My Podcast Story

Ever wonder what it really takes to launch and grow a podcast? My Podcast Story dives deep into the journeys of podcasters—from rising indie creators to industry leaders. Each episode features exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and hard-won lessons about content creation, audience growth, and the secrets of compelling storytelling.Want to be a guest on My Podcast Story? Send Wisdom Okonkwo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/mypodcaststory

My Podcast Story is a technology podcast hosted by Wisdom, with 155 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Wisdom hosts My Podcast Story, a technology show with 155 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  My Podcast Story

  Podcasting With Purpose Before Profit—Willie Thornton | Ep 150

  Jul 5, 202626 min

  What happens when a podcast starts with a mission before it ever makes money? In this episode, I sit down with Wild Willie, host of Soul Impact: How Music Saved Us, to talk about how music became a safe place in his life, how that story shaped his podcast, and why he now interviews artists about the real struggles music has helped them move through. You’ll hear how Wild Willie launched his podcast in June, what it took to get past self-doubt, and why listener feedback became one of the biggest things that helped him keep going. We also talk about the behind-the-scenes work of podcasting, including using StreamYard, AI tools, short-form video tools, social media, podcast networks, and weekly consistency to grow from around 1,500 views to 21,000 views in just a few months. Plus, you’ll get a real look at how his podcast connects with his DJ business, why networking matters, how he thinks about monetization, and why finding your “why” can carry you when the numbers or money are not there yet. Tune in for an honest conversation about podcasting with heart, building community through music, and learning as you go. Connect With Wild Willie Podcast: Soul Impact: How Music Saved Us If My Podcast Story speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the stories shared here. Your support truly means a lot. There’s more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the My Podcast Story newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a quiet way to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: https://mypodcaststory.com/join Chapters 00:00 Welcome to My Podcast Story 00:19 Meet Wild Willie 00:48 When Soul Impact Started 01:01 Music as a Safe Haven 01:44 Early Challenges and Self-Doubt 02:39 How Listener Feedback Helped Him Keep Going 03:30 The Impact Soul Impact Has on Listeners 04:18 Behind the Scenes: Tools, Costs, and Production 05:51 Growing From 1,500 to 21,000 Views 06:44 Faith, Family, and Purpose Behind the Podcast 07:13 Consistency, Social Media, and Podcast Growth 08:42 Why Networking Matters for Podcasters 09:34 When the Podcast Started Feeling Real 10:41 My Podcast Story Newsletter Break 11:04 How the Podcast Connects to His DJ Business 12:24 Monetization, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Helping One Person 13:15 Giving Back to the Entertainment Community 14:06 The Benefits of Joining a Podcast Network 15:13 Future Projects and Benefit Festivals 17:13 Why Podcasting Feels Like an Unplugging Space 18:39 Talking About Music Without Always Playing Music 19:31 Navigating Music Permissions and Release Forms 20:11 Reviewing Episodes and Getting Better 21:21 How Podcasting Helps the Host Grow Too 22:32 Advice for New Podcasters: Find Your Why 24:04 Where to Find Wild Willie and Soul Impact 25:24 Final Thoughts

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  My Podcast Story

  What 10 Years of Podcasting Really Teaches You—Andrew Lewin | Ep 149

  Jul 5, 202655 min

  What does it really take to keep a podcast going for 10 years? In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Lewin, host of How to Protect the Ocean, to talk about the real story behind building a long-running podcast, starting before he felt ready, changing the name for clarity, growing through consistency, and using podcasting to connect people with ocean conservation. Andrew is a marine biologist who started podcasting because he wanted more people to understand what was happening with the ocean. He began with interviews, added solo episodes, tested different publishing schedules, moved into video, and kept experimenting with his workflow along the way. Tune in for a grounded and encouraging conversation about staying curious, showing up consistently, and building a podcast that can grow with you over time. Connect With Andrew Lewin Website: https://speakupforblue.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtoprotecttheocean Support The Seagrass Effect: https://speakupforblue.com/seagrass If My Podcast Story speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the stories shared here. Your support truly means a lot. There’s more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the My Podcast Story newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a quiet way to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: https://mypodcaststory.com/join Chapters 00:00 Opening Moment 00:19 Meet Andrew Lewin 00:25 What How to Protect the Ocean Is About 00:58 Why Andrew Started the Podcast 02:08 The Original Podcast Name: Speak Up for Blue 03:01 Using SEO to Make the Podcast Easier to Find 04:04 Why a Simple Podcast Name Worked Better 05:06 Starting the Podcast 10 Years Ago 05:42 The Fear Before Hitting Publish 07:28 What Happened After Andrew Finally Published 08:05 Andrew’s Podcast Microphone Journey 09:37 When Andrew Started Seeing Himself as a Podcaster 10:03 Getting Invited to Cover a Science Conference 11:23 Helping People Connect with Scientists as Real People 12:39 Does the Podcast Cover Lakes and Rivers Too? 14:38 Why Andrew Chose Ocean Conservation 17:18 What 10 Years of Podcasting Has Taught Him 18:10 Serving the Audience with Clear Takeaways 19:33 Bringing Ocean-Friendly Businesses and Stories to the Show 20:49 My Podcast Story Newsletter Break 21:12 Andrew’s Production Workflow 21:54 Why He Kept Editing Simple for Years 23:39 Moving from Audio to Video Podcasting 24:37 Learning What Works on YouTube 25:26 Hiring a Video Editor 26:29 Using Metricool for Podcast Promotion 27:43 Why Consistency Has Been the Key 29:24 Growing Slowly and Steadily on YouTube 31:12 Using Data to Understand What the Audience Likes 32:44 The Cost of Producing Three Episodes a Week 34:41 Podcast SEO, TubeBuddy, Titles, and Thumbnails 36:16 Monthly Tool Costs and Metricool 37:20 Reviewing Podcast Expenses 38:04 Why Andrew Still Uses Libsyn 42:28 Using AI to Save Time on Show Notes 43:39 Riverside and Video Podcast Recording 45:05 AWeber, LinkedIn Newsletters, and PodPage 47:30 Keeping Podcast Tools Simple 48:34 Does the Podcast Make Money? 49:57 Building a Podcast Network Around Ocean Stories 51:36 How Andrew Has Monetized the Podcast 52:13 Sponsorships, Conferences, and Podcast Services 53:56 Where to Find Andrew Lewin 54:40 Final Thoughts

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  My Podcast Story

  Starting a Podcast to Support a Book—and Finding a Bigger Purpose with Jessica Danel | Ep 148

  Jul 5, 202641 min

  What happens when you start a podcast to promote your book, but the podcast grows into something much bigger than you expected? In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Danel, host of Jess Sayin’ with Jessica Danel, to talk about starting a podcast from scratch, learning the production process as she goes, and using real-life stories to connect with parents, authors, entrepreneurs, and people who have been through hard things and come out the other side. Jessica shares how her book, Bucket List from a Redneck Girl, led her into podcasting, why she wanted to create conversations around parenting, trauma, entrepreneurship, and resilience, and how the show quickly became more than just a way to promote her book. She also talks about building a business from her living room, becoming an author, and now adding podcast host and producer to the list. You’ll pick up practical lessons on launching before you feel fully ready, creating a production workflow, batching episodes ahead of time, using tools like Riverside, Canva, ChatGPT, Suno, PodMatch, and MatchMaker.fm, and managing guest booking without burning yourself out. You’ll hear how Jessica records, edits, creates shorts, prepares guest outlines, and keeps her show relaxed, conversational, and human. We also talk about the challenge of balancing podcasting with work, family, kids, dogs, house problems, and everyday life. Tune in for an honest and encouraging conversation about figuring podcasting out as you go, staying curious, and building something meaningful one episode at a time. Connect With Jessica Danel Website: https://jesssaying.net/ If My Podcast Story speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the stories shared here. Your support truly means a lot. There’s more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the My Podcast Story newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a quiet way to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: https://mypodcaststory.com/join Chapters 00:00 Welcome to My Podcast Story 00:19 Meet Jessica Danel 00:49 What Jess Sayin’ with Jessica Danel Is About 01:44 How Her Book Inspired the Podcast 02:36 Building a Million-Dollar Business from Scratch 03:29 The Story Behind Bucket List from a Redneck Girl 05:47 When Jessica Started Her Podcast 06:43 How She Stays Ahead with Scheduled Episodes 07:12 Balancing Podcasting, Work, Family, and Life 08:20 Creating a Conversational and Relaxed Podcast Style 09:24 A Powerful Episode About a School Shooting 11:23 Behind the Scenes of Jessica’s Production Workflow 12:03 Using Riverside, Canva, Suno, and ChatGPT 13:51 Adding Intros, Music, Guest Promos, and Episode Elements 15:07 Creating Social Shorts for Each Guest 16:08 Learning Podcasting Through Pat Flynn and YouTube 17:24 Why She Dropped Multiple Episodes at Launch 18:11 Editing the Podcast Herself 18:43 Biggest Early Podcasting Challenge 19:27 Why Time Management Became the Hardest Part 20:37 Learning to Limit Appointments and Avoid Burnout 22:20 Why Jessica Started a Podcast After Writing Her Book 24:18 Leaving Something Meaningful Behind for Her Kids 25:18 Whether the Podcast Makes Money Yet 26:21 Future Plans, Books, Coaching, and Business Ideas 27:40 Helpful Tools for Books, Podcasting, and Promotion 28:08 How Jessica Uses ChatGPT for Guest Prep 30:32 Creating Business Cards and Visuals with Canva 32:45 Becoming a Producer by Figuring It Out 34:00 What Podcast Success Means to Jessica 35:26 Why Jessica Believes Things Are Figure-Out-Able 36:06 Finding Podcast Guests Through PodMatch and MatchMaker.fm 36:58 Advice for New Podcasters 39:30 Where to Find Jessica, Her Podcast, and Her Book 40:56 Final Thanks 41:00 Closing Thoughts from Wisdom

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  My Podcast Story

  Building a Podcast in Two Months: 30 Episodes and YouTube Growth—Brent Colbert | Ep 147

  Jul 5, 202642 min

  What does it really take to start a podcast when the idea has been sitting with you for years? In this episode, we get an honest look at what happens when someone finally takes the leap, starts publishing, and learns fast by doing. In this episode, I sit down with Brent Colbert, host of The First Responder Playbook, to talk about launching a podcast for police, fire, EMS, and first responder communities. Brent is a full-time police officer in the United States, and his show focuses on training, leadership, real stories, and the lessons first responders can use to grow in their work and life. You’ll pick up practical lessons from Brent’s first two months as a podcast host, including how he booked his first guests, why PodMatch helped him get started, how he published close to 30 episodes in a short time, and what he learned from early technical issues with podcast hosting. We also talk about his production setup, including StreamYard, Cast Magic, REAP, Podbean, TubeBuddy, and the simple systems helping him create video clips, descriptions, timestamps, and YouTube content. Plus, you’ll hear how his YouTube channel grew faster than expected, why he is focused on watch hours and monetization, and what new podcasters can learn from starting before everything feels perfect. Tune in for a real, grounded conversation about courage, consistency, guest booking, podcast tools, audience growth, and why Brent wishes he had started sooner. Connect With Brent Colbert YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFirstResponderPlaybook If My Podcast Story speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the stories shared here. Your support truly means a lot. There’s more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the My Podcast Story newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a quiet way to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: https://mypodcaststory.com/join Chapters 00:00 Opening Moment 00:19 Meet Brent Colbert 00:48 Brent Shares How New the Podcast Is 01:44 The Real Reason Brent Started The First Responder Playbook 03:39 Naming The First Responder Playbook 04:36 How Brent Got His First Guest 05:23 Finding PodMatch Through Reddit 06:07 How the Podcast Vision Is Coming Together 06:50 Brent’s Podcast Production Tools 08:35 Switching From Riverside to StreamYard 09:01 Moving to Podbean After Hosting Issues 09:58 Growing Fast on YouTube 10:38 Working Toward YouTube Monetization 11:22 Brent’s Simple Podcast Tool Stack 12:00 Why a Podcast Website Is Next 16:22 Using TubeBuddy for YouTube Tags and SEO 17:23 The Biggest Roadblock So Far 18:43 The Hard Lesson Brent Learned From Apple Podcast Issues 21:06 How Brent Finds Episode Ideas and Guests 22:13 Spontaneous Guest Booking vs Planned Topics 23:36 Listener Feedback and Handling Negative Comments 25:08 A Listener Message That Made the Work Feel Worth It 26:00 Fear, Doubt, and Starting Anyway 27:28 The Surprising Guests Brent Has Interviewed 28:11 The Advice Brent Would Give Himself on Day One 28:48 Brent’s Earlier Attempt at Podcasting 31:59 Why Guest Interviews Help With Consistency 32:10 Three Non-Negotiables for New Podcasters 34:23 Brent’s Future Podcast Plans 36:03 Growing Through Social Media and a Website 37:23 The Difference Between Evergreen and Timely Podcasts 40:06 Where to Find Brent and The First Responder Playbook 41:09 Final Thoughts

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  My Podcast Story

  Podcasting as a Long-Term Practice, Not a Quick Win—Debbi DiMaggio | Ep 146

  Jul 5, 202636 min

  Have you ever wondered what podcasting could look like if you did not treat it like a quick win, but as a long-term practice for growth, connection, and confidence? In this episode, I sit down with Debbi DiMaggio, host of Mastering the Art of Success, to talk about her journey from real estate advisor and author to weekly live podcast host. Debbi originally launched her show as Mastering the Art of Real Estate, but later changed it to Mastering the Art of Success so she could open the conversation to entrepreneurs, coaches, founders, creatives, and people with all kinds of stories. You’ll hear why Debbi started podcasting after years of writing books, how she moved past the fear of being on camera, and why she chose a production setup where she can focus on the conversation instead of the tech. We also talk about live podcasting, guest booking, what makes a strong conversation, how she handles interviews that do not flow as easily, and why her definition of podcast success is not only about downloads or monetization. Plus, you’ll get a very practical lesson from Debbi’s Mindset in Motion framework: if you want opportunities, guests, collaborations, or growth, sometimes the next step is simple but uncomfortable — just ask. Tune in for an honest conversation about consistency, confidence, podcast systems, asking boldly, and what it means to keep showing up at 110%. Connect With Debbi DiMaggio Website: https://debbidimaggio.com Podcast: https://debbipodcast.com Book: https://mindsetinmotionbook.com If My Podcast Story speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the stories shared here. Your support truly means a lot. There’s more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the My Podcast Story newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a quiet way to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: https://mypodcaststory.com/join Chapters 00:00 Opening Moment 00:21 Introducing Debbi DiMaggio 01:13 The Name of Debbi’s Podcast 01:24 Why She Changed From Real Estate to Success 02:08 Why Debbi Started a Podcast After Writing Books 02:36 Facing the Fear of Camera and Conversation 03:37 Why Debbi Does Not Handle the Tech 04:45 How Her Live Podcast Production Works 07:19 Paying for Support and Staying Booked Ahead 08:05 Why Guests Want to Be on Her Podcast 10:21 Why Podcasting Gives Debbi Time to Sit and Connect 10:57 Debbi’s Approach to Podcast Conversations 11:52 How She Handles a Boring Interview 13:23 How Debbi Defines Podcast Success 14:20 What Debbi Expected Podcasting Would Do for Her 15:53 My Podcast Story Newsletter Break 16:16 How Podcasting Improved Debbi’s Confidence 19:09 Why the Show Is No Longer Just About Real Estate 22:02 Debbi’s Future Goals for the Podcast and Speaking 23:32 Turning a Podcast Monetization Goal Into Motion 25:54 Using the Mindset in Motion Framework in Real Life 27:27 Why Podcasters Need to Ask More 30:42 How the Podcast Influences Debbi’s Business Thinking 33:16 Debbi’s TED Talk and Speaking Vision 33:43 What Showing Up Well Means to Debbi Now 34:45 Where to Find Debbi DiMaggio 35:45 Final Thoughts

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