In this episode of the Podcast Podcast, hosts Pete Wright and Andy Nelson challenge the conventional wisdom that bigger is always better when it comes to podcast audiences. They argue that focusing too much on massive download numbers can cause you to overlook the immense value and potential of smaller, more engaged listener communities.

As you'll hear, having a niche topic and a highly committed audience can be incredibly profitable, even if your show doesn't reach millions. Pete and Andy discuss real-world examples of podcasts with modest listener counts that are on track to generate six-figure revenues through leveraging the depth of their audience engagement.

Throughout the episode, the hosts share innovative strategies for making your listeners feel valued and connected to your show, no matter the size of your podcast. From recording personalized birthday messages to creating interactive Discord communities, they explore creative approaches that become harder to sustain as a podcast scales up.

Pete reveals a surprising statistic: if your show surpasses 1,000 downloads in the first week, you're already in the top 5% of all podcasts. He and Andy discuss how to celebrate and nurture your founding audience members who are passionate about your content from the very beginning.

Press play to discover why building affinity with your podcast community at a micro level can be so powerful, and how you can harness the potential of your small but mighty audience. This episode will reshape how you think about podcast growth and success in an industry obsessed with big numbers.