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The Power of a Podcast (And Why We Started One)

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Maddie smiles while interviewing a podcast guest on Happy Hour Hustle.

We originally posted this blog on February 21, 2018. Things have changed since then (shocker), so we updated it on August 26, 2025.

 

Everyone has a podcast nowadays. While we like to think ours, Happy Hour Hustle, is one of the best (especially with a glass of wine), we get why there’s so much competition. Podcasts work if you can break through the noise. 

4.61 million podcasts are available worldwide. Listeners spend around 7 hours a week listening to just podcasts. That’s a whole workday that you can get their attention for. 

The Podcast Formula

You need a purpose. Don’t start a podcast just to say you did. We started Happy Hour Hustle as a way to shine a light on causes, industries, and share knowledge from our favorite people. If you’re not passionate about your podcast or don’t have something new to say about a topic, people can tell.

Make an outline, you’ll thank us. Don’t just try to record without a game plan. It will go wrong. Believe us, we ramble, and no one wants to edit a two-hour-long clip of you never getting to the point.

Be yourself. It’s easy to play up your personality or want to go over the top, but it will come across as fake. People like you because of who you are. Take a deep breath (and maybe get a drink).

Get decent equipment. We’ve all suffered through terrible Zoom audio. Buy a real microphone. Your listeners’ ears will thank you, and you’ll sound like you know what you’re doing.

It’s Not Just Audio Anymore

Think about how you discovered your favorite podcast. Probably saw a clip on social media first, right? That’s because 61% of the top podcasts are using video now.

Record everything. Use your phone if you have to. That’s instant content for your socials. Make sure to add captions. Not everyone listens with sound on, and accessibility matters.

The data on platforms supports the video argument. YouTube is still the #1 platform for listening to and finding podcasts. Spotify now supports video, too. Full podcast episodes are pulling serious numbers on these platforms. 1 in 3 weekly podcast consumers say they like watching podcasts more than listening to them, and podcast newcomers say they start by watching and listening on YouTube. 

Different People Communicate…Differently

One of the best assets we offer as a communications partner is helping our clients reach their target audiences through the best channels. Digital, print, earned media, paid placement…we evaluate it all. While timely blogs, robust social strategies, and well-maintained websites are key, podcast listeners are an interesting bunch. 100 million Americans listen to podcasts weekly, and they listen to around 8 episodes weekly. 

So, don’t be average. Make the most of this interesting platform and subscribe to LOTS of podcasts…may we suggest starting with ours?

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