286 - Smart Podcast Growth Strategy, Spotify Glitches & Stronger Podcast Communities

Today, I kick things off with an underrated listener growth strategy that came from a simple Facebook Groups thread. From there, we get into a lively conversation about podcast promotion, engagement tactics, and why small steps can lead to big community wins.
We also touch on a spike in female podcast listenership, the latest AI-generated image trend (and how to create your own) Nick Nalbach is trying to start, and a midweek meltdown from Spotify (and Zoom) that had creators and listeners scratching their heads. Plus, an important update on music takedowns — and what’s actually changing inside Spotify’s enforcement process.
Episode Highlights:
[03:52] Growth Hack Strategy and Community Building
[10:00] Adding Value Inside Podcasting Communities
[20:30] Nick Nalbach’s AI-Generated Action Figures & Retro Twist
[31:42] Spotify and Zoom Outages — What Happened?
[31:56] Women’s Audio Report: Listenership & Engagement Insights
[37:13] Spotify’s Updated Music Policy for Podcasters
[48:29] Podcast Advertising Ideas: Overcast, Podcorn & More
[48:47] Final Thoughts + What’s Coming Up Next
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