16. How Much Money Can you Make Podcasting: A Practical Guide to Growing, Managing, and Monetizing your Show with Grayson Dotzert
- Brittany Miller

- Jul 3, 2023
- 19 min read
Updated: Nov 9
One of the first questions people ask me when I tell them I host a podcast is: how much money can you make podcasting? I get it — podcasting is fun, creative, and community-driven, but it’s also a business opportunity. In this post I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned while launching and running my own podcast, from finding guests and batching recordings to editing, marketing, and the real ways you can monetize. I’ll be honest and practical, and I’ll answer the question of how much money can you make podcasting in multiple ways so you can choose the path that fits your goals and bandwidth.

If we haven't met yet, I’m Brittany, an online marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs. I teach women how to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality through smart, actionable marketing strategies that get them seen, loved, and paid. Whether you’re eager to DIY your way to success or hire professionals to help you along the way–my goal is to make sure you walk away with the clarity you need to see the results you desire and build a life you love.
Why I care about this question (and why you should too)
I started my podcast because I love conversations. I wanted to connect with other business owners, share lessons I’ve learned, and build a library of long-form content that represents my brand. Pretty quickly, I realized that beyond audience growth, the podcast could be a revenue channel — but not overnight, and not without strategy. The question of how much money can you make podcasting isn't a single-number answer. It depends on your niche, consistency, content strategy, repurposing plan, the funnels you have in place in your business and how aggressive you are about monetization.
Throughout this blog I’ll share the practical steps I take every time I plan an episode, how I source guests, what I hand off to my podcast manager (shout out to Grayson), the time and technical commitments, and concrete monetization options with realistic expectations. If you want a checklist, I’ve created one I’ll mention you can grab later. For now, let’s start where most podcasters do: getting guests and content rolling.
Table of Contents
How to find guests — the easy truth
Finding guests is one of the things I was most anxious about before I launched. My fear was that nobody would say yes. Spoiler: people want to be on podcasts. Whether they want to promote a launch, build their personal brand, or just talk, there’s a high demand for guest spots right now. As a podcast host guests are helpful for two reasons. First, they allow you to cover topics you're not an expert in and secondly, they can help you grow your audience and often reciprocate promotion that drives downloads. When you're ready to seek sponsorship opportunities your downloads will be a key metric to share with potential sponsors.
Here’s where I actually find guests — and how you can, too:
Start in your immediate circle. I invited friends I met at networking events, people I’d collaborated with in the past, clients I've worked with etc. Many were excited to be on the show.
Use Facebook groups. Search “podcast guests,” “podcasting,” or niche-related groups and post a friendly invite. You’ll be surprised how many people raise their hands.
Leverage communities and courses. If you’ve done a paid or free challenge (like I did with Amy Porterfield’s email marketing challenge) join those alumni groups and recruit potential guests.
Consider paid matching services. PodMatch and other platforms work like a dating app for podcasters; they’re not necessary for everyone, but they can be useful for niche shows.
Don’t assume you need a huge platform to attract guests — people want exposure and being on a podcast is a valuable promotional opportunity for them too.
Vetting guests: protect your brand
Because your podcast is part of your brand, vetting guests is essential. The last thing you want is an episode that doesn’t reflect your values or the promise in your show description. I always pre-vet guests with a short chat and a questionnaire — which brings me to my next point: systems.
Use a form or CRM to manage guest intake
When you start getting more than a handful of guest requests, you need a process. I use Dubsado for my CRM and created a guest application because it gives me forms and a place to store information all in one place, but that costs around $400 USD a year and isn’t necessary if you’re just starting. If you want to keep costs low, Google Forms or a simple form on your website works perfectly.
This is what I capture on my guest application:
Full name and preferred name
Email and phone contact
Social media handles (Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
A short bio the guest would like used for the episode
Headshot for episode cover art
Topics they want to talk about and any resources (free or paid) they’d like to promote
Availability windows for recording
Collecting these details up front saves so much time later. When the episode goes live, I already have everything I need: bio, headshot, links, and potential promo copy.
Balancing guest episodes and solo episodes
As a personal brand, my podcast has to showcase me — not just my guests. That means balancing interviews with solo episodes where I share my expertise. If your business depends on people knowing and trusting you, you’ll want solo episodes sprinkled in so listeners connect with you directly. That balance also impacts how much money can you make podcasting if your revenue model depends on converting listeners into paid clients.
Preparing for Guest interviews: research, chat, and filler questions
I can’t overstate the value of preparation. Even though my podcast is conversational, I always do homework before recording:
I read the guest’s submitted bio and their website
I review their social media for recent work or projects to highlight
I schedule a 15-minute pre-record chat so we’re not meeting for the first time on the mic
I prepare a handful of “filler” questions I can use to keep the conversation flowing
I send guests an email with recording tips so their audio is the best it can be
These small steps make the actual interview feel like a relaxed conversation, not an interrogation. Guests appreciate it; I get better content; and that all feeds into my marketing efforts and future monetization.
If you're going to be a guest on someone else's podcast steal my prep tips to be a guest that gets invited back over and over again ↓
Follow-up with guests — make it easy for them to promote
After each episode, I send guests a follow-up email that includes:
Episode cover art with their headshot
Pre-made social posts and short teaser clips
Suggested copy and hashtags to share
Links to the episode on platforms (Spotify, Apple, YouTube)
Suggestions on adding the episode to their website or “Featured on” section
The easier you make promotion for your guest, the more likely they are to share. That amplifies your reach, increases downloads, and makes your podcast a more attractive opportunity for sponsors and advertisers — another piece of the answer to how much money can you make podcasting.
Batch recording: why I do it and how I schedule
I batch record episodes because it reduces context-switching and ensures consistency. Recording the same day, in the same space, helps me keep audio quality consistent and makes scheduling easier. I pick days where my kids and dog are not at home (audio interruptions are the enemy) and block the time in my calendar for several back-to-back recordings.
Batching also gives me breathing room for editing and marketing. If a guest gets sick the day of a scheduled recording, I have a backlog to publish, which keeps my release schedule steady. Consistency is important; my listeners know episodes drop on Tuesdays at 6 a.m., so I plan my production and marketing calendar to support that.
Recording options and audio quality
I record audio and video for my interviews on Zoom or Google Meet — it’s simple and reliable for both local and remote guests. For better sound quality, I recommend recording in a small room with soft surfaces to minimize echo. A few key piece of equipment I use and recommend:
You don’t need pro gear at the start — many of my guests recorded with nothing more than a phone in a quiet closet. But if you’re serious about sound, a basic mic and an interface make a noticeable difference.
What a podcast manager does (and why I hired one)
When I first started I thought I’d have to do everything myself. Then I outsourced to Grayson, my partner and podcast manager, and my life became a lot simpler. If you can afford it, hiring someone to handle editing, posting, and some of the promotional assets will save you hours each week.
Here’s what a good podcast manager typically handles:
Basic audio cleanup: noise reduction, volume leveling, equalization
Removing filler words and long pauses (to client preference)
Inserting intro, outro, and ads or promos
Exporting files in the required format for hosting
Uploading episodes to your host and scheduling releases (some managers do this)
Creating show notes and timecodes (chapters)
Pulling teaser clips and short-form content for social media (in some packages)
There are different levels of involvement. Some podcasters simply hand off a raw file and get back an edited final file. Others have their manager create social assets and post everywhere. The more you add, the more it costs — but it’s a trade-off between time and money. Podcast managers also range in affordability, we have podcast management options you can check out if you're looking for support.
Editing: how much time should you expect to spend?
f you're doing your own editing, don't be surprised if it takes longer than you think. If you’re doing a 45-minute episode:
Recording typically takes about 50–60 minutes counting pre- and post-chat
Basic audio edits might take 1–2 times the length of the episode
Full edits with filler word removal, teaser clip extraction, show notes, and promo assets can take up to 2–3 times the recording length
Video exports and uploads (if you publish to YouTube) add additional render/upload time — often 30–60 minutes or more depending on file size and connection
I learned to use the rendering time to do other tasks: craft social captions, finalize episode notes, or plan upcoming interviews. But if you don’t want to spend evenings editing, a podcast manager is a great investment. When you're ready to start monitzing your podcast hirign a podcast manager can help ensure you're being consistent which will help with monitization and building a loyal listener base.
Show notes, chapters, and timecodes — why they matter
Show notes and timestamps (or “chapters”) help listeners find the content they want. When I include timecodes, listeners on Spotify or YouTube can jump to the exact part of the conversation that matters to them.
That increases consumption and makes episodes more user-friendly — and user-friendly episodes get shared more, which helps with discoverability and, eventually, monetization.
Repurposing your podcast: seven social posts from one episode
This is where you get a huge multiplier effect. One podcast episode can be the source for days of social content. Here’s a weekly content plan I use (and recommend) to promote every episode:
Sunday — Guest bio and episode teaser (introduce your guest and what’s coming)
Monday — Short teaser clip (15–30 seconds) as a reel or short
Tuesday — Episode launch with a clip and link (episode goes live at your chosen time)
Wednesday — Quote graphic from the episode (static image)
Thursday — Another teaser clip or a short clip of a key moment
Friday — Carousel listing 3–5 key takeaways from the episode
Saturday — Reel or static post recycling an earlier episode for evergreen traffic
Those seven posts are easy to produce once you create templates. My podcast manager often pulls the clips and I plug them into pre-made social templates. This constant promotion builds awareness and drives listeners back to the full episode. If you’re wondering how much money can you make podcasting, consistently repurposed content is one of the most important factors — sponsors look for shows that have an active promotional strategy and was to consistently grow your audience.
How Much Money Can you Make Podcasting: where the money actually comes from
Let’s dive into monetization. I love podcasting, and I’ll keep doing it even if I never make a cent. But I also want to be practical and intentional. Here are the main monetization options, with realistic expectations about what they pay and when they become possible.
1. Promote your own products and services
This is the simplest, lowest-barrier way to monetize. Your podcast is an excellent place to mention services, online courses, coaching, or paid offers. I always aim to mention a free lead magnet or a service in episodes because that’s how listeners find their way onto my email list — and email is where conversions happen.
When you ask how much money can you make podcasting, many podcasters start by using episodes to support their existing revenue. A single well-placed call to action in a popular episode can generate dozens of leads, and a handful of sales could pay for months of production.
2. Sponsorships and direct ads
Sponsorships are what many creators imagine first. They’re typically sold as an ad read or a branded segment in an episode. But sponsors usually expect established numbers: consistent publishing and a reliable download/listenership metric.
Here’s how sponsorships often work:
You negotiate a rate per episode or per campaign
Rates depend on your audience size and niche — some podcasters charge per thousand downloads (CPM) while others charge a flat fee
Brands want proof of reach (monthly downloads, audience demographics, engagement metrics)
If you’re starting out, you may not attract sponsors right away. I don’t chase sponsorships until I can show consistency and reach — maybe after one year and 50+ episodes, or sooner if my listener numbers are strong.
Update: After 100+ episode I still have not sought sponsorship simply because I choose to use my air time to promote my own products and services along with some affiliate marketing options.
3. Programmatic ads (Spotify, YouTube, etc.)
Platforms like Spotify and YouTube have monetization options that let ads run on your content without a direct sponsor. YouTube monetization requires thresholds (like 1,000 subscribers and a certain number of watch hours), and Spotify has been expanding ad offerings for podcasters. This is a passive way to earn money, but it usually requires significant consumption to generate substantial income.
4. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate revenue comes from recommending tools or services you use and sharing affiliate links. Every time someone signs up through your link, you earn a commission. The video description includes affiliate links to the equipment I use, which is a low-effort way to earn incremental income. You can also verbally mention that people can check the description for links after talking about a product or service in your episode.
5. Premium episodes, memberships, and paywalls
If you produce highly valuable content, you can offer paid episodes or a membership that gives access to bonus content, early access, or community forums. Memberships can work well if your audience sees your content as a direct extension of your consultation or education offerings.
6. Cross-promotion and paid speaking
Being a podcaster opens doors. It positions you as a subject matter expert and can lead to paid speaking gigs, workshops, or consulting. That’s indirect monetization but often highly profitable compared to ad revenue.
So, how much money can you make podcasting — realistic examples
I want to answer this question with a range and some concrete examples because a single number would be misleading. Here’s how I break it down based on different stages:
Early stage podcaster (0–12 months)
Listeners: few to a few hundred per episode
Main revenue opportunities: promoting your own products, affiliate links, small direct sales
Estimated monthly earnings: $0–$500 (mostly from new client leads or small affiliate conversions)
At this stage, your focus should be growth and consistency. The question of how much money can you make podcasting is less about immediate income and more about building a foundation.
Growth stage (1–2 years, consistent publishing)
Listeners: hundreds to low thousands per episode
Revenue opportunities: sponsorships for niche advertisers, consistent affiliate revenue, and conversions from your services
Estimated monthly earnings: $500–$3,000+ depending on conversion rates for your offers and sponsorship deals
Sponsors begin to show interest when you can prove consistent downloads and a steady release schedule. This is where repurposing content and a strong social strategy pay off.
Established podcaster (2+ years or high-consumption shows)
Listeners: several thousand to tens of thousands per episode
Revenue opportunities: higher-paid sponsors (large brand deals), recurring programmatic ad revenue, memberships, premium content
Estimated monthly earnings: $3,000–$30,000+ depending on deals and product sales
At scale, podcasting becomes a predictable revenue stream. Some podcasters monetize via live events, book deals, courses, and large sponsorship packages. This is when you can answer the question how much money can you make podcasting with big numbers, but it requires consistent production, a marketing plan, and likely a team.

Pricing sponsorships — a quick primer
When brands ask how much they should pay or when you start approaching sponsors, you’ll often use CPM (cost per thousand downloads) or a flat fee. Niches matter — an engaged audience of 1,000 listeners in a targeted niche can be worth more than 10,000 broad listeners.
Typical CPM ranges are often between $15–$50 for a 30–60 second sponsor read (and can be higher in certain niches). But early on, you might see lower rates — and you can trade value in the form of bundle deals, such as social posts plus a show read.
YouTube monetization and watch hours
If you publish video versions of your podcast on YouTube, you can unlock ad revenue once you meet YouTube’s Partner Program thresholds (1,000 subscribers and a required number of watch hours). YouTube Shorts can help accelerate discoverability, but you still need consistent uploads and promotion. I don’t qualify yet, but it’s on my roadmap — and it’s another piece of the “how much money can you make podcasting” puzzle when you add video to your strategy.
Contracts, disclosure, and legal considerations
If you pursue sponsors, always have a contract. Contracts define the deliverables (number of reads, social posts, duration), payment terms, and usage rights. Disclosure is essential — if an episode or segment is sponsored, disclose it to your audience and follow platform requirements. For YouTube and some platforms, sponsorship disclosure must happen at the start of the episode.
Timeframes: how long until you see results
Podcast growth is a marathon, not a sprint. Expect the following rough timeline:
First 3 months: learn the tools, find your voice, build a small library of episodes
3–12 months: audience growth begins if you’re consistent and active in promotion
12+ months: potential to attract sponsors if you can demonstrate consistent downloads
2+ years: scale monetization through larger sponsors, products, and partnerships
If you’re impatient and asking how much money can you make podcasting quickly — the truth is it takes time. But if you plan your content, repurpose effectively, and treat your podcast as a long-form content hub for your overall marketing, the ROI can be substantial.
Technical timeframes — recording to publish
Here’s a typical production timeline I follow:
Recording day: batch several episodes (2–4 depending on length)
Editing: 2–3x the episode length if doing detailed edits; 1–1.5x for light edits
Rendering and uploads: allow extra time for video renders and uploads
Show notes & promotion: set aside a couple hours for writing notes and scheduling posts
In practice, I block 1-2 days per week for podcast work: one recording day (once a month) and one “post-production” day. If you have a podcast manager, your hands-on time drops significantly — you record, and they take care of the rest.
Tools and platforms I use and recommend
These are the tools I’ve tested and recommend to beginners and intermediate podcasters:
Zoom for recording remote interviews
Audio-Technica AT2020 (microphone)
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (audio interface)
Dubsado (if you want a paid CRM for guest forms and templated emails)
Google Forms (free guest intake option)
Podcast hosting: pick a host that distributes to Spotify, Apple, and other platforms. I love Libsyn.
PodMatch if you need help finding guests (optional)
Repurposing specifics — what to pull from each episode
From each episode I aim to pull:
2–3 short 15–30 second audio/video teasers
3–5 quote graphics for static posts
One carousel with key takeaways
Show notes with timecodes and links
Short-form clips for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels
A manager who pulls these clips for you can save a lot of time. If you do this yourself, create templates so you’re not starting from scratch every week.
Measuring success and defining ROI
Your podcast ROI depends on your goals. If your goal is lead generation for a high-ticket service, measure conversions (email signups, consultations booked). If your goal is ad revenue, measure downloads and CPM. If your goal is audience building, track downloads, listens per episode, and social referral traffic. When someone asks how much money can you make podcasting, the answer changes when you define what success looks like to you.
Real examples from my experience
Here’s a candid snapshot of how I’ve used podcasting so far:
I used guest episodes to build relationships and grow social reach.
I converted episode listeners into email subscribers via a free resource mentioned in episodes.
I hired a podcast manager to handle editing and clip extraction, which freed my time to focus on bookings and strategy.
I repurpose episodes into week-long social plans, which multiplies exposure without extra recording time.
Monetization is still early for me, but the systems I’ve built — consistent publishing, guest outreach, repurposing templates, and a manager to handle production — position me to start approaching sponsors and growing affiliate income. The path to answering how much money can you make podcasting for my show is clear: focus on consistency, promotion, and converting listeners into paying clients.
Common mistakes I see and how to avoid them
Not planning promotion. If you don’t promote, people won’t find you.
Neglecting guest follow-up. If you don’t make it easy for guests to share, they won’t.
Trying to be perfect. Good audio is important, but waiting for perfection stalls growth and consistency.
Ignoring the email list. Use your podcast to drive signups so you can convert l.steners.
Underestimating time. Editing and repurposing take longer than you think — plan for it.
Not turning your podcast into a blog (for SEO) and not putting it on YouTube (repurposing) you're limiting you reach/
How to decide whether to DIY or hire help
Ask yourself two questions:
Do I enjoy editing and technical work?
Is my time better spent on client work, bookings, or strategy?
If you don’t enjoy editing or your hourly rate as a business owner is higher than the cost of a manager, hire help. If you love learning the technical side and have the time to spare, DIY is totally fine for a while. Either way, set up templates so the work becomes repeatable.
Scaling your podcast team
As your show grows, consider adding roles:
Podcast manager (editing + publishing)
Social media manager (post scheduling + captions)
Virtual assistant (guest booking + scheduling)
Graphic designer (episode cover art templates)
Scaling reduces friction and lets you focus on content and relationships — the core of what gets listeners and sponsors interested. At Brittany Miller Socials we offer packages that include podcast management, social media and graphic design support along with SEO and strategic planning to maximize your reach and revenue generation with each episode. Learn more here.
Final thoughts on how much money can you make podcasting
So, how much money can you make podcasting? The short answer is: it depends. The long answer: with consistent production, smart repurposing, an email funnel that converts listeners, and either a steady advertiser strategy or product sales, a podcast can become a meaningful revenue stream. Early on you might make little to nothing; at scale, you can earn thousands or tens of thousands per month depending on your niche, offers, and audience size.
Podcasting rewards patience, clarity, and reuse. If you treat each episode as a hub of long-form content and squeeze out micro-content for every platform consistently, you’ll accelerate growth and increase monetization opportunities. And if you’re asking whether it’s worth the work — in my experience, yes. I love the conversations, the relationships, and the business results that can come from a well-run show.
FAQs about Podcast Monetization
How much money can you make podcasting in the first year?
In the first year you should focus on consistency and building an audience. Financially, many podcasters earn between $0 and $500 per month in year one, mostly through product or service conversions and small affiliate sales. Sponsors usually come later once you have consistent downloads and a publishing history.
What are the easiest ways to monetize a new podcast?
The easiest ways are promoting your own services, including calls-to-action to free lead magnets, and using affiliate links for tools you genuinely recommend. These methods require no third-party approval and can convert listeners into paying customers directly.
When will sponsors start contacting me?
Sponsors typically reach out once you have consistent publishing (often at least a year) and demonstrable downloads that top charts. Niche-focused shows with engaged audiences can attract sponsors earlier. You can also proactively pitch sponsors when you have a clear audience profile and reach metrics which is better than waiting for sponsors to come to you.
How long does editing take for a 45-minute episode?
Basic edits may take 1–2 times the episode length. If you’re removing filler words, pulling clips, writing detailed show notes, and creating visual assets, editing can take 2–3 times the recording length. Video rendering and uploads add additional time.
Can I monetize my podcast on YouTube?
Yes, if you publish video episodes on YouTube, you can monetize through the YouTube Partner Program once you hit the thresholds (1,000 subscribers and sufficient watch hours). You can also earn through YouTube ads and affiliate links on the platform.
What equipment do I really need to start?
Start with a quiet room and a decent USB microphone (like the Audio-Technica AT2020), headphones, and Zoom for recording remote guests. If you want better sound, add an audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett 2i2), a mic arm, and a pop filter. You don’t need pro gear to start, but modest upgrades improve quality. Download my free getting started checklist for all my tips on starting a podcast.
Can I do everything myself without a podcast manager?
Yes, many podcasters do everything themselves, especially early on. The trade-off is time. If editing and promotion take you away from revenue-generating activities, hiring a manager makes sense. Managers can handle editing, uploading, and clip extraction, saving you hours each week.
What should I include in my guest application form?
Include full name, contact info, social handles, headshot, a short bio, topics they want to talk about, links they’d like you to promote, a headshot and availability. The more information upfront, the less back-and-forth you’ll need later.
Closing — your next steps
If you’re ready to start or scale your podcast, here are a few actionable next steps I recommend:
Create a simple guest form (Google Form or a form on your site) to capture names, bios, headshots, and topics.
Pick a consistent publishing day and commit to at least 12 weeks of episodes to test consistency.
Batch record 2–4 episodes per recording session to build a buffer.
Repurpose every episode into at least seven social posts using templates.
Track conversions from podcast listeners to email signups — this is the key metric for monetization.
If you can, hire a podcast manager to handle editing and clip extraction so you can focus on content and audience growth.
If you want my podcast checklist or the guest application template I use, DM me — I’m happy to share resources and help you figure out how much money can you make podcasting for your unique show. Podcasting changed the way I show up online, and with a few consistent systems, it can do the same for you.
Episode References
Ready, Set, Podcast! Your Step-by-Step Checklist to Launch Your Podcast Quickly & Confidently - https://www.brittanymillersocials.ca/podcastchecklist
*This post contains affiliate links
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00:00 Intro
1:15 How to find guests for your podcast
6:21 Creating a personal or podcast brand
7:50 Tips for batch recording your episodes
10:00 How to prep for your episodes
12:55 What recording options or equipment you could upgrade to
14:30 Defining podcast management
18:55 Marketing your podcast to grow your audience
26:00 The reason you want to be a podcast guest
27:40 Let's make money! Monetizing your podcast
36:20 Timeframes
42:30 Pinterest for podcasts
45:00 Wrap up













































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