Podcast Summary: Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades

Episode Title: The Secret to Building a Viral Signature Series on Instagram (That Actually Builds Authority)
Host: Katelyn Rhoades
Date: November 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Katelyn Rhoades dives deep into the concept of the "signature series" for Instagram and why it's the tool that can set creators and entrepreneurs apart. She unpacks the benefits of creating predictable, repeatable content that builds authority and recognition–while also tackling overwhelm, burnout, and creative decision fatigue. Drawing from her own experience as a creator and marketing agency founder, Katelyn provides listeners with a step-by-step framework to launch their own signature series, offers practical tips for sustainability and impact, and shares honest behind-the-scenes stories on what works and what to watch out for. If you want to turn your social presence into authority, engagement, and income, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding the Signature Series Concept

• Definition: A signature series is a repeatable content format or “mini show” that your audience immediately associates with you. It can be weekly themes, recurring stories, or educational reels.
  • "It's your version of like the Hot Ones or my current weekly scroll..." (07:21)
• Why It Works: Predictability builds anticipation and trust, turning followers into fans.
  • "Predictability doesn't make it repetitive, but it makes it reliable... Reliability builds trust. And trust builds what? Community." (11:05)

2. Why Most Creators Burn Out (and How to Avoid It)

• Problem: Posting at random leads to lose of direction and decision fatigue.
• Solution: Structure creates simplicity; you don’t need more content, you need intentional, familiar content.
  • "Most creators don't fail because they're not good. They just fail because they're burnt out... they get stuck in this loop of reinventing the wheel every single week." (13:40)

3. Building Your Own Signature Series: Step-by-Step

(a) Find Your Core Theme

• Questions to Ask:
  • What do you want to be known for?
  • What conversations do you want to own?
  • What core problem do you solve, consistently?
  • "This is going to be the anchor of your content… What do your friends always come to you for?" (20:16)
• Niche Examples:
  • Healthy Habits series for fitness coaches
  • Market Mondays for realtors
  • Feature Friday for local businesses

(b) Pick a Sustainable Format

• Start simple; don’t choose a format that will burn you out.
  • "Be honest with yourself about your capacity... sustainable beats aesthetic and inconsistency every single time." (25:20)
• Format can be reels, carousels, newsletters, live sessions—go with your strengths.

(c) Name & Brand It

• Make your series catchy, memorable, on brand, and ideally a bit “SEO-friendly.”
  • "Naming your series makes it real. It makes it legit." (28:45)
  • Sample names: CEO Confessions, Trend Tuesday, Sunday Reset, Behind the Glow

(d) Outline a Simple Structure

• Keep it formulaic: Hook → Value → Wrap up → CTA
  • "Your audience learns that rhythm, and rhythm is what keeps attention going." (33:40)
• Visual consistency matters; stick to recognizable templates/colors

(e) Schedule and Promote It Like an Event

• Make your series the anchor of your content week; schedule it and build other posts around it.
  • "Your series is your anchor content. You want to build everything else around it." (36:18)
• Promote it across all channels and treat each drop like a mini launch.

(f) Turn It Into a Growth Engine

• Every episode should have a strong, strategic CTA for lead generation.
  • "Each episode should end with a strong call to action that builds your funnel up." (41:02)
• Repurpose your series into multiple forms: newsletters, shorts, workshops
• Bring in guests for collaboration and expanded reach

4. Pro Tips for Long-Term Success

• Momentum Beats Perfection: Consistency creates recognition, even before perfection
  • "Perfection's not going to grow your audience. Momentum and consistency will." (46:40)
• Build Rituals: Record and post at the same time each week for sustainability
• Review Analytics: Track engagement, shares, likes to see what’s working
• Evolve, Don’t Abandon: Allow your series to evolve as you do, but don't start from scratch every time

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the value of predictability:
  • "Your audience should be able to say something like, 'Oh, she's the one who does the coffee chat series...'" (10:25)
• On decision fatigue:
  • "At the end of the day, I'll tell my kids, like, nope, I'm done. I'm done making decisions for the day. Go ask your dad." (16:15)
• On sustainable formats:
  • "Don't pick something that's going to burn you out. Sustainable beats aesthetic and inconsistency every single time." (25:20)
• On repetition and community:
  • "When your audience starts to anticipate your post, you've won the game. You've won the game of social." (15:53)
• On the power of rhythm:
  • "If your audience doesn't know what they're tuning in for... it's not because you lack the talent or the creativity. It's just that you don't have the rhythm. So a signature series creates that rhythm. It's your brand's heartbeat." (09:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–04:05 - Introduction to the signature series concept
• 07:21–12:00 - What is a signature series, why it matters, and real examples
• 13:40–17:30 - The most common creator struggle: burnout and decision fatigue
• 20:16–30:00 - Step-by-step framework: theme, format, naming
• 33:40–39:00 - Structuring, visual identity, and scheduling your series
• 41:02–44:00 - Maximizing for growth: CTA, lead generation, multipurposing content
• 46:40–52:00 - Long-term sustainability, building habits, tracking progress, and authentic evolution

Actionable Takeaways

• Choose a theme you can stick with for months and that excites you.
• Keep the format sustainable—start simply!
• Brand your series with a memorable name and visual identity.
• Use a consistent posting and promotion schedule.
• Center every episode around a strong call to action.
• Continuously review your analytics and let your series evolve with you.
• Stay authentic: let your personality, energy, and style shine through.

Closing Thought

"Your signature series can be the heartbeat of your brand. It’s the one thing people could start looking forward to if you created it now and just kept going with it. And when you do this right, your audience will literally start to say things like, 'Oh, I can't wait for her Tuesday post.'" — Katelyn Rhoades (53:25)

Connect with Katelyn

• Instagram: @thecaitlynrhoades
• Resources Mentioned:
  • Stan (digital creator business platform, use link for discount)
  • Social Media School (course for deep-dive frameworks and templates)

Name it, claim it, and start building your signature series today.