School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your Podcast

Episode: The Myth of Overnight Success: What Podcasting Really Takes
Host: Dave Jackson
Date: January 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Jackson tackles the pervasive myth of "overnight success," reminding aspiring and veteran podcasters alike that real achievement in podcasting—and creative work of any kind—requires dedication, patience, and incremental progress. Using examples from celebrities’ careers, successful podcasters, and his own experiences, Dave reframes success as a gradual process, emphasizing the importance of loving your craft, staying consistent, listening to your audience, and celebrating small wins along the journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Microwave Mentality vs. the Reality of Podcasting (00:00–03:20)

• Introduction with Microwave Analogy: Dave uses the invention and slow adoption of the microwave to illustrate society’s craving for immediate results.
• Comparing Podcasting to Microwaves: Many hopeful podcasters expect instant success, but true podcasting takes much longer to deliver results.

“We’re used to getting things right now, exactly the way we want it. Unfortunately…that’s not the way it works in podcasting.”
— Dave Jackson (00:55)

Famous Case Studies: Success Takes Time (03:21–09:00)

Dave details how iconic actors, musicians, and podcasters rose to fame—not quickly, but over years or decades:

• Morgan Freeman: Over 20 years to major TV/film break
• Samuel L. Jackson: 15–20 years (breakthrough in his 40s)
• Harrison Ford: 10–12 years before Star Wars
• Bryan Cranston, Lucille Ball, James Gandolfini, Bonnie Raitt: Each spent 10–20 years before hitting stardom
• Joe Rogan & Marc Maron: 15–20 years building entertainment careers before podcast stardom
• Sarah Koenig (Serial): 15–20 years as a journalist before podcast success
• YouTubers like MrBeast: 5–10 years to viral growth
• Colonel Sanders (KFC): Started franchising at age 62 after 11 years of recipe refinement

“It’s always a minimum of three [years, to succeed], more likely ten. It’s crazy how long it takes sometimes if you really want to be a household name.”
— Dave Jackson (07:37)

Loving the Craft: Adam Sandler’s Lessons in Resilience (09:00–11:00)

• Adam Sandler’s First Stand-up Experience: Bombed, “five minutes of silence,” followed by heckling.
• Takeaway: Despite failure, he loved the experience and persisted; constructive feedback and even further setbacks didn’t deter him.

“I remember I was devastatingly bad and nobody laughed… At the very end I heard a man say, ‘He’s wearing a retainer.’”
— Adam Sandler (09:06)

“When I drove home that night… I was like, oh, that was awesome.”
— Adam Sandler (09:23)

• Key Insight: You need a genuine passion for the work to weather long journeys and repeated failures.

Building Momentum: The Story of Seinfeld (12:44–16:00)

• Seinfeld’s Slow Build: Four years to “catch on.” Season four was the tipping point with provocative, remarkable content (“The Contest” episode).
• Ratings growth: Season one and two = no ratings; season three = 12; season four (the breakthrough) = 13; then slow climbs each year after.
• Factors in Growth:
  • Consistency (same characters, tone)
  • Willingness to experiment and try “crazy ideas”
  • Luck/opportunity (time slot change after Cheers, network support)
  • Cross-promotion and audience word-of-mouth

“You don’t suddenly catch on after you’ve been on TV for four years. But sure enough, he was right.”
— Jerry Seinfeld (13:18)

“There was a part of their show that was consistent… it was always this consistency of these four characters and then the weird things that other people would bring in.”
— Dave Jackson (16:40)

Consistency & Audience Experience (16:00–18:45)

• Consistency is Crucial: Both in content quality and release schedule.
• NFL Example: Dave’s humorous “power rant” about the NFL’s inconsistent scheduling and how it hurts the fan experience.
  • Key insight: Make your content easy to access and keep the experience reliable for your audience.

“Make it easy to consume your stuff and stay consistent.”
— Dave Jackson (18:35)

Serve Your Audience, Not the Algorithm (21:56–24:00)

• Serving the Core Audience: Like Seinfeld, focus on your true fans—not pleasing everyone or chasing trendy topics.
• Metrics perspective: Celebrate growth, not just large download numbers.
• Longevity: Dave credits his own long-term success to persistence and attentive service to his listeners every week.

“Find something you love talking about and would talk about for free, because it’s going to be a bit.”
— Dave Jackson (24:03)

Nothing Stops You From Growing Your Audience (24:00–27:00)

• Elimination of Gatekeepers: You don’t need “permission” to reach an audience anymore.
• Word of Mouth is Powerful: But requires remarkable content.
• Everyday Growth Tactics: Personalized engagement, newsletters, creative outreach (even putting your show’s QR code in physical books!).

“There’s nothing stopping you from growing your audience…There is nothing like, ‘Well, if only my audience could get to my content.’ There’s nothing stopping them.”
— Dave Jackson (26:10)

Newsletters & Audience Experience (27:00–29:45)

• Newsletters vs. Social Media: Newsletters can be more effective for driving engagement than social media.
• Personal Touch: Unique audience interactions (like personalized welcome videos) can set your show apart.

Payoff: Because of My Podcast Stories (30:28–37:00)

Lou Mongello’s “Because of My Podcast” Story (30:40):

• Gained access to Disney insiders, Marvel Studios, and met his heroes—all thanks to his Disney podcast audience.
• Expresses overwhelming gratitude and the ripple effects of building an audience from scratch.

“I sat in Disneyland at the Jolly Holiday Bakery with a coffee in my hand, a joyful tear in my eye and my heart experiencing such a wide, wild range of emotions…I share this here, not because this is about me…but to sincerely express my incredible gratitude to you and for you.”
— Lou Mongello (31:11)

Listener Stories Collected from Reddit:

• Guests have found jobs, connected family members, realized lifelong dreams, and gained new skills.

Dave’s Own Journey:

• Podcasting led to jobs at New Media Expo, Chancellor University, Libsyn, Podpage, a book deal, speaking gigs, meaningful friendships, and even saving a listener’s life.

Final Lessons & Key Takeaways (38:40–END)

• It’s Never Too Late: Colonel Sanders, KFC founder, started his true business success at age 62.
• Your First Idea Isn’t Always the Best: Iteration, community input, and continual improvement are vital.
• Broader Success: Podcasting opens surprising doors—global reach, personal fulfillment, unexpected opportunities.
• Persistence Over Perfection: The "microwave mentality" won’t deliver; true, lasting results reward long-term effort and passion.

“There is opportunity here if you’re willing to do something that you love for a while with no pay, probably.”
— Dave Jackson (41:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overnight Success:

  “We all want the 10,000 download switch that we could just come in, flip the switch, and there’s your 10,000 down. Well, that doesn’t exist.”
  — Dave Jackson (26:35)

• On Consistency:

  “They are not consistent in their schedule and it’s really upsetting people… Make it easy to consume your stuff and stay consistent.”
  — Dave Jackson, on the NFL (18:10)

• On Audience Connection:

  “When you shower your audience with appreciation…that can be the remarkable part of your podcast.”
  — Dave Jackson (27:45)

• On Gatekeepers:

  “There is nothing between you and your audience. Nothing. There’s nothing stopping you.”
  — Dave Jackson (25:21)

• On Loving the Process:

  “Find something you love talking about and would talk about for free, because it’s going to be a bit.”
  — Dave Jackson (24:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction, Microwave Analogy & Podcasting Reality| | 03:21 | Famous Long-Journey Success Stories | | 09:00 | Adam Sandler: Failing Forward & Loving the Craft | | 12:44 | Seinfeld: Slow Build, Season Four Breakthrough | | 16:00 | Importance of Consistency, NFL Scheduling Rant | | 21:56 | Knowing & Serving Your Core Audience | | 24:00 | The No-Gatekeeper Era & Word of Mouth | | 27:00 | Maximizing the Personal Touch | | 30:28 | Because of My Podcast: Lou Mongello & Listener Stories | | 38:40 | Colonel Sanders, Tweaking Over Time, Never ‘Too Old’| | 41:45 | Final Takeaways and Motivational Wrap-Up |

Summary Tone & Language

Dave Jackson’s delivery is warm, candid, and laced with humor, personal anecdotes, and passionate encouragement. He directly addresses listener concerns—fear, impatience, and self-doubt—while providing actionable wisdom from across entertainment and podcasting. The episode encourages listeners to cherish the process, persist through setbacks, serve their audience, and measure success on their own terms.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Podcasters

• Success is never instant; expect years—sometimes decades—of consistent effort.
• Find joy in the process, not just the outcome.
• Serve your loyal audience instead of chasing trends.
• Be grateful for every milestone and connection you make.
• Use every tool at your disposal for organic growth, especially personal engagement and newsletters.
• Remember: Nothing stands between your voice and your future listeners—except time, grit, and love for the craft.