This is that vicious Catch-22. You want to become popular but in order to become popular you have to be popular enough to be seen as popular to media sources. That's just not gonna happen unless you already have a massive audience. People don't care if you wrote a book. People care if Stephen King wrote a book. (well, at least I do.)
What we tell clients is, if they want to be successful as a writer and we think they've got what it takes, get an agent. It's their job to put you in the spotlight and to get you marketed correctly, and of course, you can help them by mastering social media strategies. The other important thing you'll want to do - legitimize your writing skills. Enter contests, start locally, and then expand out to nationally. One you start winning some awards, you gain plenty of notice.
While podcasts might seem like a good idea, again you run into the same problem: podcasters are trying to make money too. AND they have to announce upcoming shows. Which show will people listen to, one featuring Stephen King's book...or yours? So you're stuck probably with minor podcasters or Youtubers for the time being, with less than 1,000 viewers or so.
Hmm...the original post really should have gone to the writers' section.