Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategy for Business Growth

Taylor Swift’s engagement isn’t just celebrity gossip, it’s the biggest podcast marketing lesson of the year.Swifties aren’t only streaming her music, they're buying the exact Ralph Lauren dress she wore in her engagement photos and crashing ticket servers because they feel like they know her (even though in reality, they don’t).. That’s not hype, it’s human psychology. And nowhere do you have a bigger opportunity to tap into that exact same psychology than as a podcast host.It doesn’t matter if you’re a Swiftie or not: if you want to learn how to apply listener psychology to turn casual listeners into raving fans who binge your show and buy from you, hit play and let’s dive in.1:23 – Why Loyalty, Not Reach, Is the Real Driver of Podcast Growth4:36 – What Swifties Teach Us About Building Fierce Podcast Fans8:44 – The Line Between Manipulation and Genuine Connection10:49 – How Parasocial Relationships Make Your Podcast Binge-Worthy13:42 – Why 1,000 True Fans Will Grow Your Show Faster Than 1M Casual Listeners Other Episodes You’ll Love:5 Ways to Create Swiftie-Level Loyalty That Drives Podcast Growth  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

You’ve niched down (at least, you think you have). You’ve defined your ideal listener, picked a category, maybe even reworked your show description and cover art (twice). But deep down, you’re wondering… have I niched down too far? Or not far enough?In this Fix My Pod session, I help Anthony uncover the subtle red flags that were keeping listeners from hitting play on his content, and show you how to spot (and fix) the same signs in your own podcast so it’s impossible for your dream listeners to scroll past.So if you’ve ever wondered whether your podcast is “specific enough” to stand out (and secretly worried that it’s not), hit play and let’s dive in.0:43 – 3 Telltale Signs Your Audience Is Too Broad to Grow2:51 – The #1 Reason Listeners Don’t Think Your Show Is for Them6:17 – The Secret to Making Your Show Feel Like It’s Made for Your Dream Listeners11:02 – How to Nail Your Niche WITHOUT Limiting Your Reach (or Boxing Yourself In)16:48 – How to Make Your Podcast Impossible to Scroll Past Other Episodes You’ll Love:Why Your Podcast Isn’t Getting Found (and How to Fix It)The Dark Side of Video Podcasting (And Why Many Podcasters Regret It)  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Hot topics get clicks. But what about the episodes you want to record, even if they’re not “trendy” or SEO-friendly? It's a smart question, and it begs an even bigger one: how do you make every episode sound like a must-listen so listeners can’t help but hit play, no matter what you’re talking about?In this episode, I’m answering both and showing you how to strike the right balance between trending topics and thought leadership content that sets your show apart—and how to package those less “obvious” topics so listeners instantly see why those episodes are worth their time, too.I’m breaking it all down in a simple framework you can steal right now so you can create a podcast you’re genuinely proud of (and never bored recording). So if you want every episode to earn its spot in your feed and get more listeners hitting play—hot topic or not—hit play and let’s dive in.2:15 – Why Listeners Often Skip the Episodes You Care About Most 5:42 – How to Turn “Non-Trendy” Topics Into Must-Listen Episodes 7:58 – The Brain Cues that Drive Listeners to Hit Play 9:10 – The 3-Part Content Formula That Attracts Clicks and Builds Authority 13:48 – Why This Episode Mix Builds Loyalty and Long-Term Podcast Growth Other Episodes You’ll Love:3 Ways to Hook Your Listener Before They Ever Hit Play  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Think your podcast doesn’t need to solve a problem? In this episode, fellow podcast host and wine educator Kristi Mayfield shares how uncovering the problems her listeners cared about turned her “just for fun” show into a Top 100 podcast that’s now positioned to drive real revenue—and how you can do the same.We’re breaking down how to find the problems your show solves, why they don’t have to be deep or life-changing to hook listeners, and why this one thing matters more than your audio quality, episode length, or even your guest lineup.So if you want your podcast to stop being an expensive hobby and start positioning you for paid speaking gigs, clients, and revenue, hit play and let’s dive in.0:45 – How to Stop New Listeners from Scrolling Past Your Show2:08 – What “Solving a Problem” Means for Every Podcast (Yes, Even Entertainment and Community-Based Shows)4:46 – The Fastest Way to Find the Problems That'll Make Your Listeners Hit Play10:33 – Why Solving Small, Relatable Struggles Makes Your Podcast Instantly Addictive15:00 – How to Frame Problems So Listeners Feel Seen (and Stick Around)20:06 – How Clarifying Listener Problems Helped Kristi’s Podcast Break the Top 15  Episode Links:Check out Kristi’s podcast: Everyday Sommelier Connect with Kristi: Website | LinkedIn Other Episodes You’ll Love:The Secret to a Podcast People Can’t Stop Talking About → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

It’s great to hear “I love your podcast!” from friends and fans — but let’s face it, we BOTH know that this kind of feedback won’t tell you why new listeners stop listening after one episode (or worse, why they aren’t hitting play to begin with).That’s why Jay Nachlis, VP at Coleman Insights (the research powerhouse behind some of today’s most listened-to shows), joins me back inside this episode to share the surprising patterns behind what makes listeners hit play or scroll past a show. Plus, you’ll learn three quick tests you can run on your podcast right now that will show you what’s working (and what’s not) before you hit “publish” on your next episode.Ready to find out why new listeners actually choose ( or skip ) your show? Hit play and let’s dive in.0:43 – What First-Time Listeners Notice That Loyal Listeners Won't2:38 – The Key Elements That Make or Break Your Podcast's First Impression4:02 – How Often Should You Test Your Podcast to Stay Relevant?7:28 – How to Turn Outside Feedback Into Podcast Decisions That Drive Growth10:52 – 3 Quick Tests to Run Before Your Next Episode Airs  Episode Links:Connect with Jay: LinkedIn | WebsiteWant to know what first impression your podcast is really making? Test it with PodPredictor Other Episodes You’ll Love:How to Find Out What Listeners Really Want From Your Podcast   → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Most podcasters rely on feedback from listeners and fans to figure out whether their podcast is good—and it’s costing them hundreds (even thousands) of potential new listeners who decide within seconds if your show is worth their time.In this episode, Jay Nachlis, VP at Coleman Insights, joins me to reveal why this kind of surface-level feedback gives you a false sense of success, the blind spots that make new listeners tune out in the first 7 seconds, and how to get reliable input from real podcast listeners who don’t know you (and don’t already trust you)—so you can see exactly what first impression your show is making and what to refine so your show hooks new listeners right from the start.So if you’ve ever logged into your podcast dashboard and wondered why your downloads still aren’t moving, this episode will give you answers you won’t find in your analytics. Hit play and let’s dive in.0:32 – Why Friends’ Feedback Won’t Grow Your Podcast1:39 – What Loyal Listeners Won’t Tell You (But New Listeners Will)4:25 – The A/B Test That Shows Why People Hit Play9:36 – The Surprising Feedback That Unlocked 100K+ Views on YouTube15:15 – How to Find Out What Listeners Actually Want From Your Show Episode Links:Connect with Jay: LinkedIn | WebsiteWant to know what first impression your podcast is really making? Test it with PodPredictor Other Episodes You’ll Love:3 Tests Every Podcaster Should Run Before Their Next Episode  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Ever finished an interview and thought, “Well, that sucked”? Your audience felt that too — and one boring, rambling guest can make even your most loyal listeners question if they should ever hit play on your show again. But when your guests deliver specific strategies and bold takes they can’t get anywhere else, listeners finish the episode, tell a friend, and trust you more with every listen.We're breaking down why “good on paper” guests don’t guarantee bingeworthy interviews, the four red flags to look for in guest pitches that scream “don’t book me,” and the guest vetting filter you can start using today to make sure every interview earns its place in your feed.So if you’re done booking guests who *look* like a home run (only to yawn through their interview and later air it out of obligation) this episode shows you exactly how to fix it. Hit play and let’s dive in.1:17 – 3 Guest Booking Mistakes That Cost You Listener Trust (and How to Avoid Them)6:35 – Why “Good on Paper” Guests Don’t Guarantee a Bingeworthy Episode8:52 – 4 Red Flags in Guest Pitches That Lead to Forgettable Episodes14:30 – Why Your Guest Prep Needs to Go Deeper Than ChatGPT17:30 – How to Prep First-Time Guests So They Sound Confident22:05 – How to Get Seasoned Guests Off Autopilot (So Your Interviews Stand Out) 📘 My Go-To Books on Leading Better Interviews:Talk to Me by Dean NelsonStop Asking Questions by Andrew Warner Other Episodes You’ll Love:The 3 Biggest Reasons Your Listeners Tune Out During Your Guest EpisodesHow to Lead Guest Interviews That Make Listeners Want to Binge Your Show  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

You’ve done everything the podcasting experts say to do: publish weekly, stay consistent, share on social. Maybe you’ve even changed your cover art, rewritten your description, or tested a new format. But the listens STILL aren’t coming (and you’re low-key resenting how much time you’ve spent talking to an empty room.)Most podcasters think it’s a marketing problem. But more often, it’s messaging — starting with your episode titles. And the longer you misdiagnose it, the longer your podcast stays invisible while someone with half your expertise gets the clicks. In this Fix My Pod session, I help Jennifer Avila, host of Wholesome TV Picks, spot why her dream listeners weren’t hitting play — and how a few small title tweaks can help your podcast get discovered, opened, and actually listened to.So if you don’t want to spend another hour crafting episodes no one hears or talks about, hit play and let’s dive in.6:25 – The Episode Title Mistake That Separates Boring Titles From Bingeworthy Ones7:10 – Short or Long? How to Choose a Title That Stops the Scroll8:40 – The One Element That Makes Titles Instantly Clickable14:08 – What Search-Friendly Podcast Titles Actually Look Like15:22 – The No-BS Test That Tells You If Your Episode Title Will Get Clicks16:20 – Why Colons and Numbers in Your Titles Might Be Costing You Listens Episode Links:Grab the exact Bingeworthy Episode Title Cheat Sheet we use to write titles that rank and convert.  Other Episodes You’ll Love:The Psychology Behind Bingeworthy Episode Titles  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U Support the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re tired of posting content to social media trying to grow your podcast only to get four likes and no new downloads—the problem isn’t the algorithm. The problem is that you’re expecting social to drive podcast growth instead of letting your podcast drive your social strategy.That's because social isn’t where people go to discover your podcast. It’s where they decide if they trust you enough to listen to your show in the first place. That's why in this episode, I'll show you how to reverse-engineer your social media strategy, using your podcast as the engine behind scroll-stopping short-form content that builds trust, keeps you visible, and shortens the path to sales.So if you're ready to build an online presence that reinforces your podcast *and* the bigger message you’re here to share, hit play and let's dive in.1:12 – Why Your Podcast Clips Get Ignored (Even When the Episode’s Good)4:05 – Why Likes Won't Always Lead to New Listeners6:20 – How to Turn One Episode Into 5 Posts That Build Trust15:48 – The One Thing Every Social Post Needs to Drive Clicks to Your Podcast18:10 – What Connor Price Gets Right About Content that Converts Episode Links:@ConnorPrice Other Episodes You’ll Love:Why Content Repurposing Doesn’t Work—and What to Do InsteadHow Much Should You Actually Teach Inside Your Podcast Episodes?  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve ever thought, “My content’s so good—so why aren’t more people listening?”  the problem might not be your content at all. It might be what your podcast is saying about you before people ever hit play (and what you’re saying once they do). Because even if your episodes are packed with value, if your show doesn’t clearly signal why people should pick your show out of hundreds of others they could listen to, the right listeners will scroll right past it.That’s exactly what was happening for Cheryl Fischer, too. In this episode, you’ll hear how she went from doing everything “right” but still not seeing results, to rebranding her show in a way that finally got the right listeners tuning in, reaching out, and seeing her as the expert they wanted to work with.So if you're ready to stop blending in and uncover the messaging gaps that are keeping the right listeners from hitting play, sharing your episodes, and emailing you asking, “How can I work with you?”—hit play and let’s dive in.1:18 – Why Great Content Isn’t Enough to Get Listeners Choosing Your Show3:40 – The Hidden Messaging Gaps That Could Be Keeping People From Hitting Play6:25 – Why Effort Spent on Your Podcast Doesn’t Always Equal Traction8:04 – How to Niche Down Without Losing the Listeners Who Matter9:52 – The Message Shift That Gets Listeners Engaging Instead of Scrolling Past16:44 – The Signs Your Podcast Is Finally Reaching the Right People Episode Links:Check out Cheryl Fischer’s podcast: Mind Your MidlifeConnect with Cheryl: Website | LinkedIn Other Episodes You’ll Love:How to Make Your Podcast Worth Every Second You Spend on ItBoring Podcasts Get Ignored. Fix THIS. → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review. Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ ©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.