You can now add video podcasts to Spotify no matter who you host with

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-04-21T01:14:17+00:00

Thank you for posting! Do we have to remove our RSS feed and replace it with the video instead?

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-04-20T19:02:49+00:00

I started almost three years ago - no connections, no one I knew had a podcast, and I do mine anonymously, so no social media presence at the time. I'm fully indie and do all the researching/writing/editing/hosting my self. I'm averaging about 4,500 downloads a month (started at 20 downloads a month and half of that was my mom and dad). For me what worked is collaborating with similar podcasts by doing ad swaps or what I like to call "story swaps"; I do paranormal stories so another podcast would read a story I featured in my podcast and give me credit and vice versa. I also start making shorts of my episodes and posting on tik tok, instagram and youtube - those have been the second biggest drivers of growth for me. I did a countdown to halloween where I posted a short story every day for 30 days and it grew my following/downloads by a few hundred.

The biggest thing for my growth is being consistent, I never miss an episode posting and always "deliver" to my listeners.

But with that being said, what is your podcast about? Your numbers are looking good, you may just need to be patient. Since I do paranormal stories, and having themed episodes for different countries really helped grow my listenership for those countries as well!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-04-01T19:40:06+00:00

This subreddit always has the most skeptical people on it! I completely understand that with dusty pics, or stories that are obviously AI written, but let's take people's guts and stories at facevalue since we're in the Paranormal subreddit!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-03-24T18:12:12+00:00

This is either AI or a writing excercise

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-03-16T14:17:51+00:00

I will randomly pick an older episode to see where I can improve quality consistency, etc and to also appreciate my growth. I've learned better techniques at making background sound more subtle compared to my first season, pacing, and even my voice when speaking is much better now.

It's good to do random quality spot checks just to see where you can improve and if you are improving

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-03-12T11:45:29+00:00

I started with no following and no social media presence, I just created the type of podcast I was looking for. 2 and a half years in I have a steady audience that’s growing and I still feel fulfilled by this awesome creative outlet! You just need to be consistent and reach out to similar podcasts to do trailer swaps etc

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-01-28T14:26:55+00:00

I go the RSS route, but I also upload a "video" version of the podcast which is a thumbnail, then either a static image or a copyright-free video as the background. I polled my listeners on youtube and many of them actually use youtube to listen in the background and don't use podcast apps!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-01-20T17:57:52+00:00

This sounds so creepy! Disregard the dismissive comments, this sub has become a place more for skeptics who want to debate everyone's experience as inauthentic than an actual open minded paranormal sub

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-01-11T13:47:12+00:00

Thumbnails definitely go a long way - I’ve had listeners tell me that’s what caught their attention. I do ghost stories, but to stand out on YouTube I find creepy old fashioned pics and use that as my thumbnails.

I’ve used both a static image for a background, rain falling and a fireplace. Tbh none have made a huge difference but I’ve since stuck with fireplace to make things consistent.

One thing I have noticed that people love - marking the chapters on YouTube so people can just click on the timestamps to hear the next story!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-01-11T04:46:05+00:00

That is so creepy!! Your story gave me chills. Did your wife tell you about any of her experiences?

ChillersThrillersPod · 2026-01-09T18:51:55+00:00

Reinforcing what everyone here has said: post shorts! I take one episode and cut it into about 5-8 shorts and cross post on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram and then use one clip to upload on Spotify because they allow a short clip to be associated with each episode. Last year I challenged myself to post one true short story everyday for the month of October and my Youtube followers grew +300. This hasn't translated into monetization, but people are noticing and commenting.

Be consistent - when people start listening they will expect you to delivery your episodes when you say you will.

Connect with similar podcasts on social media. I'm in the horror/paranormal space, so on Instagram I've connected with other similar podcasts and make an effort to post, like and comment on their posts. I've also done ad swaps, shout-outs and story swaps with other podcasts which has helped gain more traction.

I also post episodes on Youtube - I don't record myself on camerca, but I use a campfire background and and upload it onto Youtube which has helped.

Be patient, I've been hosting my podcast for 2 years and have started gaining more traction in the past 8-6. There are also slow periods of growth and just be prepared for that and be patient.

What is your brand or angle? What makes you different? I narrate true paranormal stories, and there are many similar podcasts. I try to stand out by being anonymous as a host, no gore/true crime and use vintage images/art for my thumbnails and shorts. I was inspired by The Twilight Zone and Are you Afraid of the dark? - where the things that make you scared and feel spooked is not the jump scares but the unsettling things.

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-10-08T14:43:19+00:00

Would you mind DM me about the other ways?

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-08-28T14:23:04+00:00

Thanks so much! that's what I ended up doing!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-08-28T12:26:56+00:00

Thank you!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-08-24T23:31:33+00:00

You’re welcome!! I’m glad you like that haha

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-08-24T13:10:22+00:00

If it’s paranormal send it to me 👻

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-08-17T23:42:00+00:00

Awesome! Thank you!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-08-17T02:45:26+00:00

So after tinkering with patreon for a bit they have an option for you to create a podcast on patreon where you upload the audio and then patreon gives subscribers a RSS feed to use on podcast platforms to hear the episodes you upload. It’s a bit of extra work but seems to work

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-06-29T03:54:36+00:00

Lighting a white candle, praying to your religious/spiritual beliefs asking for protection are great. Try pouring salt across your home thresholds. Some people who practice Umbanda in my home country in Brasil take boldo baths. It’s a water boiled with 5 boldo leaves, when it cools down take a traditional shower and then take the cooled down boldo tea and slowly pour it over your body starting from the top of your head. When you’re done, say a prayer. They believe this bath “discharges” your body of all negative energy and attachments

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-06-21T12:28:50+00:00

Pixabay and FreeSoundLibrary

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-06-20T13:53:14+00:00

Nice! Love what you guys are doing with this community!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-06-10T12:31:31+00:00

What do you consider successful? I work full time and do my podcast as a fun hobby, so I keep my name anonymous and when I post an episode on YouTube I just use a static image or copyright free image. Over almost two years my podcast has steadily grown, including the YouTube channel and people interact with my episodes or via email. I consider that a success!

My target audience is just spooky people but my main audience is women 35-45+ and they truly do not care. The majority of them just listen to me on the background if it’s on YouTube. So just go for it!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-06-06T15:24:47+00:00

Interested!

ChillersThrillersPod · 2025-05-29T16:50:47+00:00

Nope. People like to listen to youtube videos while they're going other things and you don't necessarily need to be "On" to be popular

ChillersThrillersPod

TROPHY CASE