Elzie Flenard, founder of Podcast Town and host of Journey to Mastery, shares how podcasting transformed his business from a side hustle into a strategic platform for growth. In this episode, Elzie breaks down how his show became the cornerstone of his brand, the lessons he's learned over nine years and 500+ episodes, and why podcasting is the most powerful tool for building trust, visibility, and long-term influence.

Whether you’re new to podcasting or wondering how to better leverage your existing show, this conversation will give you practical insight into what it really means to build a business around a podcast.

• The story behind Elzie’s first podcast guest (hint: it started at the barbershop!)
• How podcasting helped him connect with high-level entrepreneurs and build credibility
• Why he believes podcasting is the most trusted medium and what that means for business owners
• The monetization strategy behind his Journey Feed private community
• Lessons from over 500 episodes: trust, consistency, and mastering the art of listening
• Why he’s planning a daily 10-minute podcast and the personal challenge behind it
• What all founders need to understand before using podcasting as a business tool

• 🎧 Listen to Journey to Mastery: https://open.spotify.com/show/2RQRkzY8zFztz7vHNjib77
• 🌐 Learn more about Elzie: https://elzieflenard.com
• 💡 Interested in launching your own podcast? Visit: https://www.podjunction.com

Subscribe, rate, and review the show to help more business leaders discover how to use podcasting to grow, connect, and build their brands.

Visibility strategist and award-winning podcaster Michelle L. Thames shares how she turned Social Media Decoded into both an authority builder and a lead-gen engine. We cover simple CTAs inside episodes, a two-week content ecosystem (podcast → email/social → community/speaking), sustainable batching with 5–10 minute solos, and why quality over virality wins the long game. Michelle also unpacks her 7-Day Audio Visibility Challenge, how she uses “other people’s audiences” (podcast swaps, summits, stages), and building Elevate & Empower online and in-person.

Key Takeaways

1. Make your podcast do two jobs: authority + leads. Seed one next step per episode (freebie, event, community) with a clear CTA you can measure.
2. Run a two-week content ecosystem: keep the podcast as the anchor, repurpose into email, LinkedIn, and Reels/Stories, and record quick debriefs after talks or events.
3. Consistency = rhythm, not daily posting: set a cadence you can keep. Start with Clarity → Platform → Analytics, and give every post a goal + CTA.

Timestamps / Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:53 Why Michelle started the show
• 02:36 What a podcast does that social can’t
• 03:36 Authority growth and lead generation
• 05:44 Host voice consistency
• 05:52 Lead gen plays (CTAs, seeding offers)
• 07:35 The 7-Day Audio Visibility Challenge
• 09:36 Consistency without posting daily
• 11:50 Clarity, Platform, Analytics
• 14:23 Channels that move the needle
• 16:30 The content ecosystem (podcast-first)
• 19:30 Short solos, batching, daily experiment
• 21:58 Platform formats and focus
• 24:37 Email growth and testing SMS
• 29:05 Building Elevate & Empower
• 31:30 Using the podcast to land stages and summits
• 33:24 Consistency > virality
• 35:52 Goal + CTA on every post
• 38:01 Where to find Michelle

Guest Links

• Instagram: @michelleLthames
• Website: Michelle Thames
• Podcast: Social Media Decoded (available on all major podcast apps)
• Community: Elevate & Empower (women entrepreneurs; online + in-person meetups)
• Freebie: 7-Day Audio Visibility Challenge (lead magnet mentioned in the episode)
• LinkedIn: Michelle on LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned

• Podcast swaps / tours
• Bundles & summits (Facebook community “Bundles of Bundles”)
• ManyChat (for DM keyword automation)

Host / Podjunction

• Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

What if everything you know about marketing is backwards? Mike Konrad spent £70,000 on a waterfall that dropped words from the sky, only to discover the most important lesson of his 33-year business career. After transitioning from "high-tech carnival barker" to trusted industry authority, Mike stopped running adverts entirely - yet his sales kept climbing. In this episode, he reveals how abandoning product pitches, embracing education, and building genuine authority transformed not just his revenue, but the quality of customers who now fight to buy from him.

• Why stopping product promotion actually increases sales
• How to transform from 'carnival barker' to trusted authority
• The "guided discovery" method that lets customers sell themselves
• Why modern buyers join tribes, not customer lists
• How to attract solution-seekers instead of price-focused customers
• The coal-to-steam approach for building sustained business growth
• Real strategies for building credibility without traditional advertising

[00:03:00] The £70,000 waterfall moment that changed everything

[00:06:00] Why Mike stopped advertising but sales kept growing

[00:11:00] The steam engine analogy - how educational content fuels business

[00:16:00] The counterintuitive truth about selling without selling

[00:22:00] Learning from "Yoda" - the mentor who changed his perspective

[00:27:00] Two podcasts, different audiences, same authority-building strategy

[00:42:00] The conscious marketing philosophy that connects emotionally

[00:48:30] How message quality determines customer quality

Guest Links:

• Mike's personal website: https://www.mikekonrad.com/
• The Reluctant Entrepreneur Podcast: https://www.reluctantentrepreneurpodcast.com
• Reliability Matters Podcast: www.reliabilitymatterspodcast.com

Podjunction Ecosystem:

• Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

Already podcasting but feeling like you're leaving money on the table? Christine Blosdale reveals the repurposing secrets that turn existing episodes into multiple revenue streams. After 20 years in radio and building multiple businesses through podcasting, she's mastered the art of transforming one interview into books, courses, social content, and more. From turning conversations into bestselling chapters to creating modules from your content library, Christine shows exactly how to squeeze every drop of value from the content you've already created.

• The critical legal step 90% of podcasters skip that kills their repurposing potential
• How to transform podcast episodes into book chapters without sounding like a transcript
• Why audio creates deeper trust than video content and how to leverage this advantage
• The "honey with medicine" approach to getting guest permissions for future content
• Christine's exact process for turning conversations into multiple revenue streams
• Why most podcasters quit after 7 episodes and how to build lasting momentum
• The AI tool that converts your episodes into readable blog content automatically

00:02:45 - The moment Christine discovered her radio voice and fell in love with audio

00:07:30 - Why her worst-quality episode got 300,000+ plays

00:10:45 - The biggest mistake podcasters make with business integration

00:17:30 - How one interview becomes chapters, courses, and social content

00:21:15 - The guest release form strategy that most hosts miss

00:27:45 - Christine's mantra: "If you're not seen and heard, you're not hired"

00:37:15 - How to be your own podcast sponsor without sounding desperate

Guest Links:

• Christine's website: https://www.expertauthoritycoach.com
• Christine's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-blosdale-579697168/

Podjunction Ecosystem:

• Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

Think you need to monetise your podcast from day one to make it worthwhile? Max Branstetter, podcast producer and host of Wild Business Growth, reveals why this mindset is actually the fastest way to quit. In this candid conversation, Max shares his organic journey from corporate brand management to building a successful podcast production company, and exposes the crucial difference between podcasters who thrive long-term versus those who burn out early. You'll discover why passion beats profit expectations, the quality investments that actually matter at launch, and the simple organisational system that transforms podcasting from overwhelming to enjoyable. Whether you're curious about starting a show or struggling to maintain momentum, Max's insights will shift how you think about podcasting as a strategic business tool.

• Why focusing on monetisation first makes podcasters quit early and what to prioritise instead
• The sweet spot between launching too quickly and perfectionism paralysis
• How to invest in quality from day one without overthinking the technical setup
• Max's simple organisational system for staying 1-2 months ahead of content
• Practical strategies for building genuine audience connections beyond downloads
• How to use podcasting as a strategic marketing tool without hard-selling
• The mindset shift that transforms overwhelm into sustainable podcast growth

[00:01:00] Max's organic journey from corporate to family business to podcasting

[00:21:52] Why monetisation-focused podcasters are more likely to quit early

[00:26:05] The long-term mindset required for podcast success

[00:28:00] Finding the quality sweet spot between speed and perfectionism

[00:33:00] Building audience loyalty through consistency and creative content

[00:41:00] The mindset shift that prevents podcast overwhelm

[00:45:00] Where to connect with Max and learn about his services

Guest Links:

• Max's website: https://maxpodcasting.com/

Podjunction Ecosystem:

• Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

What happens when a combat spy becomes a master conversationalist? Pete A Turner's journey from Army counterintelligence agent to podcast host reveals the surprising connection between gathering intel in war zones and building trust behind the microphone. In this eye-opening conversation, Pete shares how his military training taught him to understand "ground truth" – the reality people actually live in, not the version we think they should accept. Discover why the best leaders talk less, how small wins create massive impact, and the Afghan governor's wisdom that changed Pete's entire approach to leadership: "There's only room for one sword in the scabbard."

• How military intelligence skills translate directly to business trust-building
• The "ground truth" concept that transforms difficult conversations
• Why taking responsibility for others' worries creates instant psychological safety
• Pete's rotating co-host format that creates magical guest connections
• The small wins strategy that makes big achievements inevitable
• Why the best podcasts focus on networking, not download numbers
• How to ask tough questions while keeping guests completely comfortable

00:00 From Combat Spy to Conversation Master

02:00 Learning Counterintelligence as Trust-Building

06:00 Ground Truth: Why Reality Matters More Than Facts

13:00 Spy Techniques for Calming Nervous Guests

22:00 No Prep Needed: Meeting People Cold

32:00 Using Podcasts as Networking Machines

36:00 The Sword Lesson: When Leaders Step Back

Guest Links:

• Pete's Podcast: https://www.breakitdownshow.com/
• Pete's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peteaturner/

Podjunction Ecosystem:

• Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

Ever wondered why some podcasters with massive download numbers struggle to make money whilst others with tiny audiences are banking six figures? Gary Arndt, creator of Everything Everywhere Daily (50+ million downloads), reveals the uncomfortable truth about vanity metrics that most podcasters refuse to face. From losing 95% of his income overnight during the pandemic to building one of the world's most successful educational podcasts, Gary shares why his mercenary approach to metrics changed everything. Discover why 180,000 social media followers converted to just 200 downloads, how he calculated that podcast listeners spend 10,000x more time with his content than his website visitors, and why targeting the right audience beats chasing download numbers every single time.

• Why social media followings don't convert to podcast success - Learn why Gary's 180k+ followers across platforms only generated 200 downloads in his first month and how cross-platform promotion fails
• The 10,000x engagement multiplier - Discover how podcast listeners spend dramatically more time with your content than any other medium and why time trumps all other metrics
• Strategic audience targeting over vanity metrics - Understand why 200 downloads from the right audience can generate more revenue than 2,000 random downloads and how to calculate your subscriber value
• Investment mindset for podcast growth - Learn why successful podcasters treat their show as a media property competing with Netflix and why you must invest money to break through the noise

Guest Links:

• Gary's Podcast: https://everything-everywhere.com/

Podjunction Ecosystem:

• Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

What if the secret to podcasting success isn't about building a massive audience, but about systematically building relationships? Robert Plank has cracked the code to sustainable podcasting with over 1400 episodes under his belt. His counterintuitive approach reveals why podcasters often burn out whilst he keeps going strong. Rather than chasing strangers for interviews, Robert strategically podcasts with people he already knows - customers, affiliates, colleagues - turning each conversation into a relationship-building opportunity that generates real business results. If you've been struggling with podcast consistency or wondering how to make podcasting actually work for your business, Robert's systematic approach will completely shift how you think about the medium.

• Why interviewing people you already know is more powerful than cold outreach to strangers
• How to break down overwhelming podcast challenges into four manageable parts
• How to turn podcast episodes into ongoing relationship maintenance tools
• Why focusing on outputs rather than inputs changes everything about consistency
• The mental frameworks that help you show up even when you don't feel like it
• How to systematically follow up with guests to generate real business results

00:00 The burnout mindset shift that changes everything

01:00 What first drew Robert to podcasting as a networking tool

06:00 How podcasting feeds directly into business growth

10:00 The strategic approach: 41 shows with people he already knew

15:00 Removing podcast overwhelm through visualisation and choice

24:00 The mindset needed to avoid burnout throughout your podcasting journey

31:00 How podcasts actually generate leads and drive revenue

42:00 Advice for founders still on the fence about starting

Guest Links:

• Robert's Podcast - https://marketeroftheday.com
• Robert's Podcasting Service - https://dfypodcast.com

Podjunction Ecosystem:

• https://podjunction.com/
• Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/