Episode Summary:

If your podcast feels like a grind with no payoff, the problem may not be the podcast — it may be you. In this episode, Kaleb reflects on the top lessons from his first 36 episodes and 12 clarity calls with podcasters at various stages of their journey. The conclusion? Most podcasters aren’t struggling with creativity or content. They’re drowning in disorganized lives and broken systems.

From stories of burnout, cramming, and stalled growth, to the hard truth that effort without structure leads to exhaustion, this episode unpacks why systems are the secret ingredient to sustainable podcasting. Kaleb shares vulnerable moments from his piano school years, challenges you to take ownership of your creative process, and introduces the mindset shift that’s driving the format for Season 3.

This is an episode about taking responsibility, finding joy, and building something that lasts. If you’re serious about podcasting, it’s time to get serious about your systems.

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Key Points & Highlights:

• The Real Pain: Burnout, lack of clarity, inconsistent workflow, and stalled monetization are symptoms of missing or broken systems.

• The Piano Room Story: A metaphor for the grind of creativity without structure — and what happens when you finally build a system that supports growth.

• Internal vs. External Systems: It’s not enough to organize your podcast. You have to align your life around it too.

• The Myth of Hustle: Cramming doesn’t work. Systems do — but only if they’re designed to serve your life, not dominate it.

• Hard Truth: You can’t blame your system if you’re the one who built it.

• Sustainability Requires Joy: If your system doesn’t allow for joy, it’s not sustainable.

• The Power of Subtraction: Sometimes building a better system starts with cutting things out.

• Why Season 3 Is Changing: Instead of speaking to podcasters, Kaleb is now learning from them — especially those who’ve reached 100 episodes.

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Notable Quotes:

“If your podcast feels like a grind with no payoff, it’s not the system — it’s your system. You built it. Own it.”

“Sustainability without joy isn’t sustainable. Full stop.”

“The most important KPI in your podcasting journey? Joy.”

“There’s no shortcut to the road to 100 episodes. Just systems that support the climb.”

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⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 — The Practice Room Story

04:30 — Why This Episode Matters

06:00 — Part 1: The Pain Is Real

14:40 — Challenging the Lie: “It’s Not You”

17:30 — Part 2: Building What Lasts

20:50 — A Personal Example: When Systems Fail

24:20 — The Joy KPI

25:45 — The Law of Subtraction

27:12 — Part 3: 3 Lessons from 36 Episodes

32:40 — Introducing Season 3: The Road to 100

34:34 — Final Takeaway: Own Your Results

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Call to Action (CTA)

What’s one system or routine you can build this week that will make podcasting easier, more joyful, or more consistent over the next 100 days?

Share your answer inside our Facebook community and join others building sustainable, meaningful shows.

Join the Community

(https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepodcastersjourney)

Let’s stop cramming and start compounding.

If this episode resonated with you, I would love to hear about it in the group! We grow better together.

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Optional Links & Resources:

Website: https://www.podcastbuilders.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleb.stock/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalebstock/

Audio-Only Podcast Feed: https://bit.ly/3XGRmte

Leave a Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/The_Podcasters_Journey

Episode Summary:

In this raw, reflective solo episode, Kaleb opens up about the unexpected emotional toll of his 90-day podcast sprint. An experiment meant to create clarity, momentum, and a replicable system for podcast growth.

Instead, it brought something else: resistance, fatigue, and a realization that pushing through isn’t the same as building something sustainable.

He shares what worked, what didn’t, and why he’s giving himself permission to pivot, not quit. From missing his first publishing deadline to reassessing the cohort launch, this episode is about rethinking success when the plan doesn’t go the way you hoped.

Kaleb also previews what’s next for The Podcaster’s Journey, including a new focus for Season 3, rooted in community, collaboration, and conversations that bring energy instead of draining it.

Whether you’re deep into your own podcast or just starting to feel the weight of the work, this episode is a permission slip to pause, reflect, and ask yourself: Is it time to pivot, or are you still on track?

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Key Points & Highlights:

• Consistency alone doesn’t guarantee clarity, traction, or momentum

• Sustainability isn’t just a system — it’s how it makes you feel

• Missing an episode taught more than publishing every week ever did

• If the system burns you out, it’s not the right system

• Data from a failed launch can still point the way forward

• The work that gives you energy often shows you where to pivot

• You don’t need permission to pause, reassess, or change course

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Notable Quotes:

“I built a system to sustain me, and then found myself avoiding it.”

“I thought this sprint would bring life. Instead, it brought resistance.”

“If it’s not bringing you energy, is it really sustainable?”

“The work that lights you up is probably pointing to your next step.”

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⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – The 90-Day Sprint Starts to Crack

00:31 – Admitting the Dissonance: Something Isn’t Working

01:24 – Missing a Week: The First Time It All Fell Apart

02:20 – Wrestling with Burnout vs. Misalignment

04:22 – The Original Vision: A Public Podcasting Case Study

06:16 – What I Learned (and What Didn’t Work)

07:11 – Did the Sprint Actually Prove Anything?

08:31 – A Partial Win: Clarity Without Momentum

09:01 – When Discipline Comes at a Cost

09:54 – Avoidance, Learning, and Self-Doubt as a Podcaster

10:55 – What Didn’t Land: The Cohort Launch and Email Campaign

13:22 – Motivation, Dread, and the Limits of External Pressure

14:48 – Realizing the Systems Weren’t Ready

16:25 – The Problem with “Just Push Harder”

17:08 – What Still Gave Me Life: Clarity Calls

18:38 – The Pivot: Turning Clarity Calls into the Next Season

19:35 – Reaffirming the Commitment to 100 Episodes

21:30 – Introducing Season 3: The Road to 100

23:56 – Seeking Wisdom from Podcasters Who’ve Made It

24:59 – Final Reflections: Pivot or Stay the Course?

26:19 – Join the Facebook Group and Finish Strong

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Call to Action:

Ready to make your podcast more sustainable — without doing it alone?

Join a private community of real podcasters figuring it out in real time. If you’re tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or isolated in the grind, this space was made for you. We share wins, ask honest questions, and learn from each other every week.

Come be part of something that lasts.

→ Join the Facebook group here: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepodcastersjourney)

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to one other podcaster who’s working through a similar chapter. We grow better together.

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Optional Links & Resources:

Website: https://www.podcastbuilders.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleb.stock/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalebstock/

Audio-Only Podcast Feed: https://bit.ly/3XGRmte

Leave a Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/The_Podcasters_Journey

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Podcaster’s Journey, Kaleb tackles one of the biggest questions new podcasters face: Is paying for podcast ads worth it — or is organic growth the smarter move? Drawing from Reddit case studies, ad platform results, and expert data, he breaks down the true ROI of paid ads, outlines key organic growth strategies, and offers a hybrid plan that balances both speed and sustainability.

You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of where to focus your energy — and what to avoid — so your podcast growth is real, sustainable, and rooted in strategy.

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Key Points & Highlights:

• Only 7% of podcast listeners discover new shows via paid ads (Edison Research)

• Case studies show $14–$27 per subscriber via paid ads — with poor retention

• Organic methods (SEO, repurposing, email lists) dominate discovery and trust-building

• Paid ads only make sense when organic systems are already converting

• Hybrid growth = 80% organic effort, 20% strategic paid amplification

• Under $100/mo on ads? Likely a waste — aim for $250–$500+ with tracking

• Key success metric: listener retention and engagement, not just downloads

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Notable Quotes:

“Paid ads might give you visibility, but without the follow-through, it’s just noise.”

“Organic growth can feel slow — but each episode is a drop in the bucket. Give it 100 episodes, and it starts to overflow.”

“You can pour gas on a fire — but if the fire isn’t lit yet, nothing’s going to happen.”

“Paid is the accelerant. Organic is the long-burning fuel.”

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⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:02 — Welcome + Episode Setup

02:03 — The Appeal (and Reality) of Paid Ads

02:32 — Real Examples of Ad Spend Results

03:48 — Why Paid Ads Often Don’t Convert

04:38 — Prerequisites Before Running Ads

05:07 — Step-by-Step Ad Prep (Ideal Listener, Tracking, Platform)

08:51 — The Power of Organic Growth

09:49 — Organic Tactics: SEO, Repurposing, Community

13:00 — Each Episode is a Drop in the Bucket

14:00 — SEO & YouTube Discovery Importance

15:14 — When Paid Ads Can Work

16:49 — The Hybrid Strategy

19:36 — Time & Budget Considerations for Ads

22:50 — Tracking Metrics that Matter

24:56 — Final Reflection + Weekly Challenge

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Call to Action:

What’s one small organic growth experiment you could try this week?

Maybe it’s optimizing your titles, sharing a quote, or finally starting your email list.

I’d love to hear what you come up with — and even better, I’d love for you to share it inside our Facebook group:

The Podcaster’s Journey Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepodcastersjourney)

It’s a space for podcasters who are building shows that matter and figuring out how to grow with clarity and confidence.

And if this episode gave you clarity, send it to one other podcaster who’s been wondering the same thing. We grow better together.

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Optional Links & Resources:

Website: https://www.podcastbuilders.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleb.stock/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalebstock/

Audio-Only Podcast Feed: https://bit.ly/3XGRmte

Leave a Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/The_Podcasters_Journey