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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker - founder of Studio 1878 - breaks down how to measure podcast success in ways that actually matter.
Too often, brands treat podcast analytics like ad campaign data, chasing downloads and impressions that don’t reflect real impact. Ed explains why defining your why comes before defining your KPIs - and how to use metrics that align with your show’s purpose.
You’ll learn which core health metrics to track (like completion rate, retention, and returning listeners), when to introduce advanced measures (like purchase attribution and brand lift), and how to tell a clear story with your data when reporting results to leadership.
Ed also shares how often you should review metrics, why quarterly reviews reveal more meaningful trends, and how a data-driven narrative can help secure long-term buy-in for your podcast.
Next episode: How to Turn Your Podcast Into a Content Engine - extending your show’s reach without losing story integrity.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Measuring Podcast Success
00:46 -The Problem with Traditional Podcast Metrics
01:42 - Define Your Why Before Your KPIs
02:25 - Core Health Metrics That Matter
03:52 - Advanced Metrics for Mature Shows
06:06 - Turning Data Into a Story
07:13 - Measurement Cadence
07:47 - Wrap-Up & Next Episode Preview
Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive - and then a VC - Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎
A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story.
Contact
Web: www.1878.studio
Email: hello@1878.studio
Mobile: 425-520-3483
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
