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

Most podcasters are convinced their show is “clear enough,” that listeners will eventually find them, and that growth is just a matter of time and consistency. Anthony thought the same, until he realized his “clear enough” message was actually confusing people and the listeners he wanted were scrolling straight past his show.

So he rebuilt his show from the inside out, transformed it into something listeners actually wanted to click...

Most podcasts lose listeners in the first 15 seconds. Not after the first ad. Not halfway into the episode. Right at the start. In this episode, we break down what’s actually happening in your listener’s brain the moment they hit play, and why top podcasts obsess over their opening lines like the rest of the episode depends on it (because it does).

You’ll hear the five most common episode openings that make listeners click out of yo...

Some podcast networks promise exposure and end up limiting how you monetize and how much you control your content. This episode will help you spot those red flags and figure out whether a network even belongs on your radar.

Stephen Perlstein from Libsyn is back to break down how podcast networks make money, what they’re actually looking for in a show, and how to tell the difference between a partnership that genuinely supports growt...

If you think getting picked up by a podcast network is the fast track to podcast growth, this episode will save you from disappointment (and probably a bad contract).

Stephen Perlstein, Senior VP of Business Development at Libsyn, joins me to break down how podcast networks actually work (and when the right one can be a smart move for your show). We’re unpacking what networks do well, what they don’t do, and the biggest red flags to...

Podcast platforms are changing what gets seen and what gets shared, and if your show is still built for how podcasting *used* to work, it’ll get skipped, buried, or replaced. 

That’s why I brought together five industry experts to break down what’s actually shifting inside podcasting right now, and why creators who adapt early have a real advantage. Because this next era won’t reward the biggest shows. It’ll reward the ones built fo...

Your podcast might be fine. People listen. They say it’s “nice.” And then… nothing happens. You’re 30, 50, maybe 100 episodes in, and the show looks more or less the same as it did at episode 5.

In this episode, I sit down with PodLaunch grad Lauren Penna to unpack why smart, consistent hosts still struggle to grow, and how a simple positioning shift can turn your podcast into a show listeners actively seek out and share. Lauren bre...

If listeners tell you they love your podcast but you’re 50+ episodes in and you’re *still* not sure where (or if) people are finding your show, or how to connect podcast growth to revenue, we’re about to fix that.

In this Fix My Pod coaching session, I’m helping Jill uncover why her podcast wasn’t driving signups or sales, and showing you how to:

1. Track exactly where your listeners are coming from
2. How to know which episodes are dri...

If your podcast isn’t bringing in more listeners month over month, the problem usually isn’t your content. It’s the invisible leaks inside your podcast funnel that no one’s taught you how to find yet. And in this episode, we're changing that. I'm walking you through the exact steps to diagnose where listeners are dropping off inside your show from the moment they first see your podcast to the moment they decide whether or...

Most podcast hosts chase “growth” without understanding how a podcast funnel actually works. And if you’re only looking at downloads or list sign-ups, you’re missing the two earlier moments that decide whether anyone ever hits play in the first place. So let’s fix it. 

I’m breaking down the three conversion points that determine your podcast’s ability to attract new listeners, keep them listening, and drive revenue long-term. You’ll...

Amy Castro had already rebranded her podcast once, and her show still wasn’t reaching the right people. So she made one simple shift in how she positioned her show that landed her a Top 10 chart debut in her category with hundreds of new downloads in a single day.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Amy uncovered the gap keeping her from new listeners, and how you can make the same change to start attracting people who are already sear...

Most podcasters think growth comes from hustling guest appearances or endlessly turning episodes into short-form videos for social media. But guesting eats up hours you don’t have, and social posts won't grow a show. So when you’re an independent podcaster without a big budget for ads (and without a lot of extra time), what actually works?

Lauren Passell of Tink Media is back to reveal one of the most overlooked organic strateg...

Podcast growth won’t come from convincing the same people who already know, like, and trust you to finally listen. Real podcast growth comes from turning strangers into listeners. But with no budget for ads and no time for social media, how do you actually make that happen?

In this episode, Lauren Passell of Tink Media breaks down the audience-borrowing strategy smart hosts use to get their shows discovered, recommended, and shared ...

Should you put episode numbers in your podcast titles? Some podcasters swear it makes episodes easier to find. Others argue it kills discoverability. And turns out, this one simple choice could shape how listeners see your entire show.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of episode numbers and showing you the simplest way to help listeners navigate your show without wasting valuable title space or hurting your podca...

What happens when you’re doing everything “right” (publishing weekly, emailing your list, sharing your episodes) but your podcast still isn’t growing? After a year of following the industry’s “just stay consistent” advice, Anne Rajoo was still trapped in 100-download jail no matter how many posts or promos she put out. With limited time and zero desire to live on social media, she needed a smarter path to podcast growth. 

In this Fi...

Every podcaster wants the same thing: a podcast that grows quickly, without eating more of your time, draining your energy, or demanding a marketing budget you don’t have. The truth? There's no single “fastest way” to grow your show. If there were, every podcast would already be successful, and you wouldn’t still be asking this question. But there IS a repeatable podcast marketing system that makes growth not only possible, bu...

What happens when the podcast you’ve worked so hard to build isn’t holding people’s attention? After her “perfect” launch — charting, downloads, glowing feedback — Dr. Annie Campanile quickly realized her show wasn’t nearly as shareable as she thought. So she made one gutsy change in her positioning, and nearly doubled her downloads in just 7 days.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Annie uncovered the disconnect that made her podcast...

What if the real driver of podcast growth isn’t how consistent you are or how well you market your show? There are 5 invisible mechanics every top podcast has in common, and the degree to which your show grows depends on how well these mechanics are working under the hood.

Alex Sanfilippo, the founder of PodMatch, has spent years studying what today's top podcasters do differently, and he's joining us back to break down th...

If your podcast isn’t growing, it might be tempting to blame your marketing. But before you spend more time or money there, it’s time to take a hard look at your content. Because no marketing plan in the world can fix a show people don’t want to binge. 

Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch, is here to show you how to change that. From making your content “infotainment,” to drafting narratives that hold attention, to structuring inte...

Most podcasters have no idea if their podcast SEO is working. You don’t want to spend hours optimizing your show only to stay invisible in search. The good news? Podcast SEO gives you both the thrill of quick wins and the payoff of long-term podcast growth when you know how to track it.

In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to tell if your podcast SEO is paying off, the three metrics you need to track, and the tools ...