You hired a podcast editor. Maybe even a full production team. Your show sounds amazing. The visuals are slick. Everything looks right... except for one thing:

Nobody’s listening.
Nobody’s buying.
And your ROI is trash.

In this episode of It’s Not Just Talking, I break down the #1 trap that kills branded podcasts, pouring money into production with no strategy to back it up. Because great editing doesn’t grow your business. A smart, aligned podcast strategy does.

We’ll cover:

The real reason most branded shows flop

Why hiring a podcast editor might be a waste of money

What to actually invest in if you want a podcast that gets clients

This is for any business owner tired of throwing money at a show that’s not delivering. You don’t need “better production.” You need a plan that ties directly into your offer.

Chapters - 
00:00 – The Production Trap

03:39 – Pretty Podcasts Don’t Pay

07:06 – What Strategy Actually Looks Like

08:33 – Pick a North Star: Sales or Ego?

14:25 – Netflix, Spotify & The Future of Podcasts

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We talk with speaker and podcaster Marianne Hickman for a deep dive into what truly makes someone a great communicator on stage, on podcasts, and in business.

Marianne has booked guests, delivered keynotes, and coached voices behind some of the most effective podcast content out there. In this episode, she and Vince unpack what separates real impact from performative hype.

From spotting manipulative tactics to building trust with your audience, this conversation is essential for entrepreneurs, podcast guests, and anyone using their voice to drive business results.

Topics include how to be a good podcast guest, podcast interview tips, and using speaking skills to strengthen your podcast marketing strategy. If you’re in the world of b2b podcasting or looking for actionable podcast monetization strategies, this episode is packed with insight.

Connect with Marianne Hickman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianne__hickman?igsh=dDNmY3Zkbmx4Zjdj&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marianne__hickman?_t=8jVBtUG50zD&_r=1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-hickman-millionaire-speaker-coach-662b294/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Marianne_Hickman?si=C4cUczT2u6XR698t

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/marianne__hickman

Pinterest: https://pin.it/4O1Oc7iQB

X (Twitter): https://x.com/Marianne__ME

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@marianne__hickman?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marianne.eld/


Chapters-

00:00 - Why Most Speakers Get It Wrong

02:10 - The Counterfeit Speaker Problem

06:37 - Stop Trauma-Dumping for Clout

10:45 - The Spiritual Filter for Guest Content

14:02 - What Makes a Great Podcast Guest

19:15 - Using Speaking Skills to Grow Your Business

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If your podcast feels stuck and you’re not seeing results, this is probably why. You’re using the wrong playbook. Most shows fail because nobody teaches you how to treat a branded podcast like a real business asset.

In this episode we'll break down the podcast category confusion that's killing business growth. Is your show supposed to drive leads? Build authority? Close clients? If you don’t know, neither does your audience. And that’s the problem.

This is how you go from “content for content’s sake” to real podcast marketing strategy.

Chapters

[00:00] Mislabeling the Issue: Why the "branded podcast" approach matters.

[04:20] Alignment Over Volume: Why reaching fewer but relevant listeners drives better outcomes.

[10:16] Strategic Guest Booking: How to align guest choices with business goals.

[15:16] Leading in an Emerging Field: Branded podcasts as untapped opportunities in today's market.

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you're not using email marketing to grow your business, you're missing out on your most valuable asset. In this episode of It’s Not Just Talking, we sit down with email strategist Rich Young of Vision Global to break down how business owners can use email to drive sales, segment buyers, and improve marketing performance.

We explore why your email list is more powerful than social media, how to track what your audience actually wants, and why removing inactive subscribers can increase your revenue.

Key takeaways:

Why email marketing drives higher ROI than social media

How to use click and open data to create better follow-ups

The right way to clean your list to improve deliverability and results

Whether you're running a podcast or a product-based business, this episode will show you how to turn email into a revenue-generating machine.

Connect with Rich

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/rdyoung32/

Website: visionglobal.io 

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most creators want more views. But if you're using a podcast or YouTube channel to grow your business, chasing viral content can actually backfire.

In this episode of It’s Not Just Talking, I talk with Auret Esselen of Essetino Media about why an "antiviral" content strategy often works better for entrepreneurs, coaches, and service providers. We unpack how viral videos attract the wrong leads, what it really takes to build trust with your audience, and how to turn your content into a client-generating machine.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

How viral growth can sabotage your sales funnel

What business-focused creators should do differently on YouTube

The best way to create long-term content that brings in the right people

If you’re wondering why your content isn’t converting, this episode will show you exactly where to shift your strategy.

To connect with Auret  or find out more about her Youtube audit go to: https://essetinomedia.com/youtube-service/  

Also get your copy of The YouTube Authority Checklist: https://essetinomedia.com/youtube-authority-checklist  

===

📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nobody tells you what it actually takes to survive five years running a business. 

We’re talking through the real lessons we’ve learned building SBX Productions from the ground up through burnout, pandemic chaos, bad clients, broken partnerships, all of it.

You’ll hear:

Why working harder usually makes things worse

How to spot a nightmare client (before they wreck your calendar)

The partnership trap that cost us thousands

Why routine is the only way we’ve stayed sane

And how business clarity makes podcasting way easier

Chapters 

02:58 - 2 First Major Lessons 

14:35 - Following 2 Lessons 

22:45 - Final Lesson 
 

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Let’s be real, if your podcast strategy starts and ends with “get more downloads,” you’re already wasting your time.

This episode is all about the gap between audience and sales—why most shows obsess over vanity metrics and completely ignore the part where, y’know, you actually make money.

We’re diving into the difference between attention and conversion, how to fix the holes in your funnel, and why your business should never rely on random podcast listeners to figure out how to buy from you.

If you’re not using your show to generate leads or drive sales, then you’re doing it wrong—and I’m telling you right now, it doesn’t have to be that way.

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’ve ever thought, “I should turn this podcast into a book,” this episode is your roadmap.

Tina Dietz is the founder of Twin Flames Studios. She’s worked on over 500 podcast-to-book projects—including bestsellers and award-winners and today, she’s walking us through exactly how it’s done.

We talk about:

Why turning your podcast into a book is way easier than you think

What makes content “book-worthy” (and how to plan for that)

How self-publishing is crushing traditional publishing for business owners

The real value of audiobooks—and why almost nobody’s talking about it

How your show and your book can feed each other to grow your audience and your business

This isn’t about checking a box or “becoming an author.” It’s about creating a book that works as hard as your podcast does. Let’s get into it.

if you would like to connect and follow Tina check out the links below!

Website  https://twinflamesstudios.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TwinFlamesStudiosLeadership/

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tinadietz

IG: https://www.instagram.com/twinflamesstudios/

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TwinFlamesStudios

00:00:42 — The Power of Podcasting to Book Conversion

00:05:21 — Identifying Book-Worthy Content

00:11:13 — Strategic Use of Books in Business

00:14:40 — Building Community Through Podcasting and Books

00:24:22 — The Rise of Audiobooks

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don’t need a brand new idea every week. Stop stressing yourself out.

Most of your audience never saw your old posts. The ones who did probably forgot. That is why best ofs work.

In this episode, I walk through how to use your old content the right way so you can post more often, stay consistent, and actually get seen without burning yourself out.

This is not about being lazy. It is about being smart.

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A lot of people talk about “building community.” The truth is, most of the time they’re not. They’re building an audience.

And if you don’t understand the difference, you’re going to waste time, energy, and opportunities.

That’s why I sat down with Adam Teterus, community manager at Indy Hall and one of the sharpest voices on what real community actually looks like.

In this episode we cover:

The difference between community and audience and why it matters

Why businesses fail when they confuse the two

How ownership and acknowledgment create deeper connections

To learn more about Indy Hall - IndyHall.org & @Indyhall on social media platforms

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📩 Grow your business with weekly Content Marketing tips. Join the SBX Newsletter →  https://sbxproductions.com/the-sbx-newsletter/

📅 Lost in your podcast journey? Book a free Compass Call → https://freepodcasthelp.com/ 

📖 Starting a podcast? Download the FREE 9 Steps to Launch a Business Podcast guide → https://sbxproductions.com/9-steps-to-launch-guide/ 

🔗Contact us directly or via social media → https://i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/sbxproductions

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.