Campfire Chronicles Vol. 5 - Podcasting in 2026: Only If You’re Not Just Playing Pretend
Last year, I fancied myself a podcaster.
I developed a concept, filmed 3-4 episodes, and honestly? I loved it. I loved the mic, the flow, the rhythm of conversation. But like everything else in marketing your own business, it's about ten times easier to do it for someone else than for yourself.
Still, that brief, beautiful detour taught me something big—and it reshaped how we help our clients launch their shows now. (Note: that’s not to say we won’t return to it in 2026…we’re considering it 🙂).
But ya’ll, listen, podcasting can solve a ton of content problems, particularly ones that we–as an outsourced marketing team–have traditionally struggled with in the era of “video everything” content creation. But if you treat it like a hobby or hope it becomes a funnel by accident, it’s going to flop.
Podcasting is powerful. But it ain’t for tourists.
Let’s break it down.
The Pros: Why Podcasting Can Be a Damn Good Move
One episode = multi-channel magic. Blogs, emails, quotes, social media clips, YouTube videos—a good episode can feed your content ecosystem for weeks.
SEO juice. YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world. Podcast + video = Big win.
Builds loyalty, not just reach. Podcasts are intimate. They humanize your brand and help build trust fast. People hear you, they feel you, and your voice becomes an extension of your brand.
Thought leadership, without the cringe. You don’t need a TED Talk. You need a mic, a message, and a plan.
Worldwide podcast listenership is expected to hit 584.1 million in 2025. (Podcast Statistics)
In the U.S., 55% of Americans age 12+ now listen to or watch a podcast monthly. (Edison Research)
The Cons: Why You Should Think Twice Before You Hit Record
It’s a slow burn. Most podcasts don’t explode. They simmer. Be ready to play the long game. The days of creators going viral by filming low-quality videos in their living rooms are waning. The pod-o-sphere is crowded, so you've got to bring your A-game. Our OG podcast mentor, Russ Collins, once told us, “Manage your expectations. You’ll make 50 episodes before people start watching consistently." He’s been right so far.
You need a real strategy. "Just start talking" is not a content plan. It’s chaos with a mic. That doesn't mean that you have to script every sentence, but you do need to set clear intentions around the purpose of your pod, and that intention should become the filter through which you make every decision - who to invite on as a guest, the angle of your questions, even the music and graphics.
Time-consuming AF. Recording, editing, writing show notes, and promoting takes effort and time. Even if you outsource to someone else, podcasting is a big resource drain, so you need to weigh the pros and cons.
You have to be interesting. Or at the very least… curious. Because nobody wants to hear your stream-of-consciousness filler.
So… Should You Even Start One?
Here’s my two cents (and a few truths we tell our clients):
You SHOULD start a podcast if you’re:
A coach, speaker, or consultant who already knows how to communicate clearly and with energy.
Sitting on a unique perspective or proprietary method that deserves its own platform.
In an industry full of gatekeeping, and you’re ready to pull back the curtain.
Already the person your clients want to listen to.
You should NOT start a podcast if you’re:
Boring. (Sorry, not sorry.)
Sitting on 1.5 ideas and hoping they stretch across 12 episodes.
Not willing to reach outside your network for interviews (or pay someone who can).
Just doing it because a marketing bro told you "podcasts convert."
Audio vs. Video? YES.
In 2026, it's not either/or. It’s both.
Audio = intimacy, flexibility, easy listening.
Video = discoverability, SEO, repurposing magic.
Don’t overcomplicate your video with fancy b-roll or transitions if you're just getting started. But DO invest in:
Great cover art
Solid thumbnails
Consistent branding that aligns with the rest of your business
If your podcast looks like a throwaway, people will treat it like one.
What You Need to Know Before You Launch
Have something to say. And make sure it aligns with your overall brand message.
Map out the format. Interviews? Solo episodes? Narrative storytelling?
Batch or die. (Kidding. Kind of.) We recommend recording 4-6 episodes before you launch. You need breathing room, and batch recording lets you put multiple episodes in the can at once in case life throws you a curveball.
Plan to repurpose. Your podcast should drive your content ecosystem. Blog posts, social posts, email newsletters, lead magnets—all of it can start with a single episode.
Get your graphics right. Your cover art and thumbnails matter more than your lower-thirds and transitions.
We use podcasts as the top of our clients’ content ecosystems—then activate our special hyperfixation powers to go down the rabbit hole, turning a single idea into full campaigns. It’s content with depth, not just fluff.
But it all starts with a good show.
Podcasts vs. AI: The Human Voice Wins Every Time
We’re officially living in the age of AI-overload. Your inbox is filled with ChatGPT-written templates. LinkedIn’s flooded with AI-generated “thoughts.” And quite frankly, most of it feels like lukewarm oatmeal in a beige bowl.
So what cuts through?
Your voice. Your story. Your actual, unscripted brain at work.
That’s why podcasting isn’t just a content strategy in 2026. It’s an antidote to the AI problem.
Because no matter how good the bots get, they can’t replicate:
The way your tone drops when you talk about something you really believe in
The snort-laugh when a guest surprises you
The unfiltered thought process that takes listeners somewhere new
The weird metaphor you didn’t plan, but now want to put on a t-shirt
Your audience doesn’t want “perfect.”
They want real.
And real is hard to fake at 24 frames per second.
Here’s the bonus most folks don’t realize: the best way to be found in generative AI search results is by showing up consistently, in your voice, across multiple indexed platforms.
Google, Bing, and yes—AI tools like ChatGPT—are pulling from the internet’s understanding of your brand. If you have a podcast that connects to a blog, to your YouTube channel, to your website, to your social accounts—and it’s all message-aligned--you’re training the algorithms to serve you up as the expert.
Want better search visibility in the age of AI? Keep showing up. Stay consistent. Build your voice across platforms. Let your podcast lead.
Our Podcast Tech Stack
We’ve built our podcast production process to be lean, smart, and studio-level. Here’s what we use:
Riverside.fm for online podcast capture
Go Rogue Studio (our on-location studio partners in Northwest Arkansas)
We didn’t invest in building our own studio—we partnered with the best. Their team of engineers and producers makes sure every episode looks and sounds professional.RedCircle for RSS hosting and distribution
YouTube + Socials for native video posting
Opus Clip to identify and pull out short-form video content fast
Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing and post-production
And that’s just the tech.
What’s harder to list is everything else that makes the difference:
Strategy and format design
SEO research
Guest research and coordination
On-site engineering and post-production
Captions, descriptions, show notes, and more
Each episode is a tiny machine that runs because every piece is intentional.
See It In Action: Alex on the TrustBuilt Podcast
Want to see one of our shows in the wild? Check out one of the latest episodes of The TrustBuilt Podcast, where my business partner, Alex, shares what makes the design half of Storyteller tick—and talks about her passion project, Change Creative Co.
It’s the perfect cross-section of:
What it looks like when we bring brand and design together at STWS, and
What it feels like to actually experience one of our podcasts in motion.
And the host? Alan Bennett is one of our favorite people to work with. He’s not afraid of the hard conversations, he’s dedicated to the topic of building trust in business, and he brings a big ol’ heart to every episode.
Want to Launch Smart?
We help brands launch podcast seasons, not retainers. Why? Because batch recording is better for your time, your sanity, and your strategy.
If you're ready to stop overthinking and actually hit record—with a strategy that doesn't eat your life—check out our Podcast Launch Kit or book a Podcast Strategy Call.
And if you're not sure yet? Let it simmer. When you're ready to commit, we'll be here with matches, a mic, and a plan.
Stay bold,
Cari
About Campfire Chronicles
Campfire Chronicles hits your inbox every second Friday of the month—your monthly spark of storytelling, straight talk, and strategic goodness for founders, creatives, and big-hearted business owners who want to build brands that actually mean something.
Expect: real stories, no fluff; tactical tips to pressure-proof your marketing; occasional sass & sacred wisdom; tools & resources to make your message work smarter instead of harder. Pull up a log. We saved you a seat by the fire.
