Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcasting takes time.

Usually more time than you expect.

If your show feels like a lot of work with very little return, the problem probably isn't your commitment.

It's your production process.

I see this all the time as a podcast coach. Podcasters reacting week to week instead of working from a repeatable system. Scrambling for topics. Recording whenever there's a free moment. Editing on the fly. Publishing late. Promoting inconsistently. It's common, but it's also the fastest way to burn out before your podcast ever pays off.

In this episode, I break down why efficiency matters more than hustle when it comes to podcasting for your business. Not because podcasting should be easy, but because narrowing the gap between effort and return is the only way to stay consistent long enough to see results.

You'll hear what actually makes a podcast production process efficient, what most podcasters are missing, and how a clear structure, intentional batching, and a documented workflow can dramatically reduce the time and energy cost of your show. This isn't about cutting corners. It's about building a process that supports consistency, quality, and long-term momentum.

If you're just starting out, efficiency helps you build the right habits from day one. If you're already podcasting and wondering why the return doesn't match the effort, this episode will help you see where things are breaking down.

If you want help tightening up your production process or figuring out how to get it right from day one, book a free private podcast coaching call. Let's build a podcast production process to serve you instead of draining you.

Find my coaching programs at:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com

FULL SHOWNOTES HERE:
https://podcastperformancecoach.com/253-efficient-podcast-production-process-saves-time/

If you're starting a podcast for your business, this is the episode that can save you months of frustration and wasted effort.

Most entrepreneurs think starting a podcast is about gear, platforms, and hitting record. That's not where podcasts succeed or fail. The real work happens before any of that, and it's the part most new podcasters skip.

In this episode, I break down what actually needs to be clear before you ever name your show, plan an episode, or buy a microphone. We're talking about intention, audience clarity, show structure, performance, production, and marketing, and how all of it needs to work together if your podcast is meant to support your business.

I walk you through:

1. Why a podcast without a defined role in your business almost always stalls

2. How trying to speak to "everyone" quietly kills momentum

3. What creative structure really means for a business podcast

4. Why sound quality and performance still matter more than people want to admit

5. How consistency and production systems keep podcasts alive long term

6. Why publishing and marketing come after strategy, not before

If you're thinking about starting a podcast for your business, or you're early in the process and want to make sure you're not getting it wrong, this episode will help you see the full picture before you move forward.

If you want personal guidance on whether podcasting is the right move for your business and how to do it properly, you can book a free, personal podcast coaching call with me here:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com

This episode follows the exact work we do inside our Concept to Casting Podcast Launch Program, and a free coaching call with me will help you decide your next best step.

RESOURCES/LINKS

This is why understanding your why is so critical. I talked about this in more depth in Episode 61, and it's the first place I start with every client.

Related Podcasts:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/212-how-to-sound-like-a-podcast-pro-5-tips-to-improve-your-podcaster-voice/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/157-want-a-better-sounding-podcast-do-this-with-your-mic/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/058-help-i-hate-the-sound-of-my-voice/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/251-boost-podcast-authority-fix-your-mic-technique/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/236-bad-audio-killing-podcast-authority-fix/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/224-podcast-coach-top-3-podcast-microphone-review-every-budget/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/194-5-mistakes-podcasters-make-with-their-microphone-and-how-to-fix-them/

Pop quiz: How many downloads does your podcast need to be considered successful?

10,000 an episode? A million overall?

It's less than you think.

According to Buzzsprout's 2025 global podcast stats, half of the top shows get around 30 downloads in the first week. If you're hitting 100 downloads, you're in the top 25%. At 500, you're in the top 10%. The top 1%? That's closer to 5,000 downloads per episode.

But here's the thing: chasing big numbers won't necessarily translate into dollars for your business.

What really matters is attracting the right listeners. Imagine 100 ideal clients tuning in every week, giving you their full attention. That kind of influence can double or 10X your revenue, which is far more valuable than 10,000 random listeners who will never take action.

In this episode, I explain why:

1. Sponsorships aren't the best way to monetize your podcast.

2. Selling to your audience beats selling your audience.

3. Smaller, engaged audiences can land you clients, speaking gigs, and authority.

4. The real metrics to track (and none of them are downloads).

So stop letting your ego drive the bus and chase download numbers. Focus on why you started your podcast in the first place and align your success with your goals.

👉 Ready to realign your podcast for results?

Book a free 15-minute coaching call and let's talk about whether the Podcast Tune-Up is right for you: podcastperformancecoach.com

You are not alone. I hear this challenge from a lot of podcasters. 

The good news is that there's gold hiding in your past episodes!

I've talked before about how to use past topics to inspire fresh topic ideas (check out episode 056 "How to Brainstorm your Podcast Ideas" or episode 024 of Just One Tip "5 Ways to Generate Podcast Topic Ideas") but thought I would share this tip again because a client of mine recently had an epiphany. 

She listened to her trailer and was reminded of a whole bunch of stuff she had planned to talk about but hadn't yet covered. 

Suddenly she was filling in her content calendar with juicy topics. 

You might be surprised how much inspiration is lurking in past episodes. 

Now, before you get bent out of shape and start saying things like, 'Coach, I've talked about everything already!' Let me reassure you that there is huge value in revisiting, updating, or remixing your ideas. 

Think about some of the best known thought leaders. They don't stop talking about something because they've mentioned it once. Heck no! They keep talking about it. 

Can you imagine? "Oh, I did a Ted Talk on that topic so I'm not going to bother talking about that again…" Neil deGrasse Tyson isn't going to talk about space anymore because he already talked about it once or twice. Jillian Michaels already did an episode on weight loss so she's done with that topic. 

Madness, I tell you. 

Re-sharing your ideas in new and fresh ways is not repetitive. It's not laziness. It's called being consistent and that's called having a strategy! 

In this episode, I share a few ways for you to mine your old topics and episodes. Hit play and then head into your back catalog, heck listen to your own trailer again, and start jotting down opportunities to refresh and reshare some topics. 

If you need a bit more help fleshing out your content calendar or figuring out which topics you should strategically be repeating, grab 15 minutes of my time. It's free. Yep, I'm prepared to give you a 15-minute spot on my calendar totally for free. It's what I do. I'm your podcast performance coach. 

—-----------------

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

Do you ever feel like you're talking into a great empty void? Like your podcast is out there floating around and nobody is listening? 

It can be so demoralizing!

In this week's episode, I share a blast from the past to help you see that what you're doing as a podcast host has more impact than you know. 

This message from my past came in the form of a comment on a radio station's Facebook page. The DJ had asked the question about DJs people remembered (it was 'International DJ Day' and they were hunting for some engagement). Someone made a comment about me… and the role I'd played in their lonely teenage life back in the mid 90's. 

The DJ happened to know me and tagged me. 

I was shocked. And my ego grew three sizes that day. 

But, it was a good reminder that as podcasters, our words, stories, and ideas have an impact.

We may think we are talking to nobody. That the ideas and information we are sharing is bouncing around in a great void. But someone is listening. Someone is out there, actively putting your voice in their earholes week after week because they like what you have to share. 

You also need to know that they may never tell you how important you were to them. They may never connect or engage. They may even become customers without you knowing that it was your podcast that helped them move forward in their journey. 

Even if you don't get that affirmation, know that what you are sharing does have an impact. 

This is especially true if you are focusing on being listener-centric (yes, I was doing it even way back then). When you show up each episode with the intention to help your listener, you will have that kind of impact. 

And, if you don't want to wait almost 3 decades to find out how much you meant to them, make sure you help them take the next step on their customer journey, with YOU. 

All you have to do is focus on serving them and you will have an impact. 

Now if you need help increasing that impact, get yourself on my calendar. It's a free 15 minute coaching call and I'd love to connect with you. Like, now or next week… not in 30 years!

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

Who doesn't want to have the number one podcast? Pretty much every podcaster, right? That's why marketers keep promising it to you. But, you shouldn't bite. 

I've been seeing a lot of ads lately offering you up a guaranteed #1 podcast. 

It reminds me of my life in the radio biz and that dreaded time ... RATINGS!

If you were lucky, ratings meant good things for you and your crew. If you were up, you were safe. If ratings were down (especially if you add 'again' to that) then you were in jeopardy. No job was safe. Anyone could get the axe based on ratings. 

Don't Fall Prey to the Lure of False Metrics

But all of that was behind closed doors. For all the public knew, every show had dominated the ratings. You see ads like "Thanks for making us your #1 choice in the morning" Or, "Proudly #1 for 10 years in a row".  

Anyone who was actually paying attention would see many, many (almost all) of the stations making this #1 claim. 

So, how could everyone be #1? Were they all just lying? 

Kind of. Here in Canada, they have to follow Ad Standards, so they can't say something if it isn't true. But, there's truth and then there's how you look at the facts. 

You see, the ad wizards (aka the programming and promo department) would find a way to work the numbers. Say, for example, a radio station had the highest ratings with 80-year-old men at 9:30 at night. Technically, that show is #1 in the evenings. 

It's all in how you look at it. 

And, when you look at it selectively, it's really easy to make things look good. It's like hearing, "we're the most listened to radio station" and the part you didn't hear was, "in dental offices in the tri-state area".  Technically NOT lying, but a little misleading.

So, when I see these promises about being in the Top 10 of Podcasts Worldwide... I take it with a grain of salt. And then, I spit it back up because even with salt, bullshit still tastes like bullshit. 

You see, the real issue here isn't that podcasters are trying to convince the public that they're #1 with manipulated numbers, they're using inaccurate, half numbers at best. 

There is no singular, universally accepted podcast ranking system.

Spotify has theirs. Apple does too. And then there's Podtrac, Podcharts, Chartable, and more. 

And remember, downloads don't equal subscribers (there's no real way to measure that, by the way). 

You still want to have the number one ranked podcast? Ok, fine. 

Here's the step-by-step guide for having a #1 ranked podcast:

1. Change your category to something obscure
2. Set your VPN for Paraguay
3. Go and download your podcast in Paraguay
4. Check your rankings for that day in Paraguay in your category and BOOM!  #1, baby!
5. Tell the world you're #1 and take it to the bank

Okay, I know I'm being a bit of an ass here (shout out to all the kickass podcasters in Paraguay). What I'm trying to say here is, forget the false metrics. They mean nothing - especially if your podcast is part of your marketing strategy. 

If you are podcasting to drive traffic to your website, get more engagement, and increase the ease and speed of your sales... then these are the numbers to be paying attention to - not some random ranking. 

Ask yourself: How do you measure success? What is the number that says to you 'Way to go, you made it to your goals!'?

And, how does your podcast contribute to that? How can you measure your podcast's contribution to you reaching your business goals and getting return on your podcast investment?

I can almost guarantee the answer is not 'by ranking #5 in Leisure for one week'. 

If you want some help figuring out what numbers you should be paying attention to (and how to make them the numbers you want) take advantage of my free 15-minute coaching call. 

BOOK YOUR CALL NOW:

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

The Top Mistakes Podcasters Make Using Music

Have you ever been at a bar or party where the music is really loud and it's a struggle to have a conversation? It's annoying but part of the party experience. When it's part of a podcast experience it's just annoying.

Music can be a really important part of your podcast. But let me be clear. Nobody, I mean nobody, showed up for the music. Unless your podcast is about music, your music should be used only as a background or to set the tone (quickly) so you can get to the good stuff.

Yes. Even when your music is awesome.

I've had people email me and tell me that they literally have a little dance they do to my theme music. Which is fantastic. It's exactly what you want.

But, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there are some people who hate my music. Luckily, they never have to sit through much of it before I get to the content they actually tuned in for.

In this episode, I cover what your music should be and what it should not be.

Your music should NOT be:

• The first entire minute of your show (I've heard this more than once. Yes, I can skip but is that really what you want people doing at the beginning of your show?) Keep it to 10-15 seconds just to set the tone.
• So loud that your listener is straining to hear what you're saying. You know, that whole party listening vibe – it does not belong in your podcast. Mix that shit down!
• Used as a random cover up. I called a client out on this recently. He confessed that he'd thrown some music in to cover up the fact that there was a lot of background noise. Boooo! Re-record. Your listeners will be confused and you're just being lazy. I said it. 
• Played for the duration of your podcast. This may just be me but I can't stand when I faintly hear music in the background constantly fighting for my attention. Unless you are doing a guided meditation of something, the music is not helping to set the tone – it is just distracting.

Don't let this scare you off from using music in your podcast. Music can play an important role. It can set the mood off the top and be a bit of musical branding. I like to think that love it or hate it, when you hear those first few beats of my theme music, you know where you are and that you're about to be served a quick podcast tip with a side of smartass.

I also recommend music to close out your podcast, kind of musical bookends, but be careful about this because it may trigger your listener to turn your show off prematurely. Don't put any important info after your end-of-show music.

And, don't be afraid to get creative. Use music to punctuate a point, to signify a change in topic or to reset your interview. 

Episode 008 - The Reset

Episode 082 - How to Pick the Right Podcast Music.

In short, you want music but you want to manage your music. You want that music to enhance not distract.

Remember, your show is not for you, it's for your listener. Think of them (and the fact that they may not have the same musical tastes as you) when you are carefully peppering in the tunes.

Need some help making sure your podcast is serving your listener? Book a free 15-minute coaching call with me. 

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got questions? Ask me anything at

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

Remember way back when you started your podcast and you wrote your description. That was a crazy time! You were launching your podcast, everything was new and let's face it, there was a bit of 'winging it' going on. 

The good news is, you've gotten better as a podcaster and your show has evolved… so why are you still using a description that you banged out in haste? 

What if that description is the reason you're not hitting your podcast goals? 

In this episode, I'm going to explain why you should take another look at your description and I'm even going to share the 5 must-have elements of a powerful podcast description. So, buckle up and hit play because we are on a mission to get you more qualified listeners (you know, the ones who become leads, clients, and fans). 

For a lot of podcasters, the description is something they think of once, right at the beginning of their journey and then they never revisit it. And as a result - their podcast description could be doing more harm than good. 

Is Your Podcast Description Helping or Hurting? Here's How to Fix It.

Yes, a badly written description can hurt your podcast!

Think about it. Your description is often how people decide if they are going to hit play and give you a few seconds to prove yourself as worthy of their time. 

And, the power of the podcast description doesn't end there. Your description also plays an important role in whether you get found by your intended audience or not. 

Here are three solid reasons why you should revisit and possibly rewrite your podcast description:

1. Discoverability (AKA SEO). Your podcast is probably listed on a number of platforms and even on podcast directories. Each of these places serve as search engines. A listener looking for a new show is going to put in a few keywords to find what they are looking for. Does your description have the right keywords to make sure they find you? No? Well, now… why are you hiding? Don't you want your show to be found, heard, and loved? 
2. Tell the Truth. If you've been podcasting for more than a minute, chances are your podcast has shifted. You may have niched down or maybe you've shifted the podcast style or purpose. It happens. Sometimes it's gradual. And your description needs to reflect this otherwise it's like a bait and switch. Your description is a promise to the potential listener. You're saying, 'if you press play, I promise you will get XYZ content'. If your show no longer fulfills that promise then every listener who presses play will be a person who was disappointed and will likely never press play again. If you've had a gradual (or sudden) shift, your description has to reflect this!
3. Shift the Spotlight. I talk to a lot of podcasters in my free 15-minute coaching calls. And, almost every single one describes their podcast by explaining what the show is. It's an interview show with interesting conversation… I talk to industry leaders… I share my insights from 20 years in the business. If your description sounds like this, I have a newsflash for you… you've got the spotlight on the wrong person. Your show is not about you or your guests. It is about what your listener needs and what they will get out of it. Rewriting your description will give you the opportunity to tell the listener why they should listen, not why you created it. 

Okay, so now that we are clear on the importance and power of rewriting your podcast description, let me give you my super quick outline of what SHOULD be in your podcast description. Let's keep it simple. Your podcast description must-haves are the 5 Ws. 

• Who is the podcast for?
• What's in it for the listener? What will the benefit to THEM be if they listen?
• Why are you the person to share this information?
• When does the podcast come out?
• Where can they find more information?

Now these aren't all equal weight, but keep the last three questions short. At this point, they should already be sold and hitting play. 

Hitting play is the goal here because, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and say that once they hit play they'll be hooked. You've worked hard to create your podcast and the last thing you need is to get a potential listener on the line who discovers that the bait wasn't nearly as tasty as it looked. 

Now, if you need help making your podcast description something worthy of a podcast re-write, take advantage of my free 15-minute podcast coaching session. We'll talk about your podcast, your goals and then I'll slap some sense into you so that you can make your podcast even better. What… I'm just giving you an honest description of what you're going to get. 

Click here to grab a spot on my calendar. 

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

As a podcaster, you want your voice to convey certain things. You want you listeners to instantly feel like they can trust you because you know what you are talking about. You want them to be listening and nodding in agreement.

This doesn't just come from the content you're sharing. Your voice has to live up to the authority your content is driving. 

But what do you do if you have a weak voice or a quiet delivery? 

Don't worry! We can fix it. 

Have you ever heard the term "air of authority"? It usually refers to someone who just oozes with authority. That sounds like a good thing, right? Something that your podcast could benefit from if the host had the 'air of authority.' 

Well, here's the secret to getting that air of authority… get more air. As in, learn how to breathe properly as you deliver your content. 

I hear it all the time. Podcasters who are running out of air as they try desperately to finish their thought. Sometimes it's so bad that the last word of the sentence is completely ghosted because they just don't have any air left. 

And guess what that equals… the opposite of authority (which, by the way, I looked up and is 'impotence', just saying). 

So, you don't want that in your podcast especially if your podcast is a marketing tool for your business or if your podcast is supposed to build you up as an expert in your field. 

If this happens to you, it's not your fault. You're just bad at breathing. 

Most people are. Most people have never been taught how to breathe properly when they are presenting information. 

Get Big Air Behind the Mic

Lucky for you, you've got me as your podcast coach! In this episode, I'm going to walk you through a simple exercise that will show you exactly how to get more air behind your presentation. 

This one little trick will instantly strengthen your voice and give you more authority in your presentation of the information. Yep, all of that from a little extra air. 

Of course, if your content stinks, no amount of hot air is going to fix that. Better let me get a good look at it and see what we can do to make sure your podcast content lives up to this big booming voice I just helped you discover… Book your free, 15-minute coaching call with me. Don't take another breath… book it now. 

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

You've heard it before. Hopefully on someone else's podcast…

The host boots around the guest intro so bad that the guest either has to awkwardly say something about it. Or, there needs to be a whole conversation about it - "Did I say your name right?..." 

This is not a good way to start your podcast. This is not how you take care of your listener… or your guest. 

You want to come out of the gate strong. You want to be concise and clear. You want your listeners and your guest to know that you've got it all taken care of. 

So, how do you do that? How do you nail your guest intro every time? 

Simple, save the start until the end. 

Say what?!?

Okay, if you interview guests on your podcast, think of your show as having 3 parts.

There's a TOP and a TAIL or a beginning and an end. 

And in the middle, is the BODY. Or, the interview.

The TOP of your episode might include your tease, your show intro, your hook, and your guest intro.

The TAIL includes the takeaways, your call to action, and your signoff. 

The BODY is your interview which does not have to start with the TOP.

Stay with me here… you do not have to record the beginning at the beginning of the interview. 

You can JUST record the interview. 

And then, later you record the TOP and TAIL.

This will make your intro and extro or top and tail even better. 

Why? 

Because you'll know more about the interview once it's done and you'll be able to tee it up better and wrap it up and put a bow on it at the end better. 

Only after you've done your interview do you have all the information to frame and position your episode to make it listener-centric.

REFRAME:

Recording your top and tail as part of the interview makes the episode about your guest. 

Crafting it after you've talked to your guest let's you reframe it, making it about your listener.

Don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that you wing it and then fix it by adding a top and tail so that nobody notices how messy the middle is. 

NO!

You're still going to do your research, plan your outline, come up with your questions and record the interview, but immediately after you've recorded your guest is when you plan out your top and tail.

TIP: Do it while it's fresh.

Ask yourself:

• What were the big takeaways?
• What problem did you solve?
• What resources or tools do you have to offer your listener?

Now you have context and you can bake that into the top and tail. 

Crafting your TOP & TAIL after the interview will help you reinforce the value of your episode. Which will make each episode of your podcast better listening and you'll sound more like a pro (and build that authority with ease). 

Isn't that what it's all about? 

And the bonus, you're not wasting your guest's time while you're trying to get over the performance anxiety of getting their name right or lamely reading their bio from their website. 

Oh, and you can cut out any of the crappy early stuff in the interview and bring your listener in right when the gold starts flowing. 

I have so many clients that use this method now and they all agree that it's easier, better for the listener and gives them so much more flexibility this way! And, it gives them the opportunity to record a compelling show intro (#34) and the perfect guest intro (#40) even if they don't want to script the entire show (#10) .  

Thank me later. Or, thank me sooner by booking a free 15-minute coaching call. I'll give you even more to thank me for. 

I recently had a free coaching call with a podcaster named Jono and he said it was the best 15 minutes of his day because I answered his questions, gave him a strategy to follow and even helped him rethink his way of thinking around his podcast so he could make it stronger. 

Click here to book your own 15-minute coaching call.

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/