380 - Should You Niche Down or Open Up?

How many times have the gurus advised you to niche down and narrow the focus of your show? But do you feel this is the right advice, or are you being put in a box? After hearing indie podcaster Jacqueline Monroe push back on the “niche rule,” we dove headfirst into the debate. Some of us see niching as a growth strategy and a path to monetization. Others argued that building your brand and finding your voice matter more than fitting into a neat category. Along the way, we asked hard questions: Can “just being yourself” really be a strategy? Is it possible to grow broad and still connect deeply? And does every podcast need to monetize to be successful? This conversation isn’t about rules; it’s about what works for you. When it comes to podcasting, the only box that matters is the one you decide to build.Episode Highlights: [02:26] Segment Introduction [05:39] Jacqueline Monroe's Philosophy[07:17] Discussion: Is Niching Down Necessary?[15:54] Reframing the Niche Debate[29:43] Niching Down vs. General Topics[46:10] Examples of Non-Niched Podcasts[50:21] New Segment Idea: Clip DiscussionsLinks & Resources: Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠The Jacqueline Monroe Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFsUX8YeuRQcuQgcE37T4AgEmpowered Podcasting Conference 2 Retrospective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0bBC8m2syERemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to our community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Or Join us on Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481dLive on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠