
Best Of: Building a Podcast Audience
From Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting by Jennifer-Lee Gunson & Neil McPhedran. HigherEdPods.com. Podium Podcast Co.
December 29, 2025 · 40 min · Episode 65
About this episode
This episode revisits a live recording featuring Matt Abrahams discussing the evolution of his podcast and insights on audience engagement.
The evolution of Think Fast, Talk Smart and what it teaches higher ed about communication and connection. To close out the year, Continuing Studies revisits one of its most popular episodes — the first-ever live recording from the inaugural Higher Ed PodCon in Chicago. In this special conversation, Matt Abrahams , Stanford GSB lecturer and host of the globally acclaimed podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart , shares the remarkable evolution of his show — from its early DIY production with his sons to becoming the #1 careers podcast worldwide. With more than 68 million plays across 125 countries, Matt reflects on building community, experimenting with video, embracing AI, and transitioning to an independent platform while staying deeply audience-focused. Whether you’re a higher ed podcaster or simply passionate about meaningful communication, this “Best Of” episode offers timeless insights on creativity, connection, and the ever-evolving landscape of podcasting. Episode Links: Think Fast Talk Smart Matt Abrahams Matt Abrahams | LinkedIn Higher Ed PodCon Think Fast, Talk Live: Building a Podcast Audience Connect with Us Share Feedback & Ask Questions…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jennifer-Lee Gunson, Neil McPhedran
Guest: Matt Abrahams
Topics covered
- podcasting
- communication
- audience building
- higher education
- creativity
- connection
Keywords
- podcast audience
- Think Fast Talk Smart
- higher ed
- community building
- AI in podcasting
- video experimentation
- independent platform
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Stanford GSB, Higher Ed PodCon, Continuing Studies Podcast, University Podcasters Network
More episodes of Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting
- How to Use Podcasting for Participatory Research · June 1, 2026 · 31 min
- Using Academic Research to Make Sense of the News Cycle · May 18, 2026 · 34 min
- How MIT Turns Teaching into Podcasts, Video, and Reach · May 4, 2026 · 33 min
- How To Be a Better Podcast Host (or Co-host) · April 20, 2026 · 36 min
- How Science Vs. Turns Research Into Stories: Jokes, Citations, and a Lot of Editing · April 6, 2026 · 35 min
- Opening Doors for Academic Voices · March 23, 2026 · 35 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting podcast page.