What if the voice that got you through your hardest season wasn't real? According to a new Edison Research survey, 66% of weekly podcast listeners say they'd turn a show off right away if they found out the host had been replaced by AI, and many said they'd feel upset or even betrayed. In this raw, unedited episode, Steph shares how podcast hosts felt like friends while she was working at a remote Alaska fishing lodge with barely any Wi-Fi. She explains why that human connection matters more than ever, what really sets you apart from AI-generated shows, and why this is the perfect time to start your podcast or bring back the one you've put on hold. Your stories, your opinions, and your experience are exactly what listeners want, so press play and find out why your voice matters more than you think.

What happens when you book a guest with a big audience, publish the episode, and then... crickets? In this episode, I’m sharing the podcasting lesson I learned the hard way: your guest doesn’t owe you their audience. Unless sharing the episode was part of an agreement, you can’t expect a guest to promote it, post it, or collaborate with you on social media. I’ll share the experience that completely changed my expectations around guests, why someone might choose not to share an interview, and how letting go of that expectation can make podcasting a whole lot better.

Podcasting is starting to look a lot like a full-on TV show. But does your podcast actually need to become one?

Video podcasts are everywhere, and there are real benefits to getting your show on camera. But video also means lighting, backgrounds, editing, clips, and a whole new list of tasks that can make hitting record harder than it needs to be.

In this episode, I’m sharing my producer take on when video is worth the extra work, when audio is more than enough, and the questions to ask before adding video to your podcast. Because if worrying about the camera is keeping you from publishing at all, hit record without it. Done is better than perfect.