Growing a Podcast: Robert Tuchman and Adam Hendricks on Organic and Paid Audience Growth
In this episode of Retained Trust, host Karl Hughes speaks with Robert Tuchman of Amaze Media Labs and Audience Lift, and Adam Hendricks of The Podcast Consultant, about what it takes to grow a podcast. They discuss who should start a podcast, why audience quality can matter more than raw download numbers, and the role of consistency, strong audio, compelling content, and host enthusiasm in organic growth. Robert explains the paid promotion options available to podcasters, including contextually targeted distribution through Audience Lift, while Adam and Karl examine the metrics that matter most for B2B shows, from watch-through and listen-through rates to referrals, conversions, and repeat engagement.
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:32] Robert Tuchman’s path from hosting a podcast to building Amaze Media Labs and Audience Lift
[00:04:29] Adam Hendricks’ introduction to podcasting and journey into podcast production
[00:06:31] Which businesses should consider starting a podcast and why the goal behind the show matters
[00:08:41] Using podcasts for thought leadership, brand awareness, and authentic conversations
[00:13:35] Setting realistic expectations for organic podcast growth and building consistency early
[00:15:49] Why reaching the right listeners can matter more than building the largest possible audience
[00:23:37] The importance of strong audio, useful content, promotion, and video for podcast growth
[00:26:17] Why host enthusiasm and a willingness to promote the show are essential for long-term growth
[00:28:27] Defining the value a podcast adds before focusing on audience growth
[00:32:13] Moving from organic podcast growth into paid promotion
[00:33:07] How Audience Lift uses contextually relevant placements to promote podcasts to targeted audiences
[00:38:21] Comparing paid podcast promotion options and the limitations of irrelevant download growth
[00:45:36] Measuring listen-through, watch-through, conversions, and business impact
[00:48:03] Tracking engagement, retention, and repeat listening alongside total downloads
[00:50:57] Using calls to action to help turn podcast attention into business value
[00:52:03] Audience Lift’s Preferred Apps product and directing listeners to their podcast app of choice
[00:55:45] Adam Hendricks on The Podcast Consultant’s merger with Rise25 and combining operations
Links:
Robert Tuchman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberttuchman
Amaze Media Labs: https://amazemedialabs.com/
Adam Hendricks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-miller-hendricks/
Karl Hughes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karllhughes
Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant: https://thepodcastconsultant.com
