This is the hard truth when it comes to growing your podcast:

"You've got to be better than your competition"

Your podcast has to be so good that listeners will:

1. choose your podcast over other options
2. like it so much they share it with a friend

https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/xciarj/comment/io6n75l/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3