Growth In Reverse Podcast Summary: "Should Your Newsletter Have a Podcast? (Our Take After 6 Months of Episodes)"

Release Date: June 11, 2025

Hosts: Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop

Introduction

In the 28th episode of Growth In Reverse, hosts Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop reflect on their six-month journey of launching and maintaining their own podcast aimed at empowering newsletter creators. Titled "Should Your Newsletter Have a Podcast? (Our Take After 6 Months of Episodes)," this episode delves into the successes, challenges, and key learnings from their podcasting experience, offering valuable insights for newsletter operators considering venturing into the podcasting space.

Podcast Performance Overview

Chenell and Dylan kick off the discussion by sharing comprehensive statistics about their podcast's performance.

• Subscriber Growth:

  • Chenell shares, “Transistor has shown 10 subscribers on my end... And I have seen a few come from YouTube” ([05:04]).
  • Dylan adds, “We have 275 estimated subscribers according to Transistor... our numbers are pretty close” ([06:34]).

• Download Metrics:

  • The duo reports over 14,000 total downloads across 31 full-length audio episodes, averaging approximately 450 downloads per episode ([08:38]).
  • Chenell notes a discrepancy, mentioning Spotify plays aren’t fully reflected in Transistor’s metrics: “Spotify numbers don't actually count” ([09:23]).

• YouTube Performance:

  • Their YouTube channel has amassed 1,620 subscribers, averaging 57 new subscribers per episode ([11:04]).
  • Notably, their top episode, which underwent a thumbnail change to feature guest Justin Welsh and Codie Sanchez’s faces, surpassed 5,000 views after the update ([14:24]).

• Shorts Engagement:

  • They experimented with YouTube Shorts, achieving around 500 views per short ([13:12]), leading to questions about its effectiveness as a growth tool.

Notable Quote:

Dylan: “If you don't promote episodes, you are not going to get... you need to actually let people know that a new episode is live and what it's about.” ([19:04])

Key Learnings from Podcasting

The hosts share several critical insights gained from their podcasting endeavor:

1. Podcasting as a Relationship Builder:

   • Dylan: “Podcast is a pretty powerful relationship builder... relationship with your audience and with other people in your niche.” ([16:12])
   • Chenell: Highlighted positive feedback at the Newsletter Marketing Summit, emphasizing personal connection through audio ([16:38]).

2. Promotion is Crucial:

   • Expecting organic growth proved ineffective. Active promotion strategies are essential to drive listeners.
   • Dylan: Describes using Riverside’s AI-generated clips for promotion, which boosted engagement on LinkedIn ([20:10]).

3. Podcasting Requires Significant Effort:

   • Chenell: “Knowing what goes into something like this is very eye-opening... a lot more steps to it than just that.” ([18:09])
   • The behind-the-scenes work, including editing and publishing, demands substantial time and resources.

4. Content Overlaps and Audience Segmentation:

   • There is both overlap and separation between podcast listeners and newsletter readers.
   • Chenell: “A majority of the newsletter does not listen to the podcast... some prefer reading and others listening.” ([21:13])

Is Podcasting a Viable Growth Lever for Newsletters?

Chenell and Dylan critically assess whether starting a podcast is an effective strategy for growing an email list.

• Direct Growth Impact:

  • The podcast has shown limited direct growth in email subscribers. Minimal subscriber attribution suggests it’s not a quick growth driver.
  • Dylan: “A podcast is not going to be like a quick driver of growth.” ([05:18])

• Indirect Benefits:

  • Enhanced relationship building and increased opportunities for guest interactions can indirectly support newsletter growth.
  • Chenell: “[The podcast] helps me grow the newsletter faster just through those kinds of things.” ([18:50])

• Comparison with Other Platforms:

  • Highlighted challenges in podcast discoverability compared to platforms like YouTube or social media.

Notable Quote:

Chenell: “Podcast listeners and YouTube or newsletter readers are not the same people necessarily... others want to listen to a podcast because they're walking or taking care of their kids.” ([21:14])

Advice on Starting a Podcast for Your Newsletter

Drawing from their experience, Chenell and Dylan offer practical advice for newsletter creators contemplating a podcast.

1. Start Simple:

   • Utilize minimal equipment, such as recording with a smartphone or using basic audio setups.
   • Chenell: “If you're going to do this... start out with just like yourself and a mic and hit go.” ([42:24])

2. Define Clear Goals:

   • Understand whether the podcast is for relationship building, monetization, or content repurposing.
   • Dylan: Emphasizes not starting a podcast solely for monetization without established growth ([34:03]).

3. Leverage Existing Content:

   • Convert newsletter content or deep dives into podcast episodes to streamline content creation.
   • Chenell: Suggests turning deep dives into audio episodes ([21:30]).

4. Promotion Strategies:

   • Actively promote each episode through newsletters, social media, and leveraging platform-specific features like YouTube thumbnails and AI-generated clips.
   • Dylan: Discusses using Riverside's AI clips for LinkedIn promotion ([19:04]).

5. Experiment with Formats:

   • Consider various formats such as solo episodes, interviews, or Q&A sessions to find what resonates best with the audience.
   • Dylan: Notes that interview episodes perform better on YouTube, suggesting a potential area for focus ([10:10]).

Notable Quote:

Chenell: “One thing I will say is that podcast listeners and YouTube or newsletter readers are not the same people necessarily, there is definitely some crossover.” ([21:14])

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Chenell and Dylan conclude the episode by summarizing their primary lessons from six months of podcasting:

1. Relationship Building:

   • Podcasts foster deeper connections with both the audience and industry peers.

2. Start Simple:

   • Begin with low-effort formats to gauge interest and personal enjoyment before scaling up.

3. Patience with Growth:

   • Podcasting doesn’t deliver instant growth; its benefits compound over time.

4. Multifaceted Content Strategy:

   • Integrate the podcast with other content forms like newsletters and YouTube to maximize reach and engagement.

5. Adapt and Iterate:

   • Continuously refine promotion tactics, episode formats, and content based on performance metrics and audience feedback.

Final Quotes:

Dylan: “So really good relationship builder with your audience and with other people in your niche... Start simple... Do not expect overnight rewards or success.” ([46:19])

Chenell: “Let me know... if you like listening to podcasts, you might enjoy actually having one.” ([21:30])

Engage with Growth In Reverse

Chenell and Dylan encourage listeners to share their ideas and questions to shape future podcast content. They invite submissions via their website at growthinreverse.com/questions and social media channels, promoting an interactive and responsive content creation process.

Closing Remarks:

Chenell: “Feel free to submit questions there and you might hear your question on air in a few weeks.” ([47:30])

Dylan: “We'll put the link to that show in the show notes so people can quickly, easily check that out.” ([45:18])

Recommendations

For those interested in exploring effective podcast strategies and their interplay with newsletter growth, this episode serves as an insightful resource. It balances honest reflections on challenges with actionable advice, making it a must-listen for newsletter operators considering podcasting as a supplementary growth avenue.

Additional Resources Mentioned:

• Matt Giovanisi’s Money Lab Podcast: A raw, informal podcast where Matt discusses marketing strategies and business insights.
• Lenny Richicki’s Substack and Podcast: Illustrates successful integration of newsletters and podcasts for monetization ([28:06]).

This summary captures the essence of the episode, providing a comprehensive overview of the discussions, insights, and actionable takeaways shared by Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop.