Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent Podcasting

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 priori...

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....

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 independe...

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...

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...

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...

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 be...

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...

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 y...

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 sele...

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 thr...

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...

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...

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 c...

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 po...

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 po...

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 journa...

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 expe...

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 r...

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...

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...

The lived experience of independent podcasters is one of both liberating freedom and unique challenges. How can the TrueFans listening platform address those challenges and help indie creators keep creating? Through an interview with Joana PR Neves, host of Exhibitionistas podcast, and conversations between Sam and Claire, this episode of Creators discusses: The power of podcasting to give voice t...

Claire and Sam announce a brief hiatus until June 16th, sharing podcast recommendations and answering listener questions about the TrueFans platform to tide listeners over during the break. • Claire recommends "Conning the Con" by Sarah Ferris, a true crime podcast about a family turning the tables on a con man • Sam suggests "The Snap," featuring two Nashville artists navigating Bitcoin and value...

Introducing "Creators" - a podcast built specifically for independent content makers looking to break through the noise. Hosted by independent podcaster Claire Waite Brown and TrueFans CEO Sam Sethi, this podcast tackles the three essential challenges every creator faces: discovery, interactivity, and monetisation. The launch episode establishes the show's format by featuring Claire's own podcast...

Clare Waite Brown and Sam Sethi kick off their brand-new podcast "Creators" with a deep dive into the evolving landscape of creator monetization. The groundbreaking news? TrueFans has just launched a much-requested feature allowing creators to withdraw micropayments directly to their bank accounts through Stripe integration. Gone are the days when fan appreciation was merely symbolic – now creator...