Episodes
Feb. 13, 2026
454. What’s Quietly Killing Your Podcast Right Now
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. W...
Feb. 12, 2026
453. Dissecting a Podcast that Actually Works
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...
Feb. 11, 2026
452. The 2026 Podcast Shakeup Creators Can’t Ignore
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-qu...
Feb. 10, 2026
451. Most Podcasts Don’t Fail, Their Schedule Does
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 that opens up an honest conversation about episode re...
Feb. 9, 2026
450. The Curiosity Loop That Forces Listeners to Stay
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 ...
Feb. 6, 2026
449. Stop Letting Trolls Kill Your Podcast Momentum
What do you do when hateful comments land harder than you expect? Today, we’re cracking into the mailbag and starting with a candid conversation about dealing with trolls and the inner critic that can flare up when your work ...
Feb. 5, 2026
448. Why Most Podcasters Are Pricing Sponsorships Wrong
Do you really need massive download numbers to earn an income in podcasting? Today, we’re digging into the mailbag to answer listener questions that get to the heart of how podcasts actually grow and earn. We start with a sma...
Feb. 4, 2026
447. Joe Rogan Refused Validation and Proved a Point
Joe Rogan made headlines this week by refusing to pay the $500 entry fee required to be considered for a Golden Globe. Was it a publicity move, or simply someone who doesn’t need another trophy to prove a point? On today’s ne...
Feb. 3, 2026
446. What Every Podcaster Can Steal from 'How I Built This'
Today, we’re asking you to rethink how you judge progress in podcasting. Is it really about choosing quantity or quality, or does the answer depend on where you are and what you’re building? In this installment of our Obsessi...
Jan. 30, 2026
445. How the Pre-Interview Creates Better Stories Every Time
The most compelling interviews don’t start when you hit record. They start before your guest ever shows up. Today, we’re talking about why pre-interviews are not extra work. They are more like insurance. We walk through how a...
Jan. 29, 2026
444. Four Listener Questions Every Podcaster Can Relate To
There’s a familiar kind of stress that comes from caring about your podcast and not knowing if you’re doing it “right.” Today, we’re opening up the mailbag and addressing the kinds of questions that quietly weigh on podcaster...
Jan. 28, 2026
443. TikTok’s New Terms May Cost Creators Everything
TikTok just updated its terms, and it’s one of those changes that’s easy to scroll past but hard to ignore once you slow down and read it. Recent platform updates raise important questions about ownership, precise location da...
Jan. 27, 2026
442. Why Song Exploder’s Fleetwood Mac Episode Is Gold for Indie Podcasters
What makes a podcast worth coming back to again and again? What turns a single episode into something listeners want to sit with, revisit, and recommend? Today, we continue with another installment of Jonathan Howard’s Obsess...
Jan. 23, 2026
441. The Hidden Time Drains in Podcasting
Podcasting can feel lonely when you’re stuck making decisions no one prepared you for. The technical choices, the workflow questions, the moments where you can’t help but wonder if you’re overthinking everything or missing so...
Jan. 22, 2026
440. This Evaluation Shows How Small Changes Create Better Episodes
Small performance and production choices can subtly affect how a podcast is experienced. Today, we’re taking a close look at Life Fulfilled, a solo podcast hosted by Bernie Borges. We want to be clear that we aren’t aiming to...
Jan. 21, 2026
439. Ads Are Coming to AI- Here’s What They’ll Never Tell You
What happens when the tools we trust for clear answers start coming with ads attached? Today’s news and commentary conversation opens with growing chatter about ads potentially entering ChatGPT, then widens to a bigger patter...
Jan. 20, 2026
438. What Podfest 2026 Taught Us About Community
What happens when you go from feeling like an outsider to being named Community Hero? We’re reflecting on last week’s Podfest 2026 in Orlando, Florida. After five years of walking through those doors, unsure of where I fit, r...
Jan. 16, 2026
437. The Invisible Wins That Keep Podcasters From Burning Out
Most podcasters don’t quit because they fail; they quit because they stop recognizing their progress. Today, we take a closer look at what real wins actually look like when you’re in the work week after week. While our lead h...
Jan. 15, 2026
436. How to Hear Brutal Feedback Without Getting Defensive
Have you ever received feedback on your podcast that just didn’t sit right, but you couldn’t tell if it was something to fix or something to ignore? While our fearless leader, Marc, is at Podfest, co-host Ralph Estep steps in...
Jan. 14, 2026
435. The Golden Globes Just Changed Podcasting Forever
The Golden Globes crowned a podcast winner, Netflix leaned further into podcast deals, and Spotify shifted the rules again. Big headlines are everywhere, but are they actually beneficial for indie podcasters? Today’s conversa...
Jan. 13, 2026
434. How to Walk Into Any Podcast Conference Fully Prepared
Walking into your first podcast conference can feel exciting and overwhelming all at once, especially with Podfest right around the corner. You’re scanning the schedule, wondering who to talk to, what sessions to attend, and ...
Jan. 12, 2026
433. Why Diary of a CEO is Impossible to Stop Listening To
Jonathan Howard takes the wheel and leads us for a close look at another obsession-worthy podcast, Diary of a CEO. Why do some interviews stay with you long after they end? What makes a conversation feel human instead of rehe...
Jan. 9, 2026
432. Your Podcast Workflow Isn’t Broken…Until It Is
If your podcast workflow feels messy, layered, or harder than it used to be, this episode is for you. Today’s conversation was fueled by a Facebook post by producer, Ashley, and a feeling many podcasters quietly recognize: pr...
Jan. 8, 2026
431. Make Your Podcast’s Differentiator Work for You
Your podcast already has a differentiator. The question is whether listeners feel it. Today, we’re evaluating the podcast “Better Call Daddy,” and we explore how small production choices either support or bury what makes a sh...