This one's a personal episode. I share the biggest mistake I made building the Pharmacist Diaries Podcast — growing an audience of thousands of engaged listeners across social media and podcast apps, with zero way to reach any of them directly, because I never built an email list. I walk through what that actually cost me, why "borrowed" audiences on social media and streaming platforms are more fragile than they feel, and the four simple steps I'd tell any new podcaster to follow from episode one.

Key takeaways:

• Why I believe growing followers and downloads without an email list is building on rented land
• Why I think an email list is the only part of your audience you actually own
• The difference I've found between an audience you can see and an audience you've actually earned
• The four steps I'd use to start building an email list from day one — platform, lead magnet, call to action, consistency
• Why I believe a short, personal weekly email outperforms a polished monthly newsletter
• Why I think every episode needs a newsletter call to action, said without apology, every single time

Newsletter:

📩 Join our weekly ⁠newsletter⁠ — podcast strategy for health & wellness experts straight to your inbox every Friday.

Who is The Podcast Department for? Healthcare professionals, clinicians, and health and wellness experts who are building a service-based business — coaching, courses, clinics, bootcamps — and want to use a podcast to grow their authority, build trust with their audience, and convert listeners into paying clients. We help you launch it, grow it, and make it do what it's supposed to do for your business. You show up and record. We handle everything else. 

Work with us 

1️⃣ Full service — strategy, editing, repurposing, publishing, social content. Everything handled. From £1,500/month. 

2️⃣ Mentoring — strategy and guidance for healthcare experts who want to build it themselves with expert support. From £500/month. 

We work with a maximum of five clients at a time. If you'd like to explore working together, book a free discovery call by emailing [email protected]

Connect with us:

Linkedin: ⁠Anisha Patel⁠

Linkedin: ⁠Sunjay Vyas⁠

The Podcast Department ⁠YouTube Channel⁠

🚀 Check out our ⁠Amazon storefront⁠ dedicated to podcasting gear! We will keep adding/reviewing the list but there's a selection of microphones, audio interfaces, and more to help you elevate your podcasting game.

This week I audited a podcast belonging to a really well-known healthcare professional — brilliant content, consistent episodes, an audience who clearly loves her — and it still wasn't growing her business. So I break down exactly what I found in that audit, why downloads, followers, and viral moments are the wrong things to chase, and the five simple fixes I believe make the biggest difference to turning listeners into actual clients.

Key takeaways:

• Why I think downloads, follower counts, and viral episodes are the wrong metrics for a service-based business
• The three metrics I believe actually matter — email sign-ups, warm leads, and clients who mention the podcast
• Why I think every episode needs one clear call to action, and why healthcare professionals in particular tend to avoid this
• Why I believe show notes should work like a sales page, not an afterthought
• Why I think your podcast needs to live on your website homepage, not just on podcast apps
• How I turn one recording into a content ecosystem — blog posts, newsletters, and social content from a single transcript
• Why I believe team or colleague interviews build trust faster than almost any other content

Newsletter:

📩 Join our weekly ⁠newsletter⁠ — podcast strategy for health & wellness experts straight to your inbox every Friday.

Who is The Podcast Department for? Healthcare professionals, clinicians, and health and wellness experts who are building a service-based business — coaching, courses, clinics, bootcamps — and want to use a podcast to grow their authority, build trust with their audience, and convert listeners into paying clients. We help you launch it, grow it, and make it do what it's supposed to do for your business. You show up and record. We handle everything else. 

Work with us 

1️⃣ Full service — strategy, editing, repurposing, publishing, social content. Everything handled. From £1,500/month. 

2️⃣ Mentoring — strategy and guidance for healthcare experts who want to build it themselves with expert support. From £500/month. 

We work with a maximum of five clients at a time. If you'd like to explore working together, book a free discovery call by emailing [email protected]

Connect with us:

Linkedin: ⁠Anisha Patel⁠

Linkedin: ⁠Sunjay Vyas⁠

The Podcast Department ⁠YouTube Channel⁠

🚀 Check out our ⁠Amazon storefront⁠ dedicated to podcasting gear! We will keep adding/reviewing the list but there's a selection of microphones, audio interfaces, and more to help you elevate your podcasting game.

In this episode I get into something a little more uncomfortable than episode one. I've been watching healthcare professionals sit on their podcast idea for months, sometimes years, and I've come to realise it's never really about the tech, the time, or even fear — not on the surface, anyway. I break down the three real blockers I see over and over again in my conversations with clinicians building a business, including a story about my very first client and the six years she sat on her podcast idea before we started working together.

Key takeaways:

• Why I believe the overwhelm around starting a podcast isn't really about the tools — it's about facing too many decisions alone

• Why I think time was never really the constraint for me, and why production, not time, is usually the real problem

• How I built a workflow where recording is the only time commitment, and why that changes everything for busy healthcare professionals

• Why I believe perfectionism and imposter syndrome are the quietest and most powerful blockers, and how I worked through my own

• Why I don't think your podcast needs to be perfect to start, and how I think about progress over perfection

• Why I believe the colleagues who might judge you for starting a podcast are the ones who matter the least

  
  

Newsletter:

📩 Join our weekly ⁠newsletter⁠ — podcast strategy for health & wellness experts straight to your inbox every Friday.

Who is The Podcast Department for? Healthcare professionals, clinicians, and health and wellness experts who are building a service-based business — coaching, courses, clinics, bootcamps — and want to use a podcast to grow their authority, build trust with their audience, and convert listeners into paying clients. We help you launch it, grow it, and make it do what it's supposed to do for your business. You show up and record. We handle everything else. 

Work with us 

1️⃣ Full service — strategy, editing, repurposing, publishing, social content. Everything handled. From £1,500/month. 

2️⃣ Mentoring — strategy and guidance for healthcare experts who want to build it themselves with expert support. From £500/month. 

We work with a maximum of five clients at a time. If you'd like to explore working together, book a free discovery call by emailing [email protected]

Connect with us:

Linkedin: ⁠Anisha Patel⁠

Linkedin: ⁠Sunjay Vyas⁠

The Podcast Department ⁠YouTube Channel⁠

🚀 Check out our ⁠Amazon storefront⁠ dedicated to podcasting gear! We will keep adding/reviewing the list but there's a selection of microphones, audio interfaces, and more to help you elevate your podcasting game.

I recorded this episode because it's the conversation I have on repeat with pharmacists, GPs, nurses, physios, and wellness experts building a business. In this episode, I break down four communication skills I believe clinicians already use every single day that translate directly into great podcasting, why I think your clinical background is actually a competitive advantage in content creation, and why consistency — not talent, tech, or time — is the thing that separates podcasts that grow a business from podcasts that fizzle out.

Key takeaways:

• How I simplify complex information for my audience the same way I used to simplify it for patients
• Why I believe healthcare professionals build listener trust faster than almost any other type of podcast host
• How my own clinical communication skills (verbal, written, educational) already mapped onto podcast content, show notes, and social media before I even started
• Why I think consistency is the single biggest predictor of podcast success for health and wellness experts
• How I overcame my own microphone anxiety using the same mindset I built confidence with under pressure at work
• Why I don't think starting a podcast as a healthcare entrepreneur requires podcasting experience — only the communication skills I already had

Newsletter:

📩 Join our weekly newsletter — podcast strategy for health & wellness experts straight to your inbox every Friday.

Who is The Podcast Department for?Healthcare professionals, clinicians, and health and wellness experts who are building a service-based business — coaching, courses, clinics, bootcamps — and want to use a podcast to grow their authority, build trust with their audience, and convert listeners into paying clients.We help you launch it, grow it, and make it do what it's supposed to do for your business. You show up and record. We handle everything else.

Work with us

1️⃣ Full service — strategy, editing, repurposing, publishing, social content. Everything handled. From £1,500/month.

2️⃣ Mentoring — strategy and guidance for healthcare experts who want to build it themselves with expert support. From £500/month.

We work with a maximum of five clients at a time. If you'd like to explore working together, book a free discovery call by emailing [email protected]

Connect with us:

Linkedin: Anisha Patel

Linkedin: Sunjay Vyas

The Podcast Department YouTube Channel

🚀 Check out our Amazon storefront dedicated to podcasting gear! We will keep adding/reviewing the list but there's a selection of microphones, audio interfaces, and more to help you elevate your podcasting game.

Something shifted this month. Sunjay handed in his resignation. I lost my locum pharmacist role unexpectedly. And instead of panic — we both felt the same thing: relief. Because we already knew what we were supposed to be doing.In this video, we're sitting down together for the first time to talk honestly about what The Podcast Department is, why we built it, and what we're building next — including our own podcast, this YouTube channel, and a very clear vision for the kind of clients we want to work with.📩 Join our newsletter — weekly podcast strategy for healthcare professionals building a business.We talk about:

✅ Why Sunjay left his job — and what 'freedom' looks like on day one✅ The identity crisis we both went through trying to build separate brands and separate audiences✅ Why Pharmacist Diaries became too broad to monetise — and what that taught us✅ The one thing principle — why doing fewer things better changes everything✅ What The Podcast Department actually is (and why the name says it all)✅ Who we want to work with — and why we'll never work with more than a small number of clients at once✅ What's coming on this channel and why we're building in publicWho is The Podcast Department for?

Healthcare professionals, clinicians, and health and wellness experts who are building a service-based business — coaching, courses, clinics, bootcamps — and want to use a podcast to grow their authority, build trust with their audience, and convert listeners into paying clients.We help you launch it, grow it, and make it do what it's supposed to do for your business. You show up and record. We handle everything else.Work with usWe offer two ways to work together:1️⃣ Full service — strategy, editing, repurposing, publishing, social content. Everything handled. From £1,500/month.2️⃣ Mentoring — strategy and guidance for healthcare experts who want to build it themselves with expert support. From £500/month.We work with a maximum of five clients at a time. If you'd like to explore working together, book a free discovery call by emailing [email protected]Stay connected:

📩 Join our newsletter — weekly podcast strategy for healthcare professionals building a businessSunjay Vyas on LinkedInAnisha Patel on LinkedInSunjay on InstagramDiscounts and affiliate links:

Music by Audiio. Get 70% off! (affiliate link)Try Descript for all your video editing needs (affiliate link)Try Auphonic your AI audio engineer (affiliate link)Get £20 off quality used video and audio gear from MPB (affiliate link)

In this episode of Podcaster Diaries, Sunjay sits down with Gemma Downing-Mapp and Christopher Mapp, founders of Mixxos, to dive deep into the real behind-the-scenes of building a successful business podcast from scratch.

From converting an empty office into a working studio 48 hours before launch, to juggling careers, parenthood, guest logistics, brand identity and consistency — this conversation reveals everything most podcasters never share.

This episode explores the real reasons Chris and Gemma started their HR and Talent–focused podcast “In The Mix,” examining why perfectionism holds most people back and how consistency matters far more than polished production. They talk about banking ten episodes in advance to avoid burnout and pod fade, navigating co-hosting dynamics as two very different personalities, and why video-based content builds trust faster than anything else.

Connect with Mixxos:

Gemma Downing-Mapp

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmadowning4/

Christopher Mapp

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismappsomnium/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@inthemixxpodcast

In this episode of Podcaster Diaries, Sunjay Vyas sits down with Todd Eury, founder of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, to unpack the real reasons most podcasts fail.

From humble beginnings on BlogTalkRadio in 2009 to building one of the largest niche podcast networks in healthcare, Todd shares his lessons on consistency, passion, business development through podcasting, and why giving value always comes before ROI.

Whether you’re a new podcaster, a business owner, or a creator looking to grow your audience — this episode will inspire you to stay the course, niche down, and build a podcast that truly lasts.

⏱️ Chapter Markers

00:00 – Introduction

Sunjay welcomes podcasting legend Todd Urie, the “Podfather” of the Pharmacy Podcast Network.

02:00 – How It All Started

Todd shares how he began podcasting in 2009 — before most people even knew what a podcast was.

05:30 – The Power of Consistency

Why showing up every week (even when no one’s listening) is the #1 trait of successful podcasters.

09:15 – Podcasting: The Ultimate Cheat Code

How podcasting became Todd’s secret weapon for business development, networking, and learning from industry leaders.

13:20 – Give Before You Get

The mindset shift that transformed Todd’s career — and why podcasting is really about generosity, not downloads.

17:50 – Turning Passion into Business

How the Pharmacy Podcast Network grew from a passion project into a thriving business model.

23:00 – Building in a Niche

Why niching down attracts loyal audiences and bigger sponsorships — and why “the riches are in the niches.”

30:40 – Chasing Impact, Not Metrics

Sunjay and Todd discuss why podcasters should focus on engagement and value over vanity metrics.

44:00 – Monetisation & Sponsorships

Todd breaks down how niche audiences can attract sponsors even with modest download numbers.

50:00 – Tech Talk: From 800 Numbers to Rodecasters

How podcast tech evolved from phone calls to pro gear, and Todd’s current setup.

56:00 – Audio vs Video Podcasts

Do you really need video? Todd explains why the answer in 2025 is yes.

1:03:00 – Advice for New Podcasters

Todd’s biggest tip: before starting your own show, guest on other podcasts to find your voice and grow your network.

1:06:00 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Todd

Todd shares how to connect with the Pharmacy Podcast Network and his community of pharmacy changemakers.

Todd Eury on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddeury/

Pharmacy Podcast Networkhttps://linktr.ee/PharmacyPodcast

In this powerful episode of the podcast, I sit down with Nitin Sharma, founder and host of RECtalk, the UK’s most popular podcast in the recruitment industry.

Nitin shares how he grew his YouTube channel to over 68,000 subscribers and built a thriving content business — without chasing viral fame, hiring a production crew, or investing in expensive gear.

If you're wondering how to start a podcast, grow a niche audience, or monetize your podcast without sponsorships, this episode breaks it all down with honesty, clarity, and real-life experience.

Whether you're a recruiter, entrepreneur, content creator, or aspiring podcaster, you’ll get massive value from Nitin’s journey — from starting a podcast as a sales and brand tool, to turning it into a revenue-generating product

👉 Topics include:

- The truth about starting a podcast as a business tool

- Monetization without millions of views

- Consistency vs. creativity

- How recording at industry events created new opportunities

- Why you don’t need a £5K camera setup to succeed

🎯 Key Quote:*"You’re not going to be Joe Rogan. Get over yourself — and find your ‘why.’"* — Nitin Sharma

Connect with Nitin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

RecTools Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@rectalkpodcast

Music by Audiio. Get 70% off! (affiliate link)https://audiio.com/partner?oid=1&affid=1974

Full shownotes on the website:

https://www.podcasterdiaries.com/

In this episode of Podcaster Diaries, I sit down with Tim Ulbrich, founder and host of the Your Financial Pharmacist podcast. Tim shares how he took his personal finance struggles and turned them into a niche podcast that’s now been running for almost eight years with over 500 episodes—a remarkable achievement in the podcasting world.

💡 What We Cover:

• How Tim’s journey from pharmacist to personal finance educator led to starting a podcast

• Why podcasting was the right medium in 2017—and still is today

• The evolution of his show: from student debt to mid-career wealth strategies

• How storytelling helps demystify personal finance

• The power of building trust and community through podcasting

• A deep dive into his workflow and content planning strategy

• How his podcast became the #1 referral source for his business

• His monetization journey: from affiliate links to long-term sponsorship deals

• Gear, tech, and software tips for beginner and advanced podcasters

  
  

🎧 Tim’s Podcast Setup Includes:

• 🎤 Mic: Shure SM7B (previously Audio-Technica)

• 🎧 Monitoring: Apple EarPods

• 🛠️ Tools: Riverside (moving to SquadCast), Descript, Google Drive, Notion, Libsyn

  
  

Connect with Tim

LinkedIn

Website

Auphonic your AI audio engineer (affiliate link):

⁠https://auphonic.com/landing?source=AnishaandSunjay⁠

Get £20 off quality used video and audio gear from MPB (affiliate link):

⁠https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ma0em-sunjay-vyas⁠

Get 20% OFF all Naked Pharmacy branded products (affiliate)

Use the code THEASS at checkout:⁠

⁠https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/⁠⁠

Connect with us:Sunjay Vyas on Linked In⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/⁠⁠

Anisha Patel on Linked In⁠h

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-patel-a95b9562/⁠⁠

Anisha & Sunjay Instagram Page:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/anishaandsunjay⁠

In this season 2 premiere of Podcaster Diaries, we’re kicking things off with a rebrand — and a powerful guest. We're joined by Anisha Patel, a hospital pharmacist, podcaster, educator, and the host of Pharmacist Diaries, a podcast that shines a light on the diverse, evolving world of pharmacy through real-life stories. Anisha opens up about her challenges on how to start a podcast, her top podcast growth tips, life as a female podcaster and mother, and how she's turn this hobby into something much bigger!This is more than a podcasting journey — it’s a lesson in building something with purpose, passion, and persistence.

Auphonic your AI audio engineer (affiliate link):

https://auphonic.com/landing?source=AnishaandSunjay

Get £20 off quality used video and audio gear from MPB (affiliate link):

https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ma0em-sunjay-vyas

Get 20% OFF all Naked Pharmacy branded products (affiliate)

Use the code THEASS at checkout:⁠

https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/⁠

Connect with us:Sunjay Vyas on Linked In⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/⁠

Anisha Patel on Linked In⁠h

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-patel-a95b9562/⁠

Anisha & Sunjay Instagram Page:

https://www.instagram.com/anishaandsunjay