Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategies for Growing a Podcast That Converts

You’ve been told video podcasting will help more listeners find your show, and every platform is pushing it as the next big thing. But podcasters everywhere are finding out fast that adding video only equals longer recording days, more time spent editing, and still seeing the same downloads week after week.  Bryan Fittin (founder of GoRogue Studios) is breaking down why video podcasting requires m...

Making money from a podcast isn’t about hitting a certain number of listeners, because if your podcast isn’t built to turn attention into action, more downloads won’t fix the problem. But the good news is, this isn’t about working harder or publishing more. It’s about fixing what happens after someone hits play so your listeners click, sign up, and buy instead of listening and leaving. I’ll show y...

When your podcast isn’t making the money you expected, it’s easy to assume you just need more listeners. So you focus on growing your audience to fix it. But when the podcast doesn’t grow (or it grows but doesn’t convert) you’re right back where you started, wondering if you’re doing something wrong or if podcasting just doesn’t work.  The reason this keeps happening is because growing your audien...

Most podcasts don’t make money. Not because they don’t have listeners, but because they’re missing the four pieces that turn listener attention into revenue. Kevin Chemidlin (founder of Grow The Show) is breaking down the podcasting mistakes that keep your listeners from ever becoming buyers, why trying to monetize your podcast too early can actually limit how much it makes, and what needs to be i...

In podcasting, there’s a saying: “If you build it, nothing will happen.” Most hosts learn this the hard way, but the upside is that podcast growth problems usually aren’t random. They’re patterns. Kevin Chemidlin (founder of Grow The Show) is breaking down the two biggest reasons podcasts fail to grow, why publishing more episodes doesn’t automatically create loyal listeners, and the subtle podcas...

Most podcasting advice still teaches hosts to grow their shows like it’s 2019. But podcasting has changed, listener behavior has changed, and what worked a few years ago won't work today when growing a podcast.  I’m joined by Alex Sanfilippo, Vinnie Potestivo, and Joe Casabona for an honest conversation about where podcasting is headed, why so many independent podcasts struggle to get discove...

If you’ve ever questioned whether you should keep podcasting after a mistake or setback, you’re not alone. But you might also be surprised to find that your podcasting mistakes could be the thing that’s making listeners trust you more. In fact, Spotify exec and fellow podcaster Corey Kareem says that your podcasting mistakes are actually one of your biggest advantages as a host, and he's brea...

Spotify is finally giving podcasters insights into listener behavior we couldn’t see before, and Spotify exec Corey Kareem is going behind-the-scenes to show you the latest tools Spotify for Creators is rolling out. We’re breaking down new features like short-form video clips for podcast discoverability, audience insights that go beyond basic downloads, and what these new analytics reveal about ho...

Thinking about quitting your podcast? You’re not alone. PodLaunch Accelerator grad Kathryn Thompson is sharing how launching a podcast became the turning point for a business she almost walked away from. We’re unpacking why podcasting became the one marketing channel Kathryn actually wanted to keep showing up for, the support strategy that makes weekly podcasting sustainable, and why long-form pod...

Great podcasts still get bad reviews. And the more your podcast grows, the more likely it is that someone will leave you a review that makes you wonder if you should be podcasting at all. I’m breaking down what negative podcast reviews actually reveal about your audience, why people leave them in the first place, and the surprisingly simple way podcast ratings work on Apple and Spotify (including...

Most podcasters have no idea whether their content is actually leading listeners toward a sale or training them to consume for free and leave. Jeremy Enns is breaking down how to create episodes that naturally move listeners toward your offers without making your podcast feel like one long sales pitch. We’re unpacking the biggest mistake hosts make when trying to “provide value,” how to align your...

Starting a podcast is easier than ever. But growing one? That’s a whole different ballgame in today's crowded podcasting landscape. Jeremy Enns is here to break down why podcasts with “good content” often plateau at 28 downloads an episode, what makes listeners recommend one show over another, and the hidden ways most podcasters accidentally make their podcast forgettable (and how to avoid it...

If you build it, they won’t come. This is the hard truth most podcasters realize after publishing episode after episode and wondering why their audience still isn’t growing. I’m breaking down why great content alone isn’t enough for growing a podcast anymore, the 2 biggest drivers of podcast growth today, and how to use your Spotify analytics to pinpoint exactly where listeners are dropping off (o...

Think you’ve tried everything to grow your podcast? Emmy Award-winning media advisor Vinnie Potestivo is sharing 4 unconventional podcast growth strategies most hosts completely overlook. From fixing hidden distribution mistakes that limit your visibility to using platforms like IMDb and LinkedIn to get discovered, Vinnie reveals how to position your podcast so the right listeners naturally find i...

If you’ve ever asked listeners to follow your show, ask a question, or leave a review and gotten complete silence back, there’s a reason most podcast audiences stay passive. Pat Cheung, creator of FanList , is breaking down why listener engagement matters more than most podcasters realize (especially for smaller shows), what keeps listeners from taking action, and the subtle in-episode podcasting...

After 300 podcast episodes and 5 years behind the mic, I can confirm with confidence that the industry’s favorite podcasting advice won't grow your show.  I'm sharing the biggest lessons I’ve learned about what keeps listeners coming back, the one thing your podcast needs if you want it to stand out, and the podcasting mistakes that make your show easier to ignore no matter how “consiste...

When it comes to growing a podcast, the common advice tells you to do more: guest on dozens of shows, post daily on social, run ads. But what if doing less could actually get you faster growth? In this episode, we’re debunking outdated podcasting advice that’s slowing your progress (without you realizing it) and I’ll reveal what I’m *not* doing to grow my podcast — and how cutting back has led to...

If you’ve been putting off starting a podcast because you're not sure it’ll actually move the needle for your business, this one’s for you. Fellow podcast host and clinical psychologist Dr. Christine Li joins me to help you overcome the self-doubt, perfectionism, and procrastination that’s keeping you from getting started (hey, we’ve all been there). From building authority right from the sta...

In this episode, James Cridland, editor-in-chief of Podnews, is back with his bold predictions about where podcasting is headed — and how you can stay ahead of the curve. We’re unpacking why downloads might not hold the top spot as the industry’s gold standard for much longer, YouTube’s growing role in podcast discovery (and its limitations), and how AI is adding convenience but not the creativity...

In this episode, I’m joined by James Cridland from Podnews to explore the biggest changes shaking up the podcasting industry right now. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been podcasting for years, James shares insights on what these shifts mean for your show and how to navigate them to stay ahead. From the rise of niche podcasts to why video might not be as essential as you think, you’...

If your podcast isn't showing up in search results on platforms like Apple and Spotify, your competitors are capturing the listeners you’re missing out on. In this episode, you'll learn how to uncover the exact keywords your competitors are using, pinpoint the best ones for your show, and craft a podcast SEO strategy that helps your show stand out and get discovered by new listeners ever...

What if you knew how to make your podcast pop up in the top five search results on Apple or Spotify?  In this episode, I’m showing you how to do it with an underdog discoverability strategy that’s quietly changing the game for podcasters. You’ll learn how to find the right keywords and use them to dominate search results — so you can get your show in front of the listeners already searching for a...

Worried your podcast idea is too niche, or that maybe your ideal audience doesn’t really listen to podcasts? Those might just be the signs you need to take the leap. In this episode, I’m joined by fellow podcast host Laura Brazan who launched a show in a niche that doesn’t typically listen to podcasts — and crushed it. Breaking into the Top 100 across the US, UK, and Australia, Laura shares how sh...

Your podcast description isn’t just a box to check — it’s the moment that makes or breaks whether someone scrolls past or hits play. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a real client audit to show you why her podcast description was causing listeners to overlook her show, the exact tweaks we made to fix it, and how to put listener psychology to work to create a description that gr...

If you’ve been obsessing over your podcast download numbers (or lack thereof?) this episode is for you. I’m back with Tom Rossi, co-founder of Buzzsprout, and we’re diving deep into how we should really be measuring podcast success. Spoiler: it’s not just about downloads. Tom shares why the industry’s hyper-focus on numbers can steal the joy of podcasting and the mental shift that will completely...