Hey, I’m Andi Smiley, your Friendly Podcast Guide and podcast coach for women! After 6 years in the podcasting world, I know how to help you start a successful podcast as a woman and mom, grow your podcast audience, and actually enjoy the process. On this show, you’ll get podcasting for beginners made simple, podcast tips for women, and sustainable podcast marketing strategies—so you can build a podcast you love without the burnout.
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I have a confession: no matter what I'm "supposed" to be talking about on this podcast, I always end up bringing up Pinterest. So this season, I'm leaning all the way in! Season 6 is almost entirely dedicated to showing you how to grow a podcast audience using Pinterest, with a few incredible guest interviews sprinkled in along the way (we'll see how long it takes me to steer those conversations back to Pinterest too).
Hi, I'm Andi, your friendly podcast guide and podcast coach for women who want sustainable, non-overwhelming ways to grow their shows. As your resident Pinterest-for-podcasters expert, I've spent this season going deep on everything Pinterest can do for your podcast, and I can't wait to share it with you.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Why Pinterest is one of my favorite podcast marketing strategies (and why I can't stop talking about it!)
What to expect from this season's guest interviews
When the first full episode of Season 6 drops
Key Takeaways
This season is your deep dive into how to grow a podcast audience using Pinterest as your go-to strategy.
The first full episode drops September 1st — mark your calendar!
Podcast Marketing Strategies for Your Summer Break
Saison 5 · Épisode 15
mardi 26 mai 2026 • Durée 07:25
Taking a seasonal break from your podcast doesn't have to mean losing momentum. In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite podcast marketing strategies to keep your downloads coming in and your business making money all summer long. As a podcast coach for women, I know how important it is to build sustainable podcasting strategies that work even when you're not actively recording, and these four approaches are exactly how I'm doing it. From batching Pinterest pins to podcast guesting, I'm pulling back the curtain on what my summer break actually looks like.
Hi, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and host of the Friendly Podcast Guide. I help women podcasters grow their shows without letting their podcast take over their lives, using sustainable podcasting strategies that don't require you to be glued to social media 24/7. I'm sharing exactly what I'll be doing this summer to keep growing my podcast without social media and without burning out.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Why taking a seasonal podcast break doesn't have to hurt your downloads or income
How I use Pinterest as a long-term podcast marketing strategy to keep episodes discoverable all year
My plan for batching a full month of Pinterest pins in one sitting to grow a podcast without social media
How to grow a podcast audience through strategic podcast guesting during your off-season
Being a guest speaker in podcast communities as a visibility strategy for women podcasters
Why Threads is my favorite social media platform and how I batch-schedule content in about 20 minutes a week
Going back to evergreen content from past seasons to keep creating pins that drive traffic
Key Takeaways
Pinterest is one of the most powerful podcast marketing strategies for keeping your episodes getting found, even while you're on a break. Evergreen content means you can keep pinning about old episodes long after they air.
Batching your content is a game-changer for sustainable podcasting. Whether it's pins or Threads posts, scheduling out a month at a time gives you serious breathing room and is one of the best podcast tips for women who want a life outside their show.
Podcast guesting is one of the smartest ways to grow a podcast in 2026 without creating new episodes. Recording guest appearances during your break means you'll have content ready and new audiences finding you, without the pressure of producing your own show simultaneously.
Podcast Marketing Advice I'd Give My Past Self
Saison 5 · Épisode 14
mardi 19 mai 2026 • Durée 05:45
If I could sit down with my just-starting-out podcast self, this is exactly what I'd tell her. In this solo episode, I'm sharing the four podcast marketing strategies I wish someone had handed me on day one…from building an email list before your first episode drops to ditching Instagram if it just isn't your thing.
Hey, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and host of Friendly Podcast Guide. I've been podcasting for nearly five years (wild, right?!) and I'm here to help you grow your podcast audience in a way that actually feels good and fits your real life. I share the podcast tips for women that I wish I'd had from the very beginning.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Why starting your email list before your first episode is a total game-changer
How email marketing has become the most effective way I sell my offers
Why Pinterest is one of the best sustainable podcasting strategies for long-term growth
The power of showing up at podcast conferences and in-person networking events
Why Instagram might not be the right fit for every podcaster
How I discovered that Threads and Pinterest work so much better for me
Key Takeaways
Start your email list immediately, even if you only have three subscribers when you hit send on that first email. Email marketing is one of the most powerful ways to grow a podcast audience and sell your offers.
Get on Pinterest as soon as you have content, Pinterest content has a much longer lifespan than any other social platform, and starting early means more content out there working for you around the clock.
Go to podcast conferences and networking events, the connections you make in person are priceless, and they can seriously level up both your podcast and your mindset.
Don't just use Instagram because you think you're supposed to, figure out where your people actually are and show up there instead. For me, that's Pinterest and Threads.
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:37) Tip 1: Start your email list before your first episode
Grow Your Podcast with Email & Quizzes with Kylee Chandler
Saison 5 · Épisode 13
mardi 12 mai 2026 • Durée 20:12
If you've been putting off building your email list, this episode is your sign to finally make it happen! I'm sitting down with podcast strategist Kylee Chandler to talk about two of the most powerful (and underused) strategies for growing your email: curated lead magnets and personality quizzes. Kylee shares how podcasters can use these tools to turn casual listeners into superfans, and grow a podcast audience that actually sticks around.
Kylee Chandler is a podcast growth strategist and the host of the Podcast Growth Tools podcast. She specializes in helping podcasters, especially women with established shows, grow their email lists and create quiz funnels that convert. Kylee has worked with big names like Amy Porterfield and Kathy Heller, and she brings a creative, podcast-first approach to email marketing that feels anything but boring.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
What a lead magnet is and why podcasters need one
How to create a curated podcast bundle as a lead magnet
Why quizzes are one of the most powerful tools for growing your email list
How to use a quiz to deliver personalized podcast playlists to new listeners
The data quizzes give you about your audience (this one is SO good!)
How to write a lifestyle newsletter your subscribers actually want to open
Real-life quiz funnel results, including a 77% revenue increase!
Why nurturing your email list matters just as much as growing it
How Pinterest can amplify your quiz and lead magnet strategy
Key Takeaways
A curated podcast bundle, episodes grouped around your listeners' biggest pain points or desires, makes a far more compelling lead magnet than a basic checklist, especially if you have a large back catalog.
Quizzes work because people love to learn about themselves and when you pair quiz results with a personalized podcast playlist, you create an instant connection with new subscribers.
The data from a quiz funnel tells you exactly who is in your audience and what they need, which makes your content and offers so much more targeted.
5 Pinterest Lessons That Helped Me Grow My Podcast 74%
Saison 5 · Épisode 12
mardi 5 mai 2026 • Durée 13:17
If you've ever wondered whether you have to be on Instagram to grow your podcast, this episode is for you! I'm sharing five things I've learned from taking Pinterest seriously as my main podcast marketing strategy over the past year, and the results have blown me away. We're talking about a 74% increase in downloads and 200+ new email subscribers, all without stressing over Instagram trends. If you're looking for sustainable podcasting strategies that actually work, keep listening!
Hey, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and host of the Friendly Podcast Guide. I'm obsessed with helping you grow your podcast without letting it rule your life. I share strategies that actually work, the stuff I wish someone had told me sooner. This episode is straight from my own experience using Pinterest as my go-to podcast marketing strategy for the past year.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Why finding the right platform is more important than being on every platform
How Pinterest helped me grow my podcast 74% in one year without Instagram
Why Pinterest SEO keywords are the foundation of a successful strategy
How I figured out that Pinterest-specific keyword research is a game changer
Why pins don't have to be pretty to perform well
What sustainable consistency actually looks like (hint: it's NOT 15 pins a day!)
Why Pinterest is a long game, and why that's actually great news for podcasters
Key Takeaways
Find your platform. Not every marketing platform is right for every podcast. Instagram wasn't working for me, Pinterest was. Give yourself permission to go where your people actually are.
SEO is everything on Pinterest. Using Pinterest-specific keywords (not just Google keywords) made a huge difference in how my pins performed.
Pretty pins are a bonus, not a requirement. Some of my best-performing pins are just text. Focus on clear, keyword-rich descriptions over beautiful graphics.
How to Grow Your Podcast and Make Money in 2026
Saison 5 · Épisode 11
mardi 28 avril 2026 • Durée 05:08
If marketing jargon makes your eyes glaze over, this episode is for you! I'm breaking down the two types of marketing I use to grow my podcast and make money, no funnels, no KPIs, no marketing bro speak. Just real, simple strategies that actually work.
Hey, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and host of the Friendly Podcast Guide. I've spent the past year using Pinterest as my main growth strategy, and my podcast has grown by 74% and gained over 200 email subscribers…all without Instagram. I'm here to share what's actually working so you can grow your podcast sustainably too.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
The two types of marketing every podcaster needs to know about
Why I deleted Instagram and didn't see a drop in downloads
How Pinterest fits into my podcast marketing strategy
My favorite "get people in the door" marketing tools (Pinterest, Threads, podcast guesting, and SEO)
Why my email list is where almost all of my business income comes from
How my podcast serves my audience without being a hard sales tool
How to grow a podcast without social media in 2026
Why you don't need to be everywhere, just strategic
Key Takeaways
You need at least two types of marketing: one to get people in the door and one to help them buy from you
Pinterest is one of the most sustainable, low-effort ways to grow a podcast without showing up daily
Your email list is your most powerful tool for actually making money
You don't have to use every platform, pick what works for your audience and your life
Sustainable podcasting strategies beat burnout-inducing ones every single time
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:49) How Pinterest fits into my growth strategy
(02:14) My favorite "get people in the door" marketing tools
They Opted In, So Email Them w/ Allea Grummert
Saison 5 · Épisode 10
mardi 21 avril 2026 • Durée 23:47
If you've been avoiding your email list because you're not sure what to say, afraid to send too many emails, or convinced your subscribers don't want to hear from you… this episode is your sign to just start.
Allea Grummert is an email marketing strategist who works with small business owners and content creators, and she has a refreshingly no-pressure approach to building an email strategy that actually works. She also hosts the Happy Subscribers podcast, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Time Stamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:49) The fears podcasters have about email and why they're mostly unfounded
(04:04) Why email gives you more control than podcast apps or social media
(05:51) Should you grow your list first or start emailing first?
(07:15) Leading vs. lagging metrics — and why the distinction changes everything
(09:33) How many emails should you actually be sending per week?
(12:18) Brainstorming your second email (it doesn't have to be a sales pitch)
(17:50) What a welcome sequence is and what to put in it
(20:33) Allea's top tip for making email feel less overwhelming every single week
Summer is coming fast, and if you're a podcaster, that means your strategy probably needs a little seasonal refresh! In this episode, I'm sharing my best tips for marketing your podcast and creating episodes this summer — without burning yourself out. Whether you want to keep things light, try something new, or give yourself full permission to take a break, this one's for you.
Hey, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and the host of Friendly Podcast Guide. I'm passionate about helping you grow your podcast without letting it run your life. I've been using Pinterest to grow my show for the past year, and the results have honestly blown me away…74% podcast growth and 200+ new email subscribers, all without Instagram.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Why Pinterest is one of the best podcast marketing strategies for summer
What podcast swaps are and how to use them to grow your podcast audience
How to create shorter, bite-sized episodes that work for summer schedules
Bringing back your most popular episodes as "best of" content
How to take a podcast break without losing your listeners
How to communicate your break across your episode, email list, and social media
Why sustainable podcasting strategies matter more than rigid consistency
Key Takeaways
Pinterest is evergreen, which makes it one of the smartest podcast marketing strategies, batch your pins once and your marketing keeps working while you're on vacation.
Podcast swaps are a two-for-one win: they help you reach a new audience and fill your feed without creating brand-new content.
Shorter episodes can be a gift to both you and your listeners during the summer months, don't be afraid to experiment with the format.
"Best of" episodes are an underrated tool. Your newer listeners probably haven't heard your older hits, so bring them back!
Taking a break is not a cop-out, it's a sustainable podcasting strategy. Burning out helps no one.
How I Grow My Podcast Without Instagram
Saison 5 · Épisode 8
mardi 7 avril 2026 • Durée 08:29
I deleted Instagram off my phone and my podcast downloads didn't drop a single bit. In this episode, I'm sharing exactly why I walked away from Instagram and the podcast marketing strategies I use instead to keep growing my show sustainably.
Hi, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and host of the Friendly Podcast Guide. I help women grow their podcasts without letting them take over their lives. I've grown my own show by 74% in the past year and gained over 200 email subscribers, all without relying on Instagram.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Why I deleted Instagram and how it was affecting my mental health
How I realized Instagram wasn't driving my podcast growth
Why Pinterest is my favorite podcast marketing strategy
How to use Threads to build real connections and grow your audience
The power of podcast guesting for networking and new listeners
How email marketing closes almost all of my sales
Why sustainable podcasting strategies matter more than being everywhere at once
Key Takeaways
You don't need Instagram to grow your podcast…there are better, more sustainable options out there
Pinterest works like a search engine, which means your content keeps working for you long after you post it
Threads is a low-lift platform where real conversations (and real connections) actually happen
Podcast guesting is a slow burn, but the networking and referrals are incredibly valuable
Email marketing is where the sales magic happens, it's the strategy that closes almost all of my offers
Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(01:58) Why Instagram wasn't working for my podcast marketing
(03:08) Pinterest as a podcast growth strategy
(03:39) Why I love using Threads
How to Grow a Podcast Using Experiments w/ Whitney Archibald
Saison 5 · Épisode 7
mardi 31 mars 2026 • Durée 30:33
What if the secret to growing your podcast wasn't doing more, but experimenting more? In this episode, I'm chatting with my friend Whitney, the queen of experiments herself, about how an experimental mindset can completely transform the way you podcast. From hiring contractors and rethinking email strategy to rerunning archive episodes and ditching bonus content, we're sharing the real experiments we're currently trying (and what we've learned from the ones that didn't quite pan out).
Meet the Expert
Whitney is the host of The Family Lab, a podcast where she literally experiments with her family to figure out what works in parenting and home life. She brings that same curious, low-pressure approach to podcasting, which makes her one of my absolute favorite people to think out loud with about sustainable podcasting strategies.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Whitney's experience hiring her first contractor to help launch a video podcast
How delegating podcast tasks (and thinking of it as an experiment) takes the pressure off
My experiment with splitting weekly emails into two focused sends
Growing a small but mighty email list and actually making money from it
Using Threads as a surprisingly fun way to grow a podcast audience
Why "reliability" might matter more than "consistency" in podcasting
What Whitney is doing with her podcast archive to build out a self-reliance series
My experiment with skipping bonus episodes between seasons, and what I'm learning
Key Takeaways
Calling something an experiment completely changes how you relate to it…especially when it doesn't go perfectly. It takes the failure personally out of the equation and turns your analytics into data rather than a verdict on your worth as a podcaster.
You don't need a massive email list to support podcast growth or sell your offers. Starting small (even with 7 subscribers!) and staying consistent is what builds momentum over time.
You don't have to be everywhere to grow a podcast without social media. Showing up consistently in a couple of intentional places, like Pinterest and Threads, is enough to keep your audience warm and your business moving.
Seasonal breaks are a feature, of a healthy, sustainable podcasting strategy. Planning ahead means you can step away without your podcast skipping a beat.
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:30) Why seasonal podcast breaks are part of a sustainable podcasting strategy
(00:49) Pinterest: my go-to podcast marketing strategy during the off-season
(02:46) Podcast guesting to grow your podcast audience during a break
(04:03) Guest speaking in podcast communities
(05:43) Using Threads to stay connected and make sales without social media stress
You don't need a huge email list to start. Start nurturing now, so when you're ready to sell (or simply invite people to listen), they're already warm.
A lifestyle-style newsletter, one that leads with a story before getting into podcast updates, can dramatically boost your open rates. Kylee's hovers around 60%!
Quizzes are a long game, just like podcasting and Pinterest. Set it up, promote it, and let it work for you over time.
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:38) Introducing Kylee Chandler
(01:26) What is a lead magnet and why do podcasters need one?
(02:32) Curated podcast bundles as lead magnets
(04:25) Why your email list needs nurturing, not just growth
(05:07) The lifestyle newsletter strategy and Kylee's 60% open rate
(08:43) Why quizzes are a game-changer for podcast growth
(12:25) The data quizzes give you about your audience
(13:44) Where to host your quiz (Interact quiz platform)
Consistency is personal. I started with one pin a week and slowly worked up to one per day. Find what you can sustain — and stick with it.
Pinterest is a long game. Expect to start seeing results around the 2–4 month mark. But unlike social media posts, pins keep working for months or even years.
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(01:47) Lesson 1: Finding the right platform for you
(03:23) Lesson 2: Pinterest SEO is king
(05:01) Lesson 3: Pins don't have to be pretty
(06:23) Lesson 4: Consistency looks different for everyone
If you're stepping away, tell your people! Share it in your last episode, in an email, and on social media, and always let them know when you'll be back.
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:27) How Pinterest helps you grow a podcast without social media
(02:09) Marketing your podcast during the summer
(04:21) Creating podcast episodes in the summer
(07:29) What I'm doing with my podcast this summer
Outsourcing doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. Whitney and I both talked about the ongoing process of figuring out what to hand off and what to keep and how that balance shifts as skills and needs evolve.
Reliability over consistency is a reframe worth considering. Your listeners want to be able to count on you to come back and show up with quality, not necessarily on a rigid weekly schedule.
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome
(00:31) Introducing Whitney and her experimental approach to podcasting
(01:25) Whitney's experience hiring contractors and going video
(05:53) My email list experiment: splitting sends and growing sustainably
(09:38) Using Threads to grow a podcast audience without social media stress
(11:58) Benefits of podcast experiments
(15:59) The Open Lab experiment: building community one listener at a time
(20:09) Some of our current podcast experiments
(27:14) Reliability vs. consistency in podcasting (and parenting!)
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