Once you've mastered a topic, it's almost impossible to remember what it was like to be a beginner—and that's exactly what the Curse of Knowledge is. In this episode, Cassandra breaks down how this hidden bias can sneak into your online course through language, pacing, and structure, leaving your learners confused, overwhelmed, or disengaged. You'll learn how to spot it, avoid it, and create a learning experience that's clear, engaging, and accessible—without "dumbing it down."

Cassandra also shares a real-world reflection from a recent mountain getaway and Nordic Spa visit, tying the experience back to the importance of setting clear expectations for your course learners.

Key Takeaways

• What the Curse of Knowledge is and why it's one of the biggest blind spots for course creators.
• How skipping beginner steps or using jargon without explanation can alienate new learners.
• Why a clear course promise is essential for cutting fluff and keeping lessons focused.
• The importance of using your audience's own language to avoid overwhelming them with expert jargon.
• Practical ways to combat the Curse of Knowledge:
  • Beta teaching your course live.
  • Having a beginner audit your outline.
  • Including quick recap slides, a glossary, and reflection prompts.
• Awareness of your expert bias is the first step toward better course design.

Timestamps

[02:37] Defining the Curse of Knowledge in course creation.

[04:15] How it shows up: lack of clear course promise, jargon, and assumptions.

[06:10] The learner's perspective: why overwhelm leads to disengagement.

[07:18] Avoiding the trap: using audience language and live beta launches.

[09:14] Building awareness of your own bias through reflection and audience interviews.

[10:29] Cassandra's Conversations — Lessons from the Nordic Spa on setting expectations.

[19:38] Recap and encouragement for course creators.

Next Steps

• Subscribe to Unlock Course Creation on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode.
• Join Cassandra's newsletter for exclusive tips and behind-the-scenes insights: cassandrameszaros.ca/email
• If today's episode resonated, share it with a fellow course creator who might be battling the Curse of Knowledge.