7 Signs You’re Taking Your Podcast Too Seriously (and How To Fix It)

Is it possible that you’re taking your podcast too seriously?

If you’ve landed on this blog post, I’m guessing that you might be considering it. And if you weren’t 5 seconds ago, you are now.

In a world of podcasting, where podcasters love their shows and creating content for them, is is even possible to take your podcast show too seriously?

Is that even a thing?

Can you really take your podcast too seriously?

Honestly? Yes, you absolutely can.

In a previous episode of the podcast, we talked about how podcasting can be a hobby. It can be something you do purely for enjoyment. And yes, can is the keyword there, because for some people, podcasting is also part of a wider business strategy, a monetisation strategy, or a marketing tool.

But here’s the thing: whether your podcast is a hobby, a passion project, or part of your business, it still needs to be enjoyable. Because if you don’t enjoy creating the content you’re creating, it shows.

So what happens when podcasting stops being fun?

What happens when the thing you started because you enjoyed it begins to feel draining, stressful, or like another item on an already overloaded to‑do list?

That’s exactly what we’re unpacking here.

No matter how you’re using your podcast or what your end goal is, there’s something you can take away from this post as we walk through seven signs you might be taking your podcast too seriously, and how to fix it.

Because at the end of the day, if you don’t enjoy the format itself, it becomes very hard to justify continuing.

1. You’re Obsessing Over Tiny Editing Mistakes

Yes, audio quality matters.

We all know that decent audio quality is important.

People need to be able to hear what you’re saying, and your audience shouldn’t feel uncomfortable listening to your show. Nobody wants audio that sounds like it was recorded underwater, full of constant distractions or unbearable background noise.

But here’s the reality.

There are some very big podcasts out there (with very big budgets) that honestly (in my humble opinion) have terrible audio. And I mean really bad audio.

No, I’m not going to name names, but if those shows can grow huge audiences despite imperfect sound, there is no reason for you to scrutinise your own show down to the last millisecond.

Good audio quality doesn’t mean flawless audio quality.

Most podcasters are recording at dining room tables (ahem, me!), in bedrooms, or in shared spaces. They’re not recording in expensive studios with sound engineers, high‑end equipment, and perfectly treated rooms.

If you’re spending hours removing every breath, every tiny pause, and every minor background noise, there’s a good chance you’re losing something far more important in the process: your voice.

Listeners care about what you’re saying, not whether every single breath has been edited out.

Of course, we don’t want huge, distracting breaths or long, unnecessary silences. But your audience will absolutely forgive the odd breath sound or pause. Obsessing over microscopic editing details is often a sign that you’re taking your podcast far more seriously than your listeners ever will.

Related Post >> Should You Leave Your Pauses in Your Podcast Episodes?

2. You’re Pressuring Yourself to Publish on a Strict Schedule

The second sign is putting yourself under intense pressure to publish on a rigid schedule, especially if that schedule is stressing you out.

Sure, some podcasters like a strict schedule, but for others, having such a plan actually causes the exact opposite of organisation and leads to disorganised chaos and a show that they don’t want to turn up for.

Telling yourself “I must publish every single week, no matter what” can very quickly turn podcasting into a pressure cooker. And I’m guessing that’s not why you started your podcast.

Yes, consistency matters. Listeners like regular content. That part is true.

But if sticking to a strict schedule is draining you, exhausting you, or making you dread recording, that pressure is going to show up in your work.

For many podcasters, especially indie podcasters, everything falls on one person.

I’m a one‑woman show. I record, edit, publish, plan episodes, come up with ideas, and write scripts or bullet points. All. Of. It. Apart from a little help from AI for show notes, it’s just me.

I also have a full‑time job. I have kids. Real life is busy.

Burning yourself out just to hit an arbitrary publishing schedule isn’t sustainable. If you’re constantly stressed about getting episodes out on time, that’s a strong sign you’re taking your podcast too seriously and a sign that what you’re asking of yourself is more than is realistic.

Related Post >> Finding the Sweet Spot: How Often to Release Your Podcast Episodes

3. You’re Comparing Yourself to Full‑Time Creators or Big‑Budget Podcasts

Comparison is draining, and in podcasting, it’s also wildly unrealistic.

If you’re comparing yourself to podcasters who do this full‑time, who record in professional studios, who have editors, producers, and social media teams, you’re setting yourself up to feel inadequate.

I record this podcast at home, in my free time. For the specific episode linked at the top of this blog post (which this post is based on), I recorded it right at my dining room table with a MacBook and a $100 microphone. I’m not in a London studio with someone bringing me cups of tea and handling post‑production (although the thought of that is really nice).

But, is it my reality?

No.

And because it’s not my reality, it makes no sense for me to compare my output to podcasts and podcasters that are spending hundreds of pounds or dollars on studio time, editing, and promotion.

That comparison doesn’t motivate, it drains you and it sucks the fun out of podcasting.

If you’re constantly measuring your podcast against creators with vastly different resources, budgets, and time, that’s a clear sign you’re taking your podcast too seriously and forgetting the context you’re actually working in.

Related Post >> Podcasting on a Budget: How I Slashed My Podcasting Costs by 65%

4. You’re Over‑Planning Every Single Episode

Yes, you need a plan for your episodes.

That plan might be three bullet points scribbled on a post‑it note. Or, it might be a fully written script that you read word for word. Everyone plans differently, and all of those approaches are valid.

The problem comes when you over‑plan to the point of exhaustion.

If you sit down to record and you already feel drained before you’ve even hit record, that’s a sign you’ve taken planning too far.

Over‑planning kills spontaneity.

It strips away authenticity.

And it often results in episodes that feel rigid rather than natural.

Listeners want to feel like they’re listening to a real person, not a perfectly polished performance that’s been overworked to death. If planning your episodes is leaving you exhausted before you even start recording, it’s worth reassessing how seriously you’re taking the process.

5. You’re Spending Money to Fix Non‑Problems

This one shows up a lot in podcasting.

If your microphone works and sounds good, use it.

Spending more money on new equipment isn’t going to magically improve your podcast if you don’t actually need it, or if you don’t know how to use it properly.

It’s incredibly easy to fall into shiny object syndrome in podcasting. Jumping from one microphone to another. One system to another. One tool to another.

But here’s the truth.

Your audience isn’t showing up because of your microphone.

They’re showing up because of your content.

A $1,000 microphone is not going to bring you more listeners than a $500 microphone, or even a $50 microphone if the content stays the same. If you’re constantly trying to buy solutions to problems that don’t really exist, you’re probably overthinking your podcast and taking it far more seriously than necessary.

Related Post >> The Best Budget-Friendly Podcast Microphone for Beginners

6. You’re Scared to Try New Formats

There’s an important distinction here.

Not wanting to try a new format is not the same as being scared to try one.

For example, if you run a 60‑minute interview podcast, it might not make sense to suddenly switch to 10‑minute solo episodes. Equally, if your podcast is built around short, solo episodes, dropping a random hour‑and‑a‑half interview probably won’t resonate with your audience.

But that’s about format consistency, not fear.

The issue is when fear stops you from experimenting at all.

If you’re genuinely scared to tweak your format, try something slightly different, or test new ideas in any way, that fear often comes from taking the podcast too seriously.

Your podcast is your show, and it should allow you room to experiment. When fear shuts that down completely, it’s usually a sign that you’re putting yourself under too much pressure to create a ‘perfect’ show.

Related Post >> Why Your Podcast Format Matters More Than You Think

7. You’re Losing Enjoyment in the Process

This is the biggest sign of all.

If you’re sitting there thinking, “I can’t be bothered to record this,” or you open your editing software and feel drained before you’ve even done anything, that’s a problem.

So it’s therefore safe to say that when podcasting starts to feel like a chore rather than something you enjoy, it’s a strong indicator that you’re taking the whole process way too seriously.

In a previous blog post, we talked about getting out of a podcasting creative slump and covered a lot about losing enjoyment in recording and how to get that joy back.

If your podcast is a hobby, it should bring you joy.

And even if it’s part of your business, enjoyment still matters.

Because podcasting is all about being creative, right? And if you’re not enjoying the creative process, then it’s going to show in your content.

If you’re getting to the point (or maybe you’re already there), where you don’t enjoy anything about your show, it might be time to reevaluate. Whether that means revisiting your approach, taking a break, or simply easing the pressure you’ve placed on yourself.

Related Post >> 7 Tips to Get Out of a Podcasting Creative Slump

Conclusion

Podcasting should be fun. End of.

Whether you monetise it, use it as a business strategy, or treat it purely as a hobby, enjoyment has to be part of the equation.

If you’ve recognised yourself in any of these seven signs, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed with your show. It simply means it might be time to step back and reassess how much pressure you’re putting on yourself. Because, at the end of the day, if podcasting isn’t bringing you joy anymore, it’s worth asking why.