Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast with Courtney Elmer | Podcasting Strategies for Growing a Podcast That Converts

Hosted by Courtney Elmer | PodLaunchHQ.com

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Episodes

410

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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 15,000+ 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 coaching, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and “why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?!” podcasting advice to help you master growing a podcast your future 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. ... Popular Guests Include: Adam Adams, Alex Sanfilippo, Dave Jackson, Ellie Puckett, James Cridland, James Wedmore, Jeremy Enns, John Lee Dumas, Jordan Harbinger, Kevin Chemidlin, Seth Silvers, Tom Rossi, and many 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

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60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 41024 min

Steal This 3-Part 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 speaker and professional magician Jimi Gibson is breaking down why listeners mentally check out of episodes (even when you’re giving great info), the common mistakes that make people skip ahead or click away from your episode, and the psychological framework behind opening hooks, vocal delivery, and CTA transitions that keeps listeners hanging on for what comes next.If you want listeners staying locked into your episodes from your opening hook to your CTA, hit play and let’s dive in.…2:35 – The 3-Part Hook Formula That Makes Listeners That Makes Listeners Stay Past The First 30 Seconds6:16 – The Hyper-Specific Opening That Sounds Like You’re Reading Your Listener’s Mind10:52 – The Curiosity Loop Structure That Keeps Listeners Listening Longer19:29 – The CTA Transition Framework That Keeps Your Pitch From Feeling Salesy22:42 – The Simple Vocal Shifts That Pull Distracted Listeners Back Into the Conversation…Episode Links:Meet Jimi Gibson: Website | LinkedInWatch Jimi’s TEDx Talk: You Have Magic Power: Use It For GoodGet your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your show: Book a call with Resonate Recordings…Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Podcasting Psychology Behind Shows Listeners Can’t Stop Listening To…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

June 10, 2026Episode 40920 min

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, build trust, or drive action.TEDx Speaker and professional magician Jimi Gibson conducts a live experiment here on the show to explain why some podcasts feel impossible to turn off, the 3 brain chemicals that influence whether listeners stay engaged or tune out. If you want to create episodes listeners stay glued to instead of mentally checking out halfway through, hit play and let’s dive in.…3:06 – The Live Experiment That Explains Why Some Podcasts Feel Impossible to Turn Off11:21 – The 3 Brain Chemicals That Create a Satisfying Listening Experience13:59 – How Curiosity Loops Keep Listeners Mentally Present in an Episode15:02 – Why Contextual Details Keep Listeners Emotionally Engaged19:56 – The Psychological Differences Between Content That Feels Immersive vs. Forgettable…Episode Links:Meet Jimi Gibson: Website | LinkedInWatch Jimi’s TEDx Talk: You Have Magic Power: Use It For GoodGet your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your show: Book a call with Resonate Recordings…Other Episodes You’ll Love: Steal This 3-Part Framework to Keep Your Listeners Engaged …Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

June 3, 2026Episode 40821 min

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 words that make you sound less credible behind the mic.You’ll learn where these habits show up in podcast conversations, why listeners pick up on them faster than you think, and what to do instead if you want listeners finishing your episodes, trusting what you say, and clicking your CTAs instead of scrolling past them. Hit play and let’s dive in.…1:58 – Why Listeners Can Love Your Content but Still Not Trust You10:02 – The 4 Words That Reveal You’re Overexplaining on Your Podcast15:12 – The Guest Interview Mistake That Makes Listeners Lose Interest Fast17:55 – The 2 Words That Make You Sound Less Credible Behind the Mic20:31 – The Simple Exercise Before Hitting Record That Makes You Sound More Confident…Episode Links:The Jefferson Fisher Podcast…Other Episodes You’ll Love: Say This in the First 15 Seconds to Keep Listeners Listening…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

May 27, 2026Episode 40720 min

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 what to do when you’re launching a podcast with zero listeners or social proof, how to design a show that attracts the listeners you actually want, and why forcing yourself outside your comfort zone too early can make podcasting harder to stick with. If you want to hear the podcast launch strategy I recommend for getting more launch-day engagement and creating a show listeners come back to week after week, hit play and let’s dive in.…2:10 – What to Launch With When You Have Zero Listeners (And No Social Proof)6:30 – The #1 Launch Mistake Most Hosts Make9:35 – Why I Never Put Episode Numbers in My Titles14:29 – The Best Way to Help Listeners Find Older Episodes16:19 – Podcasting Advice for Introverts, From an Introvert…Other Episodes You’ll Love: From 30 to 1000+ Podcast Downloads in One Day With This Simple Podcast Launch StrategyWhy Episode Numbers Don’t Belong in Your Episode Titles (and What to Do Instead)…Special thanks to Frank Bravo of ProLegal Brief (launching soon), members of the Buzzsprout Podcasting Community, and the anonymous listener who submitted today’s questions. …Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

May 21, 2026Episode 40619 min

How to Know If Video Podcasting Is Worth It for Your Show | Alban Brooke, Buzzsprout

Everyone is talking about video podcasting right now. Almost nobody is talking about what it takes to do it well without turning your audio show into a full-blown production.Alban Brooke, Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, shares the one question podcasters should ask before adding video, why most hosts spend too much on gear too fast, and the reason audio-first podcasting still has a major advantage despite all the industry hype around video.If you’ve been wondering whether adding video is worth it (or just another way for podcasters to burn out chasing growth), hit play and let’s dive in.…2:16 – The One Question Podcasters Must Ask Before Starting Video 4:58 – How to Start Video Podcasting Without Overspending on Gear8:42 – The Guest Setup Mistake That Makes Video Podcasts Hard to Watch 10:50 – The Video Editing Habit That Hurts Your Credibility15:51 – The Reason Audio-First Podcasting Still Has an Advantage…Episode Links:Meet Alban Brooke: Buzzsprout.comListen to Buzzcast Get a $20 Buzzsprout credit with this link thanks to Alban and the Buzzsprout team.Book a call with our partner, Resonate Recordings to get podcast production off your plate.…Other Episodes You’ll Love: Apple Video Podcasts Are Here. Should You Actually Care?…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

May 20, 2026Episode 40520 min

Apple Video Podcasts Are Here. Should You Care? | Alban Brooke, Buzzsprout

Apple Video Podcasts are here, Amazon is following suit, and every podcaster is asking the same question: “Am I missing out if I’m not on video?” But the answer is a lot more nuanced than the internet makes it out to be.Alban Brooke, Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, breaks down the massive difference between how Apple, Spotify, and YouTube handle video distribution, the upsides (and downsides) of relying too heavily on algorithm-driven discovery, and what audio-first hosts need to understand before jumping into video podcasting just because everyone else is doing it.If you’ve been wondering whether video podcasting is the future (or distracting you from building a show listeners would follow with or without video), hit play and let’s dive in.…2:06 – Why Podcasters Are Suddenly Rethinking Video Podcasting5:58 – The Massive Difference Between YouTube Discovery and Apple Video Podcast Delivery9:47 – The Video Podcasting Problem Nobody Warns You About11:46 – The Short-Term Opportunity Most Podcasters Are Missing on Apple16:13 – The Hard Truth About Video Podcasting and Audience Growth…Episode Links:Meet Alban Brooke: Buzzsprout.comListen to Buzzcast Get a $20 Buzzsprout credit with this link thanks to Alban and the Buzzsprout team.Book a call with our partner, Resonate Recordings to get podcast production off your plate.See where your podcast ranks in search with Ausha’s SEO tool (free trial) …Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Know If Video Podcasting Is Worth It for Your Show…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

May 13, 2026Episode 40412 min

Podcasting Trends to Watch: Could Spotify’s New Discovery Tool Get You More Listeners?

Spotify has rolled out AI-curated playlists that claim to match listeners with shows like yours. Sounds like a win for podcast discovery... but is it?In this podcasting trends episode, I test podcasting tools like this one and give you the unfiltered breakdown of whether they’ll help you grow your show or not. You’ll see whether AI-curated playlists are here to stay and how Spotify decides who get recommended.If you want to know whether Spotify’s AI-curated playlists are worth your time (or just marketed that way), hit play and let’s dive in.…1:05 – What Spotify’s New AI Playlist Feature Is (and What It Changes About Podcast Discovery)4:25 – How Spotify Decides Which Podcasts to Recommend (and What It Looks For)8:05 – The 3 Title Mistakes That Get Your Episodes Ignored in Search12:35 – Why Niche Podcasts Get Picked First (and How to Position Yours)17:10 – What to Do Right Now to Get Your Podcast Recommended…Episode Links:Get your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your podcast: Book a call with Resonate RecordingsSee where your podcast ranks in search with Ausha’s SEO tool (free trial) …Other Episodes You’ll Love: Podcasting Trends to Watch: Apple’s Video Update Explained (And Why It Won’t Grow Your Podcast)5 Episode Title Mistakes That Make Your Show Easy to Skip…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

May 6, 2026Episode 40322 min

How to Get More Listeners From Your Existing Episodes Using Podcast SEO | Philip Pape

You’ve heard of Podcast SEO. You’ve probably even tried using AI to “optimize” your podcast. But if your show still isn’t showing up for the right keywords when listeners for search your topic, you don’t need more episodes or more downloads to get found. You need to know how to get Apple and Spotify to match you with the right people.That’s why I invited Philip Pape, host of Wits & Weights, to break down how he’s using Podcast SEO to bring more listeners to his show without recording anything new (and ranking top 5 in search because of it).If you want to turn your back catalog into a steady stream of new listeners, hit play and let’s dive in.…1:02 – How to Make Your Podcast Show Up When Listeners Search for Your Topic4:20 – Where to Find the Keywords Your Podcast Is Already Ranking For8:10 – How to Get More Listeners Without Recording Anything New12:20 – Use AI to Find Your Best Performing Episodes in Minutes (and What to Optimize First)12:20 – The 3 Places to Put Keywords So Your Podcast Shows Up Top 5 in Search…Episode Links:Meet Philip Pape: Website | YouTubeListen to Philip’s Podcast: Wits & WeightsGet a free trial with Ausha and see where your podcast ranks in search. Sign up for my Podcast SEO Mastery course (Get $50 Off with Code TOP100)Book a Call for Done-for-You Podcast SEO with our partner, Resonate Recordings…Other Episodes You’ll Love: Why Podcast SEO Makes It Easier Than Ever for Niche Shows to Get Discovered3 Podcast SEO Strategies That Increased My Downloads 41%3 Signs Your Podcast SEO Strategy Is Working…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

April 29, 2026Episode 40222 min

Watch Me Decode Your Podcast's Analytics in Real Time

We all know downloads aren’t the best metric for growing a podcast. And yet we still log into our hosting platform, check our downloads, and use that number to decide if our show is working (or worth continuing).That’s one of the biggest podcasting mistakes you can make, and the only way to fix it is to start tracking the 4 metrics that show if you’re actually reaching new listeners, keeping them listening, and turning them into leads. (I guarantee you’re not tracking these, and #4 will make you wonder why you didn’t look at this sooner).If you’re ready to finally know which numbers matter in growing a podcast (and which ones don’t), hit play and let’s dive in.…1:02 – Why Downloads Are Lying to You About Your Podcast Growth5:20 – The 4 Metrics That (Really) Tell You If Your Podcast Is Growing9:40 – How to Track New Listeners (and Know If You’re Reaching Fresh People)13:10 – The Engagement Benchmark That Tells You If Listeners Are Actually Staying16:45 – The One Metric Most Podcasters Aren’t Tracking (and How It Ties to Revenue)19:05 – What Happens When You Track the Right Metrics for 90 Days…Episode Links:Get your editing off your plate so you can focus on growing your podcast: Book a call with Resonate RecordingsSee where your podcast ranks in search with Ausha’s SEO tool (free trial) Find your unique listener count with PodAnalyst…Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Truth About Podcast Episode Length (and Why Most Get It Wrong)…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

April 23, 2026Episode 40120 min

5 Underused Podcasting Strategies That Get Listeners to Click, Follow, and Buy | Vance Morris

If people are listening to your podcast, but not clicking your links, joining your list, or buying your stuff, your listener journey is probably missing a few key steps.Vance Morris spent years behind the scenes at The Walt Disney Company learning how to engineer user behavior, and he’s about to show you how to apply the same audience psychology principles to guide listener action inside your podcast.If you’re ready to fix the gaps in your listener journey so more people follow your show, become fans, and buy from you, hit play and let’s dive in.…2:10 – Audit Your Listener Journey So You’re Not Blocking Listens, Signups, or Sales9:05 – Train Your Listeners to Click by Building Interaction Into Your Podcast12:18 – Use Open Loops and Cliffhangers to Hold Attention Through Your Episode16:40 – The Biggest Reason Why Giving CTAs Feels Awkward23:11 – Use Deadlines to Increase Follow-Through Without Sounding Pushy…Episode Links:Meet Vance Morris: Website | LinkedInListen to Vance’s Podcast: Systematic Magic …Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Disney Playbook Behind Podcasts Listeners Actually Follow and Come Back To…Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here.Love this show? Leave a review to say thanks in true podcasting style, or share it with your podcasting friends.Podcast Health Score™ See exactly where your show is losing listeners.Podcast SEO Mastery Optimize your show so it can get found 24/7.Apply for a spot on the show to get live podcasting help from me.Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on SubstackGet reviews for your show with PodLottery...Special thanks to Resonate Recordings, our implementation partner for PodLaunch® Accelerator. If your podcasting efforts aren't bringing you the listeners or sales you expected, book a strategy call for help to fix it.Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.