Season 5 is here and we are diving deep into how to grow a podcast audience in a way that actually works and doesn’t take over your life. In this short trailer episode, I’m sharing what you can expect this season, from podcast marketing strategies that are worth your time to sustainable podcasting strategies that help you grow without burning out.

If you’ve been wondering how to grow a podcast in 2026, or how to grow a podcast without social media this season is for you.

Meet the Expert

Hey, I’m Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women and your friendly guide to building a podcast that supports your life instead of consuming it. I’m obsessed with helping you grow your podcast audience using strategies that are sustainable, strategic, and actually doable. I share the things I wish someone had told me earlier and bring on smart podcasters who are doing things differently and successfully.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• What Season 5 of the podcast is all about

• How to grow a podcast audience without letting it rule your life

• Sustainable podcasting strategies that actually work

• Podcast marketing strategies worth experimenting with

• What’s working (and what’s flopping) in podcast growth right now

• Using email marketing to grow your podcast audience

• Whether Pinterest is a smart podcast growth tool

• How to grow a podcast without social media burnout

Key Takeaways

• Season 5 is focused on intentional growth not hustle-for-the-sake-of-hustle growth.

• You don’t need to be everywhere to grow your podcast.

• Experimenting is part of building a sustainable podcast.

• Email marketing and Pinterest can be powerful podcast marketing strategies — when used strategically.

• You can grow a podcast audience in 2026 without sacrificing your time, creativity, or sanity.

Feeling the holiday crunch? In this episode, I share five sustainable strategies for keeping your podcast going strong (without the stress) through the busiest season of the year. Whether you're juggling school parties, wrapping gifts, or just trying to breathe, there's a tip here to help you market and manage your podcast without burning out.

Hi, I'm Andi Smiley, podcast coach for women who want to grow their shows in ways that feel sustainable and aligned. I blend strategy with real-life experience to help you keep podcasting fun, effective, and burnout-free, even during the holidays!

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• How to market your podcast during the holidays

• The benefits of shorter, seasonal episodes

• Why batching content in December is a game-changer

• My favorite holiday-themed episode ideas

• How to replay old episodes without sounding lazy

• Why Pinterest is my go-to for low-maintenance marketing

• What to say when taking a seasonal podcast break

• Giving yourself permission to rest

Key Takeaways

You don’t need to quit podcasting, or stress yourself out, just because it’s the holidays. Instead, create shorter episodes, batch when you can, bring back old favorites, and consider taking an intentional break. The magic is in doing what works best for you.

Timestamps

(00:00) Holiday countdown + intro

(00:59) My Pinterest strategy for podcast marketing

(02:03) Tip 1: Plan for the chaos

(02:30) Tip 2: Batch your content

(03:01) Tip 3: Lean into the holidays

(03:45) Tip 4: Reuse past content

(04:45) Tip 5: Take a break

(06:06) Recap of all 5 tips

Links & Resources

• Free Pinterest Checklist: Is Pinterest Right For Me?

• Follow me on Threads

• Follow me on Pinterest

What does it take to grow a podcast audience in a fresh, creative way? In this episode, I’m joined by Hayden Gray, producer of the wildly successful Fantasy Fan Girls podcast. We dive into marketing strategies that feel fun, sustainable, and community-driven.

Hayden Gray is the producer and “sanity manager” of Fantasy Fan Girls, a book deep-dive podcast that exploded with 5,000 downloads just days after launch. With a background in podcast production and creative storytelling, Hayden brings a grounded, fresh perspective on podcast marketing that feels human and doable.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• How Fantasy Fan Girls used pre-launch clips to build early buzz

• Why deep audience connection beats fancy marketing

• What makes social media clips actually work

• The power of community-driven growth

• Creative marketing strategies beyond Instagram

• How to “excitement stack” for launches

• Discovering your niche within a crowded category

• The secret to sustainable podcasting: passion

Key Takeaways

• Build excitement before your launch (or new season!)

• Focus on genuine community over one-way promotion

• Find your listeners in unexpected places—Pinterest, Facebook groups, real life!

• Lean into what you love; passion makes podcasting sustainable

• Big growth can come from small, intentional experiments

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro and fangirling over Fantasy Fan Girls

(01:51) Meet Hayden Gray

(02:47) How the show hit 5,000 downloads in days

(05:13) What worked (and didn’t) on social media

(07:32) Building buzz with your community

(09:14) Creative ways to connect with listeners

(14:15) Hayden’s “aha” moment: excitement stacking

(24:08) Why passion is the real growth strategy

(26:11) A quick recap and your one next step

Links & Resources

• Grab my free “Is Pinterest Right for Me?” checklist

• Fantasy Fan Girls podcast

• Follow me on Instagram

• Friendly Podcast Guide website