Ingredients that Make People Binge Your Podcast

Alright, so if you’re a podcaster looking to snag more listeners and get them hooked on your back catalog, then buckle up, because we’re diving into binge triggers straight outta the Netflix playbook. We’re breaking down three juicy strategies that can keep your audience glued to their headphones, even after they’ve finished your latest episode. Plus, we’ve got a heartwarming “because of my podcast” story from Ray Arnott that’ll make you believe in the magic of podcasting. So, if you're tired of people tuning in and then bouncing faster than a bad date, stick around. We’re gonna make your podcast the one they're bingeing on next!

1. Open Loops (Brain Gaps)

What It Is:

An open loop is an unresolved element in your content—a question, mystery, or ongoing storyline that the listener subconsciously wants resolved. This is a storytelling technique borrowed from TV and movies: cliffhangers, subplots, or even hints about future developments that drive people to keep watching (or listening) to find out what happens next.

Examples from the Episode:

1. uses TV examples like Will Trent and Tracker:

"There's a problem at the beginning of the episode… and 50 minutes later, give or take, the problem is solved. … On occasion they'll do a two-parter with a cliffhanger." (01:39)

1. In Will Trent, the ongoing subplot about the main character being disliked and saving a dog (an adaptation of the “save the cat” storytelling trope) gets the audience rooting for him, creating emotional investment through an open loop about his relationships and backstory.

"You have this underlying story that's going through the whole thing, and I believe that's why we are binging content." (13:11)

1. In podcasts, an open loop could be as simple as starting a story in one episode and promising to finish it later, or introducing a mystery or a question (“Did James ever fix his solar panels?”) that’s answered in a later episode.

How To Use:

1. Tease questions (“Next week, I’ll reveal the results…”)
2. Continue a personal story arc across episodes
3. Dangle small mysteries (“I opened the door and only saw one of the three things I was looking for…”) (
4. Share journey updates that listeners want closure or progress on

2. Teasers & Episode Structure

What It Is:

Tease content before and after episodes to contextualize your podcast for new and returning listeners. By referencing what was discussed in previous episodes and previewing what’s coming next, you build a web of episodes that feel interconnected—just like "Next Episode" buttons on streaming platforms encourage more watching.

Examples from the Episode:

1. highlights Harry Duran’s approach:

"He introduces his show… 'If you missed last week's episode, we talked to so-and-so about such and such…' On today's show, we're talking with so-and-so. … At the end of the show… he knows what the next episode is. … You now have 3 ideas of what this show is about." (08:28)

1. The benefit is, if listeners hear a recap of a past episode or a preview of the next, they’re incentivized to explore your other episodes—bingeing your back catalog.

How To Use:

1. At the start: preview what’s happening in the current episode and what listeners missed if they haven’t heard recent content
2. At the end: teaser for the next episode (e.g., “Next week, I’m talking to…”)
3. Mention popular or related episodes (“Check out our past episode on…”)
4. Structure your season thematically, so every episode contributes to a bigger picture (e.g., a season all about podcast hardware invites listeners to hear the whole set)

3. Ongoing Initiatives & Personal Journeys

What It Is:

Maintain a continuous, real-life thread running through your podcast—such as a personal project, journey, or community initiative—which encourages listeners to check back for updates and stay invested in your progress over time.

Examples from the Episode:

1. I talk about his “How to Pitch a Podcast” project:

“I've been talking about the How to Pitch a Podcast project… I'm not launching the show until I get 20 stories. … It’s an ongoing initiative that people are like, oh, you know, and you might be kind of involved with like, oh, I really want to see this show take off.” (10:23)

1. He references Joanna Penn’s podcast chronicling her journey to become an independent author—listeners followed along as she learned, failed, and eventually succeeded, creating long-term engagement and rooting interest.
2. Many shows use “journey” approaches where listeners are encouraged to follow a process or transformation over time (fitness challenges, entrepreneurial launches, etc.).

How To Use:

1. Start a project or challenge and give periodic updates (“I’m launching X, here’s what happened this week…”)
2. Share personal development arcs—what you’re learning, obstacles, and milestones
3. Invite audience participation (“I need 20 submissions from you before the project goes live!”)

In summary:

1. Open loops hook listeners by leaving threads unresolved, making them want to continue and find closure.
2. Teasers and structured episode links make every episode a gateway to others in your catalog, increasing binge potential.
3. Ongoing initiatives or journeys build sustained interest by making listeners part of your process and progress.

These strategies ensure listeners don’t just drop in for a single episode—they feel compelled to stick around, binge, and become loyal fans.

Becuase of My Podcast: Ray Arnott

Ray Arnott from the Around the Layout Show (model trains) has been on the show before, and today Ray shares how a listener from Australia is paying for Ray's tripe to come to a model train meetup in Australia!

Links referenced in this episode:

1. schoolofpodcasting.com
2. pitchapodcast.com
3. aroundthelayout.com
4. podcastjunkies.com
5. newmediashow.com
6. Pet Davidson on Jimmy Fallon
7. Joe Rogan with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
8. Save the Cat Book
9. Ray Arnott on the School of Podcasting (on finding Sponsors/Partners)

Mentioned in this episode:

Question of the Month: The Smallest Amount of Downloads

We all want a bigger audience. We all put a lot of work into our shows. With this in mind, what is the smallest amount of downloads you would do the show for? If it drops below a number would you stop, or put effort into finding out why? Does the size of your audience matter? Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question by August 28th (and don't forget to say a little bit about your show and your website address so I can link to it in the notes)

School of Podcasting

Live Appearances

I love to meet people when I'm on the road. I'm going to be at Empowered Podcasting Conference in Charlotte NC Podcast Movement in NYC Podindy in Indianapolis In. For more information and links, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where To have me speak at your event, reach out at schoolofpodcasting.com/contacnt

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