Why I do NOT recommend doing seasons for your podcast.

Hey Pod Pals!

This newsletter was lovingly curated (without the use of any AI) in real time on Thursday morning at 9:05am CST. 

I just slammed cup #2 of cold brew coffee to provide me with some extra good newsletter mojo!

⭐️ This week we are going to talk about why I think that 99% of podcasters should NOT use a season format for their show.

🚨This might ruffle a few feathers out there but it needs to be said:

Podcasters think that using a seasonal format of their show will help them avoid burning out.....but I'm seeing the OPPOSITE happening!

Whenever I mention this on the Threads app I tend to get a lot of angry replies....so I thought I'd use this newsletter to do a deeper dive into my position on this topic!

I see WAY too many podcasters that launch their show with seasons because they just assume that is how it's supposed to be done.

Let's break it all down!

 

First let's cover when using a season format totally makes sense:

📌 Example #1: A storytelling podcast. If you have a true crime themed show it makes sense to do a certain amount of episodes to tell the story and call that a season.

📌 Example #2: A sports podcast that focuses on one specific sport. This one isn't a total slam dunk (LOL)....because there is still an offseason to every sport where things could be talked about. 

📌 Example #3: A political show that focuses on a specific election or a candidate. 

 

Here is THE main problem that I see with podcasters using a seasonal format:

There are a TON of podcasts with a Season One......and you never see a Season Two....aka.....they quit after one season.

Their heart is in the right place.

They wrap up season one and think "cool it's time for a break between seasons so I don't burn out!".

Maybe it's supposed to be a four week break.....but oops....it's already week five and no new episodes. Now the guilt is kicking in which makes it even harder to restart the creative momentum.

I like to compare it to diet and exercise for a healthy lifestyle.

I used to own a fitness facility and I knew that if I didn't see a client for a few weeks it was going to be a hard task to get them back in the gym.

We used to say that the most important exercise each week was walking through the gym door.

It's much easier to just keep doing the things that make us healthy than it is to take a "break" from these things....that almost never works.

Same deal with your podcast content release pattern!

 

Here are a couple of other things that I don't like about a seasonal format:

❌ 1. I see podcasters screwing up their feed with seasons and episodes being out of order.

Example: I consulted on a podcast where the podcaster had hundreds of thousands of social media followers, a giant email list, and a giant brand....but their show was doing less than 50 downloads per episode.

He was interviewing huge celebrities, hall of fame athletes, etc.....and his download numbers made ZERO sense to me...until I saw his feed in the Apple Podcasts app. 

The issue was that his first season was listed at the top of his feed (which was three years old)...aka.....it looked like a dead podcast. 

All of his new episodes were at the bottom of his feed (on the screen) inside of the podcast player apps.

❌ 2. I see a lot of podcasters that feel "locked into" a specific number of episodes for each season.

They justify that "I did eight episodes for season one so therefore ALL seasons must be eight episodes"......but what if you would be better off with a six episode season?....or what if you need a few extra episodes to get the job done?

Podcasters are very creative people so this situation can become really frustrating really quickly...and lead to podcasters creating "fluff" content just to fill a season.

 

Now let's address this topic of BURNOUT....because that's the big excuse I hear everyone talking about online as to why using seasons is the magic trick to AVOID burning out.

Their heart is in the right place with a plan of:

✔️ Record a season.

✔️ Take a break to avoid burnout.

✔️ Record a season.

REPEAT....

⭐️ Here is the thing that NOBODY is talking about:

➡️ A weekly episode RELEASE schedule doesn't cause burnout.

➡️ What actually causes burnout is trying to RECORD episodes each week.

Weekly podcast content is a podcasting superpower that we MUST utilize.

When you release a weekly episode (every single week) you get to insert your audio content into the life pattern of your ideal listener.

They will listen to you while they are doing other things like driving their kids to school or while they do leg day at the gym. 

We all know how HARD we have to work to acquire a new listener and once we get our content into their life routine we don't want to do anything to disrupt their natural listening pattern.

By taking a "break" from releasing weekly content we are inviting them to go out and search for another podcast to enjoy in place of our podcast......READ that again if necessary Pod Pals....it should freak you out!

 

SO...how do we get the best of both worlds you ask????

I want you to be able to:

👍 1. Release a weekly episode every single week (like I have since 2015).

👍 2. Be able to take breaks from content creation so you don't burn out. 

Here are four simple strategies to help you pull off this podcasting magic trick:

✅ 1. Batch record your episodes.

Block off your calendar for 1-2 days per month and jam out on recording episodes.

I like to have a 2-3 week buffer zone of pre recorded and loaded up content so I can take a two week break whenever I need it.

✅ 2. Do fewer interviews and more solo episodes.

Solo episodes are much easier to batch record and they require less prep and editing time. 

✅ 3. Use a 1:1 editing ratio.

If your episode is 30 minutes long don't spend longer than 30 minutes editing it.

✅ 4. Think about putting your video promo asset creation on PAUSE....if they aren't really working.

If you are spending an hour each week creating videos for Tiktok that get 12 views.....this isn't the best use of your time.

Let's use this time to batch record some solo episodes for your podcast.

 

So that is my case against using a seasonal format for your podcast. Now it's up to YOU to decide if this is the path you want to follow or not. 

I just want to make sure that I set you up to succeed as a podcaster. I want to see more podcasters celebrating hitting 100 episodes and fewer podcasters quitting after season one of their podcast.

Speaking of keeping more podcasters podcasting.....if you are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with your show/online business...this week's episode will help you reignite your podcasting FIRE!

 

🎤 Podcasting Business School Episode 557: A strategy that might save your podcast and your online business.

 Top Takeaways:

*The REAL reason why your podcast isn't growing.

*How to identify what isn't working right now and PAUSE at least one of these things.

*How to identify what IS working right now and double down your efforts on at least one of these things.

 

⭐️ CLICK HERE to listen to the latest episodes of Podcasting Business School 

 

 

📢 Podcast Audit: How to create podcast content that attracts your ideal listener avatar.

Last Friday I did a Podcast Audit episode where I audited the Curated Questions podcast. 

If you want to create content that attracts ideal clients this episode will really help you out!

Check out episode 556 to hear all about it.

 

 

😎 Download Growth Club question of the week:

"Is it possible to really grow your podcast if you don't do any interview episodes?"

One of the biggest lies ever told in the podcasting industry is that you have to do interviews to grow your show.

👉 It goes like this: You try to get "big name" or "big audience" guests onto your show and they will share your episode with their people......

Not so fast my friend!

As many podcasters know: The "big name" guests don't always share out your episodes....and we have to be ok with that!

In general we have to accept that a guest is coming on our podcast with the primary objective of scooping up our audience and converting them into being a part of their audience.

So..long story short....I think you can DEFINITELY grow your podcast with doing very few (or even zero) interview episodes. 

Just make sure you nail my three buckets of podcast growth:

✔️ Organic Discovery

✔️ Effort Based Marketing

✔️ Paid ad strategies. 

 

 

🚀 Podcast Launch Tip of the week:

I talk a lot about how the name of your podcast carries the most SEO power....but the second most powerful SEO strategy is: optimizing your podcast host description.

Here's how you do it:

1. Make a list of all of the keywords you want your podcast to show up for inside the podcast player app search bar.

2. Write an intro paragraph which includes:

-A little about you.

-What the show is about.

-Who the show is for.

Now go back and add ALL of your keywords into this paragraph.

3. Start a second section with a phrase like "This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions such as..."

Then list 10-20 questions that your ideal fit listener would enter into Google when they are searching for answers to topics you will discuss on your podcast.

⭐️ In episode 080 of Podcast Launch Tips I go more in depth on my top recommendations for optimizing your podcast host description.

 

 

📌Upcoming Events📌

Here are a few upcoming events that I will be either hosting or speaking at:

🔥NEW🔥Podcast Listener To Client Conversion FREE Workshop: Friday March 14th. Get 90 minutes of live training on my best client conversion strategies and participate in live Q&A.

😱Live Workshop😱 Email List Growth for Podcasters: April 9th & 10th in Nashville, TN. Spend 12 hours with me live and in person as I teach you how to GROW your email list and then leverage it to make consistent sales.

📈Podcast Growth Coach Certification📈 I'm only doing ONE certification cohort in 2025 and we start on April 1st (not a joke!). Registration is OPEN.

 

 

🤩 Client testimonial of the week: My client Lisa Garces has a great podcast called Amplified Female Entrepreneur.

Check out what she has to say about working with me:

"I decided to hire Adam because I knew I was being guided to create a podcast, but I had zero clue where to start. The best part about working with Adam is he made everything so simple and guided me through every step of the way. Thanks to him, I launched my podcast so much faster than I ever expected with a sustainable game plan moving forward. I can't believe how easy he made it!"

➡️ If you are ready to get some help with learning how to leverage your podcast to build your online business and get more clients hop on my Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call calendar. 

 

 

💥What's happening on the Threads app this week: I've been posting three times per day on Threads. Here is a long form post that you might like:

✍🏻"Coaching and Case Study podcast episodes are my secret weapon for monetization...BUT 99% of podcasters are doing them wrong. Here are 8 tips to set you up for success.." Full post HERE

 

I hope that you are enjoying this weekly newsletter!

I've got the next couple of hours blocked off to work on a new experimental offer with the code name: P.G.S.C.....any guesses??

The G is for "growth" and the C is for "cohort"...stay tuned!

Your Pod Pal,

Adam

⭐️ P.S. Ready for some help with your podcast launch, growth, or your podcast listener to client conversion strategy?⭐️ 

Sign up for a FREE Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call.