5 Lessons learned from Podcasting for International Podcast Day
Happy International Podcast Day! 🎉 Today, I’m opening up about the five biggest lessons I’ve learned during my podcasting journey—lessons that have completely transformed not only how I podcast but also how I show up, share my voice, and connect with all of you.
We’re talking about everything from finding the confidence to truly use your voice, to understanding what growth really means, to embracing the power of collaboration. If you’ve ever struggled with showing up consistently, wondered if your voice matters, or felt stuck in your podcasting journey, this episode is for you. Podcasting can be a rollercoaster, filled with highs and challenges, and I hope that sharing my journey will help you feel more confident and inspired to keep creating.
Finding Confidence in Your Own Voice
One of the hardest yet most rewarding parts of podcasting has been finding confidence in my own voice. I know I’m not alone in this—so many of us struggle with showing up authentically, afraid of what people might think or convinced that our voice doesn’t really matter. But here’s what I’ve learned: your voice is powerful, and your audience wants the real you, not a polished or "perfect" version. It took therapy, a lot of practice, and a few messy starts, but leaning into who I truly am made all the difference.
If you’re in that place of self-doubt, remember this: your message matters. There is something special about what you bring to the table, and people need to hear it. Every time you hit record, let that truth guide you.
Redefining True Growth
In a world where numbers often define success, it’s easy to get caught up in download counts and follower metrics. For a long time, I thought more listeners automatically meant more success. But I realized that true growth isn’t just about increasing numbers—it’s about building genuine relationships with your audience. It’s about nurturing engagement, making people feel seen and heard, and creating a community that truly cares about what you have to say.
When I shifted my focus from obsessing over numbers to really connecting with my listeners, everything changed. Not only did I feel more fulfilled, but the right kind of growth—the kind that lasts—began to happen naturally.
Consistency Over Perfection
If there’s one lesson I keep coming back to, it’s this: consistency is more important than perfection every time. We often hold ourselves back because we’re waiting for the perfect idea, the perfect moment, or the perfect setup. But I learned that waiting for perfection is just an excuse. What your audience really needs is for you to show up regularly, even if things aren’t flawless.
Some of my most impactful episodes were far from perfect. But because I stayed consistent, my listeners knew they could rely on me. And that trust is far more valuable than anything else. Show up, be yourself, and let go of the need to get it 100% right—your audience will thank you for it.
Listening to Your Audience
One of the greatest gifts your audience can give you is feedback. Listening to your listeners and understanding their needs has been crucial to keeping my content fresh and engaging. There was a time when I noticed my podcast wasn’t getting the traction it once did, and it wasn’t until I reached out to my audience that I realized I wasn’t giving them what they truly wanted.
They wanted actionable insights, and that’s how my segment “A Problem I Solved This Week” was born. Bringing their voices into my process changed everything, and my engagement skyrocketed. Remember, your audience knows best—don’t be afraid to ask them what they need and be willing to adjust accordingly.
The Power of Collaboration
For years, I worked in my own little silo, thinking I had to do it all alone. But the truth is, collaboration is everything. The energy and reach that comes from working with others can completely transform your podcast. Whether it’s doing guest swaps, joining a community event, or even just connecting with fellow podcasters for advice, collaboration has brought so much richness to my journey.
This past year especially, I’ve embraced collaboration, and not just for the sake of growing my audience, but also for my own growth. There’s something incredibly powerful about having a network of people to share ideas with, learn from, and support. It’s not just about expanding your podcast’s reach—it’s about growing your world and making the experience more joyful.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Keep Growing Together
Reflecting on these five lessons reminds me how far we’ve all come in this podcasting journey. Podcasting isn’t just about hitting record and sharing a message; it’s about growth—personal, creative, and community-driven. As we celebrate International Podcast Day, I want to thank you for being part of my journey, for listening, and for letting me share my voice with you.
If today’s post resonates with you or if you have your own lessons from podcasting, I’d love to hear them! Drop me a message on Instagram @wildhomepodcasting or leave a comment below. And if you haven’t already, subscribe for more insights and let’s keep supporting each other on this beautiful journey. 🎙️✨
The Transcript for Podcast Your Business:
197: 5 Lessons learned from Podcasting for International Podcast Day
[00:00:00] Happy international podcast day. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your podcasting skills. I am here to share five really big lessons. That have profoundly shaped my podcasting journey over the last 10 years. And I really hope that me sharing what I have learned can help you transform the way you approach. Your own podcast.
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[00:01:04] Hi everyone.
[00:01:06] I'm Caroline. Welcome back to share strategize and shine. And today's a special day for us in the podcasting world. It is international podcast day. Woo. Uh, I love this day because it's, to me it's a celebration of something that is just so important and has been so profound. In my life and my journey. So we thought it would be fun today to do a little bit of a different episode and share five key lessons that have not only improved my podcasts, but also my entire approach to creating content and connecting with my audience. And these are things that, like I said, I have learned over the last 10 years, and there are things that I apply and teach my clients all about as well. So the first lesson. Oh, this is such a big one. [00:02:00] This has been finding confidence in my own voice. I have shared a little bit of my story and journey here on the podcast. Um, maybe I'll go a little deeper today. You know, it is really, really important to be authentic and believe in the value of your own voice.
[00:02:20] Especially if you are sharing content, sharing a message that's important to you. And it's really crucial for building a genuine connection with your audience too, because they want to get to know the real you, right? Not a facade or, uh, something that you think you should be. They want to know the real, you. Finding confidence in my voice has been. A very difficult and long journey for me. Um, it's involved a lot of therapy. And a lot of, you know, just really looking at who I am and what I believe and who I want to be.
[00:02:58] And [00:03:00] also, you know, having the strength and confidence to shine and be myself. And if I'm being completely honest, it's something that I have been struggling with recently, especially as I'm entering my forties, I meant I turned 40 this last year and, uh, just have been having a lot of health issues, which hasn't impacted. My appearance, which has made it very difficult for me to show up confidently in all areas. But I think that one of the things that I really try to remind people. Is that your voice matters and your message matters for such a long time.
[00:03:40] I really truly believe that mine did not. I think a lot of my life, I have held back from saying exactly how I feel or what I want to say, because they've been so afraid of what people will think of me. And when I started to lean into the fact that my podcast really is here. [00:04:00] To help people like, that's why I've created it.
[00:04:02] I've created it to help people. I'm so passionate about this. I'm so passionate about people. Feeling confident in sharing their voice and their message, because I know that for me, it is not something I ever truly felt until I started podcasting. And there was something so unique about sitting behind a microphone. That gave me that confidence and it wasn't easy.
[00:04:28] It started out very clunky, very awkward. And it's taken me a while to get to this place where I can sit down and. You know, record and talk and with ease, this isn't, this doesn't feel hard for me. It feels fun. It feels. Natural. And I love it. And I love connecting with my audience in this way. But it really did take a lot of. You know, I'm telling myself, Hey, you can do it. Your voice matters.
[00:04:54] It is important. And it's so interesting because the more and more I work with [00:05:00] clients on their podcast strategy, the more and more we talk about this, because inevitably it comes up as you start to share content on your own. Leaning into solo episodes. All of those things can make you feel like, oh, I don't know if anybody wants to hear what I have to say. And inevitably we have to do some work on finding confidence in your voice. So if you're listening to this and you're one of those people, who's like, I don't feel terribly confident when I sit down to record. I want you to really lean into why you started your podcast and what your purpose is, and just let that shine through your voice. And your audience will definitely see that.
[00:05:44] The second lesson I have learned, and this is another really big one is embracing true growth. I think. In podcasting and also just business in general. I have had to really shift [00:06:00] my perspective and understanding on what growth. Actually means. And that has come from, not just focusing, purely on numbers, but also thinking about listener engagement and community building. I think one of the things that is really tough for online entrepreneurs right now is that we are constantly being sold and ideal. And one of my mentors posted a really fantastic real about this, but I mean, you can go on Instagram and every day it's you need to do this to make 10 million million dollars.
[00:06:36] You need to. You're not manifesting enough. Your energy is off. You know, you should be able to send an email and make X amount of money. There's all these things that we're being told and fed. Of what success looks like. And unfortunately that bleeds into podcasting as well. We have somehow convinced ourselves that if we do not have a million listeners. We are [00:07:00] not growing as a podcaster, but what I really like to focus on is like, what. Can I do to get people engaged and to really build a community around my podcast. And one of the big ways that I do this is with feedback that has really been huge in implementing any kind of change. To my podcast, to my services, to my business. And again, you know, very similar to what I was saying with lesson number one, it really is about your purpose and leaning into that.
[00:07:36] And when I stopped worrying so much about the numbers and really focused on the relationships that I was building with my listeners, That's when I started to see that growth that I was looking for, the numbers will come. If everything else is in alignment, your content, your strategy. Your. Calls to actions.
[00:07:59] Your [00:08:00] opt-in like your funnel, all of that has to work together and your content and other places. In order for it to grow the way you want. And the other thing I always. Emphasize to people is I don't want growth that just for the sake of growth. I want my ideal listeners, my future ideal dreamy clients, listening to my podcast and then taking action to me.
[00:08:23] That is true growth.
[00:08:25] So the third lesson I have learned is consistency over perfection. Okay. Let me explain. because okay. I know like being consistent is super, super important. But one of the things that I have noticed I'm on, I've noticed this in myself, but I've also noticed this in a lot of my clients. Is this desire for everything to be perfect. Before ID the thing or. I'm not going to record today because it's not [00:09:00] perfect.
[00:09:00] I'm not going to release this episode. Because my kid was yelling in the background. It's not perfect. One of the things that. I really want you to work on is the need for everything with your podcast to be perfect. I cannot tell you how many people I talk to who come to me? Ready to launch their podcast and they have waited for the perfect moment when really. They just need to launch the thing. What is more important than perfection and yes. Clean audio does matter.
[00:09:37] But before that, if I were to list, you know, the order of things that I would focus on an importance, the first thing you need to focus on is. Consistently delivering valuable content. And if you are in alignment with your audience and you really understand what they need, you've done the work upfront. You've listened to them.
[00:09:57] You've taken in their feedback. Creating [00:10:00] that content. Is that going to be the easiest piece? And here's the thing you've got to be consistent, or you will not have a consistent audience. And I have seen this with my own podcast, you know, when things get tough and I start to run on a time and I start to get inconsistency inconsistent with my releasing of episodes. That I start to see my numbers drop off a little bit.
[00:10:23] So. That consistency is really, really important. And.
[00:10:30] Being able to allow myself to release episodes, even when perfection isn't possible. What do I mean, like perfection, what am I talking about? Exactly. You know, maybe it's. My hair is not perfect today, or maybe I didn't put makeup on. Or cause I do a lot of video podcasting now. I have a YouTube channel now that you can go check out. This is a heat that has been a huge hurdle for me to jump over is this idea that I have to look a [00:11:00] certain way to be on camera. I have to sound a certain way. I have to have all of my ducks in a row. So when I say ducks in a row, I mean, I do I have the website?
[00:11:11] Do I have perfect cover art? Do I have a perfect description? No, you don't have to have all those in place. You can change and those can evolve with you as you grow. So. Really. A successful podcast is going to start with creating amazing content consistently. And working on your content schedule, making sure that you have got episodes in place.
[00:11:38] So you can just start rolling with recording. That's really, really important. And. Over my many, many years of podcasting, I have found that that consistency over perfection has been so much more important any day. Then whether or not we were using high-end microphones when we started. Or, I mean, I [00:12:00] remember when we started, we literally just use apple headphones. And when we upgraded to microphones, it was like such a big deal. And the thing was, is it didn't like astronomically change. The amount of listeners, we had our listeners listeners kept growing with us. Because we were consistently releasing episodes. And putting out valuable content.
[00:12:23] So lesson number four. That I think is one that I am still working on, but it's so, so important. And that is listening to your audience. You know, really tapping into your audience and. Doing this periodically on the regular. I think sometimes we fall into this trap of, well, I I'm sure that I know what my audience needs to hear from me.
[00:12:47] I have a pretty good idea. I'm just going to create content. And you can do that for years and years and years. And then one day you start to notice your numbers drop off, or you're not getting as much engagement as you used to in your [00:13:00] community. Why is that? Well it's probably because you're not. Really in the know with your audience. You know, listener feedback is such an important piece to implement and to put into your podcast planning. And what this does is really create a situation where your audience is feeling seen and heard.
[00:13:21] And that is just gold. When we, you know, think about who you listen to and who you subscribe to and why do you, why do you skip over certain episodes? with a podcast that you listened to a lot, you know, I have a couple of podcasts. I listen to a lot and right now they're not really doing anything.
[00:13:39] That's in alignment with what I want to listen to. So I haven't been listening to them. And that's okay, because you can have different people in your audience, but, you know, just from your experience with how you listen to podcasts, that should tell you how important that audience feedback is. So a couple, a couple of, I guess it was [00:14:00] last year or last summer. Oh, my gosh, it was last summer.
[00:14:04] I. Time has no meaning. Um, I had just had my hip surgery. And. The time period during recovery was. So impactful for me because there's nothing like sitting on a couch for a long time to really think about things. Let me tell you. And one of the things that I. Had really been struggling with was my podcast, which just wasn't doing as well.
[00:14:29] It didn't feel as fun. I was kind of in a slump with it. Which can happen. I mean, I'm almost at 200 episodes now. And that can happen very often when you're getting into the hundreds of episodes. Right. And so I started to think, okay. You know, I really need to check in with my audience and see what they need from me.
[00:14:51] And one of the things that kept. Coming up was people wanted. Stuff that was actionable. And that is actually where the idea for the segment that I do [00:15:00] on my normal episodes, a problem I solve this week came from. And shortly after implementing that new structure. And incorporating that segment and it was like, my downloads are just skyrocketing again. And so. That is one of the instances where really listening to my audience, getting that feedback has led to something super positive with my podcast. I think it's also been incredibly helpful in my business.
[00:15:26] I did research market calls over this past summer. And it was so insightful because what I thought everybody wanted was not what they wanted or what I thought that they thought was valuable was different than what they actually thought was valuable. If you're watching me on YouTube right now, you can see my little friend behind me.
[00:15:43] Um, his name is Cal suffer and he's decided to join the recording. So here we go. So, yeah. Make sure you have some kind of feedback mechanism. In your process, whether that's sending out a survey, , on the yearly doing market research calls, whatever you're [00:16:00] comfortable doing. Even like looking through trending posts and comments that people are making on posts can be really helpful. Like to hear. You know, what are people talking about?
[00:16:10] What are people in your niche thinking about right now? And if you can co can create episodes around that. It's going to be really, really impactful for your podcast, but it's really going to create an engaged and satisfied audience.
[00:16:25] So this last lesson that I learned is something that I think was really unexpected to me. But as I was thinking about the things that have been so impactful for my podcast over the years, This was one of them and that was collaboration's. So. One of the things that I teach my clients a lot is when we're thinking about episode structure or how we want to show up on our podcast. For business owners, solo episodes are so, so important. But. Having guests on can be super, super [00:17:00] impactful. As well. And so you really have to find that happy medium between doing solo episodes and having guests on as well. But one of the reasons that I recommend. Podcasters even consider having guests on maybe once a month, twice a month, whatever makes the most sense for you is because. Not only does it. Help bring like a fresh voice to your podcast. But it can also really help you expand your reach. And one of the things that I have really fallen in love with over this last year, because I feel like the spirit of collaboration has increased so much in the online business world. Is when I reach out to people, us doing podcasts swaps. Us doing email newsletter swaps. It just feels like people are just so much more open to these kinds of things. And it really has helped me grow. Not only my business, but my friendship circle [00:18:00] and my online business circle. I have really cut myself off for a long time.
[00:18:05] Like I felt like I had created a silo to work in all by myself and. Maybe, maybe we can figure out why that happened and talk about it, you know, one day. But I have some pretty good ideas. But in what I discovered was. I wasn't moving forward because I didn't have other people in my life. And this year. One of the most impactful things for my business and for my podcast. Has been. Opening up my circle again and bringing people into my world and having online business friends, having people that I can collaborate with and do podcast episodes with. I mean, I even had another podcast. Manager on my show. Uh, a while back.
[00:18:55] And we talked about the changes that were going on in the podcast industry, and that was [00:19:00] such a huge episode and so impactful. And it, you know, that just has really reminded me how important these collaborations are. And it's so much harder to grow by yourself is so much easier to grow with people. And, you know, it was kind of like that saying, like it takes a village to raise a child.
[00:19:20] And I think sometimes we forget that we need our own little village to grow our business and grow our reach and grow our podcasts and our content wherever we are, whatever we're doing for our business. And so I just really encourage you to think outside the box and think of different ways to collaborate, besides just having podcasts guests on, you know, whether that's participating in bundles and summits, going to live events.
[00:19:47] All of those to me are collaborations. And so they have been so huge in my growth this year and not only in my business, but in me personally. So I definitely recommend. [00:20:00] Adding some kind of strategic collaboration. To your list of things that you are doing.
[00:20:08] Okay. So that was all five lessons that I wanted to share with you. You know, reflecting on these lessons. Just reminds me of how far we've come as an industry, how far I've come. You know, I think about where podcasting started and where it is today and how it really was this place to entertain. And inform and inspire, and it's become so much more than that for business owners that I work with.
[00:20:36] And that's just so, so special. And so as we celebrate international podcast day, Like, let's just all commit to continually learning, evolving. And lifting each other up. As podcasters. And business owners. And if today's episode inspired you or you have your own lessons that you've learned [00:21:00] from pat podcasting and when to share them, I would love to hear from you. You can reach out, through Instagram.
[00:21:06] I'm @wildhomepodcasting. You can also leave a comment on my website. And don't forget to subscribe for more insights and let's keep the momentum going. Let's keep growing together. Happy international podcasting day. Thank you so much for being here.
