Build a Business Podcast That Actually Works: Lessons From Vince Quinn of SBX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Profitable Creative, hosted by Christian Brim. In this conversation, Christian sits down with Vince Quinn of SBX Productions to unpack what most people get wrong about podcasting, especially when the podcast is meant to serve a business, not chase sponsorships.

If you have a podcast (or you are thinking about launching one) and you feel like you are doing all the work without getting clear results, this episode is a reality check and a roadmap.

Vince Quinn’s path: From sports radio to building podcasts for businesses

Vince spent ten years in sports talk radio, eventually becoming a nationally syndicated host. But he saw the writing on the wall. As listening habits shifted and the future of radio looked uncertain, he made a bet on podcasting.

That bet came with pressure. He left a rare opportunity behind to build something new, with limited business experience and a whole lot to learn fast.

Vince’s early experience in the podcast space started in a studio model that offered recording and editing, but lacked strategy. It was a “rent the space, record the show, ship it out” approach. Over time, he realized the model was broken for the kinds of results businesses actually want.

That is where SBX began to take shape: not just production, but strategy, structure, and systems that help a business podcast generate real business outcomes.

The most common podcast misconception: Bigger audience equals success

Vince explains a mistake that traps a lot of podcasters early: obsessing over downloads, big audiences, and sponsorship revenue.

If you are building a podcast for your business, the goal is not the widest possible net. The goal is the right people. A niche audience that converts is more valuable than a large audience that does nothing.

This is one of the most important reframes in the episode. Businesses do not need a podcast that “goes viral.” They need a podcast that supports visibility, credibility, relationships, and sales.

Christian’s podcast origin story: Starting without a plan

Christian shares why he started his podcast in the first place. After publishing a book and guesting on other shows, he realized the conversations were not the ones he wanted to have. So he launched his own, outsourced the engineering, and began learning the rest in real time.

His goal was never sponsorships. The goal was visibility, credibility, and connection with other creatives and creative entrepreneurs. The podcast is meant to spotlight how people made money, what roadblocks they faced, and what they did to solve them.

That goal is solid. But Christian points out a frustration that many business podcasters share: the lack of a feedback loop.

You can see downloads rise, but you cannot always tell why. Was it the topic, the guest’s audience, the promotion, or something else? Without listener feedback, it can feel like you are guessing.

The host matters more than the guest

One of Vince’s strongest points is simple and, for many creators, surprising: in most cases, your audience wants more of you than they want your guests.

Why?

Guests are often doing the same circuit on multiple shows. Listeners can find that guest in plenty of places. What they cannot get anywhere else is you, consistently delivering your point of view, your insights, and your perspective in a focused lane.

That does not mean guest episodes are bad. It means your show should not rely on guests to create value. Your voice is the differentiator.

Vince also highlights the difference between a real conversation and a rinse and repeat interview format. The more your show becomes a genuine exchange with strong perspective, the more it builds trust and loyalty.

The 100-episode mindset and why longevity matters

Christian brings up a common success benchmark he has heard: commit to 100 episodes before you judge the results.

Vince agrees with the principle, and adds more context. Real traction often takes time. In many cases, it takes years, not weeks. The podcast market is crowded, and growth is earned through consistency.

Longevity also builds trust. Listeners do not want to invest in a creator who disappears. Consistency signals that you are serious, and it reduces the friction listeners feel in trying to find someone new.

Narrowing the target: Who Vince serves now

Vince has refined SBX’s target market over time. Today, he focuses on coaches, consultants, and business owners who are the face of the business.

And he has narrowed it further: he primarily helps people who already have a podcast, but are frustrated because it is not delivering the results they expected.

That decision came from experience. Many shows die after a handful of episodes. If you build your business around “new podcasters,” you may never even reach them before they quit.

By focusing on established podcasters who want improvement, Vince gets better clients, better outcomes, and a clearer message.

The business side: Surprises, bookkeeping, and decision speed

Vince admits he had little business experience when he started. One of the biggest surprises was taxes and bookkeeping. That first tax season was a wake-up call, and one of the first major investments in the business was hiring a bookkeeper.

Christian ties this to a core business truth: accounting is the language of business. The numbers tell you what happened. If you do not understand the story, you cannot change it or repeat what worked.

They also talk about a major modern challenge for creative businesses: tool overload.

Subscriptions, platforms, new software, and shiny objects can crush margins. Vince makes the point that knowing your numbers improves your decision speed. If a tool helps you replace other tools, charge more, or deliver better results, it might be worth it. If not, it is distraction.

Editing is table stakes. Strategy is the real value.

Vince is blunt about something many people in podcasting need to hear: editing alone is not the business.

Editing is important, but it is table stakes. The real art of business podcasting is strategy, content development, positioning, and integrating the show into your business so it drives outcomes.

This is the same lesson Christian sees in his own industry: clients may not “value” the foundational work, but they cannot get the outcomes they want without it.

In podcasting, a polished episode does not matter if the show is not speaking to the right people, solving the right problems, and connecting to a business goal.

A practical habit: Quarterly evaluations

Vince shares a simple practice that helps him and his business partner stay aligned: quarterly business evaluations.

Every three months, they block a full day to review what is working, what is not, what they want to prioritize next, and how the show supports the business.

This matters because many podcasters never stop to evaluate. They just keep publishing. A structured review forces clarity, and clarity drives better content and better business decisions.

The takeaway: Be intentional, not loud

This episode circles back to a theme that applies to every creative entrepreneur: clarity beats volume.

You do not need to do more. You need to do the right things on purpose.

For a business podcast, that means:

• Focus on the right audience, not the biggest audience
• Value the host’s voice, not just the guest list
• Commit long enough to earn trust and traction
• Connect the show to business outcomes, not vanity metrics
• Treat strategy as the product, not just editing

Now, do this!

Want more conversations like this that help you turn your passion into profit? Listen to The Profitable Creative here: https://www.coregroupus.com/the-profitable-creative.

‍