Is your course idea better suited for a group program or an evergreen online course? In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra breaks down the real differences between these two popular formats—from pricing and scalability to time investment and student experience. Using relatable metaphors (Target runs and dinner parties, anyone?), she helps you decide which path fits your content, lifestyle, and goals.

You'll learn the key pros and cons of each model, common course creator mistakes, and the exact reflection questions to ask yourself before choosing. Plus, in the Instructional Design in the Real World segment, Cassandra shares lessons learned from her recent 30 Reels in 30 Days challenge—and how it’s the perfect example of “just-in-time learning” in action.

• [00:00] Target trips, toddlers, and teaching styles
• [04:13] Defining evergreen online courses
• [05:50] Pros of evergreen: scale, time freedom, passive income
• [09:53] Cons of evergreen: low accountability and drop-offs
• [14:04] Best use cases for evergreen courses
• [15:24] Defining group coaching programs
• [16:14] Pros of group coaching: connection, feedback, transformation
• [22:30] Cons of group coaching: time/energy intensive, harder to scale
• [26:03] When group programs are best: beta testing or step-by-step transformation
• [28:50] Reflective questions to help you decide your format
• [32:56] Instructional Design in the Real World: Just-in-time learning from 30 Reels in 30 Days
• [38:36] Wrapping up: key reflections, bike season bruises & next steps

💌 Join the Email List: Get bi-weekly podcast recaps, bonus stories & exclusive tips → cassandrameszaros.ca/email

📲 Follow on Instagram: @Cassandra.Meszaros for behind-the-scenes, real-time course advice & dry millennial mom humor

⭐ Leave a Review: If this episode helped you decide between a course or program, share your thoughts to help others find the show

🎯 Need Help Deciding? Book a discovery call or submit your questions for an “Ask an Instructional Designer Anything” session

Do you really need slides to make your online course work—or can you just rock a messy bun and teach from your heart? In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra breaks down five of the most common course content formats: video, audio, live sessions, workbooks, and slides. She shares the pros, cons, and best-use scenarios for each so you can stop overthinking and start creating with confidence.

• You don’t need just one format! Most courses benefit from mixing and matching content types.
• Video: Great for visuals and tutorials, but requires more setup.
• Audio: Flexible and easy to produce—perfect for solo topics or mindset lessons.
• Live Sessions: High engagement and real-time feedback—but harder to scale.
• Workbooks: Help reinforce learning, but require clear direction and buy-in.
• Slides: Provide structure for complex topics, but can easily fall flat without thoughtful design.
• Consider your content complexity, your audience’s lifestyle, and your tech comfort level when choosing formats.

• [01:54] Overview of the five course content formats
• [03:33] Celebrating 600 downloads & April’s 30 Reels challenge! 🎉
• [05:30] Video Content: Face-to-camera vs. screen share
• [09:34] Audio Content: The “white noise” of online learning
• [12:31] Live Sessions: The engagement goldmine (but beware time zones!)
• [17:30] Workbooks & Printables: When to use them, how to keep them relevant
• [20:10] Slide-Based Content: Great for structure, but tricky to get right
• [25:55] Picking the right format: Ask the right questions
• [28:16] Instructional Design in the Real World: A unique group-based learning experience from a cohort course
• [32:52] Final reminders & call to action

💌 Join the Unlock Course Creation Email List: Get updates when new episodes drop and stay in the loop with new offers and tips → cassandrameszaros.ca/email

📲 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @Cassandra.Meszaros – she’s doing 30 Reels in 30 Days!

⭐ Leave a Review: Reviews help more creators find the podcast and start building transformational courses.

🧠 Need guidance? Book a discovery call or schedule an Ask an Instructional Designer Anything session for 1:1 support.

In this confidence-boosting solo episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra is tackling two of the most common myths that hold aspiring course creators back. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not expert enough,” or “Why would someone pay for something they can find for free online?”—this one’s for you.

Cassandra breaks down exactly why you don’t need a PhD to teach what you know, and she shares why structured, guided transformation is what people are actually paying for—not just information. Plus, in the Instructional Design in the Real World segment, she shares a hilarious and inspiring list of ultra-niche online courses that prove you have something valuable to teach too.

• Myth 1: You don’t need to be a top-level expert to create a course—just a few steps ahead of your ideal learner.
• Myth 2: People aren’t paying for information—they’re paying for transformation, clarity, and a faster path to results.
• The “A to B” mindset: You’re not responsible for teaching the whole alphabet—just helping learners move forward.
• The riches are in the niches: Specificity sells. The more niche, the better.
• Real-world proof: From buttercream coloring to goat-raising to square-foot gardening, niche courses are everywhere—and they’re selling.

• [06:00] Why traditional education & social media make us doubt ourselves
• [08:35] You only need to teach your learners from A to B
• [10:47] The “riches are in the niches” mindset shift
• [12:44] Busting the second myth: Why people won’t just go find it for free
• [14:58] People pay to save time, gain clarity, and achieve transformation
• [17:14] Instructional Design in the Real World: 10+ niche courses that prove your idea is worth selling
• [25:09] Final reminders: You’ve got what it takes—take the next step
• [26:14] How to stay connected through the Unlock Course Creation email list & Instagram

• 💌 Join the Email List to get new episodes and exclusive tips delivered bi-weekly: cassandrameszaros.ca/email
• 📲 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @cassandra.meszaros for a reel-a-day challenge, fun tips, and behind-the-scenes content
• ⭐ Leave a Review: If this episode gave you the confidence boost you needed, share your thoughts to help others find the podcast!
• 🎯 Ready to create your course? Book a discovery call or ask Cassandra anything about instructional design

Ever tried assembling IKEA furniture without instructions? That’s what launching a course without testing feels like! In this episode, we dive into beta launching—your secret weapon for course validation. A beta launch isn’t about perfection; it’s about testing, learning, and refining before scaling your course. You’ll walk away with a clear strategy to gather feedback, fine-tune your content, and build with confidence.

✔️ Why beta launching is the ultimate test for your course

✔️ Overcoming perfectionism—your course will never be "perfect" from day one

✔️ How to gather real-time feedback and make improvements

✔️ The importance of iteration before a full-scale launch

⏳ [03:23] – The IKEA analogy: Launching a course without testing is a recipe for disaster

⏳ [06:10] – What exactly is a beta launch?

⏳ [09:40] – Why exactly is beta launching so important?

⏳ [18:04] – Instructional Design in the Real World: Perfect Pancakes

🚀 Ready to beta test your course? Start small and gather feedback from real students!

📩 Want to receive the podcast newsletter? Head to cassandrameszaros.ca/email

💬 Let’s chat! DM me on Instagram [@cassandra.meszaros] with your biggest beta launch question.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite platform so you never miss an episode!

Fresh off a two-week adventure in Central America, Cassandra Meszaros is back with valuable insights—not just from the trip, but from the world of course creation! 🌎 In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, she shares the five biggest mistakes new course creators make and how to avoid them.

From trying to teach everything to waiting for perfection before launching, Cassandra breaks down the common pitfalls that can slow down (or completely stall) your course progress. Plus, in this episode’s Instructional Design in the Real World segment, she dives into how learning Spanish on vacation revealed key insights about how we absorb new information.

If you want to build a course that actually sells and delivers results, this is a must-listen!

1. The 5 most common mistakes new course creators make—and how to avoid them.
2. Why less is more when it comes to teaching (and how to keep learners engaged).
3. Why skipping research and diving straight into content can backfire.
4. The "If I build it, they will come" myth—and what to do instead.
5. Why done is better than perfect when launching your first course.
6. The importance of embracing selling as part of your course strategy.
7. Instructional Design in the Real World: How learning Spanish on vacation is a perfect example of effective instructional design.

• [00:00] Intro: Why it's okay to disconnect (and what this trip taught me).
• [02:12] Celebrating podcast consistency & launching the email list.
• [04:14] Pura Vida & lessons from two weeks in Costa Rica & Nicaragua.
• [05:22] The 5 biggest mistakes new course creators make.
  • [06:08] Mistake #1: Trying to teach everything (aka overwhelming your learners).
  • [09:16] Mistake #2: Designing first, researching later (don't cook a 5-course meal without knowing your guests’ allergies!).
  • [12:57] Mistake #3: If I build it, they will come—why courses don't sell themselves.
  • [15:24] Mistake #4: 90% finished, but never launched—perfectionism paralysis.
  • [17:53] Mistake #5: Being too afraid to sell (you're actually helping your audience!).
• [21:42] Recap of the 5 mistakes & how to avoid them.
• [22:19] Instructional Design in the Real World: How learning Spanish in Costa Rica reinforced key adult learning principles.
• [27:39] Podcast updates & how to get course creation support.

• 💌 Join the brand-new email list! Get podcast updates & exclusive extras: cassandrameszaros.ca/email
• 📲 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @cassandra.meszaros & tell her what song you instantly know all the lyrics to! 🎶
• 💻 Work with Cassandra:
  • Need help refining your course strategy? Book a discovery call.
  • Have burning questions? Schedule an "Ask an Instructional Designer Anything" session.

Building an online course without a community is like hosting a dinner party, inviting all your friends, and then never introducing them to each other! In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra Meszaros breaks down the role of community in online courses—whether it’s essential, when it makes sense, and how to build a thriving group without creating another full-time job for yourself.

From cohort-based programs to evergreen courses, Cassandra explores different models of community engagement, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies to make sure your course community actually enhances the learning experience. Plus, she dives into Instructional Design in the Real World, exploring why we remember song lyrics forever and how that connects to how we learn best.

1. What a course community really is—and why it’s not just another Facebook group.
2. Why community matters for engagement, retention, and accountability.
3. Does every course need a community? The real answer—it depends.
4. How to build a community without overcomplicating it or adding unnecessary work.
5. Common pitfalls to avoid when fostering a course community.
6. Instructional Design in the Real World: How song lyrics stick in your brain forever!

• [01:18] Is community essential or overhyped?
• [03:06] What does “community” actually mean in an online course?
• [05:33] Cohort-based courses: Why they naturally foster strong communities.
• [07:22] Evergreen courses & community: What works and what doesn’t.
• [09:06] The role of engagement and accountability in learner success.
• [10:44] How a course community builds loyal customers & brand advocates.
• [11:30] Does every course need a community? Answer: It depends!
• [14:09] How to build a course community without creating another job.
• [19:30] Common mistakes: Set-it-and-forget-it communities, overpromising, and ghost towns.
• [23:18] Instructional Design in the Real World: Why do we remember song lyrics forever? 🎶
• [29:03] Big announcement: Unlock Course Creation email list is live!

• Community isn’t one-size-fits-all. Cohort-based courses benefit more from structured community spaces than evergreen ones.
• Engagement leads to retention. Learners who feel connected are more likely to finish your course and see transformation.
• Keep it simple. A good community doesn’t need flashy graphics or daily posts—focus on connection over complexity.
• Overpromising = trouble. If you market your community as a major feature, be prepared to show up consistently.
• Music & memory connection. Just like we remember song lyrics effortlessly, the way we structure learning impacts retention.

• 💌 Join the brand-new email list! Get podcast updates & exclusive extras: cassandrameszaros.ca/email
• 📲 Follow Lauren Evans on Instagram for tech streamlining tips & help: @laurenshakevans
• 📲 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @cassandra.meszaros & tell her what song you instantly know all the lyrics to! 🎶

This episode is packed with insights to help you decide if a community is right for your course and how to build one that actually works. Listen in and start creating connections today! 🚀

Want your learners to feel accomplished, engaged, and actually apply what you've taught them? Then this episode is for you! In this solo episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra Meszaros is switching things up with a rapid-fire breakdown of 12 ways to ensure your learners take action at the end of your lessons.

Using a fun Hot Wheels-inspired analogy (thanks to her preschooler’s physics experiment), Cassandra explains why action is the key to real learning and provides practical, creative strategies to help course creators build in engagement, application, and accountability. Whether you’re designing a brand-new course or looking to improve an existing one, these ideas will help your learners stay motivated and get results!

1. Why action-based learning is essential for knowledge retention and course success.
2. 12 creative ways to ensure learners take action at the end of each lesson.
3. Why even experienced learners (including Cassandra herself!) sometimes need structure to follow through.

• [00:00] Introduction: Why action matters in learning (and a Hot Wheels physics lesson).
• [05:30] The quickest way to get learners to truly understand a concept.
• [06:50] 12 rapid-fire ways to get your learners to take action:
• [15:33] Recap of all 12 ideas – Pick the ones that fit your course best!
• [18:08] Challenge: Choose at least one or two of these ideas to implement in your course.
• [19:20] A personal story: How NOT taking action in a course slowed down Cassandra’s progress (and what changed the second time around!).
• [22:54] Final thoughts and reflections on January 2025.

• Learners need action steps to truly retain and apply what they’ve learned.
• Small tweaks to your lessons (like adding reflection questions or checklists) can significantly improve engagement.
• Pick the right method based on your course style—some ideas work best for structured programs, while others fit more community-driven courses.
• Even experienced learners skip steps sometimes! But accountability and action make all the difference.

• 🎧 Subscribe to Unlock Course Creation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or your favorite platform.
• 💌 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @Cassandra.Meszaros for daily course creation tips and behind-the-scenes content.
• ⭐ Leave a Review: If you loved this episode, share your thoughts and help others discover the show!
• 📲 Work with Cassandra:
  • Need expert guidance? Book a discovery call to map out your course strategy.
  • Have specific questions? Schedule an "Ask an Instructional Designer Anything" session.