Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategies for Growing a Podcast That Converts
Named the best podcast on podcasting, this isn’t another “share great content and stay consistent” show doling out generic podcasting advice. We’re breaking down 30,000+ hours of study into what today's top hosts do differently to create bingeworthy podcasts that convert.
Hosted by Forbes and Rolling Stone–featured podcasting psychology expert, Webby Awards judge, and PodLaunch® founder Courtney Elmer, you’ll get the podcasting tools and strategies other shows won’t dare to share (backed by 70+ Top 100 podcast launches).
Expect unfiltered podcasting insights, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and “why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?!” advice so you can master growing a podcast that listeners can’t stop bingeing (and buying from).
When you’re ready to break out of less-than-200-download-per-episode jail and stop settling for downloads that don’t reflect your effort...
Or if you want a podcast launch strategy that positions you as the authority in your category and drives revenue...
Welcome to the podcast that’s about to change the game for you. Hit follow and let’s dive in.
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Popular Guests Include: Adam Adams, Alex Sanfilippo, Dave Jackson, James Cridland, James Wedmore, Jeremy Enns, John Lee Dumas, Jordan Harbinger, Kevin Chemidlin, Seth Silvers, Tom Rossi, and more.
Popular Episode Topics Include: Podcast Messaging, Podcasting Psychology, Podcast Marketing, Creating Bingeworthy Podcast Content, Listener Engagement Strategies, Podcasting Mistakes to Avoid, Podcasting Tools, Podcasting Trends, Growing a Podcast, How to Monetize Your Podcast, Podcast Listener Conversion, Video Podcasting, Ranking Your Podcast in the Top 100, How to Start a Podcast, Podcast Launch Strategy
Episodes
431 episodes
Should You Change Podcast Categories? Plus When to Monetize and What to Do When Podcast SEO Isn’t Working
Should you switch your podcast category to get more listeners? How do you know when your podcast is ready to make money? And what happens when you’re ranking #1 in search, but those rankings aren’t bringing you listeners? In ...
I Audited the Modern Podcast Tech Stack. Here’s What You Actually Need
Whoever said podcasting was as simple as plugging in a mic and hitting record was wrong. A hosting platform was only the beginning. Today you need remote recording. Editing tools. Transcription software. AI tools. Podcast SEO. Websites. Anal...
94% of Your Listeners Will Keep Listening When You Get This Right | George Lejnine, PodAnalyst
If a listener makes it through the first 30 seconds of your podcast episode, there’s a 94% chance they’ll still be listening a quarter of the way through. Which means what happens in those first 30 seconds can make or break your show's liste...
What 100,000 Podcast Episodes Reveal About Listener Drop-Off | George Lejnine, PodAnalyst
What does “good” podcast retention actually look like? And how many listeners should you expect to lose before the end of an episode? Data from more than 100,000 podcast episodes reveals some surprising patterns in why listeners stay and why...
Why "Just Keep Going" Might Be the Worst Podcasting Advice | Dave Jackson
One of the most common pieces of podcasting advice might also be one of the most misleading. And if you've ever been told to "just keep podcasting," this episode will help you know when that advice is right for your show and when it isn't.
5 Reasons New Listeners Aren’t Clicking on Your Podcast
Before a new listener gives you 20, 30, or 60 minutes of their time, your podcast has to convince them it’s worth it. And if your cover art, podcast name, description, episode titles, or show notes fail to do that job, you can drive more tra...
The Story Behind the PodLaunch OS
Ever wonder why optimizing one part of your podcast doesn’t always improve its performance as a whole?That question is at the heart of what we’re building with the PodLaunch OS®, and in this special episode, my eight-year-old son ...
How to Pinpoint Where Your Podcast Performance Is Breaking Down
The hardest part about growing a podcast isn't knowing what to do next. It's knowing what to fix first.That's why so many hosts spend months chasing better titles, stronger SEO, bigger guests, or more content. Every one of those c...
What Your Podcast Metrics Aren't Telling You
If your podcast isn't growing, your metrics are the last place you should look. Every download, play, and retention graph only tells part of the story. Which means you can spend months improving your podcast without ever knowing whether you'...
This Changes Everything We Know About Growing a Podcast
Everyone’s trying to teach you how to grow your podcast. Do SEO. Add video. Write better titles. Improve your production. But what if almost everything you thought you knew about growing a podcast is backwards?That's the question ...
The New Rules for Growing a Podcast in 2026 | Roger Nairn
Knowing where listeners discover podcasts is only half the battle. The bigger challenge is turning that knowledge into a repeatable strategy that helps more people find your show month after month instead of hoping people stumble across your...
Podcast Discovery Has Changed. Here's What the Data Says | Roger Nairn
New data reveals that podcast discovery has changed, but most podcasters haven't changed with it. If you're still expecting new listeners to find your show inside Apple Podcasts or Spotify, you're overlooking the top places podcast listeners...
Use These 3 Communication Patterns to Help Listeners Trust You Faster
If your podcast needs to deliver measurable reach and revenue for your business or brand, then the fastest way to do that isn't publishing more episodes. It's learning how to communicate in a way that helps listeners trust you enough to act....
What to Do After Guesting on a Podcast to Get More Referrals and Clients | Sam Brake Guia
Most people think landing the podcast guest interview is the win. It's not. If your podcast guest appearances end with a thank-you email and a social media post, that's exactly why they never lead to more clients, referrals, or repeat invita...
What Top Hosts Look for Before They Say Yes to Your Guest Pitch | Sam Brake Guia
After sending nearly 2,000 podcast pitches that have landed his clients on top podcasts, Sam Brake Guia knows exactly what separates the guest pitches that get deleted from the ones that get an immediate "yes" (and the answer has less ...
7 Podcasting Skills That Separate Good Hosts from Great Ones
What separates an average podcast interview from a bingeworthy one isn't the guest. It's the host. Sam Brake Guia, host of Mics to Millions and co-founder of PodWritten, has interviewed hundreds of guests and studied...
Why Your Podcast Feels Valuable to You, But Not to Listeners
If your podcast feels valuable to you but listeners are dropping off halfway through your episodes, the issue might not be your content but the way you’re communicating it. Most experts think valuable podcast content means sh...
Why Your Next Dollar Should Come From Your Last Episode | Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout
What if you could monetize your podcast without creating more content, growing your audience, or landing sponsors? Most podcasters are sitting on revenue opportunities they don't even know they have. Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout's Podcast Produc...
Before You Chase Sponsors to Monetize Your Podcast, Listen to This | Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout
Sponsorships aren't the revenue dream most podcasters think they are. In fact, they can be one of the least reliable forms of income from your podcast, and Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout's Podcast Producer and host of Dreamful Bedtime Stories (13M...
The Biggest Podcast Growth Mistake You're Probably Making
The podcast industry has convinced you that podcast growth comes from choosing the right marketing tactic. Yet every day, thousands of podcasters are spending time on strategies they can't tell are helping, hurting, or doing nothing at all.<...
The 0.5 Second Decision That Makes Listeners Hit Play (or Not)
Whatever problem your podcast solves, it’s competing against every other show that promises to help listeners solve it. I’m breaking down the 4 signs listeners are overlooking your podcast and the split-second decision that d...
Steal This 3-Part Episode Framework to Keep Your Listeners Engaged | Jimi Gibson
Most podcast hosts focus on teaching something valuable, but valuable content isn't what keeps listeners listening. And when attention drops halfway through an episode, listeners stop caring about what you say next. TedX spea...
The Podcasting Psychology Behind Shows Listeners Can’t Stop Listening To | Jimi Gibson
If “good content” were enough to grow a podcast, more shows (including yours) would have listeners bingeing every episode the second it dropped. Instead, plenty of podcasts with valuable content struggle to hold attention long enough to grow...
3 Podcasting Mistakes to Avoid that Undermine Your Authority
I’m breaking down the three podcasting mistakes to avoid that can make listeners lose interest quick, plus 4 words that reveal you’re overexplaining, the guest interview habit that can turn a great interview into a frustrating listen, and the 2...
The Podcast Launch Strategy I’d Use Starting From Zero
Most podcast launch advice focuses on hitting publish. Almost none of it teaches you how to launch in a way that helps listeners actually find, follow, and hit play on your show.In this rapid-fire Q & A episode, I’m answering ...