Avoid the Apodcalypse: Why ‘Sub-Audible Keyword Stuffing’ Is Killing Podcast Growth (and What to Do Instead)

In the crowded universe of podcasting, everyone’s chasing growth. But somewhere along the way, some creators took a wrong turn — right into the realm of sub-audible keyword stuffing.

From bloated show notes to SEO hacks whispered into AI-generated voices, a quiet collapse is underway. Call it the Apodcalypse — the slow death of genuine podcast discoverability at the hands of misguided growth tactics.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to go down with the ship.

What Is ‘Sub-Audible Keyword Stuffing’?

It’s not just stuffing keywords into your episode titles anymore. Creators are experimenting with:

• AI-generated transcripts packed with unnatural phrases

• Repetitive keywords buried in show notes or footer text

• Even rumors of keywords spoken quietly into episodes just for transcript SEO

All in the hope that Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google will magically surface their show.

Spoiler: it won’t work.

Why These Tactics Hurt More Than Help

Podcast platforms are smarter than you think. Here’s what happens when you try to game them:

• Spotify and Apple Podcasts prioritize engagement, not keyword density

• Listeners can tell when your descriptions feel robotic or stuffed

• Over-optimized content often gets ignored by actual search engines

• AI-written filler may sound fine, but says nothing of value — which hurts retention

Keyword stuffing is the equivalent of yelling “value!” 100 times instead of delivering it once. You’re not building a relationship; you’re gaming a system that doesn’t want to be gamed.

What Actually Works for Podcast SEO?

Here’s how smart podcasters are rising above the noise — without resorting to garbage tactics:

✅ Use Keywords, But Naturally

• Include a primary keyword in your episode title and description — once.

• Your first 2–3 lines of description are crucial. That’s what podcast apps preview.

• Speak like a human. Write for listeners first, search second.

✅ Post Full Transcripts (But Clean Ones)

• Transcripts can help you rank in Google — especially on your own site

• Clean them up. Use tools like Descript or Castmagic to make them readable

• Bonus: it makes your show more accessible and shareable

✅ Build a Podcast Website That Ranks

• If you’re not posting episodes on a website with structured show notes, you’re invisible to Google

• Use Podpage, Podcastpage.io, or your own WordPress site

• Add schema markup to let Google know it’s a podcast

✅ Submit to Niche Directories

• Most podcasters only hit Apple + Spotify

• Get discovered by submitting to ListenNotes, Podchaser, Goodpods, and niche directories in your topic area

Engagement Beats Optimization, Every Time

The podcast platforms aren’t dumb — they look at:

• Follows/subscribes

• Completion rates

• Shares and social activity

• Listener actions like “play next” or “save”

None of those things improve when your content is SEO noise.

You want listeners to finish episodes, not bounce because your title overpromised or your intro keyword-dumped them into a coma.

Tools That Help (Without Hurting Your Voice)

• Descript – for transcripts, soundbites, and clean copy

• Podcastle or Castmagic – to summarize and repurpose human-sounding notes

• Surfer SEO or ChatGPT (correctly prompted) – to get ideas, not replace your voice

• Yoast or RankMath – if you’re using WordPress, for on-page SEO guidance

Final Takeaway: Don’t Be the Podcast That Tried Too Hard

There’s no shortcut to connection.

You don’t need to whisper keywords into your mic or flood your show notes with filler. What you need is clarity, authenticity, and a little SEO hygiene.

Treat every word — spoken or written — like it matters to a real human listener. Because it does.

And that’s how you grow a podcast that lasts.