Have you ever wondered what really helps a podcast grow when you are not chasing viral clips, perfect systems, or big marketing strategies? In this episode, Ashana Kaiulani shares how her podcast grew through honesty, connection, clear messaging, and a willingness to keep showing up before everything felt polished.
In this episode, I sit down with Ashana Kaiulani, host of The Reclamation Room, to talk about her journey into podcasting, why she waited one to two years before finally launching, and what changed once she decided to use her voice. Ashana is a women’s reclamation coach whose work centers on healing from narcissistic abuse, betrayal trauma, relational harm, boundaries, and reclaiming a sense of self. She also hosts Voices of Strength as part of Break the Silence Alabama and the Domestic Violence Registry Project.
Connect With Ashana Kaiulani
Website: https://wayhomewellness.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/wayhomewellness
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Chapters
00:00 Opening Moment
00:19 Meet Ashana Kaiulani
00:27 Introducing The Reclamation Room and Voices of Strength
01:21 A Big Podcast Milestone in Canada
02:46 The Listener Message That Made the Podcast Feel Real
03:35 How Podcasting Helped Grow Ashana’s Instagram
04:38 Sharing Podcast Clips in an Authentic Way
06:18 Letting Humor and Personality Come Through
07:43 Choosing Connection Over Viral Content
09:01 Starting the Podcast After Waiting One to Two Years
09:44 Growing Through Networking and Real Relationships
11:31 The Meaning Behind The Reclamation Room Cover Art
12:58 What Makes The Reclamation Room Different
14:28 Why a Clear Podcast Subtitle Matters
15:18 The Story Behind the Name The Reclamation Room
16:50 Why Ashana Waited Before Starting Her Podcast
18:59 The Biggest Early Struggle: Coming Up With Episode Ideas
19:32 Finding Content Ideas Through Client Questions
21:00 Using Facebook Groups, Reddit, and Online Communities for Ideas
23:37 Turning Real Questions Into Authentic Episodes
25:17 My Podcast Story Newsletter Break
25:40 Secondary Struggles and Preparing for Season Two
26:05 Letting Season One Be Imperfect
27:28 Behind the Scenes of Ashana’s Podcast Setup
28:24 Recording With Simple Gear and a MacBook
29:07 Why Ashana Wants to Streamline Her Workflow
30:37 Finding an Editor Through a Local Facebook Group
32:03 Bartering, Building a Portfolio, and Supporting the Editor
33:07 Thinking About Sponsorships and Money
33:45 What Ashana Learned From Fundraising for Voices of Strength
35:20 Going Door to Door to Find Local Support
36:02 Reaching Out to 50 Businesses and Getting 14 Donors
37:33 How Business Owners Responded to the Podcast Pitch
38:55 The Current Sponsorship Plan for The Reclamation Room
40:10 Ashana’s Bigger Vision Beyond the Podcast
41:02 How Podcasting Created Speaking Opportunities
42:03 The First Speaking Engagement That Happened Unexpectedly
43:40 Goals for Season Two
44:15 Why Listeners Want More Solo Episodes
45:55 Talking About Downloads, YouTube Views, and Podcast Numbers
46:33 The Unconventional Way Ashana Publishes Her Show
48:17 Reframing 4,000 YouTube Views as a Real Audience
49:05 Clip-Worthy Moments From the Conversation
49:32 Advice for Making Solo Episodes Easier
52:14 Using Interviews to Help Create Solo-Style Episodes
55:34 Agreeing to Try Riverside for Future Conversations
57:13 Where to Find Ashana Kaiulani
57:43 Final Thoughts
