Sam Atkinson

Clocking the @Upwork hours and getting closer to $200K

Instead of making a list of dream guests Make a list of listener problems Then invite the best person to solve each one That’s how you build a listener-first podcast

Stop saying “Hi everyone” Podcast listeners aren’t sitting in an audience They’re probably listening alone with headphones Talk to one person, not a crowd

Asking someone for an hour of their time on day one is a huge ask Think of clips as your entry point: • 60-sec clips trigger curiosity • 5-min segments build trust • Full episodes create fans

Stop trying to cover everything Go deeper Not broader Depth creates authority Breadth creates noise

Bridging phrases for podcast interviews Use these when your next question doesn’t naturally follow the last: • “That reminds me...” • “The reason I ask is...” • “I’m curious because...”

Hiring a thumbnail designer for some podcast projects DM links to YouTube content you have designed for and your price per one Looking for simple but effective designs

Comment below with a one sentence summary of your most recent podcast episode If you can’t, you probably tried to cover too much

Seeing people claim Spotify is deleting AI podcasts? That’s not what’s happening Spotify is targeting AI spam and impersonation, not banning AI podcasts AI is just another production tool The podcasts that win will still be the ones worth listening to

Never run out of content ideas Stop guessing what your audience wants Go where they’re already talking: • Reddit • Facebook Groups • Discord • Niche communities Turn their questions, pain points, and conversations into content Create what people are already asking for

Stuck on who to collaborate with? Search your own podcast name inside Apple Podcasts and Spotify Look closely at the “You might also like” and “More like this” sections The algorithm has already grouped you together Reach out to those exact creators

The easiest way to improve retention: Delete the first question Seriously Most interviews don’t actually start until question two

@tech_in_form Maybe they will if you do one of the above

@_samatk But I want them to subscribe 🥲

Every episode should leave the listener thinking, feeling, or doing something differently

The best podcast clips have these 5 things: 1. A hook: Grabs attention 2. Curiosity: Keeps you watching 3. Standalone value: Makes sense on its own 4. Emotion: Makes you feel something 5. Shareability: Gives you a reason to share

Some AI tools can shorten every pause to half a second or less That’s wild to me Let things breathe Think about the listener Give them time to process what’s been said and space to have their own thoughts Cut too aggressively and you destroy the emotional weight of the words

Wimbledon teaches us two things: Silence matters Timing matters Which is also exactly how you stop talking over your podcast guest

The podcast isn’t the product The relationship is Episodes build trust Trust builds opportunities That’s the real business model

Don’t launch a “productivity podcast” That market is saturated Launch a “productivity podcast for founders who struggle with focus” Own a corner of the internet first Then expand from there

“Subscribe, leave a review, follow us on Instagram, and buy our merch!” When you give listeners too many options, they choose none Pick one clear action per episode If you want reviews, ask for reviews