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

Hey Friend!

Let’s look at Tanya, a Podcast to Profit graduate who hosts the Grace Filled Leader podcast. Her podcast grew exponentially, tripling its podcast downloads, gained her first paid coaching client, and grew her Facebook community sevenfold. It also went from being a top-five to a top-two globally ranked podcast.

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

Keep reading to find out how Tanya grew her podcast downloads. We are about to find out!

Podcast to Profit Showed Tanya How to Get Podcast Downloads

Stef: Hello, Tanya. Welcome to the podcast.

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

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

Tanya: Sure. My name is Tanya Engesether, and my podcast is the Grace Filled Leader. I help professional women find freedom from people-pleasing to create more time for the things that matter most. That is my side gig. I’m a health care leader by day and a 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 many people are curious about podcasting and starting this business model. The people I teach are like Tanya.

They have jobs or something else they’re doing full-time, so I love that you brought this to the table today because we’ll be talking about that. But first, I would love to know how it feels to see what you do clearly. Did you struggle to get there?

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 like to hear. But I struggled with that clarity and pinning it down to something sticky and punchy, as you would say. I feel like I’m constantly 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 who will reach out, join your community, or email you. You’ll learn their standard verbiage or pain points and how they explain things. But that comes over time.

I honestly refine my TSO statement every six months—if not every six months, then at least once a year—because I, too, learn more about myself and my coaching clients. So, for those 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 see you. The biggest challenge is getting out of the box you want to live in and stepping into the tactical, sticky box Tanya mentioned.

This is important because people buy based on the outcome. We can convey our feelings in our messaging and 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 ultimately led you to join Podcast to Profit. Let’s go through that journey.

Tanya: Ok, bear with me. I have to set the stage. God had been working in my life after COVID. As a healthcare leader over the last few years, I struggled to 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 on a journey to find freedom from approval-seeking, impostor syndrome, and people-pleasing.

This was after I had reached the point of near burnout due to all the reactions and feelings, as well as what my team and I had gone through during COVID. He began to show me victory in these areas of my life, and I kept feeling this divine urge to serve other women who struggled with similar things. However, I was to do this differently outside of my nine-to-five day job as a leader.

I originally started writing a book because I’ve always wanted to. 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 host. Your story resonated with me, especially how you got to where you are now, despite a history of struggles like impostor syndrome.

I started listening to your podcast and binge-listened to almost every episode. The Lord began to show me that this was my avenue. I knew He told me I had a story to share that might serve other women. What stood out to me was your messaging about not having to live on social media to serve people.

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

Stef: Oh, I love that so much. What’s great is that having a podcast is a jumping-off point to a future book. I have wanted to be an author since I was seven. Podcasting sets a great platform for those 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.

If we’re struggling with what to write, our podcast provides the content. I now have 800-plus episodes. If I needed help figuring out what my book might be about, my team and I could go through all these episodes. Podcasting partners so well with the book because you will have an audience to sell to when you write that book.

Podcast Downloads, Engagement, and Coaching Clients

Stef: Ok, so here you are. You’ve decided to start a podcast. You have launched your show. Now it’s time to decide whether you’re moving into Podcast to Profit. What was going on inside of you? Did you have any fears around joining or roadblocks you struggled to overcome?

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

There was undoubtedly a hesitation around the cost. But for me, it was more about the time because, as I said, I work full time and then some. My husband is very demanding of my time outside of work. We usually work on projects in Canada over the weekend.

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

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

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

Tanya: Honestly, I believe that even this was a God thing that helped me 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, that I was so passionate, and that I was sure that the Lord was leading me here.

And I wasn’t willing to give up on this tugging that He had planted in my heart. I needed to move forward on this odd, weird, unusual, unexpected God dream.

I just said that I needed to invest in myself and that it would mean dedicating some serious time to it. Whether at night or on weekends, I would have work to do. It was important to me, and I was unwilling to relinquish my dream. He was supportive, but it took continual reinforcement of those boundaries. It indeed was me doing my homework regarding maintaining boundaries!

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

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

Tanya: It is extremely rich in content and instruction, surpassing anything I’ve ever invested. 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 great job of helping us see that that’s normal and feeling that way at some point along the journey is part of the process. You and your team genuinely offer truth with love and grace.

You gave us the instruction, teaching, and correction we need because if we truly want to be successful, we must be ready to hear the truth. But you do it in a way that creates a safe space for failing forward. You make the space where we can be transparent with that failure.

So, the first element I loved is your expertise. You do a great job facilitating and creating a safe space in the coaching and spotlight you offer. But I also loved learning from the other participants through their questions and the answers you gave them.

Your program feels like you are laying it all out there and putting everything you know about success and failure, how to do it right, and how to not do it right on offer. It truly feels like nothing is stopping you from sharing everything with your students. I think that is a rare and unique treasure that can’t be found.

Roadmap to Increasing Your Podcast Downloads

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

I also love the other piece and how it is laid out. Podcast to Profit is the end of the road. There is no other step. Who’s to say that maybe I’ll do something else one day? But right now, this program, in particular, is where God has my heart zoned 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 I knew so much more and had to lay it all out. And so you’re right. Everything I did to get my podcast where it is or that I do now is 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 put what they will do next in their pocket. But it has it all and I have left nothing in my pocket for later. This program gives you everything you need to become a profitable podcaster in a straightforward, 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, uncomfortable ways, shifting from emotional to tactical, showing up and doing the things. Let us know your outcomes and what those tacticals have meant to you. Was it worth it?

Skyrocketing Podcast Downloads and Endless Coaching Clients

Tanya: Yes, it was worth it. I also 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 tough to say goodbye!

Stef: I want to touch on this briefly. I always wish to coach. I am consistently investing in myself. Our alumni program is priced at a point where it’s almost like a membership price. And so we invite you to stay in. Come to the calls. You have Stef in your pocket twice a month.

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 confident you will see me again. I must put my nose to the ground, take what I have learnt, and do the work. But I can foresee the need for further optimization, so I am sure I will return!

Tripling Podcast Downloads and Signing Up a New Coaching Client

Tanya: Regarding analytical results, I nearly tripled my monthly podcast downloads through Podcast to Profit. 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 hope that I can grow an online coaching business through podcasting. There was affirmation and confirmation in this. It would have taken me years to do what Podcast to Profit did for me in months.

I am so glad I joined Podcast to Profit early in my podcasting journey. It has set a firm foundation for future success, and I am happy I didn’t develop bad habits first and then have to return and rework it all. What I learned made it possible for me to increase podcast downloads.

Honestly, it was life-changing. I was in a place of personal growth, and that experience and my Christian life coaching experience saved my life.

I came to it looking for an exit strategy. But the Lord changed me through my work with you and Christian life coaching instead of showing me that exit strategy right away. 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 trust Him for that next step. He’s giving me those seeds of affirmation, confirmation, and hope. But He’s also saying, ‘Do it for me. Let’s do it slowly and correctly. And trust me for the rest.’

Learning to depend on and trust in Him is also self-growth for me.

Rinse, Repeat, Scale, and See More Podcast Downloads

Stef: So there was growth in your show and 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 like you got this first client, you can rinse, 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 time for so many of you to start seeing all that growth and money come in. And you now know what to do. You can rinse and repeat for two to three years and continuously see increased podcast downloads. There is no need to look for something new.

You don’t have to develop a different strategy to maintain podcast downloads because this one has gone out of style or is no longer productive. You can depend on doing the same thing over and over. It is so freeing that you do not have to look for another strategy!

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

Tanya: I’ll take that in two parts. Firstly, let’s talk about money investment. If you’re on the fence and there is any way to work it out, do it. You will not regret it and will spend more money from the mistakes you make from not taking it. It truly is a wise investment with a return on that investment. Without it, I doubt I would have spent far more time and money on the mistake-making.

Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and want to see more fruit faster, but it should be the right kind. If you’re on the fence, jump over, dive in, and never regret it.

It is challenging but so worth it. Your current six-month program is very doable. It is set up so systematically and strategically that it’s possible for anyone. At my day job, I work a minimum of 40 hours a week, and I usually go to another country to work on the weekends.

I was still able to do this and make time for it. Sometimes, it means you start figuring out the things you have been making time for, and maybe you don’t need to anymore because you need to focus on your purpose work.

Stef: There is so much wisdom in there, Tanya. Thank you. Here, can everybody hang out with you if they are grace-filled leaders, or maybe they’re dealing with the people-pleasing aspect of their lives? Where can they connect with you here, and how can you help them?

Tanya: The best place to hang out with me is on my podcast, the Grace Filled Leader, available on all platforms.

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

I pray this blesses you!

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