It’s no secret that more people are tuning into podcasts than ever before. But with millions of podcasts to choose from, the shows that will excel the most over the next five years are ones who foster two-way communication with their audience, source the right kind of feedback from their listeners, and share hyper-relevant content that connects on a deep and meaningful level.  Top podcaster and author Matt Drinkhan joins me in this episode to show you three listener engagement strategies you can incorporate starting today to attract new listeners, keep them hooked, and make them excited to come back for more.Ready to increase listener engagement and get more listeners choosing your show over the competition? If you're like, “duh yes!” hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:01 - How to Know if You’re Sharing the Right Things on Your Podcast4:39 - The One Simple Question that Will Reveal Your Podcast’s Blind Spots7:10 - The Secret to Finding Your Most Impactful Stories9:23 - Make Your Listeners Feel This to Keep Them Hooked10:30 - What to Do When You Feel Like Your Story Isn't Worth Sharing13:05 - Why Fumbling Through the Process is Part of Becoming a Great Host Episode Links:Check out Matt Drinkhan's podcast: The Eternal Optimist  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

There I was, crying over my analytics dashboard at 10:42 AM. I'd just released my 16th episode and I still hadn’t enrolled a single new client from my podcast.I came *this close* to throwing my mic in the garbage and giving up on this whole podcasting thing (and honestly? I have no clue what stopped me). But now looking back, I’m so glad I stuck with it. I made three surprising mistakes that caused me to struggle more than I needed to during my first year of podcasting, and I’m breaking down what those three mistakes are inside this episode so that you can avoid them too. So if you’re someone who publishes at least one episode every week without fail but you’re still getting less than 1000 downloads per episode, or if people tell you they love your podcast but no one is buying, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:02 - My Most Embarrassing Podcasting Moment (Get Ready to Cringe) 2:49 - The Dunning Kruger Effect and Its Impact on New Podcasters 3:57 - The One Moment That Changed Everything5:47 - Bigger Audience Means More Sales, Right? Wrong... 8:24 - Why Consistency Is NOT the "Secret" to Podcasting Success Episode Links:Understanding the Dunning-Kreuger Effect | courtesy of Verywell MindDunning-Kreuger Effect (visual)  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

Experienced podcaster Rachel Provan shares how she strategically launched her podcast, growing her email list, reaching Top 100 in US and UK, and gaining thousands of downloads. They discuss challenges, audience development, and the impact of podcasting on customer relationships and sales. Rachel's journey highlights the importance of consistency and long-term strategy in the podcasting world.

Sending an email blast every time you release a new podcast episode might seem like the right move, but it could actually be stunting your podcast's growth.(And inside this episode, I'll reveal why your podcast isn't growing no matter how many "New Episode!" announcement emails you send.)When you finish listening, you'll know exactly how to share the type of podcast content your email list wants to read — giving *you* higher open rates and increased downloads. #winwinReady to use your podcast to get more people subscribing to your email list (and get your email subscribers EXCITED to go listen to your podcast)? Hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.0:03 - Why Sending “New Episode!” Emails Won't Grow Your Podcast2:58 - Why Your Podcast Should Be at the Top of Your Marketing Funnel5:41 - Use Reverse Psychology to Convert Email Readers into Loyal Listeners11:06 - Understanding the Two Types of Traffic That Drive Podcast Growth12:30 - How Your Podcast Builds Trust and Shortens Sales Cycles Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:Steal This Easy Episode Hack to Grow Your Email List → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

With the rise of AI, listeners are becoming more skilled than ever at telling the difference between what’s real and what’s fake. Which means that if AI is the sum total of all human wisdom and you’re copy/pasting content from the same tools that every other podcast host is using — you run the risk of sounding like everyone else. And if you want to be seen as a real thought leader, the LAST thing you want is for your listeners to think you aren’t who you say you are.That’s why global tech founder and AI expert Manuj Aggarwal is back in the studio with me to share the number one way you can teach AI to sound like you, so you can reap its benefits ~without~ compromising your authentic voice. Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:03 - Want to Stand Out? Personalize Your AI Outputs1:10 - AI-Driven Distribution: How to Capture Listener Attention in 3 Seconds 3:03 - The Best and Worst Ways to Use Podcasting AI for Your Show5:13 - AI’s Limitations in Replicating Human Emotion in Podcasting 8:47 - The Future of AI-Driven Podcasting, and What it Means for You Episode Links:CapshoCastmagicPodMatchPodLottery  Other Episodes You’ll EnjoyThe Future of AI for Podcasting  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

A human wrote this. (hey, it needed to be said).Look, in today's AI-driven world I KNOW it's tempting to use technology to streamline your processes. But to what extent should you be using AI for your podcast? And is AI actually harming your show’s ability to attract new listeners?Put it this way: there'll only ever be one true Picasso. And just like an art expert can spot what's real and what's fake, it's crucial to maintain your podcast's unique identity amid the flood of AI-generated content. Because guess who's becoming the new decoders of authenticity? Yup. Your listeners. But instead of trading dollars for priceless works of art, they're trading something even more valuable: their time. And they don't want to spend it listening to impersonators. (YOU are the real deal - I know that. But it's your listeners we have to convince.)So I asked global tech founder and AI expert, Manuj Aggarwal, to join me in this episode to discuss how you can use AI without losing your authentic voice.Because in a Black Mirror world where everything is a simulation, being real is the new priceless. (Okay fine, so Mastercard won't be hiring me anytime soon.) But if you're ready to learn how you can streamline your podcast production without sounding like everyone else who's *also* uploading their episode content into the same AI tools, THAT I can help with. Hit play and let's make your business bingeworthy.0:03 - How to Use AI Without Losing Your Authentic Voice1:25 - The Future of AI for Thought Leaders and Experts2:11 - How to Personalize Podcasting AI to Reflect Your Unique Style and Tone7:54 - The Need for New Regulations in an AI-Integrated Society11:47 - Innovative Podcasting AI Applications in Podcasting and Beyond  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

Picking a podcast category feels strangely similar to choosing your next Netflix show to watch — overwhelming and potentially regrettable. And let's be real, Google and YouTube aren't exactly serving up fresh insights when you search “how to choose a podcast category” either (and the info that does exist? it’s already out of date).But not to worry, because in this episode I’ll show you the #1 thing platforms like Apple care about when choosing a podcast category, the surprising impact of your podcast category on your show’s growth, and how to determine your ideal podcast category in three simple steps so more people can find your podcast.So if you’re ready to grow your podcast audience and get discovered by new listeners who have no idea you exist, hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:03 - Is Your Podcast in the Wrong Category? 1:06 - The #1 Thing Apple Cares About When Categorizing Your Podcast3:48 - How to Shortlist Potential Categories Your Show Could Fit Into5:44 - The Little-Known Secret to Gaining Early Momentum for Your Podcast8:49 - How to Determine Your Ideal Podcast Category in 3 Steps13:22 - The Surprising Impact of Category Choice on Podcast Success Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:From 30 to 1000+ Downloads in One Day With This Simple Shift  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

Okay... what's up with these hosts who love to talk like they're determined to rival Tolstoy with their marathon episodes? (looking at you, Joe Rogan 👀)There's this trend going on right now where 39% of episodes are clocking in over 40 minutes. But that doesn't mean listeners are listening that long.So basing your episode length off some random google search for "how long should my episodes be" or copying other hosts and making your episodes as long as theirs might actually be causing you to lose listeners.The perfect episode length ultimately comes down to your listener's specific preferences — which is why inside this episode, I'm going to you how to figure out exactly how long *your* episodes should be based on your unique listener data.Ready for your listeners to do the work for a change and tell you exactly what they want? Hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:03 - The Dangerous Mistake Most Podcasters Make When Determining Episode Length2:20 - The Surprising Metric You're Probably Ignoring (But Shouldn't!)5:24 - How to Nail Your Ideal Episode Length from Day 18:16 - Where Your Listener is Tuning in From Matters More than You Think10:16 - The Easy 2-Step Process to Optimize Episode Length for Maximum Listener Engagement  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

Honestly… getting your show on the charts is not as hard as you think it is.~she says, after spending the last 4 years figuring out how to do it well~(so, okay, it's a little hard. But this episode will make it SO MUCH easier.)If you've ever wondered how top podcasters land their shows on the charts week over week, you're going to want to listen to this episode. again. (and again).But instead of giving you vague, general advice like:→ "publish episodes every week"→ “make sure you have great audio quality”→ “give away your best content for free in every episode"Adam Adams is back in the studio with me to share exactly how to trigger the Apple algorithms to share your show with more listeners. Ready? Hit play and let's  make your business bingeworthy.1:35 - The 5 Main Things That Trigger Podcast Algorithms and Boost Your Reach 4:42 - How Paying for Fake Downloads Can Destroy Your Podcast's Chances of Success 7:01 - How to Make Apple's Algorithm Work in Your Favor 10:53 - A Ninja Strategy for Increasing Genuine Ratings, Reviews, and Downloads Without Spending a Dime on Ads 16:23 - The Secret to Getting Listeners to Binge Your Episodes Episode Links:Check out Adam's podcast: The Podcast on Podcasting → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

When people ask me, "How can I get more listeners to engage with my show?!" My answer is always simple: know what makes your listeners ~want~ to engage in the first place. Because in the world of podcasting, creating valuable content is only half the battle. To grow your podcast, you need to know how to engage your listeners both on and off the podcast platforms with an effective podcast marketing strategy. That's why I invited one of the few experts I trust in the podcasting space, Adam Adams, to join me in this episode to show you the most effective ways to keep your audience hooked and coming back for more.So if you're ready to stop feeling like you're talking to yourself in an empty room and learn the first steps you can take to help more listeners find your show (especially if you are launching for the first time), hit play and let’s make your business bingeworthy.0:55 - The One Thing Your Podcast Needs to Succeed (And nope, it's not great content) 3:57 - Netflix's Secret to Launching Bingeworthy Shows 7:40 - The Pre-Launch Strategy that Triggers Algorithms and Creates Buzz 14:18 - The Top Mistake Podcasters Make When Launching Their Show 19:04 - Why Social Proof Matters More Than You ThinkEpisode Links:Check out Adam's podcast: The Podcast on Podcasting → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7UHave a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer! Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session). Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business. Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ