A wild journey through podcast merch mishaps, creative constraints that boost your show, pin trading for superfans, and what to do when a podcast moment needs a "code red" fix in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...
Why You Should Listen
The bizarre afterlife of your podcast merch—why a homeless man might be your brand's next billboard (and why that's pure opportunity)
How your podcast episode can worm its way halfway across the country—and what to do when you spot it in the digital "used bin"
The unstoppable, profit-pulling power of true "fast fashion" in podcasting (and why your superfan isn't always your final destination)
The one thing every podcaster fears: a guest's secret blurted on-air—then the desperate call begging you to erase it (here's how to turn disaster into gold)
Why rejection and resale could supercharge your audience—envy the reach you can't control
How to turn podcast pins and stickers into rabid collector's items—triggering fandom lust you never thought possible
The forbidden, dirt-cheap podcast setup that rivals the big guns—how your "$100 studio" could earn you kinglike respect (and listeners)
Little-known tricks to harness limitations and make your podcast infinitely more creative…while your rivals weep
Why mistakes and on-air blunders spawn cults of true believers—here's how to harness shame, missteps, and embarrassment for viral growth
What the most loyal Disney pin traders know that most podcasters don't (and how you could use it to steal the hearts ... and wallets ... of your listeners)
The overlooked "Code Red" rule for survival: when the phone rings with a nightmare edit request, how the savvy podcaster turns panic into power
How to make your merch irresistible—even if it winds up on the "uncool" or the unsuspecting—and why that's a secret weapon
Turn podcast events from ghost towns into gold mines: how local, "small-time" networking leaves the mega-conferences trembling
The grudge you didn't know you carried: why it's better to have your logo in Goodwill than in a landfill (and how to twist it for public envy)
The crazy, backstory-packed secret behind "Baba Booey" and how your own accidental inside jokes could fuel an underground movement of rabid fans
You want these links ...
Episode Timestamps
[00:04] The bittersweet story of finding your own CD in a dollar bin—and the unexpected life of what you put into the world
[04:53] The surprising encounter with a homeless man wearing "Call Her Daddy" podcast merch—and what that reveals about your brand's reach
[05:49] Why podcast merch isn't just for superfans—and how it can spread your message in ways you never anticipated
[08:09] How a $500 endurance car race is a perfect metaphor for podcasting on a shoestring budget—and why creative constraints can make your show better
[10:07] The hilarious radio origin story of the Howard Stern Show's "Baba Booey"—and how legendary podcast moments are born from on-air mistakes
[12:48] The weird world of Disney pin trading, and how podcast pins can turn listeners into obsessed collectors (and what you can learn from music merch)
[19:00] "Code Red": When a guest wants you to pull their wild on-air confession, and the sticky situations that happen after you hit publish
Big Ideas in This Episode
Where your merch really ends up—embrace it
Why your cast-off swag can create new superfans
Turn limitations into podcasting gold
Borrow this $500 car race stunt for your show
Pin trading secrets: make your podcast irresistible
The inside story of Baba Booey's immortal nickname
Code Red: what to do when guests overshare
The Newsletter for Podcasters
This episode of Build a Big Podcast is brought to you by Riverside ...
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About this episode of Build a Big Podcast:
This is the audio companion to Issue 232 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go. On this episode, I dive into where the money is made in podcasting. how to get more reviews (and subscribers) for your podcast, podcast hosting, and more.
Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.
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