Episode Overview

Podcast: School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your Podcast
Host: Dave Jackson
Episode: Ingredients that Make People Binge Your Podcast
Date: February 9, 2026

This episode centers on how podcasters can create shows so compelling that listeners binge not just the latest episode, but entire back catalogs. Drawing inspiration from television, Netflix, and the movie industry, Dave Jackson unpacks actionable strategies—including the use of “open loops,” authenticity, and consistency—to grow audience engagement, build trust, and set up a path toward successful monetization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding Binge-Worthy Content

• TV Patterns Applied to Podcasting

  • Dave reflects on binge-watching TV shows like Will Trent and Tracker, noting how both open and close story loops to keep viewers glued episode after episode.
  • “So I'm watching this show on Hulu called Will Trent...there's a problem at the beginning of the episode...and the problem is solved. On occasion they'll do a two parter. Ooh. With a cliffhanger.” (02:00)

• The “Save the Cat” Principle

  • Relates the idea that making characters relatable or likable—even in minor ways—can translate to podcasts, urging hosts to show authenticity and small “hero” moments.

2. The Psychology of “Open Loops” (03:50–10:12)

• What Are Open Loops?

  • Open loops are unresolved story elements or questions that hook an audience’s brain into craving closure.
  • “It's an open loop that your brain wants to close. And so all of these shows...have this subplot...It's this open loop that makes you tune in. And I was like, that's why we're binging. It's the open loop.” (05:35)

• Practical Podcast Examples

  • Refers to the Pod News Weekly Review (Sam Sethi & James Cridland) and Podcast Junkies (Harry Duran) as great at using teasers, chapter summaries, and recurring guest progress stories to create open loops.
  • “If you do that, you've now heard what's coming next week...you're probably going to be much more inclined to click on follow for that show.” (07:59)

• Seasons, Ongoing Initiatives, and the Audience Journey

  • Highlights Podcraft by Colin Gray and Matthew, which uses focused topical seasons.
  • Suggests creating ongoing, serialized storylines or initiatives (“behind the scenes,” “journey podcasts,” etc.) as continuous reasons for audiences to return.

3. Authenticity, Trust, and Word of Mouth (22:13–29:10)

• Celebrity Podcasting: Pitfalls & Passion

  • Dave critiques Pete Davidson’s “sure, I’ll try it” attitude toward starting a Netflix “podcast” and warns against starting a show with no genuine passion or preparation.
  • “I always tell people when you start a podcast, you should have the passion of a 16 year old trying to get their license... So listen to Pete when Netflix offers him a podcast...” (16:03)
  • “That is not the way to start a podcast. Go in it with like, sure, I'll try it. You know, I'll interview a bunch of people I don't want to interview, and we'll just wing it. Yeah, I do not recommend that.” (18:36)

• Authenticity as a Differentiator

  • Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, in a Joe Rogan Experience appearance, stress that audiences crave authenticity, not scripted PR content.
  • “People have become resistant to anything that feels kind of like a gimmick and a shtick. And you go on and you do your song and dance...nobody cares.” (24:31 - Ben Affleck)
  • “Who do I think is authentic? And am I actually going to be willing to extend my two hours of my time to sit and listen?” (27:16 - Ben Affleck)

• Word of Mouth: Still King

  • Dave emphasizes the lasting power of word-of-mouth recommendations, paralleling how movies like Sixth Sense grew through buzz—and how podcasts grow through sharing.
  • “The most powerful thing to grow your show is to get people to share it. Good old word of mouth.” (27:43)

4. Effective Monetization: The Three-Year Rule (33:52–43:09)

• Monetization Takes Time

  • Repeatedly references that sustainable monetization for most podcasts typically takes three or more years of remarkable, consistent content.
  • “It takes about three years to grow your audience to where you can monetize. And there's a reason for that.” (33:52)
  • Numerous soundbites affirm this timeline, including Jordan Harbinger: “So when we started our podcast...I think if I were to give you any tip at all, if there's only one from this talk, it's just consistency, right?” (41:11–43:09)

• Algorithm Dependency & Platform Pitfalls

  • Warns against over-reliance on platforms’ algorithms (e.g., YouTube) or risky paywalls, as it can destroy long-term audience relationships if not managed wisely.
  • “I know a lot of big YouTubers...they go, I can't take a week off...because the YouTube algorithm will punish me...” (35:59 - Jordan Harbinger)
  • Example of a friend who put her podcast behind a paywall, lost the audience, and struggled to recover after the paywall was removed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Creating Binge Content:
  “Open loops suck people in...they don't have to be this major thing. But open loops suck people in.”
  — Dave Jackson (05:18)

• On Interviewing Prep:
  “My whole take on the podcast was it would be so cool to just the second they get there, start recording, and then you just talk. And then see...what happens? Yeah. That is not the way to start a podcast.”
  — Dave Jackson commenting on Pete Davidson’s approach (18:21)

• On Platform Risks:
  “If Netflix came in and offered me 110, 120% of what I'm making on YouTube, I just, I don't know if I would take that deal...because I'm basically shooting my business momentum in the foot.”
  — Jordan Harbinger (37:05)

• On Trust and Authenticity:
  “Who do I think is authentic? And am I actually going to be willing to extend my two hours of my time to sit there and listen...?”
  — Ben Affleck (27:16)

• On Monetization Timeline:
  “I always say it takes about three years to grow your audience to where you can monetize. And there's a reason for that...”
  — Dave Jackson (33:52)

• On Consistency’s Importance:
  “If there's only one [tip] from this talk, it's just consistency, right? It's not even just podcasting. It's not just content marketing. It's your business, it's your life, right?”
  — Jordan Harbinger (42:19)

Noteworthy Listener Story: “Because of My Podcast…” (31:07–32:56)

Ray Arnott of the Around the Layout Podcast shared a standout “because of my podcast” testimonial:
A listener and expert from Sydney, Australia, after engaging with Ray’s show and content, invited Ray for an all-expenses-paid trip to speak at the very first Sydney RPM (Railroad Prototype Modeler) event.

“So that opportunity... will be for me to go over to attend the very first Sydney RPM, a trip of a lifetime. I've never thought in my life I'd ever really leave the United States... really all because of my podcast.” (31:07)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–05:35: TV binge-watching habits and their relevance: “open loops”
• 05:35–10:12: Explaining and applying “open loops” in podcasting
• 15:55–19:39: Celebrity podcasting pitfalls; importance of passion and prep (Pete Davidson segment)
• 21:46–27:16: Ben Affleck/Matt Damon: movie marketing, the power of podcasts, authenticity, and the changing media landscape
• 31:07–32:56: Listener story: Ray Arnott’s “Because of My Podcast” experience
• 33:52–43:09: Monetization realities (“the three-year rule”) with Jordan Harbinger & Dave Jackson

Summary Table: Ingredients for Binge-Worthiness

| Strategy | Description | Example/Quote (Timestamp) | |---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------| | Open Loops | Unresolved stories or “what’s next?” elements that keep listeners engaged | “It's an open loop that makes us click the next episode.” (06:15) | | Authenticity | Being real, relatable, honest—audiences are hungry for this in a time of forced PR | “Who's like a legitimate neutral arbiter?” (25:10, Ben Affleck) | | Consistency | Show up regularly, deliver value to be seen as trustworthy & build momentum | “If there's only one [tip], it's just consistency...” (42:19, Jordan Harbinger) | | Word of Mouth | Encourage sharing—the most powerful growth lever remains personal recommendation | “The most powerful thing to grow your show is...good old word of mouth.” (27:43) | | Passion and Preparation | Start a podcast because you need to, not just because you “might as well”; prep is essential | “That is not the way to start a podcast.” (18:36) | | Audience Journey | Take listeners on a story or learning journey—create an ongoing relationship with them | “Some cases, the open loop is you're just going through the journey with the host.” (10:12) |

Takeaways & Action Steps for Podcasters

1. Design Each Episode with Open Loops:
   Give your audience a reason to listen to the next episode—teasers, unresolved subplots, or personal updates are all effective.

2. Lead with Authenticity:
   Listeners have sensitive BS meters; be yourself, share what excites or challenges you, and avoid overly scripted, promotional content.

3. Be Consistent:
   Growth, monetization, and community don’t happen overnight. Commit to delivering quality for at least three years.

4. Prompt Word of Mouth:
   Encourage your audience to share, and give them remarkable, relatable content they’re proud to recommend.

5. Respect the Craft:
   Don’t take the “just hit record and talk” approach. Prepare, plan, and approach each episode with purpose and respect for your audience’s time.

This episode is an engaging, story-rich guide for podcasters who want to “level up” by learning what truly makes a podcast binge-worthy—and how to build an audience that sticks around.

For more resources or to join Dave’s podcasting community, visit schoolofpodcasting.com.