Course Lab: Lessons from Successful Online Course Creators

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Steve Kamb founded NerdFitness.com in 2009 to help average folks, nerds, and misfits level up their lives.In this episode, Danny, Abe, and Steve discuss:How Nerd Fitness started and evolved to become hugely popularThe integration of the site’s content and coursesShifting from online courses to building a larger communityThe challenges of implementing accountabilityNot waiting for perfection before you launch your course“I'm just a huge dork who happens to love helping people not make all the mistakes I did.” – Steve KambSteve Kamb is the nerd who founded NerdFitness.com in 2009 to help average folks, nerds, and misfits level up their lives. He started the site to help people NOT make the same mistakes he made when he started his own journey.Since then, he has bootstrapped Nerd Fitness and transformed it from a one-man blog into a passionate "rebellion" of 5 million annual visitors, 150,000 dedicated subscribers, and a full-time team of 25 humans. The site is best known for Nerd Fitness Coaching, its online program that has coached more than 10,000 one-on-one clients over the past five years. The site also boasts the most supportive and welcoming online community in the known universe.Steve is also the author of Level Up Your Life, a book about turning life into a video game to reach your goals, and he has guest lectured at Google, Facebook, and Vanderbilt University. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRuzukuSteve’s website: NerdFitness.comSteve’s Instagram: Instagram.com/stevekambSteve’s Twitter (X): Twitter.com/stevekambFor show notes, visit Revenge of the Nerd (Steve Kamb)Credits:Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe CrystalProducer: Cynthia LambAssembled by: Fatima FojasExecutive Producer: Danny InyAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Course Lab, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits:Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name: MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name: ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Revenge of the Nerd (Steve Kamb)~~~~~

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Rev. Dr. Stephanie Red Feather is a divine feminine change agent and champion of empaths.“Imagine living your life as an empath, not knowing you're an empath. You're going to take on everybody else's stuff and think it's your own [and] struggle to have a strong sense of self.”  — Stephanie Red FeatherRev. Dr. Stephanie Red Feather is a divine feminine change agent and champion of empaths. A multi-award-winning author of the international best-seller The Evolutionary Empath and Empath Activation Cards, her passion is to help fellow sensitive souls break out of energetic jail and become co-creators of new earth consciousness.As a shamanic minister and prolific creator of spiritual tools, Stephanie founded Blue Star Temple, an online resource for spiritual seekers to learn energetic skills, hone empathic abilities, access spiritual knowledge, and connect with cosmic consciousness.Stephanie holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's and doctorate in shamanic studies. Stephanie is an award-winning artist and contributing author to the #1 best-sellers Shamanism: Personal Quests of Communion with Nature and Creation, Animals: Personal Tales of Encounters with Spirit Animals, Chaos to Clarity: Sacred Stories of Transformational Change, and The Ultimate Guide to Self-Healing, Volume 2.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeStephanie’s website: BlueStarTemple.orgFor show notes, visit Presenting Consciousness Explored (Stephanie Red Feather)Credits:Host: Melissa DealProducer: Cynthia LambAssembled by: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioMusic credits:Track Title: Travel The EmeraldArtist: Alsever LakeWriter: Adrian Dominic WaltherPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Inner PeaceArtist: MomentsWriter: Adrian Dominic WaltherPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: To Be KnownArtist: Adrian WaltherWriter: Adrian Dominic WaltherPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.To catch the great episodes coming up on Consciousness Explored, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Episode transcript: Presenting Consciousness Explored coming soon.~~~~~

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Jan Keck runs public events and online experiences that build trust, empower people to share vulnerable stories, and turn strangers into friends.In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Jan discuss:Creating a feeling of community within a group of attendees or studentsSupporting frontline facilitators and trainersA best practice for the very first minutes of an event, meeting, or gatheringThe importance of breakout groups or roomsPlanning your first class, workshop, or courseUsing “ice melters” instead of “ice breakers”Navigating control of the live learning experienceA bonus tip for making the best of live-class recordings“If I'm the only one talking, I’m taking something away from what the group could learn.” – Jan KeckJan Keck runs public events and online experiences that build trust, empower people to share vulnerable stories, and turn strangers into friends. Jan’s mission is to help people feel less alone — by creating experiences, workshops, and programs, he is fueling the movement for deeper human connection. His “Connection Cards” have been used on every continent around the globe and helped turn more than 70,000 shallow conversations into deep connections.In the past few years, he has run more than 30 workshops and trainings with more than 700 trainers, facilitators, educators, and team leaders. They learn the skills to create engaging, purposeful, inclusive, and connecting experiences on Zoom. Recently, he relocated from Canada to Germany to be closer to family and is continuing to build a community of trainers, facilitators, and creators that create “Magical Human Moments” online. His work has been featured on TEDx, CBC News, Breakfast TV, Cityline, and HuffPost.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRuzukuJan’s website: JanKeck.comFor show notes, visit Fostering Connection (Jan Keck)Credits:Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe Crystal Producer: Cynthia Lamb Assembled by: Fatima Fojas Executive Producer: Danny InyAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Course Lab, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits:Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name: MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name: ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Fostering Connection (Jan Keck) coming soon~~~~~

Rob Witcher, co-founder and master instructor at Destination Certification Inc., discusses transitioning from teaching for a company to teaching in your own business, creating engaging delivery and fulfillment, developing the right tools to support the course, and the value of feedback and iteration. They emphasize the importance of simplicity and continuous improvement in training.

Jeff Cobb, founder of Learning Revolution and host of the Leading Learning podcast, discusses the challenges of standing out in the course-building market, the significance of certifications and credentials, and the importance of intentionality and strategy in course creation.

Alex Preis, creator of www.p4x.ai, discusses incorporating AI into courses and evaluating AI technology. They explore the benefits of using AI in brainstorming and share practical tips for implementing AI in online courses. They also discuss the future of AI and the importance of being a great coach.

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Sam Mahmoody is the founder of Liberty Tutoring, which offers 1-on-1 online tutoring across Quebec and Ontario, Canada.In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Sam discuss:The types of courses and students Sam hasLiberty Tutoring’s hiring process and curriculaHow Sam’s business grew and evolvedLogistical challenges and offering a quality experienceDefining the core of Sam’s business“The spark was realizing my passion for teaching, and the joy that I was getting from helping my students. It was just… priceless.”  — Sam MahmoodySam Mahmoody is an engineer with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University. He discovered his passion for teaching when, during his last semester of the undergraduate program, one of his professors asked him to be his Teaching Assistant and review the materials taught in class with students during tutorial sessions. That discovery led him to start his tutoring business in 2004 to help students tap into their undiscovered potential and ability for learning and lead them in the path to independence.His company, Liberty Tutoring, currently offers 1-on-1 online tutoring across Quebec and Ontario. Following their success with younger students, they further expanded their services to teach French as a Second Language to adults and professionals. Their ultimate goal is to give students the confidence they need to achieve their goals and dreams. Whether it’s the business owner who needs to learn French so they can serve the French clientele or the grade-10 student who dreads math, Liberty Tutoring gives them the confidence they need to shatter the barriers standing in their way.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRuzukuSam’s website: LibertyTutoring.caCredits:Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe Crystal Producer: Cynthia Lamb Assembled by: Geoff GovertsenExecutive Producer: Danny InyAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Course Lab, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits:Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name: MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name: ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Keeping It One-on-One (Sam Mahmoody) coming soon~~~~~

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Laurie Anderson is the heart and soul behind Alexander Art, where she and her dedicated team have crafted an inspiring realm of art and education since 1986.In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Laurie discuss:How Laurie and her team took their in-person classes to DVD and then onlineTeaching a skill-based course to students of diverse abilitiesThe importance of communityPainting as personal developmentStructuring online instruction to be better than in person Scaling through multiple instructors“We use painting as the medium to help people change their lives.”– Laurie AndersonMeet Laurie Anderson, an entrepreneurial spirit fueled by a profound passion for teaching. Laurie is the heart and soul behind Alexander Art, where, since 1986, she and her dedicated team have crafted an inspiring realm of art and education. With unwavering commitment, Laurie carries forward the dream of her mentor, Emmy-Award Winning Artist William “Bill”Alexander, to "teach the world to paint." Through their collective efforts, they've nurtured countless creative minds and continue to make the world of art accessible to all. Dive into their world at AlexanderArt.com and be a part of this artistic journey.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRuzukuAlexanderArt.comCredits:Hosts: Danny Iny and Abe Crystal Producer: Cynthia Lamb Assembled by: Geoff GovertsenExecutive Producer: Danny InyAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Course Lab, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits:Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name: MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name: ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Painting as Personal Development (Laurie Anderson) coming soon~~~~~

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Michael Sheridan is “Ireland's favorite dream expert,” the author of two books, and a radio host. His passion is to see people become all they came here to be and help them live their lives to their fullest potential.   In this episode, Ari, Abe, and Michael discuss:Michael’s background and how he got into online coursesTeaching a sensitive and personal topic within a group settingBuilding connections and engaging with studentsHow Michael discovered he had a sales problem and worked through itMichael’s thoughts about what should be free versus paid“It just helped enormously by moving online in terms of the efficiency and the effectiveness of everything I did. And I was able to maximize the amount of people I could work with.”– Michael SheridanMichael Sheridan is Ireland's favorite dream expert. He was a regular on the #1 TV talk show in Ireland, Ireland AM, as well as a regular on Ireland's most popular radio shows, including the Inbox on 98FM, sharing the stage with both metaphysical and movie stars such as Paddy McMahon and Frank Vincent. He's appeared on the BBC and countless other premier media outlets, interpreting dreams for his wide audience.He's the author of two books as well as a radio host with his own show on KKNW. His passion is to see people become all they came here to be and to live their lives to their fullest potential. He does this by interpreting dreams. From reading your dreams, he can give clear direction on your life purpose, reveal the gifts that you brought with you to help achieve that purpose, and uncover the blocks you need to overcome in order to step into alignment.With a focus on helping clients heal childhood trauma, Michael launched his first course in 1992. In 2012, he added online courses to his offerings, and by 2015, after much experimentation, he switched entirely to an online hybrid model using the Ruzuku platform. The hybrid model greatly increased course reach, course efficiency, and course effectiveness, and laid the framework for many later courses.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRuzukuMichael’s website: Dream-Analysis.comCredits:Hosts: Ari Iny and Abe Crystal Producer: Cynthia Lamb Assembled by: Geoff GovertsenAudio editor: Marvin del Rosario Executive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioTo catch the great episodes that are coming up on Course Lab, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music credits: Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name: MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name: ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSSpecial effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.Episode transcript: Hybrid Courses Are a Dream Come True (Michael Sheridan) coming soon~~~~~

Special "business revenue leak checklist" offer, free at http://www.mrse.co/leak.Randi Rubenstein is the founder of Mastermind Parenting and host of the Mastermind Parenting Podcast. She runs programs to support parents with strong willed children into fostering better and more open relationships.In this episode, Danny and Abe talk with Randi about the iterations of her Mastermind Parenting course. In this episode we discuss:Randi’s personal experience with a strong willed child, leading to her course.Evolution of a course from one-on-one to online coaching.The urge to firehouse students with information and support.Working with clients on something as personal and sensitive as parenting.Helping over-stressed parents see their own progress.Accountability being managed by coursebuilders and coursetakers.Danny and Abe’s debrief.“That's the reason people stick around for years… because it is a parenting program but it's really a parenting / personal development program.” – Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein coaches parents raising challenging or strong willed kids. She believes: Perfection is the enemy when it comes to parenting. A good parent is simply one who strives to be better. Our strong willed kids give us a nudge to do the "bettering" work.Randi's the founder of Mastermind Parenting, host of the Mastermind Parenting podcast and author of The Parent Gap.Randi is based in Houston, Texas where she lives with her husband, Scott, and they are the parents of 3 young adults.Resources or websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeRandi’s websiteRandi’s LinkedInRandi’s BookCredits:Guest: Randi RubensteinHosts: Danny Iny & Abe CrystalProducer: Geoff Govertsen Supervising Producer: Cynthia Lamb Executive producer: Danny InyMusic soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew AudioIf you don't want to miss future episodes of Course Lab, please subscribe to Mirasee FM’s Youtube Channel or wherever you're listening right now. And if you liked the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.Music and SFX credits: Track Title: Bossa BBArtist Name(s): MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: GraceArtist Name(s): ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name(s): Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name(s): Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONEpisode transcript Mastermind Parenting (Randi Rubenstein) coming soon ~~~~~