The Hidden Reason Your Podcast Isn’t Growing (It’s Not Marketing) with Dan Misener | Ep 85
Wed Feb 04 2026
Here’s why most podcasters are measuring the wrong thing, and what to track instead.
Dan Misener is one of the most respected voices in podcast analytics and audience development. Dan, co-founder of Bumper, has spent years helping publishers, networks, and brands understand real listener behavior.
In this episode, Dan breaks down why downloads are becoming less meaningful, what loyalty data actually tells you, and how podcasters can finally understand whether their editorial and marketing decisions are working.
If you’ve ever felt confused by your numbers, stuck in a plateau, or unsure what’s really driving growth… this episode will completely change how you see your audience.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-Why ALV (Average Lifetime Value) is the clearest measure of listener loyalty, and how it reveals what your audience is actually doing with your show
-Why downloads are a broken metric, how auto-download changes inflated numbers for years, and why the industry still relies on a flawed system
-Why publishing more episodes rarely fixes growth problems, and how overproduction can accelerate silent churn
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show?
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it truly helps more creators discover Mics to Millions!
📈 Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting?
See how PodWritten can help:
https://podwritten.com/services/
https://podwritten.com/
🎁 Grab your free guide:
Get booked as a podcast guest in 4 weeks
https://podwritten.com/links/
💡 More resources:
Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/
Connect with Dan Misener:
Website (Bumper): https://wearebumper.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmisener/
💌 Questions or want to say hey?
Reach us at sam@podwritten.com
More
Here’s why most podcasters are measuring the wrong thing, and what to track instead. Dan Misener is one of the most respected voices in podcast analytics and audience development. Dan, co-founder of Bumper, has spent years helping publishers, networks, and brands understand real listener behavior. In this episode, Dan breaks down why downloads are becoming less meaningful, what loyalty data actually tells you, and how podcasters can finally understand whether their editorial and marketing decisions are working. If you’ve ever felt confused by your numbers, stuck in a plateau, or unsure what’s really driving growth… this episode will completely change how you see your audience. In this episode, you’ll learn: -Why ALV (Average Lifetime Value) is the clearest measure of listener loyalty, and how it reveals what your audience is actually doing with your show -Why downloads are a broken metric, how auto-download changes inflated numbers for years, and why the industry still relies on a flawed system -Why publishing more episodes rarely fixes growth problems, and how overproduction can accelerate silent churn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it truly helps more creators discover Mics to Millions! 📈 Want to grow your visibility through podcast guesting? See how PodWritten can help: https://podwritten.com/services/ https://podwritten.com/ 🎁 Grab your free guide: Get booked as a podcast guest in 4 weeks https://podwritten.com/links/ 💡 More resources: Blog: https://podwritten.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwritten/ Connect with Dan Misener: Website (Bumper): https://wearebumper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmisener/ 💌 Questions or want to say hey? Reach us at sam@podwritten.com