If you’ve made it to 10 podcast episodes, first of all — congratulations. That’s a big milestone, and you should absolutely be proud of yourself.

In this episode of Press Play, I walk you through what I call the 10 Episode Checkpoint. This is the point where you pause for a moment, look at what you’ve created so far, and evaluate a few important things about your podcast strategy.

Now let me be clear: 10 episodes is not the time to decide your podcast isn’t working. It’s way too early for that. This checkpoint isn’t about quitting — it’s about learning, adjusting, and fine-tuning your podcast so it can keep growing.

After 10 episodes, you finally have a little bit of experience and some early data. You’ve gotten a feel for recording, publishing, and how much time everything takes. That makes this the perfect moment to reflect and make small improvements.

Here are four things I recommend evaluating at the 10 episode mark.

First, look at the clarity of your podcast positioning.

Ask yourself:

1. Can someone describe what your podcast is about in one sentence?
2. Are your episodes clearly focused on one core topic or problem?
3. Are your episode titles aligned with what you want to rank for in podcast SEO?

Sometimes the content is great, but the titles could be stronger or more searchable. This can be a great time to refine your episode titles or descriptions so they better attract your ideal listener.

Next, evaluate how consistent your publishing schedule has been.

Did you release episodes when you planned to?

Did recording feel rushed or stressful?

If your current schedule feels overwhelming, this is the time to adjust it. Maybe you need to batch record, or maybe you need to move from weekly episodes to biweekly. The most important thing is choosing a schedule you can maintain consistently.

Now look at the content itself.

Are your episodes focused on solving the same core problem for your audience? Or are you experimenting with too many different topics?

At this stage, repetition is actually a good thing. Reinforcing your main topic helps strengthen your positioning and build authority with your listeners.

You can also start checking your consumption rates to see if people are listening through your episodes. This gives you early insight into whether your content is resonating.

Finally, pay attention to early feedback signals.

This isn’t just about downloads. Look for signs that people are engaging with your podcast, such as:

1. Messages or DMs from listeners
2. Reviews on your podcast
3. People responding to your call-to-action
4. Listener numbers slowly increasing

These are early indicators that your podcast is connecting with the right people.

The most important thing at this stage is recognizing that you’ve already done something many people never do: you actually started and published 10 episodes.

That’s huge.

Now it’s time to make a few tweaks, keep going, and continue building momentum with your podcast.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production

One of the questions I hear all the time is this: Can you grow a podcast without social media?

And honestly, I get why people ask this. A lot of podcasters start their show because they want a marketing channel that doesn’t rely on the constant grind of social media.

So let’s talk about it.

The short answer is yes — but it depends.

It really comes down to your goals and where you’re starting from. Ideally, the goal of your podcast should be organic growth outside of social media. That means people finding your podcast through search engine optimization (SEO), podcast apps, and Google searches. When your podcast is optimized correctly, listeners can discover you even if they’ve never followed you on social media.

That’s one of the biggest advantages of podcasting. Your podcast can become a standalone marketing channel that brings in new listeners through search instead of relying on social media algorithms.

However, there is one big caveat.

If you already have a social media audience, it makes sense to leverage that audience when you launch your podcast. Those people already know you, trust you, and are more likely to support your show in the beginning.

If you don’t have a social media following, you can still grow your podcast. It will just take longer because you’re starting from zero visibility.

In that case, your strategy needs to focus heavily on things like:

1. Podcast SEO and keyword optimization
2. Guest podcast appearances
3. Collaborations with other creators
4. Email list partnerships or newsletter features
5. Advertising on other podcasts
6. Google or YouTube ads

You can absolutely grow a podcast without social media, but you need a clear strategy to get your podcast in front of new listeners.

The key is remembering that social media isn’t the only way to grow. SEO, collaborations, podcast guesting, and paid promotion can all bring new listeners to your show.

So if you hate social media or simply don’t want to rely on it, you still have options.

Your podcast can grow — you just have to be intentional about how people discover it.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production

In this episode of Press Play, I want to give you permission to do something that a lot of podcasters struggle with: changing your mind.

When you start a podcast, it’s easy to feel like every decision you make is permanent. You might stress about the name of your podcast, the format, whether you should do interviews or solo episodes, or how long your episodes should be. All of those choices can feel really heavy at the beginning.

But the truth is, the only guarantee in the podcast journey is that you will change.

You’ll grow.

Your ideas will evolve.

Your content will shift.

And your podcast will likely change right along with you.

Maybe you start a 30-day podcast series and realize halfway through that it doesn’t feel aligned anymore. Maybe you launch your podcast thinking it’s going to focus on one topic and later realize you want to pivot. That’s completely normal.

Changing direction doesn’t mean you’re flaky or not committed. It means you’re learning. Podcasting is something you figure out by doing, not by planning everything perfectly ahead of time.

You won’t know what format you enjoy, what topics resonate most, or what workflow works best for you until you actually start creating episodes.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to make the “perfect” decisions before launching your podcast, I want you to take the pressure off. You don’t need to have everything figured out right now.

Start where you are.

Learn as you go.

And give yourself the space to evolve.

Being committed to your podcast doesn’t mean locking yourself into decisions forever. It means showing up, learning through the process, and adjusting as you grow.

Your podcast will evolve because you will evolve — and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to work.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production

If you’re wondering how long it takes for your podcast to grow, here’s the realistic answer.

After about six months of consistently publishing, you should start to see steady growth. Not viral growth. Not overnight success. But consistent increases in downloads, followers, and unique listeners.

By the six-month to one-year mark, you should be able to track month-over-month progress in:

1. Unique listeners
2. Followers
3. Downloads

If you’re not seeing growth by then, it’s usually a positioning, SEO, or promotion issue — not that podcasting “doesn’t work.”

But here’s the bigger truth: growth isn’t just about numbers. If your podcast is clearly positioned and solving one real problem, you may start converting listeners into clients even before your downloads skyrocket.

Podcast growth takes time. Six months for traction. A year to see patterns. Long-term consistency to see real results.

Keep going — and keep tracking your data.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production

If you’ve been wondering how often you should release a podcast episode to grow your show, make money, or see real results in your business, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Press Play, I’m answering one of the most common podcasting questions: How often should I publish podcast episodes?

Here’s the honest answer — it depends. But also… it doesn’t.

Podcasting can absolutely be a numbers game. The more episodes you release, the more opportunities you create for downloads, discoverability, and algorithm momentum. More content means more entry points into your show. It can increase your downloads and make your podcast look more established and active.

But frequency only works if you can stay consistent.

If you’re asking me for a minimum, I recommend releasing at least one episode per week. Once a week should be your baseline if you want steady podcast growth and real traction.

Could you release two episodes per week? Absolutely.

Could you do daily episodes? Sure — I do.

But that only works if it fits your capacity and your content strategy.

If you love interviews but also want to build authority with solo content, you could release:

1. One solo episode per week
2. One interview episode per week

That’s a simple, powerful strategy that keeps your show active and diverse.

But here’s what matters more than frequency: consistency.

If you can only manage one episode every other week, then commit to that and stick to it. I would rather you release consistently every two weeks than burn out trying to post weekly and quit entirely.

Podcast growth, podcast monetization, and podcast success all rely on momentum. And momentum comes from consistency.

So if you want the best results:

1. Aim for once a week minimum
2. Increase frequency only if you can sustain it
3. Build a content system that supports your schedule
4. Don’t overcommit and disappear

The best release schedule is the one you can maintain long term.

Start there.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production

If you want to launch a Top 10 podcast, I’m going to give you the real truth about what it actually takes to rank in the top charts — especially if you want to hit the Top 10 in your category.

In this episode, I break down exactly how I launched my podcast and reached #3 in the United States in Marketing, and what you need to consider before you set that goal for yourself.

Let’s start here: yes, it’s possible. But it’s not accidental.

If you want to rank a podcast in the Top 10, here’s what you need to understand.

If you want to launch high in the charts organically, you need an audience already paying attention to you.

When I launched, I had around 6,000–7,000 combined followers across email and social platforms. That’s not massive, but it wasn’t zero. More importantly, they were engaged.

If your audience is ghosted or disengaged, you won’t see the traction you need. A Top 10 podcast launch relies heavily on leveraging your current audience to drive downloads quickly.

If you don’t have an audience yet, build that first.

Ranking in the charts is a numbers game. You can’t casually launch and hope for the best.

You need:

1. A clear launch strategy
2. A structured rollout
3. A coordinated push during launch week

Dropping multiple episodes at once is critical. The more episodes you publish on launch, the more downloads you generate per listener.

For example:

If someone finds your show and you’ve released 10 episodes, that’s 10 downloads.

If you’ve released 1 episode, that’s 1 download.

Minimum recommendation? Launch with at least 10 episodes and continue releasing consistently.

If you want to launch a Top 10 podcast, you cannot drip content slowly in the beginning. You need momentum.

Be prepared to:

1. Batch record episodes
2. Publish multiple episodes on launch
3. Maintain consistent release cadence

The first 6–8 weeks matter more than almost any other period.

Reviews matter during launch.

Ask everyone:

1. Friends
2. Family
3. Clients
4. Colleagues
5. Email subscribers

Create a giveaway. Personally message people. Drop the link in DMs. Be proactive.

You cannot be passive and expect chart results.

No launch strategy can save weak content.

If your positioning isn’t clear…

If your niche isn’t tight…

If your episodes don’t deliver…

You won’t sustain ranking even if you spike early.

A Top 10 podcast launch requires:

1. Clear niche positioning
2. Strong episode titles
3. Compelling, valuable content

If you want to know how to convert your podcast listeners into clients faster, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Press Play, I break down the one thing you must do if you want your podcast to actually generate sales, leads, and real business results — not just downloads.

And it comes down to this:

You have to focus on solving one clear problem.

I talk all the time about niching down your podcast, having a clear angle, and tightening your positioning. And I know it feels hard. I know it feels restrictive. But if you want to grow your podcast and convert listeners into buyers, clarity wins every single time.

If your content feels scattered…

If you’re talking about five different topics…

If your listeners enjoy your show but aren’t taking action…

This is likely why.

When you want to convert podcast listeners into clients, you have to:

1. Identify the one core problem your audience desperately wants solved
2. Understand what they currently believe about that problem
3. Create episodes that shift those beliefs
4. Consistently highlight your expertise as the solution

That’s it.

You don’t need more random content ideas.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every week.

You don’t need to stop repeating yourself.

Marketing is repetition. Converting faster means drawing a straight line from problem → belief shift → solution → your offer.

Inside your podcast episodes, you should be:

1. Telling stories that show transformation
2. Breaking down myths and misconceptions
3. Demonstrating how you’ve helped others solve the same problem
4. Clearly connecting the dots to how you help

When you focus your content around one urgent, relevant problem, everything gets easier. Your messaging tightens. Your authority grows. Your listeners start seeing themselves in your stories. And that’s when conversions happen.

If you’re not seeing clients from your podcast yet, I want you to pause and ask:

Am I solving one clear problem consistently?

If not, go back and rebuild your next two months of content around that one thing.

Clarity converts.

Repetition builds trust.

Focused content drives sales.

And that’s how you convert your podcast listeners faster.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production

If you’re a business owner, you don’t have time to waste. So if you’re podcasting, you want to know it’s actually giving you a return on your time and energy.

In this episode, I break down the fastest way to get instant ROI from your podcast — and it’s not about waiting for sponsors or downloads to grow.

It’s about turning your podcast into your marketing system.

Instead of creating content from scratch every day, you start with one podcast episode and let it fuel everything:

1. Record it on video.
2. Pull clips for Reels, TikTok, and Shorts.
3. Turn the main points into carousel posts.
4. Use the transcript for written content.

One episode can easily become 15–20 pieces of content.

That means your podcast becomes the anchor of your content marketing strategy. It saves you time, brain power, and energy — and that alone is immediate ROI.

Before your podcast ever signs a client, it should already be making your marketing easier.

If you want your podcast to feel worth it, this is how you do it.

If you are ready to create a podcast that pays for your business, come join the 7 day accelerator over on my Skool community! It's free for the first 7 days. Head over to www.podcastthatpays.com

Follow me on TikTok @podcastlaunchbestie

Music credit: Mavericks by Harrison Amer. A Podcast Launch Bestie production