Being open to receiving feedback is crucial for growth, especially as we head into 2025. If podcasters are unwilling to listen to their audience, they risk repeating the same mistakes and achieving the same results. This episode delves into the importance of having a receptive mindset regarding advice and input from listeners. Today, I share anecdotes and examples, including the cautionary tale of Elizabeth Holmes and the pitfalls of ignoring expert advice. He emphasizes that understanding your audience is the foundation for creating compelling content and encourages podcasters to seek feedback to enhance their shows actively.

Takeaways:

• Being open to audience feedback is essential for podcasters to improve their content.
• If you ignore audience advice, you risk repeating the same mistakes year after year.
• Feedback is critical to podcasting success; embrace it to grow your show.
• Creating an audience survey can provide valuable insights into what your listeners want.
• Understanding your audience's needs can lead to more engaging and resonant content.
• Ignoring expert advice, as seen in the case of Theranos, can lead to failure.
• With a CLEAR understanding of your WHY and your audience, you can decide which advice to accept and which to dismiss.

Links referenced in this episode:

• schoolofpodcasting.com
• schoolofpodcasting.com/survey
• jordanharbinger.com (on taking advice)
• thepharmacistvoice.com (Kim Newlove's show)
• perrysburgpodcast.com (Kim Newlove's show)
• podpage.com
• schoolofpodcasting.com/960 (on media hosting)
• schoolofpodcasting.com/961 (full show notes)
• Welcome to Earth Stories
• Apple's Dashboard podcastsconnect.apple.com
• Spotify's Dashboard podcasters.spotify.com

Mentioned in this episode:

2025 Audience Survey

Check Out Dave's Newsletter With Behind the Scenes Content

In each issue of Podcasting Observations, I share my thoughts on what is happening in the podcasting space, my latest content, and things that have caught my eye. I also may ask for your opinion. Join the free community

Podcasting Observations

Do You Need a Podcast Coach

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and many others have had COACHES to help them with an outside view to help them shape their content. I will start my 20th year in podcasting and would love to help you follow the best practices of podcasting, and avoid the common mistakes and avoid those steps that lead to burnout.

School of Podcasting

Can You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!

This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me.

Podcast Awards

Question of the Month

This question comes from the AMAZING Steve Stewart from the Podcast Editors Academy (see schoolofpodcasting.com/pea and yes that is my affiliate link) and he wants to know what steps, practices, strategies, etc you are doing to speak better (with less, um, you know, like, you know crutch words). I need your answer by July 25th, 2025. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question

Question of the Month

My Live Appearances

I can't wait to meet and hang out with you! Check out my schedule at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/where and if you'd like me to speak at your online or in person event, contact me at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/contact

Where Will I Be?