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

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 [email protected]

Here is a quick taste of what you can expect from next week's episode with Dan Misener, co-founder of Bumper. This is what you can expect to hear in our conversation with Dan: Why “average lifetime value” and loyalty are often more useful than raw download numbers How he thinks about new vs returning listeners, and the danger of fixing the wrong problem What happens when you publish more episodes in response to declining downloads, and why that can quietly hurt your show The “worst butcher shop in the world” and what it reveals about how we buy and sell podcast ads Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! 

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: [email protected] 💌 Questions, feedback, or just want to connect? Reach out at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.

Welcome back to Mics to Millions, the go-to show for health and wellness podcasters who want to grow and monetize their podcasts with strategy, not guesswork.   This season, we’re diving deeper than ever into what it truly takes to turn your podcast into a real business asset, one that drives revenue, authority, and opportunities far beyond the download numbers.   You’ll hear my own insights, experiments, and hard-earned lessons from my podcasting journey and client work.     Plus conversations with top health and wellness podcasters who are regularly bringing in half a million monthly downloads, have racked up 8 figure download numbers starting from scratch, and are making hundreds of thousands of dollars from sponsors.   Hit the subscribe and follow so you don’t miss out on the incredible stories and strategies from top podcast hosts and experts that can inspire your own work, including: How one host has used their podcast to bring in 60% of their client to their business Another who started small with sponsorship deals for his podcast, and now regularly closes six figure deals, along with an inside look at how he does this. And the head of an agency specializing in podcast ads and sponsorship sales who shares insider secrets that will show you how to make your podcast profitable.   And I'll be openning up about my mistakes, wins, and my best strategies from the past year, and I’ll let you know what I am doubling down on this year and what I’m leaving behind.   Be sure to follow now so you never miss out.   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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: [email protected] 💌 Questions, feedback, or just want to connect? Reach out at [email protected] 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: [email protected] 💌 Questions, feedback, or just want to connect? Reach out at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.