Monetize This! Where Podcasting Best Practices Come to Die

<p>Most podcasts don’t fail because people run out of things to say.</p><p>They fail because people start chasing something they never clearly defined in the first place.</p><p>In this episode of <em>Monetize This</em>, I talk with Donald Dunn—who runs multiple shows, built a podcast network… and makes exactly $0 from podcasting itself.</p><p>Not as a failure. As a choice.</p><p>We get into why monetization advice often misses the point, how burnout actually happens, and why the most important decision you can make about your podcast has nothing to do with downloads.</p><p>A Few Takeaways</p><p><strong>1. Most podcasts don’t fail—they drift</strong>They start with one intention and slowly absorb expectations from the outside.</p><p><strong>2. Burnout isn’t about talking—it’s everything else</strong>Editing, promotion, distribution. That’s the real job.</p><p><strong>3. Monetization comes later (if at all)</strong>Trying to force it early usually leads to disappointment—or worse, bad decisions.</p><p><strong>4. The podcast might not be the business</strong>For some creators, it’s the portfolio, the proof, or the entry point—not the revenue stream.</p><p><strong>5. You have to decide what this is upfront</strong>Because the work, expectations, and outcomes are completely different depending on that choice.</p><p>About the Guest</p><p>Donald Dunn is the founder of Barracks Media and host of multiple podcasts, including <em>Spirits and Stories</em>. His work focuses on storytelling, mental health, and helping others share their experiences—often outside of traditional monetization models.</p><p>Mentioned in This Episode</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://barracksmedia.com/">Barracks Media</a></p><p><em>Monetize This!</em> is for podcasters who are tired of being treated like a funnel, a brand, or a growth chart.</p><p>Sometimes the podcast is the thing.</p><p>And that’s enough.</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>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>