✊ One wrong word might just kill your podcast

404 WORDS | READ TIME: 1.5 MIN

Happy Friday friends,

Sometimes, one word is all it takes to make or break your podcast.

The right word, in the right place—the title, perhaps—can capture and bottle your show's essence, perfectly framing who and what it's for, and what makes it interesting.

The wrong word, on the other hand...

The wrong word can instantly plant doubt, confusion, and disinterest in your potential listener's mind, causing them to pass over your show in search of something that more clearly speaks to them and their desires, frustrations, and interests.

Finding the right words, metaphors, and framing devices for your show isn't easy.

James Clear workshopped 400 title ideas before he landed on Atomic Habits, the title that would ultimately carry his book to selling more than 20 million copies and becoming a global phenomenon.

But make no mistake, settling for a show title, tagline, and messaging that doesn't immediately light up the eyes of potential listeners is the fastest path to obscurity.

Take the show Monster In My Closet.

After reading the title, what do you suspect this show is about?

Ok, I'll give you another hint.

How about after looking at the cover art?

Monster in My Closet: Workplace Fears and Follies

Still no clue?

I won't spoil the surprise, but it turns out, the show is actually built on a unique and (perhaps) refreshing theme.

It has promise, in other words.

The problem is that the theme likely isn't being framed—primarily through the title—in a way that listeners intuitively understand, connect with, or relate to.

Which means it's costing them listeners.

All because of a few measly words.

This is one of the most common problems in podcasting.

In fact, if your show is struggling to grow, there's a good chance your messaging is a core part of the issue.

So in this episode of Roast My Podcast, Justin and I break down the specific issues with the title and broader framing of the show, to help them—and you—understand how to develop and make the most of a promising premise.

👉 Check out the roast on YouTube here.

If you're feeling brave enough to submit your own show for a roast, here's how to do it:

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Have a great weekend. And as always...

Stay Scrappy,

In 2025, I'm doing something a little different when it comes to my 1:1 Podcast Growth Engine Program.

In the program, I spend 10-15 hours auditing your show, record a feature film-length video report breaking down what's working, what's not, and what you need to do, and then work with you directly on an ongoing basis to grow your podcast, email list, and revenue.

After working myself to near-burnout in 2024 averaging more than an audit per week, in 2025, I'll be implementing a hard cap of 26 new Podcast Growth Engine clients for the year.

In addition to the cap, as of January 1, 2025, the price to get started is going up from $3,000 for the initial 3-month sprint to $4,500.

If you're interested in reserving your spot in my audit queue, I've set aside 10 slots at the current pricing.

Plus, if you sign up before the new year, you'll get immediate access to all the playbooks, twice weekly live calls with me, the PMA community, and much more while waiting for your audit and 3-month sprint to officially start—all at no extra cost.

Last year I ran a similar deal and many clients ended up getting as much as 6-months free bonus time.

If you're interested in learning more and grabbing one of the 2025 spots, reply with "Growth Engine" and I'll send you over all the details.

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