Grow The Show — Episode 242 Summary

Episode Title: What Entrepreneurs Get Wrong About Podcasting

Host: Kev Michael
Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kev Michael, a podcast growth coach and host of Grow The Show, dives deep into the common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when trying to grow a podcast. He identifies the key "skill deficiencies" that cause shows to plateau and provides actionable insight for both DIY podcasters and entrepreneurs who outsource production. Through personal coaching experiences and hard truths, Kev emphasizes the importance of understanding and mastering the full stack of podcast growth skills—either directly or indirectly—to create a show that stands out and actually grows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Two Most Common Growth Stalls (00:45)

Kev frames the episode by addressing two main situations where entrepreneur-run podcasts get stuck:

• Solo Podcaster Doing Everything:

  • Even if they own a larger business, for the podcast they handle every task (recording, editing, design, promotion).
  • They're stretched thin, and while they work hard, the show quality isn’t high enough to drive growth.
  • "They're trying hard, they're doing their best, but it's just not good enough for them to grow." (02:24)

• Oversystematized, Delegated Podcast:

  • Entrepreneurs pride themselves on spending just one hour a week, delegating everything to agencies or teams.
  • The problem: they've "systematized failure," making inefficiency run smoothly, but none of it is actually effective.
  • "You have systematized failure. You have made something efficient before you made it effective." (04:12)

2. The Myth of "Good Enough" (05:35)

Kev stresses that in podcasting, unlike social media, audiences are limited and loyal:

• A person might scroll through 100+ creators on Instagram in an hour, but only listen to 4-5 podcasts a week.
• Winner-take-all market:
  • Only the very best shows crack into a listener's top five—“It has to be that good."
  • "If you are going to take all this life force of yours and this money and this time and this attention and put all of it into this podcast, it is not going to grow unless it is really freaking good." (09:48)

3. The Skill Stack Required for Growth (10:30)

Kev outlines what it means to have a "skill deficiency," and which skills matter:

• Must-have skills include:

  • Audience research and deep understanding
  • Effective episode packaging (titles, thumbnails)
  • Compelling introductions
  • Psychology, persuasion, and 'click triggers'
  • Retention/storytelling
  • Focus/discipline to serve a single audience
  • Technical production (audio/video editing, graphic design)
  • Marketing, promotion, sales funnel integration

• Solo podcasters must grow competent at all of these.

  • “You have to get really good at all of those things in order for your show to start growing.” (10:58)

4. Why Outsourcing Fails (14:12)

Kev warns that delegating podcast growth without comprehension leads to 'delegated ignorance':

• Delegation only works if you can hold others accountable and judge their work.
• Blindly hiring agencies or contractors without enough domain knowledge is expensive and rarely yields real results.
• "Delegation without direction is expensive failure. It is abdication." (16:14)

5. Friends & Family Zone: A Growth Dead End (12:48)

Many shows languish with only the host's existing network listening; breaking out requires systematic skills, not just consistency:

• The "friends and family zone" means your show never attracts strangers.
• "Your show is not going to grow unless you implement a clear growth plan that you fully understand before you start it." (13:08)

6. Facing Hard Truths and Taking Action (24:08)

Kev’s advice for all podcasters:

• If you’re solo: be prepared to continually learn and master skills, or seek qualified help.
• If you outsource: get enough foundational understanding to supervise and steer growth, even if you never edit an episode yourself.
• If you're unwilling to learn or invest: consider stopping, rather than wasting resources on a stagnant show.
• "If your show's gonna grow, and if you're not gonna acquire the skills, you should stop podcasting, because it's just pouring time, energy, and money down the drain." (24:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Skill Deficiency & Growth Stagnation:

  • “If your podcast is not growing, that means that your podcast has a skill deficiency.” (00:01)

• On Outsourcing Without Oversight:

  • “Delegation without direction is expensive failure. It is abdication.” (16:14)

• On the Harsh Podcast Market:

  • “Podcasting is winner take all, because there's just not enough room in people's week to consume from that many creators.” (08:39)

• On High Standards for Podcast Quality:

  • “Your show has to be better than theirs [the shows already in your listeners’ top 5].” (09:33)
  • “It is not going to grow unless it is really freaking good.” (09:48)

• On Facing Reality:

  • “You don't have to learn it from me, but you're going to have to understand these skills in order to make this thing work.” (25:12)
  • “If not, you should just stop.” (25:29)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–02:17: Introduction and episode theme: Skill deficiency as root cause of stuck podcasts.
• 02:18–05:48: The two archetypes of stuck podcasters (DIY vs outsourced).
• 05:49–10:29: Why podcasting is winner-take-all and the danger of being “good enough.”
• 10:30–13:07: The essential podcast growth skill stack explained.
• 13:08–14:10: The “friends and family” zone and necessity of a growth plan.
• 14:11–17:46: Pitfalls of outsourcing without understanding; concept of systematized failure.
• 17:47–21:58: Kev’s personal coaching frustrations and real-world examples.
• 21:59–23:55: Why mastering or understanding the skills is non-negotiable for growth.
• 24:08–25:37: Final reality check—commit to learning or stop podcasting.

Call to Action & Further Learning

Kev invites listeners to a free live masterclass covering the four core podcast growth skills, emphasizing it's tactical—not just a pitch.

• Next Session: October 28th, 2025, 2pm Eastern ([Check show notes for link]).
• If after this date, check the show notes for upcoming sessions or stick with “Grow The Show” for ongoing skill development.

In Kev’s Words:

“Take a hard look at what you’re doing and say, okay, am I willing to do what is required to at least get a fundamental understanding of these skills so that my show can grow and I can look back at this investment that I’ve made and say, yes, this was a good call. If not, you should just stop.” (25:21)

Summary prepared by Podcast Summarizer AI — For podcasters serious about growth.