Podcasting Morning Chat

It’s Friday the 13th, so we’re talking about the scary stuff… the habits that quietly drain the life out of a podcast. Not the obvious mistakes. The subtle ones. Today, we’re reflecting on what can slowly stall your growth. We explore the lack of clarity, poor consistency, and the small choices that add up over time.  We share about the practical shifts we’ve made that make a real difference, and remind you that growth rarely comes from perfection. It comes from intention. We also talk about ways to avoid burnout, and giving yourself permission to adjust when life happens. To close out the week, we celebrate wins from our community. Big and small. Because progress deserves to be recognized and cheered on. Episode Highlights: Episode Highlights: [02:40] What’s quietly killing your podcast? [06:02] The importance of planning ahead [10:56] Managing expectations realistically [16:44] Balancing passion with practicality [26:29] The reality of podcasting success [33:42] Promoting yourself effectively [34:07] Mailbag segment with Sid [34:41] Podcast recording challenges [35:47] Exploring video recording alternatives [42:49] Wins and celebrationsLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Book A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerSongs & Poems From A Hat Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bs6S5WMHPRemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

Can a podcast be strong and still have room to grow? We’re breaking down a recent episode of indie podcast, Movies in a Nutshell , and exploring what happens when a show gets most things right. Believe us, this episode leaves plenty to study. We unpack what worked, including their approach to segment structure and intentional ways to speak to both new and returning listeners. We also look at areas where a little polish could elevate the experience even more. Because the gap between good and great is often smaller than you think...Episode Highlights: [01:56] Podcast evaluation begins[02:51] First clip and podcast intro review[08:05] Explaining plosives and practical audio techniques[12:06] Intentional small talk and nostalgia[19:58] Referencing past episodes[26:44] Creating segments that engage an audience[29:32] Nostalgia and cultural context[31:51] Podcast structure and segment flow[33:55] Balancing new and returning audiences[41:42] Episode titles and SEO considerationsLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Book A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerMovies in a Nutshell: https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularityRemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

YouTube says it’s cracking down on AI slop in 2026. At the same time, it’s rolling out more AI tools for creators. So which is it? Today, we share more of YouTube's upcoming shakeups, including tighter standards around low-quality AI content and monetization shifts that could reshape how podcasters get discovered and paid. Is this a clean-up… or a quiet pivot? Since it’s news day, we’re also bringing you the latest headlines across the podcasting space. Rumble is pushing short-form video, and Bill Simmons is questioning YouTube’s long-term strategy. And a new hosting platform is betting big on paywalls over downloads. If you want to stay ahead of platform shifts instead of reacting to them, this episode will get you thinking.Episode Highlights: [02:47] Vanderbilt University speaking engagement[05:27] Preview of an upcoming podcast evaluation[07:56] Podcast data and industry trends[08:57] Top podcasts on Spotify and Apple[10:27] Events and conferences[12:03] Content creator business tips[20:10] Hulu enters the podcast licensing race[27:52] New podcast trends and AI content removal[29:12] Debate on YouTube’s viability for podcasts[39:30] YouTube’s 2026 overhaul and built-in AI tools[45:16] True Fans and the paywall-first hosting modelLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Book A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerUpcoming Evaluation Movies in a Nutshell: https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularityPodnews:www.podnews.netMeetup & Match Up Virtual Event Use Code PMC for Free Admission:  https://luma.com/pdeventsEmpowered Podcasting Conference: http://empoweredpodcasting.comBig YouTube Shakeups: https://digiday.com/media/the-rundown-what-youtube-creators-should-expect-to-change-in-2026Previous Episode Discussing Substack: www.podpage.com/pmc/354-how-to-get-more-from-spotify-for-creators-with-chris-stoneHow to Monetize Your Content on Facebook: www.facebook.com/business/help/1049081556813520Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

Many podcasters hit a moment where they start asking themselves, Should I be publishing more often? Today’s episode kicks off with a mailbag question from co-host Jonathan Howard that opens up an honest conversation about episode release frequency and the pressure to do more. From there, we dig into why more episodes do not automatically lead to more growth and how increasing your cadence without intention can quietly lead to burnout. The panel shares guiding principles around consistency, listener trust, sustainability, systems, and personal capacity without pushing a one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, we focus on helping you think clearly about what makes sense for your show. Regardless of whether you are new to podcasting or an experienced host feeling the weight of doing more, this episode offers reassurance and perspective so you can make smarter decisions about your release schedule and actually stick with them.Episode Highlights: [04:35] Breaking news on Alex Sanfilippo’s Facebook ban[06:40] Discussion on platform ownership and control[17:17] Mailbag Q&A on show release frequency[26:38] Sid’s experience with weekly publishing[35:22] Examining systems and sustainability[38:19] Annual peaks and valleys in podcast listenership[44:04] Planning content around audience emotionsLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Book A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallAlex Sanfilippo’s Facebook Account Banned by Meta: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7426653266471469056Podcasting Peaks and Valleys Question: www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/1r06ukg/what_are_the_annual_peaks_and_valleys_for_podcastJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerUpcoming Evaluation Movies in a Nutshell: https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularityRemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

Great podcasts don’t just share information. They guide listeners through an experience. In this installment of our Obsession Worthy Podcasts, co-host Jonathan Howard guides us on a close look at Hyperfixed to understand why some narrative shows are so easy to fall into and so hard to forget. Using this show as a case study, we explore how strong storytelling choices shape attention and keep listeners engaged from start to finish. We unpack what makes Hyperfixed obsession-worthy and how its design choices can spark new ideas for your show. This is for anyone who wants to tell better stories and experiment with structure, and our conversation might send you back to your own podcast with inspiration on how you can tell better stories. Episode Highlights: [01:46] Overview of the Hyper Fixed podcast[05:06] Discussion on narrative podcast storytelling[13:22] Building tension and emotional connection[17:51] The role of AI in storytelling[22:03] Curiosity loops and pacing[26:03] Initial takeaways and reflections[28:10] The role of the host in podcast success[28:39] Building curiosity and emotional engagement[32:37] Crafting intentional and impactful content[41:54] Super Bowl commercials discussionLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Hyperfixed:www.hyperfixedpod.com/listen/hyperfixed/two-birds-one-hundred-stonesApplication To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerBook A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallUpcoming Evaluation Movies in a Nutshell: https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularityRemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠