Focus on Your Audience, Not Yourself with Dave Campbell

What does it actually take to build a podcast people care about?

In this episode of Podcast About Podcasting, Gabe Leal sits down with podcaster, creator, and community builder Dave Campbell for a deep conversation about sustainable podcasting, audience connection, and why podcast growth has less to do with algorithms… and more to do with people.

Dave shares lessons learned from producing over 2,000 podcast episodes across 9 different shows, including why most creators struggle after the first few episodes and how new podcasters can build momentum without getting trapped chasing downloads and vanity metrics.

This conversation dives into the emotional side of podcasting, the importance of community, and why serving even one listener can completely change someone’s life.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a podcast, struggling to stay consistent, or trying to grow your audience the right way, this episode is packed with practical insights and encouragement for creators at every stage.

In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why podcasting still has massive opportunity in 2026
How to identify and serve your ideal audience
The mindset shift that helps creators stay consistent
Why most podcasters quit after only a few episodes
Building sustainable podcast workflows and systems
How to overcome fear of self-promotion
Why podcast growth is about depth, not just numbers
The importance of community in content creation
Dave Campbell’s approach to managing 9 podcasts
The power of impact over analytics
Memorable Quote from Dave Campbell

“You can count the number of seeds in an apple… but you can’t count the number of apples in a seed.”

About Dave Campbell

Dave Campbell is a podcast host, creator, and educator focused on helping people start and sustain meaningful podcasts. Through his multiple shows and podcasting community, Dave encourages creators to remove the fear, gatekeeping, and perfectionism that often stop people from sharing their voice.

Learn more about Dave Campbell, his podcasts, community meetups, and podcasting resources at:
HowToPodcast.ca

Connect With Podcast About Podcasting

Hosted by Gabe Leal, Podcast About Podcasting explores the real stories, lessons, failures, and breakthroughs behind building a podcast and finding your voice as a creator.

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