Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent Podcasting

Sam Sethi & Claire Waite Brown · truefans.fm

Championing independent podcasters and their supporters, each episode features an interview with an indie podcaster to talk about their show and how they make it, and which Podcasting 2.0 features could be of use to them to improve discoverability, interactivity and monetisation for their podcast. Co-hosts Claire Waite Brown and Sam Sethi also discuss what's happening in the podcast world that might be of interest and use to independent podcast creators.

29 episodes

20d ago latest

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Episodes 30

Ballet, Passion and Publishing: With The Adult Ballet Studio
6d ago · 23:50
How to use storytelling skills to break down industry barriers and bulld a thriving community around a lifelong passion. Elizabeth Blosfield – the multimedia journalist behind The Adult Ballet Studio podcast – discusses how through reconnecting with ballet as an adult she identified a gap in the market for resources and storytelling dedicated to amateur dancers over the age of 18, and explains how her podcast fills that gap for her listeners. In this episode, we discuss: The Adult Ballet Community: Elizabeth uses her podcast to break down barriers in the ballet field to make the art form more
Sustaining Creative Communities: With Andreea Coscai and Jullian Androkae
20d ago · 35:10
Can you reclaim your podcasting joy and build a sustainable community around your show? Andreea Coscai and Jullian Androkae, founders of PodVision, join Claire to explain how they handle the heavy lifting of production, video assets and marketing that can suck the joy out of creating an independent podcast. We discuss: Partnership over Outsourcing: Andreea and Jullian offer a bespoke approach to helping creators launch and rebrand shows.Navigating Platform Dependency: The frustration of depending on third-party algorithms for discovery and the potential for Podcasting 2.0 features to change th
Discovery, Feedback and Funding: With Indie Business Club
1mo ago · 26:24
Can your creative passion truly ‘earn its keep’? In this episode, Claire chats with Mel Barfield, host of the indie business club podcast, to explore the ‘near infinite possibilities’ and practical hurdles of independent podcasting. From her 90s-radio-inspired format to her unique ‘indie anthem’ episode titles, Mel shares how she navigates the transition to solo hosting while craving the feedback that turns ‘silent listeners’ into a community. We also break down new TrueFans features designed to help indie shows thrive, including: • Buy Me a Subscription: A revolutionary way for fans to direct
Turn Your Podcast Into a Book: With PodCraft Books
1mo ago · 19:13
Are you pouring ‘work, time, and love’ into your podcast, only to feel frustrated that it lacks the same reverence and cachet as a published book? While podcasters often struggle with limited economic models like sponsorships, they are sitting on a ‘tremendous body of work’ that is often difficult to access and organize. Claire chats with Tina Dietz, the founder of Twin Flame Studios, about their revolutionary service, PodCraft, a specialized transformation process designed to take your podcast archives and develop them into world-class quality books. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Powe
Collective Action and Financial Rewards: With Messy Liberation
2mo ago · 40:42
Ready to ditch the ‘perfect’ strategy? Dive into the messy world of indie podcasting where nuance, equity, and authenticity lead the way to building a powerful community and monetizing your fandom on your own terms Becky Mollenkamp is an independent podcaster and founder of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. In this episode she shares her journey of co-hosting Messy Liberation, a show that prioritizes nuance and equity over perfection, proving that you don't need a ‘strategic game plan’ to build a powerful community. We work out why Becky’s transcripts aren’t showing in the apps, and consider
Collective Clout for Creators: With Mercury Podcasts
2mo ago · 31:30
Celebrating the bedrock of podcasting. Claire chats with Liam Heffernan, the founder of the Mercury Network and the creator of Independent Podcasters Day. They discuss the challenges faced by independent creators who must juggle roles as marketers, accountants, and publicists, and how publisher networks can help level the playing field by providing enterprise-level tools and sales representation. Liam also introduces Independent Podcasters day, a new initiative to celebrate the hard-working 'grafters' of the podcasting world. Sam and Claire explore the Podcasting 2.0 Publisher Tag and how this
Narratives Beyond Borders: With Aesthetica Festival
3mo ago · 21:08
Celebrating the intersection of independent filmmaking and podcasting. Claire chats with Phoebe Cawley from the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, which for the second year includes The Podcasting Lounge, a showcase for independent audio productions. The Festival Phoebe explains how a 20-year-old arts magazine evolved into a world-class film festival in York that now celebrates all forms of independent media. Submit your podcast if it displays originality and strong perspectives across fiction, documentary, investigative, or experimental genres. Selected podcasters get access to the festival, net
Authors, Art and Analytics: Featuring The Failing Writers Podcast
3mo ago · 42:38
Originally conceived as an accountability tool to force them to write, The Failing Writers Podcast has evolved into a unique creative outlet where hosts Tom and Jon 'scratch a creative itch' through sketches, songs, and 'weird stuff', alongside interviews with successful authors. In this episode the duo discuss the independent creator's journey, from the difficulty of marketing a multi-genre show to the paradox of a podcast that both inspires their writing while simultaneously eating up the very time they meant to spend writing. The episode also delves into the technical evolution of video pod
Breaking the Silo: With PodGround
3mo ago · 28:35
Community, feedback, grants and support for indie podcasters. Remi Roy, creator of The Driven Introvert Podcast and founder of PodGround, shares her journey from a self-taught podcaster recording in a library to building a supportive community for independent creators. The discussion explores the common 'shouting into the void' feeling and how PodGround’s micro-grants and structured resources aim to lower the dropout rate for new shows. Plus, Sam explains how the new TrueFans co-listen and chat feature helps break the isolation of the 'independent silo'. Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or
Deep Connections and Meaningful Metrics: With The Shá Sparks Show
4mo ago · 27:13
Claire chats with Shá Sparks, host of The Shá Sparks Show, to discuss building a community, exploring trauma and resilience, and navigating the podcasting landscape. Shá discusses her transition from hairstylist to podcaster and 'connector' for military and business leaders, exploring how their past struggles – the 'muck and yuck' – become their greatest strengths. The conversation highlights the concept of a 'respect economy' versus traditional entertainment models, and how indie creators build deeper connections with their listeners. Sam explores how TrueFans provides superior metrics like l
What do independent podcasters hope for in 2026?
7mo ago · 29:54
In this new-year mixtape episode, guests that have featured on Creators from TrueFans in 2025 share their personal hopes for their indie podcasts and for the independent podcasting landscape as a whole. Aspirations range from continued growth and increased listener engagement to securing sponsorships and expanding into new formats, including in-person series. A recurring theme is the desire for better support and recognition for independent podcasters, and many express a wish for clearer categories, more meaningful listener statistics beyond just downloads, and a shift away from the dominance
Human Connection and Feeling Heard
8mo ago · 36:29
Ever felt deeply connected to a story, even if it's vastly different from your own? Jennica Sadhwani shares the compelling origins of her show, Multispective, which aims to amplify diverse voices sharing stories of overcoming adversity, fostering connection through shared human experience. She details how her personal journey of being a good listener evolved into a podcast idea after a stranger's suggestion, highlighting the universal desire for people to be heard. Jennica delves into the practicalities of indie podcasting, from finding unique guests through her network and directories like Po
Pals, Podcasts and Possibilities
8mo ago · 30:04
Friendship files and the future of podcasting. In this week's episode of Creators from TrueFans, Claire chats with Jayne Morgan, the creative mind behind The Friendship File podcast. Jayne shares the unique premise of her show, where two friends independently answer 17 questions about their relationship and then react to each other’s responses. She explains how the podcast delves into the unsung yet incredibly vital role of friendship in our lives, from the heartwarming to the hilariously surprising. Jayne opens up about the personal journey of bringing The Friendship File to life, starting it
Tiny Payments, Big Stories
9mo ago · 35:10
Books that change lives and tech that changes podcasting. This time Claire welcomes Rebecca Thandi Norman, the creative force behind the Book Imprint podcast. Rebecca shares the evolution of her show, from the Agatha Christie-focused Tea & Murder to Book Imprint, which explores the profound impact of books on individuals before the age of 25. She delves into her unique approach to guest selection, ensuring a diverse range of voices, and opens up about the dedicated team behind Audi Productions that makes her podcast a reality, highlighting the importance of collaboration in independent podcast
Missions, Metrics and Managing Chapters
9mo ago · 44:50
Powerful storytelling, innovative documentary production and vital discussions on the future of podcasting metrics. This time, Claire interviews Anna Stoecklein, creator of The Story of Woman, to find out more about her critically acclaimed new documentary series: The Story of Woman: Finding Strength in Kenya A Harrowing Topic, a Powerful Message: Hear how Anna travelled to Kenya to create a three-part series on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), telling the human stories behind the statistics and research.Rewriting Tradition: In this series Anna speaks with survivors, activists, and community l
CVs, Audio Authenticity and Value-for-Value Hosting
10mo ago · 39:33
Are you struggling to break into the media industry or advance your career? David Spencer, who created The Media Mentor brand twenty years ago, shares why he launched The Media Mentor podcast as a powerful audio tool to help people navigate the "mystifying world of recruitment". Episode Highlights You Won't Want to Miss: The Power of Audio: Discover why David, a long-time lover of audio who always dreamt of working in radio, believes podcasting is a "beautiful powerful way to communicate".&nb...
Cats, Culture and the Cost of Connection
10mo ago · 39:52
Connecting cats and the creator economy! This time Claire Waite Brown chats with Amanda B, AKA Captain Kitty, the creator and host of the brilliantly inventive and award-winning 6 Degrees of Cats, the podcast that explores deep, cat-themed questions such as 'Are cats cuter than babies?' and 'Did Sir Isaac Newton really create the cat door?'. Amanda shares the frustration of the industry devaluing 'human, handcrafted work', but offers a powerful, optimistic theory that the rise of AI-generated...
Show Me The Money
11mo ago · 26:56
Podcasters perplexed at how to turn their passion into profit. Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan search out answers to the question, "Where's the money in podcasting?" with their new show PodBiz, dedicated to transparent conversations about podcast monetization across the industry. In this episode of Creators, Norma Jean joins us to discuss how PodBiz explores diverse revenue streams through conversations with platform executives, adtech specialists and independent creators. We explo...
Authenticity Over Auto-Downloads
11mo ago · 40:11
Discoverability and interactivity are significant challenges faced by independent podcasters, as highlighted in this episode's interview with David John Clark of The Late Bloomer Actor podcast, which explores David's creative journey and experiences in podcasting. In this chat David challenges conventional wisdom about podcast metrics. 'Download numbers do not mean they are listeners', he points out, sharing a revealing anecdote about a TikTok video with 746 plays but only 0.2 seconds a...
Creative Energy in Independent Podcasting
1y ago · 48:08
Independent podcasting is where the industry's creative energy truly thrives, bringing fresh ideas and unique voices to the forefront. The discussion around this energy takes centre stage in our conversation with Frank Racioppi, founder of Ear Worthy – a publication dedicated to championing indie podcasts in an increasingly corporate landscape. Frank shares his fascinating journey from longtime podcast listener to passionate advocate, explaining why he made the deliberate choice to focus on i...
Crafting Credibility Through Podcasts
1y ago · 45:21
How can podcasting help you to establish credibility and craft an authentic personal brand? Our guest podcaster is Christine Gritmon, host of Let's Talk About Brand. After building "a fantastic audience of peers" who weren't hiring her for social media strategy but wanted to develop their own personal brands, Christine pivoted her focus—a decision that transformed her business. With a journalist's curiosity she now delves into the stories behind successful personal brands, particularly ...
Screens, Stereotypes and Standards
1y ago · 43:17
Your digital world is uniquely yours – a personalized reality shaped by the mysterious forces of algorithms that decide what you see online. But have you ever wondered why your feed looks nothing like your friend's, despite similar interests? Matt Watts' fascinating podcast Watts On Your Screen explores this digital divergence through conversations with people navigating their own algorithmic experiences. For independent creators like Matt, platforms supporting Podcasting 2.0 features o...
Time to Plan
1y ago · 30:35
Highlighting the ways independent creators can connect with audiences and potentially monetize their work while maintaining creative control, join us this week for inspiration and practical guidance for envisioning – and manifesting – your creative potential over the next decade. In this episode, award-winning podcaster Tricia Duffy reveals how long-term planning can transform your creative life right now. Tricia tells Claire how her podcast, In Ten Years Time: How to Live a Creative Life, gr...
Podcasting Payday
1y ago · 43:17
What makes a podcast valuable? Is it immediate popularity, or something deeper? "Every podcast you create will exist for many years to come," observes Clayton M. Coke of The Cashflow Show podcast, highlighting the lasting significance of podcasting as a medium that creates permanent records of our conversations and ideas. Clayton reveals how he uses his platform to interview business owners about their successes, failures, and personal interests, but his most compelling point centres on creat...
Funding Storytelling
1y ago · 51:56
The true cost of quality storytelling. In this episode, Claire chats with Fariba Nawa, the award-winning investigative journalist behind the On Spec podcast. Fariba trains journalists worldwide to tell the stories they are personally connected to through sound, ultimately producing documentary journalism that rivals that of major broadcasters. Since launching in 2019 with Kickstarter funding, On Spec has evolved through six seasons, each with a distinct theme, including disinformation, ...