Monetize This! Where Podcasting Best Practices Come to Die

<p>What if your podcast… isn’t a strategy?</p><p>In this episode, I talk with Travis Rhoden, co-host of <em>Bestie Approved</em>—a show that breaks just about every “rule” in podcasting. No niche. No growth plan. No real monetization to speak of.</p><p>And yet—it works.</p><p>Not in the way the industry usually defines success. But in a way that’s a lot harder to measure: they actually enjoy making it.</p><p>We get into the reality behind podcast advice, the pressure to turn everything into a funnel, and what happens when you just decide not to play that game.</p><p>This isn’t a “how to grow your podcast” episode.It’s more like: what if you didn’t?</p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p>https://www.bestieapproved.com/</p><p><strong>Key takeaway:</strong>Your podcast doesn’t have to lead to something else.</p><p><strong>More from this conversation:</strong>There’s a lot more from Travis that didn’t make the main cut—extra rants, tangents, and behind-the-scenes chaos. Those will be dropping as bonus episodes, so keep an eye out.</p><p><strong>About the show:</strong><em>Monetize This!</em> is a podcast about podcasting—minus the guru playbook. No fluff, no funnels, no “10-step growth hacks.” Just real conversations about what this medium actually is… and what it isn’t.</p><p>If this episode resonated (or irritated you), share it with someone who’s overthinking their podcast.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">monetizethispodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>Podcasting advice usually follows a predictable script:</p><p>* Grow your audience.</p><p>* Monetize the audience.</p><p>* Sell a course teaching other people how to monetize their audience.</p><p>But today’s guest accidentally breaks that formula.</p><p><strong>Alex Sanfilippo</strong>, founder of PodMatch and host of <em>Podcasting Made Simple</em>, builds tools for podcasters, teaches podcasting, and works with thousands of hosts… yet he argues something that sounds almost heretical:</p><p><strong>Stop focusing on growing your audience.</strong></p><p>Instead, focus on the listeners you already have.</p><p>In this episode of <strong>Monetize This!</strong>, we dig into the strange economics and mythology of podcasting — from inflated rankings to fear-based platform advice — and why your listeners might be your best marketing team.</p><p>Along the way we talk about:</p><p>* The surprising origin story of PodMatch</p><p>* Why “Top 1% Podcast” probably doesn’t mean what you think</p><p>* The moment a YouTube executive predicted podcasts would become irrelevant</p><p>* Why niche podcasts outperform “shows about everything”</p><p>* The myth that every podcast needs social media</p><p>* The rise of obvious AI-generated podcast episodes</p><p>* Why <strong>100 listeners might be far more valuable than 100,000</strong></p><p>If you’ve ever felt like podcasting advice sounds suspiciously like internet marketing advice… this episode might be for you.</p><p>Links</p><p>• <a target="_blank" href="http://podmatch.com">PodMatch</a>• <a target="_blank" href="https://podmatch.com/episodes">Podcasting Made Simple</a></p><p>About <em>Monetize This!</em></p><p><strong>Monetize This!</strong> is the podcast that looks at podcasting advice with a skeptical eye.Because if every guru strategy worked, every podcast would already be rich.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">monetizethispodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>It feels slightly off for this show to be talking about ethics.</p><p>But here we are.</p><p>This episode digs into a tension at the heart of modern podcasting:</p><p>* Be vulnerable. Tell your story. Go deeper.</p><p>* Ship fast. Don’t overthink it. Repurpose everything. Scale the system.</p><p>Those two philosophies don’t peacefully coexist.</p><p>Tonya just launched a deeply personal storytelling podcast built on radical empathy. Real stories. Messy communication. No heroes. No villains. No tidy “lessons learned.”</p><p>And when you’re asking people to tell stories that cost them something, the usual advice starts to break down.</p><p>This episode is slightly more thoughtful than usual. Don’t panic. We still question the guru economy.</p><p>But underneath the snark is a real metric worth considering. Listen to the end to find out.</p><p><strong>Guest:</strong> Tonya PieskeWebsite: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.howtotellsomeone.com">https://www.howtotellsomeone.com</a>Podcasts: <em>How to Tell Someone</em></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com/"><strong>Monetize This!</strong></a> — the podcast about podcasting and the strange economy we’ve all decided to participate in.</p><p>If this episode resonated, follow the show wherever you’re listening.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">monetizethispodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>Most advice about podcast guesting assumes you want to sell a course.This episode assumes you want to get invited back.</p><p>Russell Van Brocklen doesn’t host a podcast. He doesn’t want one. He ignores most guesting “best practices” — and somehow keeps landing interviews, speaking slots, and follow-ups anyway.</p><p>In this short case file, we look at what actually breaks when guru advice meets real hosts, real shows, and real audiences.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><p>* Why most podcast guesting advice fails outside the guru economy</p><p>* How guest appearances can lead to real credibility, not just exposure</p><p>* Using podcasts and speaking as a path to becoming an Amazon bestselling author</p><p>* What preparing for a TEDx talk reveals about authority and expertise</p><p>* Why usefulness beats funnels, hacks, and “personal brand” strategies</p><p><strong>About the guest:</strong>Russell Van Brocklen is <em>The Dyslexia Professor</em>. He translates structured-literacy methods proven most effective for struggling readers into bite-size actions parents can use immediately.</p><p>Learn more and download his free guide at <strong>dyslexiaclasses.com</strong></p><p><strong>About the show:</strong><em>Monetize This!</em> is not a podcast about podcast advice.It’s about the advice industry surrounding podcasting, speaking, and creator work — and what survives contact with reality.</p><p>Short episodes. Long skepticism. Completely serious podcast.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com/">monetizethispodcast.com</a></p><p><strong>Links & Resources</strong></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://dyslexiaclasses.com">dyslexiaclasses.com</a></p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com/">Monetize This!</a></p><p>An email to [email protected] might or might not get you a t-shirt.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">monetizethispodcast.substack.com</a>

<p>First of all… apologies.</p><p>This episode contains actual advice… sort of.</p><p>A listener asked us to talk about microphones — the most over-Googled, over-YouTubed, over-affiliate-linked topic in podcasting. So today we’re doing something radical:</p><p>We’re simplifying it.</p><p>Instead of a Top 10 list.Instead of a comparison chart.Instead of a 47-minute deep dive into capsule patterns.</p><p>We’re answering the question:</p><p><strong>Do you even need a microphone to start a podcast?</strong></p><p>And if you insist on buying one… we give you exactly one recommendation.</p><p>No affiliate link.No drama.No endless options.</p><p>You’re welcome.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://samsontech.com/products/microphones/usb-microphones/q2u/">Samson Q2U</a> USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone $99.99 US</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us/catalog/products/microphones/xs-lav/xs-lav-usb-c-509261?srsltid=AfmBOopuT-mPnb9NNn03WzK_Khp-tohwv1jD3JqDdByky1dnwCbI7UWc">Sennheiser XS Lav</a> Omnidirectional clip-on lavalier microphone $69.00 US</p><p>For Real, Structured Podcasting Advice</p><p>If you’re new and want a step-by-step roadmap, check out Dave Campbell’s <strong>How To Podcast Series</strong>.</p><p>He recently released a 24-episode series covering what he calls the 24 Steps from Beginner to Pro, starting at Episode 574.</p><p>Find it at:howtopodcast.ca</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">monetizethispodcast.substack.com</a>