How Imperfect Podcasting Builds Powerful Brands | Itir Eraslan

Why the long game matters more than getting it “right.”

If there’s one thing I took away from my conversation with brand strategist and podcast host, Itır Eraslan, it’s this:

Podcasting isn’t about perfection — it’s about depth, connection, and staying in the game long enough to grow.

And honestly? That was refreshing.

In a world where creators are told to publish weekly, optimise everything, and show up flawlessly from day one… Itır brings a quiet, grounded wisdom from four years of podcasting that didn’t always go to plan — but absolutely paid off.

Here’s what stood out:

🎧 Podcasting Started as Curiosity — Not a Strategy

Itır didn’t launch The Marketing Meeting because she had a grand plan.
She didn’t even have a clear “why” at the beginning.

It just felt right.

She’d helped her sister start a podcast, realised she enjoyed the process, and took the leap. And honestly, there’s something beautifully human about that. Not everything meaningful starts with a spreadsheet and a strategy deck.

Sometimes you start because something inside you nudges you forward.

And that’s more than enough.

🤝 The Biggest ROI? Relationships.

While she didn’t start with a master plan, the impact became clear over time.

Her podcast has helped her:

• build genuine relationships

• collaborate with creatives

• find freelancers and team members she now trusts

• grow her network in the most natural, human way

In fact, some of her very first guests are now people she works with regularly — a creative director, a photographer, writers.

Her podcast has essentially become a talent engine for her business.

Not because she planned it that way.
But because conversations build trust faster than any outreach email ever will.

🧠 She Chooses Topics Based on Curiosity, Not Trends

This is one of my favourite parts of her approach.

When something bothers her, intrigues her, or stretches her — she creates an episode around it.

She doesn’t chase what’s trending.
She doesn’t copy what other shows are doing.
She doesn’t try to predict what will “perform.”

Instead, she follows her questions.

If she’s wrestling with new AI tools, she creates a series on AI.
If she’s fascinated by brand building, she invites founders who can teach her something real.

That authenticity makes her podcast richer — and makes her a better marketer.

🎙️ Imperfect Podcasting Is Still Podcasting

What struck me most was how open she was about the messy middle:

• taking long breaks

• doubting consistency

• obsessing over mic angles

• switching equipment multiple times

• struggling to book the right guests

• learning things the hard way

And yet… she kept coming back.

Even after months away, she returned. Not because she “had to,” but because the conversations still mattered.

She calls podcasting the long game, and she’s right.

No one sticks with a podcast for four years without learning something about themselves.
For Itır, it taught her resilience, flow, clearer communication, and a surprising amount about human behaviour.

Honestly? It was lovely to hear someone say out loud what so many podcasters quietly feel.

🎯 “Good Enough” Beats “Perfect But Never Published”

She also talked about the trap creators fall into: obsessing over:

• lighting

• editing

• equipment

• tiny imperfections

• transitions

• production quality

All of which matter… but none of which should stop you from pressing publish.

Her turning point was when she realised:

You don’t need to master sound engineering to run a podcast. You need a decent mic, a reliable producer, and the willingness to show up.

Everything else is noise.

🎧 Being a Better Listener Makes You a Better Host

I loved this point.

She listens to a lot of podcasts — not just for entertainment but to understand what makes a good episode work.

What pulls her in.
What loses her attention.
When an episode feels too long.
When intros drag.
When hosts talk about coffee for too long before actually talking about… anything.

She brings all of that into her own show.

Great hosts aren’t created behind the mic.
They’re created by paying attention.

🚀 What’s Next for Her

Itır is expanding the show in two new directions:

• Marketing 101 — simple, digestible episodes on foundational brand and marketing topics.

• Founder Stories — conversations focused on how founders built their brands from the ground up.

She’s also exploring YouTube more intentionally, and restructuring how she approaches fractional CMO work after four years of hands-on experience.

The throughline in everything she does?
Clarity. Curiosity. Craft.

💛 Final Thoughts

If you’re a podcaster (or thinking about becoming one), this episode is the reminder you probably need:

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to publish weekly.
You don’t have to know everything.

You just have to start — and keep starting again.

Podcasting is a long game.
A human game.
A conversation game.

And as Itır proves, imperfect podcasting can still build a powerful brand.