You Should Start a Podcast (Even if Nobody Listens)
Most people don't start a podcast because they're afraid nobody will listen. But here's the plot twist: that's actually the best reason to start.
Because podcasting isn't just about download numbers.
It's about learning in public and building an unfair advantage that compounds over time, even when nobody's asking you to do it.
Let me share something personal.
When I started my first podcast in 2016, I was absolutely terrified.
I'd sweat through my shirt, blank out mid-episode, and feel like a complete fraud.
But here's what nobody tells you about podcasting: it forces you to think better.
It becomes your excuse to meet amazing people and have conversations that would never happen otherwise.
My Personal Journey: From Zero to Life-Changing Conversations
One of the biggest advantages of podcasting is how it trains your voice, not just your physical voice, but your authentic voice.
It helps you sound more like yourself.
And here's the crazy part: sometimes it only takes one conversation to change everything.
Take episode 17 of my first podcast, where I interviewed Marcus Filly, the founder of Functional Bodybuilding.
That single episode not only brought me 10,000 overnight downloads when Marcus shared it, but it led to my dream job coaching Fortune 1000 executives and professional athletes.
That's when I realized something profound: podcasting isn't about how many people hear you; it's about who hears you.
It's that age-old question: do you want to be well-known, or do you want to be known well?
The Mindset Shift: Learning in Public
Let's start with the fundamental mindset shift that makes everything else possible.
Begin looking at podcasting as learning in public.
Yes, the biggest fear most people have is "Nobody's going to listen."
But early on, that's actually your biggest advantage.
Why? Because when nobody's listening:
You're free to suck
You're free to make mistakes
You're free to find your voice
You don't have that looming fear of judgment from coworkers, parents, or people whose opinions you value
Podcasting is unique because it's one of the few mediums that actually welcomes this type of learning.
You don't need to have everything figured out before you start.
Trust me, my first podcast was pretty rough.
In that first episode, I was terrified of expressing any opinions.
I just fired questions at my guests robotically after each answer, afraid to talk too long or say the wrong thing.
But I stuck with it.
The 1% Better Principle
With each episode, I noticed myself getting slightly better.
Just 1% improvement, but it added up.
By episodes seven or eight, I started noticing a shift in how I spoke in my daily life.
As someone coaching at three different gyms at the time, I could see the improvement in how I communicated with clients and led classes.
It showed me the power of consistently training your communication skills.
Over time, you build skills you didn't even know you needed:
Asking better questions
Eliminating verbal ticks and filler words
Becoming a better listener
Thinking more clearly on the spot
Most people believe they need to master something before they can talk about it.
But here's the truth: talking about something is how you begin to master it.
And the best part?
You never know which episode will be the one that changes your life.
The 10 Transformative Benefits of Podcasting (Even Without an Audience)
1. It Forces You to Think Clearly
Just like writing, podcasting forces you to organize your thoughts, but in a more natural, conversational way.
Many people freeze up when staring at a blank page, trying to transfer thoughts from brain to paper.
But when you're just talking to someone in front of you – or doing a solo episode like this – ideas flow more freely.
Your thinking process becomes clearer with each episode.
As Naval says, one of the best compliments isn't being called smart or intelligent.
It's being recognized as a clear thinker.
2. It Makes You More Curious
This is an underrated superpower, especially as we get older.
Look around at how most people act like they have everything figured out, even when they don't.
If you can maintain genuine curiosity, that openness to ask questions and learn helps you develop a trait that's valuable in both professional and personal life.
When I started my first podcast, curiosity carried me through.
I didn't know everything about Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, or powerlifting, but I was hungry to learn.
That enthusiasm came through in the episodes, and listeners connected with it because they were learning alongside me.
Being the curiosity-driven host is a powerful stance, especially when you're starting out.
I took this approach because I was young and didn't have much credibility.
But my relentless desire to learn carried through the microphone, attracting people who shared that same hunger for knowledge.
3. You Learn to Ask Better Questions
This skill transcends podcasting – it impacts every area of your life.
It's not just about analyzing problems or identifying bottlenecks, it's about understanding yourself better.
Think of yourself as an instrument you're learning to play.
The quality of your questions attracts quality people.
The smartest people in the world want to talk to those who ask great questions, not just those who give great answers.
When I would send potential guests three to five thoughtful questions, I'd often get positive responses because they could see I was thinking differently, not just recycling the same questions they'd answered on ten other podcasts that year.
4. You Meet People Who Can Change Your Life
Let me contrast this with something: I once attended this traditional networking type meeting. You know the setup – one coach, one real estate agent, one plumber, etc. It felt soul-sucking.
Compare that to my first year of podcasting, where within 52 weeks, I found myself in a completely new world, surrounded by people I had previously only read about and admired from afar.
The relationships you build through podcasting are incredible. They become:
Customers
Business partners
Future employees
Contractors
Friends
In today's world, where genuine connection is increasingly rare and people barely talk to strangers unless it's for a TikTok, podcasting offers organic networking opportunities.
And it's not just about famous people – everyday people with interesting stories are often honored to be asked and love sharing their experiences.
Tip: Try this exercise – make a list of 25, 50, or 100 people who might change your life if you had them on your podcast. Include both famous people and everyday individuals you'd love to have a great conversation with.
5. It's a Digital Asset That Lives Forever
Unlike social media posts that depreciate like a car driving off the lot, podcast episodes appreciate over time.
They're like a good wine – they get better with age.
Think about it: when someone discovers you at episode 97, they often go back to episode 1 and binge multiple episodes you never expected them to hear.
This doesn't happen with Instagram scrolling.
Podcasts and YouTube content take longer to grow, which is why many people don't even try.
But that's your advantage – while others chase quick wins, you're building something that compounds over time.
I know an accountant who recorded an audio-only podcast every two weeks for about two years.
That content library still brings them clients today. The first 10 episodes didn't do much, but years later, it's still generating opportunities.
6. It Builds Consistency and Discipline
I remember getting feedback from Gary V's trainer, who was reviewing my feed.
The first thing he noticed was the consistency.
I hadn't missed a single week. You could see the publish dates, every seven days like clockwork.
The discipline to do something when nobody's forcing you is rare.
It's not easy to sit down and talk into the void week after week, especially when it seems like nobody cares and the initial excitement has worn off. But that's exactly what makes it valuable.
This consistency teaches you:
Follow-through
Delayed gratification
Self-motivation
Unbreakable confidence
7. It Builds Trust
Podcasts are a middle-of-funnel tool. They're not necessarily bringing in tons of new people initially, but they're excellent for building trust with those who find you.
When someone discovers you through a cold email or other means, they'll likely investigate to see if you're legitimate.
Finding your podcast gives them hours of content where they can:
Hear how you actually talk
See you on video (if you do video podcasts)
Understand your thought process
Connect with you in a natural way
The conversion becomes smoother because they've spent time with you in a context where you're not trying to sell anything – you're just being yourself.
8. It Makes You a Better Listener
This skill transfers far beyond podcasting. Within a few episodes, you'll notice changes in how you pay attention to others in everyday conversations.
I remember feeling uncomfortable about not knowing what to say in the moment. I even took improv classes to address this fear.
What podcasting teaches you is that it's okay to just listen. Instead of preparing your next clever response, you learn to be present and truly absorb what others are saying.
This not only helps you relax but also makes the other person feel truly heard.
9. It Lets You Test Ideas Before Going All In
Think about how comedians use podcasts to test material before taking it to the stage. They discuss stories and experiences, following different conversational branches to discover what resonates.
Similarly, you can use your podcast to explore ideas that aren't fully formed yet.
This format gives you a faster feedback loop than more polished mediums like YouTube or newsletters.
The beauty of podcasting is that it doesn't demand perfection – the imperfections often make it more relatable and engaging.
10. It Becomes an Unfair Advantage in Any Niche
The real power isn't in the downloads, guests, or status – it's in the skills you develop along the way.
Like a comedian who must be writer, director, and performer all at once, podcasting forces you to become resourceful and multi-talented.
You learn to:
Use new equipment
Reach out to potential guests
Handle rejection
Find your authentic voice
Grow one of the hardest types of content to build
The Journey of Becoming
As Jerry Seinfeld said in his Duke commencement speech, focus less on having and more on becoming.
Sure, having 100,000 downloads or a million subscribers would be nice, but who you become along the way is far more rewarding.
Through podcasting, you become:
Someone who cares deeply about something
Someone who's interested and interesting
Someone who contributes
Someone who creates
Someone who grows
Getting Started: The Practical Steps
Remember, podcasting is still early, just like YouTube was in 2010.
People said it was too late then, just like they're saying now. But that shouldn't be your concern.
You don't need fancy gear – just your phone and a microphone that costs less than $50 (that's what I started with, and it still works today).
Software, AI, and automation are making podcasting more accessible than ever.
Yes, your first 10 episodes will probably be bad compared to your next 90, but that's the point.
Having the courage to be bad at first separates you from most people who never start.
The Ultimate Win-Win Scenario
When I started, I asked myself, "Even if nobody listens, how do I win?" I made sure each episode was valuable to me first, and that extra care showed in the final product.
When you create something primarily for yourself, it passes through filters that might not exist if you're designing for an abstract avatar you can't relate to.
The irony? When you make something genuinely for yourself, others tend to be drawn to it naturally.
Your Sign to Start
Don't let this be just another article you read. If you're still reading, take it as a sign that you were meant to do this. Remember, there's no need for:
A perfect niche
Perfect gear
Perfect timing
Just start. Once you begin publishing, you're in the game. You're no longer just planning or dreaming.
You're doing.
And even if there's just one person listening, you'll want to show up for them next week.
The beauty of podcasting is that it's a journey of becoming.
Becoming more yourself, more knowledgeable, more connected, and more impactful.
Whether you have ten listeners or ten thousand, the transformation happens either way.
Your future self will thank you for starting today.
