Building Engaged Communities: Insights from Nathalie Doremieux on Podcasting, Memberships, and Course Completion

In this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge chats with Nathalie Doremieux, Founder of The Membership Lab, about how to build truly engaged online communities through memberships, podcasts, and courses. With over 18 years of experience, Nathalie shares proven strategies for boosting course completion, building sustainable member relationships, and designing digital learning experiences that deliver real transformation.

Whether you're a course creator, podcaster, or coach, this conversation is packed with practical insights on what it takes to create communities that stick—and grow.

Creating Connection: Lessons from Pop Culture and Podcasting

Nathalie kicks off by drawing a surprising parallel between online communities and the hit reality show The Traitors. Just like the show, building trust and fostering consistent engagement are essential for keeping members connected and motivated. She shares how strong communication, support for diverse learning styles, and ongoing touchpoints can turn passive consumers into loyal, active participants.

For podcasters, Nathalie developed Podcast Lead Flow, a tool that helps turn listeners into leads by collecting meaningful audience feedback. Podcasters can embed AI-powered listener forms on episode pages, then use the responses to create personalized follow-ups that build real relationships.

Her advice? Don't just grow downloads—grow dialogue.

Why Online Courses Fail—and How to Turn That Around

According to Nathalie, only 3–5% of students complete online courses. The culprit? Lack of structure, support, and accountability. Today’s learners want more than content—they want community, feedback, and transformation.

She outlines a 3-part strategy to reverse this trend:

Track learner progress and use data to identify drop-off points.
Offer regular support through group coaching, office hours, or even automated check-ins.
Celebrate wins with public shout-outs, gamification, and personalized milestones.

About Nathalie Doremieux

Nathalie Doremieux is the Founder of The Membership Lab, where she helps coaches and course creators build high-impact, engaged online communities. With nearly two decades of experience in digital learning, tech implementation, and membership strategy, Nathalie guides entrepreneurs in turning their expertise into sustainable, supportive ecosystems that deliver real results.

About The Membership Lab

The Membership Lab provides expert frameworks, tools, and support for creators building thriving membership communities. The program offers everything from engagement strategies and accountability systems to launch templates and peer support. It’s designed for coaches, consultants, and course creators who want to go beyond information delivery and create genuine transformation.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode Highlights:

From Listeners to Leads: How Podcast Lead Flow turns podcast audiences into active community members.
The Course Completion Crisis: Why most online learners drop off—and how to keep them on track.
Designing for Engagement: Simple strategies to support, celebrate, and retain your members.
The Power of Belonging: How trust and community dynamics shape the success of any membership or course.
What Makes Memberships Work: Insights into frameworks that actually drive transformation and retention.

Conclusion

Josh Elledge’s conversation with Nathalie Doremieux is a masterclass in digital engagement. From designing podcasts that build trust to creating courses that people actually finish, Nathalie offers a blueprint for meaningful, scalable impact. Whether you’re launching your first membership or refining an existing program, her insights can help you foster connection, increase retention, and build a community that thrives.

Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest

More from UpMyInfluence:

We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.

Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.

What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

Want to learn more about all the podcasts managed by UpMyInfluence? Opt in here.

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!

Arthur Matuszewski on the cost of playing it safe in hiring