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!

Are filler words quietly sabotaging your podcast? In this episode, we dig into how subtle speaking habits like verbal crutches, awkward pauses, or rushed delivery can affect how confident and trustworthy you sound to your audience. I share practical tips for tightening your delivery like slowing down, using outlines or teleprompters without sounding stiff, and practicing with intention so you can show up more clearly and confidently behind the mic.

Recently, I had one of those gut-punch moments every creator dreads: a dream interview, a perfect conversation… and I realized afterward that I never hit record. It was embarrassing, frustrating, and, honestly, it shook me more than I expected. Instead of hiding it, I’m bringing the whole story here, the missteps, the emotions, and the lesson I learned about giving myself grace when things go wrong. And I’m not alone. In today’s episode, other creators from our community open up about their own podcasting fails. What starts as a collection of mistakes becomes something much more meaningful: a reminder that every podcaster, no matter how experienced, eventually stumbles.

If you’ve ever felt the sting of a creative setback, this conversation is here to remind you you’re human… and you’re in good company.

We’ll be taking Thanksgiving week off (Nov 24–28) to rest and recharge. See you on December 1st, 2025.

Episode Highlights:

[02:01] Gemini 3.0 and Fun with AI Images

[06:34] Thanksgiving Week Plans

[08:12] Technical Difficulties During an Interview

[22:32] Sharing Personal Podcasting Fails

[32:05] Embracing Grace and Self-Compassion

[38:07] Celebrating Wins

[40:57] Networking and Community Building

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

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

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

Rodecaster Pro 2:

https://amzn.to/41h9yuN

Riverside:

https://www.riverside.fm/?via=0676da

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

Your first minute can make or break listener trust, and you might be surprised by how quickly listeners decide whether to stay or go. Today, we take a close look at Sean McClellan’s Motivation: Not Letting Fear Control You from his podcast The Space Between and unpack what podcasters at every level can learn from it. We break down where the episode shines, where it stumbles, and how small tweaks in structure, pacing, audio setup, and intro strategy can completely reshape the listener experience. Check the links and resources section if you'd like to submit your show for evaluation consideration.

Episode Highlights:

[02:07] Podcast Evaluation Series: The Space Between

[04:28] Listener Engagement and Feedback

[05:44] Audio Quality and Technical Issues

[08:01] Effective Podcast Intros

[18:19] Pacing and Delivery

[25:49] Episode Focus and Specificity

[27:31] Critique on Podcast Structure

[28:45] Importance of Storytelling

[31:18] Clip Analysis and Feedback

[37:37] Microphone Techniques and Audio Quality

[46:45] Branding and Discoverability

Links & Resources:

Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠

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

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

The Space Between:

https://seanmcclellan.com/uncategorized/motivation-from-not-letting-fear-control-you

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