What happens when you get a 15-minute phone call from Joe Rogan asking for help with his struggling podcast? Rob Walch found out in the early 2000s when the future king of podcasting was just another comedian whose hosting couldn't handle the traffic. As VP of Podcaster Relations at Libsyn and creator of the first podcast about podcasting (Podcast 411), Rob Walch has spent over 20 years watching the industry evolve from hand-coded RSS feeds to billion-download juggernauts. In this episode, he shares the behind-the-scenes stories and battle-tested strategies that shaped modern podcasting. Rob's journey from customer to employee at Libsyn gives him a unique perspective on what actually works versus what sounds good in theory. Whether you're just starting out or looking to optimize an existing show, his 20+ years of hands-on experience offer actionable insights you won't find anywhere else.

Connect with Rob Walch:

Email: rob@libsyn.com

The Feed Podcast (with Elsie Escobar): thefeed.libsyn.com

Try Libsyn hosting: libsyn.com

Meet Rhea Wong, who transformed her "accidental fundraiser" background into one of the top voices in nonprofit podcasting through "Nonprofit Lowdown." Starting her podcast as an excuse to hang out with impressive friends in New York City, Rhea has built a loyal audience in her niche by delivering no-BS, tactical advice grounded in real trenches experience. She reveals why choosing a small pond over competing with Joe Rogan has made her a recognized authority, how podcasting became her secret weapon for opening doors with foundations and major donors, and the mistakes she wishes she'd avoided around monetization. Discover how consistency beats perfection, why being real about the struggles of running nonprofits resonates with audiences, and how Rhea mines her podcast content for her book, keynotes, and consulting sales. Her journey shows that sometimes the best podcasting strategy is simply being yourself while serving your community with practical solutions they can actually use.

JJ Peterson holds a PhD in storytelling and has transformed marketing for companies from Microsoft to small bakeries using a simple seven-element story formula. In this episode, JJ reveals why most podcasters position themselves as the hero when they should make their audience the star of the story. He breaks down the exact framework that helped Tempur-Sealy become the world's largest mattress company and explains how your brain processes 35,000 decisions daily while filtering out anything that burns too many mental calories. JJ exposes the fatal mistake that causes audiences to tune out within seconds and shares his "empathy plus authority" method for becoming the guide your listeners desperately need. This isn't abstract theory—it's the battle-tested blueprint that turns confused audiences into devoted followers who take action.