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This is Episode 8, and honestly, 8 is the only number I’ve been focused on since I started this podcast. Not downloads. Not rankings. Not reviews.
Just getting to Episode 8…
It’s what I recommend new podcasters focus on, and let me explain why!Â
The Milestone Many Podcasters Never Reach
Right now, only about 44% of podcasters ever make it to episode 8 (it changes slightly month-to-month but I don’t recall seeing that percentage reach 50%).
Most quit around episode 3 or 4.
I knew this stat going in. I watch the numbers every month, and it’s kind of surprising when you first hear it, less than half of podcasters who start a show make it to episode 8.
If you’ve listened to past episodes of my show, or have ever had a call with me to talk podcasting, you’ll know my philosophy with podcasting has never been about being perfect. It’s about showing up consistently!Â
And I knew it would take more than one or two episodes to prove I could do that (and I’m still getting me feet under me as a new podcaster myself). Â
Why Episode 8?
As a recap, even though I’ve been in the podcasting industry for over a decade, this show is my first time stepping out as a host and building more of a “personal brand” I suppose. I’ve always been behind the scenes, working on podcasts for our clients, and what I was most comfortable doing.
So this experience was a complete unknown for me. I needed to see if I would like it, turn this into something I do regularly, and actually enjoy the process, because talking into a microphone to share my thoughts is a lot different that working with others to help with their shows.Â
Episode 8 felt like the right first milestone for me. It’s attainable, but it’s also significant. Especially now, knowing that almost half of podcasters never get there. So, if you’re a podcaster yourself and have made it to this point (and beyond), give yourself a pat on the back!Â
The Gym Analogy
If you were a complete beginner at the gym, you wouldn’t walk in and put 225 pounds on your back for squats on day one.
You’d start with bodyweight squats to get the form down. Then maybe a 45-pound bar. Then 100 pounds. Then 150. And eventually, you’d work your way up to 225, or beyond. Just a side note: watch your knees, keep your head up and always use good form in the gym with a weight you can handle 🙂Â
This is what’s called progressive overload, doing putting weights on the bar and/or doing more reps, and it’s really the same with podcasting.
I say it often, but you absolutely do not need to launch with 8 episodes, publish weekly, do video, have guests, chase sponsorships, etc. all at once. You build up to it in a way that doesn’t break you.
Small wins build the habit. And the habit builds your podcasting muscle.Â
The “Podfade” Problem
The average time before podfade for independent podcasters is about ab0ut 43 days, or just a month and a half.
And according to Podmatch’s latest report, 448 independent podcasters quit their shows every single day (edit: since I recorded this, the number now sits at 431).Â
I’ve never met a podcaster who reaches out and says, “Hey, I want to start a podcast, but I want to stop before two months.“
No one plans to quit. But yes, it happens…
Without an attainable milestone, some reasonable goals, and a clear purpose, people drift. And it’s very easy to do. There’s no shame in it, it’s incredibly common.
That’s a big reason why I started this podcast. I want to help people get past that and make podcasting fun, sustainable, and profitable again.
What Most Podcasters Focus On
When people launch a show, they’re hyper-focused on downloads, rankings, reviews, and sponsorships.
These are all fine goals. They’re relevant. But here’s the thing: most of those metrics are out of your control.
One thing I like about striving for an episode count as a goal is that it IS in your control. No one can stop you but yourself from turning on the mic and recording an episode.
It’s all about showing up. And keep showing up, and approaching podcasting with the right mindset, can play a big part in you sitting down and hitting record to share what it is your want to put out to the world.Â
I will say, after Episode 1 launched on January 1st, I was surprised to see that this podcast had already hit a top 10% global ranking. I was happy about it, put the little badge, logo-thingy on our website, but it really wasn’t my main focus when I started this.
Downloads? Same thing. I’m happy with them, but I’m not obsessing over them or checking multiple times a day to see how many people are listening.
Focusing on these things initially, from my experience, is never a recipe for long-term success in podcasting.
What Actually Feels Better
Here’s what I’ve learned: What’s going to feel even better than seeing a ton of downloads or hitting a global ranking is when you start getting feedback from real people who’ve listened to your show and told you that you’re actually making a difference.
I haven’t been on this hosting journey long, but when I’ve gotten those messages, they’ve meant a lot more to me than a global ranking or a download number.
That’s the real win!
What’s Next for Me?
My next goal is episode 26.
Why 26? Because I started this show on January 1st. If I hit 26 episodes on my bi-weekly schedule, I’ll know I made it through the entire year, consistently releasing a show every two weeks.
That’s my finish line for year one. Not 100 episodes. Not weekly publishing. Just 26 episodes over 52 weeks.
And honestly? I’m loving what I’m doing right now. It’s been really fun. I had even considered bumping the frequency up to weekly at some point because I have so many topics I want to talk about, but I also know that with everything else going on here I have to be reasonable and not make this something that I’ll eventually resent.
But that’s the beauty of starting slow and sustainable. Once you’ve got your process down and you’re enjoying it, you can scale up if you want. Not because you have to, or someone told you to, because YOU want to.
Your Permission Slip
Your milestone doesn’t have to be 100 episodes or 10,000 downloads.
It can be a smaller number like 8. Or 16. Or 26.
Pick a number that feels achievable for you and focus on that.
Make sure it’s YOUR goal, not someone else’s. Don’t fall into the comparison trap.
Celebrate when you hit it. Then set the next one.
I promise you, your results will snowball no matter how small you’re starting. I’ve seen it happen so many times before.
Just focus on being consistent, do your best, put out good content, help people, and don’t get tripped up by vanity metrics or what you’re seeing on social media.
Keep doing you. The results will come.
Remember, it’s YOUR show and there are NO RULES!
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