Talking The Talk with Courtney Reimer

“Press record and publish.” That’s how simple podcasting can look from the outside. But sustaining a show over years, through hundreds of episodes, is a very different story. In this episode of Talking the Talk, Courtney sits down with veteran podcaster Katie Fogarty, host of the long-running midlife podcast, A Certain Age. Over the past five years, Katie has produced more than 270 episodes, interviewed bestselling authors and leading experts, and built a show that has evolved into both a thriving community and an unexpected business. But behind that success is a surprising amount of work. Katie pulls back the curtain on what podcasting really requires, from guest outreach and research to the promotion and systems that keep a weekly show running. She also shares the reality of sustaining creative work over the long term, including the fact that even experienced podcasters sometimes struggle to keep up with the cadence they once imagined. For anyone wondering what it actually takes to keep a podcast going, this conversation offers a candid and encouraging look behind the curtain. In this episode, we discuss: Why podcasting takes far more time than most people expect The hidden workload behind every episode How podcasting can create unexpected business opportunities Why sustainability matters more than perfect release schedules The systems and rhythms that help long-running shows survive How Katie built a loyal audience around midlife storytelling Follow Katie Fogarty Podcast: A Certain Age Instagram: A Certain Age Pod About the show Talking the Talk is a podcast about podcasting, hosted by Courtney Reimer, founder of Sounds Great Creative Podcast Strategy. Each episode pulls back the curtain on how podcasts are actually made, and how entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders can build shows that are strategic, sustainable, and worth the effort. Learn more at www.soundsgreatstrategy.com

Smart podcasters love being clever. They're really good at it. And that’s the problem. The same intelligence and wit that makes you a great host can also lead you to a podcast name that delights you, confuses everyone else, and, crucially, costs you valuable audience members. In this episode, I’m joined by podcast strategist Jason Cercone, who made a painful but strategic decision after nearly a decade: he rebranded his show from the name he loved to something radically clear. And he’s honest about what that original title may have cost him in traction. We talk about: Why clarity beats clever when attention is fractured and thumbs scroll fast The “sign above the door” test: can someone tell what your show is in a split second? How a name can fit your vibe but still fail the search and discovery reality of podcast apps Why taglines might not be helpful The branding choices that make shows blend in (and not in a good way) How to think about pivots without spiraling, especially when your show and business are evolving Monetization and ROI as useful datapoints If you’re naming a show right now, or if you’ve had the same name for years and something feels off, this episode is for you. Email me your show title (or your top two contenders) at courtney@soundsgreatstrategy.com. I’d love to hear what you’re building. Guest Jason Cercone is the host of Podcasting Strategy Simplified and founder of Bombtrack Media. He works with podcasters and business owners to build shows rooted in clarity, sustainability, and strategic growth. About the show Talking the Talk is a podcast about podcasting, hosted by Courtney Reimer, founder and principal strategist, Sounds Great Creative Podcast Strategy. To learn more, go to www.soundsgreatstrategy.com.

Nearly 350 billion emails are sent every day. The average click-through rate is about 2%. If you keep hearing you MUST have an email strategy, or you’ve ever poured your heart into a thought leadership newsletter and suspected it went directly t the spam folder, scooch in--I have another idea for you. I’m not here to trash email marketing. Lots of founders have built beautiful, high-performing businesses with newsletters at the center. But if emailing on the regular feels like squeezing into jeans that no longer fit, and giving literal voice to your ideas out loud feels like breathing, you're not alone. Inside this episode: Why inbox overwhelm is real, and screaming into the void is a justifiable pain point The refreshing alternative of podcasting as emerging, fertile, creative territory The parasocial magic of voice...flaws, mispronunciations, and all If you’re podcast-curious or podcasting-stalled, email me at courtney@soundsgreatstrategy.com. Tell me the one thing stopping you. I’ll help you think it through. About the show Talking the Talk is a podcast about podcasting, hosted by Courtney Reimer, founder of Sounds Great Creative Podcast Strategy. Learn more at www.soundsgreatstrategy.com.  

Podcasting is having an identity crisis. Audio used to be the point. Now the lines are blurring fast: YouTube is the biggest platform, “visualized” podcasts are everywhere, and clips are treated like the price of entry. So what’s actually happening here? Is video expanding podcasting…or quietly changing what made it magic? In this episode, I’m joined by Sasha Hamrogue, Group Digital Director at Onic, a network of radio stations in Ireland and Northern Ireland, where she oversees digital strategy and helped build Onic's podcasting arm. We get into the real tension behind the audio vs. video debate, including: Why discoverability in traditional podcast apps is still “abysmal,” and what creators have to do about it Why video can be vital for reach, even when audiences are mostly listening The gender and audience-behavior split Sasha is seeing in the data (and what it means for format decisions) Why “not all content deserves to be multi-platform,” and where video can dampen the experience The psychological cost of being knee-deep in the numbers Sasha’s favorite framing: audio as the ultimate imagination vehicle, and why intimacy is still podcasting’s superpower If you have strong feelings about video (pro, anti, or “it depends”), I want to hear from you. Email me at courtney@soundsgreatstrategy.com. Guest Sasha Hamrogue Group Digital Director, Onic (Ireland/Northern Ireland media giant) About the show Talking the Talk is a podcast about podcasting, hosted by Courtney Reimer.

After years making mic magic at MTV Radio, Audible, and Spotify, where she executive produced Meghan Markle’s Archetypes, Courtney Reimer is finally stepping behind the mic for herself. Talking the Talk explores what it really takes to build a podcast that lasts. From creative burnout to real ROI to avoiding pod fade, expect candid conversations with industry veterans and newcomers alike. Will Courtney follow her own advice? Let’s find out. Lessons learned. Wisdom earned. Smart podcast strategy.