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

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 Seconds 4:48 – Five Common Episode Openings That Make Listeners Tune Out 7:37 – 4 Things Your Opening Lines Must Do to Earn a Listener’s Attention 11:49 – The C.A.T.S. Framework for Structuring a Bingeworthy Episode Opener 20:14 – 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 [https://podlink.com/1478171085/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xODIxNTkyOA] → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked 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™ [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9471/8CECOLK4LIGPEIMVAS] 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 [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9491/P3N1T2G2SM83S2EN28] 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 [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/offers/3opSEytT/checkout?coupon_code=TOP100] 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunchHQ.com [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog] ©Ⓟ 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 Money 7:17 – Why No Network Can “Send You Listeners” 9:30 – Red Flags Most Podcasters Miss When Considering Networks 12:48 – What Networks Expect From You In Return 14:48 – When A Network Deal Is Actually Worth It  Episode Links: * Meet Stephen Perlstein: Substack [https://makepodcastsbetter.substack.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/perlstein/] * Read Stephen’s take on where podcasting is headed: Building the Future of Podcasting [https://www.netinfluencer.com/stephen-perlstein-libsyn/?utm_content=320016208&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-2362174]  Other Episodes You’ll Love:  * How to Know If a Podcast Network Is Right for You    → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked 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™ [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9471/8CECOLK4LIGPEIMVAS] 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 [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9491/P3N1T2G2SM83S2EN28] 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 [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/offers/3opSEytT/checkout?coupon_code=TOP100] 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunchHQ.com [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog] ©Ⓟ 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 Show 3:26 – What a Podcast Network Actually Is (And What It’s Not) 10:08 – Major Red Flags to Watch for in Network Deals 12:41 – Should You Ever Pay to Join a Podcast Network? 13:12 – What Realistic Monetization Timelines Actually Look Like  Episode Links: * Meet Stephen Perlstein: Substack [https://makepodcastsbetter.substack.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/perlstein/] * Read Stephen’s take on where podcasting is headed: Building the Future of Podcasting [https://www.netinfluencer.com/stephen-perlstein-libsyn/?utm_content=320016208&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-2362174]  Other Episodes You’ll Love:  * Podcast Network Red Flags to Watch For   → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked 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™ [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9471/8CECOLK4LIGPEIMVAS] 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 [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9491/P3N1T2G2SM83S2EN28] 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 [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/offers/3opSEytT/checkout?coupon_code=TOP100] 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunchHQ.com [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog] ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

5 Experts Predict the Future of Podcasting

Podcast platforms are changing what gets seen and what gets shared, and if your show is still built for how podcasting *used* to work, it’ll get skipped, buried, or replaced.  That’s why I brought together five industry experts to break down what’s actually shifting inside podcasting right now, and why creators who adapt early have a real advantage. Because this next era won’t reward the biggest shows. It’ll reward the ones built for how listeners behave today, which is great news for independent hosts with something meaningful to say. So if you want to stay visible as podcasting enters its next era, hit play and let’s dive in. 1:04 – Why Podcasting Doesn’t Work the Way It Used To 7:42 – Why “Word of Mouth” Isn’t How New Listeners Find Shows Anymore 15:36 – Why Big Download Numbers Matter Less Than Listener Attention 24:18 – How AI Content Puts Listener Trust (and Creators) at Risk 33:51 – Why More Podcasters Are Moving Away From Ad Revenue  Very Special Thanks to This Episode’s Guest Experts: * Jennifer Han:  Ausha [https://ausha.co/?fpr=courtneyelmer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/han-jennifer/] | PodWars [https://www.ausha.co/podwars-boost-your-podcast-seo-visibility/?lang=en] * Alex Sanfilippo: PodMatch.com [https://podmatch.com/signup/courtneyelmer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsanfilippo/] | Podcasting Made Simple [https://podmatch.com/episodes] * Tom Rossi; Buzzsprout [https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=348511] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomrossi7/] | Buzzcast [https://buzzcast.buzzsprout.com/] * Ellie Puckett: Resonate Recordings [https://resonaterecordings.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-puckett/] | Renegade Ventures [https://podlink.com/1679950983] * Lauren Passell: Tink Media [https://tinkmedia.co/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-passell/] | Podcast The Newsletter [https://podcastthenewsletter.substack.com/]  Other Episodes You’ll Love:  * The State of Podcasting Today and Where It’s Headed [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/the-future-of-podcast-growth-courtney-elmer-alex-sanfilippo-vinnie-potestivo-joe-casabona] * https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/podcasting-trends-to-capitalize-on-this-year-james-cridland-podnews Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked 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™ [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9471/8CECOLK4LIGPEIMVAS] 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 [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9491/P3N1T2G2SM83S2EN28] 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 [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/offers/3opSEytT/checkout?coupon_code=TOP100] 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunchHQ.com [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog] ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

How to Turn a ‘Nice’ Podcast Into a Must-Listen Show | Lauren Penna

Your podcast might be fine. People listen. They say it’s “nice.” And then… nothing happens. You’re 30, 50, maybe 100 episodes in, and the show looks more or less the same as it did at episode 5. In this episode, I sit down with PodLaunch grad Lauren Penna to unpack why smart, consistent hosts still struggle to grow, and how a simple positioning shift can turn your podcast into a show listeners actively seek out and share. Lauren breaks down what went wrong with her first show, what changed during her relaunch, and how that shift helped her break the Top 100 in four countries (including #4 in the U.S.), and what that shift looks like when you apply it to your own show. So if you’re done spending hours recording and editing just to hear “love the show” and nothing else, hit play and let’s dive in. 2:03 – Why Some Podcasts Get Played but Never Shared 2:10 – What Listeners Do When They Can’t Tell Who Your Show Is For 6:47 – Why Overthinking Your Podcast Makes It Harder to Grow 8:58 – The Outreach Strategy Behind a 1,000-Download Relaunch 11:56 – What Changes When Your Podcast Becomes a Weekly Non-Negotiable  Episode Links: * Listen to Lauren’s Podcast | Intentionally Single [https://podlink.com/1578386745]  Other Episodes You’ll Love:  * 3 Types of Podcasting Advice You Can Totally Ignore [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/podcasting-advice-you-can-ignore-courtney-elmer] * The Difference Between Hitting Publish vs. Launching a Podcast [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog/hitting-publish-vs-launching-a-podcast-courtney-elmer]    → This episode was recorded on the Deity VO-7U [https://amzn.to/49HNJbj] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/406843/support] Liked 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™ [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9471/8CECOLK4LIGPEIMVAS] 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 [https://forms.clickup.com/10634360/f/a4h3r-9491/P3N1T2G2SM83S2EN28] 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 [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/offers/3opSEytT/checkout?coupon_code=TOP100] 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyelmer/] | Instagram [https://instagram.com/thecourtneyelmer] | PodLaunchHQ.com [https://www.podlaunchhq.com/blog] ©Ⓟ 2018–2026 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.