My Podcast Story

Wisdom
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Ever wonder what it really takes to launch and grow a podcast? My Podcast Story dives deep into the journeys of podcasters—from rising indie creators to industry leaders. Each episode features exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and hard-won lessons about content creation, audience growth, and the secrets of compelling storytelling. Want to be a guest on My Podcast Story? Send Wisdom Okonkwo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/mypodcaststory

  1. 1d ago

    How Podcasting Helped Her Find Her Voice and Tell Her Story — Teresa Blaes | Ep 168

    Teresa Blaes’ first podcast didn’t work. Instead of walking away from podcasting, she learned from it. Years later, Teresa has built and hosted multiple shows, published more than 200 episodes of Unresolved Life, launched a podcast production business with her husband, and discovered that podcasting could become something far more personal than simply creating content. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Teresa shares why her first podcast struggled, the importance of choosing a clear niche, what she learned from trying to produce daily episodes, and why she eventually reduced her publishing schedule to something she could sustain. We also talk about building several different podcasts around different interests, growing shows through real interaction on social media, turning podcast production into a business, and why even 10 or 20 listeners can represent real people whose lives may be affected by what you publish. Teresa also shares the deeper role podcasting played in helping her open up about painful parts of her past—and how years behind the microphone eventually helped prepare her to write Protected, a book she spent four years avoiding and another year finally bringing to life. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get real podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from hosts building shows across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Teresa Blaes Book: Protected: A Story of Survival, Faith, and Redemption Website: https://protectedbook.com Chapters 00:00 When a Podcast Changes Someone’s Life 00:40 Meet Teresa Blaes 00:58 The Podcasts Teresa Currently Hosts 01:28 The First Podcast That Didn’t Work 01:46 How Unresolved Life Started 02:36 Reaching More Than 200 Episodes 02:52 Starting More Podcasts Around Different Interests 04:16 Building a Football Podcast for Fun 04:50 Starting The Equipped Podcast With Her Husband 05:33 Running Four Podcasts at Once 05:43 The Listener Message Teresa Never Forgot 07:33 The Moment She Understood the Power of Podcasting 08:37 Why Podcasting Is Such an Intimate Medium 09:19 Hearing From Listeners With Similar Stories 09:49 Why 10 Downloads Still Represent 10 Real People 10:50 Starting Without Any Podcasting Experience 11:00 Why Her First Podcast Failed 11:13 The Importance of Niching Down 12:07 Turning Failure Into a Learning Experience 12:47 Trying to Produce Two Daily Podcasts 13:10 Why Teresa Switched From Daily to Weekly 13:34 Why Podcasting Is a Long Game 14:32 Building a Podcast Production Agency 15:02 The Story Behind Kadosh Media Productions 16:09 Learning Podcast Production While Building the Business 16:40 Who Kadosh Media Works With 18:58 How They Found Their First Podcast Clients 19:12 What Teresa Has Learned About Growing Podcasts 19:37 Using Social Media to Grow a Show 20:14 Why Social Media Is the New Town Square 20:33 Interaction vs. Simply Posting Podcast Links 21:17 Why Good Content Creates an Obligation to Share It 22:04 Marketing the Why Behind Your Work 22:32 How Teresa and Her Husband Work Together 23:10 Monetizing Four Different Podcasts 23:37 Promoting the Podcast Production Business 24:17 Why Each Podcast Has Its Own Website 24:46 Building a Podcast Network 25:37 Looking Back on Years of Podcasting 26:08 The Personal Impact Podcasting Had on Teresa 26:53 Why She Can’t Imagine Walking Away From Podcasting 27:20 Finally Writing Protected 28:08 How Podcasting Helped Prepare Her to Write the Book 29:22 Four Years Avoiding the Book and One Year Writing It 30:19 Why Teresa Was Afraid to Tell Her Story 30:31 Podcasting as a Bridge Into Sharing Difficult Experiences 31:08 Where to Find Teresa Blaes and Her Work

  2. 1d ago

    How She Built a Podcast for a Travel Niche Nobody Was Serving —Mikkel Woodruff | Ep 167

    Mikkel went looking for a podcast about small ship cruising and discovered something surprising: the show she wanted to listen to didn’t exist. So she and her husband created it. Small Ship Cruise Talk focuses specifically on cruises with 1,000 passengers or fewer—and often ships carrying fewer than 200 people. Built on years of experience as travel writers and content creators, the podcast has become another way for Mikkel and her husband to educate travelers, share their experiences, and introduce more people to a type of cruising many don’t even realize exists. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Mikkel shares why they waited several years before finally starting the podcast, what producing a weekly video and audio show actually looks like behind the scenes, why batching isn’t always as easy as people make it sound, and how AI tools have made podcast production far less overwhelming. We also talk about building in an extremely specific niche, growing the podcast through an existing audience, turning episodes into a larger content ecosystem, securing their first sponsor as a relatively new show, and why sometimes you have to start moving before you can figure out where to course-correct. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from podcast hosts across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Mikkel Website: https://smallshipcruisetalk.com Travel Website: https://sometimessailing.com Instagram & Threads: @sometimessailing YouTube: @sometimes-sailing Podcast: Small Ship Cruise Talk Chapters 00:00 Creating the Podcast She Couldn't Find 00:44 Meet Mikkel 01:04 What Small Ship Cruise Talk Is About 01:18 Why Such a Specific Podcast Niche Works 01:52 How They Chose the Podcast Name 02:36 Building on an Existing Travel Audience 04:16 Why Their First Attempt at Podcasting Didn't Happen 04:34 Why 2021 Wasn't the Right Time 05:03 Waiting Until the Business and Technology Were Ready 06:15 Why Podcasting Finally Became Less Overwhelming 06:38 The Difference Between Sometimes Sailing and Small Ship Cruise Talk 07:11 Launching the Podcast in March 2025 08:13 Why So Many Podcasts Struggle With Consistency 11:22 Publishing One Podcast Episode Every Week 12:34 The Biggest Challenge in the First Six Months 12:52 The Never-Ending Podcast Production Flywheel 14:18 Why Batching Episodes Isn't Always Easy 16:24 How They Initially Promoted the Podcast 17:14 Growing Through Email and Social Media 18:23 Why Mikkel Loves Small Ship Cruising 19:10 Helping Travelers Discover a Different Kind of Cruise 20:45 Why the Small Ship Cruise Market Is Growing 21:42 The Dream of Having a Podcast Production Team 23:26 Why You Have to Start Before You Can Course-Correct 25:13 The AI Tools Behind the Podcast 25:41 Using Buzzsprout to Publish Everywhere 27:04 Using AI for Titles, Descriptions, and Thumbnail Ideas 28:10 Google Docs and Sheets for Podcast Organization 29:03 Using Canva for Podcast Graphics 29:53 Creating Podcast Clips With Riverside 33:26 Podcasting Tools Mikkel Wants to Explore 33:39 Learning From Podcasting Communities 34:24 How Adobe Enhance Saved a Bad Recording 35:58 More Tools Behind the Production Workflow 36:09 Using PodMatch as a Podcast Guest 38:25 Guesting on Other Podcasts to Expand Their Reach 40:35 How the Podcast Fits Into the Travel Business 41:01 Landing Their First Podcast Sponsor 41:42 Why You Don't Need 10,000 Downloads to Get Sponsored 41:51 How Their First Sponsorship Happened 42:49 Growing the Podcast on YouTube 43:35 Applying to Speak About Podcast Sponsorship 45:22 What's Next for Small Ship Cruise Talk 45:32 Expanding Successful Podcast Topics Into Video 46:31 Integrating Podcast Episodes More Deeply With the Website 47:43 Finding More Sponsors and Growing the Show 48:09 Where to Find Small Ship Cruise Talk

  3. 1d ago

    What 100 Podcast Episodes Taught an 18-Year-Old Host — Jack Wagoner | Ep 166

    Jack Wagoner started The Grateful Podcast when he was just 16 years old, while studying abroad in France. What began as a way to explore ideas, have deeper conversations, and eventually connect with people he admired has now grown into more than 100 episodes. But reaching 100 episodes taught Jack something unexpected: consistency alone isn’t enough. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Jack shares why simply publishing over and over won’t necessarily build the podcast you want, why improvement has to accompany consistency, and what he’s changing as he enters the next stage of the show. We also unpack how he researches guests, why he believes great podcast episodes are largely won in pre-production, how he uses AI without outsourcing the human creativity behind his interviews, what it takes to produce both long-form episodes and short-form clips, and why being young may actually be one of his biggest advantages. Jack also shares what it’s like building a podcast alongside school, work, coaching, and other interests—and why he believes you should ask the dream guest before deciding they’ll say no. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get real podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from hosts building shows across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Jack Wagoner Website : https://jackwagoner.co/ Podcast: The Grateful Podcast with Jack Wagoner YouTube: Jack Wagoner Instagram: Jack Wagoner Chapters 00:00 Why Consistency Is Only the Bare Minimum 00:19 Meet Jack Wagoner 00:40 Reaching 100 Podcast Episodes at 18 01:10 Starting the Podcast at 16 02:10 What The Grateful Podcast Is About 03:21 Balancing Gratitude and Ambition 03:33 Starting a Podcast While Living in France 04:49 Wanting to Interview the People You Admire 06:24 Why Jack Wishes He Had Started Earlier 06:51 What Podcasting Has Taught Him About Himself 07:55 Stop Rejecting Yourself Before You Ask 08:27 Why 100 Episodes Changed His View of Consistency 08:54 Consistency vs. Constant Improvement 11:44 Why the Person Behind the Podcast Matters 12:39 Building Credibility When You’re Only 18 14:29 Being Young as a Podcasting Advantage 15:00 Jack’s Podcast Production Workflow 15:37 How He Finds and Reaches Out to Guests 16:15 Why Great Interviews Are Won in Pre-Production 16:42 How Jack Researches Podcast Guests 18:01 Editing With Riverside, CapCut, and Premiere Pro 19:11 Why Titles and Thumbnails Matter So Much 20:00 How Jack Uses AI in His Podcast Workflow 20:44 Turning Long-Form Episodes Into Short-Form Content 21:10 Maintaining Relationships With Podcast Guests 21:44 Why Better Preparation Makes Editing Easier 22:01 How the Podcast Fits Into Jack’s Life 22:29 Studying Behavioral Neuroscience 23:14 Gratitude Coaching and Building Trust Through Podcasting 24:24 What Jack Wants to Change About the Podcast 25:41 Making More Interviews In Person 26:28 What It Costs to Record in a Podcast Studio 28:35 Building a Simple Podcast Studio 31:37 What Has Actually Driven Jack’s Podcast Growth 32:06 The Role of Ambition and Obsession 35:18 Does The Grateful Podcast Make Money? 36:04 Jack’s Plans for Podcast Monetization 37:14 Meeting Listeners Who Already Feel Like They Know You 38:07 Advice to His 16-Year-Old Self 38:30 Think Bigger and Ask Bigger Guests 39:25 A Message to His Future Self 39:31 Staying Grateful While Chasing Bigger Goals 39:51 Where to Find Jack Wagoner and The Grateful Podcast

  4. 1d ago

    Building a Fatherhood Podcast to 500,000+ Downloads — Oscar Peña | Ep 165

    Oscar Peña started The Daughtered Podcast with a friend because they kept having the same conversations about raising daughters: what were they doing right, what were they struggling with, and how could they become better fathers? Then his co-host stepped away. Oscar considered ending the podcast altogether. Instead, he kept going. Roughly a year and a half later, the show has crossed 500,000 downloads, landed its first sponsor, joined a podcast network, and connected Oscar with fathers and families whose experiences have completely changed how he thinks about parenting. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Oscar shares what it really takes to produce a podcast while working full-time and raising three daughters, why editing remains one of his biggest bottlenecks, how The Daughtered Podcast found its first sponsor, the role collaboration has played in growing the show, and why he refuses to promote anything he doesn’t genuinely believe in. We also go behind the scenes of his surprisingly simple recording setup, the tools he uses to produce the podcast, what 500,000 downloads have taught him about protecting trust, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is start with what you already have and improve as you go. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from podcast hosts across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Oscar Peña Website: https://daughteredpodcast.com Podcast: The Daughtered Podcast — available on major podcast platforms Instagram: The Daughtered Podcast YouTube: The Daughtered Podcast Personal Instagram: @a_growinggirldad Chapters 00:00 Why Protecting Your Podcast Reputation Matters 00:46 Meet Oscar Peña and The Daughtered Podcast 01:21 Why Two Dads Decided to Start a Podcast 02:34 Almost Ending the Podcast After His Co-Host Left 03:14 The Story Behind The Daughtered Podcast Brand 04:01 Starting With No Podcasting Experience 05:17 The Biggest Challenge: Finding Enough Time 06:35 Sharing the Editing With His Original Co-Host 07:09 Running the Podcast Alone 08:10 Why Oscar Wants to Outsource Editing 10:18 Learning to Give Up Control of Your Podcast 10:18 Landing the Podcast’s First Sponsor 12:18 How the First Sponsorship Happened 14:04 Why Oscar Won’t Promote Just Any Brand 15:20 Protecting the Trust You Build With Listeners 15:41 Reaching More Than 500,000 Downloads 16:19 What The Daughtered Podcast Has Taught Oscar About Fatherhood 17:03 Learning From Other Fathers’ Perspectives 20:28 The Connections Podcasting Has Created 20:50 What Surprised Oscar About Starting a Podcast 21:21 Podcasting Is Much More Work Than It Looks 23:05 Why Fathers Have More in Common Than We Realize 23:51 Building a Community Around Better Fatherhood 24:19 Behind the Scenes of Oscar’s Podcast Workflow 24:36 The Simple Tools He Uses to Produce the Show 25:02 Using Descript and SquadCast 26:14 Joining the Radcast Network 27:18 How the Podcast Network Helps Grow the Show 27:52 Oscar’s Podcast Microphone and Equipment 28:24 The Surprisingly Simple Home Studio Setup 29:24 Recording the Podcast From His Daughter’s Room 30:47 Why You Don’t Need an Expensive Podcast Studio 32:05 Avoiding Paralysis by Analysis 33:24 Why Most New Podcasts Struggle to Keep Going 34:25 Making the Podcast Financially Sustainable 34:46 Oscar’s Approach to Finding Sponsors 36:26 Sponsorships vs. Strategic Partnerships 37:23 Building the Podcast for the Long Term 38:19 How Oscar Grew The Daughtered Podcast 38:30 How the Radcast Network Helped With Audio Growth 39:05 Collaborating With Other Fatherhood Creators 40:13 Using Instagram to Grow the Podcast 41:10 Why Collaboration Beats Competition 42:11 Learning From Creators Who Are Better Than You 43:08 What Oscar Is Excited About Next 43:19 Bringing More Female Perspectives Onto the Podcast 45:36 What the Future Could Look Like for The Daughtered Podcast 45:45 Where to Listen and Connect With Oscar Peña

  5. 1d ago

    What 300 Podcast Episodes Taught Him After 10 Years of Podcasting — Polish Peter Kolat | Ep 164

    Polish Peter Kolat has spent years behind the microphone, first hosting Immigrant Masters United and now co-hosting The Lifeonaire Show with his best friend. Across hundreds of episodes, he’s learned that podcasting is less about having the perfect setup and more about consistency, asking better questions, understanding your audience, and building a process you can actually sustain. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Peter shares some of the biggest lessons he has learned from roughly 300 podcast episodes: why he recommends speaking with guests before recording, how outsourcing the parts you hate can protect your consistency, why your opening hook matters, what podcast analytics can teach you, and why every episode needs to answer one question: what does the listener get out of this? We also talk about building a business that supports your life instead of consuming it, co-hosting with a close friend, authenticity on camera, the mistakes that shaped Peter’s perspective, and why reconnecting with your original reason for starting may be exactly what you need when your podcast starts to feel stuck. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from podcast hosts across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Polish Peter Kolat Podcast: The Lifeonaire Show Previous Podcast: Immigrant Masters United Website: https://mastersunite.com Book: Authentic Self-Rebirth Book Website: https://myauthenticrebirth.com Chapters 00:00 Why Every Podcast Needs a Strong Hook 00:36 Meet Polish Peter Kolat 00:47 What The Lifeonaire Show Is About 01:28 More Than 200 Episodes and Counting 01:36 Why The Lifeonaire Show Started 02:28 The Story Behind the Lifeonaire Name 03:22 Peter’s First Podcasting Experience 03:47 Immigrant Masters United and 100+ Earlier Episodes 04:49 How Peter and His Co-Host Divide the Work 05:54 What a Typical Lifeonaire Show Episode Looks Like 06:56 What Years of Hosting Taught Peter About Conversations 08:16 Why Co-Hosting With Your Best Friend Changes the Show 08:41 The Hardest Part of Hosting a Podcast 09:32 Why Consistency Is So Difficult 09:50 Outsource the Parts of Podcasting You Hate 11:26 Why Your Podcast Needs a Strong “Why” 12:02 How The Lifeonaire Show Grew Its Audience 12:19 Why Interesting Content Matters More Than Simply Showing Up 13:29 Picture One Listener When You Record 14:02 How the Podcast Supports the Lifeonaire Business 15:24 How They Choose Podcast Guests 16:46 Peter’s Earlier Podcasting Journey 18:32 Nearly 300 Episodes Across Two Podcasts 19:25 Lesson 1: Talk to Guests Before Recording 20:54 Lesson 2: Use Fun Questions to Create Better Conversations 21:16 Lesson 3: Consistency Matters 21:18 Lesson 4: Study Your Podcast Analytics 22:33 Lesson 5: Hook the Listener Immediately 22:44 Make Your Titles About the Listener, Not the Guest 23:09 Give Listeners a Reason to Stay Until the End 23:20 Ask Great Guests to Share the Episode 24:20 Building a Business That Actually Supports Your Life 25:46 Why Authenticity Matters in Podcasting 26:17 The Story Behind the Name “Polish Peter” 28:32 Experience vs. Just Talking About Business 30:34 Peter’s Life and Business Outside Podcasting 31:10 Helping Entrepreneurs Build Businesses Around Their Lives 32:12 Writing Authentic Self-Rebirth 32:43 What Gives Polish Peter Kolat His Unique Perspective 33:25 Meeting Podcast Listeners in Real Life 34:03 How the Podcast Has Changed Listeners’ Lives 35:41 How Peter and His Co-Host Record Remotely 36:20 Blocking One Day for Podcast Recording 37:28 What’s Next for The Lifeonaire Show 37:51 Advice for Podcasters Who Feel Stuck 38:47 The Correct Name of The Lifeonaire Show 39:16 Peter’s Book Authentic Self-Rebirth 39:42 Why He Wrote the Book 41:11 What “Optimistically Depressed” Means 42:14 Where to Find Polish Peter Kolat

  6. 1d ago

    How a Writing Coach Built a Podcast for Writers — Liz Mugavero | Ep 163

    Liz Mugavero is an author, writing coach, and host of The Get Writing Podcast, a show built around the craft, process, publishing journeys, and real lives of writers. But building a weekly podcast while also writing books, teaching classes, running a membership, coaching writers, and managing a business takes more than simply turning on a microphone. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Liz shares why she started podcasting, how planning and batching made the show easier to sustain, why she hired a producer instead of editing everything herself, how she keeps production costs relatively lean, and where the podcast fits into the larger ecosystem of her writing business. We also talk about podcast monetization, tracking whether listeners become coaching or course customers, using PodMatch to meet new guests, her plans for YouTube, and why starting a podcast can feel far more overwhelming than it actually is. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from podcast hosts across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Liz Mugavero Website: https://cateconte.com Podcast: Get Writing Podcast — available on major podcast platforms Chapters 00:00 Why Starting a Podcast Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming 00:28 Meet Liz Mugavero 00:55 Teaching Writers How to Write Mysteries 01:43 What The Get Writing Podcast Is About 02:52 Why an Author and Writing Coach Started a Podcast 04:18 Liz’s Previous Podcasting Experience 05:04 Finding a Podcast Producer 05:10 How Much It Costs to Produce a Weekly Podcast 06:14 The Three-Year Podcasting Journey 06:20 Why Planning and Batching Changed Everything 06:47 How Liz Organizes Guests and Episode Ideas 07:52 Early Podcasting Challenges 08:11 Why She Hasn’t Monetized the Podcast Yet 09:37 Running a Weekly Audio Podcast Without YouTube 10:07 Why YouTube Is Still on the To-Do List 11:53 The Upfront Work of Starting a New Content Platform 13:22 Moving the Podcast Between Substack and RedCircle 14:05 How the Podcast Fits Into Liz’s Website 16:24 Building Evergreen Podcast Content for Search 17:54 How Liz Got Her First Podcast Listeners 18:30 What It Costs to Run the Podcast 19:24 Does The Get Writing Podcast Make Money? 19:55 Does the Podcast Generate Leads for Her Writing Business? 20:47 Tracking Podcast Listeners Who Become Clients 22:38 Connecting Podcasting to Courses, Coaching, and Memberships 23:48 Using Lead Magnets and Email to Grow the Business 24:49 Tracking Where Email Subscribers Come From 25:15 What Liz Is Working on Next 25:50 Writing Her Next Mystery Novel 26:16 What Podcasting Has Given Her Personally 27:20 Hearing From Regular Podcast Listeners 27:51 Building an Email Audience of Thousands 28:50 The Biggest Misconception About Starting a Podcast 30:12 Breaking Podcasting Into Manageable Pieces 30:33 Advice for New Podcasters 31:30 Why Having a Producer Makes Podcasting Easier 32:56 Ideas for Expanding the Podcast in the Future 34:03 Could Liz Start Another Podcast? 35:00 Where to Find The Get Writing Podcast

  7. 2d ago

    How 150 Podcast Episodes Helped Grow a Financial Planning Business — Brenton Harrison | Ep 162

    Most podcasts don’t fail because the host runs out of things to say. They stop because the results don’t come quickly enough. When financial advisor Brenton Harrison launched New Money, New Problems, he made himself a deal: he would publish more than 100 episodes before he was even allowed to decide whether podcasting was worth continuing. Three years later, the show is around 150 episodes strong and has become much more than a content project. It helps educate people about money, nurture prospective clients, strengthen Brenton’s authority, generate speaking opportunities, and give people months—or even years—to get to know him before they ever reach out. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Brenton shares why consistency matters more than expecting overnight growth, how he uses the podcast as anchor content for his business, the ways he grows the show through public speaking, guest appearances and webinars, how personal financial stories outperform generic advice, and why even a relatively small podcast can open surprisingly big doors. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from podcast hosts across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Brenton Harrison Website: https://newmoneynewproblems.com Newsletter: https://newmoneynewproblems.com/subscribe Podcast: New Money, New Problems — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, other podcast platforms, and YouTube. Chapters 00:00 Why Brenton Committed to 100 Episodes Before Quitting 00:57 Meet Brenton Harrison and New Money, New Problems 01:27 Creating a Safe Space to Learn About Money 01:59 Reaching 150 Podcast Episodes 02:55 Why He Started a Podcast Alongside His Financial Planning Firm 03:03 Using a Podcast as Anchor Content for a Business 04:16 Starting Without Podcasting Experience 06:20 The Biggest Challenge in the Early Days 07:42 Why Quitting Wasn’t an Option Before 100 Episodes 09:06 Why Consistency Needs Time to Work 10:27 Helping Listeners Become More Comfortable With Money 12:04 What Started Growing the Podcast 12:57 Why Personal Financial Stories Connect Better 14:45 How Brenton Actually Grows the Podcast 15:15 Using Public Speaking to Find New Listeners 17:23 Why Great Content Alone Won’t Automatically Grow a Podcast 18:32 What Three Years of Consistency Taught Him 20:03 How Podcasting Increased His Speaking Opportunities 22:02 Tracking Where Speaking Opportunities and Clients Come From 23:23 Behind the Scenes of Producing the Podcast 25:04 SquadCast, Descript, and Brenton’s Recording Workflow 25:28 Keeping Podcast Production Costs Under Control 26:03 How He Chooses Podcast Guests 27:03 What Happens After an Episode Is Published 27:59 Repurposing Episodes Across LinkedIn, Instagram, Email, and YouTube 29:33 Why He Switched Podcast Hosts to Buzzsprout 31:29 Why New Money, New Problems Is a Video Podcast 32:53 How the Podcast Generates Financial Planning Clients 33:59 Tracking Podcast Leads and Client Acquisition 35:34 How a Podcast Nurtures Leads Over Months and Years 37:24 Why Podcast Listeners Arrive Already Trusting You 39:13 How Much the Podcast Costs to Produce 41:11 Why You Don’t Need a Huge Podcast to Open Doors 42:05 What Brenton Wants to Build Next 44:10 What He Would Do Differently Starting Again 45:42 Why Consistent Online Content Matters 48:06 Where to Listen to New Money, New Problems

  8. 2d ago

    How a Leadership Podcast Turns Listeners Into Coaching Clients — Ben Brearley | Ep 161

    Ben Brearley started The Thoughtful Leader Podcast as a simple way to give readers of his leadership articles another format for consuming his ideas. In the beginning, that often meant turning a written article into a conversational 15–20 minute audio episode. Nearly 300 episodes later, the podcast has become something much bigger: a long-term part of his coaching business. Some prospective clients listen for six months to a year before ever reaching out, already feeling like they know Ben by the time they speak. In this episode of My Podcast Story, Ben shares how his format evolved, why he stopped obsessing over podcast statistics, how he batches a month of episodes at once, why outsourcing editing helped him stay consistent, and why removing friction may be one of the most important things a podcaster can do. Join the My Podcast Story Newsletter Get real podcasting stories, lessons, ideas, and behind-the-scenes insights from hosts building shows across different industries. https://mypodcaststory.com/join Connect with Ben Brearley Website: https://thoughtfulleader.com Podcast: The Thoughtful Leader Podcast with Ben Brearley Newsletter: https://subscribe.thoughtfulleader.com Chapters 00:00 Remove the Friction That Makes You Want to Quit 00:51 Meet Ben Brearley and The Thoughtful Leader Podcast 01:40 Why He Started a Leadership Podcast 02:33 Turning Blog Articles Into Podcast Episodes 03:16 Starting With a Technical Background 03:50 The Biggest Challenges in the Early Days 04:26 The Format Change That Made Podcasting Easier 05:29 Escaping the Content Production Treadmill 05:49 How Podcast Listeners Became Coaching Clients 06:33 Moving Back to Weekly Podcast Episodes 07:46 Ben’s Biggest Early Podcasting Mistakes 09:02 What Podcasting Taught Him About Consistency 10:04 Why Clients Listen for Months Before Hiring Him 11:30 Building Confidence and Authority Through Podcasting 12:29 Ben’s Podcast Production Workflow 13:09 Turning Ideas Into Unscripted Solo Episodes 13:28 Batching Four Podcast Episodes at Once 14:03 Recording, Editing, Show Notes, and Publishing Tools 15:32 Why Ben Doesn’t Record Video Podcasts 17:29 How He Measures Podcast Success 19:27 Why Podcasting Is a Long-Term Game 19:41 Advice for New Podcasters 20:17 Finding the Friction That Could Make You Quit 21:25 Why Ben Outsourced Podcast Editing 21:38 Human Editors vs. AI Podcast Editing 22:18 Where the Podcast Fits Into His Business 23:32 Podcasting, Newsletters, and the Changing Search Landscape 25:29 Approaching 300 Episodes—and Just Keeping Going 26:02 Where to Find The Thoughtful Leader Podcast

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About

Ever wonder what it really takes to launch and grow a podcast? My Podcast Story dives deep into the journeys of podcasters—from rising indie creators to industry leaders. Each episode features exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and hard-won lessons about content creation, audience growth, and the secrets of compelling storytelling. Want to be a guest on My Podcast Story? Send Wisdom Okonkwo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/mypodcaststory

Information

  • Creator
    Wisdom
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    168
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Wisdom
  • Show Website
    My Podcast Story