As podcasters, we often don’t realize what we don’t know until we’ve already learned it the hard way. The mistakes. The face-palm moments. The times when nothing feels quite right yet. Today, we’re sharing real stories from our adventures in podcasting. We discuss what we've learned only after hitting record, why confusion and pivots are part of the process, and how clarity tends to emerge after you begin, not before. We also reflect on what attracted us to podcasting, and what keeps us coming back. You’re not behind, you’re not failing, and you’re not doing it wrong. If you’re just starting, picking things back up, or quietly wondering if you’re cut out for this, your story is worth telling, and you belong here. Podcasting is an art form that doesn’t require perfection. However, it does require honesty, patience, and time.

Episode Highlights:

[01:54] True Stories Tuesday

[03:18] Naming your podcast: tips and common pitfalls

[11:38] Strategy and planning

[19:57] The Wheel of Jargon

[21:56] What does evergreen content mean in podcasting

[27:16] Defining podcast hosting

[29:14] Why we started podcasting

[39:20] Early mistakes in podcasting

[43:04] Upcoming podcast evaluations

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Empowered Podcasting Conference Course with Recordings:

https://ironickmedia.com/courses/epc2025/

Our upcoming podcast evaluation:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1C7Uwux1TEvKiGmrvFt9d3?si=31027af293654f7a

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

Some podcasts become part of your routine not because they teach you something new every time, but because they make you feel connected. Jonathan Howard leads the charge, with commentary and real world examples from me and the rest of the team, as we take a close look at what makes a podcast truly obsession worthy.

We break down the storytelling framework behind Normal Gossip and talk about why relatability matters more than celebrity, how listener participation turns an audience into a community, and why tone and emotional safety matter just as much as structure and format. This episode explores how stories build trust, how familiar rituals keep people coming back, and why creating space for shared experience often matters more than chasing metrics. If you have been thinking about how to deepen listener connection and build something people want to return to again and again, there is a lot here to reflect on.

Episode highlights:

[2:00] – Celebrating nearly four years of Podcasting Morning Chat

[3:30] – Marc shares his upcoming Podfest talk on community-first growth

[7:45] – What makes a podcast “obsession worthy”

[9:01] – Breaking down the Normal Gossip concept and format

[10:31] – Why audience-submitted stories create ownership and loyalty

[14:46] – Gossip as storytelling, social data, and human connection

[18:30] – Relatability as a trust-building strategy

[21:31] – Asking better questions to deepen audience connection

[23:24] – Sharing mistakes as a way to build credibility

[26:04] – Why relatability beats celebrity every time

[30:41] – The role of character development in bingeable storytelling

[37:37] – Why rituals and structure make podcasts comforting and familiar

[38:58] – Creating fandom, shared language, and community identity

[41:49] – Ending with reflection, meaning, and emotional safety

[44:23] – Storytelling as the antidote to AI-generated sameness

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Normal Gossip:

https://pod.link/1597761181

Empowered Podcasting Conference Video Recordings:

https://ironickmedia.com/courses/epc2025/

Podcasting Morning Chat:

https://www.podcastingmorningchat.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

Starting a podcast isn't hard, but it often feels that way because we try to solve everything before we ever begin. In this episode, I break our usual format with a solo "mini-sode" and focus on what actually stops most people from getting started. This is a shorter, more intentional conversation about clarity, purpose, and sustainability, the things that matter long before equipment, formats, or platforms enter the picture. I talk about why you do not need a perfectly defined niche or audience to begin, how getting clear on the problem you are showing up to help solve creates momentum, and why the experience you create matters more than sounding polished. If you have been stuck in planning mode, this episode is a reminder that you do not need every answer before you start, just enough clarity to take the next step. Happy New Year!

Episode Highlights:

[00:41] Identifying the problem you want to help solve

[01:17] Why experience matters more than demographics

[01:54] Deciding how you want your podcast to feel

[02:27] Being intentional with tone, pacing, and presence

[03:27] Making sure your podcast fits into your real life

[03:54] Sustainability as the key to long term consistency

[04:36] The three things to clarify before thinking about gear

[05:00] How clarity creates momentum and accountability

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Podcasting Morning Chat:

https://www.podcastingmorningchat.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

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

As we close out the year, today we slow down and reflect together. This final Morning Chat of 2025 is not about tactics, growth hacks, or chasing trends. It is a community pause. We look back on the wins that reminded us why we podcast, share one word we want to carry into 2026, and talk about how we want to show up for our listeners in the year ahead. You will hear honest reflections about creative fatigue, motivation, consistency, boundaries, and the seasons that come with making content over time. We talk about reconnecting with purpose, letting go of pressure, and giving ourselves permission to rest without guilt. This is an invitation to notice what you built this year, even if it feels messy or unfinished. To name what mattered. To ask yourself what you want more of, and what you are ready to release.

Episode Highlights:

[02:24] Reflecting on 2025 and looking ahead to 2026

[04:02] Choosing guiding words for 2026

[04:46] Sharing personal words and intentions

[12:21] Overcoming creative slumps

[22:44] Focusing on goals for 2026

[30:24] A thoughtful discussion on the overuse of authenticity

[35:42] Promises to listeners for 2026

[41:21] Podcasting wins and end-of-year reflections

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

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

Does every podcast need a lesson, or can a good story be enough? In today’s evaluation, we examine Shared Delights, a short-form storytelling podcast designed to offer warmth, humor, and a brief escape. Instead of aiming for transformation or instruction, the show focuses on how a story feels in the moment and what it gives the listener emotionally. Using Shared Delights as a case study, we take a close look at how pacing, pauses, and delivery shape clarity and attention. We explore sound design choices and how music and effects can either support the story or pull focus away from it. We also talk about the balance between structure and spontaneity, and why alignment between intention, sound, and presentation matters more than polish alone. Just a reminder: entertainment and escapism are valid podcast goals. This episode invites podcasters to listen to their work the way their audience does and consider how each choice shapes the experience

Episode Highlights:

[02:18] Empowered Podcasting Conference announcement

[04:38] Evaluation of the Shared Delights podcast

[06:32] Listener feedback and early suggestions

[14:00] Cover art and branding discussion

[30:42] Crafting an enticing show title

[32:47] The importance of pacing and clarity

[36:58] Enhancing the experience with sound design

[49:31] Discoverability and growth strategies

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

Shared Delights (Wedding Crasher): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pfvQbyTC2J4j7f07RlgTb?si=DAciGVe4TRqSeyq5Glnb3w

Shared Delights Naked Eureka:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2gIMkfSyZDCZb07Jzzlx5p

Podpage:

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

Matthew Bliss’ Cover Art Revision #1:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wwqru8i9ovo0dzc69pba8/SharedDelights_CoverArt.jpg?rlkey=q0da5tpxr6sufk9fhqp3lu14j&st=xniphsrv&dl=0

Cover Art Revision #2:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/djp3p40uzi6bl1xm8sxlc/SharedDelights_CoverArt2.jpg?rlkey=3kjin994w8ci4qckkulql4ewb&st=ez35nof5&dl=0

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

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

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