When you hear the words "online courses," what's the first thing that comes to mind?

I’m Renée, a gender-affirming voice teacher. I help trans people create voices that bring them safety and comfort, primarily through my suite of online courses. But today, I want to have a broader conversation about online courses themselves, because they have one of the wildest and most inconsistent reputations.

On one end, you have accredited university programs offered online. These courses come with the backing of established institutions and offer formal credentials. On the other end, well… you’ve got grifters selling courses on how to change your eye colour through the power of positive thinking. Somewhere in the middle of that spectrum is where I come in.

Let’s talk platforms for a second. I use Kajabi for my courses, which also hosts my website, manages my email list, and does a whole lot more. It’s a platform designed with both course creators and students in mind. It's not perfect, but the student experience is great—one of the main reasons I chose it.

After three years on Kajabi, I’ve become pretty close with the company and the other creators using the platform. And something we often talk about is how much we wish there were more oversight to filter out the scammers. These grifters can damage the reputation of online courses, and that affects those of us who are genuinely trying to provide value and make a positive impact.

So why am I bringing this up?

Well, it occurred to me recently that I’ve been hedging when it comes to talking about my courses. I sometimes shy away from mentioning them because I don’t want to come across as “sales-y” or be associated with the "mogwarts academy" types. But the truth is, I’m really proud of my work.

I’ve been teaching voice since 2008, starting with my first vocal workshop at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. I’ve been passionate about voice education ever since. When I transitioned to online courses, it was because I saw a way to make my expertise accessible to more people, at a lower cost than private lessons.

In the years since I launched my online courses, I’ve grown a lot as an educator. I’m constantly learning, improving, and updating my courses to better serve my students. This isn't just about creating a product and leaving it—it’s about continually evolving and striving for excellence.

So, that’s what’s been on my mind. I’d love to hear from you: what comes to mind when you think about online courses? Let me know in the YouTube comments!