Sept. 29, 2025

🎙️ 7 Ways to Make Your Podcast Obsession Worthy

🎙️ 7 Ways to Make Your Podcast Obsession Worthy

👋Hey there Podcaster!

🎧 This week in Podcasting Morning Chat was packed with inspiration: Jonathan Howard revealed seven obsession-worthy tactics to keep your show from blending in, our community tackled the hot question of whether video will ever overtake audio, and the Empowered Podcasting Conference delivered a weekend full of learning, connection, and momentum you could feel in every hallway. Dive in for the highlights, insights, and takeaways that will fuel your next creative step.

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🎙️ 7 Ways to Make Your Podcast Obsession Worthy

Most podcasts fail because they blend in, not because they are bad.

That was the wake up call Jonathan Howard gave during last week’s Podcasting Morning Chat, a sneak peek at his upcoming Empowered Podcasting Conference workshop on creating shows listeners can’t get enough of. Jonathan shared seven “obsession worthy” tactics that help podcasters stand out and stay unforgettable.

Here are a few that sparked the biggest conversation:

🛑 Stop being boring and predictable
Sameness is what loses listeners. Your audience should be able to recognize your show instantly. Create a signature moment or twist that makes people lean in and remember you.

📘 Turn your life into stories
Everyday moments can become content gold. A client session, a tool you tried, or even a mistake you made can be shared as a story with tension, humor, or a takeaway that resonates.

😵‍💫 Show your unpolished side
Polish doesn’t connect. Personality does. The spilled coffee, the messy desk, the behind the scenes failures, and the small lessons learned all invite your listeners closer. Decide what you’re comfortable sharing and bring that into your content consistently.

✨ Embrace main character energy
Listeners want a strong point of view and quirks they can connect with. Build a presence around yourself that people can rally behind and talk about long after the episode ends.

📢 Repeat for recognition
Your quirks are part of your brand. Use repeatable moments, phrases, or visual triggers so your show sticks in the minds of your audience. Revisit your core themes often so people know exactly what you stand for.

🎁 Create fun FOMO
Add Easter eggs, audience shoutouts, or special challenges. Make your listeners feel like insiders, not spectators. That playful culture is what builds loyal communities.

🚫 Ignore the trolls
 Critics and naysayers don’t have skin in the game. Direct your energy toward conversations with real listeners who care about your message.

Jonathan reminded us that growth comes when you lean into being different and being yourself.

💡 Clarity takeaway: The secret to a lasting podcast isn’t about perfection. It is about making people feel something that keeps them coming back.

👉 What is one thing you do in your podcast or content that makes you stand out?

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🎥 Will Video Ever Overtake Podcasting?

Despite what the experts say, video will not take over podcasting until one thing changes.

Right now, audio wins because it is frictionless. You can press record without worrying about cameras, lights, or how you look on screen. You speak, and your voice carries the message.

But here is the shift many in our community are watching for: the day video becomes just as easy and affordable as audio. When recording, editing, and publishing video feels as simple as uploading an MP3, creators will feel the pull to add visuals.

This week’s Podcasting Morning Chat, sparked by a clip from Australian podcaster Rachel Corbett, opened up a lively debate on this exact point . Some argued podcasting grew because it was an antidote to screen time, like reading instead of watching. Others pushed back, saying audio has always existed alongside video and has its own unique strengths.

Community voices raised powerful perspectives:

  • 🎧 Audio-first immersion: Many shared how podcast listening feels like reading a book — a nourishing escape that builds focus and accomplishment.
  • 📺 Video’s reach: Others noted the unmatched discoverability on YouTube and the learning benefits for visual audiences. Platforms recommend content better, and monetization doors are wider.
  • 👥 Audience power: Several reminded us that listeners shape the medium. In podcasting, audiences hold creators accountable in ways they never could with TV or radio.

What came through clearly is that podcasting will not be replaced by video. It will be reshaped by accessibility. Audio remains the place where creators start, experiment, and grow. And as technology changes, the balance between audio and video will keep shifting.

💡 Clarity takeaway: Podcasting is defined by ease and connection. When video meets that same level of accessibility, the landscape will transform, but audio will always hold ground.

👉 What do you think — is video podcasting the inevitable future, or will audio always remain at the heart of this medium?

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🎉 Highlights from the Empowered Podcasting Conference

The Empowered Podcasting Conference just wrapped — and it delivered on every promise of learning, connection, and creative momentum.

From September 26 to 28, podcasters gathered at the Hyatt Centric in Uptown Charlotte, NC, to dive deep into craft, community, and growth.

🧠 Learning That Hits

Attendees came away with fresh ideas from speakers who have lived the podcast journey. The schedule ran packed with sessions, workshops, and panels from morning through evening. 

They tackled real issues: audience building, monetization, content strategy, branding, storytelling, and more. Workshops added space for hands-on interaction and experimentation. That mix of strategy and craft made room for both big ideas and actionable steps.

🤝 Connection Beyond the Mic

One of the core values of Empowered Podcasting is connection — for good reason. Each lunch, coffee break, and after-party turned into a chance to meet people who speak the same language: creators who know what it means to build show by show.

Podcasters swapped stories, brainstormed collaborations, and left with new friendships. Those casual conversations sometimes sparked the best insights.

🌱 Growth in Every Direction

The vibe felt electric. Many folks told me they felt renewed in their vision for their shows. Some left with new episode ideas. Others signed up for accountability partners right there in the lobby.

One thing stood out: growth doesn’t always come from nailing the perfect technique. It comes from showing up, trying something new, and leaning into feedback from real listeners and peers.

✨ What This Means for You

If you didn’t make it this year, consider this your personal invitation to join next time. The value isn’t only in the sessions — it’s in the energy, the relationships, and the push you won’t get while sitting at a desk.

If you were there — I’d love to hear your favorite takeaway. Which conversation lit you up? Which idea are you itching to try?

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🎙️Podcasting Morning Chat Highlights🌅

Welcome to your essential morning brew of ideas and insights, the "Podcasting Morning Chat" is a daily show that's by creators, for creators. A dynamic team of experienced podcasters, entrepreneurs, and producers hosts the PMC. Each episode peels back the curtain on the art of podcasting and content creation. The conversation is a mix of insights, stories, and strategies, tailor-made to keep your content fresh, your audience engaged, and your creative spark alive. 

Recorded live every Tuesday-Friday (temporary summer schedule) at 7 AM EST on Clubhouse and available via podcast at 7 AM PST, our show has become a cornerstone for podcasters worldwide, offering a unique blend of expert advice, real-world success stories, and innovative ideas. Whether you're here to enhance your content, expand your audience, or just soak in the collective wisdom of fellow content creators, the PMC is your source for inspiration, empowerment and connection in the podcasting world. 

Catch up with the latest episodes and join our global community of creators to kick-start your day with creativity, strategy, and insight.

"People don't care necessarily about all the scripted, perfect things that you're putting out there. What people want to see is the real human behind the brand, the real human that's creating content." - Jonathan Howard

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I’m so grateful to be connected with you and a part of your podcast journey. 

 

All My Best,

👋Marc Ronick

This content was composed with assistance from OpenAI

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