An Interview With Chad Silverstein
…It’s about being radically honest with yourself and your content. Give people a real reason to listen — especially now, when there’s so much content out there and attention spans are shorter than ever…
In an era where the podcasting landscape is more crowded than ever, growing an audience requires not just consistency and quality content but also smart, strategic planning. Today, we’re diving deep into the growth strategies of a podcaster who has successfully expanded their reach in this competitive space. With a background that blends unique storytelling with savvy marketing techniques, our guest has mastered the art of audience growth. They’re here to share the top five strategies that podcasters can use in 2024 to increase their listener base, focusing on leveraging social media, optimizing for SEO, making the most of guest appearances, and more. I had the pleasure of interviewing Romina Hakim.
Romina Hakim is the powerhouse behind Red Lips Media LLC and a former FM radio host and producer. With a big passion for storytelling and communication, she specializes in creating engaging podcasts for business leaders and creatives who want their ideas to make an impact.
Romina helps brands build authentic connections with their audiences by turning ideas into binge-worthy content. She’s an advocate for bold creativity and unapologetic authenticity, making her the go-to expert for entrepreneurs who want their voices to stand out in a crowded digital world.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your podcasting journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days regarding audience growth?
I was working as a radio host and producer of my own daily show in Argentina, where I’m from, and it was one of the happiest moments of my life. However, I was also in a very bad and unhealthy relationship at the time. When I finally broke up with him, I felt a strong calling to share my experience of being in a relationship where I endured psychological and emotional manipulation, and how I managed to overcome it.
I knew I couldn’t talk about it on my radio show, so I thought of starting a podcast. This was back in 2018, in a country where podcasts weren’t popular and most people didn’t listen to them. Yet, when I shared my story, it blew up — so many people connected with it, found value in it, and liked the podcast format.
After moving to Barcelona, I decided to open my boutique agency. For me, it’s the perfect combination of working with music, audio, helping people, communication, and storytelling.
The hardest part of growing an audience back then was the lack of information and tools available. Everything took much longer to craft, and unlike in the US, other regions were slower to adopt this format. It was definitely a challenge, but it also taught me a lot about patience and persistence.
Social media is a powerful tool for podcast promotion. Can you share your most effective strategy for leveraging platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook to boost your podcast’s visibility?
Like everything, what worked a while ago may not work now. I also believe there’s no ‘one size fits all’ strategy, but as a rule of thumb, I’d say the first step is getting to know your audience and experimenting with your content to see what resonates.
It’s about being radically honest with yourself and your content. Give people a real reason to listen — especially now, when there’s so much content out there and attention spans are shorter than ever.
When I say ‘give people a reason to listen,’ I mean asking yourself: what will the audience gain from this episode? Will they learn a tool to regulate their nervous system? Gain a valuable lesson to prevent their company from losing money? Discover a book that could save their marriage? Be clear about the value you’re offering and communicate it directly.
I’d also suggest focusing less on spending hours crafting perfectly curated audiograms and instead creating more ‘in the moment’ content. For example, record a quick video from your car sharing a major breakthrough and explaining how you explore it further in your latest episode. You need to spark curiosity and interest before people even begin to care about your podcast.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can be a game-changer for podcasts, especially when it comes to discoverability. What SEO tactics have you found most beneficial for attracting new listeners through search engines?
One of the most beneficial tactics I’ve found is optimizing episode titles and descriptions with specific keywords that people are likely searching for. Instead of being vague or trying to be super creative, I like to make sure the title clearly reflects the value of the episode, for example ‘How to start a business with no budget’ or ‘5 proven strategies to grow your personal branding’
Another strategy is creating a dedicated podcast website or blog, so you can write detailed show notes, transcriptions or even additional resources that expand on the episode topics, which helps with ranking on search engines.
Lastly, to optimize our podcast to Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I would recommend doing a mix of observation, research and experimentation. All of these are worth nothing without analyzing your data, to see what works and what doesn’t.
Understanding your audience is key (who are they?, what questions are they asking?)
Do a bit of research on what phrases and words are being used in your competition’s titles, show notes or tags.
Using tools like Google Keyword Planner or Answer the Public are great for discovering what people are searching for.
Guest appearances, both on your podcast and on others, can significantly expand your reach. Can you discuss how you’ve approached guest appearances to grow your audience? What’s your strategy for selecting guests or shows to collaborate with?
This is one of my favorite strategies for growing an audience. Personally, I use a mix of approaches: networking extensively, scouting on platforms like Threads (where a lot of people are actively looking for podcast guests), using tools like Matchmaker.fm, and directly reaching out to interesting podcasts I discover through directories.
When it comes to selecting shows to appear on, I think it’s important to aim for a variety — small, medium, and, if possible, big podcasts. It’s all about being strategic and focusing on podcasts that align with your niche, so you’re bringing in similar audiences that are likely to connect with your own show.
One mistake I see people make is just appearing on random podcasts without much thought, and then wondering why it’s not working. You have to be intentional about where you show up.
Another piece of advice: avoid hiring a PR agency for this, because I’ve seen a lot of people getting ripped off with crazy fees with little to no results. Why? Because they often use a generic pitch template and spam anyone and everyone without considering the host’s and podcast’s style, audience or growth potential. Instead, focus on building genuine connections.
Networking within the podcasting community can open up opportunities for cross-promotion and shared growth. How have you engaged with other podcasters to support each other’s audience growth?
Supporting fellow podcasters is incredibly important. Ultimately, it’s all about how generous you are and how much you give before thinking of receiving something in return. You can do that by sharing your favorite episodes on your social media and mentioning them in an episode of your show.
Another idea is collaborating on their content, like making a joint episode or inviting people to give a masterclass in your group programs, courses, etc. I have found amazing podcasts to listen to because another podcaster shared their shows, and I probably would’ve missed them if it wasn’t for that simple share.
More ideas on this include engaging in community groups on platforms like Reddit, Facebook, or Threads, where you can share ideas, exchange comments, and provide value
There’s a lot of talk about giving value first and so on, but I can’t remark enough the importance of this. Trying to apply these strategies with a “me first” mindset won’t get you anywhere. Instead, try to help somebody out, cheer on someone’s post, give an advice. Real relationships will payoff way more than any strategy.
Beyond these methods, is there one more strategy you’ve employed that’s been particularly effective in growing your podcast audience in 2024?
Not being afraid to experiment! One thing that worked really well for me was hosting in-person live events. I’ve done a couple, and even though they require effort, energy, and time, people absolutely love them. I think the online world is amazing and gives us opportunities that wouldn’t have existed otherwise, but there’s definitely something magical about meeting people IRL.
It doesn’t have to be super fancy or invest a lot, just look out for a nice hotel or creative hub to collaborate with them, charge a small fee for drinks, and use a platform like Eventbrite and your social media to promote in advance.
Another great idea is embedding yourself into your audience’s daily lives by creating a series or a challenge that they can share on social media and tag you in. The key here is to keep it simple and think of something that ties into your audience’s everyday routine while aligning with your podcast’s topics and theme.
The middle of any growth journey is often where the most learning and adaptation occurs. Reflecting on your experience, what’s one major lesson you’ve learned about audience growth that you wish you knew when you started?
One major thing I’d say is not knowing who my audience was back then. Most of us start out with an idea and the excitement of pursuing a creative desire, and then we struggle to know who to target. The show is based solely on the creator’s creative instincts and desires.
If that’s the case, the solution would be opening your podcast hosting platform and checking the analytics to get an idea of the basics of that audience. After collecting the data, you need to learn everything you can about them. If you’ve nurtured your audience even a little (via DMs, comments, or any other form of interaction), you can ask them questions to better understand their needs and interests. People who already listen to your show and took the time to write a DM or comment would likely be happy to help you out, so don’t be afraid to do it.
After that, it’s about connecting the dots and trying to establish patterns to determine what this audience likes — other activities they engage in, other podcasts they listen to, etc. This is trickier and takes a bit more time than creating a podcast around your business, which already has the audience in mind and targets them.
Another thing I wish I’d done before launching my podcast was focus on leveraging my social media to grow, since it’s easier to attract those same people when you launch your show. Of course, some won’t be interested, but by putting your content in front of more people, the chances of reaching your target audience are higher. Choose a platform you’re comfortable with, leverage it, and then launch your podcast.
Looking forward, what emerging trends or platforms do you see as having the potential to impact podcast audience growth in the next year?
It’s been said and repeated a lot, but video podcasting will become more mainstream and have an impact on you audience’s growth. We all know that platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are driving discoverability with short-form content and full-length video episodes. Now, this is easier said than done, because let’s say, for a fiction podcast with lots of sound effects it’s impossible to execute and it looses the main attractiveness. I know a lot of great podcasts that won’t do video podcasts but have big following because of the value they provide and how they stay connected in other ways, so if it fits, do it. Here’s my take: If video doesn’t align with your brand or your listener’s needs, don’t do it.
Another thing to mention is, because of shorter attention spans, micro-podcasts -five minute episodes- will see a rise. I have a client that started two years ago with this type of format since she focuses on CEOs in tech industries and it performs really well. You can also incorporate an extra episode each week, if this fits your show and your goals.
Finally, the increase of private podcasts and exclusive content models that keep growing, allowing creators to monetize their content, offer exclusive episodes, behind the scenes, early releases and community benefits. You can set up a subscription model via Patreon or Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, offer ad-free episodes, or creating private podcasts to reward loyal listeners, or for a VIP launch, for instance.
For podcasters who are just starting out or struggling to grow their audience, what advice would you give to help them stay motivated and focused on their growth strategies?
Do the show that you really want to do and try to portrait an idea of your listener. You can even have a little help with ChatGTP to do this, by mentioning your podcast idea, main goal and some topics.
Remember you should play for the long road, so don’t waste your energy focusing on vanity metrics. Your podcast should feel fun to do, and it has to serve a purpose and this comes from a place of generosity first. Give first, and people will follow. Focus in creating the best podcast that you can, with the resources that you have now. A $300 microphone has nothing to do with growth, but how you show up authentically and being in service to provide a great listener experience will.
Leave room for experimentation, and put listeners first. What I mean by this is, if someone took the time to send a beautiful DM saying how they loved X episode, reply back with a thoutful answer, and greet them on your next episode. Nurture each one of them, because why wanting to have a 100,000 downloads if you don’t take care of them?
There’s no such thing as an ‘imposter syndrome’ because perfection doesn’t exist. People still learn from other’s stories, challenges, how they overcame that, what did they learn and how you can help. Keep with it, and remember to have fun.
Could you list and briefly explain “5 Key Strategies for Growing Your Podcast Audience” based on your experiences and insights? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
1 . Know your audience and deliver value: Understanding who they are, and how you can serve is crucial. Ask for feedback. One of my listeners said that though she appreciated a lot the interviews, she wanted to hear me more, so I started doing a bit more solo-episodes
2 . Use social media creatively: Social media is a powerful tool, when done well. There’s nothing attractive in saying ‘New Episode out!’ because most will say ‘So what?’. Give them a reason to listen. For example, after recording an episode, I uploaded a funny ‘in the moment’ video or a meme that was related to the episode, which boosted interaction with people. Usually it works better than any audiogram I’ve done.
3 . Build strategic collaborations: Guest appearances are a great way to build meaninful connections and boost your podcast growth. I was invited to a podcast and a year later, the host connected me to a big client for my agency, which I wouldn’t have gotten if it wasn’t because of that, so show up.
4 . Optimize your SEO: It’s not only for blogs, it’s crucial for podcast discoverability. I started using clear and searchable titles like ‘How to find your life purpose? Reflections and keys with X’, adding detailed show notes and relevant keywords. Over time, it helped me grow attracting new listeners
5 . Engage with your community: Start caring about them, talk to them, invite them to participate in your polls and Q&As. When I hosted a live recording session for my audience, it performed very well, people loved the format. While it took a bit of effort and time, meeting face-to-face listeners made the bond stronger and led to them recommending the podcast.
The journey of growing a podcast audience is filled with both challenges and milestones. Can you share a particularly rewarding moment or achievement in your audience growth journey that stands out to you?
A particularly rewarding moment includes a couple of stories I can mention. One guy had a regular 9–5 job, but his real passion was tarot reading, and he had a natural talent and sensitivity for it. After listening to one of the episodes, he overcame the ‘shame’ of sharing that passion and, slowly but surely, got his first clients. Another girl finally gathered the courage to break off a toxic relationship because she listened to an episode that was truly eye-opening.
Most of these achievements rely on the everyday messages I receive, where listeners share how they feel seen and heard, and how much value they’ve gained from applying the tools I share.
As for my clients, with one of them, we reached 1,000 downloads just one month after launching, which was incredibly exciting. Another client finally conquered his fear of the microphone and now feels confident speaking from his own authenticity.
As we wrap up, how can our readers follow your work and stay updated on your strategies and insights for podcast growth?
Readers can follow and stay updated through different channels:
- Linkedin: For insights, practical tools and professional updates. You can connect with me at romina-hakim
- Instagram: I share actionable tips, behind the scenes and announcements. You can find me under @romihakim_
- Free Resource: If you’re looking for an actionable playbook to gain more audience, you can download my free Podcast Growth Blueprint rominahakim.com/free-resources
Your journey and the strategies you’ve shared today provide a roadmap for podcasters looking to expand their audience in 2025. Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the art and science of podcast growth. We look forward to seeing how your podcast continues to reach new heights, and we wish you continued success in connecting with listeners around the world.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur and Thought Leader with over 25 years of business experience. He has founded, operated, and exited multiple companies and now builds into a handful of high impact CEOs. Chad has launched multiple online communities, including a recent leadership development platform, and also serves as a strategic advisor for Authority Magazine’s thought-leader incubator program.
To learn more and connect with Chad visit: chadsilverstein.io
Romina Hakim Of Red Lips Media: Top 5 Strategies for Growing Your Podcast Audience was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.