Podcasting Morning Chat

What do you do when the first piece of negative feedback hits you right in the feels? Today’s episode dives into the emotional sting of criticism — especially for podcasters — and how to process it without derailing your confidence. We dig into real-life stories, practical mindset shifts, and the power of “Let Them Theory” to help you build resilience and stay focused on your podcasting purpose.

Plus, we wrap the week with some wins from our community...

Episode Highlights:

[02:51] Exploring the Emotional Impact of Negative Feedback

[16:07] Strategies for Handling Criticism Constructively

[28:50] Reframing Thoughts and Controlling Emotional Reactions

[41:18] Practical Tips for Dealing with Negative Commentary

[49:45] Weekly Wins and Personal Achievements

[52:55] Closing Remarks and Conference Announcement

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The Podcasting Morning Chat: 

Today, I kick things off with an underrated listener growth strategy that came from a simple Facebook Groups thread. From there, we get into a lively conversation about podcast promotion, engagement tactics, and why small steps can lead to big community wins.

We also touch on a spike in female podcast listenership, the latest AI-generated image trend (and how to create your own) Nick Nalbach is trying to start, and a midweek meltdown from Spotify (and Zoom) that had creators and listeners scratching their heads. Plus, an important update on music takedowns — and what’s actually changing inside Spotify’s enforcement process.

Episode Highlights: 

[03:52] Growth Hack Strategy and Community Building

[10:00] Adding Value Inside Podcasting Communities

[20:30] Nick Nalbach’s AI-Generated Action Figures & Retro Twist

[31:42] Spotify and Zoom Outages — What Happened?

[31:56] Women’s Audio Report: Listenership & Engagement Insights

[37:13] Spotify’s Updated Music Policy for Podcasters

[48:29] Podcast Advertising Ideas: Overcast, Podcorn & More

[48:47] Final Thoughts + What’s Coming Up Next

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In this News & Comment episode, we kick things off with the latest chart data (hello again, Mel Robbins 👀), then unpack what’s fueling the continued rise of true crime shows and why certain podcast genres dominate the charts but not the conversation. Plus, we hear firsthand from cohost, Dominic Lawson about what it’s really like to be nominated for a major award — and not take it home.

Also on deck: the rise of book-style audio content and why not all “read aloud” shows are eligible for monetization. Spoiler: some platforms want more than just your voice reading public domain texts. And speaking of platforms, we dive into advertising — from banner ads to animated video experiments to what we’d all do with $500 in podcast promo cash.

Episode Highlights: 

[02:50] Chart Toppers & the Mel Robbins Takeover

[06:29] Why Her Podcast Resonates—and What We Can Learn

[13:27] Genre Deep Dive: True Crime’s Long Reign

[16:49] Virtual Podcast Stores? A Discovery Idea We Loved

[20:24] Dominic Lawson on the Ambies & Launching Something New

[25:36] Awards Watch: What’s Open for Submissions Now

[27:28] PMC’s New Ad Campaign (and Lessons from It)

[40:23] Upcoming Events: In-Person & Online

[41:02] Audiobook Podcasts: Legal Loopholes & Monetization Limits

[44:00] TikTok Reading Trends & a Surprise Influencer Reveal

[47:33] Let’s Share Your Show! Community Threads & Support

[48:29] If You Had $500… Where Would You Spend It on Promotion?

[52:01] Shameless Plug: Meta Ads, SEO, and Making It Work for You

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Is audio podcasting still holding its ground, or just hanging on?

This episode kicks off with a simple but loaded question: What’s audio’s superpower that video can’t replicate? The answers? Let’s just say… they weren’t all in agreement.

Some called audio intimate. Others said it’s limiting. A few argued it’s not about the medium at all—it’s about the story. And then things got really interesting.

We dive into whether audio-only content is still essential in today’s podcasting landscape or if video is becoming the new default. Are creators being pushed toward video because it works, or because platforms want it to? And more importantly, what do audiences actually prefer?

Episode Highlights: 

[04:15] Why We’re Still Talking About Video Podcasting

[09:39] The Big Push: Who Really Benefits from Video Podcasting?

[11:45] The Icebreaker: What’s Audio’s Superpower?

[16:55] Is Storytelling the Real Superpower?

[30:23] When Listeners Prefer Audio—Even with Video Available

[37:45] Audio Craftsmanship: From Sound Design to “Theater of the Mind”

[53:04] Does Visualization Ability Shape Audio Preferences?

[57:40] Final Thoughts: Why Audio Might Still Be Irreplaceable

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How do you define a podcast in 2025? Is it audio only? Do video podcasts count? If the content holds up with your eyes closed, is that a podcast? These are some of the questions we pose as we break down the mini-series, “What’s A Podcast.” We share our thoughts on its immersive storytelling, stylistic choices, and the hot takes shared by the PMC team and community.  Is podcasting still about independent voices, or is it destined to be shaped by corporate giants and their algorithms? We're weighing all sides, and we're still asking ourselves: Can we truly define this constantly evolving medium?

Episode Highlights: 

[06:30] Discussion on the New Podcast Mini-Series

[07:44] Defining What a Podcast Is

[16:00] Challenges and Biases in Podcasting

[24:36] Listener Reactions and Final Thoughts

[33:01] Defining a Podcast: The Iterative Cycle

[34:10] Simulcast vs. Podcast: A Debate

[35:37] Listener Reactions and Critiques

[37:13] Distribution and Monetization Challenges

[39:06] The Role of Independent Podcasters

[41:45] Corporate Influence and Podcast Definitions

[46:14] Content and Algorithms

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The Podcasting Morning Chat: