If I Had to Start My Podcast Over, Here’s What I’d Do
If I had to start my podcast completely over tomorrow, knowing everything I know now, I would do things very differently.
Not because podcasting has been a failure for me. Quite the opposite. Podcasting has shaped so much of my work and connected me with people I never would have met otherwise.
But experience has a way of showing you what actually matters.
When you’re new to podcasting, it’s easy to get caught up in the microphones, cover art, editing software, hosting platforms, social media, download numbers, and all the other decisions that can make starting a podcast feel much more complicated than it needs to be.
If I were starting from zero today, I’d simplify.
And that’s exactly what I’m talking about in this episode of Soul Podcasting.
I’d Start With the Why
Before worrying about equipment or episode formats, I’d ask myself:
Why does this podcast exist?
Maybe it’s to grow a business. Maybe it’s to support a ministry, advocate for something I care about, educate people, explore my creativity, build community, or simply make something I enjoy.
I think podcasting has become so closely associated with marketing and monetization that we sometimes forget it can simply be a creative medium.
You don’t have to turn your podcast into a business.
You don’t have to monetize it.
You don’t even have to build a huge audience.
You get to decide what you want your podcast to be.
I’d Stop Preparing and Start Recording
Confession: when I first started podcasting, I spent way too much time getting ready to get ready.
Microphones. Software. Hosting platforms. Research.
I even had a folder called “Podcast Research” with subfolders. 😂
The problem wasn’t research itself. The problem was that research became a very sophisticated way to avoid doing the thing.
If I were starting over, I’d give myself a deadline:
Record episode one within the first week.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Your first episode is supposed to sound different from your fiftieth.
You learn podcasting by podcasting.
I’d Get Clear on Who I’m Talking To
You don’t have to create a podcast for one hyper-specific demographic. But you do need to understand the person on the other side of your microphone.
What do they care about?
What are they curious about?
What questions are they asking?
What would make them think, I needed to hear this?
The goal isn’t to exclude people. It’s to make your content meaningful enough that the right people recognize themselves in it.
I’d Stop Trying to Be Everywhere
You do not need to be on every social platform.
If I were starting over, I’d choose one place where the people I want to reach already spend time and focus there.
Podcasting is already enough work without turning every episode into a content factory for six different platforms.
Start with the show.
Then build around it as you learn what you actually need.
And I’d Define Success for Myself
This might be the biggest one.
Podcasting loves numbers: downloads, subscribers, rankings, followers.
Those numbers can be useful, but they aren’t the only measure of whether your podcast is working.
What if your goal is to build relationships?
What if your podcast helps your business connect with the right people?
What if it gives your ministry a way to reach beyond your existing community?
What if it creates space for your art or advocacy?
What if you simply make something you’re proud of?
What does success actually look like for your podcast?
That’s the question I’d answer before letting someone else’s definition of podcasting success become mine.
Want to hear the rest?
In the full episode, I go deeper into these five things I’d do differently if I had to start my podcast from absolute zero, including the mindset shift that I think matters more than any microphone, marketing strategy, or download number.
🎙️ Listen to “What I Would Do If I Had to Restart My Podcast From Zero” on Soul Podcasting.
And if this episode has you thinking, Okay, I’m actually ready to start my own podcast, take a look at Launch with Soul, my step-by-step course for beginning podcasters who want to move from idea to launched show without getting overwhelmed by all the noise.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to start.
Ready to Take This Further?
If this post stirred something in you, I’d love to invite you to the Mini Podcast Audit.
I’ll personally listen to your podcast from a coach’s perspective and give you honest, specific feedback on your intro and outro, editing flow, content length, and overall listener engagement. You’ll receive a concise voice note or video with clear, actionable suggestions you can implement right away — no overwhelming reports, no jargon, just a focused expert set of ears to help you tighten your sound and strengthen your delivery. Get your audit here.
If you want additional support building a podcast strategy that feels aligned, sustainable, and clear, download the free Soul Podcasting Blueprint at Soul Podcasting Resources. It walks through the foundations of planning, production, promotion, and long-term podcast growth in a practical, simplified way.
Need Help Planning a Podcast?
If you’re ready to grow your show, attract aligned listeners, and create episodes that convert, subscribe for more podcast coaching tips and strategies. Your next great episode starts with a plan.
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- 131. How Lindsay McMahon Turned a Podcast Into a Global Business - September 13, 2026
- 129. The Inner Work Behind a Powerful Voice with Camilla Calberg - August 25, 2026