Launching feels different right now, and you’re not imagining it. In this final episode of the January launch series, Jodie zooms out to explain what’s changing in the online space, why even industry giants are pivoting their launch models, and how to build a launch approach that fits how you teach, sell, and want your business to feel.

You’ll hear why this isn’t about finding a new silver bullet. It’s about adopting an experimental mindset, strengthening the foundations underneath your launch, and focusing on what creates demand and conversions in 2026.

1. Why the “one perfect launch style” narrative is falling apart
2. What creator pivots really mean and why it’s not hypocrisy
3. Why audiences take longer to trust and why context matters more now
4. Why aggressive short open carts are phasing out
5. The core four requirements every launch needs, no matter the method
6. How webinars, challenges, mini offers, and direct launches all do the same job differently
7. Why copying someone else’s launch rarely works the way you think it will
8. Why “the messaging matters more than the messenger” matters more than ever
9. How to make launches feel calmer, repeatable, and improvable over time

1. Markets evolve, and entrepreneurs are allowed to evolve too
2. You don’t need to “keep up” and you do need stronger foundations
3. Launching is an ecosystem, not a single tactic
4. The goal is repeatable results, not one-off hype cycles

1. Sought After Educator enrollment is open at time of recording and closes February 1, 2026
2. If you’re listening after doors close, join the waitlist to be notified when they reopen later in 2026

If this January series helped you feel more grounded about launching, share this episode with an educator friend who’s been spiraling over “the right way” to launch. And make sure you’re following the show so the Wednesday episodes land in your feed automatically.

Mentioned in this episode:

JOIN THE SOUGHT AFTER EDUCATOR ACCELERATOR

Get all the info at www.jodiebrown.ca/sae

If you’re here for the Monday episode… I have news. Sought After Educator is officially moving to a Wednesday drop. This is not a full episode, but the next one goes live Wednesday, January 28th. Hit follow so it lands in your feed midweek, and I’ll see you on Wednesday.

Mentioned in this episode:

JOIN THE SOUGHT AFTER EDUCATOR ACCELERATOR

Get all the info at www.jodiebrown.ca/sae

Choosing the right launch event can feel overwhelming especially when every marketing mentor online is telling you a different strategy is “the one.”

In this episode, I’m breaking down the most common launch event types educators are using right now and explaining what each one is actually responsible for inside a launch. Not just what they are, but why they work, when they work best, and how to decide which one makes sense for your offer and audience.

We’ll talk through live webinars, challenges, paid workshops and mini offers, and even launches that skip an event entirely. I’ll also share current data and benchmarks so you’re not just relying on opinions or outdated advice as you plan your next launch going into 2026.

Most importantly, I’ll help you reframe how you think about launch events altogether so you stop trying to force content into the wrong container and start choosing a delivery method that supports the belief shifts your audience actually needs to make.

• What a launch event is responsible for inside your launch timeline

• The pros and cons of live webinars and why they still work

• When challenges make sense and how to avoid over-teaching

• Why paid launch events are rising and what they signal about buyer behavior

• How mini offers can warm your audience and increase conversions

• When going direct to offer works and when it falls flat

• Why content clarity matters more than the launch format

• How to choose a launch event based on your audience, offer, and capacity

• Course engagement insights from Thinkific

• Customer loyalty and repeat buyer data from Bain and Company

There is no “best” launch event. A launch event is simply a container. Its job is to give people enough context, trust, and momentum to decide if your offer is right for them. Once the content and belief shifts are clear, the delivery method becomes much easier to choose.

If you’re planning a launch this year and you’re unsure which direction to go, send me a DM and tell me what you’re thinking. I’ll point you in the right direction.

And make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the final episode of the January Launch Series.

Mentioned in this episode:

JOIN THE SOUGHT AFTER EDUCATOR ACCELERATOR

Get all the info at www.jodiebrown.ca/sae

Launching education doesn’t start when you announce it.

In this episode of the Sought After Educator podcast, Jodie walks through the full launch timeline and explains what’s actually happening in each phase, so launching your education feels clearer, more grounded, and more repeatable.

This conversation is part two of the January launch series and is especially relevant for hair, beauty, wellness, and creative educators who are launching digital programs, in-person classes, or retreats.

1. The five phases of a successful education launch
2. How audience building supports launches before selling begins
3. What pre-launch content is designed to create
4. How launch events drive engagement and momentum
5. What the open cart phase is responsible for
6. Why delivery strengthens future launches and brand trust
7. How to approach launching education as a sequence, not a single moment

If you’re a hair, beauty, wellness, or creative educator planning to launch a course, group program, retreat, or in-person class, this episode gives you a clear framework for understanding the structure underneath a launch and focusing on the right phase at the right time.

Next week’s episode breaks down different types of launch events, including workshops, challenges, mini offers, and evergreen options.

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

Mentioned in this episode:

JOIN THE SOUGHT AFTER EDUCATOR ACCELERATOR

Get all the info at www.jodiebrown.ca/sae

Selling your education in 2026 isn’t about chasing the newest launch trend or copying what massive creators are doing. It’s about understanding how different sales methods actually work, and choosing the right ones for your audience, your offer, and your season of business.

In this episode, Jodie breaks down the real ways educators sell their programs today — without hype, pressure, or pretending there’s one magic solution.

1. Why most educators overcomplicate selling their programs
2. The difference between building demand and creating decisions
3. Selling through social content and when it works best
4. Why engagement doesn’t always equal buying intent
5. How direct selling supports decisions without being pushy
6. What evergreen funnels really are (and why traffic matters)
7. Mini offers vs free opt-ins and when to use each
8. When sales calls make sense and when they signal a bigger issue
9. Why live launching still matters in 2026
10. How sustainable educator businesses layer multiple sales methods over time

This episode is especially helpful if:

1. You’ve tried selling on social and felt like it was slow or inconsistent
2. You’re confused about whether you should launch, go evergreen, or do both
3. You want sales to feel aligned instead of forced
4. You’re building education for the long term, not quick wins

1. The Content Edit private podcast series
2. → A free private podcast for educators who feel like their content is being liked but not trusted or converting
3. Episode on market sophistication

DM Jodie on Instagram @itsjodiebrown with your questions about launching or selling your education. January’s episodes are built directly from the conversations educators are having right now.

Make sure you’re subscribed... this is just the first conversation in a full month focused on launching, selling your education, and choosing strategies that actually work for your stage of business.

What educators need to focus on in 2026 to grow

In this episode of the Sought After Educator podcast, Jodie sits down with Maddi Cook, founder of Boss Your Salon, for a grounded conversation about what actually helps educators grow in 2026.

This isn’t a step-by-step launch episode.

It’s a real discussion about repetition, responsibility, experimentation, and staying close to your people long enough to build trust, authority, and sustainable growth.

Maddie brings her experience helping beauty professionals create and launch their first online courses. Jodie brings the brand, marketing, and positioning lens—breaking down why education businesses don’t grow through information alone, but through perspective, clarity, and consistency.

Together, they unpack what’s changed, what hasn’t, and where educators need to focus now if they want to build something that lasts.

1. Why growth often stalls because of hesitation, not lack of strategy
2. The difference between thinking about growth and actually creating it
3. Why teaching live (or staying close to your audience) strengthens both your offer and your marketing
4. How repetition builds trust and authority even when it feels uncomfortable
5. Why testing ideas beats waiting for confidence or clarity
6. Fault vs responsibility and how this mindset shift changes outcomes
7. Why people don’t pay for information anymore, but for perspective and pathway
8. How a clear, measurable program promise makes marketing and selling easier
9. What educators need to release in order to grow in today’s landscape

🎟️ Get your free ticket to Beyond the Chair Fest

https://maddicook.com/beyond-the-chair-fest

📲 Follow Maddi on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/maddiecookcoaching

📲 Follow Jodie on Instagram

@itsjodiebrown

Notice which part of this conversation challenged you the most.

That’s usually where growth is asking for more repetition, responsibility, or action.

Send me a DM on Instagram and let me know what you thought of this episode!

In this episode, I’m sharing a candid behind-the-scenes reflection on my year and the word I chose to guide it. What started as a commitment to discipline turned into a full season of refinement across my offers, systems, team, and leadership.

If you’re in a phase of rebuilding, slowing down, or doing the quiet foundational work that no one claps for, this episode is your reminder that it all counts.

1. Why 2025 wasn’t the year for big pushes or glamorous goals
2. How refining curriculum and offer ecosystems created stronger results
3. The leadership lesson that revealed where structure was missing
4. Why relying on systems instead of people changed everything
5. What I learned about boundaries, onboarding, and clear expectations
6. How rebuilding backend systems created more freedom and peace
7. Why sustainable growth requires space, not constant urgency
8. What it really means to build capacity in yourself as a leader

If your year felt slower on the outside but stronger underneath, you’re not behind. You’re building something that can actually hold what’s coming next.

If you’re listening in real time, send me a DM on Instagram and let me know what landed for you in this episode. I don’t usually share this much behind the scenes, but I believe seeing the real work matters.

I’ll see you next week with an incredible guest as we dive into building a brand and marketing as an educator.

Check out the Sought After Educator Accelerator

Say hi to Jodie on Instagram

In this episode, Jodie breaks down one of the most common marketing quotes in the education space and explains why it’s often misunderstood in a way that actually hurts your content instead of helping it.

If you’ve ever felt like your message is either too scattered or too repetitive, this conversation will help you understand what’s really going on and how to fix it without creating more work for yourself.

→ Why “one message, a hundred different ways” does not mean repeating the same sentence every day

→ How repetition builds brand equity and reputation over time

→ The difference between having a core message and constantly reinventing your marketing

→ Why angles are what keep repetition from becoming boring or stale

→ How different buyer motivations require different entry points into the same transformation

→ Why many launch problems are actually pre-launch messaging problems

→ How to use content on purpose through reach, nurture or activate, and convert

→ What it really means to close the perception gap in your brand

→ How educators can audit their content to ensure their offers make sense to their audience

→ A practical exercise to help you map one core message across 15 different content angles

This episode is especially relevant for educators who feel tired of being “on” all the time, who want their marketing to work more consistently, and who are ready to build a brand that people recognize, trust, and associate with a clear solution.

Repetition builds reputation. Angles make the message land. And when your content has purpose, marketing stops feeling heavy and starts feeling intentional.

If this resonated with you, you’ll love the deeper work we do inside Sought After Educator, where we focus on building brand equity, refining your core message, and creating content that actually supports your offers and your long-term growth.

Mentioned in this episode:

Enroll in THE SOUGHT AFTER EDUCATOR ACCELERATOR

Get all the details at www.jodiebrown.ca/sae