Most online courses fail not because the expert isn’t brilliant, but because the learning experience is broken.
In this conversation, former high school math teacher turned video producer and learning architect Parchelle Tashi, founder of The Author’s Leverage, reveals how she helps authors, coaches, and consultants transform their books and intellectual property into high-impact, profitable learning assets.
Parchelle shares the real story behind leaving the classroom, building a production career up and down the East Coast, and finally discovering the “full circle” intersection of curriculum design, media, and scalable products. She breaks down why most courses don’t stick, the biggest mistake experts make when they teach online, and how to design learning that actually changes people — without stuffing everything you know into another 8-hour video course.
5 Key Takeaways
- Why simply turning your book into a video course almost always fails your audience
- The “burrito test” for knowing when your course is overstuffed and doomed to overwhelm learners
- How to design learning experiences that fit your audience’s real life, not just their screen time
- The leverage model: using one focused learning asset to open doors to institutions, workshops, and licensing deals
- A real success story: how a former federal prosecutor turned her interview skills into a scalable digital workbook used by colleges
Timestamps
- 00:00 – From high school math teacher to founder of The Author’s Leverage
- 03:01 – The doubts, the coach, and the decision to go “all in” on production and entrepreneurship
- 06:48 – Why most online courses don’t work (and what a real learning “experience” feels like)
- 09:01 – The #1 mistake experts make when turning their expertise into a course
- 12:27 – The true vision behind The Author’s Leverage: impacting the world through lived wisdom
- 14:56 – Case study: transforming 20 years as a federal prosecutor into a scalable digital asset
- 17:46 – Rapid fire: dream photography location, favourite non-tech teaching tool, and the show that fuels Parchelle’s creativity
Guest Links – Parchelle Tashi
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Website:
https://www.theauthorsleverage.com/ -
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/ - Instagram: @parchelleosh / @theauthorsleverage
- Featured Work: The Author’s Leverage learning assets & client case studies
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Junaid Ahmed is a multi-passionate creator, storyteller, and home studio architect who believes your voice can change your world. As the host of Hacks and Hobbies, he dives deep into the journeys of people turning passion into purpose — from garage inventors to global entrepreneurs.
The podcast began as a simple idea: record honest conversations about side projects, creativity, and the hustle behind the scenes. Years later, it’s become a movement — showcasing the real, raw, and inspiring stories of everyday innovators.
Whether he’s building pro-level studios or geeking out over podcast gear, Junaid’s mission is clear: help people show up with confidence, clarity, and character.
🎧 New episodes weekdays. New perspectives in every story.
