229: Why Self-Paced Courses Are Dying—and What’s Replacing Them
The Way We Teach Digital Products Is Changing—and AI Is Leading the Charge
If you're still relying on self-paced courses to generate revenue in your digital product business, it's time for a wake-up call. In this episode, I dive into a game-changing conversation with Monica Froese on how AI is reshaping the way we teach, sell, and scale our offers—and why the old models just aren’t cutting it anymore.
Monica shares her journey from corporate marketing to launching Empowered Business, Redefining Mom, and ultimately becoming a go-to voice in AI-powered digital products. We talk candidly about what’s no longer working with traditional self-study courses, the burnout cycle of launching cohorts, and how the rise of AI is forcing a reimagining of both B2B and B2C strategies.
Monica offers a behind-the-scenes look at how she’s evolving her business models—including her shift toward dynamic GPTs and subscription-based learning—and what that means for the future of online education.
What You’ll Learn
Why self-paced courses are struggling in the age of AI
The shift from one-time purchases to ongoing support and memberships
How Monica is using GPTs and micro-apps to scale her expertise
The unique differences (and overlaps) between B2B and B2C digital product trends
Where AI is heading in the digital shop space—and what’s still missing
How to build community and deliver support without relying on Facebook groups
Why it's more important than ever to adapt quickly and experiment fearlessly
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the rapid changes AI is bringing, you’re not alone. But as Monica so wisely says—just have fun with it. This episode is packed with insights to help you future-proof your business and find joy in the process. Tune in and let’s get ahead of the curve together.
Mentioned in this episode:
Where to find Monica: Website
Why Self-Paced Courses Are Dying—and What I’m Doing Instead
If you're still relying on self-paced courses to generate revenue in your digital product business, it's time for a wake-up call. In this post, I'm pulling back the curtain on a raw, real conversation I had with Monica Froese about how AI is forcing us to rethink everything we thought we knew about teaching online.
Monica’s been in the digital product space for over a decade. She’s seen trends come and go—from blogging and Pinterest ads to launching seven-figure brands like Empowered Business and Redefining Mom. And one thing she and I both agree on? The old way of doing things just isn’t working anymore.
Self-Study Courses Aren’t Enough Anymore
When I first started selling courses, the self-paced model was the gold standard. Create once, sell forever, right? But today, it’s not enough to hand over 50 videos and wish people good luck. Learners want more guidance, faster implementation, and real-time support—and AI has completely changed their expectations.
Monica and I talked about how AI has accelerated the demand for hands-on, dynamic learning. Static content feels stale fast. And launching eight-week cohorts over and over again? It’s not sustainable. That launch burnout is real, and it’s making many of us rethink the entire course model.
The Rise of Memberships and AI-Enhanced Support
What’s working now? Memberships. Dynamic content. Ongoing support. I’ve shifted to live monthly workshops, interactive private podcasts, and on-demand GPT bots that act like mini versions of me. Monica is heading in that direction too—building micro tools and GPTs that give students tailored answers without requiring her to be constantly available.
This new model also helps us keep our content current. AI is moving so fast that what worked in January is already outdated by July. With a membership model, I can update in real-time and still get paid to teach. It’s a win for me and my students.
B2B vs. B2C: Two Speeds, One Direction
One thing I loved about this conversation is that Monica and I both run B2B and B2C brands. And while B2C is a bit slower to catch up with the AI shift, it’s coming. Hobby niches—like watercolor, journaling, or piano—may still thrive with evergreen content, but even there, custom GPTs and micro tools can elevate the experience.
In both spaces, it’s clear: we need to stop pretending we can keep doing things the old way. The faster we pivot, the more impact we can make.
What’s Next for Digital Shops and Community Spaces
We also dove into the future of digital product shops. The potential for AI-driven personalization is huge—think Amazon-style recommendations based on buying behavior, all automated with GPTs and Shopify integrations. It’s not fully here yet, but it’s coming fast.
And let’s talk about community. Facebook groups? Mostly dead. Monica and I are both experimenting with live Zoom sessions, asynchronous Q&As, and private podcast responses. It’s all about giving people access and support in ways that feel real, responsive, and manageable for us as business owners.
Give Yourself Permission to Experiment
My favorite moment in this episode? Monica shared how she gave herself permission to just have fun with AI. To explore. To try things without pressure. That mindset shift is everything.
This isn’t about perfection—it’s about being present, playful, and ready to pivot. The businesses that will thrive are the ones that stay nimble, stay curious, and stay connected.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or behind, you’re not alone. But you are in control. Start small. Stay strategic. And above all, keep going.
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Transcript:
Destini: Welcome to the Creator's MBA podcast, your go-to resource for mastering the art and science of digital product entrepreneurship. I'm Dr. Destini Copp, and I help business owners generate consistent revenue from their digital product business without being glued to their desk, launching non-stop, or stressing over social media algorithms. I hope you enjoy our episode today.
My special guest is Monica Froese—a digital product strategist, AI educator, and the founder of Empowered Business and The Empowered Shop. She's a former corporate marketing leader turned seven-figure entrepreneur, and today she helps business owners scale through digital products, AI, and e-commerce. Monica, I'm so excited to chat with you today!
Monica: Thanks, Destini. Honestly, I feel like a dinosaur in online business—I've been at it for 12 years! It all started back in 2013 with my first brand, Redefining Mom, which I'm now relaunching. At the beginning, it was a simple blog where I vented about the lack of maternity leave policies in the U.S. I had severe postpartum PTSD and nearly died during childbirth. I was angry and working in corporate America. When I learned that 25% of women return to work just two weeks after giving birth, I knew someone had to speak up.
That passion eventually led me to a roundtable with President Obama, where he challenged me to use my platform to make a difference. In 2016, I left my corporate job and began developing digital products. Back then, we didn't even call them digital products—I was just solving problems my audience had. My first product? A family budget spreadsheet, which we still sell today. I’m actually turning it into a micro app now, thanks to AI.
I also became an early leader in Pinterest advertising. That journey even led to meeting the CEO of Pinterest! But building on someone else's platform has challenges. When they change something, your whole business can be affected. So I pivoted and launched Empowered Business and The Empowered Shop in 2020, where we teach entrepreneurs how to create high-converting digital products. That eventually evolved into our shop model, because we were creating so many products that managing multiple sales pages became unmanageable.
Now, everything is about AI. Especially in B2B. If you're not adapting, you're falling behind. That’s what we’re diving into today.
Destini: Listening to your story reminded me of something! I actually met you years ago during a one-on-one session that came with your Pinterest ads course. I completely forgot about it until now.
Monica: That happens a lot. I still have people in my ecosystem who remember that course and ask to work with me one-on-one. I retired it in 2019, but it goes to show—consistency matters. Even if you pivot, people stick around.
Destini: Absolutely. Let’s talk about self-study courses. I know we both have thoughts here. What's your take on where this model is headed?
Monica: All the courses I mentioned earlier—Practical Promotions, Empowered Business Lab, the Digital Shop Experience—they're self-paced. I've tried all kinds of formats: eight-week live cohorts, self-paced with optional membership support. The issue is sustainability. Cohorts require constant relaunches, which leads to burnout. But self-paced isn't cutting it either.
People expect more now. Thanks to AI, there's a perception that they can get any answer instantly. While I don’t believe AI can fully replace what I teach—because people often don’t know what to even ask AI—it has changed expectations. People don’t want 50 videos and a "good luck" email. They want validation, accountability, and real-time support. I'm trying to figure out how to scale that support—what I call the "Monica Seal of Approval"—in a way that works for my business.
Destini: That all resonates. I saw this shift about a year ago and moved to a membership model with live monthly workshops and a private podcast for Q&A. That way, I can keep things fresh and still get paid to update content.
Monica: After our conversation on my podcast, I started thinking more seriously about memberships too. I already had a low-cost membership positioned as a support arm for my courses. But I might need to niche it down further.
The Empowered Business Lab, for example, has had around 2,000 students since 2021. The core framework still works. But AI came along, and in early 2025 I knew I had to update it. So I did a cohort and made it prompt-based. But now prompts are outdated—everyone wants a custom GPT or a "Monica Bot."
Now I have hundreds of people who bought that course and expect updates. I plan to do one last webinar with added GPTs and the bot, and after that, move to a subscription model. It’s the only sustainable way.
Destini: I'm right there with you. Updating flagship courses like Course in a Box and Funnel Cure with new AI tools is a massive job. I’m asking myself the same question—do I keep updating or just roll it into a membership?
Monica: It’s the same challenge on the B2C side. When I relaunched Redefining Mom this year, I approached it differently. B2C is behind B2B in AI adoption, so I kept things nimble. I started offering AI workshops around core needs like meal planning, budgeting, and childcare. These are things moms deal with daily, and AI can genuinely help them.
Destini: I see similar patterns in HobbyScool. Our craft instructors—whether they’re teaching watercolor or piano—still do fine with evergreen workshops. But we’re starting to integrate custom GPTs into our journals and planners. I think it’s going to become the norm.
Monica: Agreed. Because we operate in both B2B and B2C, we can see what’s coming. And B2C will catch up. It’s just a matter of time.
Destini: Let’s switch gears. Where do you see AI impacting digital shops?
Monica: I think AI will revolutionize personalized experiences. The key is using customer data to make smart, proactive product suggestions based on behavior. Right now, that level of personalization is only available to big e-commerce brands. But tools like Shopify Inbox aren’t there yet.
Eventually, I believe AI will allow solopreneurs to deliver tailored experiences to repeat customers. I hosted a think tank on this recently. We all agreed: there’s a huge opportunity to do more with returning customers. I use apps like "Frequently Bought Together," but even that AI is basic.
Destini: I’ve seen that too. Platforms like Salesforce can do it, but we need that tech on Shopify. Imagine your shop knowing what customers searched, what they bought, and proactively offering the next perfect product.
Monica: Exactly! That would be a game changer for small businesses.
Destini: One last thing—community. What are your thoughts on where it's going with AI?
Monica: Facebook groups are mostly dead. There are a few exceptions, like Lizzy Goddard’s, but overall, engagement has tanked. I think we’re moving back to live, real-time interactions—Zoom chats, live workshops, and asynchronous support like private podcasts.
Destini: That’s what I’ve built too. My memberships are supported through live workshops, private podcasts, and a custom GPT. There’s no Facebook group. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy managing it, so I built a model that supports both me and my students.
Monica: I love that. It’s scalable and it respects your energy. I might go that route too. I also offer an upsell for Voxer coaching on Wednesdays—it’s inexpensive but gives people more direct access.
Destini: That sounds perfect. People want varying levels of access. It’s smart to have options.
Monica: Thanks so much for having me, Destini. I really enjoyed this!
Destini: Me too! Before we wrap, where can people find you?
Monica: Everything is at monicafroese.com. You’ll find Redefining Mom, The Empowered Shop, our podcast, and all our digital resources there.
Destini: Thank you again, Monica! And thank you to everyone listening. If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform. See you next time!