In this episode of The Future of Podcasting, I (Dave Jackson) sit down with co-host Daniel J. Lewis to talk all about the podcast funding tag and new ways podcasters can get value for the value they provide. We dig into the mindset a lot of podcasters have about monetization, why it can feel awkward to ask for funding, and how the funding tag makes it simple and (dare I say) fun to encourage support from your listeners.

Future Proof Your Branding

Daniel and I chat about the importance of branding your funding link to your own show, rather than sending people to something like patreon.com/yourshow, and we share examples like my own page, askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome, and Daniel’s theaudacitytopodcast.com/giveback. I explain why having these branded links gives you control, future proofs your funding page, and lets you move between services if something better comes along.

You Can Link to Anything

We also talk through ideas for what your funding tag could actually link to—it doesn’t have to be a traditional donation page. Get creative! It could be a volunteer page, a merch store, or even a way for someone to send you cookies. Daniel points out that the funding tag is just a link, and it doesn’t even have to be about money. It all comes back to building a page that fits your show and your brand.

Other highlights include:

• Tips for making your funding call-to-action less awkward and more value-focused
• How I use dynamic pre-rolls to thank supporters and give them a quick shoutout
• The importance of reinforcing your brand in your URLs and CTAs
• Why convenience is crucial for getting support, and the direction podcast tech is heading for seamless giving

Want to check out more about the funding tag? Daniel recommends visiting podcasting 2.0's tag documentation (the transcript references "podcasting. two. tags funding" as a quick link; the actual URL is https://podcasting2.org/docs/guides/how-to-use-the-funding-tag).

Companies, tools, and URLs mentioned in this episode:

• Patreon
• PayPal
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Glow (no longer)
• Supercast
• Podpage
• Teepublic
• Redbubble
• Sticker Mule
• WordPress plugins: GiveWP, Formidable Forms, Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms, Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce
• Radiolab (as a show example)
• Congressional Dish with Jen Briney

Examples of branded funding/support URLs:

It’s great to be back! After a bit of a break, we reflect on why this year’s been a challenging one—most notably the loss of our good friend, Todd Cochran, which really sucked the energy out of both of us. It’s felt strange attending podcast conferences and not seeing Todd. At one recent event, his absence sparked memories and stories among all the old-timers.

Other Losses

We recognized some other major changes and losses in the podcasting community, including Neil Galarte’s passing and the impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and martyrdom, which had waves in the podcasting world.

Conferences

Conferences have seen big shifts. Podcast Movement, once growing rapidly, is now feeling smaller and more intimate and seems to be returning to its roots. I shared my thoughts on the move to New York City, which might benefit big name podcasters and networks, but I wonder if it’s pricing out independent podcasters. On the other hand, PodFest feels like it’s holding onto that independent creator vibe.

Evolutions is now co-locating with South by Southwest, which is another smart move for reaching broader media attention, even if affordability remains a concern. We talked about past conferences co-locating with bigger events (like New Media Expo merging with other conventions) and the community getting lost—hoping Podcast Movement avoids those mistakes.

For creators weighing which events to attend, we think Evolutions at South by Southwest could be a more fun opportunity if you can afford it—there’s energy from all kinds of independent creators.

We discussed how post-Covid realities and inflation have changed conference dynamics, from higher travel and hotel costs to more people realizing they don’t need conferences to learn about podcasting. Knowledge is now much more decentralized and accessible through online platforms, AI, Facebook groups, Reddit, and YouTube.

The Tech Side of Things

On the tech side, we shared frustrations over the video-first focus and the pressure to be on YouTube, even for podcasters who love audio. I’m recording video but not finding time or motivation to edit and post it. There might be a resurgence of love for audio-only content as people seek flexibility and less bandwidth consumption.

We also reflected on the rise of audiobooks and Kindle reading, how books are often more focused than podcasts, and how my own listening habits have shifted—I’m now consuming more audiobooks than podcasts.

Show Retirements

Some big podcasters ended their shows, like Marc Maron. As podcasting passes the 20-year mark, retirement and shifting priorities for veteran podcasters are becoming more common. Rob Greenlee isn’t bringing back New Media Show, and Libsyn’s The Feed was quietly shut down, prompting Rob Walsh to revive Podcast 411.

Got Feedback?

We invited listeners to let us know if you’d like this show to take on topics the New Media Show used to discuss, covering more present-day podcast issues, not just future trends.

Streaming Sats...

Streaming Satoshi payments and Podcasting 2.0 have hit bumps, and Adam Curry says mass adoption could take another decade—so our expectations needed realignment. We covered the technical challenges with payment metadata and discussed building future-proof solutions. Daniel suggested payments should be sent after an episode is finished rather than streaming constantly, and Daniel mentioned separating metadata and payment channels for better flexibility.

Podchapters ROCKS!

On the tool front, I praised Daniel’s new tool, PodChapters.com, which uses AI to generate podcast...

Picture this: a shiny new image tag that’s about to shake up the podcasting world. Forget about your basic square images and get ready for some serious upgrades. In this episode, we explain what this new tag means for podcasters trying to get their visual game on point. We’re not just stuck with one dull image anymore; in the future we can throw in multiple formats for all kinds of uses – think banners, hero images, or even circular crops that fit better in certain apps.

We talk about the real-world applications of this new image tag. How are we going to implement this? How will media hosts adapt? It’s all about making the user experience smoother while giving us creative freedom. We share our thoughts on the best practices for using this tag and what we hope to see from the podcasting community as everyone gets their hands on this new tool. With a demo link in the show notes, you can see the magic for yourself and join us in this exciting new era of podcasting.

Takeaways:

• The new image tag is like a breath of fresh air, allowing podcasters to ditch the one-size-fits-all image approach and embrace multiple formats, finally giving us the variety we never knew we needed.
• Podcasting 2.0 is not just about updating old features; it's about revolutionizing how we present our content visually and ensuring we're not stuck in the past with those boring square images.
• Say goodbye to the days of having just one image per podcast! With the new image tag, we can now flaunt a whole gallery of visuals, because who doesn't want more options in life?
• The capability to use animated gifs or even video in podcast imagery is a game-changer, turning our once static feeds into dynamic showcases that can actually grab listeners' attention.
• Expect some chaos as hosting platforms scramble to support this new feature; it's going to be a wild ride figuring out how to integrate all these new image styles and purposes into user-friendly dashboards.
• The potential for creative expression is limitless with the new image tag, but it also raises the question: will we see an explosion of design creativity or a chaotic mess of visual overload?

Links referenced in this episode:

• podcasting2.org Image Tag Information
• Demo Tool https://nathangathright.github.io/podcastimage/

Daniel

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Dave Jackson, host and educator at School of Podcasting™

Daniel J. Lewis, host and educator at The Audacity to Podcast® and creator of Podgagement®