Local woman’s podcast hits 100 million downloads

The number of podcast downloads is an oft-used measurement of success, and a Tampa Bay mom helping women increase their sense of calm and happiness just reached a very high number.

A global audience has downloaded Katie Krimitsos’ Women’s Meditation Network 100 million times in less than five years. Making the feat more remarkable: She achieved the momentous milestone from a closet.

According to thepodcasthost.com, just 5,097 downloads would put someone in the top 1% of hosts. Krimitsos found that only .1% of around 3 million podcasts reach 100 million downloads.

“The vision has grown,” added Krimitsos. “My team has grown, my ability to make an impact has grown – and it just feels really exciting. Very humbling, too. I can’t believe these many people are actually listening and getting value.”

Krimitsos launched her podcast in July 2018 after giving birth to her second daughter. She wanted to positively impact the world, and after some self-introspection and discussion with her husband, she decided that promoting meditation – “a beautiful tool” – was the best way to achieve that goal.

Katie Krimitsos and her two daughters inside her unique studio.

The mother of two young children found her closet a safe and peaceful place to work at home. Despite exponential growth and a team of 17, she still utilizes that space to help increase calm and happiness and reduce anxiety for millions of women.

Krimitsos feels a “deep sense of pride” for her impact and her ability to grow a team who is now contributing its gifts to the vision.

“It’s such a combination of all these emotions,” Krimitsos said.

She hit 40 million downloads in February 2022, a significant benchmark after four years.

She previously called the pandemic a tipping point in terms of listenership. However, she added 60 million more in the last year. Krimitsos said that underscores the need for something to help women navigate an increasingly stressful world.

She also credited her ability to realize the company’s potential and will it to fruition. Krimitsos “sidestepped” qualms about substantially increasing her workload and instead “kept her eyes on the prize.”

While she still writes scripts and conducts voiceovers, Krimitsos has settled into her role as company CEO. Her “high-quality” team now handles much of the daily grind that accompanies creating 14 podcasts covering various niche topics and hundreds of monthly shows.

The Women’s Meditation Network is a family affair, and Krimitsos insisted that her husband, Chris, “is a marketing and growth genius.”

“He really is, and I have to credit him for doing this dance with me,” she added. “We’re constantly talking about the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ … and he’s constantly the guy with new ideas.”

Chris established Tampa-based Podfest in 2013 to bring people passionate about telling their stories together. It now holds a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance of a virtual podcasting conference.

While the husband-and-wife entrepreneurs live in Tampa, Krimitsos noted St. Petersburg’s Coffee Pot Bayou factors heavily into the podcasts’ success.

Katie and Chris (right) Krimitsos at Pass-a-Grille Beach, another inspirational area for the couple.

About four years ago, they adopted a tradition of utilizing relocated grandparents on weekend evenings for much-needed (and “magical”) date nights. The self-described nature-buffs start at Coffee Pot Park and walk around the area, and Krimitsos said it is no coincidence that the network’s growth soared in the years since.

“We’re business people together,” she said. “We’re like that corny couple – we’re constantly talking about the business and what could be because we’re not in the normal motion of the weekday grind. He and I both have this special place in our hearts for Coffee Pot and St. Pete, just for that reason.”

Krimitsos continues to focus on growing the Women’s Meditation Network brand and will launch a podcast devoted to moms Monday (May 1). She employs three other “guides” and looks forward to providing varying perspectives on motherhood.

She also recently started a podcast dedicated to women suffering from panic attacks. Targeting specific audiences is an ongoing focus.

Despite the success and shift to more of a CEO’s mentality, Krimitsos and her team of “beautiful human beings” still view each show as “these little pieces of love and light that go out into the world.”

“And our world feels really dark sometimes,” Krimitsos added. “If I can do more of that, I’m doing really good work.”

Krimitsos and her team will celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and the extraordinary milestone with friends and other podcasters May 3 at Tampa’s Embarc Collective co-working hub. While her “little poems” and network have helped women worldwide, it is also making an impact at home.

“I love that my girls see me this way,” Krimitsos said. “They know mom writes meditations … but they get to see mom build this company.”

Katie Krimitsos (center) with daughters Sedonia (right),7, and Savannah, 4.