Mics To Millions: Podcast Growth & Monetization Strategies for Health & Wellness Podcasters

He turned down more than half his income on principle, and he'd do it again. Paul Gilmartin is the host and producer of the Mental Illness Happy Hour, one of the longest-running mental health podcasts in existence. Running since 2011 with roughly 70,000 monthly downloads, the show has been praised by Psychology Today, Esquire, and The New York Times as a vital, compassionate space where guests open up about their fears, addictions, and life experiences. Before podcasting, Paul was the host of TBS's Dinner and a Movie for 16 years. Today he shares the aftermath of having to walk away from his biggest sponsor. Paul shares: The BetterHelp sponsorship story, how he became their first podcast advertiser, why he walked away, and the financial fallout that followed Why consistency has been his #1 growth tactic after 15 years and 70,000+ monthly downloads, and what he did the one week he couldn't publish The stand-up comedian mindset that shaped his approach to hosting, and why he thinks most podcasters accidentally go into "presentation mode" How his Patreon went from an afterthought to 80% of his revenue, and the honest appeal to listeners that made it happen Why interviewing listeners from his support groups produces his best episodes What it really looks like to protect your "internal battery", and why he deliberately chose a smaller audience over burning out Follow Paul Gilmartin: Website: www.mentalpod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/mentalpod Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentalpod Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? Explore how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ Bonus tips and resources: Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podwritten Questions or want to say hey? Email us at sam@podwritten.com Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast guesting has been praised as one of the most powerful growth tools for podcasters, but most hosts either never try it, or try it once and walk away empty handed. Susie Pettit is living proof that the strategy works, when you approach it the right way. Susie is the host of The Love Your Life Show, a podcast focused on life empowerment, self-growth, and midlife wellness that she has published every single week without fail since 2018. With nearly 400 episodes behind her, a thriving coaching practice, and a group membership school, she has built her business largely through the power of intentional podcast guesting, without an agency, without a huge audience, and without spending hours on her phone. She explains: ◼️ Why one single podcast appearance landed her four to five long-term coaching clients she still works with today ◼️ The five to ten minute outreach habit she uses to get herself booked on shows without burning out ◼️ Why she's shifted away from social media and what she's investing in instead ◼️ The exact qualities that make her say yes to a guest pitch — and the red flags that make her delete it immediately ◼️ Why the most well-known guests aren't always the most valuable ones for your show ◼️ The two lead magnets she uses that cost her nothing to maintain and keep converting listeners on autopilot ◼️ Why podcast listeners are already your warmest possible audience — and how to reach them Follow Susie Pettit: ◼️ Https://smbwell.com/listen ◼️ Http://theloveyourlifeschool.com ◼️ Smbwell.com/roadmap Bonus tips and resources: ◼️ Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ ◼️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ ◼️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podwritten Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? Explore how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ Questions or want to say hey? Email us at sam@podwritten.com Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Here’s why most podcasters are measuring the wrong thing, and what to track instead. Dan Misener is one of the most respected voices in podcast analytics and audience development. Dan, co-founder of Bumper, has spent years helping publishers, networks, and brands understand real listener behavior. In this episode, Dan breaks down why downloads are becoming less meaningful, what loyalty data actually tells you, and how podcasters can finally understand whether their editorial and marketing decisions are working. If you’ve ever felt confused by your numbers, stuck in a plateau, or unsure what’s really driving growth… this episode will completely change how you see your audience. In this episode, you’ll learn: -Why ALV (Average Lifetime Value) is the clearest measure of listener loyalty, and how it reveals what your audience is actually doing with your show -Why downloads are a broken metric, how auto-download changes inflated numbers for years, and why the industry still relies on a flawed system -Why publishing more episodes rarely fixes growth problems, and how overproduction can accelerate silent churn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it truly helps more creators discover Mics to Millions! 📈 Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? See how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ https://podwritten.com/ 🎁 Grab your free guide: Get booked as a podcast guest in 4 weekshttps://podwritten.com/links/ 💡 More resources: Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ Connect with Dan Misener: Website (Bumper): https://wearebumper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmisener/ 💌 Questions or want to say hey?Reach us at sam@podwritten.com

In this episode, I’m breaking down the four biggest lessons I learned in 2025, insights that completely reshaped how I approach podcasting and the way we run PodWritten. From why changing my show’s title backfired, to the real cost of being “cheap” with your tools, to why summer is the worst time for guest outreach, and why downloads are never the true goal, this episode gives you a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what actually moved the needle for the show and our business. If you’re planning your podcast strategy for 2026, these lessons will help you make smarter decisions, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and build a show that genuinely supports your brand and your growth. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✅ Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? Check out how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ https://podwritten.com/ 🎁 Get Booked on Podcasts with PodWritten’s Podcast Guesting Framework (Free): https://podwritten.com/podcastguesting/ 💡 Bonus tips & resources: Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ Connect with Sam Brake Guia: Website: https://podwritten.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelbrakeguia/ Email: sam@podwritten.com 💌 Questions, feedback, or just want to connect? Reach out at sam@podwritten.com or via LinkedIn.

We will be back on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 with new episodes. We are currently working on some big things behind the scenes for this show, and we can’t wait to share with you in the new year. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✅ Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? Check out how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ https://podwritten.com/ 🎁 Get Booked on Podcasts with PodWritten’s Podcast Guesting Framework (Free): https://podwritten.com/podcastguesting/ 💡 Bonus tips & resources: Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ Connect with Sam Brake Guia: Website: https://podwritten.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelbrakeguia/ Email: sam@podwritten.com 💌 Questions, feedback, or just want to connect? Reach out at sam@podwritten.com or via LinkedIn.

Signing with a podcast advertising networks can be a tempting for those wanting to make money from their podcast, but is signing with one really the best way to monetize your show? In this episode, Sam Brake Guia explores the pros and cons of joining a podcast advertising network and why, for many independent creators, going solo (or hiring a specialist) might actually be the smarter move. You’ll hear: -Why joining a network can sometimes limit your monetization potential-Real stories from podcasters like Janey Lee Grace, Cass Dunn, and KC Davis on their experiences with (and without) networks-How to take control of your podcast’s revenue through direct sponsorships or expert management ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✅ Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? Check out how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ https://podwritten.com/ 🎁 Get Booked on Podcasts with PodWritten’s Podcast Guesting Framework (Free): https://podwritten.com/podcastguesting/ 💡 Bonus tips & resources: Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ 🎧 Past episodes mentioned in this episode: -Improve Your Guest Episodes Using Adaptive Interviewing with Sarah Rosensweet | Ep 80: https://shorturl.at/6QRYc -How to create a valuable podcast you can sell someday with Heather Osgood | Ep 39 https://shorturl.at/CjNQU -Using ads to monetize your podcast with Heather Osgood | Ep 66 https://shorturl.at/UdB6B -How Smart Podcasters Scale and Become Profitable with Zora Benhamou | Ep 78: https://shorturl.at/MwupQ -Turn Your Audience Into a Loyal Community with Janey Lee Grace | Ep 75: https://shorturl.at/ynz86 -The Inside Scoop on Signing with a Big Podcast Network with Cass Dunn | Ep 76: https://shorturl.at/GFnRa -The hard truth about podcasting with 1.7M TikTok followers with KC Davis | Ep 64: https://shorturl.at/sJ8p7 💌 Questions or want to say hey? Reach us at sam@podwritten.com

What separates the best podcast hosts from the rest, and how can you get there yourself? In this solo episode, Sam Brake Guia breaks down the key skills, mindset shifts, and techniques that turn good podcast hosts into great ones. Drawing from hundreds of interviews and thousands of hours studying top shows, Sam shares what he’s learned about how to become a more confident, curious, and impactful interviewer. You’ll hear: -Why acknowledging your weaknesses is the first step to becoming a better host -How preparation and research set top interviewers apart -The secret to deep listening and staying fully present during interviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✅ Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? Check out how PodWritten can help:https://podwritten.com/services/https://podwritten.com/ 🎁 Get Booked on Podcasts with PodWritten’s Podcast Guesting Framework (Free):https://podwritten.com/podcastguesting/ 💡 Bonus tips & resources:Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ 🎧 Resources mentioned in this episode: -How Tim Ferriss prepares for interviews (YouTube): https://tim.blog/2015/06/09/speed-reading -Keanu Reeves’ powerful pause (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1UyBkLuh0U -Charisma on Command YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CharismaonCommand - Charisma on Command Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmOAznOQX-g&t=2s -The Diary of a CEO with Charlie Houpert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg4Ta7vXiIM -Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: https://pod.link/1237931798 -Creator Science: https://pod.link/creator 💌 Questions or want to say hey? Reach us at sam@podwritten.com