The How To Podcast Series - Podcast Co-Hosts, Practical Podcasting Tips, and Podcast Community

Episode 846 - Your Podcast Space Matters - Create a Podcast Space You Want to Enter

Your podcast space shapes whether you want to record. Dave reflects on losing his dedicated setup after floods and explains how podcasters can create an environment that supports consistency, comfort, and creativity.Your Podcast Space Matters

Dave opens the episode on a frosty October morning, recording outside because his basement podcast space remains unavailable after two floods damaged his home in August. The experience highlights a practical truth for creators: where you record affects how you feel about showing up.

Without a dedicated space, he has recorded at the kitchen table and outdoors, dealing with birds, highway noise, and passing horns. Those interruptions make the work harder. A podcast space should reduce friction, not create it.

Create a Space You Want to Enter

Dave asks podcasters to look around their recording area and ask whether it invites them toward the microphone. Some creators set up and tear down equipment for every episode. That repeated work adds stress and can make podcasting feel like a chore.

A dedicated podcast space gives you room to leave your gear ready, keep materials nearby, and return to the work with less setup. Your space does not need to look perfect to anyone else. It needs to work for you. Some podcasters thrive with organized shelves and labeled storage. Others work well in a creative mess because they know exactly where everything lives.

What Your Background Says

For video podcasters, the space behind you becomes part of the show. Dave suggests filling that background with objects that reflect your interests and make you happy. Listeners often notice the details behind a host, and those details can spark conversation and connection.

He also encourages creators to consider the off-camera side of the studio. Keep guest files, notes, pens, markers, and recording supplies within reach. Dave keeps printed guest files in a milk crate beside his desk, organized by episode number. That system gives him a fast backup when internet access or email fails.

Small Improvements Prevent Pod Fade

An uncomfortable or inconvenient workspace can contribute to pod fade. When recording requires too much setup, cleanup, or searching for supplies, episodes get delayed. Missed weeks can quickly become an abandoned show.

Dave challenges listeners to make one improvement before the next recording session. Clear the coffee cups. File loose papers. Put supplies where you can reach them. Make the room more comfortable and inviting. Then leave the space ready for tomorrow’s episode.

Do something today that makes your next podcast session easier. A welcoming podcast space helps you show up consistently, and your audience will hear the difference.

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Episode 845 - Procrastination Proof By Jon Acuff - Build Momentum for Tomorrow, The Future You Will Thank You

Procrastination Proof: Build Momentum for Tomorrow

Dave shares a timely recommendation for podcasters who struggle to start, finish, or return to the work in front of them. He highlights Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff, a book that reframes procrastination as more than poor time management. Acuff connects it to ego, identity, performance, and the pressure people place on themselves to succeed.

Dave discovered the book through Alex Sanfilippo’s Podcasting Made Simple interview with Jon Acuff. He encourages listeners to hear the full conversation and explore PodMatch, a platform for finding podcast guests and booking guest appearances. The book’s audiobook edition also includes bonus stories that do not appear in the print version.

Plan at Night, Act in the Morning

One idea stood out to Dave: Acuff plans in the evening and does the work in the morning. He recognizes that he does not plan well in the morning or work well at night, so he structures his day around those realities.

By preparing the next day before it begins, he gives his future self a stronger starting point. Dave calls this an advanced start. Instead of waking up to a blank page, an empty calendar, or an unclear first task, you begin with a path already laid out.

For podcasters, that could mean outlining tomorrow’s episode, preparing show notes, queuing an interview question, or placing your recording equipment where it is ready to use. Small preparations reduce friction and make the next session easier to begin.

Procrastination and Self-Image

Acuff also explores how procrastination can stem from how people view themselves. When success feels tied to performance, starting can feel risky. A delayed task protects the ego from a possible imperfect result.

Dave connects that idea to his own 365-day recording challenge. He admits that he did not want to record this particular episode. It was cold outside, everyone in the house was asleep, and he had no ideal place to record. Still, he had made a commitment to himself and to the challenge.

His point is direct. When you keep offering yourself excuses, eventually you stop doing the work. When you take action despite imperfect conditions, you build a foundation for future action.

Do One Thing for Tomorrow

The central question Dave leaves listeners with is simple: what can you do today that makes tomorrow better? You do not need perfect motivation, ideal conditions, or a flawless plan. You need one useful action that gives tomorrow’s version of you a head start.

Dave references the idea attributed to Hemingway of leaving some ink in the pen at the end of a writing session. Do not run your creative tank empty. Preserve a small reserve of energy, ideas, or momentum so the next day begins with possibility rather than pressure.

Set up tomorrow before today ends. Whether you are starting a podcast, recording an episode, contacting a guest, or continuing a long-term challenge, one intentional action now can remove tomorrow’s biggest obstacle. Check out Jon Acuff’s Procrastination Proof, the audiobook, and Alex Sanfilippo’s interview on Podcasting Made Simple for practical ways to move forward.

https://jonacuff.com/

Procrastination Proof: Never Get Stuck Again

https://a.co/d/0bPpdX9E

Podcasting Made SimpleHow to Stop Procrastinating as a Podcaster | Jon Acuff

https://pod.link/1470897857/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xOTE4MjE3Mw

While Ernest Hemingway never used the exact words "leave ink in the pen," the popular concept is a paraphrasing of his most famous piece of writing advice: always stop writing for the day when things are going well and you know what will happen next.

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Episode 844 - You Are Not Bad at Podcasting, You Are New at It - Lessons From A Student Driver

You Are Not Bad at Podcasting, You Are New at It

Changing one word can change how you see yourself as a podcaster. Instead of saying, “I’m not good at podcasting,” try saying, “I’m new at podcasting.” That small shift removes pressure, creates room to learn, and helps you give yourself the same patience you would offer a new driver.

A Better Way to Describe Your Skills

Many new podcasters judge their early episodes against the polished work of experienced hosts. They hear their nerves, notice awkward pauses, or compare their interview questions to shows that have been running for years. The result is often a harsh conclusion: “I’m not good at this.”

Dave encourages podcasters to replace that conclusion with a more accurate description. You are not bad at podcasting. You are new at podcasting. You are learning how to prepare, speak clearly, ask questions, edit, publish, and promote your show.

This applies beyond podcasting too. A person is not automatically “bad” at parenting, writing, cooking, or driving simply because they are still developing those skills. They are new at them.

The Student Driver Lesson

Dave uses the example of a slow driver pulling out in front of you. At first, frustration takes over. Then you notice the “student driver” sign, and your reaction changes. You understand that the person is learning, so you offer patience instead of judgment.

The same idea applies to your podcast. When you are only a few episodes in, you are sitting behind the microphone for the first time. You need space to make mistakes, practice, and improve. Seeing yourself as a student gives you permission to learn without expecting instant mastery.

Growth Comes From Reps

You cannot become a stronger podcaster by thinking about podcasting. Growth comes from action. Every episode gives you another chance to prepare, record, interview, edit, publish, and share your work.

Keep showing up. Ask better questions over time. Get more comfortable on mic. Learn what your audience responds to. The repetition builds skill, confidence, and clarity. If you stop after five or ten episodes, you deny yourself the practice needed to find out whether podcasting truly fits you.

Say “I’m new at podcasting” instead of “I’m not good at podcasting.” Give yourself grace, keep taking action, and let each episode become another rep toward the podcaster you are becoming. Your voice matters, and the world needs to hear it.

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Episode 843 - Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins and Theo Von Are Not The Best Podcast Gurus - What Works For Them Might Not Work For Your Podcast

Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins and Theo Von Are Not the Best Podcast Gurus

Big podcasts can make podcast growth look simple. Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins, and Theo Von appear to succeed by talking into a microphone, publishing clips, and attracting a huge audience. Dave Campbell explains why copying their approach can frustrate new podcasters and why your podcast audience needs a show built around its own needs.

Why Big Shows Start Ahead

Rogan, Robbins, and Von did not begin from zero. They brought existing fame, audiences, media connections, production support, and guest access into their podcasts. Their success reflects years of work in comedy, publishing, speaking, television, and social media before their shows became major platforms.

A new podcaster often does not have those advantages. Comparing a small show to a massive production can create unrealistic expectations. The goal is not to recreate a celebrity studio or chase famous guests. The goal is to serve a specific group of listeners well.

Build Around Your Listener

A smaller podcast has an advantage: it can stay close to its audience. When you know who your show is for, planning episodes, writing titles, and choosing topics becomes easier. You can respond directly to the questions, problems, and experiences your listeners bring to you.

Ask what your podcast gives people that other shows do not. A clear audience focus helps your show become useful, trustworthy, and memorable. That connection matters more than matching the scale of a famous host.

Create a Repeatable Podcast Format

A repeatable podcast format helps listeners know what to expect. Whether your show uses interviews, solo episodes, co-hosting, or storytelling, consistency builds trust over time. Listeners should be able to describe your podcast to someone else after hearing only a few episodes.

Your format does not need to be rigid. It needs a recognizable promise. A dependable structure gives people a reason to return and makes your show easier to recommend.

Use Searchable Episode Titles

Big-name hosts can title episodes with only a guest name because their audience already knows them. Independent podcasters need clearer titles. A title such as “How to Launch a Podcast Without Expensive Gear” gives a potential listener an immediate reason to press play.

Strong titles, clear descriptions, and topics that answer real questions help people find your show. Podcast growth for a smaller creator often comes from being discoverable, helpful, and relevant to the people searching for answers.

Learn From the Right Sources

It is fine to admire successful podcasters. Their clarity, consistency, personality, promotion, and distribution offer useful lessons. Still, they are not necessarily the best teachers for someone starting a podcast with limited time, money, and support.

Look for podcast communities, educators, and creators who actively help newer podcasters. Connect with people serving a similar audience, invite listener feedback, collaborate in public, and let audience conversations shape future episodes.

Do not build your podcast as a copy of Joe Rogan, Mel Robbins, or Theo Von. Build a podcast around a clear listener, a repeatable format, useful episodes, and genuine community. Your advantage as a smaller creator is proximity to your audience, not fame.

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Episode 842 - What If We Have Been Using A.I. Wrong As Podcasters - A Different Approach Than Other Podcasters

AI and Podcast Content Creation

AI can produce an answer quickly. That does not mean it produces an episode worth hearing. This episode challenges podcasters to stop treating AI as the source of their ideas and start using it to sharpen their own perspective.

When you type an episode topic into an AI tool, it returns a blend of common answers. Anyone can enter the same prompt and receive similar information. If your episode simply repeats that result, listeners can get the same value from a search box. Your podcast needs to add what AI cannot supply: your experience, your opinion, and your point of view.

Start With Your Own Ideas

Before searching AI, write down the points you already want to make. Then ask the tool about your episode topic and compare the results.

Remove anything that appears in both places. If AI repeats your planned points, those ideas may be too common. Build the episode around the material that remains yours. Offer a different angle, challenge the usual advice, or bring in a personal example that gives the topic real texture.

A health podcast could ask AI for weight-loss advice and receive familiar guidance about food, sleep, and exercise. Rather than repeating those answers, the host could explore movement from a specific lived perspective, such as staying active with a busy schedule or rebuilding strength after years away from exercise. The core subject stays useful. The delivery becomes distinctive.

Turn AI Into a Question Engine

AI becomes more valuable when it questions you. Share your episode idea and main points, then ask it to challenge your thinking. Request tough questions, awkward objections, and gaps in your argument. Ask for one question at a time.

This approach turns AI from an answer engine into a thinking partner. It can reveal assumptions you have not examined and help you prepare stronger explanations for listeners. You still decide what to believe, what to include, and what perspective your show will take.

The episode also suggests using AI to identify a missing angle. You might bring two developed points to the tool and ask what else deserves consideration. Take the suggestion as a prompt for your own work, then develop it yourself rather than accepting a finished response.

Be More Than Common Knowledge

Listeners do not need another version of the same information. They need a reason to choose your show. When your content sounds like every other result from the same prompt, your audience has little reason to stay.

Your advantage comes from specificity. Share what you have learned. Disagree where you have a reason. Tell the story only you can tell. Use AI to test, organize, and challenge your ideas, then bring the final perspective back to your own voice.

Use AI to expose gaps and test your thinking, then create the episode from your own experience and viewpoint. Give listeners something they cannot generate with the same prompt.

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Episode 841 - How Podcast Listeners Judge A New Podcast - Podcast Recency and Relevance

Podcast Recency and Relevance

Podcast recency and relevance can decide whether a new listener presses play or moves on. Dave shares a recommendation for a podcast about podcast gear and technology, then explains why the show lost his interest before he heard a single episode.

The podcast had not published new content since 2020. For a technology-focused show, that gap matters. Microphones, recording tools, software, apps, and artificial intelligence have changed dramatically since then. A listener searching for current advice may see the catalog as historical rather than useful today.

What Listeners Check First

When someone discovers your show through a recommendation, search, or social post, they often sort episodes from newest to oldest. They look for signs that the podcast is active and that the subject matter still speaks to their current needs.

Recency answers a simple question: has the show released something lately? Relevance asks whether the information still applies now. A show can contain strong evergreen episodes, but a technology podcast without recent episodes may not meet the listener’s immediate need for up-to-date guidance.

Why Relevance Changes

Some topics age well. Stories, principles, interviews, and foundational skills can remain valuable for years. Other subjects change quickly, including product reviews, industry news, sports results, weather, and technology.

Dave uses his Dad Space podcast as an example. Conversations about fatherhood and men’s mental health need to reflect what dads are facing now, not only what mattered years ago. A podcast grows when the host pays attention to the questions, challenges, and conversations happening within its audience.

The Cost of Going Quiet

Long breaks, abandoned seasons, and dormant feeds can make a podcast feel inactive. New listeners may assume the host has moved on, even when the older episodes still offer value. That assumption can cost the show attention, trust, and growth.

Dave encourages podcasters to look at their episode page as a listener would. Sort the episodes by date. Read the titles. Ask whether the newest work shows activity and whether the topics still serve the audience. This is not a judgment on the podcaster. It is a practical way to spot an opportunity to improve.

How to Fix the Gap

The fix for recency is straightforward: create and publish the next episode. Relevance requires more attention. Listen to your audience, follow the conversations in your niche, and adjust your content as your topic evolves.

You do not need to abandon your older episodes. You can build on them, revisit timely subjects, and create new material that reflects what your audience needs today. A recent, relevant episode gives both current listeners and newcomers a clear reason to stay.

Check your podcast through the eyes of a new listener. Ask two questions: How recent are my episodes, and how relevant are they? Keep publishing, keep listening to your audience, and give people a current reason to press play. Your audience deserves your best.

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Episode 840 - Earn Your Podcast Audience - You Started A Podcast, Do You Deserve An Audience or Do You Earn One?

Earn Your Podcast Audience

Dave explores the difference between believing you deserve listeners and doing the work to earn them. Starting a podcast gives you the right to speak. It does not guarantee that anyone will listen, follow, or return for another episode.

A microphone, a publishing account, and a first episode are starting points. They do not create podcast audience growth on their own. An audience forms when a show becomes useful, reliable, and worth a listener’s limited attention.

Deserving Versus Earning

Deserving says, “I launched a show, so people should support it.” Earning says, “I will keep showing up in a way that improves someone’s life.”

You may deserve respect as a person and encouragement for having the courage to begin. An audience is different. Listeners earn their place in your community by choosing to spend time with you, and you earn their continued attention by delivering value.

Trust works the same way. It grows through kept promises, honest communication, and respect for the listener’s time. One careless comment, misleading title, or unfiltered rant can damage that trust quickly.

Build Trust Through Value

Every episode makes a promise through its title, description, and opening. Your job is to fulfill that promise. Length matters less than value. A focused five-minute episode can serve listeners better than a padded 30-minute one.

Avoid clickbait, overpromising, and chasing trends that do not fit your show. Be honest about what you know, what you are learning, and what you do not know. Treat audience feedback as information that helps you connect more clearly.

Become Easy to Recommend

People do not wake up knowing who you are. You become known by being consistently present through episodes, social media, messages, email, and community spaces.

Give listeners simple language to describe your podcast. For example, “Dad Space is a podcast for dads, by dads, that helps men grow in fatherhood and relationships.” When listeners can explain your show easily, they can recommend it confidently.

Show up beyond the feed. Reply to comments, join conversations, meet your ideal listeners, and give generously without expecting an immediate return. Recognition grows when people see your show as worth recommending.

Start With Your First Listeners

Ten listeners are not failure. They are the foundation of your podcast community. Treat early listeners like founding members. Learn from them, support them, and build habits that can carry your show into a larger audience later.

A stronger mindset asks better questions. Did the last episode give someone a reason to return? Did it deliver on its title? Would you recommend it to one specific person? Are you making trust easier to build?

Replace “I deserve an audience” with “I am earning an audience.” Every future episode is another chance to earn attention, trust, and a lasting place in someone’s life.

Launching a podcast gives you a voice. Earning an audience requires consistent value, honest communication, and genuine service to the people who choose to listen.

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Episode 839 - Podcast Stats - A Seven-Day Break From the Numbers

Podcast Stats: A Seven-Day Break From the Numbers

Podcast stats can inform your decisions, but obsessing over downloads can pull your attention away from the people who actually listen. Dave challenges podcasters to stop checking their analytics for seven days and refocus on creating a show that serves a real community.

Why Stats Become a Distraction

Dave opens with a little Canadian Thanksgiving talk and a strong opinion about pumpkin pie before turning to a habit many podcasters share: checking downloads, listens, and YouTube numbers far too often. Stats are useful because they reveal who is listening, where they listen, and how long they stay. The trouble starts when those numbers become the main measure of a show’s value.

He points out that big claims about audience growth and “top percent” rankings often come from marketing-driven messages. Those emails may look flattering, but they usually exist to sell something. A guest story illustrates the point: a new podcaster committed to avoiding her stats for a full year so she could build skills, find her voice, and create consistently. Someone then sent her an email that revealed her download totals and spoiled the experiment.

The Seven-Day No-Stats Challenge

Dave invites listeners to join a Meetup challenge from November 21 to November 28, 2026. Participants will avoid intentionally checking podcast stats for seven days, then return to discuss what the experience felt like. Did they last an hour, a day, or the full week? Did stepping away change how they felt about their show?

The goal is not to ignore feedback forever. It is to break the reflex of measuring success by how many people press play. Dave suggests that a new podcaster could even benefit from a much longer break, because consistent reps build skill and confidence faster than constant number-checking.

Connection Beats Download Counts

Dave shares a personal example from Dad Space. After recording an episode about the loss of his dog, Burton, he received a voice message from a listener who connected deeply with the conversation. Dave does not know how many people heard that episode, but he knows it helped at least one person through grief.

That listener response matters more than a download total. Stats offer a snapshot, not the full truth. They shift as platforms change what counts as a listen, and a lower-performing episode may simply reflect a busy week, a different topic, or recording conditions rather than the quality of the host.

Focus on Who Is Listening

Instead of asking how many people listened, Dave encourages podcasters to ask who is listening. Make it easy for audience members to reply, leave a message, or support the show. Those conversations create a clearer picture of impact than any dashboard.

His challenge is simple: go seven days without looking at your stats, then notice whether your show, mindset, and creative energy improve. Visit howtopodcast.ca to join the Meetup, send Dave a message, and tell him what kind of pie you love while you are there.

Use podcast stats as guidance, not judgment. A meaningful connection with one listener can prove more about your show’s value than a large download number.https://www.meetup.com/how-to-podcast-community/

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Episode 838 - Curiosity in Podcasting, What A Psychiatrist and a Dentist Have in Common

Podcast Curiosity Beats Expertise

You do not need to be an expert to host a great podcast interview. This episode explores why curiosity, listener perspective, and genuine discovery often create stronger conversations than deep technical knowledge or a perfectly prepared script.

Dave shares the example of Living The Next Chapter, his author interview podcast. He is not an author, has never written or published a book, and does not claim expertise in writing. That gap becomes an advantage. He represents listeners who love books and authors but may never write one themselves, so he asks the questions they would ask and stays open to learning alongside them.

The Dentist Comparison

A conversation with a psychiatrist about mental health shows how a non-expert can still offer meaningful insight. Dave compares her work to dentistry. A dentist can care for everyone else, yet cannot easily examine or treat their own teeth. They need another dentist for perspective and care.

The psychiatrist recognized the comparison immediately. She realized she needed to return to counseling and care for her own mental health. Dave did not need psychiatric training to help create that moment. He needed curiosity and a willingness to listen.

Leave Room for Discovery

Over-preparation can make an interview feel controlled, predictable, and distant. Dave encourages podcasters to prepare, but also to leave space for surprise. A guest may share something unexpected. A question may lead somewhere unplanned. Those moments help listeners feel present in the conversation.

When a host already knows every answer, the audience can feel left behind. Thinking like a listener keeps the discussion accessible and engaging. Curiosity creates connection. It helps guests open up and helps audiences feel like part of something special, even when they listen months after recording.

Bring curiosity to your next episode. You do not need every answer before you press record. Ask real questions, listen closely, and let the conversation teach you something. Your audience will feel the difference.Dave's Author Podcast - Living The Next Chapter

https://livingthenextchapter.com/

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Episode 837 - Podcasters Fear 3 Things - Have You Faced Your Fears in Podcasting

Podcast Fears: Failure, Success, and Judgment

Dave opens with a Canadian Thanksgiving celebration and a story about his grandmother’s handwritten pumpkin pie recipe. He explains how learning to bake from scratch at age 16 later helped him connect with his wife’s family, then thanks listener and supporter Bill Monty before turning to the main topic: the fears that hold podcasters back.

Fear of Failure

Many new podcasters overprepare because they want flawless audio, polished delivery, and a perfect first impression. Dave encourages creators to reframe failure as feedback. A quiet episode, a slow download day, or an imperfect recording gives you information you can use to improve.

He compares podcasting to baseball. Every swing will not produce a home run. Some attempts become walks, strikeouts, or learning moments. His advice is to publish before you feel perfect and treat your first 10 episodes as a training ground. Dave shares that he published with whatever time, tools, and experience he had, and he kept going. More than 2,500 episodes later, consistency still matters more than perfection.

Fear of Success

Success can feel intimidating because it brings attention, expectations, and change. Dave asks podcasters to define success personally before chasing downloads, trends, platforms, or monetization.

He uses the image of opening a bakery on day one and finding 10,000 people waiting outside. Without systems, supplies, and a plan, that crowd would quickly become overwhelming. Podcasters can prepare by serving a small group of listeners well, building simple workflows, and letting growth expand gradually. You do not need a top ranking or a viral moment to build something meaningful.

Fear of Judgment

Podcasting means being heard, and being heard invites opinions. Dave acknowledges that negative reviews, critical comments, and misunderstandings can sting. He encourages podcasters to separate one person’s reaction from their identity and worth.

Instead of obsessing over how you sound, focus on who needs your message today. Dave reminds creators that mixed reactions are normal. Some listeners will love the show, others will leave, and neither response defines the entire podcast. He also urges podcasters to protect themselves from harsh self criticism and to remember why they started.

Do not podcast alone. Fear loses power when you keep showing up, define success on your own terms, and surround yourself with people who support your growth. Your voice matters, and your podcast can help someone who needs to hear it.

Thanks again Bill for supporting the podcast with coffee

The Dusty Longbox - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUInfn56e8xW6-P7tTqJ-J3jGx1UtF-qd&si=SGX9ONOzyiEdoaCi

https://talesfromsouthflorida.com/

https://billmontysguide.buzzsprout.com/

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