If you're an indie podcaster who's ever felt completely drained, discouraged, or on the verge of giving up... you're not alone. In this brutally honest episode, I open up about the real-life challenges I've been facing—personally and creatively—and how podcasting has both helped and hurt along the way. From going through divorce, to ending The Kris and Kristine Show, to watching the numbers on this very podcast unexpectedly grow—this episode is raw, vulnerable, and 100% real. I'm not here to sugarcoat the podcasting journey. I'm here to talk about the parts no one tells you when you’re first setting up your mic and dreaming big: <ul> <li>What happens when your co-host leaves... and it’s also your spouse.</li> <li>What it’s like to podcast while selling your house and dealing with life-altering burnout.</li> <li>How to keep creating even when it feels pointless.</li> <li>And why authenticity, not algorithms, is still your biggest advantage.</li> </ul> 🎧 In This Episode, I Cover: <ul> <li>The messy, emotional side of independent podcasting</li> <li>Why downloads aren’t the only thing that matter (but still hurt when they’re low)</li> <li>The difference between being “seen” on TikTok vs. being heard on a podcast</li> <li>How I built Podtastic Audio during the peak of The Kris and Kristine Show</li> <li>Real, actionable tips to keep going when your motivation is at zero</li> </ul> Whether you’re a solo podcaster, part of a co-hosted show, or just feeling like no one’s listening—this episode is for you. The Podtastic Playbook: How to Build, Grow, and Monetize Your Podcast <ul> <li><a href="https://a.co/d/93opgp5">Amazon Kindle </a></li> <li><a href= "https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-podtastic-playbook-how-to-build-grow-and/id6742413566"> Apple Books</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-podtastic-playbook-christopher-smith/1147047192;jsessionid=2FED6A2643EC5C09A9BBB4BFE2285320.prodny_store01-atgap08?ean=2940181263857"> Barnes and Noble</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/u/mYkMPG">Other Bookstores</a></li> </ul> Over 25,000 podcasters use Podpage! Create your own podcast website that looks great, runs smoothly, and is optimized for search engines. Get started today! <a href= "https://www.podpage.com/?via=chris-smith">Podpage Link</a> Podgagement® (formerly “My Podcast Reviews”) is all about simplifying your podcasting and helping you engage your audience and grow your podcast! <a href="https://podgagement.com/?ref=679">Podgagement Link </a> Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it so much. Sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a moment. <a href="http://eepurl.com/imGoBE">Podtastic Audio Newsletter</a> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li><a href="https://podtasticaudio.com/">Podtastic Audio</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/PodtasticA">Twitter X</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/podtasticaudio/">Instagram</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/podtasticaudio/">LInkedIn</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.threads.net/@podtasticaudio?hl=en">Threads</a></li> <li><a href= "https://bsky.app/profile/podtasticaudio.bsky.social">Blue Sky</a></li> </ul> 00:00 When Life Gets Messy… and You Still Hit Record 01:05 Why Audio Podcasting Still Matters 03:22 What People Think Podcasting Is 04:24 Starting The Kris and Kristine Show 06:17 Lockdown Interviews & Cleanfeed Lessons 08:03 The End of the Show—and the Relationship 09:44 Selling the House, Selling the Dream 11:00 Podtastic Audio’s Growth (and What It Means) 13:02 Indie Podcasting Realities: Burnout & Walls 14:15 Why Personality Beats AI and Trends 16:08 The Numbers Game: Podcasting vs. TikTok 18:13 Why Podcast Discovery Is So Much Harder 20:11 Authenticity and Consistency in a Noisy World 22:10 Tip 1: Short, Honest Episodes 23:07 Tip 2: Rerun Past Episodes with a Fresh Intro 24:13 Tip 3: Batch Record When You’re Feeling Good 25:02 Tip 4: Cut the Overproduction, Keep It Simple 26:34 Tip 5: Talk to One Person—Not an Audience 28:01 It's Okay to Pause (Even If You’re Not Done Yet) 30:04 Podcasting Isn’t Just for the Big Guys 30:26 🎵 Outro: “Podtastic Audio Anthem” #IndiePodcaster #PodcastingLife #PodcastBurnout #PodcastStruggles #PodcastTips #SoloPodcasting #PodcastAdvice #PodcastGrowth #AuthenticPodcasting #PodcastJourney #WhyPodcastingMatters #PodcastingThroughIt #PodcastMotivation #PodcastingWhileBurntOut #RealTalkPodcast #PodcastBreakup #PodcastingTruth #PodcastConsistency #PodcastingOverVideo #PodcastingReality #ContentCreationStruggles #PodcastingWithHeart #PodcastSupport #PodcastHelp #KeepPodcasting

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