Podcast Monetization Is Mostly a Lie with Donald Dunn

Podcasting Culture Has Lost Its Mind with Jonathan Marsh

Podcasting used to be relatively simple. You recorded some audio, uploaded it somewhere, and hoped another human being voluntarily listened to it. Now podcasting apparently includes Netflix shows, vertical video clips, content funnels, algorithm strategy, six-camera YouTube setups, and at least one person online insisting you need a specific microphone before you’re allowed to speak publicly. This week on Monetize This!, David talks with audio fiction creator Jonathan Marsh about the strange modern universe surrounding podcasting — a place where nobody can fully agree on what a podcast even is anymore, but everyone still seems very confident about the rules. The conversation wanders through expensive microphones, Netflix “podcasts,” RSS evangelism, Reddit legal advice, creator economy panic, and one surprisingly intense reaction to the phrase “fair use.” Somewhere underneath all the chaos is a quieter question: What if podcasting was never supposed to become this complicated? Jonathan Marsh is the creator of Afterlight Fictions [https://afterlightfictions.buzzsprout.com/], [https://afterlightfictions.buzzsprout.com/] an audio storytelling podcast featuring original fiction and public domain adaptations. Follow Monetize This! Monetize This! is a lighthearted, contrarian podcast about podcasting culture, creator advice, guru nonsense, and the increasingly bizarre economy surrounding “content creation.” Subscribe at monetizethispodcast.com [https://monetizethispodcast.com/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monetizethispodcast.com [https://monetizethispodcast.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why Podcast Gurus Don’t Understand Shows Like This with Andrew Lewin

What happens when a podcast isn’t a funnel for a business… and the podcast itself is the thing? In this episode of Monetize This!, David Beckemeyer talks with Andrew Lewin, host of How to Protect the Ocean, a podcast with nearly 1,900 episodes built around ocean conservation, science communication, and helping people care about the ocean a little more than they did yesterday. No mastermind.No “high-ticket offer.”No podcast growth empire. And yet, somehow, the show changes lives. Andrew talks about: * why most podcast advice doesn’t apply to mission-driven shows * the problem with podcast guru culture and fake metrics * why podcasting is a long game * trying (and failing) to force traditional monetization models onto a niche show * building an audience around impact instead of scale * the strange reality of being “successful” in ways the industry doesn’t really measure Along the way, we hear stories about listeners changing careers, starting environmental organizations, pursuing PhDs, and even influencing institutional policy after hearing episodes of the show. This conversation is ultimately about a kind of podcaster that rarely gets represented in podcasting discourse:people making shows because the subject itself matters to them. Guest Andrew LewinHost of How to Protect the OceanSpeak Up For Blue [https://www.speakupforblue.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Mentioned in This Episode * How to Protect the Ocean * Beyond Jaws * Podcast SEO * “Top 1%” podcast rankings * Mission-driven podcasting * The long game of podcasting Follow Monetize This! If you’ve ever felt like podcasting advice assumes you’re secretly trying to become a business coach, this show is for you. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts. More essays and episodes at:Monetize This! [https://monetizethispodcast.substack.com/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monetizethispodcast.com [https://monetizethispodcast.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Your Podcast Needs More Duck Sounds

What happens when you take perfectly reasonable advice about “better audio” and follow it… way too far? This episode of Monetize This! features voice actor Jodi Krangle—whose thoughtful insights on sound, emotion, and listener connection are immediately (and aggressively) overproduced. We talk about why sound matters, how it shapes what people feel, and how quickly “good production” turns into… whatever this episode is. Along the way: * Duck sounds become a creative philosophy * Bacon replaces rain * Podcast gurus promise a million dollars (again) * And we test the limits of how many sound effects one conversation can survive Under the chaos, there’s a real point: Good audio enhances.Bad audio announces itself.And most podcasts don’t need more polish—they need more personality. Things We (Accidentally) Learned * Sound is emotional, whether you notice it or not * Great production disappears; bad production performs * Most “cinematic” podcast advice doesn’t survive contact with reality * Templates can help—but they can’t replace having a point of view * People come for information… but they stay for the host About the Guest Jodi Krangle is a professional voice actor who helps brands sound like themselves (without the duck effects). She’s also the host of the podcast Audio Branding, where she explores how sound influences perception, memory, and connection. Connect with Jodi * Podcast: Audio Branding [https://pod.link/1489042453?view=apps&sort=popularity] * Website: voiceoversandvocals.com [https://voiceoversandvocals.com] About Monetize This! Monetize This! is a lighthearted, contrarian podcast about podcasting—where growth is optional, monetization is suspicious, and “best practices” are treated as… suggestions at best. If it’s overhyped, oversold, or overproduced, we’re probably talking about it. Final Thought Your podcast does not need more duck sounds. (Probably.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monetizethispodcast.com [https://monetizethispodcast.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Podcast Monetization Is Mostly a Lie with Donald Dunn

Most podcasts don’t fail because people run out of things to say. They fail because people start chasing something they never clearly defined in the first place. In this episode of Monetize This, I talk with Donald Dunn—who runs multiple shows, built a podcast network… and makes exactly $0 from podcasting itself. Not as a failure. As a choice. We get into why monetization advice often misses the point, how burnout actually happens, and why the most important decision you can make about your podcast has nothing to do with downloads. A Few Takeaways 1. Most podcasts don’t fail—they driftThey start with one intention and slowly absorb expectations from the outside. 2. Burnout isn’t about talking—it’s everything elseEditing, promotion, distribution. That’s the real job. 3. Monetization comes later (if at all)Trying to force it early usually leads to disappointment—or worse, bad decisions. 4. The podcast might not be the businessFor some creators, it’s the portfolio, the proof, or the entry point—not the revenue stream. 5. You have to decide what this is upfrontBecause the work, expectations, and outcomes are completely different depending on that choice. About the Guest Donald Dunn is the founder of Barracks Media and host of multiple podcasts, including Spirits and Stories. His work focuses on storytelling, mental health, and helping others share their experiences—often outside of traditional monetization models. Mentioned in This Episode * Barracks Media [https://barracksmedia.com/] Monetize This! is for podcasters who are tired of being treated like a funnel, a brand, or a growth chart. Sometimes the podcast is the thing. And that’s enough. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monetizethispodcast.com [https://monetizethispodcast.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Vibes & Friendship, No Funnels with Travis Rhoden

What if your podcast… isn’t a strategy? In this episode, I talk with Travis Rhoden, co-host of Bestie Approved—a show that breaks just about every “rule” in podcasting. No niche. No growth plan. No real monetization to speak of. And yet—it works. Not in the way the industry usually defines success. But in a way that’s a lot harder to measure: they actually enjoy making it. We get into the reality behind podcast advice, the pressure to turn everything into a funnel, and what happens when you just decide not to play that game. This isn’t a “how to grow your podcast” episode.It’s more like: what if you didn’t? Links: https://www.bestieapproved.com/ Key takeaway:Your podcast doesn’t have to lead to something else. More from this conversation:There’s a lot more from Travis that didn’t make the main cut—extra rants, tangents, and behind-the-scenes chaos. Those will be dropping as bonus episodes, so keep an eye out. About the show:Monetize This! is a podcast about podcasting—minus the guru playbook. No fluff, no funnels, no “10-step growth hacks.” Just real conversations about what this medium actually is… and what it isn’t. If this episode resonated (or irritated you), share it with someone who’s overthinking their podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit monetizethispodcast.com [https://monetizethispodcast.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]