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

If your guest could’ve given the same answers on five other podcasts, you didn’t lead the interview—you hosted a rerun. And when every guest episode sounds the same? Listeners don’t blame the guest. They stop trusting you. 

In this episode, you’ll learn the three host mistakes that quietly erode your authority, why “just letting the convo flow” leads to copy-paste content your audience has already heard, and how to stay in control o...

Most podcasters know they need a website. But the wrong kind of site can bury your show in search and cost you the listeners, leads, and visibility you're working so hard to earn.

In this episode, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about podcasting websites—from what to include (and what to avoid), to where it should live, to the one mistake that could be sending all your search traffic (and Google authority) to some...

Krissy Bold launched a parenting podcast with a confusing name, hour-long episodes no one finished, and a message no one was clicking on.

Then she made a few key changes and hit #3 in Parenting—outranking Big Bird, Blippi, and Frozen in under a week—and she’s been ranking on the top podcasting charts ever since.

What changed?

In this episode, we’re unpacking the key differences between a podcast people scroll past and one they binge, ...

Still waiting to feel “ready” before you start pitching the guests or sponsors you really want?

In this episode, HuffPost contributor and media expert Alice Draper is back to show you the exact process she uses to turn rejection into a measurable growth strategy for your podcast. You’ll learn how to build your “rejection muscle,” set rejection goals that lead to more yeses, and use data from ignored or declined pitches to refine you...

You know that pitch you *almost* sent? Or that big guest or sponsor you’re telling yourself you’ll reach out to “once you’re ready”? That idea you keep researching but haven’t acted on yet? This episode is about that moment—when you're stuck between wanting more for your podcast and actually going after it.

HuffPost contributor and media expert Alice Draper has helped clients land guest spots on 500+ podcasts, including WorkLif...

You’ve heard “niche down” is the key to podcast growth. But what if your niche is actually too narrow to scale? In this live coaching session, I walk Dennis through why his podcast wasn’t attracting the audience he really wanted—and the simple repositioning moves we made to fix it.

We're breaking down how his show's branding was confusing listeners instead of converting them, and how these core podcast content gatekeepers ...

You’ve got the mic. You’ve got the mission. So why isn’t anyone listening?

That’s the question Dennis—high school athletics coach turned podcaster—was asking when he came to me for help. He knew who he wanted to serve, but a few months in, he was still struggling to get people to notice his show.

In this first-ever Fix My Pod on-air coaching session, we’re breaking down the gap between knowing your audience and actually getting them ...

You’ve been told video podcasting the only way to grow your show—but the ones shouting the loudest about it? They’re the ones profiting from your overwhelm.

In this episode, Buzzsprout’s Head of Marketing Alban Brooke is back to expose what no one is talking about: the hidden costs, the inflated promises, and the hard data that shows how video might actually be hurting your show more than helping it. He also shares what *really* hap...

You could record another episode. You could double down on promotion. You could even guest on a hundred other podcasts. But if your show isn’t built to attract the right listeners? None of it will work.

In this episode, Alban Brooke, Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, rips apart the most common (and costly) podcast growth myths—like why simply “putting out great content” isn’t enough and why most marketing tactics are a waste of time.

...

Spending hours on your podcast but still waiting for it to pay off? PodLaunch® graduate Jen Edmonds was too—booking guests last minute, scrambling to release episodes, and promoting nonstop with nothing to show for it.

The fix? A streamlined podcast strategy that turned her show into an audience growth engine. 

In this episode, we’re breaking down the exact shifts Jen made, what happens when you treat your podcast like an asset inste...

If you’ve been told that sharing your podcast on social media will grow your audience—spoiler alert—it won’t. And if you’ve been stuck at the same download count despite posting, guesting, and promoting your show, this episode will show you why.

We’re busting the biggest misconceptions about podcast growth, including why consistency alone won’t build your audience (and what will), why guesting on bigger podcasts doesn’t guarantee mo...

If you don’t have a guest release form in place, this episode is your wake-up call. If you do have one, are you sure it actually protects you? 

Podcasting attorney Gordon Firemark is back to break down why every podcaster (yes, even small shows) needs a rock-solid guest release before hitting record.

He shares exactly what it should include, when your guests should sign it, and the real-life story of a podcaster who skipped this step...

You put in the work. You craft your episodes. You build your brand. But what if someone swoops in and steals it—your content, your show name, even your audience—because you didn’t have the right legal protections in place?

That’s exactly what we’re tackling today with podcast and entertainment lawyer Gordon Firemark. From copyrights and trademarks to AI-generated content and guest releases, we’re breaking down the most overlooked le...

Ever stare at your podcast stats, searching for proof your show is actually working—only to wonder if anyone even cares?

Pressing play isn’t the same as listening. If people drop off early, skip episodes, or never engage, your podcast isn’t holding their attention. And if your show keeps getting swiped past, it’s time to figure out why.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the four unmistakable signs that prove your podcast is resonati...

Ever spent hours crafting a podcast episode packed with expert knowledge, only to watch it get fewer downloads than the one you threw together last minute? Or worse—seen another podcast with generic advice rack up five-star reviews while your in-depth, value-packed episodes keep getting ignored?

In this episode, I’m breaking down why what you think is valuable and what your listeners perceive as valuable are two completely different...

So, you want your audience to see you as a pro? Good news: it’s not about having the latest gear. It’s about knowing when to upgrade and how to maximize what you’ve got. Home studio expert Junaid Ahmed is back to share his simple, no-BS advice on building a home studio setup that grows with you. We’re breaking down when to invest in new gear, when to hold off, and the small tweaks that make a big difference in your sound—without bl...

Better gear won’t make you a better podcaster. But you can create a home studio that looks and sounds pro—using what you already have.

Fellow podcaster and tech guru Junaid Ahmed joins me to distill 20+ years of audio and video design into 20 minutes of no-nonsense advice to help you create a home studio that commands authority on any budget, and to prove that how you use your gear matters more than the gear itself. So if you’re wor...

What if one bad review was all it took to silence your podcast for a year? That’s exactly what happened to bestselling author, investor, and financial literacy expert, Janine Mix. But instead of quitting, she came back stronger—revamping her show in a way that made it impossible for the right listeners to ignore.

In this episode, Janine shares how to tell if your podcast is too broad, the biggest messaging mistake that stops listene...

AI voice cloning sounds like the ultimate shortcut—efficiency, scale, and less time spent recording. But what happens when your listeners can tell the difference and it destroys their trust in you, costing you the credibility, growth, and authority you’ve worked so hard to build?

I’m pulling back the curtain on the hidden dangers of AI voice cloning and why using it could be the biggest mistake you ever make with your podcast. You’l...