Distinguishing between “listeners” and “downloads” is key for accurately assessing your podcast’s performance. While “downloads” reflect the total distribution of your content files, “listeners” estimate the number of unique individuals engaging with your content. Essentially, downloads track how many times your episode files are requested, whereas listeners aim to count the unique people downloading those files. Both metrics are valuable for different insights into your audience reach and engagement levels. It’s important to consider both to obtain a comprehensive view of your podcast’s performance.