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Picking the right name is often one of the toughest parts of getting started for new podcasters. If you’ve been stuck trying to find the “perfect” podcast name, this might just save you weeks of overthinking.
Let me share 5 quick strategies I use with clients to help them land on a name that works, plus the exact thought process I used when naming this podcast (including the cringey alternatives I almost went with).
The Question I Get on Almost Every Call
“What should I name my podcast?”
I’ve heard this question hundreds of times over the years. And I get it—I went through the same struggle just a few months ago when I was planning to launch Podcast Permission Slip.
The name feels like it has to be perfect. Like it’s going to make or break your show.
But here’s the truth: overthinking your podcast name is probably the only thing holding you back right now.
5 Quick Naming Strategies (With Real Examples)
Let me walk you through five approaches that work, using real podcasters I’ve worked with as examples.
- The Transformation or Problem You Solve
This is the most straightforward approach: What do you help people do?
One of our clients, Julie Kim, is a college admissions consultant and Harvard grad. She helps high school students navigate the admissions process.
Her podcast? Demystifying College Admissions.
Simple. Clear. You know exactly what you’re getting.
Another client, Jenny Sjursen, is a dyslexia interventionist. Her show is called Literacy Untangled.
Both of these names tell you the transformation listeners will get just by tuning in.
- Your Purpose or Slogan
If you have a core philosophy, mission statement, or tagline, your podcast name might already exist.
We work with API Group, a publicly traded company with 30,000 employees worldwide. Their slogan is trademarked: “Building Great Leaders.”
That’s also the name of their podcast.
It’s not just a catchy title – it’s literally what they stand for and what they do every day.
If you already have a values statement or mission, look there first. Your podcast name might be sitting right under your nose.
- Phrases or Feelings Evoked
This is where it gets creative. Think about the emotion you want people to feel or a phrase that captures your vibe.
Jill Kalman is an interior designer who helps people move from the city to the suburbs. Her podcast? Welcome Home to the Suburbs.
You can feel the warmth and the transition just from the name.
Then there’s Megan and Elizabeth, two cousins who are mental health professionals. They help people navigate life after growing up in toxic, narcissistic families.
Their podcast is called How to Be a Terrible Daughter.
Why? Because both of their mothers called them “terrible daughters” growing up. They leaned into that phrase, reclaimed it, and turned it into a brand. They even have merch for sale in their Etsy store now with slogans like “Be the Villain.”
Another great example: Jenn Morgan, wife of a professional hockey coach, has a podcast called We’re In One – a popular hockey term that means things have officially gone sideways. She’s speaking directly to her audience, and it’s resonating.
All three of these shows use phrases or feelings to create an instant connection with their listeners.
- Pop Culture References
This one’s fun. Look at top movies, songs, or famous phrases and twist them to fit your niche.
My brother Marc works with coaches and started his podcast back in 2014. He scanned lists of top movies and songs from different years.
In 1994, he came across Natural Born Killers with Woody Harrelson.
He flipped it to Natural Born Coaches, and that show has been running strong for over a decade now with almost 1,000 episodes aired to date (and counting).
It’s memorable, it’s playful, and it signals personality right from the start as well as talking to who he wants to talk to – coaches.
- Your Own Name
“Can I just use my own name?”
Yes. Absolutely.
Kate Taylor is a personal stylist and image consultant who helps fashion stylists build their businesses. Her podcast is simply called The Kate Taylor Show.
I’ve heard podcast coaches say you shouldn’t do this unless you’re already a big name. I disagree.
Here’s why using your own name works:
Future-proofing: You’re not locked into one topic. Kate can talk about fashion, mindset, spirituality, business—whatever she wants. The name still works.
Personal brand building: If you’re building authority across multiple platforms (speaking, consulting, courses), your name becomes the through-line.
Availability: Your name is probably available. No trademark battles. No SEO wars.
Simplicity: Sometimes the easiest answer is the right one. Don’t overthink it. Just use your name and start, and you can use keywords in your author field and show description to focus on the keywords that you want to highlight to help you get found.
And remember: you can always change it later. Starting with your name gets you moving, and that’s better than being stuck in analysis paralysis.
A Few Quick Reminders
Keep it short and searchable. Shorter names are easier to remember, say out loud, and search for *but* make it actionable and goal-oriented as well and you have a winner!Â
Use AI. Feed your ideas into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and ask for suggestions. It can uncover options you haven’t thought of.
Check availability. Make sure the name isn’t already in use. You don’t want a cease and desist letter. Plus, it’s bad karma (and honestly, kind of lazy) to rip off someone’s name.
Even with 4.5 million podcasts out there, there are still plenty of great names available.
My Own Process (And the Cringey Names I Almost Used)
I want to be vulnerable here and share what I went through in December when I was naming this podcast.
I had a few options written down in my notebook:
- Matt Hits Record
- Talking Podcasts with Matt Mawhinney
- The PodAssist Podcast
I cringe reading them now. But I’m glad I wrote them down because it helped me get to the one that felt right.
I landed on Podcast Permission Slip | Powered by PodAssist for a few reasons:
Transformation: I wanted to drill down on what this podcast is really about. It’s not a gear review show. It’s a mindset podcast about the business of podcasting and getting listeners past the coming hurdles that so often trip up podcasters (brand-new and seasoned ones as well).
Alliteration: I’m a big fan of it. Podcast Permission Slip Powered by PodAssist – lots of P’s. It flows, and hopefully it’s memorable.
Brand alignment: I wanted to include PodAssist because this is also a business development tool for me.
I brought all these options to my wife. I read them out loud. She knew right away which one worked.
And that’s what I went with.
Your Permission Slip
Here’s what I want you to do:
Grab a piece of paper. Brainstorm using these 5 strategies. Write down anything that pops into your mind, no matter how silly it sounds.
Then say them out loud. That really helps.
Ask people you trust: “What do you think? Which one would make you want to click and listen?”
But most importantly: Don’t overthink it.
If you’ve been sitting on your podcast name for more than a week or two, that’s too long. You need to decide and move forward—because you can’t even get your cover art created or your show live until you have a name.
It’s a name, not a life sentence. You can always change it later.
The Bottom Line
Your podcast name doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to get you started.
What’s been holding you back from picking a name? Are you stuck between a few options? Drop a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.
And if you’re ready to launch your podcast or need help with your current show, book a no-obligation call with me at podassist.com. Let’s talk about what it would look like to get your show live without the stress.
Remember – it’s YOUR show and there are NO RULES!
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Want to talk about your podcast idea? I offer no-obligation calls where we can brainstorm your concept, talk through your hurdles, and see if working together makes sense for your goals.
You can book a discovery call right by clicking HERE or feel free to connect with me over on LinkedIn to share your thoughts on this episode.