I’m sitting in a local sports café, reflecting on something a friend told me a few days ago:
“Your podcast isn’t discoverable.”
He was right.
It’s easy to think that publishing consistently is enough — that the algorithm or platform will handle the rest.
But that’s a lie we tell ourselves to avoid the hard part: putting our work in front of more people.
Five years and 61 episodes later, my podcast still isn’t big or widely known.
If you’re facing a similar wall, this post is for you.
I’m going to break down what I’ve learned about discoverability — and the tools that helped me finally move the needle.
Let’s dive in.
Podcast Networks Have No Algorithm
If all you do is hit “publish” and wait to be discovered, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Podcast platforms have no algorithm that magically pushes your show to new listeners. It’s up to you to create momentum. Sure, joining an established network might help — member shows often cross-promote — but those networks usually only accept creators who already have an audience.
So if publishing alone won’t move the needle… what will?
1. Publish on Social Media
This is the part I’ve personally neglected the most.
I’ve seen so many podcasts grow by consistently sharing short clips. The process is simple:
- Cut a moment that’s funny, insightful, or dramatic.
- Add captions.
- Post it on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and more.
If your podcast is audio-only, add b-roll or a dynamic waveform animation.
Do this enough, and some clips will take off — but even if they don’t, you’re building a searchable footprint. Over time, that compounds.
Let’s do some math:
If I had cut 5–10 clips from every one of my 61 episodes, I’d have 300–600 shorts online. That’s hundreds of chances to reach someone new across multiple platforms — without recording anything new.
Social isn’t just for virality. It’s about consistency. Your goal is to be seen.
2. Publish a Video Podcast on YouTube
If you already record your conversations on video, use that footage.
People connect with faces. On YouTube, they’re more engaged. In audio-only formats, your listener might be folding laundry. On video, they’re watching.
You don’t need to overproduce. Add a simple intro/outro and publish. Or go live and skip editing entirely.
Yes, it takes more effort. I’ve published all 61 of my podcast episodes as YouTube videos — and some flopped. Others didn’t. That’s part of the game.
Just make sure to:
- Link to your podcast host in the description
- Ask people to subscribe
And don’t forget to fix your YouTube captions…
3. Transcribe Your Episodes and Post Them as Blog Articles
Not everyone listens. Some people prefer reading. Others are deaf or hard of hearing. And let’s be honest — most people skim.
Transcripts help all of them. But they also help you by unlocking SEO.
Every transcript is full of long-tail keywords: guest names, fandoms, niche terms. When you publish transcripts on your blog, you create thousands of search opportunities. Same goes for YouTube — but only if you edit the auto-generated transcript.
Don’t let YouTube butcher your guest’s name or misinterpret the name of a show. Fixing the transcript:
- Helps with ranking
- Helps real fans actually find you
- Improves accessibility for all
Podcast Promotion is Overwhelming — But It Doesn’t Have to Be
Let’s be honest: promoting your podcast feels like a full-time job.
That’s why most of us avoid it.
But here’s the mindset shift that changed things for me:
At work, you publish things without overthinking.
You don’t refresh the analytics every 5 minutes. You just do your part and move on.
Apply the same discipline to your podcast.
Record. Clip. Post. Schedule. Move on.
Most platforms won’t reward you for showing up once. They want trust. Volume. Bingeability. One short won’t get you discovered — but 50 might.
Thank You for Reading
That’s what I’ve learned the hard way.
If you’re building something similar — a podcast, a channel, a world — subscribe to my newsletter and hit reply. Tell me what you’re working on. I’ll reply. I’ll support. I’ll help keep you accountable.
See you on socials ✌️