Guest: Arielle Nissenblatt
In this eye-opening conversation, Sadaf speaks with podcast marketing powerhouse Arielle Nissenblatt about why the mechanical approach to podcasting is killing business shows before they even get started. Arielle, founder of Earbuds Podcast Collective and host of Trailer Park, reveals how most business leaders fall into the trap of treating their podcast like just another content channel to fill rather than a relationship-building tool. The discussion explores the stark difference between podcasters who batch record episodes and ignore feedback versus those who stay responsive to their audience, why the standard interview format rarely works for business shows, and how successful podcasters think strategically about derivative content beyond the weekly episode drop. Arielle emphasises that real podcast growth comes from being a student of the craft and putting yourself in your listener's shoes, rather than simply churning out episodes on autopilot.
3 Key Actionable Takeaways
Stop Being a Content Factory, Start Being a Student The biggest mistake business podcasters make is treating their show like a mechanical publishing schedule. Instead of batch recording episodes and ignoring audience feedback, successful hosts actively listen to other podcasts, study what works, and stay responsive to their listeners. This means recording intros and outros closer to publish dates so you can respond to feedback in real time, and being willing to admit when something isn't working and needs to change.
Redefine What Podcast Success Looks Like Most business podcasts fail because they're chasing vanity metrics instead of business outcomes. Two hundred downloads per episode might be more valuable than 5,000 if those listeners are your ideal clients. Define success based on your actual business goals - whether that's new client enquiries, thought leadership positioning, or creating derivative content for your marketing efforts. Stop comparing yourself to entertainment podcasts and focus on what podcasting can actually do for your business.
Design Your Show Format for Engagement, Not Convenience The standard "Hi, welcome to the show, tell us about your journey" format rarely works because it's boring and predictable. Instead, create specific segments that you can name, move around, and iterate on based on what resonates with your audience. This might include historical examples relevant to your topic, specific preparation questions for guests, or consistent takeaway segments. The goal is to keep listeners guessing what comes next while delivering consistent value they can't get elsewhere.
Resources
Guest Links:
- Arielle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-nissenblatt-90348356/
- Arielle's Website: https://www.ariellenissenblatt.com/
- EarBuds Podcast Recommendations: https://newsletter.earbuds.audio/
- Trailer Park Podcast: https://trailerparkpodcast.crd.co/
- Feedback with Earbuds Podcast: https://earbuds.buzzsprout.com/
Episode Specific Resources:
- The Daily Zeitgeist - Daily news with comedy
- Up First (NPR) - Daily news podcast
- The Daily (New York Times) - Major daily news show
- Today Explained - Afternoon news podcast
- TBoy Daily (The Best One Yet Daily) - Business news
- The Puzzler - Daily puzzle/game show
- The Five Daily Trivia Questions - Trivia podcast
- Savage Love - Relationships advice by Dan Savage
- Good Hang by Amy Poehler - Celebrity interview show
- We're Doing The Wiz (Radiotopia Presents) - Current series Arielle's listening to
- Liberty Lost (Wondery) - Recent discovery, hosted by TJ Raphael
- The Ancients - History podcast
- Secretly Incredibly Fascinating - Educational show about "boring" topics
- Fresh Air with Terry Gross - Classic interview show mentioned as example
Podjunction Ecosystem:
- https://podjunction.com/
- Sadaf's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/