#274: Podcast growth strategies (paid and organic) with Jeff Umbro of The Podglomerate
This week, I'm speaking with my friend Jeff Umbro. Jeff is the founder and CEO of The Podglomerate, which helps you produce, market, and monetize your podcast. The Podglomerate's worked with some of the biggest podcast clients in the world, from creators like me to major brands like Netflix, NPR, PBS, HubSpot, Harvard, Substack, and more. Since its start in 2016, The Podglomerate has grown to represent more than 70 podcasts, accounting for more than 30 million monthly downloads.
All that to say, Jeff is legit, and he knows his stuff. One of the things I appreciate most about Jeff is that he's honest and a straight shooter. So, in this episode, we talk about podcast growth, explore both organic and paid growth strategies, Jeff's experience with both, and, of course, I share my experience as well.
PodglomerateIntrocastPodrollAdvertise with Acast
Full transcript and show notes
Jeff's Website / Twitter / LinkedIn
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Jeff Umbro: Podcasting Powerhouse
05:42 Innovative Marketing and Networking Strategy
06:33 Niche Show Strategy Planning
10:45 Podcast Audience Growth Strategy
13:39 AI Prompts Drive Web Traffic
17:03 Building Cross-Platform Audience Connections
21:10 Growing Podcast Audiences: Strategy Insights
22:32 Podcast Promotion Over Essays
29:06 Spotify's Editorial and Algorithmic Opportunities
32:03 Apple Podcast Metrics and Exploits
35:24 Spotify's Video Incentive Strategy
38:52 Spotify's Creator Fund Strategy
42:22 Ad Strategies: Effectiveness Varies
45:16 Podcast Advertising & Audience Alignment
47:51 Effective Pixel-Based Attribution Tracking
49:32 Monetizing Podcasts Through Feed Drops
52:56 Pod Roll: Dynamic RSS Episode Inserts
57:28 Affordable Podcast Advertising Platforms
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #212: Dan Misener – How to ACTUALLY grow your podcast (and measure its success)
→ #177: Chris Hutchins – A master of podcast growth and building relationships.
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1:04:18
#273: How to create a scrappy industry report that elevates your brand | Jeremy Enns
Today I'm speaking with my friend Jeremy Enns, the founder of Podcast Marketing Academy, an accelerator program that works with scrappy, ambitious creators and brands who are serious about podcast growth.
Jeremy and I have a lot in common. We both care a lot about craft design and helping people who are already doing the work. For the last three years, Jeremy has published the Podcast Marketing Trends Report. This is a substantial piece of independent research that he produces about the state of podcast marketing, and it's had a major impact on his business.
So in this episode, Jeremy walks us through, step by step, exactly how he puts together this report and how you can do it too.
2025 Podcast Marketing Trends Report
Podcast Marketing Academy
Tropical MBA #729
Full transcript and show notes
Jeremy's Website / Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Podcast Growth Rate Insights
09:04 Extreme Projects and PR Opportunities
11:24 Evaluating Report's Relevance and Value
16:47 Securing Sponsorships Through Strong Concepts
24:23 Strengthening Brand through Annual Report
31:27 Avoid Confirmation Bias in Reports
37:26 Curiosity-Driven Research Approach
38:54 Survey Design Skills Essential
46:13 Maximizing Survey Response Rates
51:57 Podcast Performance Analysis Strategies
55:41 DIY Data Visualization Strategy
01:02:51 Podcast Industry Networking Insights
01:06:31 Collaborative Blog Strategy and Podcast
01:12:30 Navigating Data Analysis with AI
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #188: Richard van der Blom – How the man behind the LinkedIn Algorithm Report uses LinkedIn.
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WHEN YOU'RE READY
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1:18:15
#272: Live from CEX: Book sales, book updates, and planning for the future | Justin Moore
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. I'm back home now, fresh off a trip to Cleveland for the fourth annual CEX, Content Entrepreneur Expo.
While I was there, I caught up with my good friend Justin Moore. Justin is the founder of Creator Wizard, the author of Sponsor Magnet, and the creator of Sponsor Games. He is the sponsorship guy.
In this conversation, you'll hear us discuss his book experience. He published his book Sponsor Magnet in January, and I wanted to hear how things are going now, midway through the year. And we talk about my book progress and why I'm thinking so much about writing.
Full transcript and show notes
Justin's Website / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube / TikTok
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Creator Science with Justin Moore
06:15 Pursuing Book Reviews Diligently
07:59 Strategizing Review Acquisition Campaign
11:00 Navigating Publishing Industry Nuances
13:42 Loss Leader Book Marketing Strategy
18:11 Unexpected Audience Insight
20:25 Book-Based Marketing Strategy Experiment
24:57 Embracing Optimization Over Novelty
29:12 Future Book Strategies and Ideas
32:52 Exploring Traditional Publishing Process
34:06 Seeking Audience Expansion & Flexibility
38:19 Balancing Book Writing Challenges
42:23 Books' Unique Impact on Readers
46:05 AI-Enriched Responses for Business
48:39 Exploring Publishing Opportunities Now
51:09 Talk Next Week
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #239: Justin Moore – What if feels like launching a book and an in-person event at the same time
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WHEN YOU'RE READY
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55:23
#271: Coaching: Helping a Lab member design their product suite | Hot Seat with John McBride
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. This week, I'm sharing with you a coaching conversation with John McBride. John is the co-founder of Fatherhood Unlocked, which offers digital products and group coaching programs to help high-performing dads level up as leaders, parents, and husbands. This is exactly my jam right now.
John is a member of The Lab, and this call is what I refer to as a Hot Seat in The Lab. Hot seats are one-on-one conversations between me and a member. But we invite other members to join the call live and ask questions or share ideas in the chat.
In this conversation, you'll hear me talk John through how I'd think about his different options, his ideas, and ultimately prioritize his path moving forward with Fatherhood Unlocked.
Join The Lab
Learn more about Fatherhood Unlocked
Full transcript and show notes
John's Website / Instagram / LinkedIn
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Prioritizing Product Focus for Dads
04:17 Improving Fatherhood Course Conversion
07:26 Targeting Expecting Dads' Challenges
10:41 Fatherhood Readiness Quiz Initiative
13:56 Birth and Postpartum Partner Education
20:00 Post-Baby Relationship Journey Insights
24:01 Optimizing Product Strategy for Fathers
26:06 Simplicity Over Broad Product Suite
31:19 1:1 Coaching Boosts New Dad Program
33:11 Ideal Support for New Dads
37:38 Streamlined Marketing and Upselling Strategy
41:46 Bundle Upgrade Incentive Strategy
42:59 Defining Your Brand's Signature Product
48:09 Quiz-Driven Upselling Strategy
50:07 Help Us Reach 500 Ratings
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #270: Being a creator and a parent | Jay-Talking with Jay Acunzo
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54:37
#270: Being a creator and a parent | Jay-Talking with Jay Acunzo
Welcome back to another episode of Creator Science. We have a different type of episode this week. I recently shared some stories on my social media about being a dad, and my good friend Jay Acunzo reached out and said we should do an episode talking about being parents and creators. I thought that was a great idea because, as I have spent the last year as a father, it's become so much more obvious to me that the voices in the space we pay attention to are not parents and do not quite have the same constraints and priorities that parents do.
If you are a parent and you're doing this creator thing and you feel crazy because it seems like everyone has more time and can do a lot more than you are, you might find this to be an enjoyable, relatable listen.
Full transcript and show notes
Jay's Website / Instagram / LinkedIn / YouTube
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Parent-Creator Insights with Jay Acunzo
05:57 Life Sprinting: Parenting & Entrepreneurship
08:42 Distracted Parenting Moment
13:20 Transformational Life Experiences
14:46 From Creation to Management
20:12 Parenting and Career Amid Pandemic
23:58 Parenting Pioneers Among Peers
24:37 Blank Canvas vs. Paint By Numbers
28:25 Balancing Business and Relationship Priorities
32:22 Fatherhood and Social Connections
36:09 Balancing Work, Parenting, and Storytelling
37:47 Embracing Efficiency in Parenthood
43:32 Parenthood Deepens Understanding of Parents
46:31 Balancing Parenthood and Business Identity
47:47 Embracing Simplicity in Content Creation
52:18 Combining Friend Groups Dilemma
54:35 Balancing Public Persona and Family
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on
***
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WHEN YOU'RE READY
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Creating content has never been easier – but breaking through the noise has gotten harder. The only reliable way to grow as a creator is through observation, experimentation, and iteration.
This podcast is your weekly guide to evidence-backed strategies and experiments you can apply to your business. Each episode features candid conversations with today’s top creators—like James Clear, Ali Abdaal, Tim Urban, and Codie Sanchez—sharing actionable insights to help you grow your audience, build trust, and boost your income.
This isn’t just an interview podcast—it’s a deep dive into the business of content, hosted by Signal Award-winner Jay Clouse.
It's growth for creators, down to a science.