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Research survey, 66% of weekly podcast listeners say they'd turn a show off right away if they found out the host had been replaced by AI, and many said they'd feel upset or even betrayed.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.

What if AI is making your podcast easier but also making it sound less like you? I use AI constantly for podcasting, from researching guests and brainstorming questions to writing show notes and automating the little tasks I don’t want on my plate. But there’s a line between using AI to remove friction and letting it replace your personality.

In this episode, I’m sharing my producer take on where AI helps, where I think we’re letting it do too much, and why your curiosity, tangents, humor, and imperfect human moments are still some of the best parts of your podcast.

What if one of the biggest mistakes podcasters make is talking too much? As podcast hosts, we're often told to be engaging, energetic, and great conversationalists. But the skills that make someone fun at a dinner party don't always make them a great interviewer. In this article, I explore why learning to pause, embrace silence, and truly listen can completely transform your interviews. From celebrity podcasts that miss powerful moments by interrupting guests to my own struggles with jumping in too quickly during brainstorming sessions, this is a candid look at what happens when we make space for people to finish their thoughts. Because sometimes the most meaningful answers come right after the pause.

Thinking about starting a second podcast but worried it's too soon?

Most podcast advice says you should wait until you've been consistent for years before launching another show. Steph disagrees.In this episode of Pod Savvy Guide, Steph shares why she started her second podcast less than a month after her first, what she's learned from producing more than 18 podcast series, and how having multiple shows has actually made her a better podcaster.

She also talks about the realities of managing multiple podcasts, when a limited series might be a better fit than an ongoing show, and the templates, systems, and automations she uses to keep four active podcasts organized.

Whether you're dreaming up a second podcast or wondering if your next idea deserves its own feed, this episode will help you decide what makes the most sense for you not what everyone else says you should do.

400 views on one platform and 60 plays on another which episode actually performed better? You might be comparing two completely different things.

Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and your podcast host all give you analytics, but those numbers don’t necessarily measure the same behavior. A play, view, download, impression, and listener can each mean something different.

In this episode, I’m sharing why I’m finally becoming a podcast analytics nerd after years of barely looking at my stats, what I’m learning about the numbers behind your show, and why understanding what a metric actually measures matters more than chasing the biggest number.

Because your analytics shouldn’t just be a scoreboardthey should help you make better decisions about your podcast.

Your first podcast idea doesn’t have to be your forever podcast. Some of the biggest shows have changed their topics, names, and formats as their hosts’ lives and interests evolved. You don’t need to know what you’ll want to talk about five or ten years from now—you just need something you’re excited to talk about today. Start there, let your show grow with you, and remember: done is better than perfect.