It’s great to hear “I love your podcast!” from friends and fans — but let’s face it, we BOTH know that this kind of feedback won’t tell you why new listeners stop listening after one episode (or worse, why they aren’t hitting play to begin with).

That’s why Jay Nachlis, VP at Coleman Insights (the research powerhouse behind some of today’s most listened-to shows), joins me back inside this episode to share the surprising patterns behind what makes listeners hit play or scroll past a show. Plus, you’ll learn three quick tests you can run on your podcast right now that will show you what’s working (and what’s not) before you hit “publish” on your next episode.

Ready to find out why new listeners actually choose ( or skip ) your show? Hit play and let’s dive in.

0:43 – What First-Time Listeners Notice That Loyal Listeners Won't

2:38 – The Key Elements That Make or Break Your Podcast's First Impression

4:02 – How Often Should You Test Your Podcast to Stay Relevant?

7:28 – How to Turn Outside Feedback Into Podcast Decisions That Drive Growth

10:52 – 3 Quick Tests to Run Before Your Next Episode Airs

Episode Links:

• Connect with Jay: LinkedIn | Website
• Want to know what first impression your podcast is really making? Test it with PodPredictor

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

• How to Find Out What Listeners Really Want From Your Podcast

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

Support the show

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Most podcasters rely on feedback from listeners and fans to figure out whether their podcast is good—and it’s costing them hundreds (even thousands) of potential new listeners who decide within seconds if your show is worth their time.

In this episode, Jay Nachlis, VP at Coleman Insights, joins me to reveal why this kind of surface-level feedback gives you a false sense of success, the blind spots that make new listeners tune out in the first 7 seconds, and how to get reliable input from real podcast listeners who don’t know you (and don’t already trust you)—so you can see exactly what first impression your show is making and what to refine so your show hooks new listeners right from the start.

So if you’ve ever logged into your podcast dashboard and wondered why your downloads still aren’t moving, this episode will give you answers you won’t find in your analytics. Hit play and let’s dive in.

0:32 – Why Friends’ Feedback Won’t Grow Your Podcast

1:39 – What Loyal Listeners Won’t Tell You (But New Listeners Will)

4:25 – The A/B Test That Shows Why People Hit Play

9:36 – The Surprising Feedback That Unlocked 100K+ Views on YouTube

15:15 – How to Find Out What Listeners Actually Want From Your Show

Episode Links:

• Connect with Jay: LinkedIn | Website
• Want to know what first impression your podcast is really making? Test it with PodPredictor

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

• 3 Tests Every Podcaster Should Run Before Their Next Episode

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

Support the show

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.

Ever finished an interview and thought, “Well, that sucked”? Your audience felt that too — and one boring, rambling guest can make even your most loyal listeners question if they should ever hit play on your show again. But when your guests deliver specific strategies and bold takes they can’t get anywhere else, listeners finish the episode, tell a friend, and trust you more with every listen.

We're breaking down why “good on paper” guests don’t guarantee bingeworthy interviews, the four red flags to look for in guest pitches that scream “don’t book me,” and the guest vetting filter you can start using today to make sure every interview earns its place in your feed.

So if you’re done booking guests who *look* like a home run (only to yawn through their interview and later air it out of obligation) this episode shows you exactly how to fix it. Hit play and let’s dive in.

1:17 – 3 Guest Booking Mistakes That Cost You Listener Trust (and How to Avoid Them)

6:35 – Why “Good on Paper” Guests Don’t Guarantee a Bingeworthy Episode

8:52 – 4 Red Flags in Guest Pitches That Lead to Forgettable Episodes

14:30 – Why Your Guest Prep Needs to Go Deeper Than ChatGPT

17:30 – How to Prep First-Time Guests So They Sound Confident

22:05 – How to Get Seasoned Guests Off Autopilot (So Your Interviews Stand Out)

📘 My Go-To Books on Leading Better Interviews:

• Talk to Me by Dean Nelson
• Stop Asking Questions by Andrew Warner

Other Episodes You’ll Love:

• The 3 Biggest Reasons Your Listeners Tune Out During Your Guest Episodes
• How to Lead Guest Interviews That Make Listeners Want to Binge Your Show

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

Support the show

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Want a podcasting growth strategy tailored to your show? Schedule a 1:1 Podcasting Audit with Courtney.

Register for Courtney's Podcasting Workshop: How to 10x Your Podcast Growth This Year

Curious about PodLaunch®? Book a Demo to see if our podcasting mentorship is the right fit for you and get the podcasting advice you need to grow your podcast.

Connect with Courtney: Linked In | Instagram | PodLaunch HQ


©Ⓟ 2018–2025 by Courtney Elmer. All Rights Reserved.