Friendly Podcast Guide: Teaching Women How to Grow a Podcast (Without Burning Out)

Ready to grow your podcast in 2026 without burning out? In this episode, I'm sharing four sustainable, impactful strategies to help you stand out and stay energized as a mom who podcasts. Plus, I reveal how Pinterest quietly revolutionized my own podcast growth—and how it can do the same for you. Hi, I’m Andi Smiley—your podcast guide and coach for moms who want to grow their shows in a way that f...

In this episode, I'm breaking down my Top 5 Takeaways from Podcast Movement, the biggest podcasting conference in the U.S. Whether you're brand new or a few seasons in, these tips will help you grow your podcast audience, feel less pressure around social media, and explore fresh, sustainable strategies for podcast marketing and monetization. I'm Andi Smiley—podcast coach for moms and host of this...

Season 4 is here! I’m sharing a peek into what’s coming up—including podcast marketing strategies I learned at Podcast Movement in Dallas, sustainable podcasting strategies that work for real life, and the heart behind why I coach moms in podcasting. If you’re wondering how to grow a podcast audience or start a successful podcast as a mom, you’re in the right place. I’m Andi Smiley, podcast coach...

Ever wondered how a high schooler could take a passion for Greek mythology and turn it into a hit podcast? In this episode, I chat with Cole, the teen creator behind Lasting Legends: Greek Myths Surround Us , a kid-friendly podcast that connects ancient myths to the modern world. If your kids are into Percy Jackson or love learning through stories, this one's for you. Cole isn’t just any guest—he’...

If you've ever wondered what a podcast network really is, how they work, or if your show is ready for one, this episode is for you. I sat down with Jeff Umbro, founder of The Podglomerate and host of Podcast Perspectives, to get all your podcast network questions answered in one friendly, info-packed conversation. Meet the Expert Jeff Umbro is the founder and CEO of The Podglomerate, a podcast net...

In this season finale of The Friendly Podcast Guide, I’m reflecting on five big lessons I learned in season three. From embracing AI tools to discovering the magic of Pinterest for podcasters, this episode is packed with insights that made my podcasting journey more fun and fulfilling. Plus, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, I’ll tell you the one thing you should focus on first. Hi, I'm Andi Smiley,...

Is social media marketing getting you down? This episode is for you. Andi shares two simple, powerful ways to market your podcast that have nothing to do with Instagram or TikTok—but everything to do with real connection. These strategies are easy to start, but might just push you a little outside your comfort zone in the best way. Andi Smiley is a podcast coach for moms who want to create a fun a...

What is podcast SEO? In this episode Andi chats with Brittany Herzberg (the queen of SEO) and breaks down how we can use SEO for our podcasts in a way that doesn’t make me want to run away screaming.  Brittany Herzberg is an SEO strategist and copywriter who has been using SEO to increase podcast discoverability for her own podcast and her clients’ podcasts for several years. She is good at explai...

Want to grow your podcast without relying on social media? In this episode, I’m sharing my favorite sustainable marketing strategy: guesting on other podcasts! You’ll learn how to pitch yourself (even if you're nervous) and what to say in a podcast pitch email that actually gets a yes. I’m Andi Smiley, podcast coach for moms who want to start and grow their show in a fun, flexible way without burn...

In this episode, I'm sharing a simple, sustainable strategy for marketing your podcast using Pinterest! If you're feeling overwhelmed by social media or looking for a way to grow your show without being glued to your phone, Pinterest might just be the solution you've been praying for. I’m walking you through exactly how I use Pinterest for podcast promotion—and how you can too—without burning out....

Can a podcast workflow actually make podcasting easier? The simple answer? Yes, it is podcasting made easy. The longer answer…is this episode. I’m going to explain what a podcast workflow is, how it helps you accomplish podcasting without burn out and how to create your own using a podcast workflow template. With this episode you’ll be able to: Confidently explain what a podcast workflow is Create...

Sometimes inspiration comes in the strangest ways. In this episode Whitney Archibald talks about how a rock climbing accident helped her get crystal clear about what she wanted to do with her podcast. Whitney Archibald is the host of 2 podcasts: The Family Lab and The Y Magazine Podcast. She has the best parenting advice and is always trying the funnest experiments with her podcast. She has been p...

How do you actually sit down and write an awesome podcast episode? The short answer…experiment a lot. The long answer is this episode. And one of my favorite parts is when Whitney breaks down how to create an amazing podcast episode out of a bad interview. Whitney Archibald is the host of 2 podcasts: The Family Lab and The Y Magazine Podcast. She has been podcasting for 6 years so she has had plen...

How do you avoid burning out as a mom with a podcast? In this episode I give you 3 mistakes that I made that led to me burning out and how to avoid them.  When you follow the advice in this episode you will avoid so much of the stress and overwhelm that I dealt with in the first year of my podcast. Topics discussed in this episode include: Seasonal podcast format Launching a podcast How to start a...

Your podcast name is the first thing people notice—so no pressure, right?? In this episode I’m telling the story of how I named my podcast along with some other vulnerable stories like how many downloads the Friendly Podcast Guide got last month and how much money I’ve made so far this year. Topics discussed in this episode Starting a podcast Podcast experiments How to name a podcast Podcast downl...

When I wrap up the launch of a podcast season I always like to take some time to evaluate how it went. What went well, what went poorly and what I can learn from all of that. So, I decided to walk you through my process in this episode. Topics discussed in this episode: Podcast launch strategy Stress-free podcasting Creating a podcast trailer Seasonal podcast format How to start a successful podca...

We get to learn how to build a podcast community from Jamie B Golden. She has been in the podcasting world for more than 10 years and she was kind enough to share her best podcasting advice with us today.  Jamie is the co-host of The Popcast with Knox and Jamie, a podcast that is not only delightful, but also pays Jamie’s rent.  Topics discussed in this episode: How to build a podcast community In...

Love it, or hate it, the Barbie Movie did an amazing job of marketing. The summer it came out there wasn’t anywhere you could go that you wouldn’t run into something that had to do with the Barbie Movie. And this is a great example of what can happen for you and your podcast when you take the time to launch your podcast. I just wrapped up the successful launch of Season 3 of the Friendly Podcast G...

Take a peek behind the curtain as I tell you about the stats for the episodes that came out during my winter break, how much money I’ve made since January and what I did during the break. Topics discussed during this episode: Podcast downloads Seasonal podcast format Podcast recommendations Combating perfectionism Podcast experiments DIY podcasting course Podcast planner Podcast coaching calls Pod...

The wait is almost over! Season 3 of the Friendly Podcast Guide will be back on March 4th. Get ready to learn about podcasting in a way that fits into your life instead of the other way around. For more behind the scenes follow me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendlypodcastguide/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@friendlypodcastguide

Learn about how to keep loving boundaries and network as a mom with creative endeavors. I got to chat with Jen Morris, the founder of Renegade Motherhood, a movement that helps elevate and amplify moms in business! Topics discussed in this episode: Having boundaries as a mom in business How to network as a mom in business Channeling main character energy Kicking self-doubt to the curb Being picky...

I can’t believe this is the last episode of Season 2! As we are wrapping up my first “official” season of the Friendly Podcast Guide I am so excited to talk about last month’s episodes and some of my thoughts about Season 2 overall. In this episode I answered these questions: How many downloads did my episodes get in November? What experiments did I try in November? (And did they work?) What are m...

Here are answers to all of the questions you have, but don’t have the time to find individual answers for on the internet. As a podcast coach I love answering questions about podcasting. It’s my job. So here are answers to all of the common podcasting questions I get. Here are some of the questions we will cover: What is a podcast hosting platform? And which ones are good ones? What kind of microp...

Learning from the host of one of the top sleep podcasts in the world today. Yes. It’s a dream come true that I get to talk to Kathryn Nicolai who is the host of Nothing Much Happens, my favorite sleep podcast that I use at least once a week to fall asleep. She has some amazing insights into how to serve your listeners, which will then help your show grow. Here are some of the insights Kathryn shar...

Starting a podcast in 2025 is really pretty simple. Podcasting changed my life for the better in so many ways. If you want to start a podcast, here are the 10 things that will help you make it happen in 2025! I’ve been in the podcasting world for almost 4 years and I’ve been helping a lot of women start their own podcasts in the past year. Here’s what I would do if I was starting a podcast in 2025...