As 2025 winds down, we pause to reflect on the choices shaping where we’re headed next in our podcasting journeys and beyond. We explore the impact of saying yes and no as a community, through honest stories about doubt, trust, rest, creativity, and change.

We share what it looks like to release patterns that no longer fit, and how small, intentional choices can create space for clarity. This conversation isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about noticing where we are, listening to each other, and giving ourselves permission to move forward with intention. If you’re standing at the edge of a new year feeling unsure, you’re not alone. Join us and take a moment to breathe, reflect, and remember that clarity often begins together.

Episode Highlights:

[02:23] Podcast Evaluations and Reviews

[10:23] Setting Intentions for 2026

[13:57] Community Shares: Saying No and Yes in 2026

[26:17] Embracing Trust and Overcoming Doubt

[28:10] Collaboration and Abundance

[30:17] Saying Yes to Business Risks and Personal Growth

[31:38] Avoiding Chaos and Embracing Community

[34:02] Helping Others and Finding Fulfillment

[41:49] Wins and Reflections from the Week

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Empowered Podcasting Conference:

www.eventbrite.com/e/empowered-podcasting-conference-tickets-1976757134803

Upcoming Podcast For Evaluation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/44Mq04supW81rcuQeAVCB8?si=I-vp9camTrK0bvw1ZX6g6g

To Have Your Podcast Considered For Evaluation, Please Complete This Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U

Rethinking Podcasting With Matthew Bliss:

https://rethinkingpodcasting.com

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

Or Join us on Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d

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

To understand how your podcast resonates with listeners, start by analyzing how another show approaches its opening moments. In today’s Indie Podcast Evaluation, we look at Carefree Highway Revisited, a show that reflects on the music of Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. We highlight how a clear intro and steady interview flow create an inviting listener experience. You’ll see how pacing guides attention, how a host’s authority can add depth without taking over, and how simple SEO choices help a show get found.

Episode Highlights:

[02:55] Podcast Hall of Fame News

[04:34] AI and Content Creation

[06:34] Indie Podcast Evaluation: Carefree Highway Revisited

[09:50] Cover Art Critique and Suggestions

[24:51] Opening Remarks and Introduction

[25:55] Discussion on Podcast Intro and Guest Context

[28:18] Importance of Episode Setup and Description

[31:29] Analyzing Content Quality and Storytelling

[37:27] Midroll Transition and Branding Discussion

[43:10] Final SEO Tip: Optimizing Show Notes for Discovery

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Empowered Podcasting Conference:

www.eventbrite.com/e/empowered-podcasting-conference-tickets-1976757134803

To Have Your Podcast Considered For Evaluation, Please Complete This Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U

Carefree Highway Revisited:

https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-j6vtj-1961b14

Create a Podcast Website in Minutes with PodPage:

https://www.podpage.com/?via=ironickmedia

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

Or Join us on Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d

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 if your show had a format designed only for your super fans? Today, we look at what a private podcast actually is and how it works behind the scenes. We’re joined by trusted podcasting expert Cliff Ravenscraft, who helps us understand the mechanics: how access is controlled, how episodes are delivered, and why a private feed functions differently from a public show. Cliff explains how creators use private podcasts for focused communication, training, or more personal updates, and why clarity on purpose matters more than fancy tools. We also explore the expectations you set for your audience, and how those choices help mold the value of your private podcast.

Episode Highlights:

[02:36] Upcoming Episodes and Announcements

[05:31] Cliff Ravenscraft on Private Podcasts

[08:00] Benefits and Use Cases of Private Podcasts

[18:01] Monetization and Platforms for Private Podcasts

[19:53] Hosting Private Podcasts on Your Own Website

[24:41] Substack as a Private Podcast Platform

[26:20] Legal Disclaimer and Privacy Concerns

[30:49] Marketing Strategies for Private vs. Public Podcasts

[45:05] Creating a Private Podcast for Courses and Business

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Cliff Ravenscraft:

https://www.cliffravenscraft.com

Podcast Answer Man:

www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/podcast-answer-man

BC Babbles:

https://bcbabbles.substack.com

To Have Your Podcast Considered For Evaluation, Please Complete This Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U

Preview of our Upcoming Evaluation Carefree Highway Revisited:

https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-j6vtj-1961b14

Rodecaster Pro 2:

https://amzn.to/41h9yuN

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

Or Join us on Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d

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

Today, we’re focusing on what podcasters can learn from shows that break the mold and still manage to form deep connections with their audience. Jonathan Howard continues our Obsession-Worthy Podcast series with a look at "Everything Is Alive," a show that turns simple ideas into emotionally charged, memorable storytelling. We explore how a strong creative constraint can open new doors and why unexpected formats can be effective when rooted in intention. We also weigh in on sound shaping emotion and creating space for humanity in any format, even the most unconventional ones.

Episode Highlights:

[04:10] Upcoming Podcast Evaluations

[05:43] Creating Jingles with AI

[13:08] Obsession Worthy Podcast: Everything is Alive

[23:27] The Impact of Music in Storytelling

[24:52] Accents and Character Choices

[28:07] Relating to Universal Human Experiences

[35:13] Breaking the Rules of Traditional Interviews

[42:03] Enhancing Listener Connection

[44:54] Creative Risks and Intentional Storytelling

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

The Silent Partner with Dominic Lawson & Sid Meadows:

www.sidmeadows.com/episode143

Everything is Alive:

www.everythingisalive.com

To Have Your Podcast Considered For Evaluation, Please Complete This Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U

Preview of our Upcoming Evaluation Carefree Highway Revisited:

https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-j6vtj-1961b14

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

Or Join us on Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d

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

Today we take a closer look at Spotify Wrapped... the fun parts, the confusing parts, and the slightly uncomfortable data-awareness parts. We dig into creator stats, talk about whether these numbers actually matter, and explore the bigger conversation around how much data platforms like Spotify collect from us as creators and listeners. The team joins in with their own Wrapped surprises, frustrations, and questions, and we wrap things up with our Friday tradition: Wins of the Week from across the community.

Episode Highlights:

[00:05] Kicking off the episode and introducing today’s focus on Spotify Wrapped

[02:27] Creator reactions, badges, and what these stats actually represent

[07:29] Surprising (and questionable) growth numbers across the team

[13:05] What Spotify Wrapped reveals about data collection and listener tracking

[15:15] The walled-garden analytics problem for podcasters

[20:50] How much data is too much? Navigating privacy trade-offs

[26:54] Wrapping the data discussion and moving into community wins

[43:40] Final thoughts and what’s coming next week

Links and Resources:

Spotify for Creators
https://creators.spotify.com

Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting

Submit your podcast for evaluation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U

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

Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat?
PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b

Join us LIVE every weekday at 7 am ET
Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w
Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marcronick

Brought to you by
https://www.ironickmedia.com

Some links may be affiliate links that help support the show. Thank you!

Today, we break down an indie podcaster’s episode structure, branding clarity, pacing, and storytelling opportunities as we evaluate Wander World School. This episode is packed with great discussion from the team about how creators can simplify, strengthen, and improve the listener experience. We talk pacing, cover art, segment transitions, call-to-action overload, monetization strategies, and where Suzy May (the host) shines with expertise and audience connection.

Episode Highlights:

[00:05] Introduction and what today’s evaluation is about
[01:21] Spotify for Creators Wrapped and how to access yours

[05:17] First impressions of Wander World School and who the show serves
[10:00] Pacing, scripting, and delivery challenges
[17:18] Cover art, title clarity, and branding recommendations
[22:35] Show notes, cold open, and intro structure
[30:21] Balancing personal updates with storytelling
[35:16] Where the episode delivers strong value and how to move it earlier
[38:38] Listener engagement elements that work well
[43:37] Monetization opportunities for this niche
[47:06] Audio leveling and production adjustments
[48:49] Final takeaways for strengthening the show

Links & Resources:

📍Wander World School Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504669/

📍Wander World School EP 24: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504669/episodes/18099719
📍
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zabnhq3ceqvvb5q61lgcn/WanderWorldSchool_V1.jpg?rlkey=uh1i5f4e1f18hova7y4rkifwc&st=k0cc03ny&dl=0

📍Spotify for Creators
https://creators.spotify.com

📍SpeakPipe (for listener voice messages)
https://www.speakpipe.com

📍Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group
www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting

📍Want your podcast evaluated?
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U

📍Join us LIVE every weekday at 7 am ET:📍Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w📍Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d
📍YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marcronick

📍Brought to you by
https://www.ironickmedia.com

Some links may be affiliate links, which help support the show. Thank you!

It's News & Comment day! We take a look at some surprising podcast industry stats that paint a very different picture of how many shows are truly active, along with a breakdown of YouTube’s new deepfake detection tool and the privacy concerns that come with it. We also introduce a new segment called the Random Podcast Clip of the Week, talk through what’s going on with the YouTube Shorts algorithm, share a strange Apple Podcasts autoplay glitch happening for some listeners, and chat with community member, BC Babbles about The Hashies, a new award recognizing indie creators doing great work on social media.

Episode Highlights:

[03:34] Introducing the Random Podcast Clip of the Week
[06:56] Reactions to the LOL Podcast clip
[12:59] Transition into News and Comment
[14:39] Active podcast numbers and Buzzsprout global stats
[17:10] What your download numbers really mean
[18:09] YouTube vs podcasting comparisons
[19:57] Listener loyalty and audio-first advantages
[21:05] Spotify's Top 5
[21:38] Spotify Random Chart of the Week: Physics
[23:57] Women’s Podcast Awards and community events
[27:43] Speaker networking events and the EPC Holiday Party
[30:28] Patreon launches RSS-based podcast hosting
[32:06] Podcasting meets “slow TV”
[39:18] Content Business News: YouTube’s deepfake detection tool[45:55] Apple Podcasts autoplay glitch explained[48:32] “Everything is Television” discussion

Links & Resources:

LOL Podcast (Random Clip of the Week): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRuo8wPEYx-/

The Hashies Social Media Awards
https://hashieawards.com

Buzzsprout Global Stats
https://www.buzzsprout.com/global_stats

Women’s Podcast Awards
https://www.womenspodcastawards.com

Empowered Podcasting Conference Holiday Party:

Email marc@ironickmedia.com to RSVP

Podcaster Directory Meetup (use code PMC for free ticket)
https://luma.com/y9cp8zna

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

Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat?
Connect on PodMatch:
https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b

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

Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481d

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

Brought to you by:
https://www.ironickmedia.com

Some links may be affiliate links which help support the show. Thank you!