Episode 274 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Episode 274

0:17 - How to Hit Pause Without Anyone Noticing
1:23 - Why Batching Isn’t Always the Answer
9:02 - How to Keep Your Audience Engaged Without Creating More
16:24 - How to Take a Longer Break Without Losing Listeners
18:50 - Is a Seasonal Format Right for Your Podcast?
17:01 - Think Netflix, But for Podcasting

The Right & Wrong Way to Take a Break From Your Podcast

(and how to hit pause without losing your listeners)

We're diving into a rather taboo topic in the podcasting world: taking a break from your podcast. Gasp! Yup, we're going there. Whether life has thrown you an unexpected curveball or you’re just creatively burned out, I’ll show you how to take a podcast break without losing your listeners or the momentum you’ve worked hard to build. Because as podcasters, we're not immune to needing a breather now and then. But here's the catch — your audience is expecting you to show up, just like you expect your morning news anchors to deliver (come hell or high water).

So whether you need a 90-day breather or a longer pause, how do you step away while staying top-of-mind with your audience, more importantly, without losing the listeners you’ve worked so hard to gain? Let’s break this down:

Why Batching Isn’t Always the Answer

Batching content seems like the obvious go-to, right? You record a ton of episodes in one sitting, schedule them out, and voilà—your podcast runs like a well-oiled machine while you sip margaritas on a beach. But here's the thing: batching isn’t a magic fix.

Sure, it can help you survive a busy season, like that one summer when my son was too young to go to camp (oh, the quiet I did not have). I batched like crazy, but here’s where batching can backfire:

If you’re creatively burnt out, the last thing you want to do is force yourself to crank out more episodes. That’s not a solution for burnout. And batching too far in advance? If you’re just going through the motions so you can hit "publish,” it can create this weird disconnect. You won’t be connected to the process of creating, and your listeners—who are way more intuitive than you think—will feel that shift in energy. It’s like when you can tell a show’s been pre-recorded and edited to death. It doesn’t hit the same.

So while batching can be a tool in your podcast host's arsenal, it's not always the best one for the job. So use it strategically.

How to Keep Your Audience Engaged Without Creating More

So, if batching isn’t the magic bullet, what about repurposing? Well, yes and no.

Sure, if you’ve been podcasting for a while, you’ve likely got some episodes that were listener favorites. You could re-release those — just like TV networks do with reruns — and guess what? They still rack up the views. But here's the thing: just re-running old content won’t cut it if you're not doing it strategically.

The real question is, how can you keep your show going in a way that genuinely serves your listeners without piling on the work for you? Let’s talk options:

• Release Highlight Episodes: A “highlight episode” is an episode that pulls together the best moments or key takeaways from past episodes, around one central theme. This gives listeners value in a new package.
  
  
• Rerun Previous Episodes: But do it with fresh intros and outros. That way, it feels less like a rerun and more like a *reintroduction* of your best content.
  
  
• Create a Listener Q&A Series around a central theme: It’s interactive, easier to produce, can be as long or as short as you like, and answers real questions your audience cares about.
  
  
• Create a Bite-Sized Episode Series: When I batched strategically, that one summer, I created a series of 5-10 minute teaching episodes that didn’t overwhelm me — or my listeners.
  
  
• Repurpose Segments From Your Courses or Programs (without giving everything away, of course): Pull out a valuable snippet, give some context around it, and boom — you’ve got a brand-new episode. (If combing through your course or program feels overwhelming, consider getting some help. Having your VA pull together a list of your best-performing episodes over the past year and key tips from your courses or programs that you can use to create quick but valuable episodes. It won’t cost you much, but will save you a lot of time.)
  
  
• Repurpose Interviews You’ve Done on Other Podcasts: It’s a great way to expose your audience to fresh perspectives and insights without the extra effort of creating something from scratch.
  
  
• Arrange for Guest Hosts to Create Content For You: I know, it might sound a little weird at first, but my friend Alex Sanfilippo does this brilliantly. He gets other experts to record episodes on topics his listeners care about—without him having to conduct an actual interview. The key? Set clear expectations and provide strict guidelines for your guest so the guest knows exactly what your audience needs and how to deliver it in a way that feels like your show. Done right, this is a genius way to lighten the load while still delivering value. Think about who in your niche could take over the mic. It keeps your podcast running and gives your audience a fresh perspective.
  

PRO TIP: If you're in a season where your content is flowing, consider recording a few evergreen episodes that can be released at any time. These ‘emergency episodes’ are perfect gap-fillers when life happens, whether it's a sick kid, a planned vacation, a random hurricane (oh wait, that’s just me down here in NOLA) or just the genuine need for a break.

Now, the key to using any or all of these strategies is to do it in a way that’s engaging. The moment you tell people, “Hey, I’m stepping back for 90 days, so enjoy this recycled content,” you’ve lost them. But when you package these properly, they’ll stay engaged.

The point is, it takes some strategy and planning, but anything that keeps your content rolling with minimal effort is a win. It keeps your feed active, reminds listeners of the value you provide, and can even attract new listeners who missed those gems the first time around.

How to Take a Longer Break Without Losing Listeners

Now, let’s say you’re not just stepping back for a couple of weeks—you’re staring down the need for a longer hiatus. (Cue the twilight zone music: this can feel scary.) But taking an extended break doesn’t have to mean losing momentum.

• First, be upfront with your listeners. Plan a structured hiatus and tell them exactly when you’ll be back. Think about how Netflix drops a season, then takes a break, and yet people are eagerly waiting for the next season. You can do the same with your podcast. Make your return date crystal clear and build anticipation around it. The key is to create genuine excitement for when you come back.
  
  
• During your break, keep the conversation going. Don’t disappear from your audience completely. Stay in touch through social media, your email list, or even a quick update episode to remind them you’re still around and planning to return. This keeps you on their radar, and the more you engage, the less likely they are to forget about you during your time off.
  
  
• Plan a strategic relaunch when you return. While you may still experience some listener attrition, a well-planned relaunch can significantly reduce it. We teach our clients many ways to do this, like engaging your audience with sneak peeks of what’s to come or inviting them to participate in shaping your next season through surveys or questions. This approach can help you build a sense of community and keep listeners invested in your journey.

The bottom line? Communication is key. Whether you’re taking a short or extended break, be clear with your audience. Let them know when you’ll be back, share reminders along the way, and build hype around your return. That way, when you do return, your audience will be ready and waiting.

Is a Seasonal Format Right for Your Podcast?

Speaking of Netflix, let’s talk about the idea of a seasonal format for your podcast. While it can act like a built-in break, it's not a fit for every show. Some successful podcasts drop their content in seasons (looking at you, true crime), and that approach can work for them when done correctly. But for business or expert podcasts, it just doesn’t translate well. These shows are more like morning news—listeners expect fresh content consistently, and they rely on you to deliver.

If you’re considering a seasonal format, think twice. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially for audiences that crave regular updates. The last thing you want is to leave your listeners wondering where you went. Instead of managing regular breaks this way, focus on maintaining your momentum and connection with your audience.

If you do choose to go the seasonal route, be sure to leave your audience wanting more. Open loops, create some suspense, and give them solid reasons to come back. But remember, don’t let the break drag on too long or listeners might assume your podcast has gone MIA. Your listeners should always know they can count on you for valuable insights, week after week — otherwise they’ll find other podcasts that can fill that gap instead.

Think Netflix, But for Podcasting

The main takeaway here is simple: your podcast doesn’t have to grind to a halt just because you need a break. Whether you’re repurposing old episodes, strategically batching content, or finding other ways to stay connected, the goal is to keep your feed active, your listeners engaged, and your momentum intact.

Think of it like Netflix—they may take breaks, but when they return, viewers are ready and waiting. You can create that same anticipation by being smart about how you manage your time away. Remember, maintaining trust with your audience is crucial, and that trust comes from consistently showing up, week after week.

So, next time you need to hit pause, keep in mind: there are plenty of ways to step back without stepping out completely. Take a breath, get creative, and explore how you can keep your podcast rolling without missing a beat. Your listeners will appreciate it — and they'll stick around.

And if you want more free advice on starting a podcast, growing your podcast, or turning more of your listeners into clients, hit the follow button for Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a new episode. 

Or if you’re ready to launch and/or scale your podcast and want our proven strategy to help you reach more new listeners and turn those listeners into leads and sales, book a free strategy call with our team to find out if you’re a fit for PodLaunch® — we’re here to help.

Up Next: 

……but what if you’ve already taken a break from your podcast and you want to bring it back? In the next episode, we’re talking about the flip side of this equation: how to make a bold comeback after hitting pause on your podcast. So if you're ready to find out whether you should start fresh with a new podcast, keep the old feed and rebrand it, or consider other important factors for relaunching or reviving your existing show, we’re breaking it all down in the next episode — so don’t miss it!