Episode 603 - What To Do When You Have Too Many Podcast Episodes - A Guide For Established Podcasters

When a podcast has been running for years, an impressive back catalog can quietly turn into a barrier for new listeners. This episode explores what happens when “a wall of content” makes your show feel intimidating rather than inviting, and how to fix that without sacrificing the evergreen value of your earlier work. Using his own shows as examples, Dave walks through the realities of publishing hundreds of episodes, how quickly you forget what you said in the early days, and why very few listeners will ever go back and binge every single installment. The question becomes less about file limits and more about experience design. How do you make it easy for someone’s first encounter with your show to feel clear, focused and welcoming?

Dave explains that most modern apps and hosts can handle very large catalogs, so the pressure to delete or hide old episodes rarely comes from technical constraints. Instead, he talks candidly about his own temptation to move the first few hundred guest interviews behind a paywall and the ethical and practical complications that follow. Paywalling old guest content can break links authors have shared, damage their visibility and hurt their SEO, even if it might generate a bit of recurring revenue. He suggests that if you do experiment with paid content, it is usually better to offer bonus material like after shows, extended cuts or special feeds while keeping the original guest interviews openly accessible.

A sizable portion of the conversation focuses on how to make a long running show feel approachable to first timers. Dave encourages podcasters to think intentionally about new listeners, not only the loyal community that already knows the backstory. Concrete ideas include publishing and regularly updating a “start here” trailer that always sits at the top of the feed, using seasons, series, tags or playlists to group episodes by topic or level, and curating “essential” or “best of” episodes on your website so newcomers have a guided path instead of facing hundreds of unsorted options. He also describes techniques for resurfacing evergreen content, such as updating titles and descriptions to be more search friendly, or temporarily adjusting the release date so a strong older episode reappears near the top of the feed without being republished as something new.

Beyond structure and SEO, the episode underlines the importance of stewardship. Dave urges podcasters to review older episodes to make sure recommendations are still valid, add disclaimers when tools or resources are outdated, and think about how their catalog looks through the eyes of someone arriving today. He closes by sharing community opportunities through his podcaster meetups and offers a practical tip for interview shows that want to stay weekly without doubling their workload: record a short solo reflection right after each interview, turning one guest conversation into two distinct episodes. Throughout, the emphasis is on honoring your past content, serving your guests, welcoming new listeners and designing a catalog that supports the long term health of your show rather than overwhelming the people you most want to reach.

Key takeaway: Your back catalog is an asset, not a burden, but it only works for you when you deliberately organize, refresh and surface episodes in ways that respect guests, help search engines understand your show and give new listeners a clear, friendly starting point.

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Episode 602 - One Perfect Episode vs 52 Good Ones - What Wins for Podcasters

In this episode of the How to Podcast series, host Dave dives into the timeless debate of quality versus quantity in podcasting, sparked by discussions in his podcasting community. Drawing from his ambitious 2026 plan to release 365 daily episodes across multiple shows—while juggling a full-time job, coaching, editing, and more—he shares why he's leaning into high-volume creation without sacrificing value. Episodes are thoughtfully batch-recorded ahead of time, ensuring consistency and preventing burnout, as Dave explains how regular output turns his show into a listener habit rather than a seasonal event that risks audience drift.

Dave uses his 45-year music background to illustrate the point: musicians don't perfect one song endlessly; they produce volumes of work, with hits emerging from the sheer act of repetition, much like podcasters hone skills through deliberate practice. He references the 10,000-hour principle, noting that weekly creators get 52 chances yearly to refine delivery, topics, and engagement, compared to just 12 for monthly ones. More episodes mean richer analytics data—from Instagram flops to YouTube insights—fueling faster growth and algorithm favor. Yet he acknowledges quality's merits for niche experts with limited time, warning against perfectionism that delays launches or filler content that overwhelms.

Balancing both, Dave advocates a hybrid: sustainable cadences like weekly 20-30 minute episodes, polished via editing and listener feedback, perhaps with short host reflections post-interview. Track metrics like downloads and time spent listening to iterate. In a bonus for dedicated listeners, he reveals his interview secret—treating guests like band soloists, stepping back to let them shine, informed by live performance dynamics.

Key Takeaway: Aim for consistent quantity to accelerate mastery and audience habits, but layer in quality through feedback and editing—do what fits your life, as even one great episode done regularly beats sporadic perfection

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Episode 601 - How YouTube Can Help Your Podcast If You Want to Archive Your Content and Provide Additional Data

In this episode of the How to Podcast series, Dave shares why he has committed to releasing a daily episode for all of 2026 and how that creative challenge can inspire other podcasters. He explains that staying in a consistent creative rhythm keeps the “engine warm,” making it easier for ideas to flow and for growth to happen as a creator. Rather than asking everyone to copy his 365‑day challenge, he encourages listeners to design their own uncomfortable but realistic stretch, like preparing in advance for National Podcast Post Month and scheduling short episodes into the future.

From there, Dave shifts into the real focus of the episode: why connecting your podcast to YouTube is a powerful move, even if you only have audio. He tells the story of a podcaster shutting down their show and worrying about losing years of episodes when downgrading or canceling hosting. Many hosts delete files after a grace period, so he outlines options like downloading your episodes, redirecting your RSS feed to a free host such as Spotify for podcasters, or even self‑hosting on your own site. His favorite solution, though, is to tie your show to YouTube before making any changes, so the entire back catalog is imported and preserved in one step.

Dave uses his own shows as examples of how YouTube can serve as both a public‑facing archive and a powerful analytics tool. By treating YouTube as a backup drive, he keeps a copy of every episode available to a different audience that might never find him on Apple, Spotify, or other audio apps. He then studies YouTube’s analytics to identify which episodes perform unusually well there. When he spots a high‑performing older interview, he temporarily updates its publish date in his audio host so that it appears near the top of his current feed, giving new listeners a better chance to discover “from the vault” content that has already proven itself.

He shares concrete wins from this strategy, such as older episodes that jumped from a few hundred to a few thousand listens when resurfaced. YouTube’s separate audience and detailed metrics give him an additional lens on what resonates, allowing him to make better decisions about what to promote, recycle, or feature again. Dave acknowledges he is not following YouTube’s ideal “video‑first” playbook and does not have time to become a full‑time YouTuber, but insists that using YouTube imperfectly is still far better than ignoring it altogether.

The episode closes with an invitation to join free podcaster meetups, where creators at every stage can connect, ask questions, and share struggles. In a bonus segment, Dave offers a simple test for naming your show: say the title to someone unfamiliar with your topic and see what they think the podcast is about. If their guess does not match your intent, refine the name or add a clarifying subtitle so it is easier to be found by the right listeners and search terms.

Key takeaway: Treat YouTube as both an archive and a data source for your podcast. Back up your full catalog there before you change hosts or close your show, and use YouTube’s analytics to surface older, high‑performing episodes to new listeners in your main podcast feed.

https://livingthenextchapter.com/

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Episode 600 - Should We Celebrate Podcast Milestone Episodes Without Providing Value to Our Audience, Are we Navel Gazing Too Much

Milestone episodes are a tempting moment to turn the mic on ourselves, but this conversation challenges whether that actually serves the listener. In this 600th episode of the How to Podcast Series, Dave reflects on how to celebrate big numbers without drifting into self‑indulgence or forgetting the audience altogether.

Dave starts by reaffirming his commitment to being available to podcasters one on one. The open calendar link on his site is not a marketing trick but a signal that he genuinely wants to meet, encourage, and troubleshoot with other creators. That posture of service becomes the lens for the entire episode as he wrestles with a simple question: does the audience really care that this is episode 600, or do milestone celebrations mostly gratify the host?

From there, he argues that every episode, whether it is number 2 or 600, must leave the listener changed in some way. That change can look like encouragement, clarity, a new idea, or a sense of being built up, but if listeners leave exactly as they arrived, the content has missed its purpose. Milestone episodes are no exception. It is fine to tell your story, trace your journey, or take a victory lap, yet even that reflection should model growth and invite listeners into their own progress rather than simply asking them to applaud yours.

Dave highlights Demetria Zinga’s Soul Podcasting as a powerful example of how to do this well. In her own milestone episode she walks through past shows, pivots, and lessons learned with honesty and vulnerability, always tying her experience back to encouragement and practical value for her audience. Her show, he notes, feels welcoming and genuinely listener‑focused, not like a stage for self‑promotion.

The caution running through the episode is against “navel gazing” in podcasting: hosts who talk mostly about themselves, measure their worth by awards and achievements, and slowly turn the show into a monologue aimed at the mirror. Dave points out how this can surface in both solo episodes and interviews, where the host dominates the conversation and the guest becomes a silent spectator. As a listener, it can feel like walking in on someone complimenting themselves, with no clear sense of how you fit into the content.

Instead, Dave urges podcasters to stay relentlessly audience‑focused. Celebrate milestones, absolutely, but always ask, “What does my listener get out of this?” He suggests listening back to your own episodes with that question in mind and being willing to course‑correct if you’ve drifted into self‑focus. Even “bonus” or “victory lap” episodes should send listeners away with something useful, whether that is a new resource, a fresh insight, or a renewed sense of belonging.

He closes by connecting this to consistency and growth. Regularly getting on the mic, like learning to ride a bike or a dirt bike, will feel awkward at first, but over time your voice, confidence, and creative rhythm improve. Consistency benefits listeners by building a habit around your show, and it benefits you by giving you more reps, more learning, and more opportunities to serve. Along the way, he invites listeners into his free meetups for podcasters, underlining once more that podcasting is not meant to be a lonely, inward‑looking endeavor, but a community‑driven practice centered on delivering real value to the people who press play.

Soul Podcasting: Purpose-Driven Podcasting in Business for Solopreneurshttps://pod.link/1657879891100. Celebrating 100 Episodes + My Audio Journey 2005 Throwback!https://pod.link/1657879891/episode/YTFhMjQxZDctNTlkMS00MDdmLWE3MDAtNDY4NjE2YWE5NzVi

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Episode 599 - Freedom of Speech, Consequences and Your Bubble - Why Podcasting Is The Last Frontier for Sharing Thoughtful Interactions To The World

In this episode of the How To Podcast Series, Dave tackles a topic he normally avoids: the tension between freedom of speech, consequences, and the “bubbles” we build around our beliefs. Speaking directly to podcasters, he reflects on how podcasting can be one of the last open frontiers for thoughtful, respectful conversations between people who see the world differently. Rather than amplifying division, he argues that podcast hosts can choose to create spaces where disagreements are aired without name calling, belittling, or hate, and where strong convictions are shared with kindness instead of coercion.

Dave explores how easy it is to live inside a bubble, surrounding ourselves only with people who think and sound like us. He notes that many shows invite guests who simply reinforce the host’s worldview, which may feel safe but limits growth and understanding. Podcasting, he suggests, becomes truly powerful when we intentionally talk with people outside our bubble, listen to their stories, and build bridges instead of walls. He warns against using influence to shame, label, or force others into our belief systems, reminding listeners that free speech does not remove the responsibility for the impact of our words.

Throughout the episode, Dave urges podcasters to pause before posting or publishing content created in anger or frustration. Once words are online, they are difficult to take back, and they can wound real people who have walked different paths. He encourages seeking wise counsel, protecting your brand and your heart, and remembering that your audience looks to you as someone they trust and make time for each week. With that influence comes the opportunity to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

In the closing segments, Dave invites listeners to join his free podcasting meetups to find community and support, especially when podcasting feels lonely or overwhelming. He also shares candidly about his ongoing discomfort with his own voice, admitting that even after thousands of episodes he still feels like a work in progress. Hearing from listeners who feel comforted or accompanied by his voice helps him keep going, and he extends that same encouragement to anyone who is still learning to accept how they sound behind the mic.

Key takeaway: As a podcaster, you have real power and influence. Use your microphone to step outside your bubble, treat others with respect, and share your beliefs without forcing them on anyone. Free speech is a gift, but it always comes with responsibility.

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Episode 598 - Team of Me - Building a Podcast That’s All Yours and The Benefits of Going It Alone

Dave Campbell celebrates the "team of one" podcaster in this episode of The How To Podcast Series, sharing why handling every aspect of your show—from recording and editing to guest booking, promotion, and sound design—is not a limitation but a superpower. He speaks directly to solo creators who do it all themselves, emphasizing that your fingerprints on every step mean you learn faster, adapt quicker, and build something truly yours. While he offers help to those who outsource, Dave proudly runs his own shows single-handedly, producing massive content without an assistant, proving it's not only possible but advantageous, especially for beginners.

Dave explains how solo creators develop deep ownership: you notice what works because you chose the hook, feel pacing issues from recording it yourself, spot dead air during editing, and intuitively know standout moments for social clips. This hands-on approach compresses years of learning into months—booking guests hones your vibe, editing reveals crutch words like his own "So's," and promotion uncovers your authentic social voice. You're building a "podcasting brain" with portable skills you wouldn't gain otherwise. Listeners crave your humanity over studio polish—a genuine fumble trumps a scripted robot, your quirks become magic sauce, and big-team shows often sound overly sanded down.

The freedom of being "team of me" shines through: scale up by hiring help you already understand, collaborate with full-stack value, or pivot without drama. Dave urges pride when admitting "I do it all," tallying the cost and obligation of a full team versus your lean control. He shares a cheeky closing credits roll call naming himself in every role, from coffee runs to executive producer, as a fun reminder of your multifaceted contributions.

The episode closes with listener Q&A on show formats: Dave advises new podcasters wrestling with solo, co-host, or interview styles to choose what motivates them—solo for control, interviews via PodMatch for interaction if monologues feel lonely, avoiding burnout by starting with what lights you up.

Key Takeaway: Embrace being a team of one—list every role you handle, note one lesson from each, and lean into your favorite for the next 10 episodes. Your solo strength builds unshakable confidence and a uniquely unmistakable show.

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Episode 597 - The Next Chapter For Your Podcast - The Podcaster’s Path, 24 Steps from Beginner to Pro

The Next Chapter: Reflection, Gratitude, and Inspiring Future Creators

You've walked the full Podcaster’s Path—24 steps from that first spark of "I think I could do this" to leaving a legacy that outlives your active mic time. This final episode closes the arc, recapping the journey that’s helped countless solo creators start strong, stick with it, and build shows that matter. New podcasters, this series was built for you: a clear starting line to launch your voice and the staying power to keep going when the hype fades.

Act I: The Call to Create (Steps 1–6)

You heard the call and crossed the threshold. From silencing doubts and excuses, to assembling bare-minimum tools (mic, headphones, quiet space), choosing your niche as "who + problem + promise," crafting a benefit-driven name and vision, and hitting publish on that raw first episode. These steps proved courage beats perfection—your pilot wasn't flawless, but it existed.

Act II: Trials and Growth (Steps 7–12)

Challenges tested you, but victories built resilience. You faced tech glitches and overwhelm, found mentors in communities and shows, sharpened your voice through low-pressure riffs, locked in consistency with batching and calendars, engaged listeners via simple questions and replies, and celebrated "first wins" like feedback or milestones. Doing it all solo accelerated your learning; every hat taught a portable skill.

Act III: Mastery and Transformation (Steps 13–18)

You leveled up into full-stack mastery. Refining storytelling with three-act structures, building lightweight teams or SOPs, expanding reach through SEO and collabs, busting monetization myths (alignment over audience size), creating sustainable systems like content calendars, and pushing through plateaus with experiments. Team-of-one creators thrived here—fingerprints on every step created unmistakable ownership.

Act IV: Return and Legacy (Steps 19–24)

The hero returns transformed, giving back. You became the mentor through teaching playbooks, built community via gatherings and shared stories, evolved your brand without losing core listeners, archived for longevity (YouTube backups, show Bibles, hosting plans), and embraced the mindset of resilience over metrics. Evergreen content ensures episodes inspire years later, like timeless voices preserved in The New Media Show.

Why This Path Works for New Podcasters

This isn't theory—it's a sequenced roadmap against podfade. Each step includes a story, teaching beats, one doable action, and encouragement, fitting busy lives (15–20 min episodes). Solo creators learn fastest touching every process; small shows with heart outperform hype. Your hobby podcast isn't second-class—it's free from pressure, full of authentic connection.

Reflection and Gratitude

Pause: What’s one step that shifted your thinking? Which action will you repeat? Gratitude to everyone who started this path—you proved every voice matters. Your family, listeners, and future creators thank you for showing up.

Key Takeaway: The Podcaster’s Path isn’t a finish line; it’s your launchpad. You've got the tools, mindset, and archive to podcast for joy, impact, or legacy. Start today, stay consistent, share one episode. The next creator needs your voice as much as you needed this series. Keep going—your story endures.

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Episode 596 - The Podcaster’s Mindset - The Podcaster’s Path, 24 Steps from Beginner to Pro

Podcasters face unique mental battles—from crickets in the downloads to tech meltdowns mid-recording. The Podcaster’s Mindset isn’t about grinding harder; it’s about building resilience to bounce back, creativity to stand out, and a long-term view that turns a hobby into a lasting voice.Resilience: When the Mic Feels Heavy

Every podcaster knows the sting of zero comments, glitchy audio, or that one bad review that replays in your head. Resilience means treating setbacks as episode edits, not show cancellations.
You rerecord flubs, trim dead air—do the same with doubt. A "failed" episode teaches you pacing; a quiet launch shows you need clearer hooks. Solo creators especially build grit because every hat (host, editor, promoter) forces quick recovery.

Mindset shift: Download stats don’t define you. One listener who applies your advice and transforms? That’s impact.

Creativity: Your Voice as Signature

In a sea of 4 million shows, creativity isn’t flashy graphics—it’s your weird laugh, unexpected tangent, or hot take others dodge. Podcasters thrive by leaning into quirks, not polishing them out.
Resist "best practices" that sound like every other show. Experiment: 5-minute raw riffs, listener call-ins mid-episode, or flipping formats (cohost one week, solo stories the next). Constraints spark genius—your phone mic forced tighter scripts.

Mindset shift: Copycats chase trends; originals build cults. Your creative fingerprints make listeners return.

Long-Term Growth: Play the Decade, Not the Episode

Podcasting rewards marathoners, not sprinters. Episode 247 won’t go viral, but episode 247 compounds with 246 before it. Growth compounds quietly: sharper hooks from editing reps, bolder topics from confidence wins, fuller rosters from guest relationships.
Track non-stat wins: clearer articulation, faster workflows, deeper listener emails. Seasons beat single episodes—plan 24 like your Path series, each building authority.

Mindset shift: You’re not chasing 10K downloads; you’re crafting a 10-year archive. A decade from now, your voice inspires someone discovering episode 1.

Your Podcaster’s Manifesto

Write this down, read before hitting record:
"I podcast for the voice that needs my story, not the algorithm. Setbacks sharpen me. Weirdness wins listeners. Today’s episode stacks tomorrow’s legacy."

Team-of-one or growing team, this mindset endures. Your show outlives fads because it’s fueled by resilience, creativity, and patient growth. What’s your next unpolished episode? Record it today.

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