Why 10 People in a Room Can Grow Your Podcast More Than 10,000 Views

What if growing your podcast has less to do with getting more views and more to do with meeting the people who already live down the street?

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Stephen "DJ Strick" Strickland spent 13 years in radio learning the value of showing up for his community. Now he's using those lessons to help podcasters and creators build meaningful connections beyond the screen.

Strick joins us this week to share why small audiences deserve more attention, how he built the Birmingham Podcasters Collective, and what it takes to organize your first local event. We also discuss turning online followers into real-world relationships, growing a community from scratch, and why you shouldn't underestimate your influence right where you live.

Key PointsTen people showing up in person can be more valuable than thousands of passive online views.Start building your audience locally instead of comparing your beginning to someone else's established success.Small towns have opportunities, too. Start with five or ten people at a library or another local gathering place.Encourage attendees to bring a friend to help your community grow organically.Use a Facebook group to connect local creators, promote events, and keep conversations going afterward.Event registrations don't always translate into attendance. A strong local connection can make a big difference in who actually shows up.Understand your event costs, break-even point, and financial risks before committing to a venue.Focus on making people feel seen and heard rather than treating every interaction as a potential sale.Lean into your strengths, and don't be afraid to bring someone else in to help with hosting or speaking.

Resources-------------Connect with DJ Strick

DJ Strick's Links: https://strick.bio.link

Shows and Resources Mentioned

Ecamm's Creator Camp 2026 Recap on the Stream Show

Superfans by Pat Flynn

David Shands Podcast Summit

Connect with Zac Brown