What 10 Years of Podcasting Really Teaches You—Andrew Lewin | Ep 149

What does it really take to keep a podcast going for 10 years?In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Lewin, host of How to Protect the Ocean, to talk about the real story behind building a long-running podcast, starting before he felt ready, changing the name for clarity, growing through consistency, and using podcasting to connect people with ocean conservation.Andrew is a marine biologist who started podcasting because he wanted more people to understand what was happening with the ocean. He began with interviews, added solo episodes, tested different publishing schedules, moved into video, and kept experimenting with his workflow along the way.Tune in for a grounded and encouraging conversation about staying curious, showing up consistently, and building a podcast that can grow with you over time.Connect With Andrew LewinWebsite: https://speakupforblue.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtoprotecttheoceanSupport The Seagrass Effect: https://speakupforblue.com/seagrassIf 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/joinChapters00:00 Opening Moment00:19 Meet Andrew Lewin00:25 What How to Protect the Ocean Is About00:58 Why Andrew Started the Podcast02:08 The Original Podcast Name: Speak Up for Blue03:01 Using SEO to Make the Podcast Easier to Find04:04 Why a Simple Podcast Name Worked Better05:06 Starting the Podcast 10 Years Ago05:42 The Fear Before Hitting Publish07:28 What Happened After Andrew Finally Published08:05 Andrew’s Podcast Microphone Journey09:37 When Andrew Started Seeing Himself as a Podcaster10:03 Getting Invited to Cover a Science Conference11:23 Helping People Connect with Scientists as Real People12:39 Does the Podcast Cover Lakes and Rivers Too?14:38 Why Andrew Chose Ocean Conservation17:18 What 10 Years of Podcasting Has Taught Him18:10 Serving the Audience with Clear Takeaways19:33 Bringing Ocean-Friendly Businesses and Stories to the Show20:49 My Podcast Story Newsletter Break21:12 Andrew’s Production Workflow21:54 Why He Kept Editing Simple for Years23:39 Moving from Audio to Video Podcasting24:37 Learning What Works on YouTube25:26 Hiring a Video Editor26:29 Using Metricool for Podcast Promotion27:43 Why Consistency Has Been the Key29:24 Growing Slowly and Steadily on YouTube31:12 Using Data to Understand What the Audience Likes32:44 The Cost of Producing Three Episodes a Week34:41 Podcast SEO, TubeBuddy, Titles, and Thumbnails36:16 Monthly Tool Costs and Metricool37:20 Reviewing Podcast Expenses38:04 Why Andrew Still Uses Libsyn42:28 Using AI to Save Time on Show Notes43:39 Riverside and Video Podcast Recording45:05 AWeber, LinkedIn Newsletters, and PodPage47:30 Keeping Podcast Tools Simple48:34 Does the Podcast Make Money?49:57 Building a Podcast Network Around Ocean Stories51:36 How Andrew Has Monetized the Podcast52:13 Sponsorships, Conferences, and Podcast Services53:56 Where to Find Andrew Lewin54:40 Final Thoughts