Don't Do This (Insider 236)

Clever (and risky) marketing tricks, the truth about podcast gear and guests, essential pre-interview tips, AI voice options, and free podcast artwork templates in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...

Big Ideas in This Episode

• The dangerous cost of clickbait podcast titles

• Why tricking listeners kills your show's growth

• Envy alert: how niche podcasters leapfrog celebrities

• The seductive myth of "perfect" podcast gear

• How AI voices tempt you—should you resist?

• Sponsor dollars: easy money or creative handcuffs?

• Confessions: the lies podcasters tell themselves

Why You Should Listen

• The little-known "Free Beer" trick to fool an entire audience (and what it means for your podcast title)

• Sneaky "bandit" signs: The dirty tricks musicians and marketers use to hijack attention (and how to turn their mischief into loyal listeners for yourself)

• How a single word—hidden in plain sight—built million-dollar web traffic empires overnight (and how podcasters still abuse this today)

• The "lost dog" heartstring ruse that tricks passersby—and why you should never deploy similar stunts on your show (unless you want hate-listeners)

• How hiding your true podcast intent could backfire—and the smarter shortcut to building fan loyalty faster than your rivals

• The #1 rookie mistake in podcast episode titles … and the foolproof way to turn curiosity into binge listening instead of anger

• Why wasting the first 10 minutes catching up with your co-host is a crime against audience retention—and how to make every moment count

• The seductive lie of "more time = great podcast"—and what the hustlers who thrive on deadlines know that you don't

• Booking "big name" guests: Will it rocket your podcast to the top—or could it ruin your chances at real influence? Discover the surprising answer

• The dangerous myth of your "personal story": Why sharing your tale rarely triggers mass subscriptions (and the secret story they'll pay attention to instead)

• How to transform a train wreck interview into gold—using David Hooper's method for scavenging irresistible audio clips

• Revealed: The gear-envy trap keeping broke podcasters broke, and why one simple microphone can level the playing field against media giants

• The real path to high-end audio—why most "sound quality" advice is pure gluttony for your wallet (and the $0 solution that rivals studio perfection)

• The ugly truth about podcast sponsorships: Why chasing advertisers could poison your show—and how to make real podcast profits instead

• The forbidden hack for pre-interviews that 99% of hosts ignore—unlock the lazy shortcut to elite-level guest rapport and on-mic power plays

Episode Timestamps

• [00:04:52] The musician who tricked Nashville with a "lost dog" QR code—and why it backfired

• [00:06:21] Bait-and-switch marketing: fake dollar bills, Bible tracts, and why tricking people kills trust

• [00:07:11] How misleading podcast titles are sabotaging your audience—and what not to do

• [00:11:36] The myth that celebrity guests will make your podcast successful (and what really happens)

• [00:13:51] Why your personal story won't convince listeners to subscribe—and what does

• [00:14:19] The dangerous "all or nothing" thinking that ruins podcast episodes (and how to avoid it)

• [00:19:28] How a simple pre-interview can supercharge your podcast—plus what to do when guests say no

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This episode of Build a Big Podcast is brought to you by Riverside ...​

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About this episode of Build a Big Podcast:​

This is the audio companion to Issue 236 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go. On this episode, I dive into where the money is made in podcasting. how to get more reviews (and subscribers) for your podcast, podcast hosting, and more.   ​

Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this