Friendly Podcast Guide: Teaching Women How to Grow a Podcast (Without Burning Out) – Details, episodes & analysis

Ready to grow your podcast in 2026 without burning out? In this episode, I'm sharing four sustainable, impactful strategies to help you stand out and stay energized as a mom who podcasts. Plus, I reveal how Pinterest quietly revolutionized my own podcast growth—and how it can do the same for you.

Hi, I’m Andi Smiley—your podcast guide and coach for moms who want to grow their shows in a way that fits their real life. I bring practical podcast tips, honest stories from my own journey, and wisdom from brilliant podcasters and experts (like the Pinterest pro I’ll be featuring soon!).

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• Four podcast growth strategies for 2026

• How podcast SEO helps more listeners find your show

• Using Pinterest instead of Instagram for podcast marketing

• Why average consumption rate matters more than downloads

• Where to find your podcast analytics beyond downloads

• How Pinterest helped my podcast reach new listeners

• Tips for taking intentional podcast breaks (without ghosting)

• Podcast SEO isn’t scary—just use real words your listeners search for.

• Pinterest is the podcast marketing platform no one’s talking about (yet!).

• Pay attention to how long people actually listen to your episodes.

• Breaks are powerful—but tell your listeners what to expect!

(00:00) Welcome

(00:32) My big podcast marketing aha moment

(01:24) Podcast growth tip #1: Make Podcast SEO your friend

(02:35) Tip #2: Pinterest over Instagram

(04:21) Tip #3: Look at your average consumption rate

(05:33) Tip #4: Take intentional podcast breaks

(06:32) Your one next step: Try Pinterest

• Get on the waitlist for Pinterest Magic for Podcasters

• Episode with Brittany Herzberg on SEO

• Apple Podcast Connect

• Create Pins with Canva

• Follow me on Pinterest

In this episode, I'm breaking down my Top 5 Takeaways from Podcast Movement, the biggest podcasting conference in the U.S. Whether you're brand new or a few seasons in, these tips will help you grow your podcast audience, feel less pressure around social media, and explore fresh, sustainable strategies for podcast marketing and monetization.

I'm Andi Smiley—podcast coach for moms and host of this show! I help mom podcasters grow without burnout by sharing practical podcasting tips and lessons from my own journey. I just got back from Podcast Movement, and I’m spilling the top insights that can make a big difference for your show.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• How podcast SEO can help your audience find you

• Why Instagram doesn’t need to be your main marketing channel

• My podcast strategies: podcast swaps, podcast SEO and Pinterest

• Seeing other podcasters as collaborators, not competition

• Multiple ways to make money podcasting beyond ads

• The surprising ROI of Pinterest for podcast marketing

• What to focus on if you're overwhelmed with podcast growth

Key Takeaways

• Focus on podcast SEO—it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

• Social media is great for connection, but not ideal for growth.

• Podcast swaps are a powerful way to grow your listener base.

• Collaborate with podcasters in your niche—you’re stronger together.

• Monetization isn’t just ads! Paid subscriptions are a great option for smaller shows.

One action step: optimize your podcast with SEO-friendly keywords.

Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome

(00:33) My Pinterest “aha” moment

(01:40) Takeaway 1: Podcast SEO

(03:00) Takeaway 2: Social media ≠ podcast marketing

(03:38) Takeaway 3: Podcast swaps

(04:28) Takeaway 4: Collaborating with similar shows

(06:06) Takeaway 5: Different ways to monetize your podcast

(07:34) One action step

Links & Resources

• Join the Pinterest Magic for Podcasters waitlist (and get $10 off when it launches)

• Brittany Herzberg SEO Interview

• Follow me on Instagram

• Learn more on the Friendly Podcast Guide website

Can a podcast workflow actually make podcasting easier? The simple answer? Yes, it is podcasting made easy. The longer answer…is this episode. I’m going to explain what a podcast workflow is, how it helps you accomplish podcasting without burn out and how to create your own using a podcast workflow template.

With this episode you’ll be able to:

• Confidently explain what a podcast workflow is

• Create a podcast workflow that will help you avoid burnout

• Tweak your podcast workflow when it isn’t working for you any longer

Don’t forget to grab a free 30-minute Podcast Jumpstart Session, I love helping you get rid of those podcasting roadblocks!  Oh, and be sure to say hi on Instagram!

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:12) What is a podcast workflow

(02:40) Podcast Jumpstart Sessions

(03:39) Before making a workflow

(04:03) Batch recording podcast

(05:23) Creating your podcast workflow

(07:21) My podcast workflow example

(08:22) Tweaking your workflow

(10:06) One thing you should do

how to start a successful podcast, podcast tips, starting a podcast tips, tips on starting a podcast, advice for starting a podcast, how to start a podcast with no audience, podcast tips for beginners, how to start a podcast for beginners, podcast workflow, how to create a podcast episode, batch recording podcast, podcasting without burning out, podcasting made easy, podcast workflow template, podcast workflow example

May is mental health awareness month. Research and personal experience revealed that some of the most common mental health struggles for moms are anxiety and depression. In my personal opinion, I think a lot of that has to do with a lack of true self-care, not just bubble baths and pedicures. I found some podcast episodes about anxiety, depression, and self-care to hopefully give you a starting point for yourself or to share with someone you love who is struggling with mental health.

Links for this episode:

• Friendly Kid Podcast Guide

• View the rest of the show notes on the Friendly Podcast Guide Website

If your kids love stories, then this week's kid podcast is one you are definitely going to want to try. It's about Bella the Cow, who is a delightful character that gets into all sorts of mischief. The host Kristien Kaelen, is from Denmark and she does a lovely job translating this podcast into three languages. Bella is a singing cow from Obergurgl, Austria, who gets thrown into all sorts of adventures. 

In this episode, I talk with Kristien about her podcast, Bella the Cow. We talk about how she started this podcast and some of her favorite stories that she has created with Bella the Cow. This vibe of her podcast is all about feeling good and giving children and adults a story that they can have fun listening to. 

Links:

• Grab my Kid Podcast Guide   
• View the rest of the show notes on the Friendly Podcast Guide Website

This is one of those episodes and this week it's all about what is helping me life a joyful life right now. I first heard this idea from the Lazy Genius Podcast, and the host, Kendra Adachi said she got this idea from the author, Barbara Brown Taylor. Taylor asks and answers this question in her memoir, Leaving Church.

I put this episode on the list for this month, but I've had a pretty hard and stressful couple of months, and quite honestly, I almost decided not to do this episode because I couldn't think of anything that was making my life better right now. But then I realized that that was the exact reason I needed to do this episode, and I ended up coming up with five things that are saving my life.

Listen in to hear what these five things are! 

Links from the Episode: 

• Olive and June Affiliate Link
• Book - Joyful: the surprising power of ordinary things to create extraordinary happiness
• Book - Legends & Lattes 
• Hale Center Theater in Orem
• You can see the rest of the show notes on the Friendly Podcast Guide website. 

Motherhood is hard under normal circumstances, but when you add in moving every couple of years and military deployment, that is a whole extra level of difficulty. This week's podcast is called KoFe Confessions, and it's all about navigating the world of being a military mom. 

In this episode I talk with Kodie and Felisha about:

• How they started their Podcast and what it means to them. 
• The community that they are building with their podcast for military moms and moms in general.
• The resource they created for military families. 
• Their vibe is funny and messy, like you are grabbing a cup of coffee with a friend.
• and much more! 

Links from this episode: 

• Grab my Kid Podcast Guide
• You can see the rest of the show notes on The Friendly Podcast Guide website.

This episode is about parenting and motherhood. I’m super excited about this episode, because I get to include tips for parents from podcast hosts and some of you, my listeners! A couple weeks ago I put out a request on Instagram for people to send in their parenting tips and y’all didn’t disappoint. So in this episode I’m going to share 3 podcasts about motherhood and parenting and then I’m going to sprinkle in tips for parents from all of you!

Podcasts included in this Episode:

• How She Moms
• 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms
• Smooth Stones
• Parenting in Real Life
• Mommying While Muslim
• This is Going to Be FUN!

Links from the Episode:

• Grab my Kid Podcast Guide!
• You can see the rest of the show notes on the Friendly Podcast Guide website.

I think it’s safe to say that at least most of us aren’t perfect parents, but I also think it’s safe to say that most of us are trying to become better parents. This week’s podcast is called Parenting In Real Life and the hosts Alexis and Alan Tanner talk about the realities of parenthood along with parenting tips and tricks on how to make it easier. The authenticity of this podcast is wonderfully refreshing.

In this episode I talk to Alan and Alexis about many aspects of their show including:

• Their show being a place for parents to find parenting tips as well as sympathy and commiseration in the hard parts of parenting.
• They conciously keep the podcast light, so you can do other things while listening and don't have to feel the need to take a bunch of notes.
• The vibe of their show is conversational and relaxed.
• Their show has followed their family as it has grown and changed, so no matter what stage of parenting you are in they have parenting tips for you.
• And much more!

Links from the Episode:

• Grab my Kid Podcast Guide!
• You can see the rest of the show notes on the Friendly Podcast Guide website.

We all love a good story, especially kids, so I rounded up some of our family’s favorite story-telling kid podcasts.

Links from the Episode:

• Grab my kid podcast guide!
• You can see the rest of the show notes on the Friendly Podcast Guide website.