What separates an average podcast interview from a bingeworthy one isn't the guest. It's the host.

Sam Brake Guia, host of Mics to Millions and co-founder of PodWritten, has interviewed hundreds of guests and studied the world's best interviewers to uncover what separates average podcast hosts from the ones you can't stop listening to. He's about to share seven podcast hosting skills you can apply right away to ask better questions, lead more engaging conversations, and create interviews your audience actually wants to finish.

Whether you're just launching a podcast or you've been hosting interviews for years, you'll walk away with ideas you can put to work the very next time you hit record.

Hit play and let's dive in.

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2:04 – The Interview Planning Mistake Most Hosts Make

2:44 – How to Ask Questions Your Guest Has Never Been Asked

5:08 – The Interview Skill That Unlocks Bingeworthy Conversations

7:23 – The Simple Communication Habit That Makes You Sound More Confident

9:43 – The Editing Skill That Turns Good Interviews Into Great Ones

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Episode Links:

Meet Sam Brake Guia: PodWritten.com | LinkedIn

Listen to Sam’s Podcast: Mics to Millions

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Other Shows Mentioned In This Episode:

Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel

Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett

Creator Science with Jay Klaus

10% Happier with Dan Harris

Charisma on Command

The Tim Ferris Show

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Other Episodes You’ll Love:

3 Things Top Hosts Look for Before Saying Yes to Your Guest Pitch

Why Most Podcast Guest Interviews Never Lead to Anything Else

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

If your podcast feels valuable to you but listeners are dropping off halfway through your episodes, the issue might not be your content but the way you’re communicating it.

Most experts think valuable podcast content means sharing more of what they know. But your listeners won't care how much you know until they understand what your knowledge can do for them. I'll walk you through the 3-part formula for turning your expertise into content listeners care about so more of the right people hit play, stay engaged, and come back for more.

Hit play and let’s dive in.

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2:33 – Why Your Podcast Feels Clear to You, But Confusing to Everyone Else

6:18 – Why Listeners Won't Care What You Know (Until You Do This)

10:37 – The One Content Mistake That Makes Great Shows Forgettable

15:21 – The 3-Part Formula That Makes Listeners Think, "This Podcast Gets Me"

17:00 – How Specificity Makes Your Expertise Impossible to Ignore

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Episode Links:

Next Thing You Know by Jordan Davis

...

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

3 Ways to Hook Your Listener Before They Ever Hit Play

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

What if you could monetize your podcast without creating more content, growing your audience, or landing sponsors? Most podcasters are sitting on revenue opportunities they don't even know they have. Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout's Podcast Producer and host of Dreamful Bedtime Stories with 13M+ downloads, is back with three low-effort ways to monetize your podcast using content you've already created.

She's unpacking why your back catalog may be a hidden revenue asset, how she started monetizing before her podcast even launched, and the mistake that prevents many podcasters from ever earning a dime from their show. So if you want to monetize your podcast without adding more to your plate, hit play and let's dive in.

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0:45 – Where Most Hosts Overcomplicate Podcast Monetization

3:46 – Why the Easiest Podcast Revenue Comes From Content You've Already Created

8:58 – Why Your Episode Back Catalog Is a Hidden Revenue Asset

10:40 – How to Monetize Your Podcast Before You Launch It

13:10 – Why Most Monetization Problems Are Actually CTA Problems

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Episode Links:

Meet Jordan Blair: Buzzsprout | LinkedIn

Listen to Jordan’s Podcast: Dreamful Bedtime Stories

Listen to Buzzsprout’s Podcast: Buzzcast

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

Before You Chase Sponsors to Monetize Your Podcast, Listen to This

6 Ways to Earn Money with Buzzsprout Subscriptions

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Sponsorships aren't the revenue dream most podcasters think they are. In fact, they can be one of the least reliable forms of income from your podcast, and Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout's Podcast Producer and host of Dreamful Bedtime Stories (13M+ downloads), is here to expose why.

After landing major sponsors like BetterHelp and HelloFresh, Jordan found a more reliable way to monetize your podcast that doesn't require a massive audience, constant sponsor outreach, or waiting until your show is "big enough" to start generating revenue. She shares how to make money before you launch, why your first episode may be your most valuable asset, and one underutilized podcast monetization strategy you can use today with fewer than 100 downloads per episode.

Want to monetize your podcast sooner rather than later? Hit play and let’s dive in.

…

0:30 – Why Sponsors Aren't the Dream Most Podcasters Think They Are

5:44 – How to Get a Sponsor Before You Launch Your Podcast (or with Fewer Than 100 Downloads per Episode)

12:07 – Why Your First Episode May Be Your Most Valuable Asset

18:53 – The Revenue Stream That Survives When Sponsorships Don't

20:19 – The Monetization Strategy That Lets Creators Take a Break

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Episode Links:

Meet Jordan Blair: Buzzsprout | LinkedIn

Listen to Jordan’s Podcast: Dreamful Bedtime Stories

Listen to Buzzsprout’s Podcast: Buzzcast

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

Why Your Next Dollar Should Come From Your Last Episode

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

The podcast industry has convinced you that podcast growth comes from choosing the right marketing tactic. Yet every day, thousands of podcasters are spending time on strategies they can't tell are helping, hurting, or doing nothing at all.

In this rapid-fire Q&A, I'm answering how to move your podcast to #1 in search results, the two factors that matter more than any single growth tactic, and the simplest way to determine which marketing strategies deserve your attention (and which ones don't). If you're serious about growing your podcast and want a better way to evaluate what's working, hit play and let's dive in.

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2:03 – How to Move Your Podcast From #2 to #1 in Search Results

5:41 – The 3 Most Important Places to Optimize for Podcast SEO

9:08 – How to Choose the Right Podcast Marketing Strategy

13:41 – The 2 Factors That Matter More Than Any Single Growth Tactic

22:01 – The Hidden Skills Behind Every High-Performing Podcast

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Episode Links

Think you've cracked today's mystery word? Go to PodLaunchHQ.com/mysteryword and enter your guess. Get it right, and you'll unlock a mystery prize hand-picked to help you improve your podcast's growth and performance.

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

Why Podcast SEO Makes It Easier Than Ever for Niche Shows to Get Discovered

3 Podcast SEO Strategies That Increased My Downloads 41%

3 Signs Your Podcast SEO Strategy Is Working

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Special thanks to Eve Hall, Host of Please Me, and to the anonymous listener who submitted today’s questions.

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Whatever problem your podcast solves, it’s competing against every other show that promises to help listeners solve it.

I’m breaking down the 4 signs listeners are overlooking your podcast and the split-second decision that determines whether a new listener clicks play or picks another show to listen to. I’ll also share the five Podcast Content Gatekeepers® listeners judge before they ever hear your voice, why great content still gets ignored, and what to change so listeners stop scrolling past your show. Hit play and let’s dive in.

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2:04 – The 4 Signs Listeners Are Overlooking Your Podcast Right Now

6:20 – Why Publishing Every Week Still Isn’t Growing Your Podcast

7:12 – The 0.5 Second Decision That Gets Listeners to Choose Your Show

9:03 – The 5 Podcast Content Gatekeepers Every New Listener Judges First

11:46 – The Competitor Analysis Exercise That Reveals Your Podcast’s Differentiator

…

Episode Links:

Get your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your podcast: Book a call with Resonate Recordings

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

What Makes a Podcast Feel Addictive

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Most podcast hosts focus on teaching something valuable, but valuable content isn't what keeps listeners listening. And when attention drops halfway through an episode, listeners stop caring about what you say next.

TedX speaker and professional magician Jimi Gibson is breaking down why listeners mentally check out of episodes (even when you’re giving great info), the common mistakes that make people skip ahead or click away from your episode, and the psychological framework behind opening hooks, vocal delivery, and CTA transitions that keeps listeners hanging on for what comes next.

If you want listeners staying locked into your episodes from your opening hook to your CTA, hit play and let’s dive in.

…

2:35 – The 3-Part Hook Formula That Makes Listeners That Makes Listeners Stay Past The First 30 Seconds

6:16 – The Hyper-Specific Opening That Sounds Like You’re Reading Your Listener’s Mind

10:52 – The Curiosity Loop Structure That Keeps Listeners Listening Longer

19:29 – The CTA Transition Framework That Keeps Your Pitch From Feeling Salesy

22:42 – The Simple Vocal Shifts That Pull Distracted Listeners Back Into the Conversation

…

Episode Links:

Meet Jimi Gibson: Website | LinkedIn

Watch Jimi’s TEDx Talk: You Have Magic Power: Use It For Good

Get your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your show: Book a call with Resonate Recordings

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

The Podcasting Psychology Behind Shows Listeners Can’t Stop Listening To

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

If “good content” were enough to grow a podcast, more shows (including yours) would have listeners bingeing every episode the second it dropped. Instead, plenty of podcasts with valuable content struggle to hold attention long enough to grow, build trust, or drive action.

TEDx Speaker and professional magician Jimi Gibson conducts a live experiment here on the show to explain why some podcasts feel impossible to turn off, the 3 brain chemicals that influence whether listeners stay engaged or tune out. If you want to create episodes listeners stay glued to instead of mentally checking out halfway through, hit play and let’s dive in.

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3:06 – The Live Experiment That Explains Why Some Podcasts Feel Impossible to Turn Off

11:21 – The 3 Brain Chemicals That Create a Satisfying Listening Experience

13:59 – How Curiosity Loops Keep Listeners Mentally Present in an Episode

15:02 – Why Contextual Details Keep Listeners Emotionally Engaged

19:56 – The Psychological Differences Between Content That Feels Immersive vs. Forgettable

…

Episode Links:

Meet Jimi Gibson: Website | LinkedIn

Watch Jimi’s TEDx Talk: You Have Magic Power: Use It For Good

Get your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your show: Book a call with Resonate Recordings

…

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

Steal This 3-Part Episode Framework to Keep Your Listeners Engaged

…

Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.

Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.

Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.

Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.

Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.

Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack

Get reviews for your show with PodLottery

...

Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.

Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com

©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.