Hi! It’s Blair. You are receiving this post/email because you subscribed to my email list along the way. I’m using tools, like Substack, to share my social media marketing and PR info and updates. You may not have heard from me for a while, and that is because I retired from social media marketing. Well, Substack and its podcasting feature are so fascinating and impactful that I have come out of retirement to share the goods with you. If this type of content no longer interests you or you don’t want these updates from me on Substack, please unsubscribe below. Thanks for the love over the last 20 years. xx B

And now, the post…

If you want to be seen as a thought leader or leading expert in your industry, visibility alone is not enough anymore. People are overwhelmed with content. What they are actually looking for is context, consistency, and credibility.

Podcasting on Substack delivers all three.

Why Podcasting Builds Thought Leadership Faster Than Social Media Alone

Social media is great for discovery.Podcasting is where trust is built.

When someone listens to your voice week after week, something shifts. They don’t just recognize your name. They understand how you think. They hear your nuance. They learn your frameworks. They begin to associate you with clarity in your field.

A podcast allows you to:• Go deeper than a caption• Explain your thinking, not just your opinions• Share lived experience alongside expertise• Build familiarity, which accelerates trust

Trust is the foundation of thought leadership. Without it, visibility is just noise.

Why Substack Is Different for Thought Leaders

Substack is not just a podcast hosting platform. It is an owned media ecosystem.

When you podcast on Substack, you are not relying solely on algorithms to distribute your ideas. Your episodes land directly in your subscribers’ inboxes. They live alongside written posts that reinforce your expertise and make your ideas searchable and scannable.

This matters for thought leadership because:• Your ideas are archived and searchable• Your audience opts in to hear from you• Your thinking compounds over time• Your content works for both SEO and AEO

You are building a body of work, not just episodes.

Thanks for reading How We Podcast on Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

How Podcasting on Substack Positions You as an Expert

A podcast does not make you an expert. Your insight does. The podcast is the vehicle.

When used intentionally, podcasting on Substack helps you:• Teach your frameworks and methodologies• Respond to industry trends in real time• Clarify complex ideas in plain language• Share behind-the-scenes thinking and decisions• Become known for a specific point of view

Thought leaders are not the loudest voices. They are the clearest ones.

Substack allows you to reinforce that clarity through repetition and depth.

Audio Plus Writing Equals Authority

One of the most powerful aspects of podcasting on Substack is pairing audio with written posts.

Audio builds connection.Writing builds credibility.

Together, they:• Improve search visibility• Support answer engine results• Meet different learning styles• Reinforce your expertise across formats

People can listen while walking, then return to read and reference your ideas later. That is how influence compounds.

Consistency Builds Recognition

Thought leadership is not built in one viral moment. It is built through consistent presence.

Podcasting on Substack supports consistency because:• The platform removes technical friction• Publishing becomes a habit, not a production• Your audience expects and anticipates your voice

When you show up consistently with valuable insight, your name becomes associated with your niche. Over time, people begin to say, “You should listen to their podcast” or “They always explain this so clearly.”

That is thought leadership in action.

Who This Strategy Works For

Podcasting on Substack is especially powerful if you are:• A coach or consultant• A founder or entrepreneur• A professional building a personal brand• A writer or educator• A speaker or subject-matter expert

If your work relies on trust, credibility, and long-term relationships, a podcast is not optional. It is strategic.

The Bottom Line

Thought leadership is not about having the loudest platform. It is about having the clearest voice in the room.

Podcasting on Substack allows you to:• Own your audience• Share your thinking without distortion• Build a searchable body of work• Strengthen trust at scale

If you want to be known not just for what you do, but for how you think, a podcast is one of the most effective tools you can use.

And Substack makes it easier than ever to do it well.

Inside How We Podcast on Substack, I share exactly how I use podcasting to build authority, grow community, and position myself as a leading voice in my industry, without burnout or complexity.

This is not about chasing influence.It is about earning it.

Here we grow,

xx Blair Kaplan Venables

P.S. If you are reading this and haven’t listened yet, you are missing out. In the audio, I share an update on stats and lessons learned. Have a listen (it’s a quickie).

Thanks for reading How We Podcast on Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwepodcast.substack.com