Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategy for Business Growth
This isn’t another “share great content and stay consistent” podcast about podcasting. We’re breaking down 15,000+ hours of study into what top hosts do differently to create bingeworthy podcasts that convert.
Hosted by Forbes- and Rolling Stone-featured podcast psychology expert and Webby Awards judge Courtney Elmer—who’s helped over 70+ hosts launch Top 100 shows—you’ll get the tools and strategies other shows won’t dare to share. Expect unfiltered coaching, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and the kind of “why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?!” advice to help you build a podcast your future clients can’t stop bingeing (and buying from).
So if 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 you want to launch a podcast that positions you as an authority in your niche and drives real revenue—welcome to the podcast that’s about to change the game for you. Hit play and let’s dive in.
Popular Guests Include: Jordan Harbinger, John Lee Dumas, James Cridland, Tom Rossi, Jeremy Enns, Kevin Chemidlin, Dave Jackson, Alex Sanfilippo, Seth Silvers, Stacy Tuschl, Kate Erickson, Grant Baldwin, Hal Elrod, Gay Hendricks, Brandon Lucero, James Wedmore, and more.
Popular Episode Topics Include: Podcasting for Business Growth, Starting a Podcast, Podcast Audience Growth, Podcasting for Profit, Podcasting Psychology, Increasing Listener Engagement, Creating Bingeworthy Podcast Content, Lead Generation Through Podcasting, Business Podcasting, Ranking Your Podcast in The Top 100, Podcast Launch Strategy, Podcast Monetization Strategies, Podcast Messaging, Podcast Positioning
Episodes
369 episodes
The 7-Day Fix for Slow Podcast Growth | Dr. Annie Campanile
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 ...
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Episode 369
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23:31
5 Habits That Separate Top-Rated Podcasters From the Rest | Alex Sanfilippo, PodMatch
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 mechanic...
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Episode 368
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20:44
The Content Shift That Can Double Your Downloads | Alex Sanfilippo, PodMatch
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 t...
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Episode 367
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22:02
3 Signs Your Podcast SEO Is Paying Off
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 po...
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Episode 366
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22:41
5 Best Podcast SEO Practices to Rank at the Top of Apple and Spotify Search | Irène Picco, Ausha
One in two podcast listeners discover new shows through search inside Apple and Spotify… which means, if your show isn’t showing up in search, you’re handing half your audience to someone else.In this episode, we’re fixing that. I’m back...
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Episode 365
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21:10
41% Podcast Growth in 30 Days with Podcast SEO. Here’s How. | Irène Picco, Ausha
41% more downloads in just 30 days. No podcast ads. No podcast guesting sprint. Just Podcast SEO done right.In this episode, I’m joined by Irene Picco from Ausha, widely recognized as the global leader in tracking podcast SEO performance...
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Episode 364
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21:33
Why Podcast SEO Makes It Easier Than Ever for Niche Shows to Get Discovered
“Just stay consistent and make great content” is the podcast industry’s favorite advice, and it’s exactly why most shows never grow. It doesn’t matter how good your content is if no one can find it. And if your podcast isn’t showing up in searc...
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Episode 363
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19:25
5 Ways to Create Swiftie-Level Loyalty That Drives Podcast Growth
Taylor Swift’s engagement dominated headlines, but the real story is what it revealed about fan psychology. To outsiders, it might look like an obsession. In reality? This "crazy" fan behavior all boils down to simple human psychology. And it’s...
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Episode 362
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22:44
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Just Handed Us The Biggest Podcast Marketing Lesson Yet
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 cras...
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Episode 361
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11:21
Fix My Pod | Is Your Audience Too Broad to Grow? Here's How to Tell
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 e...
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Episode 360
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26:15
Q + A | How Do You Make Listeners Care About Non-Trendy Topics?
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’...
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Episode 359
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15:55
The One Thing Every Podcast Needs to Make New Listeners Hit Play | Kristi Mayfield
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...
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Episode 358
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23:40
3 Tests Every Podcaster Should Run Before Their Next Episode Airs | Jay Nachlis
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...
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Episode 357
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19:04
How to Find Out What Listeners Really Want From Your Podcast | Jay Nachlis, Coleman Insights
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...
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Episode 356
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19:42
The Guest Booking Strategy That Saves You From Boring Guests
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 del...
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Episode 355
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21:17
Fix My Pod | Not Getting Listens? It Could Be Your Episode Titles
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 yo...
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Episode 354
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27:42
Why Your Social Posts Aren’t Driving Podcast Growth
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 y...
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Episode 353
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13:28
How to Position Your Podcast So People Want to Work With You | Cheryl Fischer
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 sayi...
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Episode 352
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18:45
Q + A | How Much Should You Actually Teach Inside Your Podcast Episodes?
You’ve been told to make your podcast content “valuable,” but no one ever tells you what that actually means. So you default to teaching step-by-step—hoping that if you give away enough value for free, your inbox will be flooded with messages f...
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Episode 351
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18:47
How to Grow Your Podcast Audience and Email List at the Same Time | Jay Schwedelson
Most podcasters treat email like a checkbox: “Sent the episode to my list—done.” But if that’s your whole strategy, it’s why no one's clicking. In this episode, email marketing legend and Do This Not That podcast host Jay Schwedelson i...
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Episode 350
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20:53
What to Post on LinkedIn to Grow Your Podcast This Week | Jay Schwedelson
Still think LinkedIn is just for job seekers or recruiter pitches? Think again. It’s one of the last platforms where organic reach actually works—and it might be one of the fastest ways to get new listeners to your podcast every week.In ...
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Episode 349
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24:19
Use This Podcast CTA Framework to Turn Your Listeners Into Leads
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Where in my episode should I put my call to action?” — this one’s for you. Because even if your CTA is perfectly worded, it won’t drive action if it’s in the wrong spot or the listener payoff isn’t clear.A...
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Episode 348
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17:01
Q + A | How Do I Give a Podcast CTA That Doesn't Sound Salesy?
You KNOW you should give a call to action in every podcast episode. But every time you sit down to record, your brain short-circuits — should you tell them to follow the show? Join your list? Download the freebie? Book a call? Support your spon...
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Episode 347
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23:57
Fix My Pod | Not Getting Listener Feedback? You're Probably Missing This One Thing
You’re showing up. You’re publishing every week. So why does it still feel like no one’s listening?That’s the question Conrad—documentary filmmaker and host of The First Responder Wellness Podcast—was asking when he came to me for help. ...
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Episode 346
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23:55
The 5 Podcasting Metrics No One's Teaching (That Actually Tell You If Your Show is Growing)
Downloads are the most unreliable metric for measuring a podcast’s true success. The problem? Most podcasters still rely solely on them to decide if their show is “working.” In this episode, find out why the podcasting metrics that ...
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Episode 345
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22:54