How to Build A Podcast That Works | Jake Doberenz

2 Apr 2026 · 41 min
Episode

2 Apr 2026 · 41 min

0:00

In this episode of The Profitable Creative, host Christian Brim interviews Jake Doberenz, founder of Theophany Media, about building podcasts that serve mission‑driven and nonprofit clients. Jake explains the origin of the name "Theophany" (Greek for a divine appearance) and how his company evolved from creating its own sponsored content and membership models to consulting and producing podcasts for religious, nonprofit, and other mission‑focused organizations. He details the unique budgeting constraints and decision‑making layers in nonprofits, emphasizing the need to reframe success from download numbers to tangible outcomes like donor engagement and community building. Jake outlines how different podcast goals—fundraising, community awareness, or revenue generation—require distinct formats and strategies, such as featuring donors on the show, using solo episodes, or leveraging long‑form storytelling to create parasocial relationships. He discusses monetization tactics, including sponsorships, selling community assets, and the value of a loyal audience. Promotion advice covers paid advertising, targeting podcast‑listening audiences, and timing campaigns around plateaus (e.g., the 100‑episode mark). The conversation also touches on the host’s own challenges balancing tactical advice with strategic mindset, the importance of LinkedIn, newsletters, and direct outreach for audience growth, and an ad read by Delaina Ely about S‑Corp benefits for creative entrepreneurs. Throughout, Jake stresses that community is the core asset of any podcast and that authentic storytelling can be leveraged for good.

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