If your B2B podcast is “performing well,” there’s a good chance you’re measuring the wrong thing. Download numbers feel important. They’re easy to report. They look reassuring on a slide. But they rarely tell you whether your podcast is actually influencing anything. I’m Neal Veglio, and in this episode of B2B Podcasting Insights, I’m unpacking why download numbers are such a comforting distraction — and how they quietly pull B2B podcasts away from doing useful work. I also share a simple reframe that helps teams stop obsessing over reach and start thinking about influence — including the early signs that your podcast is making sales conversations easier, even if the numbers look modest. There’s a listener question from a managing director asking what a podcast is meant to do that a strong sales team doesn’t — and why the answer has nothing to do with audience size. If your podcast gets downloads but still leaves prospects confused, unconvinced, or starting from zero on sales calls, this episode will help you see why — and what to pay attention to instead. Useful links Podknows Website https://podknows.co.uk B2B Podcast Growth Diagnostic https://podknows.co.uk/diagnostic Podcast Audits https://podknows.co.uk/audits Timestamped summary 00:00 Why download numbers feel important 01:10 What a podcast download actually tells you 02:30 Why downloads are such a comforting lie 03:50 How numbers push podcasts into bad behaviour 05:20 Why influence beats reach every time 06:30 The metrics most B2B podcasts ignore 07:40 Listener question: what’s the podcast’s job vs sales? 09:10 Using podcasts to shape thinking before the sales call 10:00 Why downloads are a starting point, not proof Mentioned in this episode: Learn More About Podknows Podcasting We're at https://podknows.co.uk/