The How To Podcast Series - Revolving Co-Hosts, Actionable Tips, And A Community for Podcasters

Episode 727 - Podcast Community Building Ideas for your Podcast - Join Our Free Meetups and get free support This episode explores what it really means to build a community around your podcast and why it matters beyond downloads and analytics. Dave speaks directly to creators who feel the gap between seeing numbers and actually connecting with real people. He acknowledges the time constraints most podcasters face and offers practical, realistic ways to create meaningful interaction without overwhelming your workflow.At the heart of the conversation is the idea that community is not instant. Most listeners will never respond, and that is normal. But when someone does reach out, it becomes a powerful moment of connection that reminds you why you started. Community benefits both sides: it encourages the host and gives listeners a space to connect with others who share their interests.Dave shares several ways to build these connections, starting with email newsletters. By shifting from promoting episodes after release to creating anticipation before they go live, he demonstrates how written content can lead listeners into your podcast. He emphasizes that email is one of the few platforms you truly own, making it a reliable way to stay connected with your audience.He also discusses listener engagement strategies like Q and A segments, voice messages through tools like SpeakPipe, and social media, while cautioning against relying too heavily on platforms you do not control. A key theme is making participation easy and consistently inviting your audience to be involved.In-person and virtual meetups are presented as powerful community builders. Dave highlights his own free, ongoing podcast meetups as an example of creating a space where podcasters can connect, share, and grow together. He is transparent about the slow start, including showing up to empty rooms, reinforcing that community takes time and persistence.The episode closes with a simple framework: invite participation, feature your audience, repeat the invitation, and create spaces for connection. He also reflects on consistency as one of the biggest challenges in podcasting, encouraging creators to keep showing up even when motivation dips.Building a podcast community is a long game rooted in consistency, intentional connection, and creating opportunities for your audience to be seen, heard, and involved.___Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 725 - The Driven Introvert Podcast, and Building Community with Podgound.io with Guest CO-HOST Remi Roy Building a podcast is often about much more than creating content. It can become a journey of personal growth, confidence, community, and discovering the impact your voice can have on others.In this episode, Dave sits down with Remi, host of The Driven Introvert, for a thoughtful conversation about podcasting, personal development, and the power of creating intentional spaces for connection. Remi shares her journey from being a painfully shy and socially anxious child to becoming a podcaster, speaker, and community builder who now helps others find the confidence to pursue their goals.The discussion explores how podcasting became a catalyst for growth. What began as an early podcasting experiment eventually evolved into a platform where Remi could share lessons learned from navigating life as an introvert while pursuing meaningful work and personal aspirations. Along the way, she discovered that podcasting was not only a creative outlet but also a powerful tool for improving communication, developing confidence, and finding her authentic voice.Throughout the conversation, Remi reflects on the challenges many introverts face when chasing dreams and making major life decisions. Fear, self-doubt, and uncertainty can often prevent people from taking action, even when they have ideas, goals, and ambitions they deeply care about. Through her podcast and community work, she encourages people to move beyond those limitations and take intentional steps toward the life they want to create.The conversation also highlights the opportunities podcasting can create beyond the microphone. From speaking engagements and professional development to personal branding and audience growth, Remi discusses how podcasting can open unexpected doors when creators remain consistent and focused on serving their audience.A major theme of the episode centers on community. Drawing from her own experiences entering podcasting without guidance or support, Remi shares the inspiration behind PodGround, a platform designed to help podcasters connect, learn from one another, and avoid feeling isolated in their creative journeys. Through networking events, listening parties, educational sessions, and peer support, the goal is to help creators build meaningful relationships while developing their shows.For new podcasters, Remi offers encouragement to embrace the learning process. Rather than striving for perfection from the start, she advocates for creating consistently, experimenting freely, and allowing time for both confidence and clarity to develop. Finding your voice, she explains, is not something that happens overnight. It emerges through practice, persistence, and a willingness to keep showing up.At its heart, this episode is a reminder that podcasting is ultimately about people. Behind every microphone is a story, and behind every download is a listener looking for connection, encouragement, or understanding.Key TakeawayYou do not have to have everything figured out before you start. Whether you're launching a podcast, pursuing a new career path, or chasing a long-held dream, growth comes through action. Consistency, community, and the willingness to keep learning often lead to opportunities and impact far beyond what you initially imagined.The Driven Introvert PodcastThe Driven Introvert is a faith-inspired podcast designed for purposeful introverts.https://pod.link/1730634173You love podcasting, but it's been hard togain traction.PodGround connects newand intermediate podcasterswith insights, peers, and thetools that matter.https://podground.io/____Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 723 - Should Podcast Plays Be Measured by Percentage - Measuring Attention, Not Just PlaysWhat does a podcast play actually mean?In this episode, Dave takes a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in podcasting analytics: listener measurement. With platforms increasingly defining an intentional listen as just 30 seconds of playback, he challenges whether that standard truly reflects audience engagement, especially for creators producing longer-form content.Drawing on years of podcasting experience and thousands of published episodes, Dave explores the disconnect between a listener who samples a show for a few seconds and one who remains engaged throughout an entire conversation. He argues that while download and play counts have become the industry's default currency, they may be measuring access rather than attention.The discussion examines how current podcast metrics can create misleading comparisons between short-form and long-form content. A 30-second listen may represent significant engagement on a one-minute episode, but on a three-hour interview it barely scratches the surface of the conversation. This leads to a larger question about whether podcasting should move toward measuring engagement as a percentage of an episode consumed rather than a fixed amount of listening time.Dave considers how such a shift could transform podcast reporting, audience analysis, and advertising. Percentage-based measurement could place greater emphasis on retention, meaningful listening, and genuine audience connection. It could also provide creators and advertisers with a clearer understanding of how listeners actually consume content rather than simply tracking episode starts.At the same time, he acknowledges the challenges of such a model. Podcast listening habits are unique. Listeners pause episodes, consume content over multiple sessions, and often skip to the sections most relevant to them. Any new measurement system would need to account for those realities while still creating a more accurate picture of engagement.The conversation ultimately becomes less about analytics and more about the purpose of podcasting itself. Is success measured by how many people click play, or by how many stay for the conversation? Dave makes the case that attention, retention, and listener connection may be far more valuable metrics than a simple download count.The episode concludes with a reminder that audience feedback matters. Building a better podcast isn't just about tracking statistics. It's about understanding the people behind those numbers and creating content that keeps them coming back.Key TakeawayA podcast play and a podcast listener are not necessarily the same thing. While current industry standards focus on measuring starts, the future of podcast analytics may lie in measuring attention, engagement, and the percentage of an episode listeners choose to experience. The creators who focus on meaningful listener connection rather than vanity metrics may ultimately build the strongest audiences.https://podnews.net/update/spotify-amp-play____Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 721 - The Benefit of Guesting on Other Podcasts and Why Podcasters should be doing more of this on a regular basisAs podcasters we follow what others are doing in the space - why? because for the most part what others are doing works! One thing I don't hear as a common suggestion for podcasters revolves around having a guest host on your show - you as a host move over to the passenger seat allowing a fellow podcaster to drive your show. Some podcasters just want a week or two off from their show - what if a guest host step in and takes over your show to give you a break?Consider trying new things with your podcast - variety is a nice change for you as a host and for your listeners!This episode explores a powerful but often underused growth strategy in podcasting: becoming a guest on other shows and inviting others into yours in creative ways. Framed through a mix of encouragement and experimentation, the conversation highlights how guesting is not just about promotion, but about connection, collaboration, and content creation.Dave opens with an open invitation for listeners at any stage, from beginners to seasoned podcasters, to step into a guest co-host role on the show. This is positioned not as a traditional interview, but as a shared conversation where ideas are explored together. The goal is to create a space where voices are heard, experiences are shared, and listeners can learn from real journeys in real time.The episode revisits a past discussion that introduces a less common but highly creative concept: becoming a guest host on someone else’s podcast. Instead of simply being interviewed, you step in to lead the conversation, even interviewing the host on their own show. This role reversal can unlock fresh perspectives, uncover new insights, and provide audiences with something unexpected and engaging.Beyond creativity, there are practical benefits. Guest hosting or guesting can help solve one of the biggest challenges podcasters face: consistently generating content. Bringing in a guest host or appearing on other shows can fill content gaps, introduce new energy, and keep your podcast feed active without burnout. It also opens the door to audience sharing, collaboration, and deeper relationships within the podcasting community.A memorable story illustrates the unpredictability of podcasting, where a host temporarily leaves mid-recording, leaving the guest to take over. This moment reinforces the idea that flexibility and openness can lead to unique and compelling content opportunities.At its core, this episode is a call to shift from a competitive mindset to a collaborative one. Podcasting is presented as a space where creators can grow together, support one another, and build stronger communities by sharing audiences rather than guarding them.The conversation also emphasizes the importance of engagement, particularly listener retention. True success is not just measured by downloads, but by how long listeners stay, connect, and find value in each episode.Key takeaway: Guesting on podcasts, whether as a guest, co-host, or even a temporary host, is a powerful way to expand your reach, spark creativity, and build meaningful connections while keeping your content fresh and engaging.____Helping Podcasters Everyday! ⁠⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠⁠We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!⁠⁠https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 719 - Podcast Lessons from an Interview Podcast that Some Podcast Gurus Don't LikeThis episode challenges some of the most common “rules” in podcasting by showing what actually works in practice. Drawing from his author interview show Living the Next Chapter, Dave shares real-world strategies that go against popular guru advice but continue to deliver strong results.At the core of the episode is a simple idea: podcasting is not one-size-fits-all. Dave emphasizes that your show should reflect your goals, not someone else’s formula. On his interview podcast, he intentionally puts the guest’s name in the episode title, despite being told not to. For him, the show is about serving the guest and the listener, not building a personal brand funnel or selling products. This shift in focus allows the content to stay aligned with its purpose.He also leans into audio-first podcasting on YouTube, another approach often dismissed. By uploading episodes as audio with thumbnails and releasing them early on YouTube, he creates an “early access” experience for listeners while building engagement on a platform many overlook for audio content. The result is steady growth, strong watch time, and active audience interaction.Preparation is another standout theme. Dave conducts pre-interviews with every guest, helping them feel comfortable, shaping better conversations, and ensuring higher-quality episodes. This process also gives him insight into each guest’s communication style before recording, reducing surprises and improving the overall flow.Organization and consistency play a big role behind the scenes. From simple paper-based tracking systems to batching episodes months in advance, Dave shows that effective workflows do not need to be complicated or expensive to work well.He also shares a creative strategy for reviving older content by updating publish dates to bring past episodes back into visibility. Combined with curated playlists and niche-based digital magazines, he continues to extend the life and reach of his content in ways that feel intentional and audience-focused.Ultimately, this episode is a reminder to think independently, test your own ideas, and build a podcast that works for you and your listeners, not for a rulebook.Key takeaway: There is no single “right way” to podcast. Focus on what serves your audience, experiment ხშირად, and trust results over rigid advice.http://livingthenextchapter.com/https://canadianpodcaster.com/Tool I use to make manual videos from a YouTube Thumbnail and my audio MP3 file - One Image Music VideoFree web service to combine one image with one audio (MP3) file to make a MP4 video. Make a one picture image music video for Youtube. Create a video from one image and one MP3 file. Convert one MP3 to MP4 video with an image as background. Select the image and MP3 file, then click the "Upload" button. Can take some time depending on the file size.https://www.oneimagevideo.com/____Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 717 - How To Re-establish Your Podcast Routine - How To Get Your Podcast Back On Track - Practical Podcast TipsWhen you get off track with your podcast, focus on Rre-establishing your routine!Set a Realistic Recording Schedule: Instead of trying to return to your previous frequency, consider a more manageable schedule, such as biweekly or monthly episodes. This can reduce pressure and improve content quality.Batch Record Episodes: Dedicate specific days to record multiple episodes. This approach allows you to build a content library, making it easier to release episodes consistently even during busy periods.⁠This episode is a practical reset for podcasters who have drifted off course and want to find their rhythm again. Dave revisits a Daily Dave segment to deliver a timely reminder that losing momentum happens gradually. Missed recordings turn into weeks of silence, and before long, the connection with your audience starts to fade. The good news is that getting back on track does not require a complete overhaul, just a return to intentional habits.At the core of this episode is the idea of re-establishing a sustainable routine. Podcasting should fit into your life, not compete with it. Many creators burn out by chasing rigid schedules or unrealistic expectations, often influenced by outside voices claiming there is a “perfect” time or frequency. Dave challenges that thinking and encourages you to release episodes when it works for you, not when someone else says you should. Your audience will adjust because they value your content, not your timestamp.He also emphasizes the importance of setting a realistic recording schedule. If your previous cadence became overwhelming, scale it back. A biweekly or even monthly schedule is still meaningful progress. Shorter episodes can also reduce pressure while maintaining consistency. The goal is longevity, not perfection.Another key strategy shared is batch recording. Instead of creating one episode at a time under pressure, record multiple episodes in a single session when time allows. This builds a buffer, reduces stress, and protects you from last-minute disruptions like guest cancellations or busy weeks. Thinking ahead and creating content in advance gives you breathing room and helps you stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed.Beyond tactics, this episode is also a mindset shift. Podcasting should come from a place of enjoyment, not obligation. Listeners can sense the difference. Taking breaks, giving yourself grace, and reconnecting with why you started can reignite your energy and creativity.Dave also touches on audience connection, reminding creators to seek feedback when unsure about content direction. Engaging directly with listeners through comments or conversations can provide clarity and strengthen community.Key takeaway: The fastest way to get your podcast back on track is to simplify your approach. Build a realistic routine, create content in batches, and focus on showing up consistently in a way that works for your life, not against it.___⁠⁠⁠Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6

Episode 705 - MowPod Charts Provides a Forever-Free Tool for Tracking Your Podcast Rankings - Podcast For Free - Podcast Tips and ToolsmowPod Charts Launches as a Forever-Free Tool for Tracking Apple Podcasts RankingsmowPod, the largest podcast audience growth platform in the US, Canada, and UK, is excited to announce the launch of mowPod Charts, a forever-free tool that provides unparalleled insight into Apple Podcasts chart rankings. Designed to fill the gap left by the recent sunsetting of Chartable, mowPod Charts offers podcasters, networks, and agencies an easy, no-strings-attached solution to track current and historic placements without any cost or sign-up requirements.“We want podcasters to have full visibility into not only the performance of their own shows, but shows like theirs and those they admire and aspire to be like,” said Mike Wiston, CEO and Founder of mowPod. “This launch is an incredible first step toward that goal, and we’ve built this platform exactly the way we would use a chart tracking tool for our own podcasts. I can’t wait to hear the feedback from the industry — and this is only the beginning!”mowPod Charts offers a host of powerful features, including:Real-Time and Historic Rankings: View current and past placements on Apple Podcasts charts.Search, Favorite, and List Creation: Easily find podcasts, save them to favorites, and organize them into a custom list.Daily Email Notifications: Stay up to date on rank changes and new releases for any show.Category and Country Browsing: Discover rankings across multiple categories and regions.Visual Episode Release Integration: Track how chart positions correlate with episode release schedules.All of these benefits come with zero barriers — users can start tracking immediately without signing up or sharing personal information. mowPod also wants your feedback on features you’d like to see, so be sure to email their team at charts@mowpod.com with suggestions.Planned Future EnhancementsFollowing this launch, mowPod Charts will continue to innovate with planned features, all for free, such as:Spotify Chart TrackingCustomizable Report ExportsDetailed On-Page TipsTrend AnalysisWith these forthcoming capabilities, mowPod Charts is positioning itself as the premier no-cost resource for podcasters and marketers looking to gain deeper insights into their podcast performance.To see where your podcast stacks up or to explore the platform’s full functionality, visit:charts.mowpod.commowPod is the largest podcast audience growth platform in the US, Canada, and UK, dedicated to empowering podcasters, networks, and agencies to reach new listeners and maximize their show’s reach and potential. In this archived episode of The How to Podcast Series, Dave highlights the value of free tools for podcasters and makes the case that “free” is not a weakness, but a strength that helps keep podcasting open and accessible to everyone. The conversation centers on Mowpod Charts, a forever-free tool designed to help creators track Apple Podcast chart rankings without sign-up requirements or hidden costs. Dave explains why tools like this matter, especially for independent podcasters who need better visibility into their performance without adding to their expenses.This episode carries a larger message about podcast growth, and community. Dave encourages creators to use more than one source of data before making decisions about their show and reminds them that podcasting should be accessible to new voices, not limited by money or gatekeeping. His takeaway is clear: podcasters should embrace helpful free resources, stay informed about their performance, and use that knowledge to build with confidence.https://charts.mowpod.com/https://podnews.net/press-release/mowpod-chartshttps://podcastforfree.com/___Helping Podcasters Everyday! https://howtopodcast.ca/We would love to hear from you - here is our listener survey!https://forms.gle/GbrFv9DGszV8N4PW6