If someone handed you $5,000 to invest in your podcast tomorrow, where would it go? Better gear, paid ads, media training, or maybe something else entirely? While Marc is out, Ralph Estep Jr. takes the lead and guides this week’s listener mailbag as we wrestle with that exact question. We explore how to think about investing wisely, not just spending fast. From there, we briefly tackle how to prep for interviews without sounding scripted, and whether a pro setup really makes a difference when you are just starting your podcast journey. The theme running through it all is simple: growth comes from intention, not impulse. To close out the week, we share wins from inside our community and celebrate the progress happening behind the scenes.

Episode Highlights:

[02:09] Mailbag question one: If you had $5,000 to improve your podcast

[09:38] Overcast promotion deep dive and what the metrics actually tell you

[13:50] Bigger lesson: build skills and content before buying more tech

[16:34] Mailbag question two: interview prep without sounding scripted

[20:37] Using ChatGPT and Otter to build a run of show quickly

[27:50] Professional setup versus starting simple with strong audio

[32:16] Starting with your phone and building momentum

[34:02] Post-production tools like Adobe Enhance and Auphonic

[38:55] Audio first: clean source recording and expectations

[41:44] Wins of the week and community shoutouts

Links & Resources:

The Podcasting Morning Chat:

www.podpage.com/pmc

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Book A Free Call With Me:

https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header

Radio Lab

https://radiolab.org/podcast/211119-colors

Overcast:

www.overcast.fm

Auphonic:

www.Auphonic.com

Adobe Podcast:

https://podcast.adobe.com/en/enhance

Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.

Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠

Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠

Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!

--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠

Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:

⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

What actually makes podcasting worth it? Downloads, money, recognition, or something else entirely? While our fearless leader, Marc, is out, Ralph Estep Jr. takes the lead as we answer your questions from the mailbag and explore what progress and value really look like in podcasting. From there, we tackle a tough business question: when does it make sense to charge guests to be on your show? We weigh the pros and cons without taking sides. We also dig into cold PR emails and guest pitches, how to spot what’s legit, and what deserves your time. Finally, we explore AI in editing. If your editor is using AI tools behind the scenes, should you care? We unpack trust, cost, and the balance between human skill and automation. If you’re thinking about growth, sustainability, and where this industry is headed, this episode gives you practical insights.

Episode Highlights:

[02:01] Cold outreach podcast promotion offers: spam or legit?

[08:13] When podcasting finally feels worth it and measuring progress beyond downloads

[13:35] Guest pitch emails and PR agents: how to vet and respond

[19:21] Should you charge guests? Reciprocity versus real production costs

[29:59] Turning a podcast appearance into a broader marketing package

[33:29] Should you care if your editor uses AI?

[35:50] AI as a tool: balancing cost, speed, skill, and human oversight

[47:19] Disclosure and regulation: Do you have to say AI was used?

Links & Resources:

The Podcasting Morning Chat:

www.podpage.com/pmc

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Book A Free Call With Me:

https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header

Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.

Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠

Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠

Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!

--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠

Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:

⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

What happens when a tech giant is accused of copying your voice? Podcast host David Greene is suing Google, claiming his voice was used to create an AI clone inside NotebookLM without his permission and raising serious questions about how far AI tools can go when training on public content. That is just one headline in this week’s news roundup. We also look at Apple finally leaning into native video on its platform and ask the obvious question: Why now? Is this a response to YouTube and Spotify gaining ground, or a long-overdue shift in strategy? Plus, we touch on SAG-AFTRA and ongoing union conversations around AI. Big tech is making big moves, and tensions between platforms and creators continue to grow. Are we watching the start of a major reset in how voice, video, and ownership are regulated in podcasting?

Episode Highlights:

[03:56] Newsday metrics and Apple and Spotify top five charts

[06:04] Upcoming podcasting events, conferences, and weekly meetup

[08:13] Creator money tip on 1099-K traps, tracking income, and tax prep

[17:09] Captivate hires Rob Walsh and Elsie Escobar

[25:27] SAG-AFTRA vs.Netflix and defining the Pete Davidson show as a podcast

[32:47] Concerns about union impact on indie podcasting

[38:27] NPR’s David Greene sues Google over AI voice likeness

[45:06] Apple Podcasts expands native video distribution

[49:24] Apple’s long-term video strategy and hardware positioning

Links & Resources:

The Podcasting Morning Chat:

www.podpage.com/pmc

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Book A Free Call With Me:

https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=header

Podnews:

www.Podnews.net

NPR’s David Greene Sues Google Over AI Voice Cloning:

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/02/15/david-greene-google-ai-podcast

SAG-Aftra and Netflix Agree on Terms for Pete Davidson Show

https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/pete-davidson-show-sag-aftra-podcast-agreement-netflix-1236661709/

Apple Goes All In On Video:

https://podcasters.apple.com/video-apple-podcasts?src=email

Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.

Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠

Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠

Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠

Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!

--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠

Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:

⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠