<p><strong>If you’ve ever thought, ‘I want feedback, but I’m terrified of the internet,’ stay tuned—I’ll show you how to get <em>useful</em> criticism without letting trolls live rent-free in your head.</strong></p><h2>Two Types of Feedback</h2><p>I’m sharing how I handle trolls, reviews, and feedback—and how you can turn all of that into fuel to grow your show instead of reasons to quit. I’ll walk you through when to ignore, when to engage, and how to build a trusted focus group that helps you make your podcast better without letting anonymous strangers live rent‑free in your head.</p><h2>Trolls, Critics and Focus Groups</h2><p>I break down the difference between true trolls, genuine critics, and helpful focus groups—and how each one fits (or doesn’t) into your growth as a podcaster. I share real stories about nitpicky typo trolls, cyberbullying from years ago, people who send you two and a half pages of “do a different show,” and how other podcasters are using their audience—and even Snapchat—to get honest, constructive criticism.</p><p>By the end, you’ll see why I say feedback is the “breakfast of champions,” and why your fear of judgment shouldn’t keep your show stuck on your hard drive.</p><h2>What You’ll Learn</h2><h3>Trolls vs. Focus Groups</h3><ul><li>How I define a <strong>troll</strong>: unsolicited, emotionally charged feedback that’s mostly about getting a reaction.</li><li>How I define a <strong>focus group</strong>: people who actually want to help shape and improve your show.</li><li>Why some “trolls” are really just frustrated fans who want attention.</li></ul><br/><h3>Classic Troll Bait Topics</h3><ul><li>The three topics that almost guarantee you’ll attract trolls:</li><li><strong>Politics</strong></li><li><strong>News / current events</strong></li><li><strong>Religion</strong></li><li>Why I’m okay with pushback when I brush up against these—and why you should expect it if your show leans into them.</li></ul><br/><h3>My Rules for Dealing with Trolls</h3><ul><li><strong>Rule #1: Don’t feed the trolls.</strong></li><li>I talk about why I always try to <strong>wait</strong> before responding.</li><li>How I “kill them with kindness” when I choose to reply.</li><li>Why I often simply say, “Thanks for the feedback,” and move on.</li><li>How I remind myself that sometimes people are just having a bad day, and I happened to be standing in front of them.</li></ul><br/><h3>Turning Feedback into a Tool for Growth</h3><ul><li>The key question I always ask: <strong>“Do they have a point?”</strong></li><li>An example: being told, “You interrupt your guests too much,” and how I go back, listen, and honestly assess if they’re right.</li><li>How I respond when someone clearly just wants me to do a <em>completely different show</em> than the one I want to make.</li></ul><br/><h3>How I Engage Without Losing My Cool</h3><ul><li>Why I sometimes ask, <strong>“How could I have done this better?”</strong> to separate useful advice from empty criticism.</li><li>How I ask for <strong>evidence or sources</strong> in a non-defensive way:</li><li>“I’m interested in digging into this—can you share a link?”</li><li>When I’ll share <strong>my</strong> sources and politely stand my ground.</li><li>When I decide it’s time to <strong>block, report, and move on</strong>, especially on platforms like YouTube.</li></ul><br/><h3>Knowing My Audience (and My Why)</h3><ul><li>How knowing <strong>who my show is for</strong> makes it easier to ignore the wrong people.</li><li>Why I consider the nastiest haters as <strong>“not my target audience.”</strong></li><li>The math I look at: out of hundreds of reviews, only a tiny percentage are negative—but they love to hog my attention if I let them.</li></ul><br/><h2>Stories and Examples I Share</h2><h3>Mark Maron on Trolls as “Frustrated Love”</h3><ul><li>A clip from <strong><a href="https://www.wtfpod.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark Maron</a></strong> talking about trolls who keep coming back.</li><li>How he describes repeat trolls as people who are weirdly in love with you and just want you to get mad so they feel seen.</li></ul><br/><h3>The Typo Troll</h3><ul><li>The listener who went absolutely ballistic over typos and sent me 5–6 paragraph rants.</li><li>How I handled it when the comments got personal.</li><li>How I eventually “trolled the troll” with humor and kindness and watched him disappear (and reappear…and disappear again).</li></ul><br/><h3>Madame Strangeways & Fear of Feedback</h3><ul><li>A conversation with <strong><a href="https://www.True strange stories at madamestrangeways.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Madame Strangeways</a></strong><a href="https://www.True strange stories at madamestrangeways.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a> who was reluctant to ask for feedback because of a cyberbullying incident 20 years ago.</li><li>How I encourage her (and you) to start with <strong>trusted fans and patrons</strong> as a safe focus group.</li><li>My “too much salt in the bread” analogy: people who love what you’re making will still tell you if something’s off, because they have to consume it.</li></ul><br/><h3>Jr. Sparrow & Building a Focus Group</h3><ul><li>How <strong><a href="https://pod.link/1368068056" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jr. Sparrow</a></strong> used <strong>Snapchat’s Snap Map</strong> to find brutally honest listeners.</li><li>How he turned “this show is crap” comments into a small group that now:</li><li>Helps him <strong>curate</strong> which episodes to release.</li><li>Shapes themes and content <strong>months in advance</strong>.</li><li>Why he says you need “skin like Shrek” (thick skin, many layers) if you want to attach dollar signs to your show.</li></ul><br/><h3>Using Feedback Before You Publish</h3><ul><li>How experienced podcasters (including me) use feedback on topics, guests, and angles <em>before</em> episodes ever hit the feed.</li><li>Why I’d rather kill an episode early than spend years promoting something that doesn’t resonate with my audience.</li></ul><br/><h2>SnapChat's Snap Map Feature</h2><p><strong>Snapchat’s Snap Maps</strong></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/l4R-wu42gZk?si=BVhAiDeB_Tq6anoO" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/l4R-wu42gZk?si=BVhAiDeB_Tq6anoO</a></p><p><strong>Getting Data From Snap Map</strong></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/qGxblSXvEbU?si=KoeDP8aI32uKvKjS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/qGxblSXvEbU?si=KoeDP8aI32uKvKjS</a></p><h2>My Key Takeaways for You</h2><ul><li>You are already being judged—at Home Depot, in the grocery line, everywhere—so a few online comments shouldn’t paralyze you.</li><li>A tiny slice of reviews will be negative; they don’t outweigh the huge percentage of people who get value from your show.</li><li><strong>Feedback is how you get better.</strong> You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken.</li><li>Learn to separate:</li><li><strong>Trolls</strong> – don’t feed them, or reply calmly and briefly.</li><li><strong>Constructive critics</strong> – look for the truth in what they’re saying.</li><li><strong>True fans / focus groups</strong> – invite them in and let them help you refine the show.</li><li>If someone hates your show and clearly isn’t who you’re trying to reach, there’s a simple name for them: <strong>not your audience</strong>.</li></ul><br/><h2>Mentioned in This Episode</h2><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">School of Podcasting</a></strong> – Where I help you plan, launch, and grow your podcast, including listener parties to get safe, constructive feedback.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.askthepodcastcoach.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask the Podcast Coach</a></strong> – My live call-in/chat show for free podcast consulting.</li><li><strong><a href="http://www.podpage.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Podpage</a></strong> – Website platform for podcasters (I’m the Head of Podcasting there).</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.True strange stories at madamestrangeways.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Madame Strangeways</a></strong><a href="https://www.True strange stories at madamestrangeways.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a>– True strange stories at <strong>madamestrangeways.com</strong>.</li><li><strong>Jr. Sparrow</strong> – <strong><a href="https://pod.link/1368068056" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WVU Uncommon Place</a></strong> – Society and culture in West Virginia.</li></ul><br/><h2>Call to Action</h2><ul><li><strong>Tell me what you think:</strong></li><li>Let me know <em>one</em> thing you love and <em>one</em> thing you’d change about this show at <strong>schoolofpodcasting.com/contact</strong> or <strong>schoolofpodcasting.com/voicemail</strong>.</li><li><strong>Need help with your podcast?</strong></li><li>If you want a safe place to get honest feedback and improve your show, join me at <strong>SchoolOfPodcasting.com</strong> and use the coupon code <strong>LISTENER</strong> for a discount. It comes with a 30‑day money‑back guarantee.</li></ul><br/><p>Mentioned in this episode:</p><p><strong>Give Your Podcast A Home</strong></p><p>When you look at our podcasting pieces, your media host is the engine. But your website is the home.
It’s where your audience learns who you are, explores your episodes, and decides to subscribe.
At Podpage, we build podcast websites that are fast, reliable, and designed to convert visitors into listeners. Every episode is automatically published, SEO-optimized, and structured for growth—so you can focus on creating, not managing your site.
If your media host powers your podcast, Podpage gives it a place to live—and a place to grow.

Start building your podcast’s home with Podpage by going to www.podpage.com/preview and start your 14 day free trial today.</p><p><a href="https://school-of-podcasting.captivate.fm/podpage">Podpage</a></p><p><strong>Get Some Feedback On Your Show</strong></p><p>“Want honest, helpful feedback on your podcast? At the School of Podcasting, we host ‘Listening Parties’ where members share short clips and get constructive, encouraging critiques from fellow podcasters and myself. 
It’s a safe, supportive way to hear what’s working, fix what’s not, and make your show stronger fast.”
</p><p><a href="https://school-of-podcasting.captivate.fm/start">School of Podcasting</a></p><p><strong>Live Appearances</strong></p><p>I love to meet people when I'm on the road. I'm going to be at 
Empowered Podcasting Conference in Charlotte NC
Podcast Movement in NYC
Podindy in Indianapolis In.
For more information and links, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where
To have me speak at your event, reach out at schoolofpodcasting.com/contacnt</p><p><a href="https://school-of-podcasting.captivate.fm/where">Where Will I Be?</a></p><p><strong>Question of the Month</strong></p><p>So you find out someone is a podcaster, what book would you recommend that they read. Obviously this could be a book about podcasting, or business, or storytelling, or, or... you get the idea. You find out someone is a podcaster, what is the book you recommend (audio or video). I need your answer by July 24th. Don't forget to say a little bit about your show and your website address (so I can add it to the show notes). Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question</p><p><a href="https://school-of-podcasting.captivate.fm/qotm">Question of the Month</a></p>

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