How to Create a Course Podcast to Grow Your Audience

Go to podcasters.spotify.com and sign up. The platform is entirely free — no hosting fees, no storage limits. Name your podcast something discoverable — "The Nutrition Coaching Playbook" is better than "Sarah's Show." Your description should explain who it's for and what listeners will learn in two to three sentences. Cover art should be readable at thumbnail size.

Decide on a repeatable structure: solo teaching episodes, Q&A episodes, or guest interviews. Pick one format to start. Plan your first five episode topics — pull them directly from your course content. Each module or lesson likely contains two or three ideas that work as standalone episodes. You already know this material.

You can record directly in the Spotify for Podcasters app on your phone, or use your computer's built-in microphone. A USB mic in the $40-60 range makes a significant difference but isn't required to start. Record in a quiet room. Speak naturally, as if explaining something to a single person. Keep episodes between 10 and 20 minutes.

You don't need professional editing. Remove long pauses, verbal stumbles, and sections where you lost your train of thought. Spotify for Podcasters includes a built-in editor for basic trimming. Aim to spend no more than 15-20 minutes editing a single episode. Listeners came for your ideas, not flawless production.

When you publish through Spotify for Podcasters, it automatically distributes to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other major directories. Write show notes for every episode that include a brief summary, any resources you mentioned, and a link to your course. Publish on a consistent schedule — weekly is ideal.

Your email subscribers are the most likely people to become podcast listeners. When you publish a new episode, mention it in your newsletter with a one-sentence hook and a direct link. Each listener who subscribes to your podcast becomes a recurring audience member who hears your voice and expertise every week.

Mention your course naturally within each episode — a brief, direct reference around the two-thirds mark: "This is something I go into much more depth on in my course — I'll link it in the show notes." In your show notes, include a direct link to your course sales page or a free lead magnet every single time. Listeners often check show notes the third or fourth time they hear you mention something, not the first.

A single podcast episode can become a blog post, a social media thread, an email newsletter topic, and a short audiogram clip. This multiplies the reach of every recording session. Record once, distribute everywhere.

A generic "please share this podcast" doesn't work. Instead: "If you know someone who's struggling with pricing their coaching program, send them this episode." A specific, targeted ask gives listeners a reason and a person to share with.

Invite your email list and social media followers to submit questions. Each question becomes an episode that directly addresses a real need, guarantees relevance, and makes the person who asked feel seen.

If your course involves showing techniques, software interfaces, or physical movements, a podcast can support your marketing but can't fully showcase your teaching. You'll need to pair it with video or written content for those elements.

Unlike social media where a single post can go viral, podcasts grow through sustained listening habits and word of mouth. Expect small numbers for the first several months. The listeners you do attract, however, tend to be deeply engaged — someone who listens to you for 15 minutes a week is far more likely to buy your course than someone who scrolled past your Instagram post.

Between planning, recording, editing, writing show notes, and promoting each episode, a weekly podcast takes 2-3 hours. Be realistic about your capacity and consider biweekly publishing if weekly feels unsustainable. A biweekly show you maintain for a year outperforms a weekly show you abandon after two months.