Courtney Kocak is a writer, podcaster, and comedian based in Los Angeles. She wrote for Amazon’s Emmy-winning animated series Danger & Eggs and Netflix’s Know It All podcast. She’s produced a slew of highly-ranked podcasts—including The Bellas Podcast, which debuted at #1 on Apple Podcasts, PayPal’s Never Stand Still, and Girlboss Radio—and currently hosts three of her own with over two million downloads to date: Private Parts Unknown, about love and sexuality around the world, The Bleeders, about book writing and publishing, and Podcast Bestie, a best friend to podcasters trying to grow and monetize their shows (and a popular Substack). As a writer, her bylines include The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, BUST, Bustle, InsideHook, and more. Courtney reports on gender, sexuality, psychedelics, reproductive rights, sex work, and sustainability. She’s currently working on a coming-of-age memoir in essays.
RETURNING CLASS: Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network & Business
Join Courtney for her one-day newsletter seminar with Writing Workshops on May 11th.
NEW CLASS: How to Start and Grow Your Podcast for Writers
Join Courtney for five weeks of kickstarting your podcast into reality and attracting an audience from May 15th through June 15th. Specifically for writers.
NEW WORKSHOP: Summer Writer’s Platform Coaching
Join Courtney Kocak's coaching program this summer, where you will learn to elevate your unique writing platform and build your author brand! Whether your goal is to get your first 100 followers or grow to 10K, this program is inclusive of newbies and also great for more established folks who need to jumpstart their growth and content creation process.
RETURNING CLASS: How to build “platform” for writers who shudder at the thought
Sign up for Courtney’s course through Writing Workshops — back by popular demand — a one-day intensive on building your writer platform by leaning into your joys and strengths (and, no, you don’t need to start your own podcast).
RETURNING WORKSHOP: Land Big Bylines by Writing for Columns
On July 7th, Courtney will deconstruct how to land bylines at top publications by writing for columns. She’ll explain the crux of popular columns. You'll do a brainstorming exercise for each, and there will be an opportunity to workshop your ideas and ask questions. You'll receive a list of potential columns and editor contact information for each. By the end, you'll have a game plan for landing your best bylines yet!
Courtney is the creator and curator of Podcast Bestie, a popular Substack for aspiring and indie podcasters. Join the squad.
Podcast Bestie is now a podcast too!
You can watch early previews of Podcast Bestie episodes on the new YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe!
Read Courtney’s 1st for The New York Times!
“Restless in Minnesota” is an excerpt from the coming of age memoir she’s currently working on.
Read Courtney’s viral essay for Cosmo
Courtney got her first byline for Cosmopolitan with an essay about the happy ending massage she got in Tokyo. This reinvigorating and empowering take on happy endings will probably make you a little bit horny… and curious. 😉
Read Courtney’s latest for InsideHook
Los Angeles Is Now Home to the Country’s Only Unionized Strippers — Here’s How They Did It
Courtney’s been covering LA area stripper unionization efforts for the past four years, and the Star Garden finally made it happen with the help of Strippers United and Actors’ Equity.
Read Courtney’s 1st for Los Angeles Public Press
North Hollywood’s Star Garden just reopened as the nation’s only unionized strip club. The victory marked a rare win for entertainment unions amid the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes. The Star Garden dancers were welcomed by an excited audience, including hospitality workers and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. Courtney was there to report on the opening night festivities.
Courtney hosts a podcast called Private Parts Unknown about love and sexuality around the world. It has over 1.5 million downloads to date, and it’s been featuring in Business Insider, Men’s Health, and more. Check it out!
Courtney also hosts The Bleeders podcast about book writing and publishing. Check out the latest episode:
Sign up for The Bleeders companion Substack for writing inspo and updates about the podcast.
Read Courtney’s Subs and Chill interview for Write or Die Magazine
Q&A with Kailey Brennan DelloRusso