Summary4 min read

Episode Summary: Make Great Titles – But NEVER Do This

Podcast: Your Podcast Consultant: Podcast Tips To Avoid Podcasting Mistakes
Host: Dave Jackson
Release Date: July 17, 2026
Episode Duration: ~9 minutes

Main Theme

In this punchy, value-packed episode, Hall of Fame podcaster Dave Jackson dives into the art of crafting irresistible podcast episode titles—while sounding a clear warning against one common, trust-eroding practice: clickbait. Dave shares strategies for making your titles enticing and clear about their value, but underscores that honesty is always non-negotiable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What Makes a Great Episode Title?

Lead with Listener Benefit
- Your title should answer: “What’s in it for the listener?”
  - “Gain more time by…”
  - “So-and-so explains how to make more money…”
  - “How to lose weight…”
Use Relevant Keywords
- Incorporate searchable terms when possible, but don’t let SEO override clarity.
Test Multiple Options
- Write 2-3 possible titles and pick the one that makes you want to click most.
  
  “I might write two or three titles for an episode and then simply look at it and go, which one makes me want to click more? And I will go with that one.” (Dave Jackson, 01:10)

The One Thing You Must Never Do: Clickbait

‘Bait’ Defined
- Dave uses a fishing metaphor to explain clickbait: the worm is attractive, but it hides a hook (01:47).
  
  “We drew you in with one thing, but it’s not a worm, it’s a hook.” (01:55)
Clickbait Is a Lie
- Creating a title that promises something your episode doesn’t deliver breaks trust.
  
  “The thing you never want to do with your episode title, is lie.” (02:00)
Personal Example of Bad Clickbait
- Dave shares his frustration with clickbait articles (e.g., celebrity lists) that waste the reader’s time by not delivering what’s promised (02:30-03:45).
  
  “You finally get to the bottom of the list, and the celebrity you clicked on to see isn’t even in the list. They lied. It was clickbait. And you are not happy.” (03:21)

Why Clickbait Damages Your Podcast

Destroys Listener Trust
- Lying in your titles may get quick clicks but costs you long-term loyalty.
Wastes Your Audience’s Time
- Time is your listeners’ most valuable asset; wasting it drives them away.
  
  “The most expensive thing you can rob from someone is their time.” (04:13)
Personal Ethics Matter
- Dave emphasizes his personal distaste for dishonesty and asserts that few people enjoy being lied to (03:55).
  
  “If you want to get me mad at you, just lie to me… I am thoroughly confused and a little more than average upset that you chose not to tell me the truth.” (03:52)

Modern Twists on Clickbait

AI and Visual Clickbait
- Dave notes a generational shift: audiences increasingly dislike misleading AI-generated images on platforms like YouTube (05:07).
  
  “Some of the younger people don’t even like it when you use AI in your…YouTube thumbnail…and then you find out later there is no giant car.” (05:10)

The Golden Rule: Value Your Audience

Always Be Honest
- Sum up: “Always value your audience’s time and never ever lie to them.” (05:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Picking Titles:

“Which one makes me want to click more? And I will go with that one.” (01:17)
On Clickbait Harm:

“The thing you never want to do with your episode title, is lie.” (02:00)
On Audience Respect:

“The most expensive thing you can rob from someone is their time.” (04:13)
On Personal Values:

“If you want to get me mad at you, just lie to me. I got pretty thick skin. I can take constructive feedback. And so if you say something or whatever it is and it’s not the truth, I am thoroughly confused and a little more than average upset that you chose not to tell me the truth.” (03:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:36 – What makes a good episode title
01:47 – Clickbait defined: bait and switch explained
02:30 – Frustration with clickbait article examples
03:55 – Why honesty matters (personal reflection)
05:07 – AI and visual clickbait in modern content
05:37 – The golden rule: respect your audience's time

Takeaways for Podcasters

Make titles clear, enticing, and benefit-oriented—but always truthful.
Sacrificing honesty for short-term clicks will erode your brand and audience trust.
Respect your listeners’ time as the most valuable commodity.
Modern audiences are even less forgiving of misleading tactics, regardless of technology used.

If you need help creating better podcast titles (without clickbait!), check out Dave’s resources at schoolofpodcasting.com (use coupon code: LISTENER).

This summary captures the core podcast tips and warnings from Dave Jackson in his trademark, no-nonsense tone. Recommended for any podcaster who wants their content—and audience—to stand the test of time.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:00]
A
I have talked a lot about the importance of the titles of your episodes, and there's one thing you want to make sure that you never do.
[00:11]
B
Welcome to your podcast consultant. Small lessons with big value. With more than a decade of experience and millions of downloads, this hall of fame podcaster is a featured speaker, author, and mentor to thousands. Now he wants to work with you. Your podcast consultant, Dave Jackson.
[00:36]
A
There are so many things that go into a good episode title. I always say, how about leading with how you'll benefit, gain more time by, you know, blah, blah, blah. So and so explains how to make more money, how to do, how to lose weight, whatever it is. What's the benefit of listening to your show? And then if you can put some keywords in there, that's great. And for me, the easiest thing is I might write two or three titles for an episode and then simply look at it and go, which one makes me want to click more? And I will go with that one. But there's one thing that you want to make sure you don't do, and that is clickbait. And so, to understand what clickbait is, let's look at the word bait. Now, most of us, when we hear the word bait, we think of fishing. And what is fishing? Well, you put a worm on a hook, and the worm is the bait. So what happens? The fish comes over, goes, mmm, a worm that's moving around and stuff. It goes to bite it, and voila, they get stuck on the hook. We drew you in with one thing, but it's not a worm, it's a hook. And that's the thing you never want to do with your episode title, is lie. So when it's, I see this all the time. On occasion, I will be@yahoo.com, don't ask me why, and I will see a title, and I will click on it. It'll be like how this celebrity does, blah, blah, blah, and you're like, oh, I like that celebrity. And you click on it, and it's A list of 17 celebrities that did the blah, blah, blah. And then you go through the 15th, and there's so many ads, and you finally get to the bottom of the list, and the celebrity you clicked on to see it isn't even in the list. They lied. It was clickbait. And you are not happy. And if you do that, you are really jeopardizing the trust of the audience with you. And I know for me, if you want to get me mad at you, just lie to me. I got pretty thick skin. I can Take constructive feedback. And so if you say something or whatever it is and it's not the truth, I am thoroughly confused and a little more than average upset that you chose not to tell me the truth. And I don't know anybody that really is like, boy, I love it when people lie to me because you waste their time. And that is the most expensive thing you can rob from someone is their time. So keep that in mind. I know you want clicks, I know you want this and that. And, and even right now I'm hearing that some of the younger people don't even like it when you use AI in your. Like if you're doing YouTube and you're doing a YouTube thumbnail and you make a thumbnail that shows a, I don't know, a giant car and you're standing and it's going to run you over and then you find out later there is no giant car. That was just something that they put together to click. So keep that in mind. Always value your audience's time and never ever lie to them. Now, if you need help with this, I can help. It's super simple. Go over to schoolofpodcasting.com and use the coupon code Listener. That's L I S T E N E R. And you can use that on either a monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscription. And of course, that comes with the 30 day money back guarantee if you're like on day 29. Dave, this isn't for me. This is more work than I thought. Gladly. We'll say thank you so much for giving this a shot. Here's your refund. And we don't trap people at the school of podcasting again. There's no clickbait there. The website again. Schoolofpodcasting.com I'm Dave Jackson. Been doing this for over 20 years and I can't wait to see what we're going to do together because I want to be your podcast consultant.