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

434

Latest episode

Oct 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 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. ... 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

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 19, 2026Episode 43429 min

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on Rolling Out Listener Subscriptions

The podcasting industry loves telling podcasters how "easy" it is to make money through listener subscriptions. So why then can setting up listener subscriptions cost you weeks of work and still leave listeners unable to pay you? What started as a simple monetization experiment on my show exposed what happens when the systems between Apple Podcasts and hosting providers fail, and the simpler setup options that can keep those problems from costing you paying subscribers. We’ll also unpack whether listener subscriptions are worth it for a show your size, where I’d set them up, and what I’d avoid if I could start over from scratch. Hit play and let’s dive in. 0:04 – Are Listener Subscriptions Worth It for a Small Podcast? 1:57 – Why Monetizing With Listener Subscriptions Is Easier Said Than Done 7:17 – Choosing Subscriber Benefits That Won’t Add to Your Workload 11:02 – How Podcast Apps and Hosting Tools Make Getting Paid Harder Than It Should Be 25:07 – Where to Set Up Listener Subscriptions and What to Avoid … Episode Links: See how much of your podcast tech stack Beamly can replace → beamly.com … Other Episodes You’ll Love: Why Your Next Dollar Should Come From Your Last Episode Before You Chase Sponsors to Monetize Your Podcast, Listen to This … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

October 13, 2026Episode 43324 min

The Podcast Revenue Model Hiding in Your Guest Interviews | Andrew Hellmich

A profitable podcast membership isn’t built by putting your best content behind a paywall. After 15 years of building a paid podcast membership, Andrew Hellmich has learned how to price premium content in a way that rewards early listeners without undervaluing what you create. He’s back to break down the pricing model behind his 1,000-member subscription, including when to raise your price, how to structure monthly vs. annual plans, why your earliest members should get your best deal for life, and the 50/50 revenue model he uses to turn guest expertise into additional paid offers. If you’re considering a paid podcast membership and want to build one people will actually pay for, hit play and let’s dive in. 5:40 – How to Start Charging for Podcast Content You’ve Always Given Away for Free 7:38 – The Fastest Way to Find Out If Listeners Will Pay for Your Podcast 10:19 – How to Price a Premium Podcast Membership 11:09 – The 50/50 Profit Split That Turns Guest Expertise Into Podcast Revenue 20:11 – Why Your First Podcast Members Should Get Your Best Price for Life Episode Links: Meet Andrew Hellmich: Website | LinkedIn Listen to Andrew’s Podcast: PhotoBizX See how much of your podcast tech stack Beamly can replace → beamly.com … Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Get Better Answers From Your Podcast Guests … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

October 12, 2026Episode 43222 min

5 Interview Techniques to Stop Listeners From Tuning Out | Andrew Hellmich

Most podcast hosts think good interviews come from asking better questions. But great podcast interviewers know the best questions are the ones they never planned to ask. After more than 600 interviews and 15 years podcasting, Andrew Hellmich knows what separates mediocre interviews from the ones that keep listeners listening. He’s going to show you how to set the right expectations before you hit record, handle a guest who won’t give you a straight answer, and know when to push, redirect, or throw your next question out altogether so you can get the answers your listeners are counting on you to get. If you want better answers from your guests, hit play and let’s dive in. … 2:21 – Why Your Podcast Guest Isn’t The Most Important Person In The Interview 6:39 – What to Do When a Podcast Guest Won’t Give You a Straight Answer 9:17 – Why Scripting Every Question Can Make You Miss Your Guest’s Best Answers 12:10 – How To Follow An Unexpected Answer Without Forgetting Your Next Question 21:02 – The Simple Interview Technique That Gets Guests to Open Up … Episode Links: Meet Andrew Hellmich: Website | LinkedIn Listen to Andrew’s Podcast: PhotoBizX See how much of your podcast tech stack Beamly can replace → beamly.com … Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Podcast Revenue Model Hiding in Your Guest Interviews … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

October 5, 2026Episode 43135 min

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 this rapid-fire Q&A, I’m answering your podcast growth questions about how to rank, when to monetize, and which podcast growth strategies are (and aren’t) worth your time, so that you know where your time and effort will make the biggest difference. Hit play and let’s dive in. … 2:00 – When Is Your Podcast Ready to Monetize? 7:30 – Should You Change Podcast Categories to Rank Higher? 10:00 – Why Ranking in the Top 100 May Matter Less Than You Think 13:30 – What to Do When You Rank #1 But Aren’t Getting Listeners 20:00 – What Should You Focus on First to Grow a New Podcast? … Episode Links: Want to simplify your podcast tech stack? Try Beamly free → … Other Episodes You’ll Love: Are Podcast Sponsorships Worth the Effort for Small Shows? Why Podcast Monetization Isn't Automatic … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

September 28, 2026Episode 43023 min

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. Analytics. Marketing. Monetization. And Zapier to duct-tape half of it together. And somewhere in there, you’re also supposed to make a good podcast. So, I audited the modern podcast tech stack for you to find out what you need, what you’re probably overpaying for, and how much of your stack can realistically exist in one place. Turns out, we may be making this a lot more complicated (and expensive) than it needs to be. Hit play and let’s dive in. … 6:00 – The 5 Jobs Your Podcast Tech Stack Needs to Perform 12:00 – When to Consolidate Your Tools vs. Pay for Specialized Software 15:00 – The Right Way to Compare the Cost of an All-in-One Platform 20:00 – A 3-Step Audit to Find Out What Your Podcast Tech Stack Is Really Costing You 23:00 – The Question That Reveals Which Podcast Tools You Actually Need … Episode Links: Ready to simplify your podcast tech stack? Try Beamly free → … Other Episodes You’ll Love: What Your Podcast Metrics Aren’t Telling You … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

September 22, 2026Episode 42917 min

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 listener retention. PodAnalyst co-founder George Lejnine is back to reveal what your retention curve can tell you about why listeners stay, skip, or leave so you can keep more of the listeners you've worked so hard to earn. Hit play and let’s dive in. … 2:07 – Why 94% of Listeners Who Make It Past 30 Seconds Keep Listening 4:14 – The Episode Opener Mistake That Can Push New Listeners Away 5:25 – Why Pre-Roll Ads Cost You Listeners 7:55 – How to Tell When Listeners Are Hitting the Skip Button vs. Leaving for Good 16:55 – Why You Should Wait 7–14 Days Before Judging an Episode’s Performance … Episode Links: Meet George Lejnine: PodAnalyst.com | LinkedIn … Other Episodes You’ll Love: What 100,000 Podcast Episodes Reveal About Listener Drop-Off 5 Podcasting Metrics (No One’s Teaching) That Reveal Your Podcast’s True Health … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

September 21, 2026Episode 42815 min

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 they leave when they do. PodAnalyst co-founder George Lejnine joins me to unpack how to read your retention data, what these patterns reveal about your content, and how to spot the problems that may be costing you the listeners you worked so hard to attract. Hit play and let’s dive in. … 0:25 – Why Higher Podcast Downloads Don’t Equal Better Podcast Performance 7:18 – The Podcast Retention Number You Should Be Watching 9:22 – What 100,000 Podcast Episodes Reveal About “Good” Listener Retention 12:04 – What to Look for When an Episode Underperforms 16:55 – When a Smaller Podcast Audience Is Actually a Good Sign … Episode Links: Meet George Lejnine: PodAnalyst.com | LinkedIn … Other Episodes You’ll Love: 94% of Your Listeners Will Keep Listening When You Get This Right The One Metric Podcasters Should Track Instead of Downloads … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

September 14, 2026Episode 42723 min

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. Podcast Hall of Famer and School of Podcasting host Dave Jackson joins me to unpack why the best podcasting advice isn't universal and how to avoid following advice that sounds right but leads you in the wrong direction. Hit play and let's dive in. … 1:23 – The One Question You Should Answer Before You "Just Keep Going" 3:28 – Why Every Podcast Needs Its Own Definition of Success 8:03 – Why Your First Recording Shouldn't Be Your First Episode 12:27 – The First 30 Seconds That Can Make or Break Your Podcast 18:55 – Why Feedback Is Every Podcaster's Competitive Advantage … Episode Links: Meet Dave Jackson: schoolofpodcasting.com | LinkedIn Listen to Dave’s Podcast: School of Podcasting Ask the Podcast Coach with Dave Jackson & Jim Collison What Was That Like? with Scott Johnson The Jefferson Fisher Podcast … Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Monetize Your Podcast Even With a Small Audience How Do You Measure The Success of Your Podcast (And You Can't Say Downloads) … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

September 7, 2026Episode 4261 hr 1 min

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 traffic to your show all day long without seeing much growth. I recently joined Jordan Blair on Buzzsprout’s Buzzcast to put their show to the test using the five Podcast Content Gatekeepers® that determine whether a potential listener clicks, scrolls past, or hits play. And in this episode, you can score your podcast right alongside us to pinpoint what could be costing you listeners before they ever hear your content. Hit play and let’s dive in. … 2:00 – Why Your Podcast Metrics Can’t Tell You What to Fix 11:04 – What New Listeners Decide Before They Ever Hear Your Voice 13:42 – Is Your Podcast Cover Art Costing You Listeners? 17:01 – Is Your Podcast Name Making You Harder to Find? 25:46 – Why Your Podcast Description Isn’t Getting People to Listen 35:45 – How to Write Podcast Episode Titles That Make People Click Play 45:41 – The Biggest Mistake Hosts Make When Writing Show Notes 54:06 – What Your Score Reveals About Your Podcast’s Growth Potential … Episode Links: Get Your Podcast Health Score® Listen to the aftershow on Buzzcast Download the Bingeworthy Episode Title Cheat Sheet Check out Courtney’s Airbnb … Other Episodes You’ll Love: The 0.5 Second Decision That Makes Listeners Hit Play (or Not) … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

August 31, 2026Episode 42521 min

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 takes over the microphone to ask why I spend so much time studying podcasts, how host decisions shape listener behavior, and why, according to him, it involves a lot of “scribble scratch circles” and possibly some undercover spy work. For a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re building next, plus what “working from home” looks like through the eyes of an eight-year-old, hit play and let’s dive in. … 2:35 – Why Strategy Alone Can’t Grow Your Podcast 9:24 – What Your Listener Behavior Reveals About Your Podcast Performance 12:09 – How 30,000 Hours of Research Led to the PodLaunch OS® 14:08 – The Industry Blind Spot the PodLaunch OS® Is Built to Solve 27:40 – The PodLaunch Health Score vs. PodLaunch OS® … Episode Links: Elmer's CheeWees ... Other Episodes You’ll Love: 5 Reasons New Listeners Aren’t Clicking on Your Podcast How to Pinpoint Where Your Podcast Performance Is Breaking Down … Got Podcasting Questions? Send them to me here. Support the show 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 podcasting coaching on the show to get live podcasting help from me. Want more podcasting advice? See what I’m testing on Substack ... Follow for more podcasting insights: LinkedIn | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.