What does it look like to make your podcast the cornerstone of your business instead of an afterthought? Today, I’m sitting down with Kylee Chandler—podcast strategist, growth expert, and creator of the Podcast Growth Toolkit. Kylee has spent nearly a decade helping shows like Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield and Don’t Keep Your Day Job with Kathy Heller grow to millions of downloads. She knows what it takes to build a show that doesn’t just get listens—it builds a business. We talk about what it really means to build a life-first business around your podcast, why the “saturated podcast market” is a total myth, and how to turn your episodes into lead-generating, revenue-driving systems. Kylee shares the method she uses to create podcast-first funnels, how she’s built her own show from the ground up, and what trends to watch for in 2026. Whether you’re launching your first show or ready to grow strategically, this conversation will help you rethink what’s possible when you lead with connection, consistency, and purpose. Today you’ll hear: 02:05 – How Kylee and I define a “life-first business” and what it looks like in practice 04:40 – The boundaries and structure that helped Kylee build her business from day one 07:15 – Why the podcasting space isn’t too crowded—and what the numbers really say 09:20 – When a podcast becomes more than just content: the connection that drives growth 12:10 – How networking through your show can create unexpected relationships and opportunities 15:00 – What it actually looks like to build a business without relying on social media 18:25 – The system I use to turn one podcast episode into 17+ pieces of content every week 19:58 – Inside Kylee’s Podcast-First Funnel and how to repurpose your top-performing episodes 23:40 – 2026 podcast trends: bundles, newsletters, SEO, and authenticity over automation 27:20 – How “hand-raise” emails are creating real engagement and personal connection 30:05 – Why monetizing your own offers is the new wave of podcast growth 32:00 – The one mistake new podcasters make and how to avoid it 33:15 – Why batching content creates better flow and more profitable episodes 35:00 – The business tools we both swear by for organization and growth 36:50 – How motherhood shapes our approach to entrepreneurship and freedom CONNECT WITH KYLEE: Website: Www.podcastmarketinghub.com Instagram: @kyleejchandler FREE Resources: Podcast Project Management Training: podcastmarketinghub.com/holly Podcast Growth Toolkit: http://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/toolkit 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🌟 Explore Intensives → www.hollymariehaynes.com/intensive 🎧 Anti-Social School™ → www.hollymariehaynes.com/antisocial 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 💬 Loved this episode? Comment below with your biggest takeaway, share it with a business friend, and don’t forget to screenshot and tag me so I can cheer you on!
