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Your Podcast in My New Book (Insider 233)

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Release Date: 06/07/2025

Returning After a Long Break: What Happens? show art Returning After a Long Break: What Happens?

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Can podcast awards really boost your reputation, and what happens when you return to podcasting after years away? David Hooper shares stories, listener letters, and hard-won insights in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Game podcast awards for envy-inducing credibility Micro-fame: win an award with only 50 votes Awards hype: open doors, but hollow inside Quit for years? Return with even more power Feel like a beginner again ... and win Old podcast kings return: threatened or inspired? Your fans crave glory too ... give it to them Why You Should...

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The Truth About Podcast Awards show art The Truth About Podcast Awards

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Can paying for podcast awards actually help you grow your audience, or is your money better spent elsewhere? Why most trophies aren’t worth chasing in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode The ugly truth behind paid podcast awards Trophy chasing: envy fuels empty victories Sponsors don’t care about your shiny award Award-winning? Listeners don't care Judge panels: old, out of touch, easily bought Why $300 is better spent on gear, not glory Make your podcast irresistible Why You Should Listen Why “award-winning” bragging rights could mean less...

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Turning One-Time Listeners Into Loyal Podcast Fans show art Turning One-Time Listeners Into Loyal Podcast Fans

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Turning casual listeners into loyal podcast fans and building true community, plus how shorter episodes, punchy hooks, and connecting with your audience can grow your show in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Hook listeners with stolen cowboy boots mystery Shorter episodes: save time, boost completion envy Secrets to building real podcast community revealed Tease your best stories ... ignite listener curiosity Audiograms that actually convert: the three-bullet fix Turn guests into trusted insiders, gain listener loyalty Are you the host no one...

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Grassroots Podcast Growth: Cutting Through the Noise show art Grassroots Podcast Growth: Cutting Through the Noise

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Cutting through overwhelming noise, building real connections, and using grassroots strategies to grow your podcast, plus the surprising lessons learned from a local political campaign, in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Grassroots hustle beats big-budget political noise Viral fame fades, relationships anchor true power Forget algorithms ... "door-knocking" builds real loyalty Annoying or helpful? Your marketing’s razor’s edge Neighborhood influence trumps paid ads, every time Listeners lust for connection, not more email Envy the...

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Audacity 4: The Big Upgrade show art Audacity 4: The Big Upgrade

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Audacity 4 is here (sort of), and David takes you inside the alpha version, sharing why it's a game-changer for podcasters and how you can help shape its future in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Audacity 4: the free DAW pros will envy Upgrade your workflow, unlock hidden podcast power Take control, shape your tools Sound like a pro ... minimal gear, maximum impact Get inside: break, report, and shape Podcasters influencing software ... how your wish becomes reality Why You Should Listen How switching your podcast workflow can shatter your...

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Unlocking Better Interviews: What Makes a Great Podcast Guest show art Unlocking Better Interviews: What Makes a Great Podcast Guest

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

What really makes a podcast guest great (and why it's not just about filling out forms, sharing tips, or being a great speaker) in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Your story’s impact: would your audience miss you? Does vulnerability really trump selling in interviews? The secrets behind unforgettable guest energy Famous guests: does likability even matter? Reinvent your story? Or bore with “greatest hits”? The red light effect: overcoming instant stage fright Celebrity interviews: don’t expect a glowing review Why You Should Listen The...

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How to Become a Great Podcast Host show art How to Become a Great Podcast Host

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Want to know what really makes a podcast host great? David Hooper breaks down the secrets to setting the space, guiding guests, and running unforgettable interviews in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode The truth about co-author interviews Guests that kill episode momentum How big-name guests hog all attention Insider secrets for making podcast guests shine Why publicists ruin unforgettable interviews Good hosts aren’t born, they’re made Why You Should Listen The secret weapon to making your podcast unforgettable (even your mom will brag about...

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Hard Truths About Podcast Coaching, Ads, and Growth show art Hard Truths About Podcast Coaching, Ads, and Growth

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Why spending big money on ads, chasing viral fame, or following every new platform isn’t the answer (and what really builds a podcast audience that matters) in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Luck, ads, or fame: podcast growth myths exposed Viral moments: why fame doesn’t equal loyalty $15,000 spent, only 178 downloads ... now what? Famous parents, forgotten children Coaches promising millions Build longing: make a podcast worth missing Small hinges, big doors  Why You Should Listen How podcasters burn thousands on ads Why “famous”...

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Why I Changed the Name of this Podcast After 700 Episodes (and How You Can Too) show art Why I Changed the Name of this Podcast After 700 Episodes (and How You Can Too)

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

After nearly 700 episodes, David Hooper made the bold decision to change this podcast's name. Why he did it, how it impacts his listeners, and what you should consider before a rebrand in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Change your name, change your momentum The grass is greener: podcasters crave novelty Big mistakes: don’t buy your own hype Sunk cost: abandon your old podcast identity? Relentless rebranding: how Shaq forced my hand Scud Busters ... why trendy names die fast Your audience isn’t loyal (they barely notice) Why You Should...

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Avoiding Failure Porn and Focusing on Your Authentic Podcast Voice show art Avoiding Failure Porn and Focusing on Your Authentic Podcast Voice

Big Podcast Playbook - The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters

Ever wonder if you should really pay attention to your instincts—or if chasing excitement will only burn you out? David Hooper breaks down the final step to finding your podcasting voice (and what NOT to do with your flaws) in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Change your podcast name, ignite listener curiosity Exploit your flaws ... but don’t overshare your failures Dopamine addiction: how podcasts spiral into extremes Most podcasters sabotage themselves with fake “voice” Data-driven shows: fun-killers or growth hacks? Show up relentlessly;...

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More Episodes

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 after week

  • The real AI artwork trick that’ll make your podcast’s cover look 10X better than your peers—no expensive designer required

  • The step-by-step podcast launch formula that makes your name echo in the minds (and social feeds) of influencers everywhere

  • How to engineer podcast content with a “half-life” most shows would kill for—so your episodes never fade or die

  • The “hungry ghost” problem: are you feeding the gluttonous content monster, or creating something that makes you truly powerful?

  • Secrets of seducing the media—using a media tour to fuel insatiable buzz and make your show un-ignorable

  • The dangerous mistake podcasters make with their cables—and the simple backstage technique to make yours last a lifetime (envy of every audio pro)

  • Are you subconsciously sabotaging your own show with a deadly dull vocal cadence? Here’s how to inject instant charisma and control your audience’s heartbeat

  • Turn your first 10 listeners into your first million—steal this real-world example of podcast growth that puts big networks to shame

  • Discover why old-school radio pros secretly fear podcasters—and the unfair “power moves” you can use to dominate them

  • The subtle social signal hidden in your show’s Spotify play count—and how to leverage it to own your niche (while rivals gnash their teeth)

  • Is your collection of microphones pure greed, or pure genius? Find out how owning just two can put you lightyears ahead

  • Why most podcasters cling to false hope and self-delusion about their reach—and the ruthless truth about how “success” really works in podcasting

You want these links ...

Episode Timestamps

  • [00:00] The grueling reality of recording an album as a five-year-old studio musician—and the lessons it taught

  • [00:01:20] Fast fashion, “hungry ghosts,” and the dark side of disposable content in today’s podcasting world

  • [00:05:14] How your podcast could become a real-world example in David’s upcoming book—and why you shouldn’t miss your shot

  • [00:09:22] Launch secrets revealed: Live events, media tours, and the inside scoop on getting your podcast noticed from day one

  • [00:14:52] Terry Gross, never hearing her own voice—and what selfie culture has changed forever about broadcast talent

  • [00:19:11] How Rush Limbaugh did radio—addicted, nearly deaf, and still dominating the airwaves with a single secret weapon

  • [00:24:55] Are you less successful if your Spotify numbers are low? The hidden danger of “success” metrics and what they truly mean for podcasters

Big Ideas in This Episode

  • Is your podcast a fast-fashion throwaway?

  • Join my book: Immortalize your podcast success

  • Why podcasters envy radio’s secret skills

  • The dark art of vocal seduction: cadence

  • AI as your greedy new podcast designer?

  • Spotify’s power move: exposing your real numbers

  • Are you hoarding microphones—or stories to tell?

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 233 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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