How I Tripled My Podcast Downloads & Got My First Paid Coaching Client

Hey Friend!

This conversation looks at how Tanya, a Podcast to Profit graduate and a podcaster for the Grace Filled Leader, was able to grow her own podcast exponentially, tripling her podcast downloads and even getting her first paid coaching client. She was able to grow her Facebook community sevenfold and go from a top 5% to a top 2% globally ranked podcast.

Tanya is a wife, a mama and a certified Christian life coach. She’s worked in health care for over 26 years and she’s been in leadership roles for the last 16 years. Tanya is a self-described recovering people pleaser. How many of us can relate to that?

If you want to know how she had the kind of explosive growth I have mentioned, keep reading. We are about to find out!

Stef: Hello, Tanya. Welcome to the podcast.

Tanya: Hello Stef. Thank you so much for having me. I’m honoured to be invited.

Stef: I am so excited to have this conversation with you today. Let’s begin by telling us a bit about who you are, what you do and what your podcast is called.

A Full Time Job Yet Still Tripling Podcast Downloads and Signing Up a New Coaching Client Through Her Podcast!

Tanya: Sure. My name is Tanya Engesether and my podcast is called the Grace Filled Leader podcast. I help professional women find freedom from people pleasing so that they can create more time in their life for the things that matter most. That is my side gig. I’m actually a health care leader by day, podcaster and life coach by night!

Stef: That is a lot! How great it is to hear that this business model doesn’t just work for people who are full time at home. I work full time from home, but I know that a lot of people who are curious about podcasting and starting this business model that I teach are like Tanya. They have jobs or they have something else that they’re doing full time and so I love that you bring this to the table today because we’ll definitely be talking about that. But first, I would love to know how it feels to clearly know what you do. Did you struggle to get there?

The Evolution of Refining So That You Can Speak to Your Person and Gain Their Trust as a Coaching Client

Tanya: I did struggle. And thank the good Lord for you because I struggle with the ‘fluffy’ a little bit. I’m a very ‘feely’ person and I know the heart tug. I know what I want to say or what I think someone might want to hear. But I did struggle with that clarity and really pinning it down to something sticky and punchy, as you would say. I feel like I’m still always searching to refine but I am getting closer.

Stef: It is an evolution, forever and ever, Amen. You are constantly getting to know your person and over time, you will have more and more super fans that will reach out or will join your community or will email you and you’ll start to learn their common verbiage or pain point and the way that they explain things. But that comes over time.

I honestly refine my TSO statement every six months. If not every six months, then I refine it at least every year because I, too, learn more about my person and my coaching clients. So for those of you reading this, it is not about having 100% clarity up front. It is about being willing to clarify as you go. To my ‘feelies’ out there, I love you and I see you and the biggest challenge you will have is getting out of that box that you want to live in and stepping out into that tactical, sticky box that Tanya mentioned.

This is important because people buy based on what the outcome will be. We can convey how we feel in our messaging and our marketing but we are setting up a business and a brand. We need to think about how we can be punchy and clear. Tanya and I worked through that together in Podcast to Profit.

But let’s rewind a little bit before we get into those details. First tell us how you found me and what made you eventually join Podcast to Profit. Let’s go through that journey.

The Journey to Podcast Downloads, Engagement and Coaching Clients

Tanya: Ok, bear with me. I have to set the stage. God had really been working in my life after COVID. As a health care leader coming through the last few years, I was struggling to just walk through the door every day. I was experiencing near constant anxiety and I finally just surrendered that to the Lord. He began to take me through a journey of finding freedom from approval seeking, impostor syndrome and people pleasing.

This was after I had come to the point of near burnout because of all the reactions and feelings and what my team and I had come through during COVID. He began to show me victory in these areas of my life and I kept feeling this divine urge that I was meant to serve other women who struggled with similar things. But I was to do this in a new way outside of my nine to five day job as a leader.

I originally started down the road of writing a book. I’ve always wanted to write a book. I had been researching impostor syndrome because that’s a part of my story, and I found a podcast where you were the guest speaker or the guest host on the podcast. Your story really resonated with me, especially getting to where you are now, even with a history of struggles like impostor syndrome.

Her Podcast is Her Avenue to Help Her Coaching Clients

I started listening to your podcast and I binge listened to almost every episode. And the Lord started to show me that this was my avenue. I knew that He was telling me I had a story to share that might serve other women. What really stuck out to me was your messaging around the fact that you do not have to live on social media to serve people.

So instead of writing a book at that point, I took literally all of your classes and started a podcast and that’s where our story started.

Stef: Oh, I love that so much. What’s great is that having a podcast is such a jumping off point to a future book. I have wanted to be an author since I was seven. And podcasting sets such a beautiful platform for those of us who want to write a book. It edifies you and helps you get a publishing deal. You grow the audience through your podcast downloads. And you don’t get publishing deals without an audience.

And if we are struggling with what to write, our podcast gives us that content. I now have 600 and something episodes. If I needed help with what my book might be about, I have all of these episodes that my team and I could go through and there are probably 100 books in there. So, podcasting partners so well with the book, because you are going to have an audience to sell to when you write that book.

When the Call Got Louder, She Took the Leap

Stef: Ok, so here you are. You have decided that you are going to start a podcast. You’ve been through Clarify Your Calling and Podcast Pro University. You have launched your show. Now it is time to make the decision as to whether you are moving forward into Podcast to Profit. What was going on inside of you? Did you have any fears around joining or roadblocks that you were struggling to overcome?

Tanya: I did have fears. But I was listening to you and it seemed like whenever the words Podcast to Profit came on your show, they were louder! And so I thought ‘Ok, I am getting the message!’

There was certainly a hesitation around the cost. But for me, it was truly more about the time because as I said, I work full time and then some. I have a husband who is very demanding of my time outside of work. We’re usually working on the weekend in Canada on projects.

I truly believe this is an investment in myself. Much of my life, I have struggled to feel worthy of making that kind of investment in myself. We, as people pleasers, tend to invest in everyone around us first. And so I wanted to be sure that I would truly get a return on that investment and that I could give it my all. As a result, time was really the biggest fear factor for me.

It Takes Time to Build an Audience, Increase Podcast Downloads and Sign up a Coaching Client

Stef: Yes, it does take time to take Podcast to Profit. I don’t sugar coat the reality of this being a sprint. On the sales page, we suggest that it takes a minimum of three to four hours a week. You’ve got the calls and homework and it can be upward of that amount of time depending on how much you want to actually pour into the program.

So how did you overcome that fear, Tanya? Did you restructure your time. Did you sit your husband down? What were those things that got you from that point of not having the time to the point of organizing your life so that you could make the time?

Tanya: Honestly, I believe that even this was a God thing in helping me to practice what I preach. I teach other women how to find freedom from people pleasing and setting boundaries. So I sat my husband down to have the conversation and to say that I was investing in this and that I was so passionate and I was so certain that the Lord was leading me here. And I wasn’t willing to give up on this tugging that He had been planting in my heart. I needed to move forward on this odd and weird, unusual, unexpected, God dream.

I just said that I needed to make this investment in myself and that it was going to mean that I had to dedicate some serious time to it. Whether that was at night or on weekends, I was going to have work that I needed to do. It was important to me and I was not willing to give up this dream of mine. He was supportive, but it took continual reinforcement of those boundaries. It truly was me doing my own homework when it comes to maintaining boundaries!

Stef: Don’t you love how God does that, reminding us of what we are working with our coaching clients on? He does that to me often!

At the time that you joined the program, it was three months long. Now it is a six-month group coaching program. When you joined and took part, what was it like and what were your favourite parts? Can you give us the back end view, if you will, for people who are curious about what this program is like?

Content, Instruction, Truth, Love and Grace

Tanya: It is really exceptional! It is extremely rich in content and instruction that far surpasses anything I’ve ever invested in. To be fully transparent, it was pretty intense, especially that first three-month program. I had moments where I felt like I was drowning or near drowning. But you do a really great job of helping us see that that’s normal and that it is part of the process to feel that way somewhere along the journey. You and your team truly do offer truth with love and grace.

So you give us the instruction and the teaching and the correction that we need because if we truly want to be successful, we need to be ready to hear the truth. But you do it in such a way that you create a safe space for failing forward. You create the space where we are able to be transparent with that failure. I’m someone who struggles with perfectionism or fear of failure. I wanted to look like I was doing it all right from the start. I would get quiet sometimes and hesitate to ask the question because I didn’t want to look or sound silly.

So the first element I loved is the expertise that you bring. You do such a great job of facilitating and creating a safe space in the coaching and spotlight that you offer. But also the learning that comes from the other participants through their questions, and the answers you give to their questions.

Support on The Journey Allows For the Biggest Result Possible

Tanya: Your team is phenomenal. It is truly obvious that God is blessing the work that you are doing and this can be seen in your people. It is evident that they are committed to the work that they are doing and it feels very authentic and sincere. I’ve been a part of other programs where it doesn’t quite feel that way. So kudos to you that it truly feels like a deep relationship-building experience.

Stef: That has been something that we have prayed for and wanted for since we began and now we have it. We wanted to foster the way that the coaches get really indepth with you all. Each student has a set of notes. We pay attention to who’s showing up and attendance is noted. We’re really pouring in and pouring out as much as possible. We all collaborate and are working together cohesively as a unit to propel our students upward. And that’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of time. It’s a huge investment that I make into the company in building the team. To hear you say that is very confirming.

I also love that you said that we give you guys truth, but that it’s really wrapped in love and in a way that can be received. I am not the coach for you if you want someone to pat you on the back and say ‘Great job. Go for it.’ I will say that to you but I will still say that you need to fix things. That certain things are not going to land or that they are not clear enough. I want people to invest in themselves at a high level so that they will show up and do the hardest work of their life to get the biggest result absolutely possible. And that’s what we’re here to do. And so I love that you’ve confirmed that too.

All those things said, what was your favourite part of the whole program?

Expertise and Expert Guidance Laid Out From Start to Finish

Tanya: That is really hard! I would say the support that we get from you and your team in all the formats: the office hours, the Facebook group and of course the spotlight coaching. Truly, that individualised support and the degree to which you are able to give authentic individualised support in spite of the number of people that are going through it is remarkable.

It was so valuable to have your eyes on things because you offer that truth with grace and love. And that’s what we need. Sometimes we lack clarity because we’re so emotionally invested in the thing that we’re pursuing. I know for me, because of my feely-ness, I need somebody from the outside to tell me what needs to change. We are so attached to our titles, or our TSO or our messaging because it’s from our heart. But we need to know what is actually going to land for the person that we’re seeking to serve.

I am being a bit redundant, but it was your expertise, firstly, and here’s the other piece. Sometimes you can tell in programs where the coach is giving you just enough to justify what you are paying for but you can tell they are holding back. This is potentially because they don’t want to give up too many of their secrets or for other reasons. But your program feels like you are laying it all out there and putting every bit of everything that you know about success and failure and how to do it right and how to not do it right on offer. It truly feels like there is nothing stopping you from sharing everything with your students. I think that that is a rare and unique treasure that can’t be found. Or at least I haven’t found it often.

You Can Have the Roadmap to The Next Three Years of Your Business

Stef:  It is so cool to hear all the different testimonies from you guys who have graduated. Everybody has something different that was really important for them. Some people will say it was office hours and some people will say it was the community and finding other people doing exactly what they are doing. Some say it was spotlight. For you to say that the team and every aspect of the support was the most important for you is so cool.

And I also love the other piece about it all being laid out. Podcast to Profit is the end of the road. There is no other step. Who’s to say that one day maybe I’ll do something else but for right now, this program in particular is where God has my heart zoned in with laser focus. This is where the unlock happens for the people that He sends me. I feel the Lord’s presence on Podcast to Profit so much.

He had me redo it because He told me that I knew so much more and I had to lay it all out.  And so you’re right. Every single thing that I personally did to get my podcast where it is or that I do now is in there. It is a lot. It is a roadmap for the next three years of your business. So people will take and implement what they can and they’ll put in their pocket what they’re going to do next. But it has got it all and I have left nothing in my pocket for later. This program gives you everything you need to become a profitable podcast in a really simple, sustainable way.

Tanya, you sat your husband down to have the conversation. You spent all these hours on the work. You stretched yourself in different, really uncomfortable ways, shifting from emotional to tactical, showing up and doing the things. Tell us what the outcomes were for you and what all of those tacticals have meant to you. Was it worth it?

You Never Have to Stop Learning or Be Alone on This Journey (Even With Rocketing Podcast Downloads and Endless Coaching Clients!)

Tanya: Yes, it was absolutely worth it. Testament to this is that I signed up a second time as an alumni for P2P 4.0. And then I wanted to sign up a third time because it was really hard to say goodbye!

Stef: I just want to touch on this briefly. I always want coaching. I am consistently investing in myself. Our alumni program is priced at a point where it’s almost like a membership price, if you will. And so we invite you to stay in. Come to the calls. You have Stef in your pocket twice a month. You’ve got my team in your pocket at all times for this really low maintenance cost.

We have people who continuously sign up just because they want to be in the cohort, not because they necessarily feel like they need to take Podcast to Profit again. They want access to the coaching aspect. And you get this at an extremely low price after graduation. So that’s what Tanya is referring to here.

Tanya: Yes, I am certain you will see me again. For now, I feel like I have to put my nose to the ground, take what I have learnt and do the work. But I can see foresee in the future the need for further optimization so I am sure I will be coming back!

Tactical Results and Blessings Abound for Tanya and Her Podcast

Tanya: In terms of analytical results, through Podcast to Profit, I nearly tripled my monthly podcast downloads. I grew my Facebook community sevenfold. My podcast went from a top 5% to a top 2% globally rated podcast and I signed my first paying, recurring coaching client.

Beyond these tactical results, it was a blessing to receive such affirmation that my story is finding and blessing women. I actually have hope that I could grow an online coaching business through podcasting. There really was affirmation and confirmation in this. It would have taken me years to do what Podcast to Profit did for me in months. More than likely, I never would have learned a lot of it and I would have been doing clunky, heavy stuff all my life.

A Firm Foundation for Future Success

Tanya: I was so glad that I did it so early into my podcasting journey. It has set such a firm foundation for future success and I am so glad I didn’t develop a bunch of bad habits first and then have to come back and rework it all. So honestly, it was life changing. I was in such a place of personal growth. And through that experience and my Christian life coaching experience, I feel like the combination saved my life.

I came to it looking for an exit strategy. But through the work that I did with you and with Christian life coaching, instead of showing me that exit strategy right away, the Lord changed me. He made it possible for me to walk through the door differently every day and see hope for the future that is to come. He is using me how He needs to use me right now. And I’m trusting Him for that next step. He’s giving me those seeds of affirmation and confirmation and hope.

But He’s also saying ‘Do it for me. Let’s do it slowly and do it correctly. And trust me for the rest.’  It is also self-growth for me to learn to depend and trust in Him.

The Formula to Rinse, Repeat and Scale

Stef: So there was growth in your show and growth in your group. But there was also the first recurring coaching client paying you the dollar bills! There is something so powerful in your first yes to your pain offer. It shows you that if you can do this once, you can do it again. You have the formula now so if you continuously pour out in the same way that you got this first client, you can rinse and repeat and scale.

That is what Podcast to Profit gives you. It gives you the formula where you start to see the fruit quickly. Six months is a short amount of time to start seeing all of that growth and to start seeing actual money come in the door for so many of you. And you now know what to do. You can rinse and repeat for the next two to three years and continuously grow this thing. There is no need to look for something new. You don’t have to come up with a different strategy because this one has gone out of style or because this one doesn’t produce anymore. You can depend on doing the same thing over and over until…. It is so freeing that you do not have to go looking for another strategy!

Tanya, one last thing. What would you say to anybody who’s on the fence wondering if it is really going to be worth it? Maybe their fear is if they should make that investment because they don’t think they will make it all back in the first six months. Or maybe they work and they don’t think they have time for it. What would you say to somebody sitting in one of those seats?

She Invested and Found a Way to Serve That Fulfils Her and Fills Her Purpose

Tanya: I’ll take that in two parts. Firstly,  let’s talk about the investment of money. I would say if you’re on the fence and there is any way to work it out, do it. You will not regret it and long term you will spend more money out of the mistakes you make from not taking it. It truly is a wise investment with a return on that investment. I have no doubt that I would have spent far more time and far more money in the mistake making without it. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and we want to see more fruit faster, but it should be the right kind of fruit. So if you’re on the fence, definitely jump over, dive in and you will never regret it.

On the time piece, yes, it’s a lot. But when you are that passionate about and committed to the service work that you feel called to, God will work it out. God will use it to grow you and give you content. I would literally have nights where I suddenly thought ‘I should probably go and get some sleep tonight because I have to go to my real job tomorrow’. I felt like I could have kept going and going and going on this kind of work because of how much it filled me up instead of taking away from me.

It is challenging but is so worth it. I feel like your current six-month program is very doable. It is set up so systematically and strategically that it’s possible for anyone. A 40-hour workweek is the minimum I do at my day job. And I’m usually going to another country on the weekends working. I was still able to do this and make time for it. Sometimes it means you actually start figuring out the things that you have been making time for that maybe you don’t need to anymore because you need to focus on your purpose work.

Stef: So much wisdom in there, Tanya. Thank you. Where can everybody come and hang out with you if they are a grace filled leader or maybe they’re dealing with the people pleasing aspect of their lives? Where can they come connect with you and how can you help them?

Tanya: The best place to hang out with me is on my podcast, the Grace Filled Leader podcast and that’s on all the platforms. They can also find the podcast and all the other services I offer at gracefilledleader.com.

Stef: Amazing. Thank you so much for being here with me. Big hugs.

Tanya: Thank you. It’s been an honour.

Stef: If this conversation with Tanya has inspired you, come and apply for Podcast to Profit and go through this incredible robust program. It is going to take you from being a podcaster to actually creating profit in your business, You can come and apply at podcasttoprofitmastermind.com.

Good luck, and I’ll see you soon.

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

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