267 | ChatGPT Doesn't Know How to Grow Your Podcast (Neither Does Claude)

In this episode of Grow the Show, host Kev Michael delivers a powerful critique of AI-generated podcast growth advice, arguing that tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini provide dangerously misleading recommendations. Drawing from eight years of experience growing over 500 podcasts and 30 million downloads, Kev demonstrates how AI systems—trained on flawed conventional wisdom—often promote ineffective strategies like clipping episodes, niche-downing, SEO optimization, and relying on guest sharing. He debunks each myth, explaining why consistency isn't a strategy, clips are gravy not growth fuel, and guest sharing is a myth. Instead, he emphasizes that real growth comes from proven, data-backed frameworks focused on packaging, audience positioning, and leveraging platforms like YouTube through collabs and name recognition. Kev reveals that AI’s advice is only as good as the data it’s trained on—and that data is overwhelmingly wrong because most podcasters fail. The solution? Train AI on your own proven methodology, not generic advice. He invites listeners to join a live workshop to build their own private AI podcast producer trained on his eight-year framework and real-world results. Key takeaways include: 1) AI tools don’t know how to grow podcasts out of the box—they reflect flawed public consensus; 2) The most popular growth tactics (clips, SEO, consistency) are often table stakes or distractions; 3) Real growth comes from strategic packaging, audience specificity, and leveraging high-profile guests via YouTube collabs; 4) You must train AI on your own proven data and frameworks to unlock its true power; 5) Avoid relying on stock AI advice—seek experts with real results, not just theory. The episode ends with a call to action to join Kev’s upcoming workshop to build a personalized AI producer.