Episode 465 - The Truth About Podcast Communities - Growing, Guiding, and Guarding Your Group

Key Points for Running a Podcast Community or Meetup Group

Understanding Member Interaction

• Foster inclusivity: Encourage open dialogue and make sure all voices are heard, not just the most vocal.

• Set clear guidelines: Establish ground rules for respectful communication and participation.

• Facilitate connections: Create opportunities for members to interact beyond meetings, such as online forums or group chats.

Dealing With Inactive Members

• Gentle reminders: Send friendly messages to inactive members, inviting them to participate and reminding them of upcoming events.

• Survey interests: Ask for feedback on what would motivate them to attend or engage more actively.

• Accept natural attrition: Recognize that not everyone will stay involved, and focus on nurturing those who are engaged.

Handling Toxicity and Negative Behavior

• Address issues promptly: Confront toxic behavior early to prevent it from affecting the group dynamic.

• Private conversations: Speak privately with individuals causing issues, explaining the impact of their behavior.

• Enforce consequences: If necessary, remove members who consistently disrupt the positive environment.

Sustaining and Nurturing the Community

• Consistent engagement: Regularly share updates, resources, and encouragement to keep the community active.

• Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge group achievements and individual contributions to build a sense of belonging.

• Evolve with feedback: Continually seek input from members and adapt the group’s activities to meet their needs.

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Episode 464 - An Audio First Podcast Approach to Video Podcasting - 3 Things Every Podcaster Should Consider

Show Notes: Episode – Video Strategy Update for Podcasting

This episode explores the ever-evolving conversation around video in podcasting—answering questions, challenging "gurus," and sharing a practical, creator-focused approach that values community and diversity in podcasting styles.

• Explores traditional vs. evolving definitions of a podcast, emphasizing that a true podcast is audio-first and distributed via an RSS feed.

• Challenges conventions and debates about whether video formats on platforms like YouTube count as podcasts.

• Highlights the importance of accessibility: audio podcasts can be enjoyed anywhere, without needing a screen.

“Podcasting was designed to be a non-gate capped approach to sharing your message with the world.”

• Discusses the current "camps" in the podcasting world: pro-video, anti-video, pro-audio only, etc.

• Recommends thoughtful consideration instead of following divisive trends:

  • Video is a great tool for some, but not all shows or guests.

  • Audio-only podcasts remain powerful, especially for audiences like children, or guests who prefer anonymity.

• Encourages listener-focused decisions: Choose format based on what fits your podcast’s message, audience, and guest needs—not on external pressure or strict “rules.”

• Shares insights from hosting nine different podcasts, each with unique needs:

  • Example: The Daily Santa Podcast — intentionally audio-only to create a screen-free experience for children.

  • Living The Next Chapter (author interviews) — adapts to guest security concerns by sometimes skipping video to preserve anonymity.

• Highlights technical choices:

  • Uses tools like Canva and Zoom for video production.

  • Video editing is light and efficient; the majority of time is spent on audio quality.

  • Leverages platforms like Spotify for Podcasters, Buzzsprout, and Captivate for RSS syndication.

• Suggests a “three-legged stool” approach for creators:

  1. Audio: Core content distributed widely.

  2. Video: Supplemental, short-form, or full interviews—used as appropriate.

  3. Written: Show notes, blogs, newsletters, or community platforms like Substack—extending the episode’s reach and adding context.

• Emphasizes podcasting as a personal journey:

  • Don’t let others dictate your format—adapt to your skills, time, guest comfort, and community needs.

  • Permission and respect for guests are paramount—never make video mandatory.

• There’s no single right way to podcast—experiment, adapt, and do what’s right for you and your show.

• Audio remains king for Dave, with video as an add-on and written content to support listener engagement.

• Podcasting is about connecting, sharing, and supporting others. The host invites listeners to join the community, reach out for help, or collaborate as co-hosts.

• “Do what you can with what you have, where you are.”

• Dave offers podcasting support, editing services, and collaboration opportunities.

• Find tutorials, schedule virtual coffee chats, and join a podcast creator community.

• The Hatter Podcast Series will remain audio-first and free, with video and resources available when possible.

Keep podcasting, keep sharing, and remember—your voice matters!

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Thank you Todd Cochrane for Your Service to Your Country and to the Podcasting Community - You Will Be Missed

Todd Cochrane was born in Quincy, Michigan. Given a strong work ethic by his parents and grandparents, he graduated from a small, country high school in a class of less than a hundred.

In vocational tech school Todd took two years of electronics, and then joined the Navy in 1983. His official title at that time was aviation electronics technician, and he worked in electronic warfare, synthetic aperture radar and intelligence collection on P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft.

After serving 21 years in the United States Navy on active duty, Todd retired in 2007 as a senior chief. In 2011, Todd attained a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Always interested in technology, Todd started to tinker with things like bulletin boards and downloading shareware while stationed in Guam. He launched his own Wildcat dial-up bulletin board in the late 1990s. As the world of the BBS began to fade, he launched a personal weblog in 2001, and in 2002 he developed a popular technology news website, Geek News Central.

For Geek News Central, he was one of the first to podcast, in October 2004 - from “a little desk in a hotel room in Waco, Texas, and with a $14.95 microphone from the Walmart across the street”. Go Daddy became a sponsor of the show in 2005, and, after his show gave Go Daddy 370 customers in the first month, the company remained the sponsor for twenty years: the longest known podcast sponsorship. Todd began running one of the first podcast networks, the Tech Podcast Network (TPN), with twelve shows.

People listened to Geek News Central. Once, he posted feedback on a few issues he was having with his Mac. His phone rang: it was Steve Jobs, keen to learn more about the issues he was having. In the end, he was sent a new Mac for his trouble.

He was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural 2015 ceremony. “Todd is a fierce advocate for podcasting and the principles it was built on,” said Podcast Movement’s Dan Franks at the time, who organised the event, “and he makes sure to stand up for the independent podcaster.”

A fierce proponent of open RSS and building your podcast on your own website using his PowerPress podcasting plugin for WordPress, Todd started streaming his Geek News Central podcast show live in 2009, and was a keen advocate of podcasting free speech, accurate podcast metrics as a strong advocate of the IAB podcast measurement guidelines and “Podcasting 2.0”. Ever willing to help progress the industry, Todd was always interested to learn and make friends with anyone in podcasting. A regular fixture at podcast events - particularly at the bar in the evening - Todd shared his expertise, and his gossip, with as many people as he could.

Todd’s weekly 13 year running New Media Show, co-hosted by Rob Greenlee, was a must-listen for those in podcasting - often described as the show where you’ll “get a PhD in podcasting”. The show was a mainstay live on main stages at Podcast Movement and Podfest Expo for many years.

“I’m not a Joe Rogan, nor will I ever be. But what I am is a guy that grew up in the country with humble beginnings, high school education, followed by a bachelor’s degree late in life in a field that I’m not even working in right now. And by God, if I can do this and succeed and grind and put out a show - anyone can.”

A proud grandfather, he died suddenly on Sep 8, 2025 while travelling back from seeing family on the West Coast. He was 61.

Todd is survived by his mother Cherie, sister Chantal, his four children Ray, Natalie, Chris and Anna, and his former wife Shoko.

https://podnews.net/article/todd-cochrane-obituary

Episode 463 - The 5 E's You Can Apply to Your Podcast from the Fans First Approach by the Savannah Bananas

The Five E’s for Fan-Driven PodcastingEliminate Friction

• What it Means: Removing barriers that make it difficult for your audience to listen, engage, or share your podcast.

• Application for Podcasters:

  • Streamlining your show’s website and making episodes easy to find and play.

  • Simplifying call-to-actions (CTAs) and subscription options.

  • Reducing unnecessary complexity in episode structure or show notes.

Entertain Always

• What it Means: Prioritizing the listener’s experience by keeping every episode engaging and enjoyable.

• Application for Podcasters:

  • Injecting personality, stories, and humor into your episodes—avoid boring, monotone delivery.

  • Using creative interview formats, catchy intros, or immersive audio.

  • Remembering that no matter your topic, the listener’s enjoyment comes first.

Experiment Constantly

• What it Means: Embracing a mindset of ongoing innovation and being willing to try new things.

• Application for Podcasters:

  • Testing new segments, formats, guest types, or music.

  • Running listener polls to pilot episode ideas.

  • Learning from both successes and failures, treating each experiment as a growth opportunity.

Engage Deeply

• What it Means: Building real, meaningful connections with your audience.

• Application for Podcasters:

  • Responding to listener feedback, emails, and comments.

  • Creating opportunities for listeners to participate in the show (questions, shoutouts, community challenges).

  • Hosting live streams, meet-ups, or virtual gatherings to foster community.

Empower Action

• What it Means: Inspiring your audience to take the next step—big or small—after tuning in.

• Application for Podcasters:

  • Encouraging listeners to apply insights from each episode to their own lives or work.

  • Inviting them to join your online group, subscribe, or share the episode.

  • Highlighting success stories from your community to motivate further action.

Takeaways and Context

• The Five E’s provide a fan-first framework that prioritizes removing barriers, creating joy, fostering innovation, deepening relationships, and inspiring action.

• For podcasters, adopting this approach means shifting from traditional, rule-bound methods to a listener-centric, dynamic, and growing show.

• Encourage listeners to assess their own podcasting approach: Which of the E’s can you implement or improve right now?

Closing

• Challenge: Invite listeners to pick one “E” to focus on in their next episode or week of podcasting.

• End with an open question—How will you play your own game in podcasting and put your fans first?

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September 30 is International Podcast Day - Ways to Celebrate on Your Podcast and With Your Community

September 30 is International Podcast Day, an annual celebration of podcasting’s global impact, creativity, and community. Podcasters can take this opportunity to elevate their shows and strengthen connections with their communities through special content, interactive events, and outreach.Ways to Celebrate on Your Podcast

• Special Episode Releases: Drop a themed episode on International Podcast Day, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, reflections on your production journey, or interviews with fellow creators about the power and potential of podcasting.

• Listener Appreciation Segments: Dedicate part of your show to thank listeners, read their messages, answer Q&As, or share audience milestones. This personal touch fosters loyalty and a sense of belonging.

• Collaborations and Guest Swaps: Partner with other podcasters for cross-promos, guest appearances, or roundtable discussions celebrating audio storytelling. These collaborations expand reach and showcase podcasting’s diversity.

• Podcasting Tips and Education: Share actionable advice or lessons learned with aspiring creators to encourage more voices to join the medium. Host short how-to sessions or panel-style conversations.

Ways to Celebrate With Your Community

• Virtual or Live Meetups: Organize online chats, listener parties, or community Zooms to exchange stories, feedback, and favorite podcast recommendations. These events build deeper connections and shared experiences.

• Social Media Campaigns: Use #InternationalPodcastDay to share show updates, listener testimonials, creator interviews, or fun polls. Encourage fans to post their favorite episodes or podcast moments.

• Giveaways and Contests: Host giveaways for podcast swag, exclusive content, or guest spot opportunities. Run listener contests, such as best fan review or episode suggestion, to get the community involved.

• Support and Donate: Inspire your community to review and support indie shows, or give back by promoting lesser-known creators. Podcasters can also spotlight charitable podcasts or do a day-of donation push.

Impact and Significance

Celebrating International Podcast Day reminds us that podcasting is a vibrant, inclusive form of storytelling—with the power to connect, inform, and inspire a global audience.

By using this day to create, engage, and recognize the voices that make the medium special, podcasters fuel growth and innovation for years to come

https://internationalpodcastday.com/

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Episode 462 - How To Respond When Someone Mocks the Size of Your Podcast Audience

When someone mocks the size of your podcast audience, it is important to respond in a way that reflects confidence, encourages growth, and maintains your creative focus. Here are some ways to do that effectively for podcasters seeking creativity and engagement:

1. Emphasize Quality Over Quantity
   Remind yourself and your audience that meaningful connections matter more than raw numbers. A smaller, engaged audience can be more impactful than a large, passive one. Highlight how your content serves a niche or community, and that your goal is to create value and build long-term relationships rather than chase arbitrary metrics.

2. Share Your Growth Vision and Strategy
   Use the moment to educate about how podcast audiences grow over time with consistent work. Explain how you’re using audience insights and feedback to improve content and engagement, applying strategies like social media integration, email marketing, and collaboration to expand authentically (including analyzing listener behavior, preferences, and feedback).

3. Stay Positive and Professional
   Avoid getting defensive or argumentative. Instead, acknowledge that everyone’s podcast journey is unique and that success looks different to each creator. A positive attitude encourages respect and can lead to constructive conversations rather than conflict.

4. Highlight Engagement and Community Impact
   Mention how you track engagement metrics beyond just downloads, like who listens, how deeply they listen, and what actions they take afterward. This demonstrates that you understand your audience beyond surface stats and are focused on creating content that resonates and builds community.

5. Turn Criticism into Motivation
   Use mocking comments as fuel to improve and innovate. Consider their comments as an opportunity to gather listener feedback, test new content ideas, or refine your approach. This mindset reinforces creativity and growth, turning negativity into productive energy.

6. Educate on Podcast Audience Realities
   Explain that podcast audience metrics can be complex to interpret — download numbers don’t always equal actual listens, and audience size often grows gradually as you deepen connections. This can help others appreciate the nuance of podcast success rather than fixating on numbers alone.

7. Invite Direct Engagement
   Encourage people to listen and engage with your content directly so they can judge its value. Offering an invitation rather than confrontation can turn critics into curious listeners, or at least redirect attention to what you create.

Responding to audience size mockery with a focus on value, community, data-informed growth, and positivity enables podcasters to stay creative, authentic, and motivated without being derailed by superficial criticism. This approach builds a stronger connection with your current listeners and potentially attracts new ones who appreciate your mission and voice.

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Episode 461 - Podcast Success Measurement Unlocked - Identifying the first fan of your podcast

The first fan of your podcast should be you as the host of the podcast - your energy on the mic and infront of the camera, how you show up for your community is infectious - infectious in a positive or negative sense - if you aren't feeling it, your audience won't either. Before you go out and attempt at creating fans for your show, you need to be a fan of what you do, who you serve and why you are doing it - we don't have to podcast, we get to podcast

1. Your Passion Sets the Tone

The energy, enthusiasm, and belief you bring to the mic is contagious. When you genuinely love what you’re talking about, listeners feel it and want to join in. The word passion originally comes from the Latin word passio, meaning to suffer or endure. Modern, supposedly inspiring expressions, such as “Follow your passion” or “Do it with passion or not at all,” would have meant something entirely different in previous centuries
Action Step:
Before each episode, spend a few minutes reminding yourself why you started your podcast and what excites you

2. Authenticity Builds Trust

Being your own first fan means knowing your strengths, celebrating your quirks, and embracing your unique voice. Audiences resonate with hosts who are authentic and confident in their delivery.

Action Step:
Review your latest episode and note moments where you truly sounded like “yourself.” Commit to leaning into those real, natural moments in future episodes—don’t try to be anyone else.

3. Community Starts With You

You’re not just hosting a show; you’re creating a community. If you’re not excited to participate and engage, your listeners won’t be either.

Action Step:
After releasing your episode, interact with your audience—reply to comments, share personal reactions, or ask for their opinions. Show that you’re not just the host, but also an active, invested community member.

4. Celebrate Growth and Progress

Being your first fan means celebrating your wins and milestones, just as you would for a listener or guest. This keeps motivation high and demonstrates the journey for others.

Action Step:
Start a “podcast wins” log. Write down every small victory—from great feedback to overcoming technical challenges—and share these on your show or social media. Your genuine pride will inspire your listeners to root for you and themselves.

Wrap-Up Thought:
When you’re genuinely your own first fan, your authenticity and energy become a magnet for the right audience. Remember: you don’t have to podcast, you get to podcast—let that privilege shine in every episode!

Resource: Fans First: Change The Game, Break the Rules & Create an Unforgettable Experience

https://amzn.to/4os86kt

Source: https://onceuponawrittenword.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/the-metamorphosis-of-passion/

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Episode 460 - We Break Down the Numbers and more in Podcasting, Money Ripples Podcast with Co-Host Chris Miles

In this inspiring and practical episode of the How to Podcast Series, host Dave Campbell welcomes veteran podcaster and financial strategist Chris Miles, creator of the Money Ripples podcast. With over 11 years of podcasting and nearly 1,000 episodes under his belt, Chris shares his unconventional podcasting journey — from launching out of necessity and passion to growing a highly profitable platform that supports his mission to create “ripples” of financial freedom for others.

Listeners will gain insight into how Chris transitioned from radio to podcasting, his early struggles (including editing with GarageBand and calling in by phone), and his simple philosophy: "Done is better than perfect."

The conversation also highlights the evolution of podcasting as a marketing tool, the value of voice trust over time, and the equity you build with your audience by simply showing up consistently. Chris gives actionable advice for podcasters stuck in "learning mode," encouraging them to move from study to execution.

Key Takeaways:

• Podcasting as Legacy: Chris began his podcast to leave financial wisdom for his kids—proof that purpose-driven content has powerful staying power.

• Imperfect Action Wins: His first episodes were raw and unpolished, but consistency led to long-term success.

• Equity with Listeners: Podcasting builds relationship capital over time. People may listen for years before ever becoming a client—but they’re listening.

• Voice as Superpower: Chris discovered that his voice, not video or written word, was his strongest connection tool with his audience.

• Leveraging Guest Spots: Appearances on other podcasts (like Entrepreneurs on Fire) directly led to millions in revenue for his business.

• Growth Through Authenticity: Chris avoided scripting, embraced off-the-cuff teaching, and let his passion lead.

• Using AI for Discoverability: He uses AI tools for crafting SEO-optimized, curiosity-driven titles and improving discoverability online.

• Scaling into Video: Though his roots are audio, he’s invested in a video production team and uses b-roll to enhance engagement on YouTube.

Topics Covered:

• Chris’s journey from radio to podcasting

• Launching podcasts without a polished plan

• The myth of "perfect" podcast preparation

• Using your podcast as a client screening and nurturing tool

• Lessons from almost quitting — and the surprise feedback that changed everything

• Why he invests in both audio and video

• How b-roll and production evolve over time

• Return on investment (ROI) from video vs. audio

• Tips for using AI to strengthen your content and marketing

Actionable Advice:

“If you’re stuck learning about podcasting—just start. You’ll learn far more by doing than by studying forever.”
– Chris Miles

Connect with Chris Miles:

• Website: https://moneyripples.com

• Instagram: @chriscmiles

• YouTube: Money Ripples Channel

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