If you’re thinking about starting a podcast next year, this episode is about slowing down before you press record.

I share the key questions you need to ask yourself before launching, why success in podcasting looks very different depending on your goals, and why a thoughtful, well-crafted show will always outperform something rushed or trend-chasing.

This episode is for anyone who wants to create a podcast they’re proud of, not just something they “give a crack” and abandon six months later.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why success in podcasting isn’t one-size-fits-all
• How to define success metrics that actually work for your life and goals
• Why high-quality, well-considered shows are more important than ever
• Whether it’s “too late” to start a podcast (spoiler: it’s not)
• The questions every new podcaster should answer before they begin

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Join my newsletter here

Find out how to work with me here

Apply for my Mastermind here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

This episode is a year in review for podcasters who feel like they have spent 2025 being told video is everything and AI will save them.

I break down what actually mattered this year, where creators are feeling burned out and what you need to focus on in 2026 so your show is sustainable and worth listening to.

What you’ll learn:

• Why video isn't a silver bullet for podcast growth
• How to think about YouTube and Spotify video without impacting your audio growth or revenue
• Smart ways to use AI as an assistant, not a replacement for your voice and ideas
• Why your audio feed and existing listeners are still the heart of your podcast
• Why long term consistency will always beat short term spikes and how that should shape your plans for 2026

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Apply to join my Mastermind

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Should you release all your podcast episodes at once or drip them out weekly?

Binge-dropping feels efficient but it can seriously stunt your podcast audience growth.

In this episode, I break down why releasing everything in one go almost always performs worse than a steady weekly rollout and the rare situations where a binge drop does make sense.

What you’ll learn:

• Why binge releases kill your biggest growth engine: consistency
• How weekly drops boost discoverability, auto-downloads and listener trust
• Why “Why now?” matters when promoting your show
• When it’s actually fine to release everything at once
• The question to ask yourself before choosing a release strategy

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Can paid ads grow your podcast audience? A year ago I would’ve said “no, don't bother.”

But after seeing a few campaigns actually convert this year, I’ve changed my answer to… a little.

In this episode, I break down why paid ads usually flop, when they can work, and the one thing you absolutely must track before spending a cent.

• Why paid ads rarely convert for podcasters
• When they can work (and the 3 conditions that matter most)
• The biggest mistake people make with podcast ads
• How targeting, creative and tracking make or break your results
• Why you should never run ads until your podcast foundations are rock solid

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

If you’re used to traditional media like TV or radio, it’s easy to assume your podcast will only reach local listeners but that’s not how it works.

In this episode, I share how podcasting instantly makes you a global creator, what limits (if any) exist when it comes to reach and why monetisation is usually still local even if your audience isn’t.

What you’ll learn:

• Why your podcast is automatically international the moment you hit publish
• The difference between radio/TV and podcast distribution
• How Apple Podcasts and other storefronts curate their local content
• Why ad monetisation still tends to happen within your home market
• The mindset shift you need when you realise your audience can come from anywhere

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

When you’re recording a podcast you need to think about your audience as individual people, rather than a collective, if you want to connect with them

In this episode, I explain why this is one of the most powerful ways to build connection, sound more natural and keep people coming back for more.

What you’ll learn:

• Why using collective language e.g. "You guys," "Ladies and Gentlemen" can disconnect you from your audience
• The words you need to use to make sure your audience feel you're speaking directly to them
• A simple trick to make solo recording feel more natural
• How to balance audience connection in solo vs. co-hosted shows

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Reading a script, word-for-word on your podcast is the fastest way to disconnect from your audience.

In this episode I share how to prepare for your record so you don't need a script, how to keep your delivery natural even if you've got notes and how to make sure you know where your going without having to write everything down, word-for-word.

What you’ll learn

• Why scripting your episodes isn't a good idea
• The simple notes system I use to make sure I'm prepared but not wedded to a script
• How to make sure you're in the moment so you can record the best possible episode

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Want to record high quality audio for your podcast but don't want to pay for a studio? No worries!

You can easily record fantastic audio at home just by thinking about where you record.

In this episode I explain how to set your recording space so you're recording the best podcast audio you can.

What you’ll learn

• How to reduce echo/reverb at home
• How to record in rooms that look good for video without ruining your audio.
• How to use AI tools to polish what you can't fix in the moment (and how to avoid the robotic sound).
• The golden rule: fix as much as you can at record time, then do as little as possible in post.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Rachel Corbett

Editing Assistance: Josh Newth

LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

Find out how to work with me here

Download my free podcasting guide

Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool

Click here to submit a question to the show

Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au

Follow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out my blog or the PodSchool website.

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present.