In this episode, I’m giving you my honest take on how long you should be promoting your podcast before you actually launch it—because this is one of those questions I get all the time. The short answer? About two weeks. The real answer? It depends on your goals, your audience, and where you’re starting from. I wanted to walk you through what actually matters here, because there’s a big difference between generic advice you find online and what’s actually going to work for you and your business.

I talk about why launching to a completely cold audience makes things harder than they need to be, and why having some kind of audience or visibility before you launch your podcast really helps. If you already have a warm audience, two weeks of intentional promotion can be plenty. But if you’re starting from scratch—or you’ve been ghosting your audience for a while—you may need more runway. That could look like a 30–60 day audience-building phase before you even start talking about your podcast, followed by a few weeks of teasing, asking questions, and getting people involved in the process.

We also get into the reality that your listeners have to come from somewhere. If you’re not planning to drive people from social media, then you need another strategy—like running ads or intentionally building an audience elsewhere. Podcasts don’t magically grow on their own, especially at launch, and pretending they do usually leads to frustration.

If you’re feeling unsure about how long you should be promoting your podcast, this episode will help you zoom out and think more strategically instead of guessing. And if you want personalized guidance based on your actual goals and situation, I invite you to come hang out with me in my school community and ask your questions there. That’s where we can really dial this in together.

https://www.skool.com/podcast-launch-bestie

In this episode, I want to talk about something that comes up for almost everyone when they start recording a podcast: overthinking.

If you’ve ever sat down to record and suddenly felt stuck, unsure, or like you don’t know what you’re saying anymore—this episode is for you. Everyone records differently. Some people thrive with a full script. Others (me included) get totally thrown off trying to read and talk at the same time. There is no “right” way to record—there’s only the way that works for you.

One of the biggest things I want you to hear is this: your first episode is not supposed to be your best episode. It won’t be as good as your 10th, your 50th, or your 100th—and that’s normal. Podcasting is a skill. You get better by doing it, not by waiting until you feel perfect or prepared.

Your business does not rise or fall on one single episode. No one piece of content is carrying that much weight. Everything you create works together over time. That’s why the best thing you can do is show up as yourself and say what’s actually on your heart instead of trying to force a script or hit every “rule” you think you’re supposed to follow.

If recording feels hard, start with what feels easy. Pick a topic you care about, something you already talk about naturally, and just talk. Don’t worry about structure, selling, storytelling, or doing it “the right way” yet. You can layer those things in later once you feel more comfortable behind the mic.

And if it still feels intimidating, take the pressure off. Open your voice memos and talk it out first. Practice without the expectation that it’s final. That’s often the fastest way to get out of your head and into a flow.

I promise you—no one is listening with a checklist. No one is tracking what you didn’t say or judging your structure. That’s all internal. The only way through overthinking is action.

In this episode, I want to talk about something that almost everyone experiences when they’re launching, relaunching, or growing a podcast—but rarely says out loud. You’re going to feel lost. You’re going to feel overwhelmed. And honestly? That’s completely normal.

As you move through this process, there’s a lot coming at you. A lot of ideas. A lot of “best practices.” A lot of outlines, frameworks, and strategies that can start to feel like a checklist you have to complete perfectly. And when you’re learning from someone who’s been there before, it’s easy to think you need to do all of it—and do it right the first time.

But the truth is, you don’t.

What matters most isn’t doing everything perfectly. What matters is getting started and staying consistent. You can refine later. You can adjust later. You can relaunch, restructure, or double down later. But you can’t refine something that doesn’t exist yet.

I recorded this episode because I feel this way too. I still get overwhelmed. I still don’t always have everything planned out perfectly. My brain doesn’t work that way. But I do know how to take action—and that’s what actually moves things forward. Even when I’m not 100% sure it’s the “right” action.

If you’ve mapped out your mission episode or your season and it still feels messy or disconnected, that doesn’t mean you’re failing. It usually just means you’re judging yourself way harder than anyone else ever would. Your listeners don’t know what your original plan was. They don’t know what you think you missed. They’re not hearing the gaps you’re worried about—you are.

This episode is your reminder that feeling lost is part of the process, not a sign to stop. Progress beats perfection every single time. As long as you’re moving from planning into action—putting pen to paper, recording, and sharing your work—you’re doing the thing.

So if you’re feeling unsure, confused, or like it’s not all clicking yet, keep going. Celebrate every step forward. It doesn’t need to be perfect to be progress.

If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve already talked about mapping out an entire season. But in this episode, I wanted to slow things down and focus on what actually matters right now: getting your first three episodes recorded.

Because action beats perfection every single time.

You don’t need a full content library to move forward—you just need momentum. So in this episode, I walk you through exactly how to outline and approach your first three podcast episodes so you can stop overthinking and start recording.

Here’s how I recommend structuring your first three episodes:

Episode 1: Your Mission Episode

This is where you introduce your podcast and set the tone. I break down how to clearly share:

1. What this podcast is about
2. Who you are and who you help
3. What your mission is and why you care
4. A bit of your story (without turning it into a full autobiography)

This episode helps listeners understand why they should care and what’s in it for them—both immediately and in the bigger picture.

Episode 2: Your Story or a Belief-Shifting Episode

Your second episode can go one of two ways:

1. A deeper dive into your personal story (especially if it’s central to your mission), or
2. A belief-shifting episode where you challenge a common myth in your industry

I walk you through how to structure these episodes so you’re not just sharing opinions—you’re actually shifting how your audience thinks.

Episode 3: Clarifying the Problem or the Possibility

This episode is about helping your listener see themselves in the work you do. You might:

1. Explain a concept that feels confusing or overwhelming to them
2. Show what’s possible when they stop doing things the hard way
3. Expand on a myth or belief that’s keeping them stuck

The goal here is clarity, not teaching everything at once.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a simple outline for your first three episodes—and more importantly, you’ll know exactly what to record next.

If you want support, feedback, or help outlining your episodes, come join me inside the school community. It’s free, and it’s where we’re actually putting this stuff into action together.

I’ll see you there—and I’ll see you in the next episode.

In this episode of Press Play, I’m getting really honest with you about something that a lot of people don’t want to hear when it comes to launching a podcast: how many episodes you actually need if you want your launch to work.

Here’s the truth—your podcast launch is a numbers game. And if I were launching a brand new podcast today, knowing what I know now, I would do it very intentionally. I’d launch with at least 10 episodes already recorded and ready to go, and I’d plan to release two episodes per week for the first eight weeks. That eight-week window matters more than most people realize because that’s when podcast platforms consider your show “new” and are deciding whether or not to push it to more listeners.

I walk you through why more episodes at launch increase your chances of ranking, getting suggested by podcast apps, and building real momentum early on. We also talk about how downloads actually work—especially auto-downloads—and why having more episodes when someone follows your show can instantly multiply your download numbers without you doing any extra work.

This isn’t about vanity metrics for the sake of ego. It’s about understanding how podcast platforms work and using that knowledge strategically. One person finding your show when there are 10 episodes available can instantly become 10 downloads instead of one. That kind of activity signals to podcast apps that your show is worth promoting.

I also explain why front-loading the effort matters. When you start with strong momentum, you’re not just launching an episode—you’re building a follower base that your future episodes get pushed to automatically. That’s how podcasts grow faster, with less effort over time.

If visibility, growth, and long-term success matter to you, this episode will help you rethink how you approach your podcast launch—and why doing a little more work upfront can completely change your results.

If you have questions or want to talk through your launch strategy, come find me on Instagram at @AngieMSpearman.

In this episode, I’m doing a real check-in with you—because this podcast isn’t just about listening, it’s about taking action. I’m asking you to pause for a second and honestly look at how much time you’ve spent planning, thinking, and consuming… versus how much you’ve actually done.

If you haven’t taken action yet, I want you to get curious about why. Are you stuck in planning mode? Procrastinating because it all feels overwhelming? Not sure what to do next? Or are you hiding a little bit—behind perfectionism, fear, or vulnerability?

I talk about something that doesn’t always get said out loud: putting yourself out there can feel really vulnerable. For some people, turning on a microphone or hitting record feels terrifying. Perfectionism often shows up as a shield, but underneath it is usually fear of being seen or judged. And here’s the truth—you’re thinking about yourself way more than anyone else is. Most people aren’t judging you. They’re not throwing tomatoes. In fact, at first, barely anyone is listening—and that’s actually a gift.

If you’re overwhelmed, I encourage you to go back to the basics. Break it down. One step at a time. If fear is what’s stopping you, I gently challenge you to rip the bandaid off. The more you show up, the easier it gets. Confidence comes from action, not waiting until you feel ready.

And I also give you permission to be honest with yourself. If podcasting truly doesn’t feel aligned and another platform feels easier or more natural for you, that’s okay. But if this is something you want—and fear is the only thing in the way—this episode is your nudge.

Before you move on with your day, I want you to do one small thing. Open your voice notes. Pretend you’re recording your intro. Just start talking. That’s it.

And if you’re feeling stuck, vulnerable, or in your head about all of this, come join us in the School community and share what’s coming up. You don’t have to do this alone.

Take some action today. I’ll see you in the next episode.

In this episode of Press Play, I’m walking you through exactly how to map out your very first podcast season—step by step—so you’re not staring at a blank page wondering what to talk about.

This episode builds directly on the last two conversations we’ve had about messaging and whether or not to use seasons, because your first season should never be random. It should be intentional, strategic, and designed to introduce you, your perspective, and your work in a way that actually moves listeners toward trusting you.

If you’re brand new to podcasting—or if you already have a podcast that feels scattered or unclear—this framework works for both. Think of this as your “reset button.”

Here’s how I break down your first podcast season:

1. Start with a mission episode
2. Your very first episode is all about buy-in. I walk you through how to clearly share who you are, who you help, why you care, and what you stand for—so listeners immediately understand your bigger mission and why they should keep listening.
3. Create episodes that show what you believe
4. Next, you’ll use your messaging work to create episodes around what you want your audience to stop doing, start doing, and rethinking. These episodes help you stand out, call out bad advice in your industry, and clearly communicate what you believe.
5. Teach your framework
6. The back half of your season focuses on how you actually help people get results. I show you how to break your process into episodes that demonstrate your expertise and move listeners from point A to point B.
7. End with a sales (aka “girlfriend chat”) episode
8. The final episode of your season is where you speak directly to the person who’s been listening, nodding along, but still hasn’t taken action. This isn’t a hard sell—it’s a real, honest conversation about what’s possible if they finally say yes to themselves.

The goal of your first season isn’t to go viral or be perfect. It’s to clearly position you, build trust, and create momentum—for you and for your listeners.

I’ve dropped the First Season Framework inside my school community so you can follow along and map this out easily. Once you’re in, let me know where you’re at in your podcast journey—I’d love to see what you’re building.

If you have questions, come find me on Instagram or inside the community. I’ll see you in the next episode.

In this episode, I’m answering a question I get all the time: Should your podcast have seasons, or should you just keep publishing episodes week after week with no breaks? If you’ve been stuck overthinking this decision, this conversation is meant to help you move forward without letting structure slow you down.

I walk through how to think about podcast seasons in a way that actually supports consistency, sustainability, and momentum — because at the end of the day, the best podcast structure is the one you can stick with. This episode isn’t about rules. It’s about choosing the approach that makes podcasting feel lighter instead of heavier.

I also share why I personally love seasons for most podcasters, especially when you’re just getting started. Seasons make it easier to focus your content, avoid burnout, and stop feeling like you need to come up with infinite episode ideas forever. When you think in seasons, you can narrow your focus, create with intention, and guide your listeners toward a specific result instead of talking about everything all at once.

In this episode, I talk about:

1. Whether you should structure your podcast with seasons or not
2. Why sustainability matters more than podcast format
3. How seasons can make content creation feel easier and more focused
4. When having no seasons might actually work better for you
5. How podcast seasons can support launches, offers, and marketing
6. Why seasons don’t have to be public or labeled to be effective

I also explain how seasons can work even if your podcast is still numbered continuously, and how you can quietly use seasons behind the scenes to plan smarter content. If the idea of committing to endless weekly episodes feels overwhelming, this episode will help you reframe podcasting in a way that feels doable and aligned with how you actually work.

At the end of the day, I vote for seasons — unless that structure becomes the thing that holds you back from starting. If seasons feel supportive, use them. If they feel restrictive, skip them and start talking. Forward momentum always wins.

If you have questions about podcast structure, seasons, or planning your content, come find me on Instagram @angiemspearman, or check out the links in the show notes. I’ll see you in the next episode.