What Podcast Analytics Actually Matter?
Are you measuring the right things—or just chasing vanity metrics?
In this episode of Profitcast, Seth Silvers and The Real Brian take a deep dive into podcast analytics: what they used to be, how they’ve evolved, and what you should really be tracking in 2025. Whether you’re podcasting for fun, growth, or business ROI, this conversation will help you shift away from outdated metrics like downloads and into more actionable data that drives smart decisions.
Learn how to track actual audience size, completion rates, 7-day performance, platform trends, and how to use data to meaningfully improve your show’s performance.
Topics explored in this episode:
(00:00) What data actually matters in podcasting?
(01:26) The history of analytics in podcasting
(04:02) Why downloads are incomplete (and still useful)
(06:54) Shift your mindset: from downloads to audience
(10:55) Tracking behavior-changing metrics
(12:46) The 3 types of podcast data to track
(17:40) Why data without insight leads to wasted time
(21:33) Why you should analyze performance at 7 days
(25:19) Monthly data vs. real-time insight
(28:15) Retention rates and 60-second drop-offs
(30:07) Using analytics to adjust intros, pacing, and episode length
(31:59) The big question: Why?
Thanks for listening to Profitcast! For more tools to grow your podcast, check out BusinessPodcastRoadmap.com —a free resource we update monthly with everything we’re learning about successful podcasting for businesses.
Thanks for joining us on Profitcast! If you’re serious about growing and monetizing your podcast, reach out to The Real Brian and Seth Silvers to learn more.
Seth Silvers:
The Real Brian:
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00:00 - What data actually matters in podcasting?
01:26 - The history of analytics in podcasting
04:02 - Why downloads are incomplete (and still useful)
06:54 - Shift your mindset: from downloads to audience
10:55 - Tracking behavior-changing metrics
12:46 - The 3 types of podcast data to track
17:40 - Why data without insight leads to wasted time
21:33 - Why you should analyze performance at 7 days
25:19 - Monthly data vs. real-time insight
30:07 - Using analytics to adjust intros, pacing, and episode length
31:59 - The big question: Why?
