200+ Podcasts Later: The #1 Secret That Actually Grows Your Audience

After producing over 200 successful podcast episodes for wellness industry solopreneurs, writing endless titles and descriptions, and helping my clients build a collective loyal monthly audience of 14,000 people, I’ve learned a thing or two about what really works with video podcasting.

And in this blog, I’m going to share the one core value that beats everything when it comes to podcasting. But before I get there, I want to walk you through a few key insights and mistakes I’ve made along the way—so you can avoid them and focus on what actually matters.

If you’re new here—hi, I’m Liz Manuell. I’m a content strategist and producer with five years of experience. Over the past six months, I’ve been working with astrologers producing their weekly podcasts, and my specialty is helping solopreneurs and consultants like you create your podcast in 10 hours or less per month—without sacrificing results. My goal is simple: help you get real ROI from your content.

Because content for the sake of content doesn’t create momentum. ROI does.

So let’s get into the key points.

Here’s the good news: if you are consistent, and people resonate with you, you will see traction. I’m not attaching a specific timeline to that, but I can promise—it happens.

When I first started on YouTube, I posted every other week. That’s not bad—I actually have a client doing that right now. With just eight videos over four months, she’s gained 400 subscribers and every single video is pulling in over 1,000 views. Clearly, it works.

But here’s the thing. Posting once per week creates a stronger connection with your audience. Think of it like mentorship: if you only meet your mentor every other week, by the time you do, you’ve got an overwhelming backlog of questions. It doesn’t feel like enough. But weekly access? That builds trust and confidence.

The sweet spot is:

• One episode per week

• 20–25 minutes long max

This balance keeps your content sustainable long-term. It’s also the foundation of my time-management system, which I break down in detail in another video. But the bottom line: weekly, digestible episodes give your audience enough touch points with you to build a real relationship—without burning you out.

Here’s a little secret: your videos don’t need fancy editing to make an impact.

In fact, one of the biggest shifts I’ve seen in 2025 is the anti-edit and anti-script movement. Creators are just hitting record, talking directly to the camera, and still making a huge impact.

Editing has its place—especially in niches like astrology where visual aids help with understanding—but it’s not a requirement for connection. Your story is the most powerful “edit” you can bring.

Here’s what really matters:

• Cut mistakes and long pauses.

• Use simple tools like Descript (my go-to) to remove filler words and generate a transcript you can repurpose into blogs and emails.

• Take a screenshot of yourself before recording to use as a thumbnail—make sure it matches the tone of your topic.

• Create a couple of templates (lower thirds for your name, key points, and maybe a subscribe button). Then reuse them every single time.

And please don’t stress about having a brand kit out of the gate. Start simple. A clean Canva template is enough.

Editing is just a nice-to-have. Your story and your content are what actually matter.

Consistency and clean edits are important, but there’s one thing that matters more than both: authenticity.

The more comfortable and real you are on camera, the faster your audience will connect with you. And authenticity is a muscle—the more you practice it, the stronger it gets.

One of my clients, an astrologer, blew me away with her natural ability to connect. She was witty, engaging, and playful in her delivery, and her audience felt it instantly. Almost half of her viewers commented on her videos from day one. That kind of resonance isn’t about fancy editing—it’s about how authentic she was.

So here’s what matters:

• Tell your story.

• Get vulnerable. Share the real stuff, even if it feels scary.

• Swear if that’s you. Laugh if that’s you. Let people see who you really are.

When you do this, you’re not just making content—you’re creating connection. And that’s the secret that grows your audience.

If this is the kind of approach you want to take with your own podcast, I’d love to help. You can book a free call with me here where I’ll walk you through exactly how I work with clients, or join the waitlist for my new group consulting program.

And if you’re just starting out, I’ve got three free resources for you—templates and tools I use every day as a content strategist—that will help you set up your system and save time.

If you found this post helpful, drop a comment and let me know what you’d like me to cover next. I’d love to hear from you!