Big Podcast Playbook - Marketing for Podcasters (A Podcast on Podcasting)

Can paying for podcast awards actually help you grow your audience, or is your money better spent elsewhere? Why most trophies aren't worth chasing in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ...

Big Ideas in This Episode

• The ugly truth behind paid podcast awards
• Trophy chasing: envy fuels empty victories
• Sponsors don't care about your shiny award
• Award-winning? Listeners don't care
• Judge panels: old, out of touch, easily bought
• Why $300 is better spent on gear, not glory
• Make your podcast irresistible

Why You Should Listen

• Why "award-winning" bragging rights could mean less than you think ... and what actually makes sponsors drool
• The dirty little secret behind paid podcast awards (and why the winners aren't always the best)
• How to game the system for credibility ... or why most "award panels" secretly don't care about you
• The golden rule for getting listeners that no trophy can ever unlock
• Tired of hustling for sponsors? Discover what they truly lust after (and it's not a shiny medal)
• The quickest way to get more respect in podcasting without swiping your credit card
• Why "celebrity panels" are a mirage ... and the jaw-dropping truth about who's really judging your podcast
• How envy fuels the award racket ... and how to stay immune to their sales pitches
• The hidden power move: Invest in your mic, not a meaningless certificate
• What top podcasters do instead of chasing awards (and how you can steal their strategy)
• Why throwing cash at awards is perfect for the lazy podcaster (but deadly for the ambitious one)
• Could a $100 microphone bring you more listeners than $1000 worth of "award entries"?
• The seductive myth of credibility ... and how to seize real control of your reputation
• How insider clubs (and "peer voting") at the Grammys reveal the truth about podcast awards
• Stop lusting after trophies ... grab hold of tactics that spike your audience and make rivals beg for your secrets

Episode Timestamps

• [00:00:28] Why most podcast awards are actually a "pay to play" business (and how much podcasters are really spending for a shot at a trophy)
• [00:02:38] The seductive dream of credibility and sponsors: What podcasters think trophies unlock (and the reality behind it)
• [00:03:35] How anyone can make up an award (including you!), and why most listeners don't care about your shiny medal
• [00:05:53] The hard truth: Listeners and sponsors don't care about your awards (they care about something else entirely)
• [00:06:44] The sub-sub-category bestseller scam: How you can "win" without really winning—and why it doesn't matter
• [00:07:33] The secret reason truly successful podcasters don't even submit for awards (and what they're doing instead)
• [00:09:30] The real question: Do you want your work judged by a random panel ... or do you want your listeners to decide your worth?

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Turning casual listeners into loyal podcast fans and building true community, plus how shorter episodes, punchy hooks, and connecting with your audience can grow your show in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ...

Big Ideas in This Episode

• Hook listeners with stolen cowboy boots mystery
• Shorter episodes: save time, boost completion envy
• Secrets to building real podcast community revealed
• Tease your best stories ... ignite listener curiosity
• Audiograms that actually convert: the three-bullet fix
• Turn guests into trusted insiders, gain listener loyalty
• Are you the host no one likes? Brutal truth exposed

Why You Should Listen

• The sneaky shortcut for turning one-time listeners into raving, loyal fans (even if they're complete strangers now)
• Why 35% podcast completion rates can be a secret goldmine ... and how to double them without spending a dime
• The forbidden "cold open" trick that hooks listeners in seconds — even those with zero attention span
• How to tap into envy and make every founder desperate to appear on your show
• The lazy podcaster's hack for building a vibrant community (without endless social media posts or wasted DM replies)
• Are you making the deadly mistake that chases new listeners away before they finish episode one?
• The "commuter psychology" secret: how to hijack drive-time and steal market share from mega-shows like Joe Rogan
• The single question that transforms a boring interview into must-listen drama ... and no guest can resist answering it
• Why posting more audiograms and quote cards might actually be killing your repeat listens (and the devilishly simple fix)
• How to wield LinkedIn and Instagram to trigger listeners' lust for status ... and make them brag about your show to their entire network
• The glutton's guide to packing episodes with the right amount of irresistible hooks (plus what happens when you add just one more)
• How to use the power of "insider secrets" to make listeners greedily consume every episode (and skip your competitors' shows)
• One spoken line that makes guests and listeners feel instantly connected, admired … and totally under your control
• The dark psychology behind why founders won't admit they're lost ... and how your show can become their safe haven
• The little-known way to wield power in any niche community (use this and people will chase you for interviews, not the other way around!)

Episode Timestamps

• [01:24] The silent struggle: Why your interview podcast might feel like "talking to strangers" instead of building real community
• [02:27] Are your episodes losing listeners because they're too long? The commuter's secret podcast formula revealed
• [03:39] Why a podcast's 35–40% completion rate could be a sign you're doing better than YouTube or blogging—don't miss this hidden strength!
• [04:43] The political campaign trick that breaks through the noise ... and how podcasters can steal it
• [05:12] The stolen truck full of cowboy boots: How building suspense hooks listeners (and how you can use this radio technique in your own podcast)
• [08:11] The "three-bullet ad" trick: Teasing irresistible content in your audiograms and why this gets listeners to click
• [12:00] The credibility gap: Why early-stage founders won't open up (and why building trust is the secret weapon for podcasters who want big guests and loyal fans)

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Cutting through overwhelming noise, building real connections, and using grassroots strategies to grow your podcast, plus the surprising lessons learned from a local political campaign, in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ...

Big Ideas in This Episode

• Grassroots hustle beats big-budget political noise
• Viral fame fades, relationships anchor true power
• Forget algorithms ... "door-knocking" builds real loyalty
• Annoying or helpful? Your marketing's razor's edge
• Neighborhood influence trumps paid ads, every time
• Listeners lust for connection, not more email
• Envy the "hidden giants" winning offline

Why You Should Listen

• How political campaigns in your backyard can unlock secret podcast marketing tricks (no politics required!)
• The cunning ways local candidates are cutting through relentless noise ... and how you can steal their playbook for your podcast
• Why overwhelming your audience with more "content" could be killing your downloads (and the anti-noise shortcut that seduces listeners)
• Ever been added to an email list you never signed up for? Use this psychological switch to make listeners beg for your updates instead
• What makes relentless door-knocking insanely effective ... get ready to make your audience lust after your show
• The forbidden mistake: Why most marketers (and podcasters) become the enemy by ignoring this two-word strategy
• How becoming "helpful" (instead of "annoying") can instantly boost your listening rates and win rabid fans
• Discover the envy-inducing story of the dark horse candidate who mobilized an army ... using zero advertising dollars!
• The seduction of live events ... why toe-to-toe connections crush viral videos and social media hacks, every single time
• Sneaky ways to leverage word-of-mouth, harness laziness, and let others do your marketing for you
• Want listeners who never jump ship? Use this "community glue" secret no social network algorithm can touch
• The glutton's path: How consuming more content leads to chaos ... and how saying less gets you heard
• How to wield power and control over your niche by showing up where your listeners already worship
• Dominate local meetups, crush online webinars, and invade secret events for unfair audience growth
• Why even mega-podcasters with "bajillion downloads" envy grassroots hustlers who grind out unstoppable loyal fanbases

Episode Timestamps

• [00:02:56] The secret of surviving overwhelming noise: why most podcast ads are just clutter—and what you can do about it right now
• [00:05:42] The cringe story of how a political candidate put me on her mailing list without permission ... and why it's a marketing mistake you must avoid
• [00:06:42] The truck stop fire rescue: when "annoying" becomes "helpful" ... a must-hear lesson for marketers on grabbing attention for the right reasons
• [00:08:31] Why viral videos won't build your real audience (and what Nashville's "Hoktua girl" can teach you about lasting impact)
• [00:10:33] The grassroots army that knocked on 1,000 doors in my neighborhood ... how a "long shot" candidate flipped the script in a deeply red district
• [00:12:23] How to activate a network effect: turning one-on-one connections into contagious enthusiasm for your podcast
• [00:13:32] The radical truth: stepping off social media for a few days will show you what real relationships look like ... here's why offline connection wins every time

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Audacity 4 is here (sort of), and David takes you inside the alpha version, sharing why it's a game-changer for podcasters and how you can help shape its future in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ...

Big Ideas in This Episode

• Audacity 4: the free DAW pros will envy
• Upgrade your workflow, unlock hidden podcast power
• Take control, shape your tools
• Sound like a pro ... minimal gear, maximum impact
• Get inside: break, report, and shape
• Podcasters influencing software ... how your wish becomes reality

Why You Should Listen

• How switching your podcast workflow can shatter your creative rut — steal this music industry trick
• The "spaghetti code" curse that's killing software
• How Audacity 4's destructive-free editing lets you reverse mistakes… even 50 steps later
• Sound professional with hardware under $200
• My plugin arsenal that can transform even dull recordings into something that sounds great
• What the alpha release of Audacity 4 really means for early adopters
• How to get on the ground floor of Audacity 4's development — and quietly shape a tool used by thousands
• How you, even as a hobbyist, can gain power over the podcasting world by having your voice heard
• The lazy podcaster's hack: let passionate coders build the perfect DAW for you — all you do is ask
• How to infiltrate top podcast workflows and steal their best features (this will make your own show unstoppable)
• The irresistible allure of open source

Episode Timestamps

• [01:17] The songwriter's trick for instantly transforming your podcast workflow and defeating creative ruts
• [02:27] Is Audacity just for amateurs? The real story behind its reputation (and what's about to change)
• [03:47] Why Audacity 4 is finally a "real" DAW: the inside scoop on the dramatic rewrite and what it unlocks
• [04:25] How RX 11 plugins and $150 of gear can deliver studio-level audio—proof inside
• [06:10] The unusual opportunity podcasters have right now to shape Audacity's future—before anyone else
• [08:19] Why seasoned podcasters are "flipping out" about Audacity 4 ... and what you'll miss if you ignore the buzz

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What really makes a podcast guest great (and why it's not just about filling out forms, sharing tips, or being a great speaker) in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ...

Big Ideas in This Episode

• Your story's impact: would your audience miss you?
• Does vulnerability really trump selling in interviews?
• The secrets behind unforgettable guest energy
• Famous guests: does likability even matter?
• Reinvent your story? Or bore with "greatest hits"?
• The red light effect: overcoming instant stage fright
• Celebrity interviews: don't expect a glowing review

Why You Should Listen

• The dirty little secret to landing podcast interviews (even if you're a total nobody) by mastering just three words
• How to hypnotize even the most famous guest into working as hard as YOU to make your show shine
• Why being "vulnerable" and "authentic" might be the most overrated advice in podcasting (and what REALLY moves listeners to action)
• The effortless way to make celebrities beg to be on your podcast (hint: no forms, no groveling, no nonsense)
• The only question you must ask before ever releasing a guest episode (miss this and risk sabotaging your entire show)
• How to sniff out guests who are only there to sell (and what to do if the "product over people" formula just might serve you)
• The "energy-hacker" move that gets slouchy, tired, reluctant guests buzzing with secrets they've never revealed anywhere else
• Why you should never, ever expect (or care) if your guest shares your episode ... and what to demand instead
• The shocking truth about "trusted podcast networks" (and why trying to make friends with your guests could be killing your power)
• Stories vs. Perfection: The twisted reason your listeners lust for messy, memorable anecdotes (and how to get guests to spill them all)
• The evil genius way to make even jaded "greatest hits" guests unleash fresh, envy-inducing stories that light your audience on fire
• "Red Light Syndrome" exposed—how to shatter a guest's crippling stage fright and turn nervous wrecks into captivating interview gold
• How to banish boring "transparent and authentic" interviews forever by invoking ancient gluttony for dramatic tales, confessions, and regrets
• The little-known trick to controlling any interview ... even when sleazy PR reps and bored celebrities try to turn your show into a snooze-fest
• Why focusing on one listener (not thousands) gives you an unfair, almost greedy hold over your audience's loyalty, pocketbook, and mind

Episode Timestamps

• [00:01:41] The one email test: How a guest's vulnerability and authenticity decide "Yes" or "Pass" for interviews
• [00:03:02] The homeless man's untold story: Why every person on the street could be your podcast's most unforgettable guest
• [00:06:01] Mic legends and faceless reps: Should you ever choose the product over the person when booking guests?
• [00:08:17] "Tin can and a string" — Why Dolly Parton never had to fill out a guest form (and why the rules change for superstars)
• [00:10:22] A secret guest-hacking trick: The backstage moment that gets rock stars excited in interviews
• [00:16:23] The Dennis DeYoung debacle: Why "playing Broadway tunes for a Styx crowd" is a podcasting mistake you must avoid
• [00:19:33] The "red light syndrome": How guests transform when the record button is hit (and what hosts must do to get the real story)

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