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

Episode 840 - Earn Your Podcast Audience - You Started A Podcast, Do You Deserve A Podcast or Do You Earn It

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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Episode 836 - How To Handle Being Nervous When Recording Your Podcast, Use What You Have

Nervous Before You Record? Use What You Have

Podcast nerves can show up the moment the record light turns on. Dave answers a listener question about whether he still gets nervous before recording, then demonstrates how a phone, free tools, and a willingness to show up can carry a podcast.

Why Podcast Nerves Happen

Dave admits he felt awkward when he started podcasting. His delivery sounded stiff and overly structured. After recording thousands of episodes, he found a natural rhythm that sounds like the way he talks in real life.

The nerves have disappeared completely. He still wants every episode to go well, especially when a well-known guest joins the show. Experience has taught him that missed attempts are part of the process. Each recording gives him another chance to improve.

Record With What You Have

Dave records this episode outside on his Android phone. He has no external microphone, no sound-treated room, and no control over birds, dogs, or passing vehicles. He could skip the episode. Instead, he keeps a commitment to publish every day in 2026.

His message is practical. If you can afford strong audio equipment and a quiet space, invest in them. If you cannot, start anyway. A phone recording can become the beginning of a real podcast.

A Simple Free Workflow

After recording, Dave brings the audio into Audacity for basic cleanup. He then uses Adobe Podcast to create a transcript. That transcript becomes the basis for the episode show notes through Perplexity.

The entire workflow relies on tools that cost little or nothing. His phone is already in his hand. Audacity is free. The process proves that podcast production can begin without an expensive studio setup.

Your Voice Still Matters

Dave encourages new podcasters to stop waiting for perfect conditions. People want to hear real stories, real laughter, and a real human voice. In a world filled with artificial content, authenticity gives listeners a reason to connect.

Do your best with the equipment, space, and time you have today. Show up, record, publish, and improve through repetition. Your voice matters more than a perfect setup.

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Episode 835 - World Mental Health Day October 10 - Who Cares For The Podcaster and Our Mental Health

World Mental Health Day, October 10

Podcast mental health deserves the same attention as downloads, growth, and monetization. On World Mental Health Day, Dave reflects on the pressure podcasters carry while creating for others and asks a direct question: who cares for the podcaster?

The Hidden Weight Behind the Mic

Podcasters give constantly. They prepare interviews, edit episodes, promote shows, answer messages, and show up for audiences, often outside work hours and family time. Listeners may benefit deeply from that work, but the creator behind the microphone can feel isolated, depleted, or unable to ask for help.

Dave draws on conversations with Danny Brown, a longtime podcaster who speaks openly about his own mental health journey. Danny points out that podcasting can be rewarding and creative, yet lonely. Creators may worry about their show, compare themselves to others, or struggle privately while appearing confident online.

A Missing Conversation

Podcast conferences often feature sessions on AI, YouTube, audience growth, and making money. Dave argues that podcaster wellbeing belongs on those stages too. Mental health may not fill seats like a growth hack, but it addresses a real need in a community built on connection.

Danny’s message is clear. Open conversations reduce stigma and make it easier for someone to say the first word: “I need help.” A podcasting community can become a safer place when creators acknowledge the invisible labor and emotional pressure behind publishing.

Send a Real Check-In

Dave challenges listeners to contact one fellow podcaster today. Send a personal, no-strings-attached message. Ask how they are really doing, both with their show and with life outside it. Do not pitch a collaboration, request feedback, or ask for promotion.

Acknowledge the workload. Let them know it is okay to pause, postpone, or simply talk. Then listen. You do not need to fix anything. Presence and genuine care matter more than quick advice.

Your Worth Is Not Your Numbers

Download counts do not measure your value as a person. If creating feels heavy, step away from the microphone. Take a break. Reach out to someone you trust. Build space for your own care instead of burying your struggles in busyness.

Dave also invites podcasters who need someone to talk with to reach him through HowToPodcast.ca. He is not a mental health professional, but he offers a human conversation and encouragement.

Care for the person behind the podcast. Check on a fellow creator, speak honestly about your own struggles, and remember that podcaster wellbeing matters more than any metric.

Danny's article mentioned in the episode

https://beabetterpodcaster.com/lets-talk-about-mental-health-in-podcasting/

https://www.dannybrown.me/

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Episode 834 - A Digital Magazine Can Help Your Podcast Stand Out - Canadian Podcaster Online Magazine

A Digital Magazine Can Help Your Podcast Stand Out

Dave explains how Canadian Podcaster, his free online magazine, gives Canadian podcast creators a visual, interactive way to promote their shows, events, and resources. He also shares how the same magazine concept can help any podcaster organize episodes, spotlight guests, and give listeners a stronger reason to return.

Why Dave Created Canadian Podcaster

Dave saw a need for a Canadian-focused publication that celebrates Canadian podcasters and creators. While he respects existing resources such as Katie’s Pod the North newsletter, he wanted a different format that would not compete with it.

Canadian Podcaster is a monthly digital magazine published at CanadianPodcaster.com. Each issue includes podcasting articles, tools, resources, Canadian events, and featured podcasters. Older editions remain available as PDFs, while newer issues are fully interactive.

What Makes the Magazine Interactive

The magazine is designed in Canva, then connected to Heyzine, a third-party tool that turns the design into a page-turning digital publication. Readers can click through pages, just as they would flip through a printed magazine.

Every element is clickable. Readers can open a featured podcast, visit an event page, explore a book recommendation, or connect with a creator directly. Dave says this makes the magazine more useful than a static PDF because it sends people straight to the content they want.

How Dave Promotes Each Issue

The magazine is released on the first day of every month. Dave sends an email to his subscriber list and publishes a podcast episode that highlights several items from that issue.

On the fifteenth of the month, he releases a second episode. That episode goes deeper into the magazine content, shares updates, and features short audio clips from each podcaster included in the issue. This gives guests an additional way to reach new listeners.

Dave believes promoting newer shows is a major gap in podcasting. His goal is to help listeners discover Canadian voices and give creators something shareable that features their work.

Applying the Idea to Author Podcasts

Dave also hosts Living The Next Chapter, an author podcast now in its fifth year. The show focuses far more on readers than on writing advice.

Because the show has featured authors from many categories, including children’s books, cookbooks, business books, health, travel, music, law, military service, and Hollywood, Dave created YouTube playlists that group episodes by topic.

That playlist structure is now shaping a future magazine for Living The Next Chapter. Each author category could receive its own magazine, with a full page for the guest and a full page for their book. Returning guests can simply receive a new page in a future edition.

A Practical Idea for Podcasters

Dave encourages podcasters to consider whether a digital magazine could become a reason for people to stay connected to their show. It can work especially well for themed episodes, mini-series, guest interviews, or shows that cover several related topics.

The format does not require printing, shipping, or a large budget. A Canva account and Heyzine can create a shareable, clickable magazine that promotes episodes, guests, links, and resources.Visit https://canadianpodcaster.com/ to explore the magazine and discover Canadian podcasts. Dave also welcomes feedback, guest suggestions, and conversations with podcasters who want help building their own magazine. You can find him at https://howtopodcast.ca/ and https://livingthenextchapter.com/

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Episode 833 - It's Not About The Money, Money - What Podcasting Has Afforded Me Over The Years

The Real Rewards of Podcasting

Podcasting can create income, but money does not define every successful show. For Dave, the greatest reward comes from meaningful conversations, personal connection, and the opportunity to spend time with people he might never meet through ordinary circumstances.

Over the years, podcasting has introduced him to Hollywood performers, musicians, first responders, military personnel, judges, lawyers, police officers, and experts from many fields. His curiosity helps him ask thoughtful questions, even when he lacks experience in the subject. One conversation with a psychiatrist showed him how powerful that approach can become. After recording, the guest told him their discussion felt like the kind of conversation she would have with professional peers.

That feedback stayed with Dave. It confirmed that curiosity can create valuable conversations and open doors to learning.

Podcasting and Income

Dave supports podcasters who earn money through sponsorships, advertising, services, and products. Marketing investment shows that podcasting gives businesses a meaningful way to reach audiences. He encourages creators to serve listeners well and promote products they genuinely trust.

Personal integrity shapes his own decisions. He has declined opportunities involving tools and services he would not use or recommend. Earning money matters, yet he refuses to sacrifice trust for a payment.

Protecting Audience Connection

Podcast hosts influence their listeners. When people apply ideas from a show, change their approach, and improve their own podcasts, the host has influenced real decisions and behavior.

That influence carries responsibility. Dave wants The How To Podcast Series to encourage creators rather than discourage them. He believes podcasters should protect the relationship they build with their audience and use their influence to help people move forward.

Focus on the Audience

Dave continues to publish because listeners press play. He has released 365 consecutive episodes as a way to maintain that connection and keep showing up for his community.

He remains open to future success, sponsorships, and greater income. For now, he focuses on serving his audience, building community, and working with the resources available today. He encourages podcasters to enjoy the process instead of rushing toward status, awards, or a financial target.

Podcasting offers value long before it produces income. Meaningful relationships, helpful conversations, personal growth, and positive influence can become the real measure of success. Build for the audience, protect their trust, and allow financial opportunities to grow from the value you create.

Today's Coffee Sponsor - Christopher Sciullo

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martechamerica.com

mypodcastplatform.com

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Episode 832 - Why I Am Not Pod Famous, The Audience of One and Go Pan Some Gold Already

Why You Do Not Need to Be Pod Famous

Podcast success does not always come from fame, awards, massive download numbers, or a large social media following. Dave explains why he continues creating the How to Podcast Series and supporting podcasters through a simple purpose: serving one listener at a time.

His work focuses on practical podcast support, community, encouragement, and helping creators move from an idea to a published show. He does not present himself as a guru with unrealistic promises or expensive credentials. He shows up as a coach, helper, and fellow podcaster who understands the work involved.

Focus on the Person Pressing Play

A podcast grows through consistency and genuine connection. Listeners care about the value they receive from the content and the trust they build with the person behind the microphone. They do not need perfect equipment or complicated production systems. They need a host who keeps showing up.

Dave compares abandoned podcasts to empty downtown storefronts. Many shows began with strong ideas, engaged audiences, and real potential. Their creators lost momentum when they shifted their attention away from the people who listened.

Podcasting requires creators to protect their original purpose. Industry trends, new tools, sales funnels, and endless offers can distract from the work that matters most: creating something meaningful for the audience.

Go Pan Some Gold

The podcast industry sells countless tools and strategies, much like the merchants who supplied gold miners with picks, pans, and shovels. Those tools can help, yet they cannot replace the work of finding valuable ideas, recording useful content, and continuing to publish.

The real opportunity sits inside the podcast itself. A show can create community, provide companionship, inspire change, open doors, support important stories, and connect its host with opportunities that may arrive directly or indirectly.

You do not need to become pod famous to make a difference. Focus on the person who presses play, keep showing up, and create content that genuinely helps them. Your podcast already matters when it serves one listener well.

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Episode 831 - Perfection Vs. Progress in Podcasting - What Are We Building and Are We Focused on The Right Things

Build the Podcast Before You Perfect It

Perfectionism can keep a podcast stuck on the drawing board. Progress moves it forward. The How To Podcast Series explores podcasting, taking action, and the value of community support for creators who want to build their shows.

Progress Creates Better Work

A TikTok clip featuring two people building ladders provides the central image. One person spends time measuring materials and trying to create the perfect ladder. The other uses imperfect materials, attaches the rungs, climbs upward, and keeps moving.

The image reflects a common podcasting problem. Many creators spend months planning equipment, branding, formats, and production details. They want every episode to sound perfect before they publish. That pressure can create frustration, delay, and eventual abandonment.

A ceramics class offers another useful lesson. One group tries to create a single perfect bowl. Another group makes as many bowls as possible. The second group learns through repetition. Each attempt reveals what works, what fails, and what needs adjustment. Their practice produces stronger results.

Writing follows the same pattern. Ray Bradbury encouraged writers to create regularly because repeated work increases the chance of producing something meaningful. Podcasters also improve through consistent publishing. Each episode builds skill, confidence, and clarity.

Start With Direction and Support

Taking action matters, yet direction matters too. A person travelling from Toronto toward Vancouver will not reach New York simply by continuing forward. New podcasters need guidance, education, and feedback so they can move toward the right goal.

Podcast communities can provide a safe place to ask questions, test ideas, and learn from people who care about the creator’s development. Before paying for coaching elsewhere, listeners should consider the people who already invested time through free content, communities, and resources.

Support can shorten the learning curve. It can also help podcasters keep moving when uncertainty appears.Publish, learn, adjust, and continue. Your next episode may sound imperfect, yet it gives you experience that planning alone cannot create. Focus on progress, choose a clear direction, and stay connected to a community that helps you grow.

TikTok Video Mentioned:https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSb49j41b/

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