Starting a Podcast for Healing—And Accidentally Changing Thousands of Lives — Valerie Morris | 90

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a podcast by focusing on a specific audience, this episode is for you. Valerie Morris joins me to talk about how she built a globally successful meditation podcast for women going through IVF and infertility—even though she never really promoted it. Curious about how podcast SEO and keywords actually work in practice? We dig into how simple naming changes and specialized content can help your podcast stand out, reach new listeners, and even bring in some unexpected income with affiliate links. We also talk about why setting clear goals for your podcast matters more than chasing massive download numbers.By listening, you’ll discover:How critical podcast SEO and keywords are, especially for niche shows.Why highly specific, heartfelt content can outperform even well-promoted generic podcasts.Smart, low-pressure ways to monetize your podcast through authentic affiliate links.Whether you’re thinking about niching down or just want some actionable podcast growth strategies, you’ll find practical ideas you can use right away.Connect with Valerie MorrisWebsite: https://www.tinterocreative.com/Twitter: https://x.com/TinteroCreativeIf 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 Meet Valerie Morris00:44 Valerie’s Podcast Journey01:10 Three Different Podcasts02:08 Bound for Bestseller Explained02:52 Infertility and IVF Meditations03:24 Why Audio Only04:26 Finding the Podcast on Apps05:06 Why the Pineapple Logo06:45 Publishing in Secret07:43 Surprising Podcast Growth08:35 Batch Recording Episodes09:15 Sharing with Support Groups10:24 The “Mother’s Day Sucks” Episode11:38 Podcast SEO and Keywords12:41 Current Download Numbers13:07 Global Audience Insights14:06 Analyzing Listener Countries15:59 121 Countries Reached17:32 Top Podcast Platforms18:27 Reviewing Top Episodes19:35 Evergreen, Short Content20:41 Intentional Episode Titles21:06 Brief, Authentic Show Notes23:24 Analyzing Popular Episodes24:34 Naming Conventions and Variety26:46 Recording Process and Voice28:03 Monetizing with Affiliate Links29:55 Affiliate Links in Show Notes32:35 Creating an IVF Journal33:01 Niche Podcasts Outperforming General Ones34:17 Niche Audiences in Podcasting35:48 Podcasting as Personal Therapy37:42 Impact and Encouragement38:46 Creating Multiple Shows Easily39:53 Affiliate Earnings and Strategy42:30 Tips for Affiliate Marketing44:38 Setting Realistic Podcast Goals46:28 Importance of Topic Demand48:00 Exploring Podcast Analytics49:03 Book Marketing Podcast Overview50:32 Leads and ROI from Niches53:04 Quality Over Quantity54:43 Don’t Compare Success Metrics56:02 Valerie’s Podcast Names & Where to Listen56:48 Valerie’s Website57:05 Wrapping Up & Closing Remarks