Pedro has published 68 episodes of Rides to Success — a podcast at the intersection of cycling, business, and purpose.

But like many solo hosts, he's buried under the workload, chasing perfection, and unsure if it’s moving the needle.

This episode is part podcast therapy, part strategy session.

It’s for any podcaster who’s deep into the journey… but realises something needs to change.

Expect clarity on:

→ What to double down on

→ What to ditch

→ How to reclaim 15+ hours per episode

→ And why community may be the true north

00:00 – Introducing Rides to Success

→ Pedro shares how cycling became more than transport — and how that mission shaped his podcast

02:44 – The Spark Behind the Mic

→ Podcasting as a path to deep conversations and personal connection — and the burnout that comes with doing it all

05:41 – Redefining Success

→ Pedro's version of “success” isn’t fame or fortune — it’s being able to call up the CEO of Specialized for a meaningful chat. This part hits home for mission-driven creators.

08:47 – The Revenue Debate

→ When should monetisation start? Pedro shares his long view — and Kevin challenges it with a dose of strategic urgency

11:46 – The Perfection Trap

→ A powerful section on marginal gains vs paralysis.

Pedro’s chasing 1% improvements — but is it costing him 100% of his energy?

14:26 – What Listeners Actually Do After an Episode

→ Kevin and Pedro dissect Pedro’s CTAs — where they’re placed, how they’re phrased, and why most of them aren’t working

17:25 – Structuring Conversations with Purpose

→ Pedro reveals his current episode flow and prep — and Kevin shows how a few key adjustments could radically improve retention

19:57 – Rewriting the Growth Plan

→ Share → Subscribe → Review isn't enough.

Kevin introduces the exponential power of asking one listener to share with two people — and why it works

25:07 – Building a Real Community

→ Pedro talks about moving from podcast to platform — and Kevin pushes him to try low-lift, high-impact experiments like guest-led group rides and mailing list ownership

28:54 – Why the Guest Network is a Goldmine

→ Pedro admits he rarely asks past guests for referrals. Kevin shows how to turn that missed opportunity into a pipeline with one automated email

30:27 – Slashing Production Time by 75%

→ Pedro currently spends 15–20 hours per episode. By the end of this section, you’ll understand how to cut that to 4

35:07 – The Video Question

→ Pedro’s all in on video — but should he be? This segment explores whether it’s adding value… or just adding stress

42:32 – Avoiding Burnout, Finding Joy Again

→ A candid closing section on how passion can turn to pressure — and why doing less might be the real way forward

So many podcasters burn out — not because they’re bad at it, but because their systems can’t keep up.

In this episode, Kevin and Lev walk through how to audit your podcast like a business:

→ Where time is leaking

→ What to automate

→ What to ditch

→ And how to know when you’re doing “busy work” instead of the work that matters

The result is a leaner, lighter process that’s easier to sustain — and easier to grow from.

00:00 – Start with the Mental Audit

→ The first thing most podcasters skip — but shouldn’t.

This quick mindset shift sets the tone for your whole production process.

03:00 – Align Daily Actions to Long-Term Strategy

→ Why setting aside structured time is more powerful than hustling in bursts.

A system you can actually stick to.

05:40 – Balance vs Burnout

→ How to enjoy podcasting and protect your energy.

Includes permission to step back, and a smarter way to think about your production rhythm.

08:31 – Common Myths (That Still Trip People Up)

→ “Just hit record and they will come.”

→ “Social media = growth.”

→ “Downloads = success.”

Nope. This section re-centres the podcaster on what actually moves the needle.

11:46 – Use AI Where It Saves You Time

→ The test: does it save time, make money, or improve quality?

If not, it’s a shiny toy.

14:29 – How to Repurpose Without the Overwhelm

→ Shortform clips that actually work

→ Patreon and paid extras that require almost no extra effort

→ Guesting as a form of free content creation

17:45 – Audio Quality Fixes You Can Do Today (For Free)

→ Lev drops pro tips on improving sound with Audacity and raw WAV files

→ No expensive gear required

20:29 – Why Niche + Consistency = Sustainability

→ Not every listener needs to stay — just the right ones

→ Building your voice for a high-attention audience

This isn’t a beginner podcaster story.

It’s for those who already have traction — but want alignment.

Zanna brings 56 episodes of momentum into The Podcasters Lab to refine the mechanics behind her trusted podcast on customer experience (CX).

We focus on structure, clarity, and conversion — without losing heart.

00:00 – Intro to Customer Experience Transformation

→ Zanna explains why CX isn’t just a niche — it’s a movement.

A strong opening for listeners who care about making business more human.

03:03 – The Journey to Podcasting

→ Zanna shares how podcasting became her most effective channel for trust-building.

Relatable for founders juggling content formats.

06:03 – Engagement and Listener Feedback

→ How she knows the podcast is working — and what feedback actually matters.

This section quietly debunks the myth that you need a flood of comments to know you're resonating.

08:46 – Structuring Effective Calls to Action

→ We break down her current CTA strategy and why it’s almost doing the job — plus what to shift.

A must-listen for anyone unsure whether their call to action is too passive or too busy.

11:59 – Target Audience and Format Shifts

→ Where deep expertise can risk alienating new listeners — and how Zanna’s tweaking her intro to keep both ends of the spectrum.

This is tactical, smart positioning.

14:57 – Defining Success and Future Growth

→ We talk about metrics that aren’t downloads — and what Zanna uses instead.

Great reframe for mission-driven podcasters who want more meaningful data.

17:30 – Promoting the Podcast Authentically

→ What’s working for Zanna in terms of marketing — and where she feels the most friction.

This is all about aligned growth, not hustle.

18:33 – Newsletter Strategy Fixes

→ We spot a subtle point of friction: her newsletter’s structure.

You’ll hear how we flipped it to invite curiosity and engagement.

22:22 – CTA Placement and Episode Flow

→ A mini teardown of her episode format — and where a small shift in pacing could change listener behaviour.

26:08 – Outreach and Relationship-Based Growth

→ Zanna explains how genuine outreach (not just promotion) has helped grow the show.

For podcasters tired of chasing metrics.

30:13 – Wrapping with Strategic Clarity

→ Final reflections on alignment, community, and sustainable momentum.