the moment the mic goes up

9:03 - The voice warmup every podcaster should do before recording

12:10 - The belief, body, breath framework, you need to know

15:54 - What rising inflection is doing to your credibility 

34:59 - Why you should never wait until your voice is perfect to start your podcast

38:16 - What vocal fry is and how to stop it

51:57 - The tease and land technique that will improve your interviewing

56:45 - What a voiceprint actually is and the four elements

1:00:00 - The one daily habit you can start today to build your voice

Follow Sally over at @sallyprosservoice on Instagram and Sally Prosser on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-prosser/).

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

What actually separates the creators who make it from the ones who don't?

Tom Noske has been creating content since 2016. He's built a personal brand that opens doors, a community that converts, and a business that doesn't feel like a prison. But it wasn't overnight. It wasn't linear. And it definitely wasn't without moments where he almost walked away for good.

In this episode Tom shares the story of a friend who did everything right…right content, right audience, right strategy…went viral on day 21, gained 160,000 followers in a single day, and never recovered.

We chat about:

🎙️ Why building an audience and building a business are two completely different things

🎙️ How to set up a studio that looks incredible with what you already have

🎙️ The one pricing decision Tom made mid-launch that changed everything

🎙️ Why your personal brand is a thermostat, not a sales funnel

Follow Tom over @tomnoske (https://www.instagram.com/tomnoske/) and join time to build here (https://www.timetobuild.live/) 

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

20,000 new followers. Six days. One Instagram post.

And the reason it actually worked had nothing to do with the post itself. It worked because she was ready. 

Most creators aren’t. They get a viral moment, hundreds of thousands of new eyeballs land on their page but it gets stuck. It doesn’t TRULY go viral and within a week…those people are gone. And it’s because there was nothing there to hold them.

I'm breaking down the 3 things you need to do before you go viral so that every single one of those new followers has a reason to stick around and the three things to do after you have that viral moment to bring them into your world.

We cover:

🎙️ The three things you need to have in place before you go viral

🎙️ The one mistake people make with their links every time 

🎙️ What to post the moment a reel takes off to keep new followers in your world

🎙️ The one simple thing 99% of creators never do that will make people share your podcast with their friends

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

You can have great guests, good conversations and a decent setup… and still have a podcast that people scroll past.

The shows that cut through now are thinking about a much bigger picture. That’s why I wanted to sit down with Daniel Smith, founder of Head On Agency and the team behind shows like Tell Me More with Olivia Molly Rogers.

We chat about: 

🎙️ What it takes to build a podcast people care about

🎙️ How to make your podcast stand out in an oversaturated market, 

🎙️The guest pitching strategy that helped Daniel land Gary Vee on his podcast

You’ll hear: 

0:00 - Why Daniel thinks the word “podcast” is holding creators back 

5:27 - The content philosophy Daniel uses to make shows more engaging across EVERY platform 

13:18 - The process behind building one of Australia’s top podcasts

21:13 - Why your episode length and format could be the reason people stop listening 

22:52 - Questions to ask yourself to figure out how you’ll stand out in your niche

26:00 - The show he’s working on right now that’s unlike ANYTHING else

31:16 - What are the top 1% of podcasters doing that others aren’t?

35:50 - The types of content you should be posting (that aren’t just clips of your show)

37:58 - How Daniel got Gary Vee on his podcast!

47:49 - The shows Daniel keeps coming back to

49:19 - Daniel’s advice for anyone waiting until their podcast looks “professional” enough to start 

If you want to find out more about Daniel, head over to IG @danul_smitty (https://www.instagram.com/danul_smitty/) or visit his agency Head On at www.headon.agency

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast 

How do you grow a show when you start with 0 followers and no personal brand? 

Ready or Not was born back in 2022 and co-hosts Lucinda Mckimm and Lauren Treweek have been building their community and audience ever since. But the last 12 months … something has changed.

From day one they knew the type of podcast they were creating and how they were different, they built an incredible show that people wanted to listen to every single week.
But then after diving into the data they noticed one number just didn’t’ add up.
So they changed their strategy … Now they get thousands of views on every reel, their audience co-create their shows and today they’re sharing exactly what they pay attention to now every single week and all of the things they wish they knew years ago.

We chat about: 

🎙️ What type of episode grows your show (and builds cult audiences) the fastest 

🎙️ The best way to secure partnerships when you are just starting out 

🎙️ How to leverage AI, trial reels and social media to grow your podcast 

Follow Ready Or Not over at - https://www.instagram.com/readyornot.pod/

Follow Lucinda here - https://www.instagram.com/lucindamckimm_/

And Loz here - https://www.instagram.com/laurentreweek_/

Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at  www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast 

Watch the podcast on Youtube  - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast