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

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  I Audited the Modern Podcast Tech Stack. Here’s What You Actually Need 28.09.2026 23min

  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...
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  94% of Your Listeners Will Keep Listening When You Get This Right | George Lejnine, PodAnalyst 22.09.2026 17min

  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 – ...
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  What 100,000 Podcast Episodes Reveal About Listener Drop-Off | George Lejnine, PodAnalyst 21.09.2026 15min

  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...
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  Why "Just Keep Going" Might Be the Worst Podcasting Advice | Dave Jackson 14.09.2026 23min

  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 –...
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  5 Reasons New Listeners Aren’t Clicking on Your Podcast 07.09.2026 1t 1min

  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, o...
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  The Story Behind the PodLaunch OS 31.08.2026 21min

  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...
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  How to Pinpoint Where Your Podcast Performance Is Breaking Down 24.08.2026 17min

  The hardest part about growing a podcast isn't knowing what to do next. It's knowing what to fix first. That's why so many hosts spend months chasing better titles, stronger SEO, bigger guests, or more content. Every one of those could be the right answer. Every one of them could also waste the next six months of your life. In this episode, I'll show you how to pinpoint exactly where your podcast performance is breaking down right now, so you can go from hoping your podcast grows to eng...
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  What Your Podcast Metrics Aren't Telling You 17.08.2026 22min

  If your podcast isn't growing, your metrics are the last place you should look. Every download, play, and retention graph only tells part of the story. Which means you can spend months improving your podcast without ever knowing whether you're fixing the right problem. Every podcast's performance is shaped by two key decisions. Once you understand how they work, you'll never think about growing a podcast the same way again. Ready to find out what your podcast metrics aren't telling you ...
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  This Changes Everything We Know About Growing a Podcast 12.08.2026 17min

  Everyone’s trying to teach you how to grow your podcast. Do SEO. Add video. Write better titles. Improve your production. But what if almost everything you thought you knew about growing a podcast is backwards? That's the question I've spent the last six years working to answer. Because until you understand what drives predictable podcast performance, every decision you make for your show is still a best guess. Let's fix that. Hit play and let's dive in. … 1:01 – The Truth About Why I Started...
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  The New Rules for Growing a Podcast in 2026 | Roger Nairn 06.08.2026 24min

  Knowing where listeners discover podcasts is only half the battle. The bigger challenge is turning that knowledge into a repeatable strategy that helps more people find your show month after month instead of hoping people stumble across your podcast. Roger Nairn from JAR Podcast Solutions is back to break down how to turn one podcast episode into multiple ways to get discovered, why more podcasters are building for YouTube first, and how to create viral podcast moments people can't wait to se...
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  Podcast Discovery Has Changed. Here's What the Data Says | Roger Nairn 05.08.2026 21min

  New data reveals that podcast discovery has changed, but most podcasters haven't changed with it. If you're still expecting new listeners to find your show inside Apple Podcasts or Spotify, you're overlooking the top places podcast listeners are discovering new shows today. Roger Nairn from JAR Podcast Solutions is here to unpack why podcast apps are not best place to grow your audience, how to choose the right platforms to market your show, and three podcast marketing strategies circa 2015 y...
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  Use These 3 Communication Patterns to Help Listeners Trust You Faster 29.07.2026 17min

  If your podcast needs to deliver measurable reach and revenue for your business or brand, then the fastest way to do that isn't publishing more episodes. It's learning how to communicate in a way that helps listeners trust you enough to act. I'm handing you three Podcast Psychology frameworks you can use inside your next episode so your listeners don't just agree with you. They act because of you. If you want to stop publishing episodes that lead nowhere and start creating content people act ...
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  What to Do After Guesting on a Podcast to Get More Referrals and Clients | Sam Brake Guia 23.07.2026 20min

  Most people think landing the podcast guest interview is the win. It's not. If your podcast guest appearances end with a thank-you email and a social media post, that's exactly why they never lead to more clients, referrals, or repeat invitations. In this episode, Sam Brake Guia is back to share the follow-up strategies that turn a single guest appearance into repeat invites, referral partners, and long-term business relationships. You'll learn how to stay top of mind with podcast hosts and ...
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  What Top Hosts Look for Before They Say Yes to Your Guest Pitch | Sam Brake Guia 22.07.2026 21min

  After sending nearly 2,000 podcast pitches that have landed his clients on top podcasts, Sam Brake Guia knows exactly what separates the guest pitches that get deleted from the ones that get an immediate "yes" (and the answer has less to do with your credentials than you probably think). Sam's breaking down the simple 3-part framework behind guest pitches that top hosts actually respond to, what to put in your P.S. to build instant credibility, and the one habit that makes hosts want to...
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  7 Podcasting Skills That Separate Good Hosts from Great Ones 15.07.2026 14min

  What separates an average podcast interview from a bingeworthy one isn't the guest. It's the host. Sam Brake Guia, host of Mics to Millions and co-founder of PodWritten, has interviewed hundreds of guests and studied the world's best interviewers to uncover what separates average podcast hosts from the ones you can't stop listening to. He's about to share seven podcast hosting skills you can apply right away to ask better questions, lead more engaging conversations, and create interview...
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  Why Your Podcast Feels Valuable to You, But Not to Listeners 08.07.2026 18min

  If your podcast feels valuable to you but listeners are dropping off halfway through your episodes, the issue might not be your content but the way you’re communicating it. Most experts think valuable podcast content means sharing more of what they know. But your listeners won't care how much you know until they understand what your knowledge can do for them. I'll walk you through the 3-part formula for turning your expertise into content listeners care about so more of the right people...
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  Why Your Next Dollar Should Come From Your Last Episode | Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout 02.07.2026 20min

  What if you could monetize your podcast without creating more content, growing your audience, or landing sponsors? Most podcasters are sitting on revenue opportunities they don't even know they have. Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout's Podcast Producer and host of Dreamful Bedtime Stories with 13M+ downloads, is back with three low-effort ways to monetize your podcast using content you've already created. She's unpacking why your back catalog may be a hidden revenue asset, how she started monetizing b...
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  Before You Chase Sponsors to Monetize Your Podcast, Listen to This | Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout 01.07.2026 23min

  Sponsorships aren't the revenue dream most podcasters think they are. In fact, they can be one of the least reliable forms of income from your podcast, and Jordan Blair, Buzzsprout's Podcast Producer and host of Dreamful Bedtime Stories (13M+ downloads), is here to expose why. After landing major sponsors like BetterHelp and HelloFresh, Jordan found a more reliable way to monetize your podcast that doesn't require a massive audience, constant sponsor outreach, or waiting until your show is "b...
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  The Biggest Podcast Growth Mistake You're Probably Making 24.06.2026 17min

  The podcast industry has convinced you that podcast growth comes from choosing the right marketing tactic. Yet every day, thousands of podcasters are spending time on strategies they can't tell are helping, hurting, or doing nothing at all. In this rapid-fire Q&A, I'm answering how to move your podcast to #1 in search results, the two factors that matter more than any single growth tactic, and the simplest way to determine which marketing strategies deserve your attention (and which ones ...
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  The 0.5 Second Decision That Makes Listeners Hit Play (or Not) 17.06.2026 15min

  Whatever problem your podcast solves, it’s competing against every other show that promises to help listeners solve it. I’m breaking down the 4 signs listeners are overlooking your podcast and the split-second decision that determines whether a new listener clicks play or picks another show to listen to. I’ll also share the five Podcast Content Gatekeepers® listeners judge before they ever hear your voice, why great content still gets ignored, and what to change so listeners stop scroll...