Welcome to Season 3 of Let's Blow This Up! We are kicking off this brand-new season with the first installment of in our Co-Host Collective Series.

In this episode, Jason Cercone is joined by Marc Ronick of iRonick Media and Simona Costantini of Volt Productions for a deep dive into the proper mindset every podcaster needs to experience growth and longevity in this space. Without question, it’s the mental approach that sets the foundation for long-term success in podcasting.

We'll also explore why many new podcasters are hesitant to embrace the word "authenticity" and why it’s essential to create genuine content rather than trying to put on a performance. Refining your craft consistently and approaching podcasting with authenticity, rather than performance, allows for more growth, less pressure, an a genuine product that will keep listeners coming back for more.

The three of us all agree there's a common trap new podcasters fall into: wanting to bypass mindset and jump straight to fame and fortune. By focusing on the right mindset first, podcasters can build lasting connections, develop their craft to stand out in a crowded market, and create opportunities to monetize their content because it has a substantial audience consuming it.

Key Takeaways:

• The right mindset is essential before leveraging podcasting for your brand.
• Authenticity is a vital element in podcasting that many are afraid to embrace.
• Podcasting should be approached as a craft, not just a performance.
• Continuous practice helps you improve and move beyond feeling like you're “playing a role.”
• Many new podcasters rush into seeking fame and riches, ignoring the mindset work and establishing "The Why" that precedes success.
• Understanding the power of authenticity will help you create genuine, meaningful connections with your audience.
• Success in podcasting is built over time with consistency and the right mental approach.

Connect with Marc Ronick: Website | Instagram
Connect with Simona Costantini: Website | Instagram

Season 3 of Let's Blow This Up is proudly sponsored by The Podcast Professionals Association! Click here to learn more about this growing organization.

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

It's officially been 10 years since I heated up a microphone and recorded my very first podcast episode!

Since then, it's been an adventurous journey...filled with all the ups and downs you've probably heard about in this arena...

It's also been a decade worth of learning from failures, capitalizing on successes, and doing my best to stay sharp in a world that's constantly evolving.

It was only moments after my first episode was recorded back in 2015 that I knew podcasting was going to be my thing. And I made it a point to lean into it as hard as I possibly could.

Even after all this time, there isn't a day that goes by where I don't learn something new.

Today, I'm going to take a moment to reflect on my time in the wild world of podcasting...and I invite you to press play and join me. 

In this bonus episode of Let's Blow This Up, I'm sharing stories, insights, and important things I've learned along the way over the last 10 years. From how I broke into podcasting out of spite to the time I discovered what listener experience truly meant to the self-evolution that led to the launch of Bombtrack Media and this very podcast and all stops in between, I'm diving into all of it (or as much of it as I can in 30 minutes).

Pour your favorite beverage and join me as I look back on a decade in podcasting! 

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

If you've launched a podcast, you know full well there are several moving parts. And if any of those parts fail to work correctly, the growth and overall success of your podcast will suffer.

If you haven't launched your own podcast yet, get comfortable and smash that play button...because you're gonna want to hear this.

Building a solid foundation on which to build your podcast over time is something I take very seriously at Bombtrack Media. By addressing all the critical and pertinent aspects of bringing your podcast to life - then growing it consistently over time - at the very beginning, you ensure you're set up to experience significant gains with your show.

Welcome to Making a Podcast With Bombtrack Media, a new bonus series I'm producing here on Let's Blow This Up with clients I've worked with. In these episodes, you'll learn what it was like for these brands and personalities to leverage the podcast medium and build something that elevates the visibility of their brand and amplifies their message to a larger audience...with the help of yours truly.

In this episode, I share the mic with Cassie Brkich, the Founder of Brkich Design Group, as she shares the story behind her first podcasting experience. As you'll hear, this was not something Cassie had on her bingo card and, quite frankly, the thought of doing her own show (despite the natural abilities I saw in her when she joined me during Season 1 of Let's Blow This Up) scared the hell out of her.

In this candid conversation, Cassie and I discuss:

• How she felt when I presented the idea of launching her own podcast
• The growth she's gained by moving forward and putting herself out there
• Items we covered in the overall creation process
• Feedback her show has received in its early weeks of publication
• What it was like to work with Bombtrack Media on this project
• How we both helped each other develop new approaches in our business thanks to this podcast

Swing to the sweet sounds of Design and Thrive: brkichdesign.com/podcast
Check out the studio where we recorded Season 1: whittedmedia.com

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Have you ever given your podcast a top-to-bottom inspection and discover some changes are in order?

Of course you have, we've all been there. And if you're just getting started, believe me...that day will come.

I'm currently in this position as we wind down Season 2 and, to discuss winning strategies for bringing big changes to your show, I'm welcoming my friend Jay Franze back to Let's Blow This Up for the Season 2 finale!

Jay and I will be sharing some real-life stories of questions we asked ourselves when changing things up with our shows and will provide our insights on things that worked...and things that didn't.

We also discuss:

• Best practices for creating immediate engagement with your guests (and listeners, too)
• How to properly utilize Calls to Action in show notes
• Implementing new formats and segments in your show
• The three different episode formats you'll hear when Season 3 of Let's Blow This Up kicks off next year

Thank you for making this a memorable season, Bomb Squad! I'll see you again in February 2025!

Connect with Jay Franze: www.jayfranze.com

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

If you've experienced past episodes of Let's Blow This Up, you've learned many reasons why podcasters throw in the towel on their production after only few episodes...

Lack of strategy. No buy-in. Unrealistic expectations. Starting for all the wrong reasons.

And in today's episode, we're going to talk about a reason you've probably never pondered. And considering where things are headed with AI and technology in the podcast industry, it's a big one.

For the second-to-last episode of Season 2 of Let's Blow This Up, I'm pleased to be joined by my friend Alex Sanfilippo, Co-Founder of PodMatch and the man behind Podcasting Made Simple Live. Alex, his wife Alicia, and the entire team at PodMatch have built one of the strongest communities in the podcast space and place major emphasis on giving back to podcasters across the globe.

In addition to tackling this not-talked-about-enough factor of why creators throw in towel on their shows, Alex and I will also dive into many important aspects you need to keep front of mind as we embark on a new year in podcasting, including but not limited to:

• The PodValue Initiative that's helped put over $500k back into podcaster's pockets
• Why the fundamentals of podcasting will never lose relevance (regardless of the new shiny objects that enter the game)
• How to effectively navigate your way around new technology and platforms (and not burn yourself out in the process)
• Will AI-hosted podcasts ever be en vogue? 
• The importance of your message being an inch wide and a mile deep (and how to set yourself up to make an impact with said message)
  
  
  

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

You don't need a Ph.D to realize the face of social media has changed over the past few years. And, without question, the change and evolution will continue to be part of our lives as we utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others to promote our brands AND our podcasts.

So what does this mean for you? How do you adapt to these seemingly daily changes and stay ahead of the curve so your content gets seen by the right people and your visibility continues to increase?

If you've been wondering the best ways to use social media in today's climate - specifically how to implement strategic, impactful paid ad campaigns - then this episode of Let's Blow This Up is one you don't want to miss.

The incomparable Megan Shields, co-founder of Chimehouse Media, returns to the show to help me take a deep dive into the direction of social media marketing for podcasters as we move closer to turning the calendar to 2025.

In this episode, we'll be discussing the role social media managers need to play to help their clients succeed, the results Megan has delivered to her clients thanks to her Tri-Fecta Ad Strategy, and what podcasters need to focus on to build listenership for their show.

We'll also be talking why you can't chase virality with your content, some mistakes brands make with their advertising strategies, and the power of retargeting with dynamic ads that take a customer on a journey YOU curate!

Megan and I also spend a few minutes talking about our joint podcast production and advertising program known as The Ultimate VIP Experience. With this program, you can literally have your podcast up and running WITH an effective ad strategy to build your listenership in 30 DAYS!

You read that correctly. 30 DAYS!!

Click here to learn more about The Ultimate VIP Experience

CONNECT WITH MEGAN: Instagram | Website

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

At Let's Blow This Up (and Bombtrack Media as a whole), we're all about helping you utilize the podcast platform to grow your brand. 

There's no denying the significant role a well-curated podcast can play in your marketing strategies - allowing you to make meaningful connections with your audience while, at the same time, creating a wealth of content that can be utilized for social media, websites, blogs, email newsletters, and more.

In addition to that, it serves as a powerful networking tool that connects you with like-minded professionals in your industry, presenting the opportunity to grow your knowledge base, expand your contacts, and position yourself as an authority in your space.

In this installment of Let's Blow This Up, I'm sharing the mic with someone who's all of that and then some - Ian Hoover, Co-Owner of Deacon Hoover Real Estate. Ian and his partners have grown one of most successful real estate investment firms in Western Pennsylvania with Ian, a podcaster, author, and sought-after public speaker, playing a critical role in that accomplishment.

Throughout this conversation, we'll discuss: 

• The role podcasting has played in Ian's business growth
• Why he's looking to get back to more consistent podcasting going forward
• What it's meant to connect with other like-minded people in his space to and grow his network
• The value of sticking to your creation efforts
• Why we all need to focus on teaching the younger generation about winning and losing, work ethic, and perseverance

Connect with Ian: ianhoover.com

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

The physical act of production can be pretty intimidating - especially new podcasters who've never edited a single episode. 

In many cases, the thought of trying to edit and build a piece of content that grabs people's attention and delivers a strong message with little to no experience is enough to keep people from starting a podcast in the first place.

Production, just like hosting and guesting, is an art and a skill set that requires plenty of reps to master. The more content you edit, the better you get at your craft.

All that said, if you want to dive into the world of podcasting WITHOUT learning the ins and outs of production, there are companies at your disposal who specialize in making you sound like the top-tier podcaster you aspire to be without you having to do the heavy lifting.

And two of them are joining forces to bring you this episode.

On this installment of Let's Blow This Up, I'm sharing the mic with Traci DeForge, an international podcast expert who brings over 30 years of experience in media production, business consulting, and broadcasting to the show. 

Together, we're taking a deep dive into the production side of podcasting and discussing many of the do's (as well as the don'ts) that go into making a high-quality show that attracts listeners and drives revenue for your brand. 

We also discuss:

• Monetization strategies
• Establishing an unbreakable WHY for your podcast efforts
• Gauging time when it comes to production and creation
• Season productions vs. weekly
• Leveraging podcast content for your brand's marketing strategy 

Traci also shares information about the newly-formed Podcast Professionals Association.

CONNECT WITH TRACI:
produceyourpodcast.com
podcastprofessionalsassocation.com

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Think your podcast isn't ready to earn an award?

Think again.

The fact is, even if your podcast is brand new to the scene, it still features aspects that could earn you an award for your hard work. And that award could open up a world of opportunities for you, your brand, and your show!

On this installment of Let's Blow This Up, I'm sharing the mic with Dominic Lawson, podcast host and the foremost authority on what it takes to gain the recognition you deserve through the podcast award circuit.

Dominic and I dive deep into:

• What an award can do for the visibility and credibility of your podcast
• How to EFFECTIVELY submit your podcast content for award consideration
• Mistakes that independent podcasters AND large companies make when submitting their content (and what you can do differently)
• The top awards to strive for (and featuring the right content so you get taken seriously by judges)

Connect with Dominic: LinkedIn | Instagram

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Utilizing social media for your podcast can be a multi-faceted endeavor. When I say podcasting has a lot of moving parts, how you promote and market your show, as well as how you utilize social media to gain visibility, are major parts of the overall podcasting equation.

How you utilize mediums like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (I refuse to call it X), Threads, and others will add new layers of discoverability and connection to your show while, at the same time, helping you develop a social presence that could open up a world of opportunities for you.

Additionally, how you view your audience plays a significant role in how you'll measure success with your show.

In this episode of Let's Blow This Up, I'm joined by none other than Ana Xavier, Founder of The Podcast Space. Ana is a podcast strategy extraordinaire and has tapped in to game-changing ways to leverage social media and human psychology for your brand's podcast growth.

Throughout this conversation, Ana and I explore different ways you can utilize social media to your advantage when it comes to amplifying your podcast's reach, as well as tips and strategies for making captivating content that puts your podcast on an elevated level and mistakes too many podcasters make as they market their show.

We also talk about the legacy your podcast content creates and why we both believe seasonal podcast can change the game for podcasters.

CONNECT WITH ANA:
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

🎟️ Get Your Ticket to The Empowered Podcasting Conference! Use code EPCJASON20 at checkout and save 20% on your ticket

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!