When it comes to growing a podcast, the common advice tells you to do more: guest on dozens of shows, post daily on social, run ads. But what if doing less could actually get you faster growth?

In this episode, we’re debunking outdated podcasting advice that’s slowing your progress (without you realizing it) and I’ll reveal what I’m *not* doing to grow my podcast — and how cutting back has led to up to 32% month-over-month growth.

By the time you finish this episode, you’ll know exactly how to apply the same approach to reach more listeners with your message and turn your podcast into a lead-generating machine — all while freeing up your time to actually enjoy the process of podcasting. (Spoiler: That’s Stephen Bartlett’s secret to 1 billion downloads.)

Ready to grow your podcast without adding more to your plate (and maybe even taking a few things off)? Hit play and let’s dive in.

0:04 - The Problem with Most Podcast Growth “Strategies”

2:10 - What's Really Sabotaging Your Podcast Growth

8:30 - What I’m Not Doing to Grow My Podcast

12:00 - The Real Reason Stephen Bartlett Hit 1 Billion Downloads

14:00 - 3 Steps to Find What’s Moving the Needle for Your Show

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• How to Grow Your Podcast Without Adding More to Your Plate

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

If you’ve been putting off starting a podcast because you're not sure it’ll actually move the needle for your business, this one’s for you. Fellow podcast host and clinical psychologist Dr. Christine Li joins me to help you overcome the self-doubt, perfectionism, and procrastination that’s keeping you from getting started (hey, we’ve all been there).

From building authority right from the start to turning your show into a powerful audience-building tool, you’ll walk away knowing exactly how to crush those “Is podcasting really worth it?” fears — because every day you wait is another opportunity for someone else to launch the podcast your audience is searching for.

So if you're ready to stop overthinking and finally hit publish on your podcast (or if you just need a kick in the pants to get out of your own way), hit play and let's dive in.

3:30 - The Real Cause of Perfectionism and Procrastination in Podcasting

6:15 - Building Your Authority from Day One with Your Podcast

9:05 - Turning Your Podcast into a Powerful Client Acquisition Tool

12:00 - Why Waiting to Start a Podcast Limits Your Business Growth

14:40 - How to Stop Overthinking and Finally Press Publish on Your Podcast

Episode Links:

• Check out Dr. Christine’s podcast: Make Time For Success
• Connect with Dr. Christine

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• Achieving Goals with Ease: Embrace The “Be Do Have” Model

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

In this episode, James Cridland, editor-in-chief of Podnews, is back with his bold predictions about where podcasting is headed — and how you can stay ahead of the curve.

We’re unpacking why downloads might not hold the top spot as the industry’s gold standard for much longer, YouTube’s growing role in podcast discovery (and its limitations), and how AI is adding convenience but not the creativity needed to stand out. James also explains the growing challenge of defining what a podcast really is as platforms like Spotify and YouTube continue to blur the lines.

Whether you're starting a new show or scaling an existing one, you'll walk away from this episode with the know-how you need to stay ahead of industry trends and stay focused on what truly matters: creating content that connects and converts. Hit play and let's dive in.

18:00 - Why IAB Downloads Might Soon Lose Their Gold Standard Status

19:11 - The Role (and Limits) of YouTube in Podcast Discovery

21:41 - What *Actually* Makes a Podcast a Podcast

24:06 - Are AI Tools Saving Time or Killing Creativity?

33:39 - Adapt or Get Left Behind: How to Capitalize on the Latest Trends in Podcasting

Episode Links:

• Podnews Daily (Podcast)
• Podnews.net (Daily Newsletter)
• PodcastBroker.com
• Buzzsprout.com/stats
• PodcastBusinessJournal.com/data
• Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling by Eric Nuzum

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• What’s Changing in Podcasting and How to Stay Ahead

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

In this episode, I’m joined by James Cridland from Podnews to explore the biggest changes shaking up the podcasting industry right now.

So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been podcasting for years, James shares insights on what these shifts mean for your show and how to navigate them to stay ahead.

From the rise of niche podcasts to why video might not be as essential as you think, you’ll learn what it takes to create a podcast that lasts in today’s evolving landscape.

Ready to learn what’s working now to grow your podcast? Hit play and let’s dive in.

0:00 – What’s Driving the Biggest Shifts in Podcasting Today

2:30 – The Rise of Niche Podcasts and Why They’re Thriving

5:45 – Why Video Isn’t as Essential as Everyone Thinks

9:15 – Forget Downloads: Here Are the Numbers That Actually Indicate Growth

13:50 – Two Keys to Positioning Your Podcast for Long-Term Success

Episode Links:

• Podnews Daily (Podcast)
• Podnews.net (Daily Newsletter)
• PodcastBroker.com
• Buzzsprout.com/stats
• PodcastBusinessJournal.com/data
• Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling by Eric Nuzum

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• 4 Must-Know Podcasting Predictions to Capitalize On This Year

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

If your podcast isn't showing up in search results on platforms like Apple and Spotify, your competitors are capturing the listeners you’re missing out on.

In this episode, you'll learn how to uncover the exact keywords your competitors are using, pinpoint the best ones for your show, and craft a podcast SEO strategy that helps your show stand out and get discovered by new listeners every day. Plus, I’ll share the latest tools you can use to track and refine your keyword strategy for even better results.

Ready to learn how you can dominate the search results for your specific podcast topic? Hit play and let’s dive in.

0:03 - Why Podcast SEO Matters Now More Than Ever

3:54 - Using AI to Find the Exact Keywords Your Competition is Ranking For

7:49 - How to Pinpoint the Keywords That’ll Attract Your Perfect-Fit Listener

12:08 - Where to Put Your Keywords for Maximum Impact

17:46 - Tools to Track and Refine Your SEO Strategy

Episode Links:

• The PSO Dashboard: Ausha.co
• General best practices for finding new keywords 

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• How to Hit the Top 5 in Apple and Spotify Search Results

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

What if you knew how to make your podcast pop up in the top five search results on Apple or Spotify?

In this episode, I’m showing you how to do it with an underdog discoverability strategy that’s quietly changing the game for podcasters. You’ll learn how to find the right keywords and use them to dominate podcast search results, so you can get your show in front of the listeners already searching for a podcast like yours.

Ready for a bingeworthy top podcast that gets found by new listeners every day? Hit play and let’s dive in.

Episode Links:

• The PSO Dashboard: Ausha.co

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• How to Turn Your Podcast Description Into a Listener Magnet
• The Exact SEO Keywords You Need to Get Your Podcast Found

0:05 - Why Your Podcast Isn’t Getting Found (Hint: It’s Not Your Content)

2:09 - The Proven Discoverability Strategy That’s Quietly Changing the Game (But Won’t Stay a Secret for Long)

5:08 - What You Need to Know About Using Keywords for Your Podcast

11:02 - How to Show Up Where Your Listeners Are Already Searching

18:46 - How Ranking in Search Results Builds Instant Credibility

→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

Worried your podcast idea is too niche, or that maybe your ideal audience doesn’t really listen to podcasts? Those might just be the signs you need to take the leap.

In this episode, I’m joined by fellow podcast host Laura Brazan who launched a show in a niche that doesn’t typically listen to podcasts — and crushed it.

Breaking into the Top 100 across the US, UK, and Australia, Laura shares how she turned a personal need into a movement while tackling every tech challenge along the way.

If you’ve ever doubted your ability to start a podcast from scratch but believe you have a message worth building a movement around, hit play and let’s dive in.

0:04 - Can Your Podcast Thrive in an Unlikely Niche?

6:35 - How to Break into the Top 100 (Even Without a Big Audience)

8:35 - How to Turn Your Podcast into a Community (Even if You’re Not Selling Anything)

13:20 - Why the Tech Side of Podcasting is Easier Than You Think

16:25 - The One Thing Keeping You From Getting Bigger Results with Your Podcast

 Episode Links:

• Check out Laura’s Podcast: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

Your podcast description isn’t just a box to check — it’s the moment that makes or breaks whether someone scrolls past or hits play.

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a real client audit to show you why her podcast description was causing listeners to overlook her show, the exact tweaks we made to fix it, and how to put listener psychology to work to create a description that grabs attention, communicates your show’s value, and gets your show found in search results.

Ready to get more listeners tuning into your show over the competition? Hit play and let’s dive in.

0:05 - Why Most Podcast Descriptions Don’t Work (and How to Fix Yours)

1:03 - What’s Really Stopping Listeners from Hitting Play on Your Show

6:18 - What Bestselling Books Can Teach You About Your Podcast

12:56 - How We Turned a Bland Podcast Description Into a Bingeworthy Hook

18:34 - How to Tell if Your Podcast Description Is Doing Its Job

  Episode Links:

• BONUS: PodLaunch® Before/After Show Descriptions with Examples

  Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:

• 3 Ways to Hook Your Listener Before They Ever Hit Play
• How to Stop Losing Listeners to Your Competition

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

If you’ve been obsessing over your podcast download numbers (or lack thereof?) this episode is for you. I’m back with Tom Rossi, co-founder of Buzzsprout, and we’re diving deep into how we should really be measuring podcast success. Spoiler: it’s not just about downloads.

Tom shares why the industry’s hyper-focus on numbers can steal the joy of podcasting and the mental shift that will completely change how you measure your podcast’s success. He also drops some key stats (ever wonder how many downloads it *actually* takes to be in the top 10% of podcasts?) and reveals the one key question to ask yourself to see the true impact your podcast is making, no matter how many downloads you’re currently getting.

If you’ve ever felt like quitting because your numbers aren’t where you want them to be, hit play and let’s dive in.

0:48 - Why Video Isn’t the Lead Actor in Podcasting

1:36 - Why Downloads Don't Tell the Whole Story

3:31 - The Most Powerful Way to Stay Motivated in Podcasting

6:25 - The Real Stats Behind Today's Top-Performing Podcasts

10:13 - The One Question to Ask Before You Quit Podcasting

 Episode Links:

• Buzzsprout.com/stats
• New to podcasting? As a bonus for our listeners, you can get a $20 Buzzsprout credit when you sign up through this link, thanks to Tom and the team over at Buzzsprout. 

 
 → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ

With all the buzz around video podcasting, is audio being left behind? In this episode, I sit down with Tom Rossi, co-founder of Buzzsprout, who pulls back the curtain on why audio-only podcasting still has unique strengths that video can’t match. From deeper listener connections to just saying no to the high pressure of video production, Tom shares why focusing on what works best for *you* is ultimately your smartest move.

So if you’ve been wondering whether you're missing out by not going all-in on video or if you want to keep podcasting without adding more to your plate, this episode is for you. Hit play and let's dive in.

0:02 – Why Video Could Be a Threat to Podcasting

4:28– How to Decide if Adding Video Fits Your Podcasting Goals

7:16 – What Audio Podcasts Have that Video Can't Compete With

10:00 – How to Leverage Video Without Losing Focus on Your Audio Podcast

13:28 – When Audio-Only Might Be the Smarter Choice for Your Podcast

 Episode Links:

• New to podcasting? As a bonus for our listeners, get a $20 Buzzsprout credit when you sign up through this link, thanks to Tom and the team over at Buzzsprout. 

 
→ This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U

Have a question about launching or growing a podcast you want me to answer on air? Shoot me a text!

Liked this episode? Share it and tag @thecourtneyelmer!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a review.

Register for Courtney's Free Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Business with a Podcast in 2025

NEW! Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Strategy Call w/ Courtney (60-min paid session).

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Free Discovery Call to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for your business.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ