That’s how long the reading was in the latest Wednesday One-Shot. A 7-minute episode with commercials on the top and bottom, with a 4 minute, 4 second story in between.
And not one One-Shot is over ten minutes. Most clock in at six.
Ads are INCREDIBLY disruptive. They’re easily the worst part of all media, but there’s an amount the consumers are willing to put up with for the creator to earn money and for us to listen for free. And I was so happy the first time I heard Andy doing ad reads, and getting pre-recorded ad placements. Like, yes! Get that money! But it’s so hard to convince myself now that the Wednesday One-Shots are recorded with the listeners in mind, like a treat to help you through the week until you get the the next full episode fix.
When *more* of the episode time is dedicated to ad reads than the content comprising the podcast itself—the content the listeners came for in the first place—then sub-ten minute episodes feel more like he’s accepted more sponsors than he can reasonably fit into his usual episode lengths, but still has a contractual obligation to fulfill, so he reads a little sub-five minute story and packs the remaining (required) sponsorship plugs on the top and bottom.
And the only way to avoid that is to subscribe financially?
It reminds me of when Spotify made their service so hostile to free users that the only way to reasonably enjoy it was to pay the subscription just to make the ads stop.
I want success for Andy, and I do hope he continues to have it. But I can’t enjoy the podcast anymore.
IMO, the one-shots should have been (or stayed, if they already were) mini-sodes for Patrons and subscribers, commercial-free; extra content to reward paying members for their support and loyalty. To tempt non-paying listeners to join the paid tier for extras beyond the inclusions after each free episode.
Good luck, Andy. I hope other listeners are stronger than me and can stick it out.
