How to Start a Podcast That Actually Grows Your Brand
You don’t need a studio, fancy gear, or a massive budget to build a podcast that fuels your brand. What you need is a voice, a phone, and a plan plus consistency and clarity about the audience you want to reach.
Podcasting has shifted from a niche hobby into a powerful marketing and networking tool. As discussed on the Breakfast Leadership Show, hosts who focus on authentic connection and consistent publishing often outperform larger shows with big budgets.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, consultant, or small business owner, podcasting can help you grow authority, deepen trust, and attract the right clients. Here’s how to start.
The Real Problem Creators Face
Most people never launch because of analysis paralysis. They think the market is too crowded, that they need expensive microphones, or that nobody will listen.
Yet, there are over 585 million podcast listeners worldwide, according to DemandSage. Many of them are loyal and intentional about what they consume. If someone downloads your show, they’ve already chosen to spend time with your ideas, a far stronger signal than a fleeting social media like.
Step 1: Pick a Topic You Can Talk About for a Year
If you can talk about it once, you can talk about it fifty times. Choose a theme that aligns with your mission, expertise, or curiosity.
One of my early podcasting mentors once said that thinking you can’t start because others already did is like saying McDonald’s shouldn’t have opened because Burger King existed. The difference is your story and perspective.
Quick exercise:
Write down 10 episode ideas in 10 minutes. If that feels easy, you’re in the right niche.
Step 2: Define Who It’s For
The success of your podcast depends on who you’re serving.
If you’re targeting:
Health & wellness → start on Instagram or TikTok.
B2B or leadership audiences → focus on LinkedIn.
Visual or educational content → YouTube and Spotify video are your best friends.
Use AI tools like ChatGPT or Podcastle.ai to map your audience interests, analyze existing shows, and find content gaps.
Step 3: Choose a Format You Can Sustain
You don’t need a 60-minute weekly interview. Burnout-proof your podcast by designing a format you can actually maintain.
Options include:
Solo short episodes: 5-minute tips or insights.
Interview format: 30-minute conversations that build your network.
Hybrid model: mix of interviews and quick solo segments.
Seasonal approach: 10-episode runs followed by short breaks.
Consistency matters more than frequency.
Step 4: Record Your First 3 Episodes with Just a Phone
You already have enough tech to start. Find a quiet room or even record in your parked car.
Tips:
Speak 6–8 inches from your phone’s mic.
Smile while talking because it makes your tone sound warmer.
Keep your outline simple: opening, three points, one next step.
Batch three episodes at once and lightly edit. You can upgrade gear later, but your message can’t wait.
Step 5: Publish and Create Evergreen Clips
Host your show on a platform that distributes to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Then repurpose:
Pull 30-second clips for social posts.
Write short blogs or LinkedIn posts summarizing your episodes.
Save the strongest lessons for your email newsletter.
Step 6: Build Simple Touchpoints
Each place your listener encounters you strengthens your authority.
Suggested stack:
Podcast → weekly or biweekly
Newsletter → 1 highlight + 1 takeaway
Social posts → 3–5 clips per week
Website → link your podcast to your main offer
As visibility grows, so does brand trust.
Step 7: Join Communities That Already Exist
You don’t need your own app or network to grow. Engage where your audience already hangs out, industry Facebook groups, LinkedIn conversations, or niche Subreddits. Comment thoughtfully and share value before you ever ask for anything.
Joining a Podcast community like Podmatch can help you Network through podcasting helped me form partnerships that evolved into consulting, book deals, and speaking opportunities. You can do the same by being authentic and collaborative.
Step 8: Offer Value Before Monetizing
Sell by helping first.
Offer your services to local listeners.
Recommend affiliate tools you genuinely use.
Introduce small sponsors that match your values.
Create bonus content or workshops for superfans.
Step 9: Use Your Show to Network Intentionally
A podcast is the best networking platform that doesn’t feel like networking. Invite people you respect. Highlight their work. Follow up afterward with a genuine thank-you.
Most partnerships that shaped my career began with a single conversation on the Breakfast Leadership Show. Every episode can open a new door if you show up with curiosity and generosity.
Step 10: Keep It Human
Podcasting is about connection, not perfection. Skip the hot takes and focus on stories that help your audience grow. Ask yourself:
What can I share that will move my listener one step forward?
What mistake can I help them avoid?
Who can I connect them with next?
Authenticity always wins.
Step 11: Mindset Over Gear
Forget the idea that you need to “catch up” to famous podcasters. The landscape is huge, and there’s room for everyone. Your listeners care about your insights, not your microphone.
As Joe Massa from Podtopia Network reminded creators on my show, “You don’t need to be the next Spotify, you just need to serve your people.”
Step 12: Stay Consistent with a Simple Schedule
Choose what fits your lifestyle:
Weekly: 1 episode, 2–4 clips
Biweekly: 1 episode, 2 clips
Seasonal: 10 episodes, then rest
When life gets busy, record 5-minute tips. The audience doesn’t need perfection, they need presence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting for perfect equipment
Spreading across every platform too early
Copying big shows instead of finding your niche
Turning episodes into rants instead of useful content
Skipping your call to action
Giving up too soon
Each episode is a chance to refine, learn, and grow your reach.
7-Day Launch Plan
Day 1: Pick your topic and write 10 episode ideas.
Day 2: Choose your format and outline 3 episodes.
Day 3: Record all 3 using your phone.
Day 4: Lightly edit and create one clear call to action.
Day 5: Publish Episode 1 and pull social clips.
Day 6: Post, engage, and comment in your niche.
Day 7: Announce your show and record two bonus tips.
Your first listeners become your foundation. Every episode builds momentum.
Conclusion
If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast, the time is now. You already have everything you need: your phone, your voice, and your story.
For more insights on leadership, communication, and sustainable growth, visit the Breakfast Leadership Blog or explore resources like HubSpot’s Podcast Marketing Guide and Riverside.fm’s Podcast Growth Tips.
Start talking. Someone out there needs to hear what you have to say.
