Fearless Podcasting Academy | Unlock Your Voice and Audience

Dr. Stephanie Dean | Podcasting Strategist
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Your voice has the power to inspire, impact, and ignite change—but only if people hear it. Join Dr. Stephanie Dean at Fearless Podcasting Academy, where creators and entrepreneurs learn podcasting strategies to amplify their voices and build podcasts that demand attention. Here, we don't just talk about podcasting. We talk about bold storytelling, creative innovation, and the courage to show up unapologetically. Whether you're launching your first episode or leveling up your platform, you'll get proven strategies, expert insights, and the confidence to make your message matter. Because your story isn't just worth telling—it's worth hearing. Hit subscribe and step into your fearless voice.

  1. JUN 17

    The $100 Podcast Studio: What You Need (and Nothing You Don’t)

    Send us a text Feeling stuck in tech overwhelm? This episode is your practical, no-fluff guide to getting your podcast setup dialed in this week—without falling into the perfectionism rabbit hole. In Episode 3 of the Just Get Started series, Dr. Stephanie Dean breaks down the minimum viable podcasting setup you need to start recording confidently and affordably. No overthinking. No overspending. Just what works. You’ll learn:  ✔ The 3-piece tech setup that gets you clear, professional audio for under $100  ✔ The best free software for beginners—and how to use it in 5 minutes  ✔ The “Tech Check Protocol” to test your sound before you hit record  ✔ How Voxie, our storytelling automation tool, helps you map out your episode so you're never stuck wondering what to say Plus, you’ll meet Sarah—the podcast hopeful who spent eight months researching mics and still hadn’t recorded a thing. If you’ve ever said “I just want to sound professional,” this one’s for you. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED The Podcast Tech Guide: Simplify Your Setup & Start Strong A guide to the only 3 things you need to start podcasting today: https://links.drstephaniedeancreative.com/widget/form/OXhGgCExikJ40ysDpc7e   Fearless Podcast Script Builder (aka Voxie) Plan your next episode with my 3-act storytelling framework, powered by AI: https://courses.drstephaniedeancreative.com/scriptbuilder Podcast ROI Calculator Wondering if podcasting is worth it? Use this to get clarity, free and fast: https://links.drstephaniedeancreative.com/widget/form/o5UcJOEtHxWeZ2hlAqlT Weekly Voice-First Insights Join the newsletter for no-fluff strategies and stories for podcasters who are done playing small: https://drstephaniedeancreative.com Fearless Launch Lab – July Cohort Want to actually launch your podcast this summer? Join the waitlist for my signature 30-day launch accelerator: https://tinyurl.com/julycohort Connect with Me on LinkedIn Behind-the-scenes stories, spicy takes, and podcast launch tips you actually want to read: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehdean/

    19 min

  2. JUN 10

    Stop Waiting for Perfect: How to Find Your Podcast Topic When You Have 17 Ideas or Zero Clarity

    Send us a text Feeling like you need your life perfectly together before you hit record? Think again. This week, we’re continuing our Getting Started mini-series with a raw and real look at what actually makes a podcast compelling—and spoiler: it’s not having a polished niche or a $500 mic. It’s having the courage to show up as you are. In this episode, I’m breaking down the myth that you need to be “the expert” to launch. In fact, your messy middle might be your biggest asset. Listeners don’t want a guru—they want a guide who remembers what the struggle feels like. Here’s what we cover:  Why “guru fatigue” is real—and what to do instead How to pick a podcast topic (even if you have 17 ideas or zero clarity) The 3-question exercise that helps you find your podcast sweet spot A simple framework for choosing a topic that energizes you and serves them Why the scariest idea is usually the best one How to use Voxe, my podcast outline assistant, to go from idea to episode in 10 minutes And a gentle but firm reminder that clarity comes from doing, not thinkingThis isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. The most binge-worthy podcasts aren’t hosted by experts who’ve “made it.” They’re hosted by real people willing to explore out loud. If that sounds like you—you’re exactly where you need to be. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED Fearless Podcast Script Builder (aka Voxe) Plan your next episode with my 3-act storytelling framework, powered by AI: https://courses.drstephaniedeancreative.com/scriptbuilder Podcast ROI Calculator Wondering if podcasting is worth it? Use this to get clarity, free and fast: https://links.drstephaniedeancreative.com/widget/form/o5UcJOEtHxWeZ2hlAqlT Weekly Voice-First Insights Join the newsletter for no-fluff strategies and stories for podcasters who are done playing small: https://drstephaniedeancreative.com Fearless Launch Lab – July Cohort Want to actually launch your podcast this summer? Join the waitlist for my signature 30-day launch accelerator: https://tinyurl.com/julycohort Connect with Me on LinkedIn Behind-the-scenes stories, spicy takes, and podcast launch tips you actually want to read: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehdean/ YOUR CHALLENGE Open your Notes app. Complete one of these sentences: I wish someone had told me...I keep having conversations about...I’m figuring out...One of those? That’s your first podcast topic. Now go record it. No niche required. No clarity needed. Just curiosity, courage, and a mic. Let’s get you launched.

    18 min

  3. JUN 3

    Just Start: Burn the First Pancake and Launch Your Podcast Anyway

    Send us a text Ready to launch your podcast but don't know where to start? Over the past few weeks, I've been hearing a familiar refrain from listeners: "This is great, but can you take a few steps back? I don't even know where to start." So that's exactly what we're doing. This episode kicks off a mini-series designed to help you move from stuck to started—without overthinking it to death. No complicated tech. No five-step funnels. No performative perfection. Just the raw, honest truth about what it really takes to launch. In this solo episode, I pull back the curtain on: The real reason most people don't start (and it's not their microphone)Why perfectionism is the biggest threat to your podcast dreamThe pancake metaphor that might just change the way you see failureWhat to say in your first five-minute recordingA powerful mindset shift that separates successful podcasters from the silent majorityA sneak peek at the Fearless Podcast Script BuilderAnd what's coming up next in this beginner-friendly seriesIf you've been circling your podcast idea like it's a high dive and you're not sure when to jump, this is your sign. The world doesn't need another perfect podcast. It needs your real one. RESOURCES MENTIONED Podcast ROI Calculator Get clear on the true return of podcasting for experts and entrepreneurs: https://links.drstephaniedeancreative.com/widget/form/o5UcJOEtHxWeZ2hlAqlT Fearless Podcast Script Builder Plan your next episode using the same 3-act storytelling structure I teach in my programs: https://courses.drstephaniedeancreative.com/scriptbuilder   Weekly Voice-First Insights Join the newsletter for actionable tips and stories that don’t waste your time: https://drstephaniedeancreative.com Connect with Me on LinkedIn Daily conversations about expert podcasting, showing up imperfectly, and building your authority from episode one: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehdean/ Fearless Launch Lab – July Cohort If you're ready to stop thinking about your podcast and actually launch it, join the waitlist: https://tinyurl.com/julycohort YOUR CHALLENGE Before this day ends, open your phone, record a five-minute voice memo, and just talk. No script. No pressure. Just start. You don’t need perfect. You need real. And you need to begin.

    16 min

  4. MAY 27

    Why the Most Qualified Experts Still Don’t Have a Podcast (And How to Fix It in 30 Days)

    Send us a text Struggling to launch your podcast as an expert? Two weeks ago, a conversation with a client stopped me in my tracks. She had 15 years of leadership consulting experience… and 18 months of podcast research with nothing published. Why? Because the podcasting world is built on artificial complexity that keeps the best voices silent. In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on: Why experts get stuck (and what to do about it)The 3 predictable phases every successful expert podcaster goes throughHow to move from someday podcaster to authority-building host — in 30 days or lessA look inside my June cohort of Fearless Launch LabIf you’ve been sitting on your podcast dream while less experienced voices dominate the mic… this episode is for you. RESOURCES MENTIONED: 📊 FREE Podcast ROI Calculator - Calculate the true return on investment for expert podcasting: https://links.drstephaniedeancreative.com/widget/form/o5UcJOEtHxWeZ2hlAqlT  💡 Connect with Dr. Stephanie on LinkedIn - Join the daily conversation about expert podcasting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehdean/  📧 Get weekly insights delivered to your inbox: https://drstephaniedeancreative.com/  READY TO LAUNCH YOUR PODCAST? Applications for the July cohort of Fearless Launch Lab open mid-June. Get on the priority notification list: https://tinyurl.com/julycohort What's keeping you from starting your podcast? Send me a message—I read every one personally.

    30 min

  5. MAY 22

    The Real ROI of Podcasting: Why Download Numbers Don't Matter (and What Does)

    Send us a text Are you wondering if starting a podcast is really worth it? Most experts focus on the wrong metrics when evaluating podcast ROI—download numbers and direct sales. But these surface metrics miss the profound impact podcasting can have on your business. In this episode, discover the three dimensions of true podcast ROI and hear how Dr. Mark, a skeptical financial advisor, went from doubter to $157K revenue increase in just 6 months with under 6,000 downloads. Learn why podcast listeners spend 40 minutes per episode (vs. 37 seconds on blogs) and get five actionable steps to maximize your podcast's return from day one. Resources: Custom GPT ROI Analysis Tool https://tinyurl.com/podcastroi Fearless Launch Lab: 30-day podcast program, June cohort (8 spots only)Applications close May 31sthttps://courses.drstephaniedeancreative.com/Connect: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehdean/ The question isn't whether you can afford to launch a podcast—it's whether you can afford not to.

    18 min

  6. APR 29

    How to Never Miss a Week of Podcasting: Batching, Buffer Episodes, and Evergreen Magic

    Send us a text Struggling to stay consistent with your podcast?  If you've ever felt like podcasting is a hamster wheel you can't get off, this episode is your lifeline. Dr. Stephanie Dean pulls back the curtain on the sustainability paradox — why being "consistent" without being "sustainable" will burn you out faster than a cheap candle.  You'll learn how to plan smarter (not harder), create buffer episodes for life's curveballs, and build a show that actually lasts. Spoiler: It's not about being perfect. It's about being prepared In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why 90% of podcasts die after just 11 episodes (and how not to be one of them)How to balance evergreen and timely content like a proThe Three Horizons Model for sustainable content planningHow to batch record, research, and promote without losing your mindWhy being realistic about your time is the most fearless thing you can doAction Steps: - Map out your next four episodes (Horizon 1) - Sketch your quarterly theme (Horizon 2) - Set your podcast mission for the year (Horizon 3) - Build your Timely Trigger List (5 predictable events) - Block your batching days — and protect them like Beyoncé protects her tour dates Join the Conversation: 📱 Share your content cascade using the hashtag #FearlessPodcasting and tag @FearlessPodcastingAcademy — Dr. Dean will personally cheer you on!

    17 min

  7. APR 22

    Can I Use That Song? What Every Podcaster Needs to Know About Music Copyright

    Send us a text Think finding your podcast name on Instagram makes it yours? Think again.  In this must-listen episode of Fearless Podcasting Academy, I sit down with an absolute force—an artist, activist, and attorney who’s here to help you protect your creative work before it ever hits the airwaves. Whether you're remixing Beyoncé or just trying to figure out if you can hum a tune in your trailer—this episode is for you. ⚠️ Quick heads up: Nothing in this episode is legal advice—this is an educational convo to help you ask better questions and understand what you don’t know yet. Talk to a lawyer for advice on your specific situation. We’re not trying to get you sued, fearless. Here’s what we cover: 🎧 What podcasters can and can’t do with music—covers, samples, and commentary📜 What “fair use” actually means (and how to not use it as a get-out-of-jail-free card)💼 Why you need to think like a business owner, not just a creative💡 Free resources like the U.S. Copyright Office, Creative Commons, and the Harry Fox Agency🔒 How to legally protect your podcast name, your art, and your voiceWhether you’re launching a music podcast, building a band brand, or creating a podcast with original music—this episode will help you protect your assets and your peace of mind. Guest Info: 🎸 Meet the brilliant mind behind TXLIPS (pronounced “Two Lips”). Gabriella “Guitar Gabby” Logan is a powerhouse at the intersection of music, law, and activism. An Atlanta native and proud graduate of Spelman College and Vermont Law School, she seamlessly blends her passions to champion underrepresented voices in the music industry.   🌐 Visit TXLIPS.com for more. 📲 Follow @txlips on all social platforms. 🔥 Ready to Make Your Podcast Binge-Worthy? Now that you know how to legally protect your creative work, let’s make sure people actually can’t stop listening to it. Check out Hooked: The Storytelling System for Binge-Worthy Podcasts—my signature course designed to help you craft episodes that captivate, connect, and grow your audience. 🎧 Learn more here: Hooked Because a protected podcast is great—but a protected podcast people love? That’s unstoppable.

    26 min

  8. APR 8

    The #1 Reason No One’s Listening to Your Podcast—And How to Fix It

    Send us a text Struggling to grow your podcast audience? You’re not alone—and this episode breaks down exactly why it’s happening. Dr. Stephanie Dean reveals the #1 reason most podcasters fail to gain traction (hint: it’s not your mic or your niche), and how you can turn things around using audience clarity. You’ll learn: Why talking to everyone is killing your engagement3 simple frameworks to identify and connect with your ideal listenerHow to uncover what your audience really wantsFree, zero-budget research methods to find your peopleIf your podcast feels like it’s going out into the void, this episode is your roadmap back to real connection—and real growth. Bonus: Get 20% off the Hooked Storytelling System with code FEARLESS20 👉 https://courses.drstephaniedeancreative.com/hooked  Listener Challenge: Use one of the frameworks and post your listener avatar using #FearlessAudience—Dr. Dean will be checking them out!

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Your voice has the power to inspire, impact, and ignite change—but only if people hear it. Join Dr. Stephanie Dean at Fearless Podcasting Academy, where creators and entrepreneurs learn podcasting strategies to amplify their voices and build podcasts that demand attention. Here, we don't just talk about podcasting. We talk about bold storytelling, creative innovation, and the courage to show up unapologetically. Whether you're launching your first episode or leveling up your platform, you'll get proven strategies, expert insights, and the confidence to make your message matter. Because your story isn't just worth telling—it's worth hearing. Hit subscribe and step into your fearless voice.

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