Podcast Bestie, the Podcast

Hi Besties! For episode four of season two, I’m joined by Danielle Bezalel (aka DB), sex educator and host of Sex Ed with DB who has generated over half a million dollars in sponsorship revenue (!!!) despite averaging a modest 1,200 downloads per episode. Yes, you freaking read that right! And the best part? She’s done it as an indie podcaster, without relying on a big network or ad agency to bring in the big bucks. I hope y’all find this as inspiring as I do. In this episode, Danielle breaks down exactly how she turned her niche podcast into a six-figure business, starting with the $5K sponsorship deal she landed when she was getting just 50 downloads per episode (WHUT?!). We get into why traditional CPM-based advertising sells indie podcasters short, how she creates irresistible sponsorship packages that go way beyond regular podcast ads, and why long-term brand partnerships have been the secret sauce to her success. Danielle also shares her approach to pitching brands (spoiler: you’re probably not sending anywhere close to enough emails), how she negotiates without leaving money on the table, and why every podcaster who wants to make more money needs to put on their metaphorical “sales fedora.” Plus, we talk about how her podcast has opened doors to other opportunities, including an IRB-approved masturbation study with 1,000 participants—this story got my wheels turning about the possibilities with my own shows. If you’ve been telling yourself your podcast is too small to attract sponsors, Danielle is here to blow the top off that limiting belief—and give you a practical roadmap for getting paid. * Follow Danielle @djbezalel and Sex Ed with DB @sexedwithdbpodcast on Instagram. * Listen to Danielle’s podcast, Sex Ed with DB. * Check out Danielle’s podcast monetization course at Monetize Your Indie Pod. * Stay tuned for the bonus segment next Friday—Danielle’s juiciest podcasting advice and more, exclusively for paid subscribers. Upgrade here. If you missed the last episode, check out So You Want to Sign With a Podcast Network? with Locatora Radio. Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://www.podcastbestie.com/welcome Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio. Follow me @courtneykocak on Instagram. My debut memoir, Girl Gone Wild, is available now from Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes & Noble. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com. 💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates. So… ROLL CALL! 🗣 Have you landed a podcast sponsor yet, or are you still waiting for a magical amount of downloads before you start pitching? Sound off in the comments! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.podcastbestie.com/subscribe

Hey Besties! For episode three of season two, I’m joined by Diosa Femme and Mala Muñoz, the co-hosts and co-founders of Locatora Radio, a podcast they started as an indie passion project in 2016 and eventually grew into a full-fledged production company and a deal with iHeartRadio’s My Cultura Podcast Network. And this one is a juicy peek behind the scenes because, while signing with a major network helped Diosa and Mala turn podcasting into their full-time careers (hell yes!), they also learned that landing your dream podcast deal doesn’t necessarily solve all your problems. In this episode, Diosa and Mala take us all the way back to recording with a $30 mic in a borrowed space and explain how community building, a distinct point of view, and a strong visual identity helped Locatora attract listeners, speaking gigs, and major press—all before they ever had a network behind them. Then we get into what changed once they signed with iHeart: a production budget, a team, better resources… and a few things that weren’t quite as expected. We also talk about the less glamorous side of network deals, including losing control over which brands appear on your show, exclusivity clauses, protecting your IP, negotiating renewals, and the very real question of what happens if your network relationship ends. Plus, Diosa and Mala share the questions they wish more indie podcasters knew to ask before signing on the dotted line—and why they now think of their network as a client rather than a home. If signing with a podcast network is one of your dream milestones, this episode will help you think beyond the shiny announcement and figure out what you actually want that deal to do for you. * Follow Locatora Radio @locatora_radio on Instagram. * Listen to Locatora Radio. * Stay tuned for the bonus segment next Friday—Diosa and Mala’s juiciest podcasting tips and more, exclusively for paid subscribers. Upgrade here. If you missed the last episode, check out Ashley Hamer Pritchard’s Low-Lift Strategy for 10x-ing Her Podcast Audience on YouTube. Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://www.podcastbestie.com/welcome Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio. Follow me @courtneykocak on Instagram. My debut memoir, Girl Gone Wild, is available now from Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes & Noble. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com. 💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates. So… ROLL CALL! 🗣 Would you sign with a podcast network if the opportunity came along—or are you committed to staying indie? And if you’ve worked with a network before, spill the tea: what did you love, and what do you wish you’d known before signing? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.podcastbestie.com/subscribe

Hey Besties! For episode two of season two, I’m joined by Taboo Science host Ashley Hamer Pritchard, an indie podcaster who went from basically ignoring YouTube to building a burgeoning monetized channel with over 15K subscribers. And the best part? She started without a fancy studio, a ton of gear, or a complicated video production workload. In this episode, Ashley breaks down exactly how she made the leap from audio to video—and how her first low-lift experiment helped 10x her audience from 400 to 4,000! We get into her surprisingly simple production workflow, why titles and thumbnails were the real unlock for growth, what she’s learned from YouTube analytics, and how those game-changing insights have actually altered how she edits the audio version of her podcast, too. Ashley also shares how she gradually leveled up her video production, why she prioritizes long-form over Shorts, how much she made when she crossed the YouTube monetization threshold, and the highest-leverage thing podcasters can do on YouTube—even if they’re not ready to embrace video yet. If you’ve been sitting on the YouTube fence for your podcast because it feels expensive, intimidating, or like way too much work, this episode might finally convince you to give it a shot. * Follow Ashley @smashleyhamer on Instagram. * Listen to Ashley’s podcast Taboo Science. * Watch Ashley’s podcast Taboo Science on YouTube. * Stay tuned for the bonus segment next Friday—Ashley’s juiciest podcasting tip and more, exclusively for paid subscribers. Upgrade here. If you missed the last episode, check out How Carole Zimmer Books A-List Celebrity Guests Like Jane Fonda & Ethan Hawke. Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://www.podcastbestie.com/welcome Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio. Follow me @courtneykocak on Instagram. My debut memoir, Girl Gone Wild, is available now from Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes & Noble. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com. A big thanks to our BFFs for sponsoring this episode: * SHOOT YOUR SHOT CHALLENGE from friend of the podcast, Chelsea Riffe August 25th–27th (plus VIP call August 28th). Life bends for people who ask. 3 days to find your angle, craft a pitch that lands, and hit send! VIP gets an extra day of feedback + hype. Noon–1:30pm EST daily. Ready to shoot your shot?! 💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates. So… ROLL CALL! 🗣 What’s your current relationship status with YouTube—committed, casually dating, or ghosting it entirely? If you’ve got any tips, share ‘em in the comments! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.podcastbestie.com/subscribe

Hey Besties! For the first episode of season two, I’m joined by veteran journalist and Now What? host Carole Zimmer, whose guest list includes Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Ethan Hawke, Joe and Jill Biden, Gabriel Byrne, Norman Lear, and dozens of other fascinating, world-famous people. In this episode, Carole pulls back the curtain on how she consistently lands high-profile guests as an indie podcaster. We get into her outreach strategy, how she leverages publisher relationships, what she puts in her pitch emails, and her rejection batting average. Carole also shares her interview philosophy, research process, and how she prepares conversations that uncover stories listeners haven’t heard before. Whether you’re dreaming of booking bigger guests or trying to become a stronger interviewer, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using today. * Follow Carole @carolezimmer on Instagram. * Listen to Carole’s podcast Now What? * Stay tuned for the bonus segment next Friday—Carole's juiciest podcasting tip and more, exclusively for paid subscribers. Upgrade here. Please take a second to vote for my proposed Podcast Movement sessions below. If they get picked, I promise to bring all the big lessons back to the Besties, as always. » Substack as a Podcaster’s Swiss Army Knife: Build Your Email List, Grow Your Show & Revenue » The Indie Podcasting Playbook: Growing a Great Show on Your Own Terms If you missed the last episode, check out From Podcast to Page: Cara McGoogan on Turning Bed of Lies Into Blood Farm. Sign up for the Podcast Bestie newsletter here: https://www.podcastbestie.com/welcome Thanks to Michael Castañeda for mixing and mastering this episode. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @plasticaudio. Follow me @courtneykocak on Instagram. My debut memoir, Girl Gone Wild, is available now from Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes & Noble. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com. 💸 Wanna advertise on Podcast Bestie? Visit podcastbestie.com/advertise for info about offerings and rates. So… ROLL CALL! 🗣 Who's the biggest guest you've landed so far? And who's your dream guest? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.podcastbestie.com/subscribe

Hey Besties! I’m so excited to announce that Podcast Bestie is officially back for Season 2, and this season has one mission: deconstructing the major milestones that change the trajectory of a show. I’m sitting down with creators who’ve reached milestones most of us aspire to—booking A-list guests, hitting 10K+ downloads per episode, landing major sponsors, going full-time, signing with a network, creating viral clips, building thriving membership communities, growing massive YouTube audiences, monetizing their channels, turning podcasts into books, TV shows, and more—and they’re taking us behind the scenes to share how they got there. We’re talking real numbers, actionable strategies, unexpected mistakes, mindset shifts, revenue, workflows, tradeoffs, and the lessons that only come from actually doing the work. Season 2 is packed with practical advice you can put to work immediately. I hope these conversations help you reach your next milestone a little faster. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, subscribe to the Podcast Bestie newsletter on Substack, and get ready for a season of honest, inspiring conversations about what it really takes to build a successful podcast. Let’s do this. XO,Courtney P.S. My So You Want to Start a Podcast? seminar via WritingWorkshops.com is this Sunday! Whether you're starting from scratch or trying to uplevel your process and promotion, I'll walk you through everything you need to create, launch, and grow a successful podcast. You'll also learn how to test the waters on Substack before making a bigger commitment. If you've been podcast-curious, I'd love to see you there! Learn more and register here. Also, vote for my proposed Podcast Movement sessions here. If they get picked, I promise to bring all the big lessons back to the Besties, per usual. So… ROLL CALL! 🗣 What podcasting milestones do you want deconstructed? Any podcasters you'd love to hear from in Season 2? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.podcastbestie.com/subscribe