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

Out of Podcast Ideas? Watch Me Build Today’s Episode From Listener Emails

If you’ve ever opened your content calendar, stared at a blank doc, and wondered whether skipping a week would really be *that* bad, this one’s for you. But instead of forcing an idea or recycling something old, I’m giving you five stealth moves you can use when episode topic ideas run dry and showing you (in real time) how I decide what to record when my brain is empty and an episode needs to go out in less than 24 hours. So if you need a way out of the panic spiral when an episode is due and you’ve got nothing ready, hit play and let's dive in.1:05 – The Fastest Way Out of the “What Should I Record?” Spiral4:10 – The 3 Questions That Pull Episode Topics Out of Thin Air7:30 – Why Following Audience Signals Beats Waiting for Inspiration11:45 – Rapid-Fire Listener Q&A Built in Real Time17:50 – How to Decide What to Record When You’ve Got Nothing ReadyEpisode Links:Looking for podcast guests (or to be a podcast guest)? Sign Up at PodMatch.comOther Episodes You’ll Love: Steal My High Converting Episode FrameworkNot Sure What to Talk About Next on Your Podcast? Try This. How to Make a Bold Comeback After Hitting Pause on Your PodcastSteal This Episode Planning Framework to Cut Your Prep Time in Half → 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 hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

What Your Podcast Messaging Reveals to New Listeners in Under 3 Seconds | Anthony Craiker

Most podcasters are convinced their show is “clear enough,” that listeners will eventually find them, and that growth is just a matter of time and consistency. Anthony thought the same, until he realized his “clear enough” message was actually confusing people and the listeners he wanted were scrolling straight past his show.So he rebuilt his show from the inside out, transformed it into something listeners actually wanted to click on, and earned an Apple Top 100 spot during his relaunch. And in this episode, you’ll find out the blind spots that were costing him listeners every week (and how to fix them fast) so your show becomes the obvious choice over the competition. So if you're done feeling like the “best-kept secret” and want your podcast to actually get found and followed, hit play and let’s dive in. Episode Links:Meet Anthony: ParentsMakingTime.com | LinkedInListen to Anthony’s Podcast | Parents Making TimeCheck out this mind-blowing BEFORE & AFTER! 🤯 Anthony’s Cover ArtWant your podcast to look like a top show? Get a Cover Art Makeover Other Episodes You’ll Love: Is Your Audience Too Broad to Grow? Here’s How to Tell  → 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 hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

What to Say in the First 15 Seconds to Keep Listeners Listening

Most podcasts lose listeners in the first 15 seconds. Not after the first ad. Not halfway into the episode. Right at the start. In this episode, we break down what’s actually happening in your listener’s brain the moment they hit play, and why top podcasts obsess over their opening lines like the rest of the episode depends on it (because it does).You’ll hear the five most common episode openings that make listeners click out of your show (even when your content is really good), see the difference between boring intros and openings that actually work, and learn how to structure your first lines to grab and keep attention. So if you’re ready to turn your first 15 seconds into a reason to stay instead of a reason to leave, hit play and let’s dive in.1:02 – Why Most Podcasts Lose Listeners in the First 15 Seconds4:48 – Five Common Episode Openings That Make Listeners Tune Out7:37 – 4 Things Your Opening Lines Must Do to Earn a Listener’s Attention11:49 – The C.A.T.S. Framework for Structuring a Bingeworthy Episode Opener20:14 – How to Rework Your Episode Hooks to Improve Long-Term Retention Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Diagnose Exactly Where Your Podcast is Losing Listeners  → 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 hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Podcast Network Red Flags to Watch For | Stephen Perlstein

Some podcast networks promise exposure and end up limiting how you monetize and how much you control your content. This episode will help you spot those red flags and figure out whether a network even belongs on your radar.Stephen Perlstein from Libsyn is back to break down how podcast networks make money, what they’re actually looking for in a show, and how to tell the difference between a partnership that genuinely supports growth and one that comes with strings attached so you know when joining a network makes sense and when it doesn’t.So if you’re unsure whether a podcast network is something you should be thinking about and you want to protect your show, your revenue, and your creative control before saying yes to anything, hit play and let’s dive in.3:10 – How Podcast Networks Actually Make Money7:17 – Why No Network Can “Send You Listeners”9:30 – Red Flags Most Podcasters Miss When Considering Networks12:48 – What Networks Expect From You In Return14:48 – When A Network Deal Is Actually Worth It Episode Links:Meet Stephen Perlstein: Substack | LinkedInRead Stephen’s take on where podcasting is headed: Building the Future of Podcasting Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Know If a Podcast Network Is Right for 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 hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

How to Know If a Podcast Network Is Right for You | Stephen Perlstein

If you think getting picked up by a podcast network is the fast track to podcast growth, this episode will save you from disappointment (and probably a bad contract).Stephen Perlstein, Senior VP of Business Development at Libsyn, joins me to break down how podcast networks actually work (and when the right one can be a smart move for your show). We’re unpacking what networks do well, what they don’t do, and the biggest red flags to watch for when evaluating a potential deal.So if you’ve been curious about podcast networks and want to know how to spot the signs of a partnership that can support long-term growth, hit play and let’s dive in.1:02 – Why Getting “Picked Up by a Network” Won’t Magically Grow Your Show3:26 – What a Podcast Network Actually Is (And What It’s Not)10:08 – Major Red Flags to Watch for in Network Deals12:41 – Should You Ever Pay to Join a Podcast Network?13:12 – What Realistic Monetization Timelines Actually Look Like Episode Links:Meet Stephen Perlstein: Substack | LinkedInRead Stephen’s take on where podcasting is headed: Building the Future of Podcasting Other Episodes You’ll Love: Podcast Network Red Flags to Watch For → 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 hello@podlaunchhq.com to learn more. Follow Courtney for more podcasting insights: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunchHQ.com ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.