How Do I Podcast?

What are the 1%s that have made Diary of a CEO the 2nd biggest podcast in the entire world? Today I’m talking to the Head of Failure and Experimentation at Diary of a CEO and Flight Story about exactly that. When Grace Miller started at Diary of A CEO in the social media team they had 100,000 subscribers, now just over 4 years later they have over 16 Million just on Youtube and Billions of views. *_The episode was so good that we had to split it into two parts so you can actually implement what we talk about. If you want to hear the AI tools the DOAC team are using, which tools (and platforms) to use to grow your audience and the one thing that completely changed ALL Flight Story conversations make sure you’re subscribed or following because you won’t want to miss this. _* You’ll hear Chapters 00:00:00 Why we got Grace Miller on the show 00:02:19 What changed when they implemented a Head of Experimentation & Failure and what you can learn from it yourself 00:03:58 The 1% Diary of A CEO do to make their podcast an experience (for listeners and guests) 00:05:45 What you can learn from Taylor Swift about podcasting 00:08:22 Where to start if you want to build a culture of experimentation 00:10:07 How to use end screens to get more views on Youtube 00:11:52 The three things the foundation of every great show has 00:12:58 How to make your podcast memorable 00:14:35 If you want new listeners to stay you need to do this 00:20:15 Should you have NEW topics and guests all the same time? 00:23:35 Why Diary of A CEO removed microphones 00:26:25 What Grace would do first if her first objective is to grow a podcast 00:28:58 The best social strategies for podcasting 00:30:43 What Grace and the Diary of A CEO team did to build community early on 00:34:26 Where you should focus in 2026 00:35:08 How to build a community even if you have ZERO followers 00:36:30 Using AI to help you grow your social media and podcast 00:38:18 The number of thumbnails Diary of a CEO tests and how you can see every single variation 00:40:20 The #1 Rule for creating thumbnails 00:41:42 Why just copying someone elses thumbnail doesn’t work 00:45:32 The best strategy for Youtube that most people don’t know about 00:50:27 Do shorts hurt your main channel? 00:51:22 How to get people to watch your long form content 00:54:40 What’s coming up next week Follow Grace over at Grace Experiments on Instagram @graceexperiments https://www.instagram.com/graceexperiments/ and Grace Miller on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-miller Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast

You can have the best podcast in the world … but it’s a complete waste of time if no one can find you. This week I’m auditing one of our listeners podcasts and the crazy part? I haven’t listened to a single episode. Every change I talk about today is something that will change whether your podcast grows organically or not (and whether people love your show) and if you like this format and series let me know in the comments or over at @howdoIpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast) and I’ll do another one and focus on the content instead. Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

What if you could land your podcast in front of some of the biggest publications? Get a TV Spot? Or Even Land a Book Deal? Today we’re talking to former radio host, turned podcaster, author (and star on Big Brother) Heidi Anderson to talk about how she teaches her clients to become their own Kris Jenner. Her clients have landed on hundreds of publications including the Today Show, news.com, The Daily Mail, Good Morning Britain and Mamamia and she’s got 5 very easy steps so you can too. You’ll learn: How to find the angle that makes journalists say yes The one-sentence pitch that landed a client on national TV What to say in your pitch (and your follow up) Which publications YOU should pitch to in 2026 You’ll hear Find Heidi over at IG @_heidianderson (https://www.instagram.com/_heidianderson/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/therealheidianderson/) and her website https://www.heidileeanderson.com/ Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

Most podcasters wait for "the right time" to launch, fearing they aren’t expert enough or that their voice doesn't matter. Melissa Ambrosini didn't wait. She started with a simple desire to share her journey and has since built a global empire, reaching millions through The Melissa Ambrosini Show and her bestselling books. But behind the massive downloads and sold-out stages is a constant practice of mastering the inner critic that tells you you're not ready. Still not convinced you can manage a massive show while staying grounded? Melissa shares how she manages the demands of a global brand while prioritising her family and her health, proving that "hustle" isn't the only way to the top. This episode is an absolute masterclass in moving past the "imposter" phase, treating your podcast like a professional media outlet from day one, and the essential mindset shifts required to sustain a show for over 600 episodes. We chat about: 🎙️The transition from "the stage" to "the mic" and how to own your unique voice 🎙️The non-negotiable role of consistency in building a top-ranking global show 🎙️Building a sustainable production rhythm that prevents creator burnout You’ll hear: 0:00 - The career pivot: How Melissa moved from professional dancing and acting into the wellness and podcasting space 6:42 - Why Melissa decided to start The Melissa Ambrosini Show and how it has evolved over the years 14:15 - How to keep showing up when the growth feels slow 21:30 - How to use AI without losing your magic 29:55 - What it actually looks like behind the scenes to produce a world-class podcast 37:20 - Melissa’s advice for podcasters who are afraid of what people will think 44:08 - How Melissa balances motherhood, writing, and hosting without losing her peace 53:12 - Future-proofing your brand: Where Melissa sees the future of podcasting and creative content Follow Melissa over at: https://www.instagram.com/melissaambrosini/ and https://melissaambrosini.com/ Listen to The Melissa Ambrosini Show on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-melissa-ambrosini-show/id1196106699) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4cBKCrx06MkdcinQNTbXI7). Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

Most podcasters think they need thousands of downloads before a brand will take them seriously. Madelyn from The Healthy Hustlers monetised within her first six months. And now she’s reached 4 million downloads across the podcast, and brand deals are her number 1 source of income 7 years later … but they’re not the brand deals you’ve heard about before! Still not convinced? One of her clients landed a $1,000 brand deal with just 30 downloads per episode. There is a way to approach brands when you’re a smaller podcast but hardly anyone ever talks about it! This episode is a masterclass in how to show brands what you’re worth, how to price your deals and how to land partnerships before your download numbers look “impressive.” We chat about: 🎙️How to land brand deals before you have big download numbers 🎙️What most podcasters get wrong when pitching sponsors 🎙️How to make brands see the value in your show You’ll hear: 0:00 - How Madelyn built Healthy Hustlers to over 4 million downloads and why monetisation started way earlier than most people think 3:44 - How to start recording solo episodes when you feel awkward, nervous and like you’ve got nothing valuable to say 12:28 - What she’s learnt about podcasting after interviewing some of the biggest names 14:44 - How to land bigger names on your show (even if your podcast isn’t “big” yet) 18:46 - The scripting strategy she used to get Kayla Itsines saying “I’ve never spoken about this before” on her show 21:33 - One of the first things Madelyn did that saw HUGE growth in her podcast 25:50 - Doing series with other people on your podcast: how to leverage guest’s audiences 30:58 - What it’s like signing to a podcast network and things you need to be aware of 35:08 - The kind of brand deals most podcasters overlook (and why small shows are more powerful than they realise) 38:44 - How to pitch your dream brands 40:44 - The most important thing you need to get big brand deals + how to find what brands you’re aligned with 44:48 - The kinds of ads you can actually place in your podcast 49:50 - How to price your podcast to brands even if you have a small audience 54:27 - After 7 years of podcasting - how Madelyn keeps herself motivated to keep recording 58:18 - The podcast she loves right now and why she avoids consuming too much content in her own niche Follow Madelyn over at https://www.instagram.com/madelyncarafa/ and https://www.instagram.com/thehealthyhustlers/ Listen to The Healthy Hustlers on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-healthy-hustlers-podcast/id1400257108 or Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0JbdhahNuAtoJlp4TPSGDt Find your human design here (https://www.myhumandesign.com/). Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

Most podcasters don’t quit because they hate podcasting. They quit because they’re stuck in the middle and unsure if what they’re doing is working, having intrusive thoughts that ask if they should be further along by now and quietly questioning whether all the effort they put in is worth it. It’s not easy. So today I’m talking to Arielle Thomas, the incredible founder and creative behind Cinemas Thom, and host of the Process The Podcast which interviews the creatives behind some of the biggest campaigns and brands. It’s a conversation about what a podcast looks like while you’re juggling everything else in your life, whether that’s running a business, working in a career, studying or just managing a busy life. We chat about: 🎙️ The resilience it takes to keep showing up when there’s no obvious way to tell if you’re on the right track 🎙️ Keeping a podcast running when some episodes hit and others don’t 🎙️ How podcasting can turn guests into adult friendships 🎙️ Building a team offshore to help with your production Want to hear more about the Clubhouse? Click here (https://www.cinemathom.com/clubhouse)or visit Cinema Thom at www.cinemathom.com If you want to follow along Arielle’s journey, head over to IG @arielle.thomas (http://www.instagram.com/arielle.thomas) and listen to the Process The Podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2eK1rXpYWElkHaNpaZ7fkW?si=a146b88f71e14af4) or Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/process-the-podcast/id1612441858). Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

Have you been wanting to monetise using your podcast but you have no idea where to start? Or you have a product you’re trying to sell but can’t figure out how to tie it in naturally to your content? How much should you even be charging? Today I’m sitting down with Ruby Lee, the founder behind Flow State Business, who not only has an amazing business but a community that WANTS to buy her products. We chat about: 🎙️How to use your podcast to sell guides, courses, ebooks and more 🎙️Ruby’s strategy for getting people in her world (and it’s so much easier than you think) 🎙️What it actually looks like when your podcast, emails, and offers work together You’ll hear: 0:00 - What Flow State Business is and why Ruby’s audience wants to buy from her 04:08 - How Ruby’s podcast has generated millions (without heavy selling or launches) 05:16 - Strategies to help make your podcast part of your sales cycle 10:00 - Exactly what Ruby does to get her listeners realising they want to work with her 12:59 - How to identify your easiest low-ticket offer (even if you think you don’t have one) 19:46 - What should go inside a low-ticket guide and what to deliberately leave out 21:40 - You’ve made the offer… now what actually makes people buy it? 23:33 - The exact platforms Ruby uses to sell 29:28 - How Ruby brings in 400 new listeners in under 25 minutes 31:58 - The one word email strategy that gets an 88% open rate (and why it works) 42:44 - How Ruby use her Instagram stories to get her audience to buy her guides 46:36 - The process behind why Ruby chose her prices 49:24 - Tips on using your podcast to sell without it sounding salesy 54:08 - The episode format that brings Ruby the MOST sales (and it’s not even more work) 55:38 - What to do if you want to change your podcast topic without losing your audience 1:03:00 - Ruby’s advice for building an email list that actually converts 1:07:00 - Rapid fire: podcast habits, lessons, and what Ruby’s still learning Want more of Ruby? Listen to Ruby’s podcast Flow State Business on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5lPNUaTDpaydqlhrAlnUuw?si=d592ab6a819c4094), or Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/flow-state-business/id1384762015). Visit her website at www.flowstatebusiness.co or check out her IG @_rubylee_ (https://www.instagram.com/_rubylee_) Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

What does it really take to build a podcast that people come back to every single week? In this episode, I’m sitting down with Xander Cross, a podcast producer at Nova who works across multiple major shows including Big Business with Brittney Saunders and High Scrollers. If you’ve ever wondered exactly what a podcast producer does, and how you can start applying their strategies and expertise into your own show - then you’re going to want to listen to this one. We chat about: 🎙️How big shows decide what’s worth talking about (and what isn’t) 🎙️The editing choices that keep listeners engaged without them even noticing 🎙️How to think like a producer when you don’t have one You’ll hear: 0:00 - How Xander ended up producing BIG Australian podcasts 1:05 - What a real day in the life of a podcast producer looks like 2:33 - How podcast producers choose topics for episodes that will have the highest impact for their audiences 7:51 - How to think like a producer when you don’t have one 10:43 - How intentional big podcasts really are including a bonus social media hack! 14:10 - What gets cut in an episode and why it matters more than you think (you could be losing listeners doing this!) 16:23 - The podcasting organisation tool that Xander swears by 20:41 - Everything that happens when a guest goes on one of Xander’s shows + a tip on how to reduce your research time 26:25 - A radio lesson that can help you to build your podcast community 30:16 - How podcast monetisation works behind the scenes 33:14 - How to grow your audience when you’re starting from scratch 36:05 - The metrics that actually matter if you want to grow your show 39:15 - The best conversion tactic to move people from social media to your podcast 45:46 - Rapid fire questions! If you want to follow along with Xander online, head over to his IG @xanderrcross (https://www.instagram.com/xanderrcross/?hl=en) Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

If you combined the population of Australia and New Zealand, you still wouldn’t reach the number of followers Kayla Itsines has across her platforms (43 million on just her personal accounts) so when I wanted to do an episode on building a community I knew I had to speak with her! Kayla grew her following originally with the Bikini Body Guide before creating her app SWEAT! Now 15 years later her following is 98% women and she is still in her DMs every single day talking directly to her community. In 2024 Kayla launched her podcast Sweat Daily where they had over 120 episodes drop in under a year! This episode isn’t just talking about how to build a community, we talk about creating content, how she overcame her nerves and what she still holds back from sharing today and what makes an incredible interview (as well as what not to do!) We chat about: 🎙️The lessons she learnt from starting her own podcast 🎙️What makes a great interview vs a terrible one (and how to make your guest feel comfortable!) 🎙️How she manages her content with a tiny team You’ll hear: 0:00 - Why we got Kayla Itsines on 1:30 - What Kayla shares that makes her community feel connected 3:43 - The one thing Kayla deliberately keeps private and why 6:05 - What you need to do if you want to have a great podcast 8:02 - The reason you need a WHY and how to show up through a tough moment 10:10 - What Kayla did to build community that is now BANNED 13:53 - What she does now 14:19 - How Kayla balances motherhood, social media and running successful businesses 15:15 - The app she uses to cut down her screen time 16:27 - The most important thing about building a community (and why you might struggle if you don’t have this) 18:39 - Kayla’s content team now 21:19 - How to navigate outgrowing your personal brand 22:36 - What makes a great interviewer (from someone who has been interviewed hundreds of times) 24:30 - What gives Kayla anxiety and how she manages it 27:06 - Starting her own podcast 30:48 - How Kayla prepped for interviews 32:16 - The one thing you should never do as an interviewer 36:19 - If someone was too scared to start but wanted their own podcast in 2026, what advice would Kayla give them? 40:53 - Media training for difficult questions 42:33 - The podcasts on Kayla’s rotation (I wasn’t expecting these!) 45:41 - Mic Drop Moments You can find Kayla over at @kayla_itsines (https://www.instagram.com/kayla_itsines/?hl=en) and @sweat (https://www.instagram.com/sweat/?hl=en) Website - www.kaylaitsines.com Or download the Sweat! App and get a 7 day free trial here - https://sweat.com/ If you’re ready to take action from this episode - Download the Debrief here - https://project-c-2.kit.com/ede722b06b Want to start your own podcast? Ready to become the go-to in your industry? I’m working with a VERY small group of creators in 2026 to build podcasts that people can’t wait to listen to … if that’s you send me the word Mic Drop over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

What goes into creating podcasts for some of the world’s most loved celebrities? Today I’m sitting down with the incredible Amelia Chappelow. Amelia started her career with the ABC and Triple J creating the Like a Version podcast so many people still love today. Since then she’s been involved with Linda Marigliano's Tough Love podcast, The #1 Spotify Podcast 'Who Is Daniel Johns? And worked with incredible shows across Earwolf, Spotify and Sirius XM including Storytime with Seth Rogen, Bitch Sesh with Casey Rose Wilson & Danielle Schneider, Unspooled with Paul Scheer & Amy Nicholson, Scam Goddess with Laci Mosley, I Weigh with Jameela Jamil, and TV, I Say w/ Ashley Ray. She’s now Head of Content at MIK Studio where she recently launched Storytime with Kayla Jade (a #1 podcast across Australia) and Myf Warhurst’s The Moment. We chat about: 🎙️The word most podcasters use that shuts your audience out 🎙️A strategy most producers leverage to grow their shows (but never really talk about!) 🎙️How to structure your episodes so people can’t WAIT to listen to the next episode You’ll hear: 0:00 - Who is Amelia Chappelow & Who Has She Worked With? 6:24 - What it’s like working on a celebrity show? 7:55 - How can a producer add value to a podcast? 16:54 - The most IMPORTANT question to ask yourself before recording any episodes 18:05 - How to make your listeners feel like you’ve made this podcast episode just for them 20:01 - How should you script? 27:27 - Are you closing the doors on your listener? 29:54 - Use this small shift to hook your listeners in to wanting more 31:48 - The building blocks of a great show 35:49 - How to grow your show organically 39:21 - What Amelia includes to make sure listeners come back every single week 42:01 - What goes into a successful podcast launch 52:05 - The podcast Amelia keeps coming back to every single week Want to actually take action from this episode? Download the Debrief here - https://project-c-2.kit.com/ep-16-amelia-chappelow Find Amelia over at @ameliachappelow and https://www.ameliachappelow.com/ Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

You don’t need a huge audience to get brand deals and people to talk about your podcast … but you do need the things we talk about in this weeks episode. Today I’m joined by Pru Corrigan from One Day Dream, the team behind Just For Girls, Where’s Your Head At, Ready or Not, Culture Club, The Pump Up Pod, Hotter Than Yesterday and Hear Me Out Podcasts and Talent Agency to some of Australia’s favourite creators. We chat about: 🎙️How to pitch yourself and your podcast (and what you should NEVER do) 🎙️What the best podcasters are doing every single day to get their audience bought in 🎙️The clickbait strategy that’s working right now to get more people to consume your content You’ll hear: 0:00 - Who is Pru Corrigan 2:00 - Why One Day Dream started building their podcast stable 4:18 - The reason most brands won’t invest in podcasting 4:58 - What the best podcasters are doing to get brands to say yes 6:11 - How can you get people to notice your podcast 8:28 - This influencer got 80,000 people to attend an event and sold out her products by creating connection 9:28 - In 2026 people are going to be wanting more and more of this 11:35 - The Double E’s you need to win at podcasting 11:57 - The EXACT script to get you onto your dream podcasts 14:48 - How to pitch to your dream brands for sponsorship or collaborations 18:14 - The risky move to get dream brands to fall in love with you and your audience 20:25 - How Pru got the attention of Sephora 23:01 - What the biggest influencers do to build community 28:17 - The brand partnerships that aren’t being done right now 28:54 - The different ways you can monetise your podcast 33:35 - How to deal with negative PR and backlash 35:24 - What you should do if your reel goes viral 38:14 - Do you need to censor yourself if you want brand partnerships? 38:49 - The types of podcasts that are blowing up in 2025 39:55 - How do ODd decide if a podcast is going to be good or not 43:35 - The secret to making a show people want to listen to 44:29 - Do you need to treat podcasting like a full time job? 47:17 - Can you just outsource everything to a producer? 50:58 - Mic Drop Moments Want to actually take action from this episode? Download the Debrief here - Find Pru over at @prucorrigan, @onedaydreamteam, on LinkedIn and her website https://onedaydream.com.au/ Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast

Toni & Ryan has been named by Apple as a podcast they love, is on the top charts every single week, gets millions of downloads every single month and was named as one of Australia’s favourite podcasts … but it started out as two friends recording a demo and having a laugh. Today I’m joined by Ryan Jon to talk about building the community behind Toni and Ryan (The TARPers), and how they’ve built a podcast so many people love to listen too every single week. From the content strategy, reels and what’s actually worked to grow the podcast we cover it all! We chat about: 🎙️The strategy to make sure you NEVER run out of content 🎙️The things that build a community that can’t wait to tune in every single week 🎙️How to create moments that go viral You’ll hear: 0:00 - Who is Ryan Jon 3:09 - How they come up with new content every single week 4:21 - This will give you the BEST reactions with any guests or your co-host 5:10 - Where to find great content 6:38 - Should you tell your guests or co-hosts what you’re going to talk about? 9:36 - The KEY to incredible podcasts 10:28 - And how to choose moments that will go viral 12:12 - How to create a loyal community that can’t wait to listen every single week 14:00 - Getting 1000 people to show up to a meet and greet in 24 hours 16:28 - Naming your community 18:25 - How to get your community to actually engage and send in questions and stories 20:38 - How to monetise your podcast without ads 29:14 - The biggest thing that grew the show to millions of downloads 32:46 - If you’re scared to start creating content, listen to this 34:08 - How Toni & Ryan actually started 36:08 - How to make sure people stay to the end of your podcast 36:30 - The strategy to choose the right ads and partners for your show 39:24 - If you want to start a podcast ask yourself this question first 40:34 - Bringing your producers into the conversation 42:19 - The team behind Toni & Ryan 43:53 - Where you should focus your attention in 2026 50:12 - The podcasts that inspire Ryan 53:53 - Most embarrassing behind the scenes moment 55:29 - Best advice that Ryan’s ever been given Want to actually take action from this episode? Download the Debrief here - https://project-c-2.kit.com/ep13-ryan-jon Find Ryan over at https://www.instagram.com/ryan.jon And listen to Toni & Ryan on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/toni-and-ryan/id1526634903 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5OzkclFjD6iAjtAuo7aIYt Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ToniandRyan Check out their Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/cw/ToniandRyan Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast