Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent Podcasting

Sam Sethi & Claire Waite Brown

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.

  1. Jul 13

    Turn Your Podcast Into a Book

    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 Power of a Book: Why a book provides heightened authority and a new, accessible income stream that podcasts alone often don't reach.The ‘Gems of Gold’: How to move beyond messy transcripts to find the repeated themes and unique ‘voice print’ hidden in your content.The Tech-Human Hybrid: How PodCraft uses a comprehensive relational database to query your work without ‘hallucinating’ or risking your privacy, combining data architecture with expert developmental editing.Real-World Impact: The story of the Responder Resilience podcast, which used 200 episodes to create the first-ever mental health guide for first responders – a book now ordered in bulk by the New York Fire Department.Is Your Show Ready? Why you typically need a minimum of 50 episodes (with 100–150 being the ‘sweet spot’) to begin this journey. The PodCraft Process Tina explains that this is not a ‘quick fix’ involving AI-cleaned transcripts. It is a deliberate, six-month strategic process that includes: Book Visioning: A no-cost initial consultation to see if your goals align with a book project,.Data Structuring: Pulling your entire RSS feed into a private database to identify your authentic voice and core topics.The Book Brief: Creating a 20-page strategic document outlining the purpose and structure of your book.Ghostwriting and Editing: Working with a developmental editor to craft chapters based on your existing recordings. Your podcast is more than just audio; it's a durable body of work that can continue to serve your audience and your brand for years to come. Find out more about PodCraft here (please note this is an affiliate link) Submit this form to be featured on the TrueFans home page Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Turn Your Podcast Into a Book

  2. Jun 29

    Collective Action and Financial Rewards

    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 the expanding revenue opportunities on offer with TrueFans. We discuss: Embracing the Mess: Becky explains the philosophy behind Messy Liberation and how to strive for a better world while acknowledging the flawed systems we live in.The Power of the Collective: Discover how the Feminist Podcasters Collective grew to 50 independent shows by rejecting traditional network metrics in favour of equitable, sliding-scale support.Monetization for Indie Creators: Sam introduces eight ways podcasters can earn on TrueFans, including selling event tickets and merch and offering premium encrypted episodes as well as inviting their fans to stream micropayments, leave super comments, and pay for monthly subscriptions.Seamless Cross-Promotion: Sam explains the TrueFans ‘Promo’ feature, where creators can request to be featured in the high-visibility ‘second slot’ of another show's episode list by sending a custom offer – allowing for easy community discovery without needing to modify your audio files.AI Labelling: A look at YouTube’s new auto-labelling for AI content and what it means for the future of podcast tagging and transparency. Listen to Messy Liberation here Find out about the Feminist Podcasters Collective here Submit this form to be featured on the TrueFans home page Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Collective Action and Financial Rewards

  3. Jun 15

    Collective Clout for Creators

    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 feature allows creators to aggregate their shows into a single discoverable feed on TrueFans, fostering collective discoverability. We also discuss the future of hyperlocal advertising and how a shift from 'downloads' to 'verified plays' could unlock new revenue streams for indie shows with smaller, highly engaged audiences. Independent Podcasters Day Pledge your allegiance to Independent Podcasters Day Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Collective Clout for Creators

  4. Jun 1

    Narratives Beyond Borders

    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, networking opportunities, and masterclasses from industry giants. Deadline: Submissions close on June 30th The festival runs from November 4th–8th TrueFans Platform: Awards and Playlists Award-winning and shortlisted podcasts (including those from Aesthetica 2025) have a dedicated space to be discovered on TrueFans. Winners are also highlighted with a trophy icon on their cover art, and users can listen to a curated playlist of all winning podcasts. Securing the Future: Premium RSS Sam introduces Premium RSS (formerly Secure RSS), a solution to the security flaws found in traditional private feeds like those on Patreon or Substack, which are easily shared, allowing non-paying listeners to access premium content. TrueFans is beta testing a standard that verifies user credentials upon login, ensuring only paying fans can access the feed. Independent Podcasters Day We touch on Liam Heffernan’s campaign to establish July 4th as Independent Podcasters Day (or 'Independents Day') to celebrate the unique voices in the industry. Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. Listen to From My Yard to Your Yard Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Narratives Beyond Borders

  5. May 14

    Authors, Art and Analytics

    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 podcasting, the impact of Apple's proprietary APIs, and how TrueFans helps creators manage hosting costs and filter bot data for accurate human analytics. Plus, we ask you: Should the home screen feature show art, episode art, or allow the listener to choose their preference? Leave a comment to have your say. Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. Listen to The Failing Writers Podcast Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Authors, Art and Analytics

  6. May 11

    Breaking the Silo

    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 Threads. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. More about PodGround More about the PodGround Creators Micro-Grant Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Breaking the Silo

  7. Apr 27

    Deep Connections and Meaningful Metrics

    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 listen time and consumption data, moving beyond the "auto-download" era to show real listener engagement, and we look at how creators will soon be able to use TrueFans to offer exclusive bonus content without forcing fans to use external platforms like Patreon. Claire is officially announced as the Head of Community at TrueFans and entries are open for the Independent Podcast Awards 2026. You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen. Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app. Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone. Listen to The Shá Sparks Show here Enter the Independent Podcast Awards here Find TrueFans here Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music Feedback: TrueFans Support Read: Creators Blog Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Deep Connections and Meaningful Metrics

  8. Jan 6

    What do independent podcasters hope for in 2026?

    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 of celebrity or AI-generated content towards valuing authentic, human-made stories. The episode underscores the vital role of independent creators as the ‘lifeline of the podcast industry’, advocating for an environment where depth, honesty, creativity, and the impact of storytelling are valued above mere numbers.  Listeners are invited to join the conversation and share their own aspirations for independent podcasting in 2026 directly on the TrueFans app, reinforcing our show's commitment to community and interaction. Sam Sethi and Claire Waite Brown started Creators from TrueFans in early summer 2025 with the aim of amplifying the creative endeavours of independent podcasters and highlight how TrueFans supports discovery, interactivity, and monetization for indie voices. See below for links to the podcasts featured, which will also be linked to in the chapters! What are indie creators hoping for: The Year of the Indie Voice There’s a strong collective hope for 2026 to be the year where independent podcasts gain greater recognition and are valued for their depth, creativity, and authentic storytelling, rather than just download numbers or celebrity status. Beyond Downloads  Creators are yearning for improved analytics, specifically asking for metrics like listener retention, actual listening time, and engagement data, to better understand their audience and the impact of their content. Sustainable Growth and Monetization Many indie podcasters hope to find more sustainable ways to fund their passion projects, seeking sponsorships that align with their show’s values and clearer pathways to remuneration, moving beyond a "labor of love" into financially viable endeavours. Enhanced Listener Engagement A strong desire exists among creators for more direct feedback and interaction with their audience, emphasizing the need for accessible platforms and features that facilitate two-way conversations, like those offered by TrueFans. Rethinking Podcast Categorization Calls for better, more descriptive podcast categories and formats are made, arguing against, for example, broad ‘arts and entertainment’ tags that lump diverse indie shows with celebrity content, hindering discoverability for unique or niche productions. Listen to the podcasts featured in this episode by clicking on their links: The Failing Writers Podcast The Story of Woman Indie Business Club The Late Bloomer Actor Multispective In Ten Years Time Watts on Your Screen Exhibitionistas The Adult Ballet Studio The Cashflow Show Book Imprint  The Friendship File And, recommended by Ear Worthy: Better Call Daddy, The Wine Pair Podcast, 5 Random Questions, The Road to Rediscovery

    What do independent podcasters hope for in 2026?
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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.

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