Episode 307 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Courtney Elmer

Featured Guest: Kathryn Thompson

Thinking About Quitting Your Podcast? Read This First

If you’ve ever thought about walking away from your podcast (or your business, for that matter), you’re not the only one. Maybe you’re tired of showing up week after week with nothing to show for it. Maybe you’re wondering if anyone is listening and if all of this work is even worth it. Or maybe you’re just burnt out on creating content and secretly thinking about tossing your mic in the trash.

Believe me, I get it. And so does Kathryn Thompson, fellow podcaster and PodLaunch® graduate, who was *this close* to calling it quits. But instead of giving up, she figured out how to make her podcast work for her—and spoiler alert: it completely transformed her business.

Why So Many Podcasters Hit a Breaking Point—And What to Do When You're There

Back in 2021, Kathryn launched her podcast at a pivotal moment in her business journey. She was done with traditional marketing tactics that required her to create new content every day with zero ROI in return. Sound familiar? She considered throwing in the towel, not because she wasn’t good at what she did, but because she hadn’t found a way to show up that felt right. 

“Honestly, I probably would have walked away from my business,” she admitted. “But podcasting became this creative outlet where I could share my truth without filtering myself.”

That last part is everything. Because deep down, we both know forcing yourself into a marketing strategy just because everyone else is doing it (or is telling you you should) only leads to burnout. But when you find a way to show up that actually fits your natural gifts? That feels good? That’s when everything shifts. Maybe for you, it’s not podcasting—maybe it’s something else entirely. But for Kathryn, finding her voice behind the mic is what finally made her business feel like hers.

From a Plateaued Business to Steady Sales With a Podcast

Kathryn didn’t just launch a podcast—she made it the backbone of her business. Instead of constantly creating new content for social media that disappeared from the newsfeed in under 24 hours, she focused on showing up, speaking her truth, and letting the right people find her show. And guess what? They did.

And that’s why Kathryn doubled down on podcasting: “My business skyrocketed about a year and a half after launching my podcast,” she said. “I knew going in that it wasn’t an overnight success thing, but because I stuck with it, it completely changed my business.”

What to Do When You're Running Out of Content (or Motivation)

One of the biggest fears people have before starting a podcast? “What if I run out of things to say?”

But here’s the thing—have you ever actually run out of things to say in a conversation about something you care deeply about? Probably not. And podcasting? It’s just an ongoing conversation with your audience.

Kathryn had that fear, too. “At first, I worried about whether I could sustain it,” she said. “Would I have enough ideas? Would I be able to show up consistently?”

Fast-forward four years, and she’s never missed a single week of publishing a new episode. “Turns out, I always have something to say,” she laughed. “And I’ve built systems around my podcast so I can stay consistent without burning out.”

Those systems?

• Letting go of perfectionism so she can hit record
• Hiring an editor so she’s not spending hours in post-production
• Batching episodes so she’s never scrambling at the last minute

“I had to release the idea that every episode needed to be perfectly scripted,” she admitted. “Once I did that, my episodes actually got better—because they felt more natural and real.”

Why Long-Form Content Turns Listeners Into High-Ticket Clients

Podcasting isn’t just content—it’s context. It gives people uninterrupted time with you, where they can hear your insights, process your ideas, and build trust in a way social media never will, because trust isn’t built in soundbites. 

Think about it: When was the last time you bought from someone after watching a 7-second Instagram reel? Now, compare that to the level of confidence and connection you have with someone after listening to them speak for 20, 30, or even 60 minutes a week.

That’s the power of podcasting.

Should You Keep Podcasting—Or Call It Quits?

If you’re wondering whether to keep going, here’s what you need to ask yourself:

• Does podcasting feel like a natural way for me to communicate?
• Am I willing to commit to this as a long-term strategy, knowing it might take a year (or more) to see results?
• Have I given my podcast a fair shot, or have I been winging it without a real strategy?

Podcasting isn’t for everyone. It’s a commitment. It takes patience. And yes, it will take time to grow. But when it’s the right medium for you, it becomes something you look forward to—something that fuels your creativity and connects you with the right audience.

As Kathryn put it, “Podcasting allows me to show up in my truth. It’s become the nurturing part of my business, the thing that builds trust and turns listeners into high-ticket clients.”

So if you’re on the fence about your podcast, take a breath. You don’t need to have a 12-month content calendar mapped out or a perfect production setup to make this work. But if deep down, you know podcasting is the right platform for you, then it’s time to recommit.

• Set a realistic schedule you can stick to—weekly or biweekly at a minimum
• Plan your episodes in batches so you’re never scrambling the night before
• Get support, whether that’s an editor, a VA, or even a streamlined workflow to cut your editing time in half
• Focus on making one small improvement at a time instead of trying to overhaul everything at once

Podcasting isn’t about overnight success—it’s about stacking the deck in your favor. When you dial in your messaging so the right people instantly see why your show is for them, when you stop guessing at content and start creating episodes that move your listeners toward working with you, and when you systemize just enough to stay consistent without burning out—that’s when your podcast can start to work for you.

And if you want to dive even deeper into how to build a podcast that converts your listeners to clients, hit “Follow” for Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a new episode.

Or if you’re an established coach, consultant, or creator who’s ready for a proven strategy to build a bingeworthy top podcast that grows your business, book a free strategy call with our team to find out if you’re a fit for PodLaunch® — we’re here to help.

Up Next:

Spotify is shaking up podcasting again, and in the next episode, I’ve got an advertising leader at Spotify joining me to dive into the latest tools Spotify for Podcasters (now Spotify for Creators) is rolling out. We’re breaking down game-changing features like short-form video clips to increase your podcast discoverability, audience insights that go beyond basic downloads, and how podcasters like you can make the most of these tools to reach listeners already tuned in and ready to engage. 

So if you're looking for ways to grow your audience, connect with the right listeners, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving podcasting world, (who are we kidding—you wouldn't be reading this otherwise!) don’t miss the next episode.