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

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 for how listeners behave today, which is great news for independent hosts with something meaningful to say. So if you want to stay visible as podcasting enters its next era, hit play and let’s dive in.1:04 – Why Podcasting Doesn’t Work the Way It Used To7:42 – Why “Word of Mouth” Isn’t How New Listeners Find Shows Anymore15:36 – Why Big Download Numbers Matter Less Than Listener Attention24:18 – How AI Content Puts Listener Trust (and Creators) at Risk33:51 – Why More Podcasters Are Moving Away From Ad Revenue Very Special Thanks to This Episode’s Guest Experts:Jennifer Han:  Ausha | LinkedIn | PodWarsAlex Sanfilippo: PodMatch.com | LinkedIn | Podcasting Made SimpleTom Rossi; Buzzsprout | LinkedIn | BuzzcastEllie Puckett: Resonate Recordings | LinkedIn | Renegade VenturesLauren Passell: Tink Media | LinkedIn | Podcast The Newsletter Other Episodes You’ll Love: The State of Podcasting Today and Where It’s HeadedSupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at [email protected] to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

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 breaks down what went wrong with her first show, what changed during her relaunch, and how that shift helped her break the Top 100 in four countries (including #4 in the U.S.), and what that shift looks like when you apply it to your own show.So if you’re done spending hours recording and editing just to hear “love the show” and nothing else, hit play and let’s dive in.2:03 – Why Some Podcasts Get Played but Never Shared2:10 – What Listeners Do When They Can’t Tell Who Your Show Is For6:47 – Why Overthinking Your Podcast Makes It Harder to Grow8:58 – The Outreach Strategy Behind a 1,000-Download Relaunch11:56 – What Changes When Your Podcast Becomes a Weekly Non-Negotiable Episode Links:Listen to Lauren’s Podcast | Intentionally Single Other Episodes You’ll Love: 3 Types of Podcasting Advice You Can Totally IgnoreThe Difference Between Hitting Publish vs. Launching a Podcast  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at [email protected] to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

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:Track exactly where your listeners are coming fromHow to know which episodes are driving signups to your email list (and which ones aren’t)The 90-day marketing rule every podcaster should follow, andThe simple-but-overlooked metrics that can help you attribute revenue to your show. So if you’re ready to run your show like someone who knows what’s working and why, hit play and let’s dive in.4:01 – Why Your Podcast Isn’t Paying You Yet (Even If People Say They Love It)14:49 – The Podcast SEO Plan That Grows Your Show While You Sleep18:29 – The 90-Day Marketing Rule Every Podcaster Should Follow23:03 – 3 Episode Patterns That Predict Future Podcast Growth34:28 – The Partnership Strategy That Brings in High-Intent Listeners Fast Episode Links:Listen to Jill’s Podcast: The Death Readiness Podcast  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at [email protected] to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

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 not to follow, return, or buy. You’ll also learn how to measure the three decisions listeners make as they move through your show, and pinpoint the one that needs attention first.So if you want a clear, data-backed way to understand where your podcast is losing listeners (and how to fix it STAT), hit play and let’s dive in.4:49 – Content Problem or Traffic Problem? Here’s How to Tell 5:22 – What Your Retention Rate Actually Tells You About Your Episodes 9:36 – The Gatekeeper Mistake That Costs You New Listeners 14:10 – A Simple Way to Pressure-Test Your Podcast Messaging for Clarity 20:10 – The Podcast Health Score That Shows You What to Fix First Other Episodes You’ll Love: Q + A | My Podcast Isn't Converting. Help!3 Cover Art Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were MakingHow to Choose a Bingeworthy Name for Your PodcastHow to Turn Your Podcast Description Into a Listener MagnetNot Getting Listens? It Could Be Your Episode TitlesSteal My High-Converting Episode FrameworkHow Long Should Your Episodes Be? The Answer Might Surprise You  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at [email protected] to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

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 see exactly what “good” actually looks like (with real benchmarks), and how to read your data inside of Spotify and Apple so you can spot the exact moment listeners are silently dropping off inside your podcast funnel and fix the leaks fast.So, if you’re done crossing your fingers every time you publish and you want a show that actually converts, hit play and let’s dive in.0:02 – Why Your Podcast Isn’t Converting Even If Listeners Say They Love It 2:43 – The One Conversion Metric Every Host Ignores (And Why It Kills New-Listener Growth) 4:30 – The Spotify Numbers That Instantly Tell You If Your Cover Art and Title Are Working 12:49 – The Apple Metrics That Show Exactly Where Your Episodes Lose Attention 21:40 – The Easiest Way to Spot Early Revenue Signals From Your Podcast Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Stop Losing Listeners to Your CompetitionThe Secret to a Podcast People Can’t Stop Talking About  → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7USupport the showLiked this episode? Share it with your podcasting friends! Love this show? Say thanks in true podcasting style by leaving a review. Take the Podcast Health Score™ to see exactly where your show is losing listeners and get a custom plan that shows you what to fix first. Join the On-Air Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on air by Courtney and get your podcast questions answered in real time. Get the Podcast SEO Mastery Course and learn how to optimize your show so the right listeners can actually find it. Apply for the PodLaunch® Accelerator and get deeper podcasting support and expert guidance tailored to your specific podcasting goals. Email us at [email protected] to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.