The Online Course Show

Hosted by Jacques Hopkins

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281

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Online Course Show is all about exchanging knowledge and helping course creators succeed. I LOVE going straight to the source and hearing people’s firsthand knowledge about what has worked for their business. And it’s always great to share my own observations and bounce ideas off other people in the same entrepreneurial space.There is something for everyone on the show. Funnel hacking, high level strategy, nitty gritty processes, book reviews, productivity tips… the list goes on.My guests an

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June 2, 202625 min

279: Beyond ChatGPT - My Simple 2026 AI Setup

If ChatGPT is still the only AI tool you’re using, this episode will help you take the next step. In this episode of The Online Course Show, I’m sharing the AI tools I’m actually using in 2026. Not a giant list of random apps. Just the ones that are saving me time and changing how I work. I talk about why I’ve been using Claude as my daily driver AI, how to get better results with simple prompting habits, why “do research” is one of my favorite phrases to add to a prompt, and how Wispr Flow has made it much easier to give AI the context it needs. I also walk through Claude Cowork, how I use Rocky in my own business, why Pikzels has become part of my YouTube workflow, and why Claude Code is worth trying even if you don’t think of yourself as a coder. If AI feels overwhelming, don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick one tool. Try one workflow. Build from there. IN THIS EPISODE • Why ChatGPT is only the beginning • Why I’m using Claude as my main AI tool • How to use “do research” to get better answers • Why AI can sound confident and still be wrong • How to use ELI5 prompts • How to make AI review your work from your audience’s perspective • Why Wispr Flow makes prompting faster • What Claude Cowork does • How Pikzels helps with YouTube thumbnails • Why Claude Code is useful beyond coding CHAPTERS 00:00 Why ChatGPT is only the beginning 01:57 Claude as my daily driver AI 05:42 Prompting tips that make AI more useful 08:54 A simple demo of AI guessing confidently 11:15 ELI5 and audience-review prompts 15:45 Wispr Flow and voice-first prompting 19:24 Claude Cowork and AI agents 22:36 Pikzels for YouTube thumbnails 25:30 Claude Code for apps and bigger projects 29:15 Where to start if AI feels overwhelming   LINKS AND RESOURCES Claude: https://claude.com/download Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/r?JACQUES92 Pikzels: https://pikzels.com/?via=jacques63 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AzQiZEiQF-8 Get your Personalized AI Game Plan: https://jacqueshopkins.com/ai-start   Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

March 26, 202630 min

278: Meet the AI Operator That Runs My Business

I spent years in the online course world thinking ChatGPT was basically the whole AI story. It wasn't. In this episode, I talk about what changed when I finally went deeper and built a personal AI operator that helps run my business 24/7. I share what it actually does, why it has been such a game changer for me, and why I think this shift is going to matter for every digital product creator.

March 5, 20261 hr 1 min

277: The “One Video a Week” System That Built a Million-Dollar Course Business (Featuring Lauren Bateman)

What does it actually look like to build a seven-figure course business that doesn’t depend on you being “on” all the time? In this episode, I sit down again with Lauren Bateman to talk about what’s changed since her last appearance—and how she’s grown to over $1M per year while keeping her workload lean. We break down her YouTube consistency, simple but powerful A/B testing wins, how she structures her funnel, and why chasing viral content can distract you from the audience that actually buys. If you want a more predictable, sustainable course business, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways. Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VbDIaN68h_E Lauren's Website: https://www.laurenbatemanguitar.com/  🎓 Check out the free workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coachingWatch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshopFree Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy

February 19, 20261 hr 5 min

276: The “Go Wide, Go Deep, Go Long” Model for Course Creators (Featuring John Meese)

Most course creators think the path to success is to go wide first — build a big audience, create a big course, launch to the masses. But what if that’s actually the slowest way to build momentum? In this episode, I sit down with John Meese from Sell Your Smarts to unpack his “Go Wide, Go Deep, Go Long” framework — and why starting with depth (not scale) is often the smartest move. We talk about how to land your first high-ticket clients without ads or social media, how to craft a 10x promise that cuts through the noise, and why we’ve officially entered what John calls “The Age of Insight.” If you’re building (or rebuilding) your online course business in 2026, this conversation will challenge the way you think about offers, audiences, and growth. Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1zvGy_pI1NE John's Website: meese.gift/course 🎓 Check out the free workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coachingWatch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshopFree Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy

February 5, 202652 min

275: Live Launch vs Evergreen: The Real Decision Behind High Results (Featuring Stephanie Gaffney)

If you’ve ever found yourself answering the same questions over and over and thinking, “I should just turn this into a course,” this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I sit down with Stephanie Gaffney, a live wedding painter who transformed a decade of experience into a premium online program — and did it in a way that actually serves her students and her life. We dig into how Stephanie built The Wedding Painter’s Blueprint, how she priced it confidently at a premium level, and what really went into launching a high-touch course while juggling family life, client work, and a growing business. This is a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to turn creative expertise into a sustainable, scalable offer — without cutting corners or burning out. Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/cZsNzcrGv2A Stephanie's Education Website: https://stephaniegaffney.com/ Stephanie's Artist Website: https://torregrossafineart.com/ 🎓 Check out Genesis: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/genesis Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coachingWatch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshopFree Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy  

January 8, 202659 min

274: Create Videos WHILE YOU SLEEP… Using Your AI Avatar (Featuring Julian Goldie)

What if you could create 8 long-form videos a day and over 100 pieces of content daily with just a few minutes of your own time? That’s not a hypothetical — it’s exactly what my guest, Julian Goldie, is doing using AI, systems, and some pretty bold experimentation. In this episode, we dig deep into AI avatars, content systems, SEO in the age of ChatGPT, and what authenticity even means anymore. I’ll be honest — I have mixed feelings about some of this. But Julian brings a thoughtful, transparent approach that made me seriously rethink how AI might fit into a modern course business. Whether you’re excited, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this conversation will definitely stretch how you think about content, scale, and leverage. Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lNP1_N8nP1g Julian’s Website: https://www.skool.com/ai-profit-lab-7462/about Join the AI Profit Boardroom: https://oc.show/aigroup Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coachingWatch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshopFree Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy

December 18, 20251 hr 7 min

273: How to Use AI WITHOUT Losing YOUR Voice (Featuring Dan Cumberland)

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Use AI or get left behind.” But if you’re a course creator, that advice can feel like a trap, because the fastest way to “use AI” is also the fastest way to sound generic and lose your voice. In this episode, I sit down with Dan Cumberland, who helps founder-led brands scale with AI without losing their soul, and honestly, this conversation felt like a giant exhale. We dig into how to use AI in a way that keeps your content human, especially when it comes to marketing (the place most course creators get stuck). Dan shares a simple framework to help AI actually sound like you, plus practical examples of using AI inside your course experience to support students at a higher level, without turning your brand into “AI slop.” Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/inOBNS15RfQ Dan's Website: https://dancumberlandlabs.com/   Watch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coachingFree Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy  

December 4, 20251 hr 9 min

272: The Simple PDF That Built a Global Brand (Featuring Benny Lewis)

In this episode, I sit down with Benny Lewis from Fluent in 3 Months to talk about what it really takes to stand out in a crowded online course space. We dig into how he turned a simple PDF into a global brand, why timing isn’t the barrier people think it is, and what creators should focus on right now to grow. We also get into positioning, pricing, viral content, and the mindset that’s helped Benny stay relevant for over a decade. If you’re wondering how to differentiate yourself or how to start today without feeling “too late,” this conversation is for you. Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/uQqYSBXpZH8 Benny's Website: https://www.fluentin3months.com/ Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coaching Watch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop Free Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/ Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy

November 20, 20251 hr 3 min

271: Designing the Perfect Program for YOU (Featuring Mike Pacchione)

Ever feel like you're building a course based on what everyone else is doing instead of what actually fits your life and your students' needs? In this episode, I chat with speech coach Mike Pacchione—who’s worked with the likes of Amy Porterfield and Donald Miller—about how he’s built a high-impact, low-complexity program that prioritizes feedback and alignment over scale. We explore what it looks like to run a hybrid course, why he doesn't offer a standalone version, and how to design offers around what actually works for you. Watch the Free Workshop: https://oc.show/workshop Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9uRLFc0Di5M Mike's Website: http://speechclub.club/ Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coachingWatch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshopFree Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguyX: https://twitter.com/onlinecourseguy  

November 6, 202546 min

270: Course Creation in a Post-AI World (Featuring Panos Siozos)

In this episode, I chat with Panos Siozos, CEO of LearnWorlds, about what sets successful course creators apart and how platforms like his are evolving with AI, instructional design, and community-building tools to help elevate the student experience and online course outcomes. Watch the Free Workshop: https://oc.show/workshop Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dXt6s2Z8NZ4Panos' Website: http://learnworlds.com/ Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coaching Watch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop Free Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/ Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@theonlinecourseguy