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 ...
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:
- What happens when your co-host leaves... and it's also your spouse.
- What it's like to podcast while selling your house and dealing with life-altering burnout.
- How to keep creating even when it feels pointless.
- And why authenticity, not algorithms, is still your biggest advantage.
🎧 In This Episode, I Cover:
- The messy, emotional side of independent podcasting
- Why downloads aren't the only thing that matter (but still hurt when they're low)
- The difference between being "seen" on TikTok vs. being heard on a podcast
- How I built Podtastic Audio during the peak of The Kris and Kristine Show
- Real, actionable tips to keep going when your motivation is at zero
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
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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"
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