S4 112. What 300+ Podcasters Reveal About Podcast Growth in 2025 (Podcast Marketing Trends Report)

If you ask most podcasters what they’re doing to grow their show, the answers sound familiar: posting clips on social media, chasing consistency, experimenting with video, and hoping the algorithm finally notices them. But when you look at the data - real, self-reported data from creators who’ve been at this for years - a different story emerges. Growth isn’t evenly distributed, and effort doesn’t automatically translate into momentum. Some podcasts with massive audiences are shrinking, while smaller, focused shows are quietly compounding month over month. The gap isn’t about talent or effort but it’s truly about strategy.

That’s why my conversation with Jeremy Enns stopped me in my tracks. As the researcher behind the Podcast Marketing Trends Report, Jeremy looks past tactics and into patterns. What stood out most wasn’t what podcasters should be doing, but what actually correlates with sustainable growth and what doesn’t. Even more striking: his personal recommendation for podcasters who want to grow without ever touching social media.

Not as a contrarian take, but as a data-informed one.

Chapters:

• 03:10 – Who took the Podcast Marketing Trends Report 2005
• 05:30 – Why Big Podcasts Are Shrinking While Small Shows Grow
• 07:20 – You Don’t Need a Large Audience to Build a Profitable Podcast
• 09:55 – The Reality Behind Declining Podcast Growth Rates
• 12:45 – Audio vs. Video: How Metrics Are Being Distorted
• 16:50 – Do Social Platforms Actually Drive Podcast Growth?
• 20:00 – Short-Form Video Builds Brands, Not Downloads
• 28:40 – Why Email Is the Most Underrated Growth Channel
• 37:05 – How to Grow a Podcast Without Social Media

Resources mentioned in this episode:

For the full list of links, resources and show notes, please visit:

https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/s4-112-what-300-podcasters-reveal-about-podcast-growth-in-2025-podcast-marketing-trends-report

👩‍💻 Book your Podcast Power Hour: thepodcastspace.com/powerhour

Check out the Podcast Marketing Trends Report.