Episode 59

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Published on:

22nd Aug 2025

Build it, sure, but they won't come! Yet...

Let me tell you where most podcasters get it wrong right from the jump.

It’s that tired cliché “If you build it, they will come.”

This episode is my reality check for you, and if you're honest with yourself, it could save you more disappointment and wasted effort than you realise.

I walk through why just recording a bunch of episodes and putting them online is never going to magically build an audience, no matter how unique your idea feels.

What you’re going to hear is the real work that has to go into positioning, marketing, production, and – above all – earning the right for your audience to come back again and again.

It’s not glamorous, but it works, and I’m breaking down exactly why.

The episode gets into the numbers, the psychology, and the relentless myth that your social media follower count will somehow guarantee instant podcast listeners.

It doesn’t.

You’ll learn why podcasts and radio might share a delivery method (audio) but are incomparable when it comes to how people find and commit to content.

I’m calling out the ‘gurus’ peddling fairytales and laying out instead the importance of actionable strategy.

With thanks to Irina Tudorache - https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-tudorache/ and Michelle J Raymond for their valuable contributions towards this episode.

If you'd like to leave me a message, the voicemail is https://podmastery.co/voicemail


Mentioned in this episode:

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/



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About the Podcast

Podcasting Insights with The Podmaster: growth advice for people and brands
Helping you attain podcasting mastery
Are you a brand or individual who's looking to improve and grow your podcast? You're in the right place. Together, we'll help you attain 'podmastery'.
Podcasting is such a complex medium, with so many factors that can impact your success. It's my goal to cover all these topics with you, and help you maximise the results you're getting from your efforts.
My name is Neal Veglio and I've been in the podcasting game since 2001, when I became the first person in the UK to upload audio of my then radio show online, and generate an audience.
This audience followed me throughout my radio career and engaged with my various other podcasts.
But it wasn't always easy.
And when I took a career break from radio for a few years in 2007, I had to learn how to build audience without the lift of an FM frequency.
I learned a lot from that experience.
I now help other podcasters to achieve their goals through my company Podknows Podcasting.
Each episode, I'll be offering you some insights into what I've done and what I've helped my clients do with our podcasts in the hope we can help YOU increase your podcast's chances of becoming more successful!
And ensuring you can avoid the dreaded 'podfade'!

About your host

Profile picture for Neal Veglio

Neal Veglio

As the UK's longest serving podcaster (having started in 2001 before it was even known as a 'thing') I've seen a lot of changes to the industry. Having launched more than 100 podcasts over the years, I help brands and entrepreneurs to get their marketing messaging out 'in the wild', but in a compelling, not boring way.