Episode 52: My Podcasting Story: What 10 Years, 110+ Clients, and Millions of Downloads Have Taught Me
My Podcasting Story, the Shift Away From Downloads, and Why Impact Is the Metric That Matters Most
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There are moments in business where you realize it’s time to pause and share the why behind everything you do.
After 52 episodes of Podcast Growth Tools and nearly a full year into building my business, I realized something important: I’ve never shared my full story in one place. Not the polished version, not the highlight reel—but the real journey that led me into podcasting, marketing, and ultimately helping podcasters build shows that actually support their businesses.
This episode is that story.
From my very first podcast as a holistic health coach to running Amy Porterfield’s podcast, stepping into leadership at Cathy Heller’s company, and eventually launching my own business, this conversation is about the evolution of podcasting, the obsession with downloads, and why impact—not vanity metrics—is what truly matters.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your podcast is “worth it,” felt discouraged by slow growth, or questioned how your show fits into your business, this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
02:30 - Starting my first podcast, Love Rising
05:15 - Transition to working with Amy Porterfield
08:45 - Taking over podcast management responsibilities
12:00 - Developing a six-phase growth plan
15:30 - Challenges with download metrics obsession
18:00 - Shifting focus to podcast impact
20:45 - Launching a podcast-centric quiz
22:30 - Reflections on podcasting journey and growth
24:00 - Upcoming events and opportunities for podcasters
Why I Started Podcasting (and Why It Never Looked Perfect)
My podcasting journey didn’t start with a strategy—it started with curiosity and creativity.
Years ago, I co-hosted a podcast called Love Rising as a holistic health coach. We didn’t overthink it. We talked about mind, body, and spirit. We recorded because it felt aligned, fun, and meaningful. Eventually, life got busy and the podcast paused—but that experience planted a seed.
That seed grew when I followed Amy Porterfield as a health coach, applied for a content coordinator role, and realized podcasting could become something much bigger.
That role turned into managing her podcast, crafting episode strategy, and eventually being trusted to completely reshape how the show functioned inside her business.
What Running Amy Porterfield’s Podcast Taught Me About Growth
When I took over Amy’s podcast, the show wasn’t failing—but it was stagnant.
Downloads weren’t growing the way we wanted them to, and it became clear that the podcast had been operating as a silo instead of a product. That’s when I created a six-phase growth plan, starting with one core belief that still guides everything I do today:
You must treat your podcast like a product.
Once we made that shift—integrating the podcast into marketing, offers, email growth, and audience strategy—everything changed. Within months, the show saw massive growth, including a 234 percent increase in downloads.
But what mattered more than the number was what the podcast started doing for the business.
The Moment Downloads Stopped Telling the Truth
One of the biggest turning points in my career came when podcast analytics shifted and the so-called “golden age of podcasting” cracked open.
The industry began to realize that downloads alone were not reliable indicators of success. iOS updates and data corrections revealed inflated numbers that never reflected real listener behavior.
That moment forced a reckoning.
If downloads weren’t telling the full story, what should we be measuring?
That question became the foundation of my work today
Why Impact Is the Metric I Care About Most
Downloads are not meaningless—but they are incomplete.
What actually matters is:
Are listeners taking action?
Are they joining your email list?
Are they becoming clients or customers?
Are they messaging you saying, “This episode changed how I think”?
A podcast with 500 downloads that deeply serves its audience can be far more powerful than a podcast with tens of thousands of passive listeners.
Impact is measurable. It shows up in conversions, conversations, relationships, and long-term trust.
That’s the metric I now help podcasters focus on.
Why I Left Corporate Roles to Build This Business
After years of working inside large brands, I realized something important: most podcasters don’t have the time, resources, or teams that companies like Amy Porterfield or Cathy Heller have.
But they still deserve growth.
I wanted to help podcasters:
Stop chasing downloads
Build podcast-first marketing systems
Turn listeners into email subscribers and paying customers
Create sustainable growth without burnout
So I took the leap.
In the past year alone, I’ve supported over 110 podcasters—helping them grow audiences by 70 percent to over 1,000 percent, increase revenue, and finally see their podcasts support their businesses in tangible ways.
The Reality of Podcast Growth (That No One Talks About)
Podcasting takes time.
It does not explode overnight unless you already have a massive audience. Many of the shows we admire today have been publishing consistently for a decade or more.
Comparing your first year to someone else’s tenth year will only steal your momentum.
If you commit to consistency, clarity, and strategy, your podcast will evolve into what it’s meant to be.
My Mission Moving Forward
My mission is simple:
Help podcasters measure success by impact, not ego
Encourage transparency instead of gatekeeping
Teach podcasters how to make their show the cornerstone of their marketing
Every time you sit down to record, ask yourself:
How will this episode impact the person listening?
If even one listener takes action because of your episode, your podcast is working.
Ways to Work With Me in 2026
As we move into the new year, I’m opening several opportunities for podcasters who want to grow intentionally.
In January, I’m hosting the very first 4-Day Podcast Glow-Up Party, designed to help podcasters audit, refine, and realign their shows for growth. There will be:
A standard access option
A VIP experience with deeper support
If you want early access, make sure you’re on my email list.
You can subscribe here:
podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe
Final Thoughts
If you’re here just listening to the free show, I want you to know how grateful I am.
This podcast exists because of you—the listener who shows up, implements, and believes that podcasting can be more than just content.
Your podcast matters.
Your voice matters.
And the impact you’re creating is bigger than you think.
Your Next Steps
Join my weekly newsletter for tips on podcast growth, email marketing, monetization strategies, and behind-the-scenes support for growing your audience and business.
Resources & Links
Connect with Kylee
Website: podcastmarketinghub.com
Podcast: Podcast Growth Tools
Instagram: @kyleejchandler
Let’s Connect!
Share your favorite trend from this episode or ask questions by DMing me on Instagram at @thepodcastmarketinghub.
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