How to Grow a Podcast Audience Without Making It About Yourself with Dave Campbell

Focus on Your Audience, Not Yourself with Dave CampbellWhat does it actually take to build a podcast people care about?In this episode of Podcast About Podcasting, Gabe Leal sits down with podcaster, creator, and community builder Dave Campbell for a deep conversation about sustainable podcasting, audience connection, and why podcast growth has less to do with algorithms… and more to do with people.Dave shares lessons learned from producing over 2,000 podcast episodes across 9 different shows, including why most creators struggle after the first few episodes and how new podcasters can build momentum without getting trapped chasing downloads and vanity metrics.This conversation dives into the emotional side of podcasting, the importance of community, and why serving even one listener can completely change someone’s life.Whether you’re thinking about starting a podcast, struggling to stay consistent, or trying to grow your audience the right way, this episode is packed with practical insights and encouragement for creators at every stage.In This Episode, We Discuss:Why podcasting still has massive opportunity in 2026How to identify and serve your ideal audienceThe mindset shift that helps creators stay consistentWhy most podcasters quit after only a few episodesBuilding sustainable podcast workflows and systemsHow to overcome fear of self-promotionWhy podcast growth is about depth, not just numbersThe importance of community in content creationDave Campbell’s approach to managing 9 podcastsThe power of impact over analyticsMemorable Quote from Dave Campbell“You can count the number of seeds in an apple… but you can’t count the number of apples in a seed.”About Dave CampbellDave Campbell is a podcast host, creator, and educator focused on helping people start and sustain meaningful podcasts. Through his multiple shows and podcasting community, Dave encourages creators to remove the fear, gatekeeping, and perfectionism that often stop people from sharing their voice.Learn more about Dave Campbell, his podcasts, community meetups, and podcasting resources at:HowToPodcast.caConnect With Podcast About PodcastingHosted by Gabe Leal, Podcast About Podcasting explores the real stories, lessons, failures, and breakthroughs behind building a podcast and finding your voice as a creator.If this episode brought you value, share it with a fellow podcaster, creator, or aspiring beginner thinking about starting their show.🎧 Follow, rate, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.Have a Question? Leave us a text or voicemail. We would love to hear from you. Support the showTHE PODCAST ABOUT PODCASTINGA weekly interview show answering the only question that matters before you start — why should you do a podcast?New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.SUBSCRIBEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-about-podcasting-with-gabe-leal/id1890063067 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mFSFuT6n3R26Xm28h9Qbd?si=92a9db77895f4521YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastAboutPodcastingwithGabeFOLLOW THE SHOWInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heygabewhatsup/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heygabewhatsup/Substack: https://substack.com/@heygabewhatsupSEND GABE A [email protected] this episode hit — share it with one person who keeps almost starting. That's who this show is for.