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

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 Listen

• Why changing your podcast name might be the breakthrough you crave ... discover when to strike for maximum momentum (even if you’re 700 episodes in!)
• The dangerous false hope behind “just one name change” ... and how the real pros use rebrands to seize power and control over their audience (and competition!)
• The 5-question “naming test” top podcasters use to bulletproof their brand for years—most quit after question #2 (you won’t!)
• How to seduce bored listeners back to your show (without spending a dime or recording a single extra episode)
• The secret curse of “linear” podcast names and how they trap you in startup mode forever (and what to do about it!)
• When the thrill is gone: the dirty truth about why most podcasters can’t keep up—plus a play to outlast your laziest rivals
• A classic “relaunch” play ripped from the WWE’s billion-dollar script to conquer confusion and cement listener loyalty for life
• The hidden power in a boring podcast title—why placing one special letter at the front can rocket you to the top of every directory (and block giants like Shaq)
• The “asset audit” checklist that reveals all the secret places your old podcast name is still haunting you…and how to erase it for good
• The ruthless mindset shift: how to kill sunk cost perfectionism (and why loyal listeners actually envy the bold who change course)
• The most overlooked source of seduction in podcasting—how your internal motivation can make your show irresistible in any market
• The glutton’s guide to reusing old content—stack your best hits and fool new listeners into binging your “fresh” format
• The step-by-step rollout to ensure your rebrand dominates every directory, email, and feed (miss one, and you’ll lose your herd)
• The forbidden lesson from celebrity podcasts and why blindly chasing their success leads straight to exhaustion and obscurity
• The real reason listeners miss name changes for months (even superfans)—and the sneaky, persistent way to implant your new identity in their brains forever

Episode Timestamps

• [00:01:49] Why most podcasters change their show name five or six times—and how it might sabotage your success
• [00:03:26] The little-known “B at the front” strategy for podcast names and how alphabetical sorting can change your show’s fate
• [00:04:12] Why “big” and “podcast” are the riskiest words to put in your podcast title (and how Shaquille O’Neal almost stole the show)
• [00:09:16] The brutally honest advice: “Don’t stay in a bad relationship with your podcast” (and why sunk cost should never trap you)
• [00:10:53] The secret story behind WWE’s epic rebrand from WWF and what it teaches about perfect timing for change
• [00:13:40] The cautionary tale of “Big Podcast Daily” ... how a name can attract the wrong audience, and why it pays to ignore downloads
• [00:25:27] The hilarious “Scud Busters” morning show blunder ... how fleeting trends can ruin your brand for years

You want these links ...

• Subscribe to Big Podcast Playbook
• See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance

The Newsletter for Podcasters

• Big Podcast Insider - Weekly Podcasting Newsletter ​

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.​

Want more help growing your podcast audience?

• Big Podcast Extra - Podcasting Tips
• Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program)