Pop quiz: How many downloads does your podcast need to be considered successful?

10,000 an episode? A million overall?

It's less than you think.

According to Buzzsprout’s 2025 global podcast stats, half of the top shows get around 30 downloads in the first week. If you’re hitting 100 downloads, you’re in the top 25%. At 500, you’re in the top 10%. The top 1%? That’s closer to 5,000 downloads per episode.

But here’s the thing: chasing big numbers won’t necessarily translate into dollars for your business.

What really matters is attracting the right listeners. Imagine 100 ideal clients tuning in every week, giving you their full attention. That kind of influence can double or 10X your revenue, which is far more valuable than 10,000 random listeners who will never take action.

In this episode, I explain why:

1. Sponsorships aren’t the best way to monetize your podcast.

2. Selling to your audience beats selling your audience.

3. Smaller, engaged audiences can land you clients, speaking gigs, and authority.

4. The real metrics to track (and none of them are downloads).

So stop letting your ego drive the bus and chase download numbers. Focus on why you started your podcast in the first place and align your success with your goals.

👉 Ready to realign your podcast for results?

Book a free 15-minute coaching call and let’s talk about whether the Podcast Tune-Up is right for you: podcastperformancecoach.com

What format is best for podcasting? Should you do interview or solo episodes?

This is the great podcast format debate. As a podcast coach, I’ve seen how each format plays out in real business growth.

In this episode, I look at both options and share the pros and cons of each.

Here’s the breakdown:

Interview Podcasts

1. Build community and expand your network.

2. Transfer authority from your guests to you.

3. Risk: Some guests add little value or only want access to your audience.

Solo Podcasts

1. Put the spotlight on your thought leadership.

2. Build trust and authority quickly.

3. Make your listeners feel connected to you.

The Winning Strategy

Many podcasters find success using a combination of both formats but that's not right for every podcast. Hello! I only do solo episodes. Why? Because my episodes are short and that's what serves my listener.

So, how do you choose what's right for you and your podcast?

Start with the most important thing — serve your listener. That might be with curated interviews, solo episodes, or a combination of both.

Ask yourself:

1. What serves your listener best?

2. Which format builds your authority?

3. How does your podcast serve your business goals?

If you’re stuck in a rut (only doing interviews or only going solo) it might be time to rethink your strategy. Let's talk about it.

Book a free private podcast coaching call and let’s find the format that works for you, your listener, and your business.

Get on my calenadar today for your FREE podcast coaching call here:

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

RELATED EPISODE:

232 Are You Using the Wrong Podcast Format? Here’s How to Fix It

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/232-wrong-podcast-format-fix/

Is your podcast suffering because you're too nice?

In this episode, I call out the people pleasers because trying to make everyone happy could be killing your podcast’s impact (and ROI).

I see it over and over: podcasters letting guests ramble, avoiding clear CTAs, skipping structure and systems, all in the name of being nice.

In this episode, I break down exactly how people pleasing shows up in (and hurts) your podcast:

1. On air: letting guests hijack your show and ignoring your listener

2. Behind the scenes: missing deadlines and burning out because you didn’t set boundaries

3. In your business: holding back your offers, afraid of sounding too salesy

4. And the biggest trap of all… avoiding niching because you don’t want to leave anyone out

If you’ve been putting everyone else’s comfort ahead of your podcast’s purpose, this is your wake-up call. Your listener needs you to show up with confidence and clarity, not deliver watered-down content and wobbly leadership.

So, let’s talk about how to stop people pleasing and start podcasting like a pro.

🎯 Book your free private podcast coaching call at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com or https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Episode #102: How to Help Your Listener Take the Next Step

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/102-how-to-help-your-listener-take-the-next-step/

🎙️ Listen now and take back control of your podcast.

Not everyone should host their own podcast. Here's how to determine if it should be you (or someone else).

If you're starting a podcast for your business or brand, there's one big decision that could make or break your show's success: who should be behind the mic? Spoiler alert: it’s not always you.

In this episode, I lay out a simple framework to help you figure out if you should host your business podcast or if someone else might be a better fit.

If you're a personal brand (coach, consultant, freelancer), chances are high that the mic belongs to you. Your voice builds trust, authority, and connection with your listener. But if your business is bigger than you or you’re planning an exit, you might need to rethink that plan.

We’ll talk about:

1. When YOU should 100% host your podcast (and how to get over mic-fright)

2. Why some founders should not be the host

3. When to consider hiring a professional host or co-host

4. What to consider if you're building a brand that will outlive you

Plus, I share a bonus tip for nervous hosts who still want to be part of the show even if it brings on monsoon levels of sweat.

If you’ve been unsure whether or not to grab the mic (and that's been stopping you from launching or staying consistent), then this episode will help you decide confidently.

Want help figuring out how to make your podcast work for your brand (with or without your voice)?

👉 Book a free private coaching call here:

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Want to attract more buyers and sellers with your podcast?

Here are 3 podcasting tips every real estate agent should know to grow their local authority.

If you're a realtor with a podcast (or thinking about starting one), this episode is a must-listen. In today's real estate market (where every agent is shouting for attention and fighting for listings), podcasting can help you stand out, build trust, and become the go-to expert in your local market. But only if you do it right.

Here are 3 podcasting tips that’ll turn your show into a powerful marketing tool for your real estate business.

Tip #1: Stay Local, Stay Known

If you want to be known as the real estate agent in your city, make your podcast hyper-local. Talk neighborhoods. Talk schools. Talk lifestyle. Your show isn’t for other agents. It’s for home buyers and sellers in your area. So serve them.

Tip #2: Promote the Podcast Like It’s Your Best Listing

Your face is already on signs, cards, and car wraps, so double down on that advertising real estate and add your podcast. Promote it everywhere. Don’t let your podcast be the best-kept secret in your business.

Tip #3: Use Dynamic Content to Stay Evergreen and Relevant

This is the tip that will put you at the front of the pack. Learn how to use dynamic content (a.k.a. dynamic ads) to keep all of your podcast episodes current with timely listings, market updates, and client wins. Yes, even your old episodes will be perpetually fresh.

Bonus Tip: Nail Your CTA

Your podcast is a marketing tool. So treat it like one. I’ll show you how to make your call-to-action clear, compelling, and perfectly aligned with your specialty, whether you help first-time buyers, downsizers, the luxe market, or relocators.

This episode is packed with actionable advice realtors can start using right now to attract more leads, stand out in their local market, and use their voice to build real connections.

Listen in and take the first step toward turning your podcast into a machine that attracts new listings and home-buying clients.

And if you want help getting your real estate podcast working smarter (not just harder), book a free podcast coaching call with me at podcastperformancecoach.com.

If everything is AI-generated, how do you prove you’re real and build trust?

Today I share how to use your podcast to build real trust with real listeners.

Trust is getting harder to earn. With AI flooding the internet, churning out blogs, social posts, and even podcast episodes, people are becoming more skeptical than ever about who (or what) do believe. If they can’t tell whether there’s a real person (with genuine ideas and original ideas) behind the mic, they’re less likely to buy, follow, or even finish the episode.

So, how do you stand out and build the kind of trust that leads to loyalty, leads, and long-term authority?

Podcasting. Done right.

In this episode, I break down 3 things your podcast must do to bridge the growing trust gap:

1. Be consistently YOU (ditch the AI-polished scripts)

2. Make your podcast about THEM (serve your listener)

3. Share real stories (so they know you’re a real and relatable human)

I even share a story about a pants-free coaching call that proves the power of authenticity. Yep, it’s a thing.

If you want to stay listener-centric and keep your voice in your podcast (even if you’re using AI for support), this episode is for you.

Listen now and start building trust and podcast authority.

If you want a few tips on storytelling in your podcast, check out episodes 108, 197, and 234.

Book your free private podcast coaching call at:

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Trying to decide between launching a podcast or writing a book? Here’s how to choose the right path for maximum impact.

Someone recently booked a free podcast coaching call with me, and this is exactly the question she was trying to figure out: should she write a book or start a podcast first?

She had big ideas to share, but limited time and energy. Should she invest it in launching a podcast or finally writing that book she’d been thinking about?

It’s a fair question. And like so many things in business, the answer is: it depends.

In this episode, I walk you through what you need to consider before making your decision and reveal the advice I gave her. And no, it wasn't a self-serving 'podcast, of course!'

Here are a few of the key things you need to explore before deciding on the right choice for you:

1. Where you are in clarifying your message

2. Whether or not you already have an audience

3. What you want this content to do for your business and brand

4. If you’ve got any external deadlines (like a publisher)

5. And, of course, your actual capacity (because both DO take time and energy)

This advice isn't off the cuff.

I’ve worked with clients who started with a book and then launched a podcast to support it. Others who started a podcast first and then realized they’ve got a book’s worth of content sitting in their episodes.

And some do both (strategically), so they’re aligned and reinforcing each other.

The key is to zoom out, get clear on your goals, and choose the path (or combo) that makes the most sense for where you are now and where you want to go.

If you’re wondering whether podcasting should be part of your content strategy, or you want help mapping out how it fits with your book plans, I’ve got your back.

Book a free podcast coaching call with me at podcastperformancecoach.com and let’s figure out the next best step for you.

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Is your podcast audio hurting your credibility?

Listeners judge you in seconds. And if your audio sounds off, you might be losing them—and their trust—before you even get to your content.

In this episode of Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach, I’m digging into how AI audio tools can help you clean up your podcast recordings without making you sound overproduced, robotic, or untrustworthy.

Because here’s some hard truth:

If your podcast is part of your business strategy, sound quality matters. It’s not just about polish—it’s about how your brand is perceived. And if you want your show to build authority, generate leads, and convert listeners into clients, then you can’t afford to ignore how you sound.

I’ll share two AI tools my clients (and I) are using right now to quickly improve their podcast audio:

1. Riverside’s Magic Audio: A one-click sweetening tool for interviews and solo episodes.

2. Adobe Podcast Enhance Speech (v2): A more customizable option that gives you control over voice clarity and background noise.

But this episode isn’t just about tools. I’ll also walk you through:

1. How AI audio sweetening actually works (and where it sometimes goes too far)

2. What the “auto-tune” effect has to do with your podcast authority

3. Why relying too much on AI can erode trust instead of building it

4. The most important step to take before hitting record (hint: AI can’t fix everything)

5. What high-quality sound tells your audience about you, and what bad sound says, too

If your goal is to use your podcast to grow your business, attract clients, and establish your authority in your space, then you have to sound the part.

I’ve been in audio production for over 30 years, and even I’ve made the mistake of thinking gear or tools could replace preparation. (Yes, I share that story, too.)

Want your podcast to actually drive leads and support your business growth?

Check out the Podcast Tune-Up — a 6-step system to get your show aligned, optimized, and performing like a true marketing tool. You can go through it on your own or work with me directly.

Prefer to start with a conversation?  

Book your free podcast coaching call at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com.

Also mentioned in this episode:

1. Episode 20: “Shit In is Shit Out”

2. Adobe Podcast Enhance Speech

3. Riverside.fm

Feeling stuck on what to talk about on your podcast?

You might be sitting on a goldmine without even realizing it.

In this episode, I’m sharing a strategy that’s going to make planning your episodes way easier — and a whole lot more effective for your business.   Spoiler: You don’t need a fancy content brainstorm. You just need to mine the gold you’ve already created.

Here’s what we cover:

🔹 The hidden treasure you’re probably ignoring – and how your Zoom calls, webinars, and coaching sessions can become your best episodes.

🔹 A step-by-step system to turn meetings into content – including how to pull transcripts, prompt AI the right way, and stay true to your voice.

🔹 The critical mistake most podcasters make with AI – and why editing will always be part of the process if you want to stay authentic.

🔹 Bonus prompts you can steal – so you can turn those raw transcripts into usable outlines or draft scripts without losing your edge.

🔹 How to build a rolling content calendar – without staring at a blank page or creating “fluff” episodes that don’t connect.

This episode isn’t just about saving you time, it’s about helping you stay hyper-relevant, serve your ideal listener, and move more listeners from “just tuning in” to “signing up.”

Because when you’re already solving real problems for real people... why wouldn’t you want your podcast to reflect that?

Need more help building a podcast that actually supports your business?

We dig into structure, strategy, and authority-building inside the Podcast Tune-Up.

You can do it 1:1 with me or take the self-guided version.

Details at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com

FULL EPISODE SHOW NOTES (plus AI prompts) HERE:

#235 Find Winning Podcast Topics in Your Meetings

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/235-podcast-content-goldmine-find-winning-topics-meetings/

Other episodes mentioned:

#176 Using AI on your Podcast

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/176-how-podcasters-can-use-not-abuse-ai-without-compromising-their-brands-authenticity/

Small Stories, Big Impact: How to Create Instant Connection with Your Podcast

✅ Free coaching call: PodcastPerformanceCoach.com

✅ Podcast Tune-Up Program: PodcastPerformanceCoach.com/podcast-tune-up

Think you need an epic hero’s journey to make your podcast memorable? Think again.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why small, everyday stories — the kind that take 30 seconds to tell — can be even more powerful than an elaborate narrative.

Micro-stories trigger memories, spark emotion, and make your content stick. They're faster to tell, easier for your audience to connect to, and (bonus!) they make you way more relatable.

Here’s what we cover:

1. Why micro-stories work better than you think for business podcasts

2. How a quick real-life moment creates visuals, emotions, and trust

3. Why listeners remember shared human experiences (not facts and features)

4. The secret connection between storytelling, memory, and client conversion

5. How short stories can make your lessons land without feeling “salesy”

And yes, I’m sharing a real (and slightly embarrassing) story about how I once got kicked off Apple Podcasts. Yep, even podcast coaches have rookie mistakes. (And yep, it made me a better podcaster — and coach.)

If you’ve ever felt like storytelling was too big, too complicated, or just out of reach for your podcast — this episode will show you how simple it can be.

Because your audience doesn’t need an epic.

They just need you to be real.

Need help making your podcast more relatable and lead-generating?

Book a free podcast coaching call or learn more about the Podcast Tune-Up — a 6-step process to make sure your podcast is aligned with your business goals and audience needs.

✅ Free coaching call: PodcastPerformanceCoach.com

✅ Podcast Tune-Up Program: PodcastPerformanceCoach.com/podcast-tune-up

Let’s make your podcast stick — and sell — without making it harder than it needs to be.