If you’re struggling to grow your podcast this year, the problem likely isn’t your conversations. It’s how you’re positioning yourself online.
Most podcasters pour energy into creating great episodes, yet their promotional content falls flat. The disconnect? They haven’t figured out which type of content creator they actually are. Understanding this distinction changes everything about how you attract listeners and build an audience.
Quinn from The Podcast Consultant recently broke down a framework that simplifies podcast promotion into three distinct categories. Whether you’re launching a new show or trying to breathe life into an existing one, this approach can transform your social media strategy from scattered to strategic.
Why Your Podcast Needs a Clear Identity
Here’s a question worth sitting with: Why does someone actually press “play” on your podcast?
Not what you hope the answer is. Not what you think it should be. Why would they really listen?
“Similar to social media when it comes to podcasting, most shows tend to fall into three distinct categories. You’re either inspiring your audience, you’re entertaining them, or you’re educating them.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
These three pillars aren’t just labels. They’re strategic positions that determine how you connect with potential listeners. None rank above the others, and plenty of successful shows blend multiple elements. But knowing which pillar anchors your content shapes every promotional decision you make.
Think of it this way: if you don’t understand what you’re offering, how can you expect algorithms or different audiences to figure it out?
Breaking Down the Three Content Pillars
Inspirational Content
Inspirational podcasts remind people why they’re chasing their goals. After listening, audiences feel more aligned with their purpose and confident in their path forward.
The show Retained Trust exemplifies this approach perfectly. Focusing on entrepreneurial journeys in the digital services space, it lights a fire under listeners. You finish an episode wanting to tackle your own business challenges.
If your audience walks away feeling a spark, feeling seen in their struggles, or believing their dreams are within reach, you’re operating in the inspirational space.
Entertainment Content
Entertainment doesn’t mean dumbing things down. It means making your content enjoyable to consume.
Animal Spirits nails this balance in the finance world. The hosts discuss markets and current events while taking playful jabs at each other. It’s like eavesdropping on smart friends grabbing drinks after work.
“People hang around because they’re learning, but they also hang around because they’re enjoying themselves. These types of shows tend to lean on cultural awareness and humor without dumbing anything down.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
When your content feels timely, relevant, and genuinely fun, you’ve found your entertainment footing.
Educational Content
Educational podcasts make people smarter. Period.
Patrick O’Shaughnessy’s Invest Like the Best has built a massive following on this foundation. Listeners tune in specifically to deepen their understanding of founders, markets, and investment strategies. Every episode sharpens their thinking. For podcasters interested in understanding their analytics, educational content often correlates with strong engagement metrics and listener retention.
If your audience consistently gains new knowledge or frameworks they can apply immediately, education is your wheelhouse.
Translating Your Podcast Pillar to Social Media
Here’s where strategy gets practical. Your podcast’s identity should directly inform your promotional content.
“A lot of content creators try to be everything all at once, and while it may seem like a good idea, it’s actually confusing the signals and the algorithms on who to attract and show your content to.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
The algorithms learn from patterns. When you post consistently within your pillar, platforms recognize who engages with your content and serve it to similar viewers. Scattershot approaches muddy those signals.
For educational content: Focus on explaining one idea clearly per post. Break down misconceptions or share a single framework. If someone needs multiple rewatches to understand your point, it’s probably too complex for a short clip. Your podcast editing software can help you isolate these teaching moments from longer episodes.
For inspirational content: Share reflections, emotional turning points, or personal lessons. People connecting with inspirational content want to feel something. They’re building a relationship with you as much as your ideas.
For entertainment content: Commentary on headlines, contrarian takes, and moments of humor earn attention. Entertainment content gets shared because it makes people react viscerally, whether that’s laughter or surprise.
Case Studies: Creators Who Master the Pillars
Alex Hormozi: Education Meets Inspiration
Hormozi leads with education, delivering clear frameworks in simple language. He respects your time while packing in value. But underneath that clarity sits an inspirational foundation: disciplined thinking and earned confidence.
“Clarity scales and Alex’s entire brand is built around it. He teaches you what you need to know and then lights a fire under you to go do something with that information.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
For podcasters, the lesson is straightforward. Find moments in your conversations where you explain something clearly enough that even a new listener would grasp it instantly. Add an inspirational element and you’ve got a powerful combination. This approach aligns well with building your podcast brand over time.
Kyla Scanlon: Entertainment as a Gateway
Kyla stops the scroll with humor, tone, and cultural awareness. Then she educates. The entertainment grabs attention; the education delivers value.
Her content isn’t polished to perfection. Reaction clips, commentary, and willingness to get silly have built her an enormous platform.
“The top of funnel discovery stuff you’re posting, it doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, the more you humanize it, the more it becomes relatable and people are more likely to want to connect with you.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
Podcasters often overthink promotional content. Sometimes the raw, human moments resonate most. If you’re repurposing your content, don’t be afraid to include the imperfect clips that show personality.
Naval Ravikant: Stillness Over Noise
Naval takes a completely different approach. Minimal production. Slow pacing. Deep, timeless ideas.
People share his content because it makes them pause and reflect. No chasing trends. No flashy editing. Just substance that compounds over time.
“Stillness can often outperform noise. Not everything needs to be chasing a moment and timeless ideas will always compound over time.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
For podcasters drowning in pressure to post constantly, Naval offers a counterpoint. Sometimes fewer, more meaningful pieces outperform a flood of forgettable content.
Building Your 2026 Content Framework
Ready to put this into action? Here’s the approach Quinn recommends:
Your podcast serves as the content foundation. First, understand which pillar best represents your show. Then build a top-of-funnel strategy that positions you consistently on social media. You’ll attract the right audience because the algorithms will understand exactly who to serve your content to.
You don’t have to pick just one pillar. Many successful creators blend elements. The key is choosing one to lead with. That primary identity anchors everything else. For those just starting out, our podcast launch guide covers foundational decisions that support this strategic approach.
But strategy only works when paired with quality.
“None of what I just said matters if you don’t have a high quality podcast, because all of the formats and content strategies and everything won’t really matter if you’re driving people to an end product that just isn’t that strong.” – Quinn McGraw, Producer at The Podcast Consultant
The best promotional framework in the world can’t save a mediocre show. Invest in your production quality first. Then amplify through strategic content distribution.
Take Action This Year
The podcasting landscape keeps evolving, but fundamentals remain constant. Know what you offer. Communicate it clearly. Attract the right people.
Whether you’re launching fresh or improving performance on an existing show, the three pillars framework provides a simple filter for every piece of content you create. Before posting, ask yourself: Is this educating, inspiring, or entertaining? Does it align with my primary pillar?
Consistent answers to those questions build momentum. Scattered answers build confusion.
Your podcast deserves an audience that genuinely connects with what you’re creating. The three pillars framework helps you find them.