🎤 What I’m Really Talking About at Podfest This Year

🎊Happy New Year!

This week, I want to zoom out and talk about what really keeps a podcast alive long-term—from the kind of connection I’ll be diving into on stage at Podfest, to why the feeling your podcast creates matters more than the topic itself, to how you can keep learning and building momentum even when you can’t attend every event live. Whether you’re craving deeper community around your show, feeling stuck despite doing all the “right” things, or looking for practical ways to reconnect with your purpose as a podcaster, each section below is designed to meet you right where you are and help you move forward with more clarity and support.

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🎤 What I’m Really Talking About at Podfest This Year

If your podcast feels heavier than it should, it might not be your content. It might be the fact that you’re building without real community around it.

I’m genuinely excited to be speaking at Podfest Expo this year, not just because Podfest always feels like a reunion, but because this talk comes from a place I know a lot of podcasters are sitting in right now.

You’re showing up.
You’re publishing consistently.
You’re doing “the right things.”

And yet something still feels off.

Momentum feels slow. Motivation comes and goes. The podcast starts to feel like work you’re doing alone, even when you care deeply about what you’re making.

Here’s the part I don’t think we talk about enough.

A lot of that frustration doesn’t come from a lack of audience growth. It comes from a lack of community.

An audience listens.
A community participates.

When there’s no real sense of connection around your podcast, everything feels harder. Engagement gets one-sided. Ideas stall. Wins feel quieter than they should. Even good numbers can feel strangely empty when you don’t feel like anyone is in it with you.

Here’s a simple gut-check I’ll share before Podfest, because it makes the difference obvious:

If your listeners disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice beyond a drop in downloads?

Community leaves fingerprints. Replies. DMs. Participation. People who feel ownership and show up with you, not just for you.

My Podfest talk is about rethinking what you’re building in the first place, and why starting smaller can actually work in your favor when connection is the goal.

We’ll talk about why community changes how podcasting feels, not just how it performs. Why shared ownership matters more than reach. And how trust creates momentum in ways download graphs can’t.

I’m not going to lay out the full framework here, that conversation belongs in the room. But if you’ve ever felt like your podcast has more potential than it’s currently showing, or like you’re doing a lot of work without feeling fully supported by the people you’re creating for, this session will meet you right where you are.

If you’re coming to Podfest, join me Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 1:45pm EST in OCEANS 3.

Be sure to RSVP to the session in the Podfest event app, Whova, so you don’t miss it.

And if you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet, you can get 10% off Podfest passes by using code MARC at checkout.

Registration details are at https://podfestexpo.com/.

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🎧 Why the Feeling of Your Podcast Matters More Than the Topic

What makes someone keep listening to a podcast?
It usually isn’t the topic alone.

It’s the way the podcast makes them feel while they’re listening.

Grounded.
Encouraged.
Clear.
Curious.

That emotional experience is what creates connection. It is what turns a casual listener into someone who presses play again next week. Information might get someone through an episode, but feeling understood and supported is what brings them back.

This came up clearly in a recent solo minisode of the Podcasting Morning Chat, where I talked through what often keeps podcasters stuck before or shortly after they launch. Many people assume they need perfect clarity on their niche, their audience avatar, or their format before they hit record. What actually matters first is much simpler. When someone presses play, what problem are they hoping you will help them think through, untangle, or move forward on? That clarity creates trust almost immediately.

Once that problem is clear, the next layer is intention. Intention shapes tone, pacing, and energy. It defines the experience you are creating for the listener. Do you want them to feel calmer when the episode ends? More confident? More thoughtful? More willing to take a next step? When podcasters get intentional about the feeling they want to create, a lot of decisions start to line up. Topics become easier to choose. Episode length feels less stressful. Showing up on the mic feels more natural because it is anchored to purpose, not performance.

This kind of clarity also supports sustainability. A podcast can be thoughtful and well intentioned, but if it does not fit into real life, it becomes difficult to maintain. Being honest about time, energy, and rhythm matters more than pushing toward an ideal schedule. When a podcast fits your life, consistency becomes more realistic, and consistency is what allows momentum to build over time.

I shared more about this in a short solo minisode recently, especially for podcasters who feel a bit stuck or unsure why things are not clicking yet. The invitation is simple. Get clear on the problem you are helping with. Decide how you want people to feel when they listen. Choose a version of your podcast you can keep showing up for.

If you are thinking about building or growing a podcast in 2026 and want a sounding board, feel free to reach out and reply to me. Sometimes one thoughtful conversation is all it takes to bring things back into focus.

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🎥 Unlock Every Insight from Empowered Podcasting Conference 2025

The Empowered Podcasting Conference 2 was packed with practical insights, honest conversations, and strategies podcasters can actually use. If you were there, you know how much value was shared. If you could not attend in person, you can still experience the full conference on your own schedule.

The EPC 2 Video Library gives you complete access to every session from the event so you can learn at your own pace and return whenever you need clarity, inspiration, or momentum.

Here’s what you get when you purchase the EPC 2 videos:

• Full video recordings of every keynote, breakout, and workshop
  
  

• All presentation slides and visuals included
  
  

• Audio-only versions for listening while walking, driving, or working
  
  

• Downloadable transcripts for easy reference and note taking
  
  

• Bonus action guides with key takeaways from each session
  
  

This library was designed for podcasters who want to grow with intention. You can revisit specific talks when you are working through a challenge, watch sessions you missed, or binge the entire conference as a focused learning experience.

Many podcasters use the videos as a long-term resource. It becomes something you return to when planning a new season, refining your message, improving your workflow, or getting unstuck.

Whether you want to sharpen your skills, build confidence, or reconnect with the energy of the conference, this library gives you access without the pressure of a live schedule.

👉 Get instant access to the Empowered Podcasting Conference 2 Video Library https://ironickmedia.com/courses/epc2025/ 

If you have questions about whether the videos are a good fit for where you are in your podcast journey, feel free to reply. I am always happy to help you think it through.

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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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