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The Darkside of Influencers (Insider 229)

Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Release Date: 05/05/2025

20 Years in Radio (Insider 238) show art 20 Years in Radio (Insider 238)

Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Time-bending interview moments, 20 years in radio, using Cameo for podcast promotion, growing your email list with giveaways, and why your audience is your invisible co-host in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Big Ideas in This Episode Celebrate podcast milestones—what 20 years brings Tap celebrity power: Cameo for podcast buzz Forget the crowd, seduce listeners one-on-one Make your audience your secret co-host Grow your email list—get greedy with giveaways Want clout? Invest in stories, not gear Burnout or “rust-out”—hustle wins every time Why...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Tracking what works (and what doesn’t) in podcast marketing, why live events are your secret growth weapon, how relatability beats perfection, mic myths busted, and smart ways to do "more, better, and new" in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Big Ideas in This Episode The “overnight” flood of listeners is a total myth Why celebrity endorsements will never save you Turn lonely dog groomers into loyal superfans Being relatable trumps perfection—ask OnlyFans entrepreneurs Revealed: $30 mic vs. $400 mic—can listeners tell? How “fake it till you make...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Clever (and risky) marketing tricks, the truth about podcast gear and guests, essential pre-interview tips, AI voice options, and free podcast artwork templates in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Big Ideas in This Episode The dangerous cost of clickbait podcast titles Why tricking listeners kills your show’s growth Envy alert: how niche podcasters leapfrog celebrities The seductive myth of “perfect” podcast gear How AI voices tempt you—should you resist? Sponsor dollars: easy money or creative handcuffs? Confessions: the lies podcasters tell...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Zero-budget podcasting truths, signs it's time to quit your show, Spotify's new "Plays" metric, Audacity's 25th anniversary, and a pro trick for getting remote guests to show up in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Big Ideas in This Episode Can you really podcast with zero budget? Your community: free content machine or wasted potential? Are you secretly quitting your show already? Audacity: free tool pros secretly rely on Spotify “plays”: will your numbers embarrass you? Doing it only for others? Beware burnout Outsmart flaky guests with this ruthless trick ...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Why you need podcast segments, what happens when you DM every fan, the power of 30-day challenges, smarter ad reads, and the secret to building deeper listener relationships in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen How to harness the power of podcast segments to multiply your audience and keep them hooked—no matter your experience level The “lazy podcaster’s curse”—are you guilty of killing your own growth with long, rambling episodes? The irresistible secret to creating podcast episodes people devour—without burning out Why the Tim...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

AI-powered artwork, voiceover cadence secrets, cable-saving hacks, Spotify controversies, and your chance to be featured in a new podcasting book in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen The secret to launching a podcast so memorable, your competitors will envy you for decades (and maybe beg to copy your plan!) Why some podcasts vanish without a trace, and how you can create episodes that claw their way into listener’s memories (and wallets) How to turn your “disposable” podcast into a permanent, irresistible addiction that fans lust after—week...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

A wild journey through podcast merch mishaps, creative constraints that boost your show, pin trading for superfans, and what to do when a podcast moment needs a "code red" fix in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen The bizarre afterlife of your podcast merch—why a homeless man might be your brand’s next billboard (and why that’s pure opportunity) How your podcast episode can worm its way halfway across the country—and what to do when you spot it in the digital “used bin” The unstoppable, profit-pulling power of true “fast fashion”...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Viral myths, the power of naming your enemy, 100+ ChatGPT prompts for podcasters, embracing imperfection, and how to make your Blue Yeti sound amazing in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen The dirty little trick pro wrestlers and radio jocks use to hypnotize audiences—and how you can steal it to make your show irresistible Why obsessing over that “one thing” is killing your podcast dreams (and the liberating secret that leads straight to viral growth) Make your podcast the envy of your niche—here’s the real reason audiences flock to certain...

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Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

How to spot and fix hidden holes in your podcast, why natural talent is a myth, making your first ten minutes unskippable, plus AI tools for pro-quality audio and automated blogging in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen Why editing yourself—even if it feels painful—could be the missing key to creating podcasts nobody can resist The sinister holes EVERY podcaster has in their show that secretly repel listeners—find them before they ruin you The “SWOT analysis” trick: Truth serum for your podcast that exposes your deepest weaknesses (and hidden...

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The Darkside of Influencers (Insider 229) show art The Darkside of Influencers (Insider 229)

Build a Big Podcast - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Media responsibility for podcasters, viral news hijacks, building true audience connection, and creative ways to generate standout episode ideas in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen How a simple shift in your podcast’s “role in the media” can make you unforgettable—and impossible to ignore The slippery slope that transforms average creators into sellouts (and how to harness this for influence, not regret) Why you should treat your guests like rare treasures—discover the subtle move that makes powerful people beg to work with you The sinister...

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More Episodes

Media responsibility for podcasters, viral news hijacks, building true audience connection, and creative ways to generate standout episode ideas in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...

Why You Should Listen

  • How a simple shift in your podcast’s “role in the media” can make you unforgettable—and impossible to ignore
  • The slippery slope that transforms average creators into sellouts (and how to harness this for influence, not regret)
  • Why you should treat your guests like rare treasures—discover the subtle move that makes powerful people beg to work with you
  • The sinister side of influencer stardom—and how you can legally “hack” this playbook for massive podcast growth
  • The jaw-dropping rumor about Taylor Swift that exposes the dirty secret behind industry success—and how to use it to engineer your own “overnight” stardom
  • The “steak sauce” news hijack: how one brand turned a public mistake into millions in free publicity (and how you can too, from your closet studio)
  • The copy-and-paste social media trick that forces big brands to hand you viral attention—no PR agency needed
  • Why most podcast audiences are starved for connection—and the forbidden trick to make them cling to your show like family
  • The overlooked conversational hack that extracts irresistible stories from strangers—turning even a mailman into podcast gold
  • The “insider’s secret” to getting guests and stories competitors can only dream about
  • The savage reality of podcast success: why hype, not talent, wins … and how you can buy your way to the top (yes, there’s a price—discover what it is)
  • How to forge a cult-like community that does your marketing for you—urging listeners to recruit friends, family, and enemies
  • The lazy podcaster’s guide to endless episode ideas—just walk outside and watch the content flood in
  • How price hikes and tariffs are secretly making your podcast more valuable (and how you can exploit this for profit, envy, and more)
  • The bulletproof strategy to transform “passive listeners” into a rampant, loyal audience that obeys your every call to action

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Episode Timestamps

  • [04:08] The slippery slope: Why money in media quietly changes your boundaries—and the jaw-dropping story David just witnessed yesterday

  • [07:27] The Taylor Swift rumor you won’t read anywhere else—did 100,000 “sold” albums secretly jumpstart her superstardom?

  • [09:25] Why David Hooper has an OnlyFans account (yes, really)—and what that reveals about podcasting and boundaries

  • [11:31] The million-dollar steak sauce mistake: How Linda McMahon’s “A1” flub handed A1 Steak Sauce a viral goldmine (and what podcasters can copy)

  • [15:31] The secret reason your podcast is “family” to some listeners—and a proven playbook for turning silent strangers into superfans

  • [18:00] DJ Bobby Bennett’s lost art: How instant shoutouts and surprise requests forged unbreakable listener loyalty (and how you can steal this move)

  • [22:44] The untapped gold mine for episode ideas: Why talking to your mail carrier or a neighbor (not just podcasters) could land your next viral story

The Newsletter for Podcasters

This episode of Build a Big Podcast is brought to you by Riverside ...​

Riverside is online recording software that makes it easy for podcasters to record studio-quality interviews from anywhere. Try it free and, if you like it, get 15% off any membership plan when you use the code BIGPODCAST.​​

About this episode of Build a Big Podcast:​

This is the audio companion to Issue 229 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go. On this episode, I dive into where the money is made in podcasting. how to get more reviews (and subscribers) for your podcast, podcast hosting, and more.   ​

Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.​

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