What Makes a Good Podcast (And Why You Can't Stop Listening)?

You ever listen to a podcast and feel like they crawled inside your brain, read your group texts, and then said, "Hey girl, here's exactly what you needed to hear today"? Yeah. Same. And then other times... you're six minutes in, still stuck in the host's life story about their dog and you're like, "Please, I beg you, get to the point."

So what makes a good podcast? Like a can't-stop-won't-stop kind of good? I've been coaching and launching podcasts for ambitious leaders since 2019, and I've got receipts. The good ones? They all have a few things in common—and once you see it, you can't unsee it. Or unhear it.

Let's break it down. Real talk.

1. Talk to me, not to "you guys"
Mel Robbins is the queen of this. She uses "you" language like it's a love letter to your frontal lobe. It's personal. It's intimate. It feels like she's sitting across from you with coffee saying, "I know you're stuck, here's what worked for me." And that little shift? Massive impact. You're not the audience. You're the person. Use "you" and mean it.

2. Get to the damn point
The intro is prime real estate. Don’t waste it. You have about 7 seconds to convince someone to stick around. Tell them what they’ll walk away with. Don’t save the good stuff for the 20-minute mark. Be generous, be direct, and respect people’s time.

3. Catchphrases = Cultural Currency
"You’re a goddamn cheetah." You read that and already know it’s Glennon Doyle. Catchphrases are sticky. They give listeners something to hold onto, repeat, and share. Your big idea should be something people can say back to themselves in the shower or text to a friend. Make it portable.

4. Trust is earned, not assumed
You can have the fanciest mic and studio and still lose people if you sound like you're pitching instead of connecting. Think Armchair Expert or Diary of a CEO. There’s honesty. There's depth. There's an actual POV. Great podcasts don’t perform—they relate.

5. Give them a reason to talk about it
What makes a good podcast binge-worthy? It's the moment someone goes, "Wait, did you hear that part where..." and then tells five people. Want your show to grow? Create moments worth repeating.

6. Edit with love, not ego
Call Her Daddy didn’t blow up because it was raw and unedited. It blew up because it was raw and edited in a very specific way. Alex Cooper knew Gen Z attention spans needed tighter cuts, stronger pacing, and way less filler. It means you respect your listener's energy.

7. Have a point of view or get out of the feed
Look, if you're making a podcast hoping to please everyone, you’ll please no one. The best shows stand for something. They challenge. They offer perspective. Even Joe Rogan (whatever you think of him) has a clear lens and insane curiosity. People show up because they know what they’re getting: a specific point of view, not beige content.

Want to hear my full breakdown with analyses of all your favorite top podcasts including Jay Shetty, Hubermand Lab, SmartLess, Oprah, and more?

Listen Now: The Reinvention Room Podcast

If you’ve got a podcast or an idea that won’t leave you alone, here's your sign to take it seriously. Not just because it's fun (it is), but because it can change how people see you, connect with you, and trust you. That's the magic.

And if you're wondering how to make it actually work? Book a free clarity call with me at allisonhare.com/freecall. I'll help you turn that idea into a tight, bingeable, client-attracting machine.