Stop Wasting Your Listeners' Time - and other lessons from Podcast Movement

Coming back from Podcast Movement, I've got a story that really drives home the point that nothing beats face-to-face networking. I mean, sure, we can all hop on Zoom and pretend we're connecting, but when you're actually sharing a meal with someone or just hanging out, that's where the magic happens. It's like the difference between texting your buddy and grabbing a beer – one is okay, but the other is where real connections are made. And let's be honest, who doesn't want to make meaningful connections while stuffing their face with overpriced convention center food? Takeaways: Networking in person is way better than any online stuff, seriously, just trust me. Most podcasters are totally wasting their listeners' time with a simple fix in editing. Chapters are a cool tool to help listeners skip to what they actually want to hear. If you want your podcast to grow, you might need to jump into the Podcast Hot Seat. Cutting out unnecessary parts of interviews can save time and keep listeners happy, who knew? Feeling overwhelmed when starting a podcast is totally normal, like, welcome to the club. Links referenced in this episode: schoolofpodcasting.com podcasthotseat.com tuulie.com Social Media News Live with Jeff Sieh Walt Disney World Radio with Lou Mongello Mentioned in this episode: Live Appearances I loved connecting with my audience. Here are the next events I will be at: November 11: Podindy.com (use the coupon code SOP) February 23-26, 2027: National Religious Broadcasters nrb.org I'd love to speak at your event. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/contact Where Will I Be? Get Your Podcast Up and Going in Six Weeks Dreaming of starting your own podcast but not sure where to begin? Podcasting in Six Weeks gives you a clear, step-by-step path to go from idea to launch with confidence. This practical course is designed to help you create, record, edit, publish, and promote your podcast in just six weeks. Whether you're starting from scratch or feeling overwhelmed by the technical side, you'll get the guidance, structure, and tools you need to launch a podcast that sounds professional and reaches the right audience. Ready to stop overthinking and start podcasting? Join Podcasting in Six Weeks today and turn your voice, ideas, and expertise into a show people want to hear. The best part? It's only $1 Classes Start June 3rd Podcasting in Six Weeks Question of the Month: The Smallest Amount of Downloads We all want a bigger audience. We all put a lot of work into our shows. With this in mind, what is the smallest amount of downloads you would do the show for? If it drops below a number would you stop, or put effort into finding out why? Does the size of your audience matter? Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question by August 28th (and don't forget to say a little bit about your show and your website address so I can link to it in the notes) School of Podcasting