Your Podcast's Most Valuable Asset Isn't Your Download Numbers (with Ali Prato)

Most podcasters are exclusively focused on the impersonal numbers-based metrics they find on their show dashboard. But what if they're chasing the wrong performance indicator? (Spoiler, they are.) The real value isn't in the number of people in your audience, but what happens to, with, and because of your podcast audience. In this episode, Ali Prato, host of the Infertile AF podcast, is talking the talk with Courtney Reimer about what happens when you stop thinking of your podcast as a content engine and start treating it as a mechanism for connection. Ali launched her show after going through her own fertility struggles and realizing there was no place where people were having honest, nuanced conversations about what she and so many others were experiencing. Nearly 400 episodes later, that show has grown into something much bigger–and more profitable–than a personal podcast. All because the podcast catalyzed one thing: people with common interests and experiences finding their way to each other. We're talking the talk about: Why niche podcasts are uniquely positioned to build real community How connection—not content—is the true value of podcasting The realities and work involved with turning a podcast into a business How relationships formed via a podcast lead to real-world opportunities Why "just begin" might be the most important strategy of all The throughline: real people looking for real connection in real time. About Ali Ali Prato is the creator and host of the Infertile AF podcast, a long-running show exploring fertility, family building, and the many paths to parenthood. Through her work, she has built a deeply engaged community and expanded her platform into live events, partnerships, and a children's book series under the Work of ART brand. Learn more and connect with Ali: infertileafgroup.com About the show Talking the Talk is a podcast about podcasting, hosted by Courtney Reimer, founder and principal strategist, Sounds Great Creative Podcast Strategy. If you'd like to work with Sounds Great on your podcast hopes and dreams, visit SoundsGreatStrategy.com   About Courtney Courtney Reimer is a podcast strategy & development expert, host of Talking the Talk (a podcast about podcasting), and founder of Sounds Great, where she helps entrepreneurs and creators turn ideas into shows that drive business, visibility, revenue, and authority. She's worked at Spotify (EP'ing Meghan Markle's Archetypes), Audible, and MTV Radio, and now brings that expertise to founder-led brands and mission-driven businesses through bespoke engagements, a Podcast Launch Accelerator for new creators, and a Momentum community for established podcasters. Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/CourtneyReimer Follow on Instagram: @soundsgreatpodcasts ⚡☕ This podcast runs on curiosity, crunch time, and caffeine. If you have enjoyed it, by all means Buy Me a Coffee! I'll return the favor by continuing to create it... ☕⚡ buymeacoffee.com/soundsgreatcourtney