Podcasting Insights: podcast growth advice for indie creators

Your show sounds cleaner than it ever has. You've sorted the room, fixed the levels, maybe even brought in an editor. And when you listen back — nothing.No connection. No feeling. Just technically correct audio with nobody in it.Hi, I'm Neal Veglio, founder of the Podmastery community from Podknows Podcasting. And this week, I'm exploring why that hollow feeling has nothing to do with your equipment — and why the fix is simpler than you think.I share a story from my radio days about a presenter who went from compelling-but-rough to polished-and-forgettable, what broadcast training actually teaches about the difference between performing and talking, and the 30-second exercise I even use myself before every recording.If you'd like a proper look at what's sitting between your show and where you want it to be, head to podmastery.co, hit the Get In Touch page, and tell me what's going on.

In this episode:This podcast is taking a new direction. Audience is split; creators want craft, while marketers crave strategy. A brand new show called B2B Podcasting Insights is launching for the business-minded listeners. Podcasting Insights will still be your creative haven, sans the marketing jargon. Expect shorter, punchy episodes that dive into serious ROI without the fluffy stuff. Next week, we'll chat about why consistency in podcasting might just be overrated.

If you're fed up with hearing people insist you "need to put your podcast on YouTube", this episode will give you a sense of relief. I've just come back from judging the Independent Podcast Awards and spent time with some of the best indie creators around. What struck me wasn't how eager they were to jump on video, but how quickly the myth started to unravel once we looked at what video actually costs independent podcasters, in cash, energy, and lost focus. This episode is all about unpacking the hard truth behind the "you must do video to grow" narrative and how most audio-first shows are actually better off keeping their attention on what already works. I share a case study of a winning indie show, Floating Space, and its host’s reaction when I pushed back on video hype and explained why going all-in on YouTube rarely delivers for indies who aren’t looking to become full-time video editors. There’s plenty here that you won’t find in any of the LinkedIn gurus’ posts, and you’ll walk away understanding why "discovery" isn't just about being searchable—it's about being findable and worth listening to.Chapters:00:00 The Video Myth02:00 Hype vs Reality05:00 Awards Night penny-drop08:00 “But you publish video…”11:00 What to do instead15:00 7-day focusPodcast Improvement Audit (Lite): https://podmastery.co/lite

There’s a hard truth most podcast experts will dodge, but I don’t have the energy or patience for avoiding it - there’s a reason your podcast audience isn’t growing, and it’s not because you haven’t been hustling hard enough on LinkedIn or spamming your socials. Look, I see it over and over; brand new podcasters with all the energy in the world, launching their show and immediately going full throttle with promotion before even figuring out whether the content’s actually any good. In this episode of Podcasting Insights, I lay out why that’s a sure-fire way to set yourself up for repeated disappointment and burnout. Instead, I’ll walk you through my entire approach for building podcasts people actually want to talk about, and not just because you begged them to on LinkedIn. We get into why promotion isn’t the lever you pull first, what actually matters to develop a show that holds attention, and what I make every client face up to before they spend a penny (or another hour) trying to chase down listeners.00:00 Why Your Promotion is in Reverse!04:53 Integrity and Strategic Success07:34 "Building Loyal, Valuable Audiences"12:57 Silent Launch Strategy Advice13:59 Proof Before Promotion StrategyUseful links:Get your audit - https://podmastery.co/liteSee your Apple Podcasts retention data: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/ Spotify dashboard: https://podcasters.spotify.com/gatewayFind all episodes of Podcasting Insights: https://www.podmastery.co/Tom Webster's The Audience Is Listening: https://audienceislisteningbook.com/

Every podcaster dreads it: that brutal one-star review, the public comment that rips your hard work to shreds. But what if your harshest critic is actually your greatest growth tool?In this episode of Podcasting Insights with The Podmaster, I'm sharing the real story of how a vocal hater went from blasting my radio morning show to becoming one of my biggest advocates, even booking me for private gigs. You’ll learn how I made that happen, and how you can use the same methods for your podcast and any critics you get along the way. Also, I'll share the four ways critics can sharpen your podcast, and the simple rules that stop you from losing your mind when trolls strike.If you’ve ever felt crushed by negative feedback, this episode will change how you see it forever. Don’t fear your haters. Love them, learn from them, and watch how fast your podcast grows.

Let me tell you where most podcasters get it wrong right from the jump. It’s that tired cliché “If you build it, they will come.” This episode is my reality check for you, and if you're honest with yourself, it could save you more disappointment and wasted effort than you realise. I walk through why just recording a bunch of episodes and putting them online is never going to magically build an audience, no matter how unique your idea feels. What you’re going to hear is the real work that has to go into positioning, marketing, production, and – above all – earning the right for your audience to come back again and again. It’s not glamorous, but it works, and I’m breaking down exactly why.The episode gets into the numbers, the psychology, and the relentless myth that your social media follower count will somehow guarantee instant podcast listeners. It doesn’t. You’ll learn why podcasts and radio might share a delivery method (audio) but are incomparable when it comes to how people find and commit to content. I’m calling out the ‘gurus’ peddling fairytales and laying out instead the importance of actionable strategy.With thanks to Irina Tudorache - https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-tudorache/ and Michelle J Raymond for their valuable contributions towards this episode.If you'd like to leave me a message, the voicemail is https://podmastery.co/voicemail