How do you share your story in a way that actually helps people instead of just trauma dumping?

In this episode of Podcast Café, I’m sitting down with Joe Smarro, a TEDx speaker, author, former police officer, Marine combat veteran, and podcast host — to talk about storytelling, mental health, public speaking, and how podcasting can become a powerful platform for connection and impact.

Joe shares how childhood trauma, military service, and years of therapy eventually led him to speaking on stages across the country, hosting a podcast, and helping leaders understand resilience, healing, and emotional intelligence.

If you are a podcaster, speaker, entrepreneur, or someone thinking about starting a podcast, this conversation is full of insights on how to tell meaningful stories that truly connect with an audience.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Joe’s journey from trauma to becoming a TEDx speaker, author, and podcast host
• How therapy helped him process his story before sharing it publicly
• The difference between powerful storytelling and trauma dumping
• How podcasting helps build relationships and grow your network
• Why vulnerability can give other people permission to speak up
• Joe’s advice for anyone who wants to start a podcast or become a public speaker
• Why podcasting doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated
• The surprising lesson podcasting taught him about curiosity and lifelong learning

Joe Smarro is a Marine combat veteran, former San Antonio police officer, TEDx speaker, author, and CEO of SolutionPoint+. During his 11 years with the San Antonio Police Department, he helped build the department’s nationally recognized Mental Health Unit.

Joe is also featured in the Emmy-award winning documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops and is the author of the Amazon bestselling book Unarmed: De-escalation Techniques to Cultivate Courage, Compassion, and Connection. Today, he travels the country speaking and training organizations on mental health, resilience, and leadership.

His mission is to help reduce suicide among first responders and create healthier, more resilient communities. When he’s not speaking or writing, you’ll most likely find him on a golf course.

Website: www.joesmarro.com | www.solutionpointplus.comMy Emmy-Award winning Documentary: https://youtu.be/0FH2iBAN4mc?si=lmsIHMLBJp95k2UAMy TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/zjqKzNJef28?si=QQ-cJMhnIOb3JAnk

Listen to Truly Mental: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truly-mental/id1476295263

NPR's story on Ketamine: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/03/nx-s1-5561085/why-ketamine-got-popular

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

What if your podcast prep included crystal grids, meditation, and planetary alignment? That's not woo-woo—that's intentional podcasting.

In this episode, I sit down with Julia, host of The Sacred Travel Podcast, to explore how she brings presence, ritual, and deep intention into every episode she creates. Julia's show redefines travel as a spiritual practice, guiding listeners through sacred sites, pilgrimages, and transformative journeys around the world.

Julia shares how her podcast was literally conceived on a pilgrimage in Scotland and born nine months later—and how that energetic foundation continues to shape her creative process today.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

✨ How Julia uses crystal grids, sacred geometry, and meditation to prepare for recordings
✨ Why she records episodes on Wednesdays to align with Mercury's communication energy
✨ The surprising audience insight that changed her language and approach
✨ Why listening to your own podcast episodes is a powerful tool for integration and self-growth
✨ How to infuse more authenticity and ritual into your podcasting practice—whether you're spiritual or not
✨ Julia's best advice for podcasters: know your why, because it will carry you through the ups and downs

Sacred Travel Quiz: What’s Your Sacred Travel Style?https://www.soulwisdom.ch/yoursacredtraveltypequiz

If you're only publishing your podcast episodes without repurposing them, you're missing out on the best parts of podcasting.

In this Espresso Shot episode, I am breaking down exactly why repurposing matters and shares simple, actionable strategies to get more ears on your show—without overwhelming yourself.

Publishing your episode is just the beginning. What happens after you hit publish is where the magic actually happens.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why pressing "publish" is only 20% of the work (and what the other 80% should be)
• The author analogy that changes everything about how you think about podcast promotion
• 4 simple repurposing strategies you can implement this week
• How to use AI tools like Descript and ChatGPT to create clips, newsletters, and blog posts
• A creative way to use your podcast content in your sales pipeline
• Why podcasting gives you the most content ROI of any medium

Key Takeaways:

Video Clips Are Your Friend

Turn Transcripts Into Email Newsletters

Repurpose Into Blog Posts

Use Episodes in Your Sales Process

After You Publish Is Where the Payoff Happens

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

What does it take to launch a podcast and reach the top 5% within just 12 days? Tracy Beaver, host of Create Online Business Success, shares her exact pre-launch strategy, why she waited years to start (and what finally pushed her to launch), and how organic marketing beats paid ads every single time.

Whether you're thinking about starting a podcast, growing your online business, or wondering if Facebook is still relevant—this conversation is packed with honest insights, actionable strategies, and a few laughs along the way.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Tracy's pre-launch strategy that led to top rankings on Apple Podcasts
• Why tech fears held her back from podcasting (and how she finally got started)
• The truth about paid ads vs. organic marketing for online entrepreneurs
• How to create content that speaks to multiple industries
• Why consistency and patience are the "wonder twins" of business success
• Facebook strategies that still work (yes, really!)
• The biggest lesson podcasting taught Tracy about perfectionism

About Tracy Beaver:
Tracy Beaver helps online entrepreneurs—coaches, course creators, and service providers—grow their businesses using organic visibility and list growth strategies. With 6+ years in the online space and a background in corporate sales, Tracy launched Create Online Business Success in July 2024 and quickly climbed to the top 5% of podcasts on Listen Notes.

Connect with Tracy:

• Podcast: Create Online Business Success
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029969944188688

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

“Is podcasting dead?”

It’s a question I’ve been getting a lot lately, especially after Jenna Kutcher announced she’s stepping away from her podcast.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening in podcasting in 2026 using real industry patterns, listener behavior, and what I see every day working behind the scenes with podcasts that convert (and ones that quietly disappear).

This isn’t a hot take.

And it’s definitely not fear-based marketing.

It’s a grounded look at why podcasting isn’t dead, but why the way people approach podcasting has changed.

in this episode, we talk about:

Why the “is podcasting dead?” conversation keeps coming up

The long-standing stat about most podcasts ending after 10–20 episodes

How listener behavior has shifted toward fewer, more trusted shows

Why big creators stepping away doesn’t mean podcasting failed

What actually works in podcasting in 2026

The one question every podcaster should be able to answer

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Is your podcast collecting digital dust?

In this episode of I’m joined by Dana Bahr, host of The Unapologetic Pinner Podcast, to talk about how Pinterest can extend the life of your podcast episodes and help your content stay discoverable for months (and even years).Dana shares why she chose a short-form podcast format, how she uses Pinterest as a long-term visibility strategy instead of a viral one, and the concept she calls “digital dust”—the content you’ve already created that’s still valuable but buried by fast-moving platforms.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Dana launched a 10-minute-or-less podcast (and why it works)
• What “digital dust” is and how Pinterest brings old content back to life
• How Pinterest differs from social media platforms like Instagram
• How many pins you can realistically create per podcast episode
• The lifespan of a Pinterest pin (and why it matters for podcasters)
• Evergreen vs. trending content and how to balance both
• Common Pinterest myths (no, it’s not just for recipes and bloggers)
• How Pinterest drives listeners directly to podcasts, offers, and lead magnets
• Why long-term visibility beats short-term promotion
• The smartest way to link podcast episodes without triggering spam flags

Connect with Dana:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danas.desk.nc

Podcast: The Unapologetic Pinner Podcast

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Your podcast doesn’t need more downloads, it needs direction.

PS - I got a new mic.. very exciting I hope you enjoy!

Okay, back to the show notes..

you could have 10 listeners or 1 million, but if you’re not telling people where to go next, your podcast won’t convert listeners into clients. In this Espresso Shot episode of Podcast Café, we’re breaking down exactly how to turn your podcast into a client-generating tool — without being salesy or pushy.

This episode dives into why downloads and followers are vanity metrics, what actually drives conversions, and how to build a simple podcast funnel that works whether your show is attracting brand-new listeners or nurturing people who already know you.

You’ll learn:

Why who is listening matters more than how many people are listening

The difference between top-of-funnel and middle-of-funnel podcasts

What a podcast funnel actually is — and how to build one

Why listeners won’t take the next step unless you tell them where to go

How to convert even a small audience into paying clients

Why consistency (not instant results) is the real secret to podcast growth

If your podcast is meant to support your business — not just exist for fun — this episode covers the foundational strategy you need to stop leaving money on the table and start using your podcast with intention.

If you’re not sure whether your podcast is top of funnel or middle of funnel, send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and I’ll help you figure it out.

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

If you’ve ever thought “Who cares what I have to say?”—this episode will change how you think about your voice, your message, and why your podcast matters.

In this episode I’m sitting down with Holly Eckelberge, a sexual educator, curriculum designer, and reproductive justice advocate (with 15+ years of experience) and the host of Meet Me at the Spot—a podcast making sex education and reproductive justice feel approachable, real, and empowering.

We talk about what finally got her to launch after years of getting in her own way, how her show evolved from solo episodes to interviews, and why she’s committed to staying solutions-oriented—even when the news feels heavy. Plus, Holly shares the surprising ways podcasting impacted her confidence, her community, and even her own family.

Whether you’re a podcaster, an advocate, or someone craving deeper, more honest conversations, this episode is a reminder that your voice matters—and community changes everything.

In this episode, we cover:

Why Holly started Meet Me at the Spot (and who it’s for)

TikTok vs. podcasting: why long-form conversations matter

How Holly keeps episodes uplifting while still talking about hard realities

“We’re louder together”: building community through the podcast

Guest strategy + how podcast connections create ripple effects

A powerful family moment Holly shared on the show

Connect with Holly: https://www.thatsexeducator.com

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

January is when everyone feels inspired to finally launch a podcast, revive an old one, or commit to being “the next big podcaster.” And honestly? I love that energy. After seven years as a podcast producer, this is one of my favorite times of year.

But here’s the truth I see every single year: that motivation fades.

People launch and stop after a few episodes. Others talk about starting and never hit record. And the podcasts that actuallylast—the ones that grow, build audiences, and create real impact—have one thing in common:

Consistency.

In this short Espresso Shot episode, we’re talking about what consistency really means (and what it doesn’t), why most podcasts never make it past 10 episodes, and how small, sustainable commitments beat overcommitting every single time.

I’m also inviting you into a 2026 consistency challenge—one I’m doing right alongside you—with quarterly check-ins throughout the year to help you stay aligned, supported, and actually moving forward.

This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what matters—and doing it repeatedly.

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Podcast SEO sometimes seems like a mysterious thing.. and today, were talking all about it.

Kara from The Kara Report breaks down how podcasting fits into an SEO-first marketing strategy, without turning your business into a constant content machine. She shares how she went from destination wedding planning to building an agency offering done-for-you blogging and PR services, and why she launched her podcast in January 2024 to create deeper business conversations beyond Instagram.

You’ll hear what shifted after the podcast launched, including how her website traffic tripled year-over-year and why she credits consistent weekly content, show note links, and keyword-focused blog posts for the growth.

This episode is for business owners and podcasters who want more traction from the content they’re already creating—without chasing “fast win” marketing trends.

In this episode:

Website traffic can grow significantly when podcast episodes are paired with show notes, blog posts, and consistent publishing.

Solo episodes often build stronger host connection and can be more impactful for your business than interviews alone.

A simple Pinterest rhythm: create ~5 pins per episode, schedule them across the week, and rotate them onto multiple boards over time.

Pinterest data can reveal which “angles” perform best—insights you can apply to other platforms too.

A private podcast can be a high-converting opt-in that helps leads binge your process and get warmed up fast.

Connect with Kara:

Website: https://thekarareport.com

Podcast: https://thekarareport.com/podcast

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com