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You don’t know what you don’t know, right?

That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my podcasting journey. It’s not about rewarding ignorance but about giving myself—and others—grace. We all have moments where we just don’t know, and that’s okay. What matters is learning, growing, and constantly working towards becoming the best version of ourselves.

In this post, I’ll walk you through some key things I wish I’d known before launching my first podcast in 2021, my fifth original show two years later, and what it’s been like producing others’ shows and running my own. Hopefully, my experiences help you along your own podcasting journey.

Knowing What Success Looks Like

Before you even start your podcast, get super clear on what success means to you. Is it money? Exposure? Growing a community? Each of these goals will shape how you approach your podcast and how you measure success. Ask yourself:

• What do I want to accomplish with this podcast?
• How will I know I’m making progress?
• What will keep me going when things get tough?

By defining these goals early on, you’ll have a roadmap for those times when you feel like quitting. Trust me, it’s a lot easier to stay motivated when you have a clear goal in mind.

Who Are You Talking To?

I’ll admit it: I didn’t think enough about my audience when I launched my first podcast. I had a loose idea but thought that the broader I went, the more listeners I’d have. Spoiler alert: that’s not how it works.

The more specific you can get with your audience, the better. If your audience can’t see themselves in your podcast, they won’t stick around. Narrow down who you’re talking to, and speak directly to them. Stop trying to appeal to everyone—no podcast is for everyone, and yours shouldn’t be either.

Podcasting is Time-Consuming

Podcasting is time-consuming. Each episode of my podcast(s) take about 10-20 hours per week, and as I’ve added layers like guest interviews and editing, the time commitment has grown. If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, create systems from the start to streamline your process. Batch your writing, recording, and editing tasks where you can, and find ways to automate parts of your workflow. The more systems you have in place, the more consistent your content will be.

Go One Step at a Time

In 2023, I launched my fifth podcast, and while I thought I had it all figured out, I hit a wall with burnout. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to go one step at a time. If you haven’t nailed your audio yet, don’t rush into video podcasting. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options and equipment, but the truth is, you don’t need to do everything at once.

Give yourself permission to grow slowly. Master one aspect of your podcast before adding another layer. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Hold Yourself Accountable to Growth

Here’s some tough love: no one is going to track your podcast’s growth for you. Set aside time every month to look at your stats. Did you achieve the growth you aimed for? If not, what can you change this month to make sure you improve next time?

Track your progress, analyze what’s working, and make adjustments. Holding yourself accountable is key to long-term podcast success.

Let Go and Let.. Your Audience

As much as you should have a strategy for your podcast, be open to letting your audience steer the ship. People will tell you what kind of content resonates with them. While your strategy acts as the roadmap, your listeners provide the direction. After all, this podcast isn’t just for you—it’s for them.

Solo Podcasting is Harder Than It Looks

Talking to yourself for an hour non-stop isn’t something we often do in real life, and keeping your audience engaged can be tricky. Practicing improvisation or monologuing on random topics can help you get better. A tip I’ve found useful? Have ChatGPT throw 10 random topics at you and practice talking about each for five minutes. Then, have it rate how you did. It’s a great way to improve your speaking skills and will help you get better at speaking clearly on your podcact.

Procrastination Will Kill Your Podcast

Saying, “I’ll record tomorrow,” is one of the worst habits you can fall into. Procrastination can tank your motivation and your podcast. The best way to fight it is to have a clear schedule and stick to it:

• Script or outline your episode by a specific day.
• Set a firm deadline for recording.
• Schedule editing and post-production time.
• Have everything ready for promotion by the same day each week.
• Planning and intentionality are everything when it comes to maintaining your momentum.

It Will All Work Out in the End

Yes, podcasting is hard, but hearing from a listener that your episode helped them or made their day? That’s when it all becomes worth it. Don’t be discouraged if it takes time to reach that point. Building an audience takes time, and it’s okay if your podcast doesn’t blow up overnight. Just keep going, and trust that the hard work will pay off.

Podcasting is an ever-evolving journey, and the key to success is being willing to learn, adjust, and grow. Take the lessons I’ve shared and apply them to your own podcasting journey. If you’re ready to take things to the next level, don’t forget to download my free Podcast Audit Checklist. It’s the exact resource I use with my clients to help them identify where they are and where they can improve. Download here!