Episode 128

full
Published on:

3rd Jun 2026

Studies Show Filler Words Impact Listener Engagement

Do filler words matter?

Tom Hanson found several key findings from research and industry data that shows filler words do matter!

"Episodes with >4 filler words per minute saw 18–22% higher drop-off rate in the first 10 minutes compared to “clean” episodes" according to a Riverside listener study.

How can you and I use this knowledge to convince potential clients that it's worth paying us to remove filler words?

We discuss the impact of filler words on the success of podcasts in this episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind Show.

👉 Stick around to the end for the post-production process Steve used to get excited about editing this interview.

Key moments:

  • The perception of editing out fillers has changed
  • Research on the Impact of Filler Words in Podcasts
  • Convincing Clients to Pay for Editing

Resources mentioned in the show:

About Tom Hanson:

Tom started KNVP Studios in 2014 and has offering his services in the professional television, film and audio/video business for over 30 years.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, with a minor in Audio Recording and Music Synthesis and has worked with the biggest studios in the world such as MGM, Sony Pictures, MTV, and HBO, and countless others in state-of-the-art facilities.

Tom also created "Audiocore Edit Assist", which is a service that creates marker files for Audition, Reaper, Hindenburg, and Audacity: https://www.knvpstudios.com/audiocore

__________________________

Chapters:

(00:00) Stay to the End for Post-production Processes

(01:43) Has Editing Fillers Changed?

(08:01) Research on Filler Words

(12:46) Editors Are More Sensitive to Fillers

(15:32) Convincing Clients to Pay for Editing

(20:04) How Audiocore Edit Assist Works

(23:20) How This Episode Was Edited Differently

(26:41) Send me YOUR Workflow Process!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Podcast Editor Academy

Get access to Steve Stewart's 35+ years of small business experience and decade of learning inside the Podcast Editor Academy - PLUS: -Weekly Challenges via email -Windshield University with our Private Podcast -Office Hours

Podcast Editor Academy



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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About the Podcast

Podcast Editors Mastermind
For Podcast Editors, by Podcast Editors
Do you like podcast editing? Are you a Podcast Editor or want to be a Podcast Editor?

This is the show for you. It's for Podcast Editors, by Podcast Editors.

We mastermind topics with your peers, industry leaders, and talk about podcast editing as a career or serious side-hustle.

Follow the show, get involved in the Podcast Editors Club Facebook group, and stay in touch with the latest events and news through the newsletter at https://www.PodcastEditorAcademy.com/newsletter.
When you're ready, consider joining us in the Podcast Editor Academy!

About your hosts

Steve Stewart

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Steve has been editing professionally since 2016 and founded the Podcast Editors Club Facebook community.
He also co-founded the Podcast Editor Academy - which helps individuals build their own podcast services business. When he's not online talking about editing podcasts, you'll find him staring out his home office window at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado.

Mark Deal

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Mark is a nationally recognized expert and local leader in Podcasting. He serves as the Organizer of Podcast Atlanta, the Founder of Podcast Guest Academy, and leads various communities in the podcasting industry. His primary focus is showing people how to take their podcast guest appearances from boring to soaring with measurable impact.

Jennifer Longworth

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Bourbon Barrel Podcasting was founded in 2019 when Jennifer Longworth, with 14 years of audio editing experience, decided to get serious about editing podcasts for Central Kentuckians. Jennifer edits podcasts for established podcasters and helps new podcasters get started with the basics.

Carrie Caulfield Arick

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Carrie Caulfield Arick is a nerd for sound, stories, and listening. She’s learned from and worked with the industry’s best producers in her role as writer, editor and sound designer. Carrie is a co-founder of the femxle podcast post-production community, Just Busters and co-host of Podcast Editors Mastermind. Oh, and she likes cats… a lot.

Daniel Abendroth

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Hi, I’m Daniel and my podcast editing services will make your podcasts sound smooth and professional, while saving you time and money.