Starting a Podcast After Six Years of Doubt—Here’s How I Grew Anyway —Michael Klassen | Ep 105

If you’re a podcaster or thinking about starting your own show, this episode with Michael Klassen will give you practical ideas for taking your podcast from idea to reality. We dig into how Michael turned six years of blog content into the 5am Podcast, and what it was like starting with no audio or video experience. You’ll hear why patience and consistency helped him grow to hundreds of daily website visitors, and the systems he uses to keep production running smoothly.Michael shares the simple tech and workflow behind his episodes—from scheduling guests to using AI tools for titles and descriptions—and how he balances creativity with audience needs. If you’re wondering how to get more listeners, or how to make your website work for your podcast, you’ll pick up a ton. Plus, we talk about growing your audience with email (even if you haven’t started one yet) and how old articles and SEO can keep traffic coming back.Two takeaways to listen for: how repurposing written content can be the perfect on-ramp to podcasting, and the importance of measuring (and setting) goals—even if you’re just starting out.Connect With Micheal KlassenWebsite: https://5ampodcast.com/Twitter:https://x.com/5AMPodcast1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/5am-podcast/If My Podcast Story speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the stories shared here. Your support truly means a lot.There’s more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the My Podcast Story newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a quiet way to stay inspired between listens.Sign up here: https://mypodcaststory.com/joinIf the stories you hear on My Podcast Story bring you inspiration, clarity, or simply a moment of connection, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee. Every contribution helps me continue sharing the journeys of podcasters from around the world.Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/wisdomhqWant to be a guest on My Podcast Story? Send Wisdom Okonkwo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/mypodcaststoryChapters00:00 Behind Michael Klassen’s podcast journey01:17 What the 5am Podcast aims to do02:04 Turning a website into a podcast03:54 Early inspiration for 5am Podcast04:52 Patience and growth focus06:46 Defining “more” and measuring impact08:27 Crafting and planning each episode10:07 Michael’s podcast production workflow12:58 Tools: Calendly, Riverside, Canva, Claude14:26 Using AI for SEO and descriptions16:50 Publishing episodes on the website18:25 What the 5am Podcast website looks like20:02 Visitor experience and improving the site21:18 Expectations when launching the show22:54 Building an audience and email list ideas24:08 Where visitors come from and analytics26:37 Website traffic strategies and SEO basics30:13 The power of returning visitors33:57 Audio platform growth and building relationships35:36 Podcast monetization and early income streams37:09 Launching products and adding value39:09 Expanding to radio syndication41:01 How radio deals and syndication work44:01 Tracking radio listenership45:40 Promoting the show and cross-platform strategy48:01 Consistency, content, and growth focus52:04 Advice for new podcasters55:21 Where to find Michael and final thoughts