How to Grow a Podcast in 2026 From Scratch (What I’d Do Differently)

How do you grow a podcast in 2026 when you have no team, no momentum, and no audience?

If I had to start from zero today, I would not try to do more. I would not try to be everywhere. And I definitely would not chase algorithms.

In this episode of As It Relates to Podcasting, I walk you through exactly how to grow a podcast in 2026 from scratch and what I would do differently if I were rebuilding everything from the ground up.

This is not about hacks. It is not about volume. It is not about posting more.

It is about clarity, sustainability, and making your podcast easy to find, easy to follow, and easy to stick with.

You will learn how to choose the right primary platform, simplify your production stack, define your audience with precision, structure episodes around one clear promise, batch for consistency, create repeatable formats, and use real listener data to guide smarter decisions.

If your podcast feels scattered, fragile, or harder than it should be, this episode will help you rebuild it with intention.

Because the podcasts that grow in 2026 will not be the loudest. They will be the clearest.

Inside this episode:

1. How to grow a podcast in 2026 without a team
2. Why simplifying is the fastest growth strategy
3. Choosing one primary discovery engine, YouTube vs Apple and Spotify
4. Why mastering one platform beats being invisible on five
5. How to define exactly who your podcast is for
6. Why creating a “not for” statement sharpens your message
7. Structuring each episode around one clear promise
8. The “one episode, one job” rule
9. Building habits before ambition
10. How batching protects your publishing consistency
11. Choosing a release cadence you can maintain for 12 weeks
12. Simplifying your mic, camera, and editing tools
13. Creating a streamlined production checklist
14. Repeatable formats that reduce decision fatigue
15. How to read listener retention data
16. Identifying which episodes people finish in full
17. Using comments, DMs, and search terms to shape future content
18. Why clarity, repeatability, and retention drive sustainable podcast growth

Resources:

Podcast Success Vault Membership: https://www.voltproductions.co/podcast-success-vault-membership

Learn about:

1. 00:00 If I had to start over in 2026
2. 01:00 Stop chasing more
3. 02:00 Pick one primary discovery platform
4. 03:00 YouTube vs audio-first growth strategy
5. 04:00 Define who your podcast helps
6. 05:00 One clear promise per episode
7. 06:00 One episode, one job
8. 07:00 Build habits before ambition
9. 08:00 Batch your episodes
10. 09:00 Simplify your tech stack
11. 10:00 Use one editing flow
12. 11:00 Create repeatable formats
13. 12:00 Let the data guide you
14. 13:00 Double down on what retains listeners
15. 14:00 Why clarity wins in 2026

MORE RESOURCES:

1. Try Descript here: https://get.descript.com/orsams0rrlfo
2. Book a Call: https://www.voltproductions.co/contact

Connect with Simona here:

1. Instagram: www.instagram.com/simona__costantini
2. Business Instagram: www.instagram.com/volt.productions
3. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simona-costantini-25653a30/
4. Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SimonaCostantini_/
5. Website: www.voltproductions.co
6. Happiness Happens Podcast: https://www.simonacostantini.com/happinesshappenspodcast

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