The Secret Production Playbook Behind Australia’s Biggest Podcasts with Jess Smalley

What actually goes into producing some of Australia’s biggest podcasts? Jess Smalley has worked behind the scenes as a producer on Mark Bouris' Straight Talk and The Mentor, as well as Two Doting Dads with Matty J and Ash Wicks. After coming from the world of ABC and Triple J radio, Jess transitioned into podcasting and learned firsthand what it takes to build a show’s entire ecosystem from the ground up. From driving subscriber growth on YouTube to doubling Instagram followings and scaling TikTok accounts from scratch, she knows how to turn a simple audio recording into a full-scale brand. If you are a founder or creator looking to use podcasting as a tool to build your personal brand, grow a loyal community, or scale your business, this episode dives into the production strategies, clipping frameworks, and audience-first mindsets that make top-tier shows actually work. We chat about: 🎙️What a podcast producer actually does behind the scenes 🎙️How Mark Bouris built an ecosystem around his flagship podcast 🎙️Why 60% of your time should be spent in pre-production 🎙️The truth about scripts versus briefing documents 🎙️How to build an entire brand world beyond just clipping podcast episodes You’ll hear: 00:00 - What a podcast producer actually does 06:21 - Building the Mark Bouris show ecosystem ( The Mentor & Straight Talk ) 15:18 - Pre-interviewing high-profile guests 19:59 - Scripts vs. briefing documents: How to prep for an interview 28:44 - Format experimentation and recurring segments with Two Doting Dads 41:20 - The single question every founder must ask before starting a show 53:14 - Pre-planning social clips before you hit record 59:30 - World-building outside the studio through skits and socials 01:07:35 - Are podcasts becoming the new version of TV? 01:13:40 - The most effective channels and underrated tactics for podcast growth Connect with Jess over at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-smalley/ or https://www.instagram.com/jess_smalley Loved this episode? Learn from Spotify’s Creator Partnerships Manager for AUZ Jordyn Christensen on Apple, Spotify or Youtube - https://youtu.be/OcQs3r_XoLw Have a guest you want to hear from? Question you want answered? Send me a DM over at www.instagram.com/alyciachapman_ or https://www.instagram.com/howdoipodcast Watch the podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowDoIPodcast