Podcast Summary: Grow The Show

Episode 234 | When to Change Your Podcast Growth Strategy (30 Day Rule)
Host: Kev Michael
Date: August 26, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Kev Michael discusses one of the most common struggles podcasters face: determining when to stick with a growth strategy and when to try something new. Drawing from direct client experiences, Kev breaks down the difference between strategic patience and stagnation, highlighting his "30 Day Rule" for assessing podcast adjustments. The episode is packed with concrete examples, actionable advice, and Kev’s trademark straight talk aimed at helping podcasters avoid both premature pivots and wasted months (or years) of fruitless effort.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Frustration of Not Knowing When to Pivot

• Kev introduces the topic by addressing the universal uncertainty among podcasters: Should I wait this out or switch things up?
• He aims to clarify the difference between perseverance and unproductive waiting, stating:

  “My goal for this one is to share with you the difference between strategic patience and unproductive waiting.” (01:08)

2. Real-Life Client Examples: Too Impatient vs. Too Patient

• Impatience Scenario (YouTube Thumbnails):
  • A client revamped her YouTube thumbnails using Kev’s “three element rule.” After posting, she was upset by a displayed 0% click-through rate.
  • Kev checked her analytics after 24 hours: her CTR had jumped from 0.5% (1 in 200) to 10% (1 in 10).
  • Key learning: Analytics take time to update and need context.
  • Notable quote:

    “You don’t wanna look at your click through rates on YouTube until after 24 hours after the video has published. Before that... YouTube doesn’t have any data yet, so they display a zero.” (04:35)

• Patience Pays Off (Long-Term Impact):
  • Another client improved thumbnails; CTR rose from 1.3% to 6.9%, but views didn’t increase—at first.
  • Three weeks later, views increased tenfold, validating the process.
  • Notable quote:

    “I promise. You keep doing it this way and you’re gonna get more views. Sure enough, three weeks later, his views had 10x’d from 30 to 300. This stuff freaking works.” (06:17)

• Too Patient Scenario (Stuck in a Rut):
  • A different entrepreneur had produced the same show style for five years with no growth.
  • Kev’s point: Repetition only compounds if the reps are the right ones.
  • Notable quote:

    “You’re putting in the wrong reps.” (07:00)

3. Why Knowing When to Change is Hard (Entrepreneur/Podcaster Dilemma)

• There’s never total certainty about when to pivot, but there are principles.

4. The 30 Day Rule (Kev’s Guideline)

• “Give any major strategy shift at least 30 days.”
  • Any update—from format tweaks to new thumbnails—needs a month before you can assess its impact.
  • Important: Weekly podcasters only get four “reps” per month.
  • Notable quote:

    “Any strategy adjustment that you make to try to grow your show, you have to give at least 30 days before you have a verdict.” (08:08)

• What to Do After 30 Days:
  • If numbers haven’t moved, something has to change.
  • “If it's been more than 30 days and you haven't seen anything, then it's worthwhile to second guess the change that you made.” (08:42)
• Signs You’re Too Patient:
  • Stagnant downloads, social metrics, engagement, or lack of new clients after consistent publishing means change is overdue.
  • “If you are publishing your podcast and nothing is changing, ever... something needs to change.” (09:00)
• Bottom Line:
  • Let changes breathe for 30 days. Act decisively after 30 days if no improvement is evident.

5. Summary Advice & Pep Talk

• Kev wraps up with encouragement:

  “My hope is that this helps either nudge you to chill the F out, let the changes do its thing, or get the F going and make some adjustments so that you don't keep wasting so much time on a podcast that isn't growing.” (09:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On giving strategies time:

  “Too little patience looks like making a change and expecting to see results immediately, right away. Too much patience looks like publishing the same thing over and over and over again for years with no growth.” (07:44)

• The value of a 30-day window:

  “The magic number here is 30 days. If you’ve launched a podcast, I want you to start to see growth within 30 days or something needs to be fixed.” (08:59)

• Classic Kev pep talk:

  “You will keep getting the same outputs until you change your inputs.” (09:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57 – Episode theme and Kev’s aim for strategic patience vs. unproductive waiting
• 02:27 – Story: Impatient client & YouTube thumbnail results
• 05:40 – Story: The slow-burning results of decent thumbnail changes
• 06:57 – Story: Five-year podcaster stuck in place
• 07:44 – Explaining the spectrum between impatience and stagnation
• 08:08 – Introducing the 30 Day Rule for evaluating podcast changes
• 09:00 – When to pivot: Identifying if you’re “too patient”
• 09:37 – Kev’s motivational wrap-up and direct advice

Takeaways for Podcasters

• Adjust, then wait: Make strategic changes—but allow a full month before passing judgment.
• Impatience kills growth: Don’t expect results (especially on platforms like YouTube) in hours or even days.
• Stubborn patience can waste years: If you’re not growing, don’t keep repeating a failing formula.
• Use Data Properly: Understand analytics timing and context.
• The 30 Day Rule is your compass: Review, analyze, and either double down or pivot decisively after a month.

Kev Michael’s straight-shooting, actionable advice is a must for podcasters seeking real growth—and the “30 Day Rule” is now a non-negotiable for effective, strategic podcast development.