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
361 episodes
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
Why Spotify’s New “Plays” Feature Actually Hurts Independent Podcasters
Spotify just rolled out a new feature called “Plays” that shows your episode play counts publicly inside their app. But this move isn’t about helping creators. It’s about algorithmically manipulating what used to be a level playing field—and it...
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Episode 344
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12:26
8 Ways to Fill a Content Gap Without Sounding Unprepared
Quick—nothing’s batched and an episode’s due tomorrow. What do you do? Panic? Procrastinate? Skip it and hope no one notices? Sure, you could ghost your audience—but what does that really cost you? Authority. Credibility. The listener trust you...
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Episode 343
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15:46
Q + A | How Do You Fit Time to Prep Your Podcast Into Your Schedule?
It’s the day before your episode goes live—and you still have to outline it, record it, edit it, and get it all done before 6:00 am tomorrow morning when your listeners will be looking for it. You tell yourself you work better under pressure, b...
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Episode 342
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18:28
How Long Should Your Podcast Episodes Be? The Answer Might Surprise You
You’ve probably Googled it. You’ve definitely heard five different answers from five different podcast “experts.” But how long should your episodes be? That depends entirely on your listener—and in this episode, I’m showing you how to ...
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Episode 341
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15:08
The Spending Strategy Behind Podcasts That Make Money | Danielle Hayden
Most podcasters want more revenue from their podcast—but few have a plan for getting there. In this episode, Danielle Hayden (reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting) is back to break down the numbers side of podc...
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Episode 340
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19:06
This One Belief Is Costing You Podcast Revenue | Danielle Hayden
Your podcast isn’t making money yet, so you think twice before investing in it. But without investing in the help you need to grow your show, it keeps struggling to bring in revenue. Ready to break out of the cycle?Meet Danielle Hayden—r...
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Episode 339
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16:36
Is It Time to Rebrand Your Podcast? Here Are the Signs to Look For | Desiree Petrich
Most podcasters think the problem is low downloads. But do you know what actually causes low downloads? When people can’t tell—within seconds—why your show is for them.Fellow podcaster Desiree Petrich shares the messy, emotional (and ult...
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Episode 338
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19:12
What to Do When Podcasting Starts Feeling Pointless | Ande Lyons
You’re second-guessing your content. Overthinking your numbers. Wondering if podcasting is even worth it. And it’s not because you’re doing it wrong—it’s because you’re doing it alone.In this episode, I’m joined by longtime podcaster and...
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Episode 337
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17:47