Stop Posting, Start Ranking, How I’d Grow a Podcast From 0 to 1,000 Downloads in 2026

Growing a podcast in 2026 has nothing to do with posting everywhere or chasing virality. It has everything to do with being findable, useful, and sticky.

In this episode of As It Relates to Podcasting, Simona Costantini breaks down exactly how she would grow a podcast from zero to 1,000 downloads today, without burning out or flooding social media. This episode is a practical roadmap for creators who want sustainable, search-driven growth instead of short-lived spikes.

You’ll learn why discoverability beats marketing, how to choose topics people are actively searching for, and how to structure episodes so platforms understand your show and listeners stay longer. Simona explains how clarity builds authority faster than variety, why retention matters more than reach, and how your back catalog becomes the engine that compounds growth over time.

If your podcast feels invisible, inconsistent, or stuck, this episode will help you diagnose what’s really holding it back and show you how to fix it.

Inside this episode:

1. How to grow a podcast from 0 to 1,000 downloads in 2026
2. Why chasing virality is slowing your growth
3. How to choose podcast topics people are actively searching for
4. Validating episode ideas using search, not guesses
5. Turning search queries into episode titles
6. Why repetition builds authority faster than variety
7. How clarity signals trust to algorithms and listeners
8. Creating bingeable entry points for new listeners
9. Why your back catalog compounds growth
10. Tight, outcome-focused intros that increase retention
11. Prioritizing listen time and watch time over reach
12. Structuring episodes to reduce cognitive overload
13. Ending episodes with intention so listeners return

Resources:

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

Learn about:

1. 00:00 Why posting everywhere fails in 2026
2. 01:10 How I’d approach growth from zero downloads
3. 02:00 Choosing problems people are actually searching for
4. 03:15 Validating topics in search bars and AI tools
5. 04:20 Turning repeated phrasing into episode titles
6. 05:30 Why repetition beats variety for growth
7. 06:30 Creating bingeable entry points for new listeners
8. 07:45 Using your back catalog to compound downloads
9. 08:45 Tight intros and naming the outcome fast
10. 09:50 Retention over reach, why fewer drop-offs matter
11. 10:50 Episode structure as a trust signal
12. 11:45 Ending episodes with a reason to return
13. 12:30 The fastest way to grow a podcast 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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