Podcast Summary: School of Podcasting – "Podcasting Builds Relationships Which Leads to Opportunities"
Host: Dave Jackson
Guests: Kim Newlove, Jan Almasey
Episode Number: 1014
Release Date: December 15, 2025
Episode Overview
Dave Jackson delves into one of the enduring truths of podcasting: podcasts build relationships, and those relationships open doors to opportunities—which in turn, foster more relationships. He brings on two guests, Kim Newlove and Jan Almasey, to share tangible stories about how their podcasts changed their lives and communities. The episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, authentic personal moments, and Dave’s signature mix of humor, wisdom, and encouragement.
Key Segments & Insights
1. The Power of Local Impact – Kim Newlove’s Story
(Introduced at 01:40 | Kim’s Message at 03:08)
-
Kim Newlove, host of “The Pharmacist Voice” and “The Perrysburg Podcast,” shares how her podcasting led to unexpected recognition and influence in her local community.
-
She is recognized at public events, ranging from church gatherings to Chamber of Commerce happenings, meeting people she previously interviewed or who listen to her show.
-
Kim’s authenticity—recording a spontaneous voice message from her porch—underscores the value of genuine moments over perfect audio.
"I got recognized and I got to meet some of my audience, and it was really cool."
— Kim Newlove (03:18) -
Community Visibility: Kim is becoming locally known as “the podcast lady” and is regularly introduced as a community connector.
-
Grassroots Growth: She’s growing her audience one listener at a time, going as far as offering tutorials at local libraries on “how to listen to podcasts”—especially for older residents.
"That’s how you grow your audience one by one and helping them learn. Because really, do we need more podcasts? What we need are more listeners."
— Dave Jackson (05:10)
2. Relationship-Driven Growth – Jan Almasey’s Journey
(Interview begins at 07:42)
Motivation and Launch
-
Jan Almasey (aka John in the transcript, but clarified as Jan), inspired by podcasters like Jocko and Rogan, starts “The Apex Podcast” in 2017 after a community tragedy to spotlight “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
-
Focused on local stories: musicians, business leaders, and educators, always probing for moments of adversity and perseverance.
"The thesis behind the show was ‘ordinary people, extraordinary things.’"
— Jan Almasey (07:55)
Small Starts, Big Opportunities
-
After 15-20 episodes, the podcast gains traction; Jan is invited to local schools and business events and gets a city sponsorship.
-
Ecosystem Building: Jan sets up the first podcast studio in downtown Canton and becomes a recognizable voice in the community.
"Before I knew it, this was around Covid time now. So about three years later, there it is…”
— Jan Almasey (09:59) -
Dave’s Core Observation: Most podcasters report it takes around three years to really gain traction (10:05).
The Guest Experience – Personal Touches Matter
-
Jan credits much of the show’s early growth to personalized post-interview follow-ups: handwritten thank-you cards, phone calls, and invitation to share their episode.
-
Outcome: Guests become enthusiastic promoters of the show.
"I attribute a lot of that growth early on to those personal touches after the episode happened.”
— Jan Almasey (11:40)
Real-World Impact & Monetization
-
Community Relationships: As his “tech guy” reputation grows, opportunities arise for consulting, agency work, and partnerships. The relationships built through podcasting directly lead to paid contracts.
-
Business Evolution: Jan refines his services (originally helping restaurants, shifting to larger businesses with greater budgets).
"We’d record their story… but as the agency scaled, we actually ended up getting away from restaurants… and we took that to larger companies."
— Jan Almasey (13:45)
Leveraging Podcasting For Grants & Growth
-
Jan wins a grant through a local accelerator (Jumpstart Inc.) by pitching storytelling as community value.
-
The grant outcome: a dedicated podcast studio and further embeddedness in business networks.
“Through that process, Jumpstart linked us with the Canton City Council… and our requirement was… we had to interview all the people that were a part of…the Fourth Street Collective.”
— Jan Almasey (15:46)
Expansion and New Directions
-
The guest list grows beyond local figures to prominent founders and industry leaders in major cities, using each interview as a soft lead-in for agency services—never hard-selling, always relationship-driven.
"What I would do is reach out to the founders, interview them... then two weeks later... send a little line at the bottom: 'Hey, just to let you know, we also offer X, Y, and Z services...'"
— Jan Almasey (16:43) -
This approach leads to new contracts and nationwide growth.
Personal Journey & Pivot
-
Amidst business success, Jan receives a diagnosis of ADHD and anxiety, shifting his self-perception from “broken” to empowered by neurodivergence.
-
Plans a new podcast focused on entrepreneurs with neurodivergent backgrounds to showcase both the struggles and unique strengths of these communities.
"If you understand how your brain and body work slightly differently, it can actually be a superpower and an accelerator."
— Jan Almasey (21:55)
3. Mindset & Personal Development
The Edison Parable
(24:02)
-
Jan shares a personal connection to Thomas Edison’s story—being told as a child by his mother that he was “too bright” for traditional school, despite a much harsher letter from the school.
-
Jan parallels this with his own (homeschool) experience, re-emphasizing the power of narrative and positive self-belief, especially for those who are neurodivergent.
"The narrative that you built for yourself, the way that you talk to yourself can either unlock superpowers, or they can become a myth that you just live in the shadow of for the rest of your life."
— Jan Almasey (25:18)
Life Balance & Full-Circle Reflection
(25:36) – (27:37)
-
Jan reflects on his entrepreneurial independence: working internationally, speaking at conferences, and ultimately choosing to step back to prioritize family and return to hospital work (cardiac ICU) for a healthier lifestyle balance.
-
He plans to continue consulting, but with a renewed focus on quality of life.
“You’re my priority… us starting a family is a priority at this point… Ultimately, I decided to go back to the hospital…"
— Jan Almasey (25:41-26:00)
Advice for New Podcasters
(27:42)
- Jan cautions new podcasters against prematurely jumping into coaching or consulting:
- “Build something of your own. Tangibly experiment on yourself first."
— Jan Almasey (28:24)
- “Build something of your own. Tangibly experiment on yourself first."
- He emphasizes the need for genuine experience and expertise before teaching or selling services, sharing that inner confidence comes from real-world trial and error, not just online bravado.
Notable Quotes & Takeaways
-
Dave Jackson (on podcasting’s ripple effect):
"Podcasts lead to relationships, lead to opportunities which lead to more relationships." (29:35)
-
Jan Almasey (on seizing opportunity):
"If you can go through life ready to seize any opportunity that shows up without seeking, then you’ll be in a good spot." (18:58)
-
Kim Newlove (on community impact):
"I love it. I find out what’s in this town and why people like to live here. And I’m like, yes, it’s exactly why I do this podcast." (03:50)
Key Insights & Actionable Lessons
- Personal Connections Drive Growth: Both Kim and Jan show that patiently building individual relationships and being visibly helpful in one’s community grows both listenership and real-world impact.
- Audience Engagement is Practical: Engaging with listeners and guests beyond the podcast (personal notes, calls, public tutorials) transforms casual listeners into loyal advocates.
- Monetization Follows Relationship & Value: Opportunities for sponsorship, agency work, and grants grow organically from podcasting’s relationship-building, not from pushy sales or shortcuts.
- Embrace Your Uniqueness: Neurodivergence, introversion, or personal history—your uniqueness is a competitive advantage, not a liability. Own it and let it shape your podcast’s voice and mission.
- Authenticity Over Perfection: Real, imperfect, in-the-moment connections (like Kim’s windy porch story) often resonate more deeply than polished, staged audio.
Memorable Moments & Lighter Anecdotes
- Local celebrity moments: Kim being “the podcast lady” in Perrysburg, and Dave’s candid story about cleaning up after an intoxicated festival attendee in Canton (37:14).
- Dave’s tongue-in-cheek honesty about production mishaps: Owning the day’s less-than-ideal audio:
"If you thought today's interview sounded a little weird... we ended up using Zoom as a backup..." (Post-episode coda, 36:56)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Kim Newlove’s story: 03:08–05:20
- How to grow local audience: 04:40–05:10
- Intro to Jan Almasey’s journey: 07:42
- The ‘three-year rule’: 10:05
- Guest thank-you strategy: 11:29–12:26
- Business evolution and grants: 13:45–15:46
- Expansion and pitching agency work: 16:43–18:11
- Dealing with neurodivergence: 20:07–22:23
- Edison anecdote & narrative: 24:02–25:35
- Jan’s reflection on life and career: 25:36–27:37
- Advice for new podcasters: 27:42–29:26
Conclusion
Dave Jackson wraps up by reinforcing the episode’s message: Podcasting is not just about the content—it’s about the connections. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran ready to quit, your next big opportunity may be just one conversation or episode away. Both Kim and Jan’s stories remind listeners that authenticity, community engagement, and patience are the foundations not only of podcast growth but also of unexpected—and sometimes life-changing—professional and personal opportunities.
Resources and Links
- School of Podcasting
- Kim Newlove’s The Pharmacist Voice
- Jan Almasey
- Dave Jackson’s “Profit from Your Podcast” book: profitfromyourpodcast.com
Summary by Podcast Summarizer AI — December 2025
