Monetize This! April Newsletter
What's happening inside Monetize This! HQ.
Welcome back to the only podcast newsletter where growth is optional, monetization is suspicious, and “content ecosystem” is considered a cry for help.
This Month’s Big Lie
“How to turn listeners into clients consistently.”
Ah yes, the old belief that podcast audiences are just unopened wallets waiting for your proprietary conversion funnel. Sometimes listeners are just… listeners.
Honorable Mention
“The ONE SPREADSHEET that reveals your authority.”
If true, accountants would dominate podcasting.
Guru Watch
Recent nonsense from the podcast-industrial complex.
“Ads don’t work. Content doesn’t work. Cold outreach doesn’t work. Conveniently, only my free guide works.”
“This is free” is often followed by something that definitely isn’t.
Kind of ironic to tell people to stop using ads… through a paid ad funnel.
Things That Actually Help
At the risk of confusing everyone even more about the dreaded download, this piece has some genuinely useful insights. It argues that download numbers can be misleading, incomplete, or inflated depending on how different apps and platforms count listens—meaning the dashboard might not be the truth you think it is. Worth reading if you’ve ever felt emotionally manipulated by a graph.
Small Win Of The Month
The small win for this month is much more than a “small” win. It’s getting this podcast (and now newsletter) off the ground. Thanks for listening and subscribing.
Hit reply with your win, big or small.
Ask Monetize This!
Q: Should I start a podcast to land $10K–$100K clients?
A: You should start a podcast if you want to make a podcast. If you want clients, there may be faster ways than learning RSS feeds.
Q: Is podcast guesting a guaranteed trust machine?
A: No. It’s one tactic. Also depends on many factors, including reach and fit.
Q: Why do gurus say every other tactic is dead?
A: Because fear converts better than nuance.
Q: Is a free guide ever really free?
A: Emotionally, no.
Got a podcasting question, dilemma, or petty grievance? Send it in and I may answer it with varying levels of wisdom.
This Month’s Recommendation
For this inaugural newsletter edition, I have to recommend my friend Dave Campbell and his How To Podcast Series.
If you’re looking for sincere, practical podcast advice without the fake urgency, mystery funnels, or “six easy steps to passive income,” spend some time with How To Podcast Series. Dave is one of the genuinely helpful people in podcasting—thoughtful, generous, and focused on advice that might actually improve your show instead of just improving someone else’s sales numbers.
Know a podcast, creator, tool, or weird little gem worth sharing? Send it my way.
Quote To Ignore This Month
“The old playbook isn’t working. This one does.”
Every guru’s autobiography in two sentences.
Seen an absurd guru quote, hustle cliché, or advice-post masterpiece? Forward it for possible public ridicule.
What I’m Working On
Lining up future episodes with a fun mix of podcasters, creators, and at least a couple people who may accidentally wander into the guru danger zone.
There’s also a possible conversation or two with coaching-world representatives, which means journalism may be required.
As always, plans are subject to scheduling chaos, changing moods, and me deciding to record something completely different at the last minute.
Send your ideas or requests. Also, if you have a podcast and have been approached by podcast gurus, you would be the perfect guest. Likewise if your’e a brave guru or just somebody with a good sense of humor about podcasting or other creative endeavors.
Until Next Month
Be well, make stuff, and beware of the platinum mastermind tier.
Join In
Reply anytime with questions, wins, complaints, bad advice, or things podcasting people should be embarrassed to say out loud.
While you’re here, check out a few of my other shows / projects
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