Podcasting Secrets

Most new podcasters read the download count as a scoreboard, and a slow one as a verdict. Cleanne Johnson, host of Beauty of Colors, kept publishing through the quiet months and watched her show grow after she stopped refreshing the numbers.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Cleanne reveals how a clear sense of purpose keeps a show alive through the slow stretches, why she almost walked away when her day job as a dietitian got heavy, how the right questions pull the real story out of a guest, and how leading with her own voice built a connection that keeps an audience coming back for the next episode.

What if a slow download count is the worst reason to quit your show? Cleanne’s answer reframes what the early numbers actually mean. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Grab your FREE copy of the 101 Podcasting Secrets Guide by signing up for the newsletter at podcastingsecrets.com.

Follow, Like & Subscribe:

Podcasting Secrets:

• Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingsecrets/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

• Website: https://podup.com/

• Podcasts:

– Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

– Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Cleanne Johnson:

• Website: https://cleannejohnson.com/

• Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-of-colors/id1536839085

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleannejohnson66

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyofcolors66/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleanne.johnson/

Most podcasters chase a bigger audience and longer episodes to grow. Tim Hubbard did the opposite. His eleven-minute niche show, Short-Term Rental Riches, became the main way new clients find his property management company, Corzly, built on short, consistent episodes.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Tim shares how eleven-minute episodes he built to be easy grew to nearly a million downloads, how a niche most people call too small became the main way new clients find him, why two near-identical rentals can perform two to three times apart, and how he sets guest expectations low on purpose so the reviews behind the business stay strong.

Could the show you keep overthinking already be short enough to work?Tim's answer is that an easy format you can sustain beats a polished one you cannot. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Grab your FREE copy of the 101 Podcasting Secrets Guide by signing up for the newsletter at podcastingsecrets.com.

Podcasting Secrets:

Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Website: https://podup.com/

Podcasts:

Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Tim Hubbard:

Website: https://corzly.com/

Podcast: https://strriches.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hubbard-str/

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restmethods

Most podcasters think making money means chasing sponsors and selling ad slots. Dustin Howes built a different playbook. He turned Affiliate Nerd Out into affiliate income without selling a single ad, and some of the experts he features pay for the seat.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Dustin shows how he gets brands to pay for the ads that run his content and still send him the commission, how a simple free-sample ask turns cold brands into willing partners, why one affiliate read can keep paying long after a one-time sponsorship stops, and why leading with help opens doors to the kind of experts a cold pitch rarely reaches.

Ready to make your podcast pay without chasing a single sponsor?This episode lays out the affiliate playbook that turns a show into income. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Podcasting Secrets:

Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Website: https://podup.com/

Podcasts:

Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Dustin Howes (Host, Affiliate Nerd Out):

Website: https://dustinhowes.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedustinhowes

Twitter / X: https://x.com/affiliatedutch

Most podcasters chase volume. More episodes, more topics, more talking. Tanh Truong, founder of Proton Capital, grew his commercial real estate show on the opposite bet: fewer formats, more value, and 30-minute interviews that let the guest carry the episode.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Tanh reveals why his 30-minute interview episodes earn the most traction while a solo show fades, how he turns each guest into a contact he can call on for years instead of a one-time recording, and how giving eight hours of help before he asked for anything built the relationships and the investor base behind Proton Capital.

Would you give eight hours of help to someone before asking for a single thing back?Tanh's answer is the quiet engine under his whole business. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Grab your FREE copy of the 101 Podcasting Secrets Guide by signing up for the newsletter at podcastingsecrets.com.

Follow, Like & Subscribe:  

Podcasting Secrets:

Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Website: https://podup.com/

Podcasts:

Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Tanh Truong:

Website: https://protonprofits.com/

Podcast: Wonton Wealthhttps://www.wontonwealth.com/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wonton-wealth-insights-into-commercial-real-estate/id1739345854

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanh-truong-30a18ab0/

X: https://x.com/tanhtruong

Most creators think growing a podcast means piling on more work and chasing a bigger audience. Maggie Perotin built her coaching business on the opposite move: simplify the work, show up on a steady schedule, and let a small, loyal audience find her.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Maggie shares how an AI transcript workflow cut hours off her editing without wrecking the quality, how publishing on a steady schedule for years built the credibility that quietly brings her coaching clients, and why your values, not your logo or your color palette, are the real brand your audience feels in each interaction.

What if the highest-leverage way to grow your show is to do less of the work that drains you?Maggie's answer starts with the task most creators dread, editing, and it points straight at the hours you can win back. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Grab your FREE copy of the 101 Podcasting Secrets Guide by signing up for the newsletter at podcastingsecrets.com.

Podcasting Secrets:

Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Website: https://podup.com/

Podcasts:

Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Maggie Perotin:

Website: https://stairwaytoleadership.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-perotin-business-and-leadership-coach/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6UbOMC2rosihF-aQPPRgQ

Most podcasters believe a bigger audience is what finally brings in real money. Cliff Ravenscraft, the coach known as the Podcast Answer Man, spent years proving the reverse. One of his favorite shows kept a small, exact audience and still paid off many times over.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Cliff reveals how a show with just 67 subscribers brought in over a million dollars in revenue, how his audience reduction strategy can lift a creator's income even as the download count drops, and why speaking to one exact person each week can do far more for a business than chasing a large, passive following that rarely takes action.

What if the number you keep chasing is the one holding your podcast back?Cliff's answer flips the usual scoreboard, and it starts with who you serve, not how many. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Grab your FREE copy of the 101 Podcasting Secrets Guide by signing up for the newsletter at podcastingsecrets.com.

Podcasting Secrets:

Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Website: https://podup.com/

Podcasts:

Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Cliff Ravenscraft:

Website: https://cliffravenscraft.com/

Podcasts: https://cliffravenscraft.com/podcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffravenscraft/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CliffRavenscraft

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

Most creators chase downloads and still wonder why the money stays out of reach. April Ratchford started Adulting with Autism after she could not find a single podcast to help her autistic son through life after high school. Within a year it passed 2.7 million downloads and reached the top 2% of shows worldwide.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, April reveals how she grew that fast by paying for reach and learning to vet who she paid, why booking one credible guest opened the door to the next, the niche lesson most new hosts get wrong, and the plan to turn a large, loyal audience into a real business.

Want to build a show people seek out? Start with a clear niche, keep a pace you can hold, and treat your audience as the foundation for products worth paying for. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that grow and last.

Podcasting Secrets: Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingsecrets/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Most podcasters chase guests with cold outreach and get ignored. Pete Vera built the Exit Algorithms podcast as a door opener for his acquisition business, Green Rock Logistics, and now the guests come to him. A former US Naval officer, he earned a feature in the trade publication Acquisition Aficionado and a spot on Million Podcasts' list of top 3PL (third-party logistics) shows.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Pete Vera reveals the trade show move that turns event speakers into podcast guests, the twenty-clip weekly posting rhythm that filled his inbox with inbound requests, and the niche data tool that makes prospect lists specific instead of generic.

Want your show to open doors instead of chasing them? Invite the people you want to meet as guests and let the relationship come first. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly insights from creators building shows that win business.

Podcasting Secrets:
Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingsecrets/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Plenty of creators treat paid ads like cheating and wait years for organic reach that rarely comes. Eric Montgomery built Podcast Haven, a production house running shows for businesses, and grows them with paid promotion and craft, not luck.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Eric reveals how a category-targeted Overcast display ad reaches the right audience for a couple hundred dollars a month, how he pointed an AI agent at more than one hundred old blog posts to refresh their SEO and climb Google again, and why plugging a service you already sell is the quickest way a podcast pays for itself.

Want a podcast that grows and pays for itself without waiting on sponsors?Learn the craft first, add paid promotion to your organic reach, and point the show at a service you already sell. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly strategies from creators building shows that last.

Grab your FREE copy of the 101 Podcasting Secrets Guide by signing up for the newsletter at podcastingsecrets.com.

Catch the full playbook in this week's story:

https://podcastingsecrets.com/blog/how-to-grow-and-monetize-a-podcast-without-waiting-on-sponsorships-with-eric-montgomery-1

Podcasting Secrets:

Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/

Website: https://podup.com/

Podcasts:

Why We Believe: https://whywebelieve.com/

Podcasting Secrets: https://podcastingsecrets.com/

Eric Montgomery:

Website: https://thepodcasthaven.com/

Show: Clipped

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmontgomery1/

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

Most podcasters wait years for anyone to find their show in search. Caitlin Durning built Meraki Media Management after growing a nonprofit Instagram account to 500,000 followers in under 30 days, and she has spent five years hosting The End in Mind without missing a single Wednesday release.

In this episode of Podcasting Secrets with host Nathan Gwilliam, Caitlin Durning reveals the four word title change that pushed her show into the top 3 percent on Listen Notes, the free value strategy that turns volunteer talks into consulting contracts, and the way sponsored guest episodes can support a show without turning it into an infomercial.

Want new listeners to actually find your show? Start by adding your niche keywords after your show name and repeating them in each episode description. Subscribe and follow Podcasting Secrets on Apple, Spotify and YouTube for weekly insights from creators building shows that grow through search and relationships.

Podcasting Secrets:
Website: https://podcastingsecrets.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcasting-secrets
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingsecrets/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poduppodcasting/
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-secrets/id1726056241
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0edA45tyPxFRfiUmDxYSUj

Nathan Gwilliam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/