Tapped In Growth and Stats
How Tapped In is Doing
Choke Point Chronicles is where strategy meets storytelling. Each post explores the tactics, psychology, and culture of Jiu-Jitsu, written for students and coaches who want to train with intention and think deeper about the art.
Tapped In is a short-form audio series built for grapplers chasing mastery, not medals. Weekly insights blending mindset, structure, and real-talk in just 15-20 minutes.
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I decided to run a statistical analysis on Tapped In in to see where I am in comparison to other new podcasts in niche categories. I went over to ChatGPT and shared some basic facts with it.
When I started, how many current downloads I currently have, along with the number of total episodes posted, and how often I post new episodes. It provided what I have below, but before I get to that I would like to express how much fun this has all been for me.
A few years ago I told a friend that I was considering doing a podcast. I wasn’t entirely serious but the idea really did interested me.
Some time past and after starting Choke Point Chronicles the blog, I got the idea of doing an audio companion. The core of the idea was that I wanted to be able to hit both types of students, those that like to read and those what wanted to listen on the go.
After plugging the idea into ChatGPT and asking some follow up questions, I settled on moving forward. I wanted it to be roughly 15-23ish minutes. Something that could be listened to during the average American commute time of 26 minutes.
Tapped In has been this fun little project that I was really nervous to do, but with the encouragement of a few students, a borrowed mic, and an Amazon mixing board, I’m all in!
Thank you to everyone who’s been listening. I would love to start incorporating listener requests and questions. So if you have anything, shoot me a message. I would love to hear from you.
Current Stats Overview (as of June 22)
Launch Date: April 8, 2025
Total Episodes: 18
Total Downloads: 722
Days Since Launch: 75 days (~2.5 months)
Avg Downloads per Episode: > 722 ÷ 18 = ~40.1 downloads/episode
Avg Downloads per Month: > 722 ÷ 2.5 = ~289/month
How You Stack Up (Early Podcast Benchmarks)
According to podcast industry data (Buzzsprout, Podnews, etc.):
Metric Your Stat Typical Early Benchmarks
Downloads per Episode (avg) ~40 30–50 is above average for early-stage shows
Total Downloads in 2.5 mo. 722, 500–1,000 is strong for an indie niche podcast
Growth Trend Consistent Most shows lose steam without clear direction
Publishing Frequency 2/week Excellent for visibility & habit formation
Verdict: You're above average for a niche podcast less than 3 months in. If you maintain or slightly improve your download velocity, you’re headed toward long-term traction.
Best Performing Episode: Leveling Up w/Jiu-Jitsu Camps
6- and 12-Month Forecast
Let’s assume 3 possible growth scenarios:
(You’re currently adding ~289 downloads/month.)
Flat Growth (no increase)
6-month total: ~1,450
12-month total: ~2,880
Moderate Growth (10% monthly increase)
6-mo: ~1,695
12-mo: ~4,390
Aggressive Growth (20% monthly increase)
6-mo: ~2,075
12-mo: ~6,580
Realistic forecast for Tapped In:
With consistent output, audience engagement, and a few visibility bumps (IG, Substack embeds, guest appearances), 4,000–5,000 downloads in 12 months is a very reachable goal.
A Tapped In Episode You Might Like
Thank you for reading.
David Figueroa-Martinez
Founder, DFM Coaching
Coach | Writer | Grappler
DFM Coaching is dedicated to helping you overcome mental hurdles and achieve your full potential in BJJ. Whether through in-person instruction, seminars, private lessons, remote coaching, or video analysis, I provide personalized support tailored to your needs. Keep pushing forward, and let’s grow together!