Podcasts about true fans

How I Made $100,000 in Year One With Less Than 1,000 True FansYou don't need 100K subscribers to build a profitable business. 18 years ago, Scott had less than 1,000 YouTube subscribers. His photography business wasn't famous. But in the first year, he made $100K—and most of it came from a small product launch to his tiny, loyal audience.In this episode, he breaks down the exact story: how a photography course on CD sold $12,500 in 3 days, why subscriber count doesn't matter as much as TRUE FANS, and the formula he's replicated across three different brands to hit 6-figures.If you're feeling stuck because your channel is "too small," this one's for you.IN THIS EPISODE• How the photography business started (in a basement)• The first YouTube video and building an email list• The free e-book that taught him everything about audience building• The Product Launch Formula investment and the launch day results ($12,500 in 3 days)• The second launch 6 weeks later (~$25,000)• Why subscriber count doesn't matter as much as true fan count• How he applied the same formula to Amazing Seller (7-figure brand)• How he applied it again to Live Video School with his son Scotty (6-figures in year one)• The difference between true fans and subscribers• Why this podcast exists (it's not about reach—it's about connection)• The 3-step formula he teaches in the free workshop• Proof: one listener never paid, but built a 7-figure business anywayKEY TAKEAWAYS:• You don't need viral videos or massive audiences. You need TRUE FANS (people who engage with everything, share your work, and pay with their attention)• The formula: Show up consistently → Deliver value with no strings attached → Build know, like, and trust → The sales come naturally• People don't pay for information. They pay for SPEED, ORGANIZATION, and DIRECT FEEDBACK• In 2025 (the age of AI), authenticity and real human connection are rarer—and more valuable—than ever• The 3-step formula that's worked across three brands: Strong titles + Scroll-stopping thumbnails + Powerful intros that hold retentionWant to learn the full 3-step formula?Join the free workshop every Thursday:

Welcome to the very first episode of Find Your 1000 — a new era for this podcast and a fresh chapter in Scott's 18+ year journey of building audiences and businesses online.If you've been listening since the Amazing Seller or Brand Creators days, welcome back. If this is your first time here, you're starting at the perfect moment.In this episode, Scott breaks down exactly what Find Your 1000 is, why he's relaunching this podcast, and the single biggest lesson he's learned after building multiple six and seven figure businesses — it was never about the big numbers.In This Episode You'll Hear:Why Scott is rebranding and what Find Your 1000 actually meansThe Kevin Kelly "1,000 True Fans" article and how Scott has been living proof of it for 18 years without even realizing itThe New Portrait Biz story — how 1,000 email subscribers led to a $12,500 product launchHow Scott went 64 episodes on The Amazing Seller podcast before making a single dollar — and why that was the right moveWhy 1,000 raving fans will always outperform 100,000 passive followersThe Live Video School origin story — how his son Scotty pitched the idea and what happened nextWhy authenticity is the new competitive advantage in the age of AIWhat to expect from this show every FridayLinks Mentioned:Email Scott directly: scott@livevideoschool.comJoin the free Thursday workshop: livevideoschool.com/workshopRemember — I'm here for you, I believe in you, and I'm rooting for you. Now take action and have an awesome amazing day.

Making a Scene Presents - The Rise of Micro-Fanbases and Why 1,000 True Fans Is What Really Matters The Old Music Business Wanted Everybody. The New Music Business Needs Somebody. For decades, the music industry sold artists the same shiny dream: reach the masses, get famous, get signed, get played everywhere, and somehow money will fall from the sky like confetti. It was a beautiful story if you were the label, the radio chain, the distributor, the playlist gatekeeper, the ticketing monopoly, or the platform sitting between the artist and the fan. For the artist, it was usually a lottery ticket dressed up as a career plan. http://www.makingascene.org

In this episode, Lauren & Matt share strategies for how to get your readers and fans to help sell your books for you! We break down the importance of building a dedicated audience around your brand, review the different ways authors and entrepreneurs mobilize their fans, and offer up tips for putting these ideas into action. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper

In this episode, Ray Cochrane leads with GitHub’s worst reliability month on record and the AI infrastructure pressure behind it. He also covers Warp going open source, Apple’s Mac supply crunch, OpenAI’s goblin tic, the first 1X humanoid factory in the US, Tesla’s Semi finally hitting mass production, Chinese EVs with movie-projecting headlights, the final GPS III satellite, and a quantum researcher who won 1 Bitcoin. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens the show with one of the biggest infrastructure stories of the year. GitHub is buckling under unprecedented agentic load, and the world’s largest code host just had its worst reliability month on record. Furthermore, the broader episode threads a clear pattern: AI demand is reshaping infrastructure, hardware supply, and developer tooling in ways the industry did not see coming. GitHub’s Worst Reliability Month on Record GitHub CTO Vlad Fedorov posted an apology on the company blog this week. He acknowledged the platform’s recent failures and committed to a new priority order: availability first, then capacity, then features. Meanwhile, an April 23 merge queue regression silently produced wrong squash commits across 658 repositories and over 2,000 pull requests. Additionally, an Elasticsearch cluster crashed on April 27 after a botnet attack, and GitHub Actions went down on April 28. Outside reconstructions put April uptime under 85 percent. However, GitHub’s own status page stays in the 99 percent range because it does not count degraded performance as downtime. Cochrane notes that GitHub originally planned a 10x capacity increase and has now revised that to 30x in eight months. Mitchell Hashimoto, GitHub user 1299 since 2008, also announced he is pulling his Ghostty terminal off the platform entirely. Warp Terminal Goes Open Source Under AGPL Warp open-sourced its AI-first terminal client this week under the AGPL license. Their contribution model leans heavily on agents handling code, planning, and testing while humans focus on direction and verification. However, Cochrane pushes back on that framing. He argues the recent GitHub problems show that human approval alone is not enough oversight for agent-driven workflows. Additionally, he notes that the more hands-off developers get, the less they can mentally model their own systems. Apple Caught Flat-Footed by Local AI Demand Tim Cook told Wall Street on the Q2 FY2026 earnings call that Mac mini and Mac Studio supply will be constrained for several months. Both machines turned out to be popular local AI workstations, which Apple did not predict. Consequently, Apple discontinued the 512GB Mac Studio upgrade in early March and raised the 256GB upgrade by $400. Some upgraded configurations now show 4 to 5 month delivery estimates. Cochrane connects the demand spike to the OpenClaw wave and his own recent OpenClaw scare, where his install started making suspicious outbound requests. Furthermore, he is in no rush to lean into local agentic tooling given the constant prompt injection and security issues in the space. OpenAI Explains the Goblin Obsession After GPT-5.1 launched, ChatGPT users noticed the model could not stop saying “goblin.” OpenAI traced the bias to the optional Nerdy personality, which was 2.5 percent of all responses but produced 66.7 percent of all goblin mentions. The reward signal during personality training quietly favored creature metaphors. Then the bias leaked into the rest of the model through later supervised fine-tuning. OpenAI retired Nerdy in March, filtered creature words from training data, and added an explicit Codex system prompt rule: never talk about goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, or pigeons. Cochrane frames this as the beauty and disaster of pattern matching. Additionally, he notes that LLM behavior is not editable like static code; it can only be patched, and the patches stack up over time. Sponsor: GoDaddy GoDaddy has been sponsoring this show for over twenty years. Economy hosting starts at $6.99/month, WordPress hosting at $12.99/month, and domains at $11.99. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy for exclusive deals and to directly support the show. 1X Opens America’s First Vertically Integrated Humanoid Factory Bloomberg reports that 1X Technologies opened a 58,000 square foot humanoid robot factory in Hayward, California. The Norway-founded, OpenAI-backed company is calling it America’s first vertically integrated humanoid factory. Their goal: 10,000 NEO home humanoids in year one, with a 100,000 unit target by end of 2027. Furthermore, the first 10,000 unit allocation reportedly sold out in five days when pre-orders opened in October. NEO sells for $20,000 outright or $499 per month. Cochrane is skeptical that humanoids solve a real problem for the average household. However, he sees genuine potential for elderly and disabled users. Additionally, he flags privacy and data collection concerns about robots that have to perceive everything in your home. Tesla Semi Rolls Off the High-Volume Line Tesla rolled the first Semi off its 1.7 million square foot factory adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada on April 29. The Long Range version delivers 500 miles at $290,000, while the Standard Range hits 325 miles at $260,000. Additionally, the Long Range supports the 1.2 megawatt Megacharger that restores 60 percent of range in about 30 minutes. The factory targets 50,000 trucks per year, though analysts project 5,000 to 15,000 deliveries in 2026. Cochrane opens with a recent personal experience. He saw a semi truck on the freeway with the entire cabin removed from the engine, an unusual failure mode he had never seen before. Furthermore, he questions the actual environmental benefit of electric trucking given grid sourcing and battery mineral concerns. The reveal was 2017, and high-volume production is now nine years after that announcement. Chinese EVs With Headlights That Project Movies Huawei’s XPixel headlight system can now project full-color movies up to 100 inches in front of the car. The technology debuted in full color on the Aito M9 and is rolling out across Stelato S9, Qijing GT7, and Luxeed V9 MPV. Additionally, the same hardware powers real safety features: adaptive driving beam, lane-change path projection, and pedestrian crossing direction signaling. Meanwhile, US regulations only approved adaptive driving beam in February 2022. Pixel-addressable projection systems are not covered by current FMVSS rules at all. Consequently, even if these cars sold in the US, the headlights would have to be downgraded to be street legal. The Final GPS III Satellite Reaches Orbit SpaceX launched GPS III SV-10, the tenth and final GPS III satellite, on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on April 21. GPS III delivers signals 3 times more accurate and 8 times more resistant to jamming than the previous constellation. It also adds the L1C signal, which interoperates with Galileo, BeiDou, IRNSS, and QZSS, plus M-code military encryption. Up next, GPS IIIF launches start in 2027 with up to 22 satellites deploying through about 2037. IIIF adds laser inter-satellite links and optical reflectors for centimeter-level satellite tracking. Cochrane loves this kind of quiet infrastructure win that powers global economics without anyone noticing it. Researcher Wins 1 Bitcoin for a Quantum Attack on Crypto Independent Italian researcher Giancarlo Lelli won Project Eleven’s 1 Bitcoin Q-Day Prize on April 24. He derived a 15-bit elliptic curve private key from its public key using a variant of Shor’s algorithm on rented cloud quantum hardware. Furthermore, the previous record was 6 bits, set in September 2025 on an IBM 133-qubit machine, so this extends the record by a factor of 512. However, Bitcoin uses 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography, so real wallets are not at risk yet. Additionally, other researchers have pushed back on the result. Their criticism: a 15-bit search space is only 32,767 possibilities, which a laptop can brute-force in milliseconds. Project Eleven defends the milestone as a stepping stone for demonstrating Shor’s algorithm running end-to-end on real quantum hardware. Gemini Now Generates Real Files Google rolled out file generation for the Gemini app. Users can now generate PDFs, Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, Google Workspace files, CSV, LaTeX, plain text, RTF, and Markdown directly from a chat prompt. Additionally, files can be downloaded to device or exported straight to Google Drive. The feature is globally available to all Gemini app users. Google Illuminate Turns Papers Into Podcasts Google Illuminate is the experimental Labs tool that converts academic papers into roughly five-minute two-voice podcast-style audio. Generation takes about 30 seconds, with a 20-per-day cap and a 30-day library. Additionally, transcripts are interactive and clickable for jumping to specific moments. Cochrane likes it as an index for triaging papers but pushes back on using it to replace deep reading. He argues that real technical material like clustering logic needs a real read, not a summary by AI podcasters. Cochrane closes with show housekeeping and a callout to Pocket Casts and True Fans as solid modern podcast apps. Have a great night, and happy June. The post GitHub, Goblins, Ghostty, and GPS III #1863 appeared first on Geek News Central.

Writing a blog takes courage, creativity and consistency. During previous shows, listeners have asked how to get started or how to stick with creating content. In today's show, I'll share more advanced questions about relatability, and what converts folks in your audience to true fans.I am currently accepting requests for individualized coaching. Feel free to follow any of the links below. Send a question to Coach Debby:https://www.coachdebby.com/connectFollow the newsletter:https://coachdebby.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b4e0e4813c2d5d7bc3e03507b&id=5b97bac13fFollow the podcast recorded live at KKNW in Seattle every Thursday.Story U Talk Radio…with Coach DebbyCatch Coach Debby on Youtube:https://youtube.com/@coachdebby564?si=vV8SftGrYyBLhsxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writing a blog takes courage, creativity and consistency. During previous shows, listeners have asked how to get started or how to stick with creating content. In today's show, I'll share more advanced questions about relatability, and what converts folks in your audience to true fans. I am currently accepting requests for individualized coaching. Feel free to follow any of the links below. Send a question to Coach Debby: https://www.coachdebby.com/connect Follow the newsletter: https://coachdebby.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b4e0e4813c2d5d7bc3e03507b&id=5b97bac13f Follow the podcast recorded live at KKNW in Seattle every Thursday. Story U Talk Radio…with Coach Debby Catch Coach Debby on Youtube: https://youtube.com/@coachdebby564?si=vV8SftGrYyBLhsx

Kyle Porter is the founder of Normal Sport - an old school media company for golf's new era. We talk about why he regularly updates his readers on how his business is doing, why he started Normal Sport, how things take time to become what they are, and why stories and meaningful outcomes are so impactful. Links Referenced in Our Conversation: Latest Update on Normal Sport Biz: https://www.normalsport.com/newsletter/our-book-has-made-0-which-is-a-thrillLeaving CBS - The Difficulty of Concurrent Dreams: https://www.normalsport.com/newsletter/the-difficulty-of-concurrent-dreams100124Kevin Kelly - 1,000 True Fans: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ Changing Behavior even with a 10X better product: https://x.com/davidcummings/status/2045495064906854418?s=20LIV Golf is Dying of Boredom: https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/liv-golf-is-dying-of-boredom?Golf Digest on TGL S2: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/tgl-year-2-wrap-wins-losses-future-tiger-woods-2026

Louis Theroux's documentary about the manosphere didn't at first seem to have much to do with sports digital strategy?Until you get to the platforms: Kick. Rumble. A whole ecosystem of streaming channels that the sports business conversation barely mentions, yet where significant numbers of young men are spending serious time.So we brought in Dan Ayers, VP of Transformation Digital at IMG, to ask: is the industry optimising for the wrong platforms?What follows is a conversation that starts with Kick and ends somewhere much more interesting: in the weeds of Reddit moderators, Discord quiz nights, Iron Maiden's fan base, and what a thousand true fans is actually worth. Dan makes a strong case that the non-obvious channels aren't really about reach at all. Reddit and Discord represent a qualitatively different kind of engagement — audience-to-audience, not brand-to-audience — and the sports organisations that understand that distinction are building something that turns out to be genuinely valuable precisely when things go wrong.There's also a sharp thread running through this about numbers — what a view is worth now that TikTok set the floor at zero seconds, why 15,000 concurrent viewers on a cycling stream is a better result than it sounds, and why the industry's fandom claims may be heading for a Barcelona email database moment.Dan is a rare guest: someone who's been inside platform change long enough — from Sony Music in the early 2000s through to IMG's YouTube CMS work today — to have real opinions rather than consulting hedges.Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry. To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartnerWe publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday. These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport. Our entire back catalogue of 500 sports business conversations are available free of charge here. Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner' on Apple, Spotify and every podcast app. If you're interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series and live events, you can reach us via the website.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a good old fashioned microphone shootout—this time, it's all about wireless lavalier mics! I (quickly) run through a lineup of wireless lavalier microphones including the DJI Mic Mini, Hollyland Lark M2, Rode Wireless Micro, Rode Wireless Go, and Shure Move Mic. Not only do I compare how they sound right out of the box, but I also show how a little post production can level the playing field between even budget and premium options. If you've ever wondered whether it matters which one you pick, you'll definitely want to listen.This content may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I trust and believe will provide value to you. Thank you for your support!The Weight Of Adding Video - The First Look at Apple HLSThe second big theme of today's show is the pressure, and potential pitfalls, of adding video to your podcasting workflow. I break down what's happening with Apple HLS video, what hosts like Captivate are charging, and why you need to seriously consider the “weight” video adds before taking the plunge.Getting Your Edited Audio To People In Apple - You Can't (If you add video)Can you maintain your audio quality? Should you be editing audio and video together, or keeping them separate? I also share some spot-on advice from Elsie Escobar about only adding video if it makes sense for your goals—not because you feel FOMO or outside pressure.Whether you're mic shopping, contemplating a shift to video, or just want a sanity check on your podcasting process, this episode is for you. Enjoy!Gear Mentioned In This EpisodeDJI Mic MiniShure MovemicHollyland Lark M2Rode Wireless Go 3Rode Wireless MicroDJI Mic 2Captivate Media HostingOther ItemsEcamm Video SoftwareStreamdeckAccentize Plugins (DeRoom, Revive)USB-C extendersBlue Ocean Strategy BookThe 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing (specifically, the "Law of Category" chapter)The Audacity to Podcast 1000 True Fans by Kevin KelleyCaptivate Webinar on Apple HLS ImplementationNew Media Show Rob Greenlee with Sharon TaylorMedia Roundtable with Dan Granger, Tim Ferriss (Entrepreneur & Host, The Tim Ferriss Show) and Dr. Laurie SantosWordPress Plugins Compromised Monica Rivera on Episode 613Zoom Handyrecorder AppDavid Draiman | The Magnificent Others with Billy CorganTransistor Media HostingBuzzsprout Media HostingJustin Jackson Apple Podcasts DemoMentioned in this episode:Live AppearancesI will be at the Empower Podcasting Conference (Year 3!) in Charlotte North Carolina. This is my favorite type of conference with a cap at 250 people, it's a great crowd without being overwhelming. Great speakers, great networking, and a great location.Where Will I Be?Get Some Feedback On Your Show“Want honest, helpful feedback on your podcast? At the School of Podcasting, we host ‘Listening Parties' where members share short clips and get constructive, encouraging critiques from fellow podcasters and myself. It's a safe, supportive way to hear what's working, fix what's not, and make your show stronger fast.” School of PodcastingQuestion of the Month: The Future of PodcastingSomeone asked me, and I had to think about it. So now I'm asking you, How do you feel about the future of podcasting? Where do you think it's going? (etc,). Feel free to share your opinion and why. Don't forget to tell us about your show and where we can find it. Question of the MonthGive Your Podcast A HomeWhen you look at our podcasting pieces, your media host is the engine. But your website is the home. It's where your audience learns who you are, explores your episodes, and decides to subscribe. At Podpage, we build podcast websites that are fast, reliable, and designed to convert visitors into listeners. Every episode is automatically published, SEO-optimized, and structured for growth—so you can focus on creating, not managing your site. If your media host powers your podcast, Podpage gives it a place to live—and a place to grow. Start building your podcast's home with Podpage by going to www.podpage.com/preview and start your 14 day free trial today.Podpage

TrueFans.fm founder Sam Sethi is forward thinking about podcasting. Sam explains how True Fans grew out of the podcasting 2.0 movement into a full creator marketplace where podcasters can host audio and video, build real fan communities, and earn through value-for-value models, including micro payments, subscriptions, and one-off episode payments.Sam walks me through how True Fans removes friction for listeners with a built-in virtual wallet, gamified SATs, and simple top-ups using Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, while handling all the complex bits in the background. On the hosting side, we dig into why downloads are a broken metric and how True Fans uses streaming and six-second packets to deliver rich consumption analytics. Sam also previews what's coming next: live streaming, co-listening, chat, creator portals, custom domains, and AI/voice interfaces that aim to give creators more control than Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.Whether you are a creator or a podcast listener, please get involved with TrueFans.fm You can hear Sam on the Podnews Weekly Review with James Cridland. Speaking of James - it's time to fill out the Podnews Report Card - James is really good about sharing the results with some of podcasting's Big Dogs. Please sign up for the SOUNDING OFF Newsletter. All the things that went unsaid on the show.Also we added the Sound Off Podcast to the The Open Podcast Prefix Project (OP3) A free and open-source podcast prefix analytics service committed to open data and listener privacy. You can be a nosey parker by checking out our downloads here.Thanks to the following organizations for supporting the show:Megatrax - Licensed Music for your radio station or podcast production company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I dive into the concept of "1,000 true fans" and why it's the key to building a thriving membership business.Forget chasing massive audiences and vanity metrics—what truly matters is finding and nurturing a core group of highly engaged superfans who love what you do.I break down the myths about audience size, share why smaller, more passionate communities lead to deeper connections (and profit!), and show you how to shift your focus from quantity to quality when growing your membership.If you've ever felt discouraged by your follower count or overwhelmed by the competition, this episode is for you.In this episode:What does the "1,000 true fans" theory mean, and why is it crucial for membership success?Do you really need a massive audience to launch and grow a successful membership site?How can having a smaller, focused, and passionate audience be more valuable than chasing big numbers?What practical steps can you take to find and connect with your own 1,000 true fans?Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast.What's your next step?Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey.And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one!Key Quotes & Takeaways:"You don't need to have hundreds of thousands of people on your email list or millions of followers on your social networks before you can be in a position to start something like a membership.""Some of the advice that you see out there that tells you just start, doesn't matter if you don't have an audience, doesn't matter if you don't have an email list or waitlist, all you need is one member, that's all it takes. Honestly, it's some of the most dangerous, nonsensical advice you'll ever find out there.""All you need to build a sustainable business is 1,000 true superfans who will hang on your every word, who put in extra effort to consume your content, to buy what you're selling. They're so engaged, they're so connected with you. They are your people. Everything you put out speaks to them, and they absolutely love you for it. 1,000 people like that is all it takes to accomplish fantastic success in the online space.""Because by drilling down into that smaller audience, you're more likely to find your people. You can appreciate the value of that smaller, more specific, more targeted market who have the sort of connection with you that simply wouldn't be feasible if you were trying to be all things to all people, trying to please everyone, trying to tick everybody's box."Mentioned in this episode:Enroll in our FREE Open Week for Membership AcademyVisit https://www.membershipacademy.com/open to take part in our Open Week, starting April 20th

SummaryJustin Montgomery shares his journey from nurse practitioner to successful course creator, emphasizing the importance of niching, delivering value, and launching quickly without perfection. Learn how to identify your market, create compelling content, and survive AI competition by sharing your unique point of view.TakeawaysThe importance of niching and market researchCreating and launching courses quickly and efficientlyThe value of sharing your unique point of view in contentChapters00:00 From Nurse Practitioner to Entrepreneur05:03 Monetizing Expertise: The Journey to Course Creation08:03 Identifying Your Niche and Market10:47 The Power of True Fans in Business13:47 Understanding Value in Course Creation16:45 Marketing Strategies for Course Creators19:58 Content Creation: The Key to Engagement22:45 The Importance of Point of View in Education25:48 AI and the Human Touch in Learning34:04 The Human Touch in a Digital World37:46 Building a Course Business: Key Ingredients40:53 The Importance of Delivering on Promises46:44 Overcoming Production Hurdles51:39 The MVP Approach: Launching Your Course58:31 Final Thoughts: Just Get It Out ThereConnect with Justin: https://procoursestart.com/Credits:Hosted by Ryan RoghaarProduced by Ryan RoghaarTheme music: "Perfect Day" by OPM  The Eggs Podcast Spotify playlist:bit.ly/eggstunesThe Plugs:The Show: eggsthepodcast.com@eggsthepodcast on X and InstagramMike "DJ Ontic": Shows and info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠djontic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@djontic on twitterRyan Roghaar:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rogha.ar

Doctor Who is dead and not regenerating any time soon.[1. Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash.] Star Wars is suspended in the bacta tank. Star Trek is redirecting all power to life support. Meanwhile, Netflix struggles to sing life into Narnia, bad philosophers stone Harry Potter, and goblins threaten to overrun all that was good in Middle-earth. But there were some who resisted. When studios keep killing great stories, could fans bring resurrection? Episode sponsors The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo Land of Giants by Laurie Christine Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett Mission update New review of Lightshed by Crystal D. Grant Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild 1. Star Trek and Star Wars are on life support Star Wars—everyone blames Disney, Kathleen Kennedy, streaming. And of course The Acolyte all but ended fan interest in that galaxy. Much ink has been spilled about that, so we needn't do a remake. Star Trek—everyone blames Paramount, Alex Kurtzman, streaming. Recently even Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir called Trek bad. Weir later semi-apologized, but only for a seeming personal slight. And this just in: J.J. Abrams’ company is downsizing and moving. 2. Fantasy lands get slain by corporate orcs Rings of Power stumbles on, seeming to promise a “good orc” plot. Andy Serkis directs The Hunt for Gollum, a dubious “side quest.” Then came the big news that Stephen Colbert is writing another. This second side-quest movie hints at revisiting Fellowship events. As for Colbert, he's arguably an agitator and has no fantasy credits. Meanwhile, no news is bad news re. Netflix's “rock ‘n’ roll” Narnia. Some fans are more optimistic. We wish we could be, but cannot. 3. Solution: fight joyously for stories you love “If you don't like it, don't watch it.” Fair. But it's okay to criticize. Avoid the traps of “blackpilled” cynicism we mentioned last week. Great stories go on, launching from big studios or small creators. Even that trailer from Amazon/MGM's He-Man looks refreshing! But don't lose hope for big franchises either. They may yet return. Next for Ryan Gosling? Star Wars: Starfighter from Shawn Levy. New owners could restore Star Trek and DC. Let's pray for them! Com station Top question for listeners Which dead or dying franchise would you love to see return to life? Next on Fantastical Truth In March 2026, social media platform X field-tested a new feature. Thanks to AI advances, with little fanfare, we now have universal translators. And suddenly the “curse of Babel” was temporarily lifted. Americans and Japanese conversed with joy about tasty barbecue, patriotism, and the stories we love. But for decades already, people around the world have found the wonder of Japanese-made fiction—manga, anime, games, and beyond. Why do we love these stories?

Have you ever wondered if the reason your podcast hasn't “exploded” is actually the very thing that could help it last—and make it more rewarding? This week, I look into why having a smaller, passionate, and loyal audience often leads to more meaningful wins (personally and professionally) than simply racking up big download numbers. If you want to learn how to create enduring engagement, avoid common pitfalls, and connect with listeners in a way that actually matters, this episode is for you.Here's what I cover in this week's “Podcast Stew” styled episode (which includes chapters).1000 True FansWhy a “thousand true fans” might just be your biggest business advantage (and how focusing on your core audience beats chasing the casual crowd).Lessons from YouTube experts (Rocks Codes, Stephen Bartlett, Mr. Beast, Marques Brownlee) on where to put your energy if you want to succeed, and the role thumbnails, titles, and discovery play in growth My thoughts on competing with “the big guys” - what you should (and shouldn't) compare against, and why joy matters Independent vs. networked podcasting: Candid stories from the Young and Profiting team, the Midas Touch podcast, and why control is crucial The truth about monetization—when is the right time (and why “3% conversion” is the real number to expect) Behind the curtain of podcast business stats: Lessons from Goal Hanger, ad revenue, and memberships Platform realities: Spotify's “walled garden,” why I recommend “anybody but Spotify” for hosting, and insights from James Cridland at Podnews The importance of fun and fulfillment: advice from LeBron James and Charlie Puth on why loving the work is the true engine for longevity How to effectively use calls-to-action: Taking lessons from an Audible ad in “Project Hail Mary” and why going “deeper” with your fans matters Links mentioned this week:School of PodcastingPodpagePodnews Report CardHow to Pitch a Podcast Show (Coming Soon!).Creators Hub in SpotifyApple Podcasts HubWhether you're launching, growing, or just rethinking your show's direction, this episode is packed with honest stories and actionable advice, plus a dash of inspiration to help you stay true to your voice and audience. As always, if you want to go deeper, join the free School of PodcastingThanks for listening! Don't forget to share with a friend who needs a reminder that influence starts with true connection.Mentioned in This ShowOxford Road The Media Roundtable EpisodeSound Off Podcast (Matt Cundill interviews Doug Downs)Why MKBHD Told Netflix: "Don't Bother on Jon Youshaei channelWhat Podcasting Can Learn From YouTube Growth with Rox Codes (Podbiz with Norma Jean Belenky)Lisa Kudrow on Vanity Fair ChannelSounds Profitable The DownloadJames Cridland on Spotify's Features "Coming Soon."Jordan Harbinger Talks YouTube on New Media Show with Rob GreenleeCharlie Puth on Rick Beato ChannelProject Hail Mary TrailerBig Lash Energy InterviewAudible (aff link)Mentioned in this episode:See Your Show On PodpageIf you host a podcast, your website should work as hard as your episodes do. At Podpage, we automatically create a beautiful, professional site for your show — complete with episode pages, transcripts, audio players, SEO optimization, and built-in tools to grow your audience. No design work. No plugins. No ongoing maintenance. In less than a minute, you can see exactly what your podcast would look like on Podpage. Go to podpage.com/preview and generate your free preview site now. (No Credit Card Required) See your show the way it should look.PodpageQuestion of the Month: The Future of PodcastingSomeone asked me, and I had to think about it. So now I'm asking you, How do you feel about the future of podcasting? Where do you think it's going? (etc,). Feel free to share your opinion and why. Don't forget to tell us about your show and where we can find it. Question of the MonthLive AppearancesI will be at the Empower Podcasting Conference (Year 3!) in Charlotte North Carolina. This is my favorite type of conference with a cap at 250 people, it's a great crowd without being overwhelming. Great speakers, great networking, and a great location.Where Will I Be?Join the School of Podcasting Today - Your Future Self Will Thank YouStepping out of your comfort zone isn't easy, but at the School of Podcasting, we're here to make it feel like second nature. With our expertly crafted courses and an incredible community, you're never alone in your journey. From planning and launching to growing your podcast, I'll be right by your side every step of the way. Remember, every podcast episode builds connections and opens doors to future opportunities. Take...

Welcome back to another in-between-isode, with one of my favorite formats: the good old-fashioned Q&A.This episode is brought to you by:Our Place's Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that's coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “forever chemicals”: FromOurPlace.com/TimAG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: DrinkAG1.com/TimWealthfront high-yield cash account: Wealthfront.com/Tim (New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. )The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 1/30/26 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB, which creates a conflict of interest. Individual experiences and outcomes will differ. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, not bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.TIMESTAMPS:[00:00:00] Start.[00:02:12] Why I tend to choose the dull edge over the bleeding edge of tech.[00:04:27] Leopold Aschenbrenner: The closest thing to an AI Nostradamus.[00:05:32] What humans still do better than AI.[00:07:55] The bull and bear case for Alphabet.[00:11:30] Three things for which you should never use AI.[00:16:05] Can AI be as creative as humans?[00:17:01] Rising above the AI content flood.[00:19:19] Chris Hutchins on optimizing workflow with OpenClaw and Claude Code.[00:22:02] AI under the hood at Team Ferriss[00:26:37] Making career jumps in the age of AI displacement.[00:30:20] Cultivating a respectful community of 1,000 True Fans[00:34:49] Dog training as community management.[00:36:03] My favorite color[00:36:21] Coyote's steady state and the future of Cockpunch/Varlata.[00:38:03] Essential reading from my own bookshelf.[00:40:48] Most breathtaking places I've visited.[00:41:44] Optimizing time and networking effectively at conferences.[00:47:34] Choosing what not to do when your company's growing quickly.[00:49:12] Psychedelic practitioner red flags (and why you should watch Kumaré).[00:52:35] The career I'm pursuing in an alternative universe.[00:53:29] Dog training the right way with Molly the rescue mutt and Susan Garrett.[00:55:28] Thoughts on Enneagram for matchmaking.[00:57:02] Quantum computing: Fascinating, terrifying, and probably not 30 years away anymore.[00:58:18] Maintaining friendships across ideological lines.[00:59:49] The compounding upsides to selective ignorance.[01:02:04] In-common humor: The glue that binds the most resilient relationships.[01:02:36] The inspiration behind my blog post about 20+ years of “optimizing.”[01:04:28] Simple ways to make the world shine brighter.[01:05:16] The No Book.[01:05:37] The 18th question: “What is the most generous interpretation of this?”[01:07:42] The best way I've found to experience a new city with limited time.[01:08:18] How “Ozymandias” informs the priority I place on wealth accumulation.[01:09:59] Relationships over riches.[01:11:16] What I consider the top three values for kids: Optimism, resourcefulness, physical activity.[01:13:04] Weirdness in the wilderness and succumbing to a shipwreck scam.[01:14:21] Ask your best friends when they've seen you at your best — and what superpower you're blind to.[01:17:33] Is courage internal or external? Can it be learned?[01:19:27] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nearing the end of Q1, I've been doing a lot of reflection on where the creator economy is heading, and where I want to take Creator Science. There's something interesting happening on the ground: the same energy that used to funnel beginners into content creation has largely shifted to AI and vibe coding. And honestly? I think that's a good thing. The people still showing up for this work seem to have their heads and hearts in the right place. In this episode, I walk you through 9 priorities on my mind right now — some tactical, some strategic, some still just ideas. From returning to the 1,000 True Fans model and posting more educational content about trust, to building internal AI tools for Creator Science, redesigning member onboarding, and taking November and December completely off. If you're a creator thinking about where to focus your energy in the back half of 2026, I think there's something here for you. Join The Lab 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Subscribe to the Creator Science Newsletter → Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) The shifting energy in the creator space (05:01) Overview of 9 priorities for 2026 (05:38) Priority 1: Return to 1,000 True Fans (12:44) Priority 2: Being more outspoken (14:53) Priority 3: Increasing the rate of experiments in business and The Lab (17:45) Priority 4: Updating member and subscriber onboarding (23:52) Priority 5: In-person events and experiences for the broader audience (27:57) Priority 6: Getting more time back — taking November and December off (31:58) Priority 7: Building internal tools for Creator Science (42:59) Priority 8: Fewer, longer-term sponsorship partnerships (44:33) Priority 9: Making contact without expectation (46:52) Full recap of all 9 priorities *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → 48 Hours with Clawdbot (Episode 291) *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY

Day 1/20

Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/i2KTV4G7iUwIn this episode, I sit down with Kevin Kelly — co-founder of Wired magazine, author of "1000 True Fans," editor of the Whole Earth Review, futurist, and one of the most influential voices on technology. Kevin is the author of various books, including "What Technology Wants" and "Excellent Advice for Living".The Human Podcast explores stories & ideas about being human.Timestamps0:00 - Most interesting moments of your life0:57 - I'm a recovering hippy2:01 - How psychedelics shaped Silicon Valley3:32 - The future belongs to optimists5:27 - Backpacking around Asia8:22 - Whole Earth Catalog11:19 - Meeting Steve Jobs11:59 - Co-founding Wired Magazine16:10 - Book: What Technology Wants19:35 - What is the 'Technium'?21:40 - Book: Excellent Advice For Living25:36 - What have you changed your mind on?26:32 - Book: Vanishing Asia28:32 - 1000 True Fans34:00 - Living as if you'll die in 6 months36:02 - The Amish's relationship with tech38:38 - Why are you so interested in tech?42:08 - Thoughts on the future46:44 - Advice for writers48:10 - What is a good life?Guest - Kevin KellyWikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kelly_(editor)Website - https://kk.org/X - https://x.com/kevin2kellyInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kevin2kelly/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Kevin2Kelly/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/KevinKellyBook: Excellent Advice For Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier - https://amzn.to/4lUDY0fBook: What Technology Wants - https://amzn.to/41xYAlnBook: The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future - https://amzn.to/4rT871iArticle: Thousand True Fans - https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/The Human Podcast

Imagine standing before a crowd of fans, but instead of hundreds or thousands, it's just a hundred dedicated individuals who truly care about your work. This concept, often referred to as the 100 True Fans model, is a game-changer in the world of creators. It's not about amassing a massive following; it's about nurturing deep connections with a smaller, dedicated audience that truly supports your craft.Originally, Kevin Kelly, a visionary in digital culture, introduced the idea of 1,000 True Fans back in 2008, suggesting that creators could thrive financially with just this dedicated base. Fast forward to today, and we see an evolution of that idea into what Seth Godin coined as the Minimum Viable Audience, or MVA. Godin's emphasis is sharp and clear: focus on identifying the smallest group of people who can keep your creative endeavors alive. It's all about serving a niche exceptionally well instead of spreading yourself thin to cater to everyone.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/conspiracy-theories-exploring-the-unseen--5194379/support.

Warning! This episode is for TGDP True Fans ONLY! This week the boys have an unfiltered conversation about life in general, current affairs, diving, and other relevant topics. Don't go all, "FinsOnFeet" on us and start leaving bad reviews because we took the time to answer some questions, update our audience, and went off script for one episode. To our True Fan listener that's still reading this... Thank you.

YouTube says it's cracking down on AI slop in 2026. At the same time, it's rolling out more AI tools for creators. So which is it? Today, we share more of YouTube's upcoming shakeups, including tighter standards around low-quality AI content and monetization shifts that could reshape how podcasters get discovered and paid. Is this a clean-up… or a quiet pivot? Since it's news day, we're also bringing you the latest headlines across the podcasting space. Rumble is pushing short-form video, and Bill Simmons is questioning YouTube's long-term strategy. And a new hosting platform is betting big on paywalls over downloads. If you want to stay ahead of platform shifts instead of reacting to them, this episode will get you thinking.Episode Highlights: [02:47] Vanderbilt University speaking engagement[05:27] Preview of an upcoming podcast evaluation[07:56] Podcast data and industry trends[08:57] Top podcasts on Spotify and Apple[10:27] Events and conferences[12:03] Content creator business tips[20:10] Hulu enters the podcast licensing race[27:52] New podcast trends and AI content removal[29:12] Debate on YouTube's viability for podcasts[39:30] YouTube's 2026 overhaul and built-in AI tools[45:16] True Fans and the paywall-first hosting modelLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Book A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerUpcoming Evaluation Movies in a Nutshell: https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularityPodnews:www.podnews.netMeetup & Match Up Virtual Event Use Code PMC for Free Admission:  https://luma.com/pdeventsEmpowered Podcasting Conference: http://empoweredpodcasting.comBig YouTube Shakeups: https://digiday.com/media/the-rundown-what-youtube-creators-should-expect-to-change-in-2026Previous Episode Discussing Substack: www.podpage.com/pmc/354-how-to-get-more-from-spotify-for-creators-with-chris-stoneHow to Monetize Your Content on Facebook: www.facebook.com/business/help/1049081556813520Remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

This week go deep with Alex Komoroske, CEO and co-founder of Common Tools, about his vision for a more saner, more intentional tech paradigm in which the historical contingencies that gave us the digital world we have today have been fundamentally reworked.The version of AI most of us have come to accept or reject looks like corporate-owned super-assistants with all your data. Instead, we could have a decentralized ecosystem where software self-assembles around you—private, personal, and prosocial. Alex speaks on this possible world with authority: he spent 13 years at Google as PM Director on Chrome's web platform, Search, and AR, and later led corporate strategy at Stripe before co-founding Common Tools with Bernhard Seefeld.Some of the waypoints in our conversation include: confidential compute, emergent ontologies, where we want friction, the tyranny of the marginal users, the rise of the generalist, the importance of context ownership, and software ephemerality.We can't take a reasonable principled stance on the promises and perils of AI without considering the vast unexplored possibility space that Alex opens in this conversation. I'm grateful that I get to share it with you and help light the way for promising alternatives to what many of us have come to accept as “the way things are.”Links to extensive additional reading and listening below!✨ If you enjoy this podcast, please consider liking, subscribing, and commenting wherever you listen: YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Etc.✨ Become a member to support the show and score myriad perks, like our book club: our next call is on Wendell Berry's Standing by Words this Sunday, Feb 15th!✨ Become a founding member for access to my five-week science and philosophy course at Weirdosphere and the raw recordings of every unreleased episode! (Anyone can chat with my course transcripts in a dedicated Google Notebook here.)✨ Browse and buy all of the books we discuss on the show at Bookshop.org✨ Contact me with inquiries or hire me as a consultantReferenced & Related• The FLUX Collective (team project w/ several people mentioned in this episode)• Bits and Bobs (Alex's long-running archive of weekly notes)• Common Ground (Alex's dialogues w/ Aishwarya Khanduja of The Analogue Group)• The Iterative Adjacent Possible (Alex on Medium)• The Runaway Engine of Society (Alex on Medium)• Thinking like a gardener not a builder, organizing teams like slime mold, the adjacent possible, and other unconventional product advice (podcast w/ Lenny Rachitsky)• Media and Machines by Anu Atluru at Working Theorys• Accelerando & Glasshouse & Halting State (three books) by Charles Stross• The Transparent Society by David Brin• The evolution of Covert Signaling by Paul Smaldino• Landscape rules predict optimal superhighways for the first peopling of Sahul by Stefani Crabtree et al.• The Tyranny of the Marginal User by Ivan Vendrov• 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly• Blindsight & Echopraxia (two books) by Peter Watts• The Computer as a Communication Device by J.C.R. Licklider & Bob Taylor• Silicon Valley's quest to remove friction from our lives by Rohit Krishnan• The Most Valuable Commodity in the World is Friction by Kyla Scanlon• Bernhard Seefeld• Situated Software by Clay Shirky• Das Rad (animated short)• Geoffrey West• Mark Pesce• Fred Turner• Robert David SteeleExplore hundreds of related podcast episodes in the archives! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelgarfield.substack.com/subscribe

Grab your copy of The Indie Artist's Compass: book.makeourmusic.comIn this episode, host Joe Fier sits down with seasoned musician, producer, and entrepreneur Mark Roberge. Together, they explore the intersection of creativity and business in the modern music industry, sharing actionable insights for artists, creators, and entrepreneurs alike. Mark delves into his journey from breaking ground with bands like Prospect Hill to pioneering fan engagement strategies, leveraging technology, and building collaborative communities. The conversation highlights the importance of authentic storytelling, data-driven marketing, and adapting to industry shifts—especially with the rise of AI and changing consumption habits.Topics DiscussedThe power of authentic storytelling in music and why AI can't replicate human experienceMark's evolution: from high school band success to launching Red 13 Studios and beyondTreating music projects like startup businesses — using systems, strategy, and dataBuilding and nurturing fan bases: why you must own your audience, not rely solely on platformsThe "1,000 True Fans" concept and multi-channel fan capture strategiesFrameworks from Mark's book, "The Indie Artist's Compass," including the FAME frameworkLeveraging ad automation and tech tools (FanFlowy, Make Our Music) for audience growthRelease strategy: why singles beat albums for growing audiences and maximizing Spotify algorithmsCollaboration and “piggybacking” with other artists to expand reachThe resurgence of live music, human connection, and why it matters more than everAI in music: Opportunities, tools (like Suno), and the real value of human creativityCommunity building and platforms for collaboration, performance, and supportResources MentionedThe Indie Artist's Compass: book.makeourmusic.comMake Our Music Community: makeourmusic.comProspect Hill Band: prospecthillband.comLansdowne Band: lansdownemusic.comConnect with Us

Tu te demandes comment trouver des clients en freelance ? Tu passes des heures à créer du contenu mais personne n'achète ? Tu te demandes combien de temps encore tu vas pouvoir tenir avant de retourner au salariat ?Stop. Dans cet épisode de Solo Nation, tu vas découvrir les 4 systèmes de vente infaillibles qui vont te permettre de vivre confortablement de ton activité freelance en 2026, sans courir après les clients.Avec 3 solopreneur·es qui ont closé +5000 clients à eux trois :▪️ Adrien Tornier, ex-pâtissier devenu infopreneur, qui génère 50-60K€/mois en solo grâce au format Masterclass tous les dimanches (avec un taux de closing de 35%)▪️ Pauline Clavelloux, créatrice de 3 SaaS et qui a trouvé ses 100 premiers clients en prospectant sur Facebook et en créant un système d'affiliation qui lui génère 15-20% de son CA (sans effort)▪️ Et Shannen Louiz Boutaleb (SforSales) experte en vente et contenu organique, qui convertit avec un funnel ultra-simple sans collecte d'emails et avec 1,6M de vues Instagram

Episode Description - Join host Marv for an in-depth conversation with Sam Sethi, entrepreneur, former tech journalist, and co-creator of True Fans. Discover the evolution of podcasting technology, the future of RSS feeds, and how blockchain-based micropayments could revolutionize creator monetization. Sam shares insights from his 30+ year journey through tech giants like Microsoft, Netscape, and BBC, and explains why podcasting 2.0 might be the industry's biggest shift since iTunes.  Key Topics Covered - Podcasting 2.0 & The New Namespace Sam explains the revolutionary metadata tags transforming podcast discovery and functionality, from person tags and chapters to location-based podcast mapping. Learn how open-source collaboration is challenging Big Tech's dominance.  The Future of Podcast Monetization Discover programmable money and value-for-value models that could replace traditional advertising. Sam reveals how listeners can earn micropayments for their attention while giving creators direct revenue streams. Streaming vs. Downloads: The Coming Shift Why the podcast industry's obsession with download numbers is outdated, and how first-party listen time data will revolutionize advertising effectiveness and creator insights.  AI in Podcasting: Hype vs. Reality Sam's take on "assisted intelligence" - where AI transcripts and automated chapters add value, and where synthetic voices fall short of authentic creator-listener relationships.  Timestamps - [00:00] Introduction and Sam's tech journalism background [02:00] From army officer to Microsoft: Sam's unconventional career path [04:00] The early days of blogging and TechCrunch Europe [05:00] COVID pivot: Building a radio station and discovering podcasting [06:00] Launching Pod News Weekly Review with James Cridland [07:00] Getting involved with Podcasting 2.0 and building True Fans [08:00] Apple finally adopts transcripts and chapters - validation for the namespace [10:00] Location tags and the future of podcast discovery [12:00] Why Sam loves technology over advertising metrics [14:00] The Spotify-Netflix deal and protecting niche podcasting [15:00] Advertising as "Emperor's new clothes" - the measurement problem [17:00] Revolutionary concept: Paying listeners to watch ads with programmable money [20:00] Value-for-value and streaming micropayments explained [22:00] Co-listening feature and building podcast communities [26:00] The Pod News Weekly dynamic: British humor and rapport [28:00] Moving from downloads to streaming: The next five years [30:00] Why listen time percentage matters more than raw numbers [33:00] The death of the download model and rise of streaming data [36:00] BBC Sounds international availability debate [40:00] The Panorama editing scandal and BBC's reputation [42:00] What makes a great podcast: Content, chemistry, and audio quality [45:00] Parasocial relationships and podcast magic [46:00] Claire Waite Brown's "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" - essential listening [47:00] Concerns about declining podcasting 2.0 content creators [51:00] Sam's podcast listening habits: Politics, sports, and intelligent conversation [53:00] AI as "assisted intelligence" not artificial intelligence [54:00] AI voices vs. authentic creator relationships [56:00] Different AI podcast models: Editorial control vs. content farms [58:00] How to connect with Sam and True Fans  Key Quotes - "I think micropayments and wallets might take a little longer, but I can see in 2026  that catching on as well... the merit of what the technology provides and why people want it stands out very well."  "The joy and the promise of podcasting is about the long tail, about the niche of  podcasting... somebody who's got a niche podcast about fishing or knitting or  whatever, can still have an audience."  "I think advertising is the Emperor's new clothes. I think it's a scam... Who heard my ad? Oh, we can't tell you. How long did they listen to my ad? I don't know."  "The download isn't irrelevant, but actual listen time is a real metric. And so I think  in 2026, 2027, you'll see more and more people tell you what their listen time is not their download numbers."  Resources Mentioned - People & Podcasts  ● James Cridland - Pod News Weekly Review co-host  ● Adam Curry - Podcasting pioneer, Podcasting 2.0 namespace creator  ● Dave Jones - Podcasting 2.0 co-creator  ● Claire Waite - "Podcasting 2.0 in Practice" podcast  ● Elsie Escobar - Former host of The Feed  ● Kara Swisher - Pivot podcast  ● Emily Maitlis - The News Agents, The Rest is Politics Platforms & Tools  ● True Fans - Sam's podcasting app and hosting platform  ● Fountain - Podcasting 2.0 app  ● Pod Verse - Podcasting 2.0 app  ● Buzzsprout - Podcast hosting with AI features  ● Zencaster - Recording platform  ● 11 Labs - AI voice generation  ● Wonder Craft - AI audio production Companies & Technologies  ● Podcasting 2.0 namespace  ● Value-for-value model  ● Booster Gram Ball  ● Lightning Network micropayments  ● BBC Sounds   Articles & Concepts - ● Kevin Kelly's "1,000 True Fans" essay  ● Micro formats and micro data  ● Premium RSS feeds  ● Value time splits (wallet switching)  ● Timed links in transcripts   Connect with Sam Sethi - ● Email: sam@truefans.fm  ● LinkedIn: Sam Sethi  ● Listen: Pod News Weekly Review  ● Listen: Creators from True Fans  ● Platform: truefans.fm  ● Mastodon: Active  SEO Keywords -  podcasting 2.0, podcast monetization, RSS feeds, micropayments, value for value podcasting, podcast analytics, listen time metrics, streaming podcasts, podcast advertising, AI in podcasting, podcast transcripts, podcast chapters, True Fans app, podcasting namespace, blockchain podcasting, creator economy, independent podcasters, podcast technology, podcast discovery, niche podcasting  About the Guest - Sam Sethi is a tech entrepreneur and former journalist with over 30 years of industry experience. He's worked with Microsoft, Netscape, BBC, and TechCrunch, and currently serves as co-creator of True Fans and co-host of Pod News Weekly Review. Sam is deeply involved in the Podcasting 2.0 movement, developing innovative solutions for podcast monetization and listener engagement through blockchain-based micropayments and enhanced RSS metadata.  For more episodes of Pods Like Us, visit themarzone.org or find us on your favorite podcast platform. Support the show on Patreon.

What does 2026 hold for indie authors and the publishing industry? I give my thoughts on trends and predictions for the year ahead. In the intro, Quitting the right stuff; how to edit your author business in 2026; Is SubStack Good for Indie Authors?; Business for Authors webinars. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. (1) More indie authors will sell direct through Shopify, Kickstarter, and local in-person events (2) AI-powered search will start to shift elements of book discoverability (3) The start of Agentic Commerce (4) AI-assisted audiobook narration will go mainstream (5) AI-assisted translation will start to take off beyond the early adopters (6) AI video becomes ubiquitous. ‘Live selling' becomes the next trend in social sales. (7) AI will create, run, and optimise ads without the need for human intervention (8) 1000 True Fans becomes more important than ever You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. 2026 Trends and Predictions for Indie Authors and Book Publishing (1) More indie authors will sell direct through Shopify, Kickstarter, and local in-person events — and more companies like BookVault will offer even more beautiful physical books and products to support this. This trend will not be a surprise to most of you! Selling direct has been a trend for the last few years, but in 2026, it will continue to grow as a way that independent authors become even more independent. The recent Written Word Media survey from Dec 2025 noted that 30% of authors surveyed are selling direct already and 30% say they plan to start in 2026. Among authors earning over $10,000 per month, roughly half sell direct. In my opinion, selling direct is an advanced author strategy, meaning that you have multiple books and you understand book marketing and have an email list already or some guaranteed way to reach readers. In fact, Kindlepreneur reports that 66% of authors selling direct have more than 5 books, and 46% have more than 10 books. Of course, you can start with the something small, like a table at a local event with a limited number of books for sale, but if you want to consistently sell direct for years to come, you need to consider all the business aspects. Selling direct is not a silver bullet. It's much harder work to sell direct than it is to just upload an ebook to Amazon, whether you choose a Kickstarter campaign, or Shopify/Payhip or other online stores, or regular in-person sales at events/conferences/fairs. You need a business mindset and business practices, for example, you need to pay upfront for setup as well as ongoing management, and bulk printing in some cases. You need to manage taxes and cashflow. You need to be a lot more proactive about marketing, as you won't sell anything if you don't bring readers to your books/products. But selling direct also brings advantages. It sets you apart from the bulk of digital only authors who still only upload ebooks to Amazon, or maybe add a print on demand book, and in an era of AI rapid creation, that number is growing all the time. If you sell direct, you get your customer data and you can reach those customers next time, through your email list. If you don't know who bought your books and don't have a guaranteed way to reach them, you will more easily be disrupted when things change — and they always change eventually. Kindlepreneur notes that “45% of the successful direct selling authors had over 1,000 subscribers on their email lists,” with “a clear, positive correlation between email list size and monthly direct sales income — with authors having an email list of over 15,000 subscribers earning 20X more than authors with email lists under 100 subscribers.” Selling direct means faster money, sometimes the same day or the same week in many cases, or a few weeks after a campaign finishes, as with Kickstarter. And remember, you don't have to sell all your formats directly. You can keep your ebooks in KU, do whatever you like with audiobooks, and just have premium print products direct, or start with a very basic Kickstarter campaign, or a table at a local fair. Lots more tips for Shopify and Kickstarter at https://www.thecreativepenn.com/selldirectresources/ I also recommend the Novel Marketing Podcast on The Shopify Trap: Why authors keep losing money as it is a great counterpoint to my positive endorsement of selling direct on Shopify! Among other things, Thomas notes that a fixed monthly fee for a store doesn't match how most authors make money from books which is more in spikes, the complexity and hassle eats time and can cost more money if you pay for help, and it can reduce sales on Amazon and weaken your ranking. Basically, if you haven't figured out marketing direct to your store, it can hurt you.All true for some authors, for some genres, and for some people's lifestyle. But for authors who don't want to be on the hamster wheel of the Amazon algorithm and who want more diversity and control in income, as well as the incredible creative benefits of what you can do selling direct, then I would say, consider your options in 2025, even if that is trying out a low-financial-goal Kickstarter campaign, or selling some print books at a local fair. Interestingly, traditional publishers are also experimenting with direct sales. Kate Elton, the new CEO of Harper Collins notes in The Bookseller's 2026 trend article, “we are seeing global success with responsive, reader-driven publishing, subscription boxes and TikTok Shop and – crucially – developing strategies that are founded on a comprehensive understanding of the reader.” She also notes, “AI enables us to dramatically change the way we interact with and grow audiences. The opportunities are genuinely exciting – finding new ways to help readers discover books they will love, innovating in the ways we market and reach audiences, building new channels and adapting to new methods of consuming content.” (2) AI-powered search will start to shift elements of book discoverability From LinkedIn's 2026 Big Ideas: “Generative engine optimization (GEO) is set to replace search engine optimization (SEO) as the way brands get discovered in the year ahead. As consumers turn to AI chatbots, agentic workflows and answer engines, appearing prominently in generative outputs will matter more than ranking in search engines.” Google has been rolling out AI Mode with its AI Overviews and is beginning to push it within Google.com itself in some countries, which means the start of a fundamental change in how people discover content online. I first posted about GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) in 2023, and it's going to change how readers find books. For years, we've talked about the long tail of search. Now, with AI-powered search, that tail is getting even longer and more nuanced. AI can understand complex, conversational queries that traditional search engines struggled with. Someone might ask, “What's a good thriller set in a small town with a female protagonist who's a journalist investigating a cold case?” and get highly specific recommendations. This means your book metadata, your website content, and your online presence need to be more detailed and conversational. AI search engines understand context in ways that go far beyond simple keywords. The authors who win in this new landscape will be those who create rich, authentic content about their books and themselves, not just promotional copy. As economist Tyler Cowen has said, “Consider the AIs as part of your audience. Because they are already reading your words and listening to your voice.” We're in the ‘organic' traffic phase right now, where these AI engines are surfacing content for ‘free,' but paid ads are inevitably on the way, and even rumoured to be coming this year to ChatGPT. By the end of 2026, I expect some authors and publishers to be paying for AI traffic, rather than blocking and protesting them. For now, I recommend checking that your author name/s and your books are surfaced when you search on ChatGPT.com as well as Google.com AI Mode (powered by Gemini). You want to make sure your work comes up in some way. I found that Joanna Penn and J.F. Penn searches brought up my Shopify stores, my website, podcast, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even my Patreon page, but did not bring up links to Amazon. If you only have an author presence on Amazon, does it appear in AI search at all? Do you need to improve anything about what the AI search brings up? Traditional publishers are also looking at this, with PublishersWeekly doing webinars on various aspects of AI in early 2026, including sessions on GEO and how book sales are changing, AI agents, and book marketing. In a 2026 predictions article on The Bookseller, the CEO of Bloomsbury Publishing noted, “The boundaries of artificial intelligence will become clearer, enabling publishers to harness its benefits while seeking to safeguard the intellectual property rights of authors, illustrators and publishers.” “AI will be deeply embedded in our workflows, automating tasks such as metadata tagging, freeing teams to focus on creativity and strategy. Challenges will persist. Generative AI threatens traditional web traffic and ad revenue models, making metadata optimisation and SEO critical for visibility as we adjust to this new reality online.” (3) The start of Agentic Commerce AI researches what you want to buy and may even buy on your behalf. Plus, I predict that Amazon does a commerce deal with OpenAI for shopping within ChatGPT by the end of 2026. In September 2025, ChatGPT launched Instant Checkout and the Agentic Commerce Protocol, which will enable bots to buy on websites in the background if authorised by the human with the credit card. VISA is getting on board with this, so is PayPal, with no doubt more payment options to come. In the USA, ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free users can now buy directly from US Etsy sellers inside the chat interface, with over a million Shopify merchants coming soon. Shopify and OpenAI have also announced a partnership to bring commerce to ChatGPT. I am insanely excited about this as it could represent the first time we have been able to more easily find and surface books in a much more nuanced way than the 7 keywords and 3 categories we have relied on for so long! I've been using ChatGPT for at least the last year to find fiction and non-fiction books as I find the Amazon interface is ‘polluted' by ads. I've discovered fascinating books from authors I've never heard of, most in very long tail areas. For example, Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby, recommended by ChatGPT as I am interested in medical anatomy and anatomical Venuses, and The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson, recommended as I like art history and the supernatural. I don't think I would have found either of these within a nuanced discussion with ChatGPT. Even without these direct purchase integrations, ChatGPT now has Shopping Research, which I have found links directly to my Shopify store when I search for my books specifically. Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to create AI-first shopping experiences, and you have to wonder what Amazon might be doing? In Nov 2025, Amazon signed a “strategic partnership” with OpenAI, and even though it's focused on the technical side of AI, those two companies in a room together might also be working on other plans … I'm calling it for 2026. I think Amazon will sign a commerce agreement with OpenAI sometime before the end of the year. This will enable at least recommendation and shopping links into Amazon stores (presumably using an OpenAI affiliate link), or perhaps even Instant Checkout with ChatGPT for Amazon. It will also enable a new marketing angle, especially if paid ads arrive in ChatGPT, perhaps even integrating with Amazon Ads in some way as part of any possible agreement, since ads are such a good revenue stream for Amazon anyway. The line between discovery, engagement, and purchase is collapsing. Someone could be having a conversation with an AI about what to read next, and within that same conversation, purchase a bookwithout ever leaving the chat interface. This already happens within TikTok and social commerce clearly works for many authors. It's possible that the next development for book discoverability and sales might be within AI chats. This will likely stratify the already fragmented book eco-system even more. Some readers will continue to live only within the Amazon ecosystem and (maybe) use their Rufus chatbot to buy, and others will be much wider in their exploration of how to find and discover books (and other products and services). If you haven't tried it yet, try ChatGPT.com Shopping Research for a book. You can do this on the free tier. Use the drop down in the main chat box and select Shopping Research. It doesn't have to be for your book. It can be any book or product, for example, our microwave died just before Christmas so I used it to find a new one. But do a really nuanced search with multiple requirements. Go far beyond what you would search for on Amazon. In the results, notice that (at the time of writing) it does not generally link to Amazon, but to independent sites and stores. As above, I think this will change by the end of 2026, as some kind of commerce deal with Amazon seems inevitable. (4) AI-assisted audiobook narration will go mainstream I've been talking about AI narration of audiobooks since 2019, and over the years, I've tried various different options. In 2025, the technology reached a level of emotional nuance that made it much easier to create satisfying fiction audio as well as non-fiction. It also super-charges accessibility, making audio available in more languages and more accents than ever before. Of course, human narration remains the gold standard, but the cost makes it prohibitive for many authors, and indeed many small traditional publishers, for all books. If it costs $2000 – $10,000 to create an audiobook, you have to sell a lot to make a profit, and the dominance of subscription models have made it harder to recoup the costs. Famous narrators and voice artists who have an audience may still be worth investing in, as well as premium production, but require an even higher upfront cost and therefore higher sales and streams in return. AI voice/audio models are continuing to improve, and even as this goes out, there are rumours on TechCrunch that OpenAI's new device, designed by Jony Ive who designed the iPhone, will be audio first and OpenAI are improving their voice models even more in preparation for that launch. In 2026, I think AI-narrated audio will go mainstream with far-reaching adoption across publishing and the indie author world in many different languages and accents. This will mean a further stratification of audiobooks, with high quality, high production, high cost human narrated audio for a small percentage of books, and then mass market, affordable AI-narrated audio for the rest. AI-narrated audiobooks will make audio ubiquitous, and just as (almost) every print book has an ebook format, in 2026, they will also have an audio format. I straddle both these worlds, as I am still a human audiobook narrator for my own work. I human-narrated Successful Self-Publishing Fourth Edition (free audiobook) and The Buried and the Drowned, my short story collection. I also use AI narration for some books. ElevenLabs remains my preferred service and in 2025, I used my J.F. Penn voice clone for Death Valley and also Blood Vintage, while using a male voice for Catacomb. I clearly label my AI-narration in the sales description and also on the cover, which I think is important, although it is not always required by the various services. You can distribute ElevenLabs narrated audiobooks on Spotify, Kobo Writing Life, YouTube, ElevenReader, and of course your own store if you use Shopify with Bookfunnel. There are many other services springing up all the time, so make sure you check the rights you have over the finished audio, as well as where you can sell and distribute the final files. If they are just using ElevenLabs models in the back-end, then why not just do that directly? (Most services will be using someone's model in the back-end, since most companies do not train their own models.) Of course, you can use Amazon's own narration. While Amazon originally launched Audible audiobooks with Virtual Voice (AVV) in November 2023, it was rolled out to more authors and territories in 2025. If your book is eligible, the option to create an audiobook will appear on your KDP dashboard. With just a few clicks, you can create an audiobook from a range of voices and accents, and publish it on Amazon and Audible. However, the files are not yours. They are exclusive to Amazon and you cannot use them on other platforms or sell them direct yourself. But they are also free, so of course, many authors, especially those in KU, will use this option. I have done some for my mum's sweet romance books as Penny Appleton and I will likely use them for my books in translation when the option becomes available. Traditional publishers are experimenting with AI-assisted audiobook narration as well. MacMillan is selling digital audiobooks read by AI directly on their store. PublishersWeekly reports that PRH Audio “has experimented with artificial voice in specific instances, such as entrepreneur Ely Callaway's posthumous memoir The Unconquerable Game,” when an “authorized voice replica” was created for the audiobook. The article also notes that PRH Audio “embrace artificial intelligence across business operations—my entire department [PRH Audio] is using AI for business applications.” And while indie authors can't use AI voices on ACX right now, Audible have over 100 voices available to selected publishing partnerships, as reported by The Guardian with “two options for publishers wishing to make use of the technology: “Audible-managed” production, or “self-service” whereby publishers produce their own audiobooks with the help of Audible's AI technology.” In 2026, it's likely that more traditional publishers — as well as indie authors — will get their backlist into audio with AI narration. (5) AI-assisted translation will start to take off beyond the early adopters Over the years, I've done translation deals with traditional publishers in different languages (German, French, Spanish, Korean, Italian) for some fiction and non-fiction books. But of course, to get these kinds of deals, you have to be proactive about pitching, or work with an agent for foreign rights only, and those are few and far between! There are also lots of languages and territories worldwide, and most deals are for the bigger markets, leaving a LOT of blue water for books in translation, even if you have licensed some of the bigger markets. I did my first partially AI-translated books in 2019 when I used Deepl.com for the first draft and then worked with a German editor to do 3 non-fiction books in German. While the first draft was cheap, the editing was pretty expensive, so I stopped after only doing a couple. I have made the money back now, but it took years. In 2025, AI Translation began to take off with ScribeShadow, GlobeScribe.ai, and more recently, in November 2025, Kindle Translate boosting the number of translated books available. Kindle Translate is (currently) only available to US authors for English into Spanish and also German into English, but in 2026, this will likely roll out to more languages and more authors, making it easier than ever to produce translations for free. Of course, once again, the gold standard is human translation, or at least human-edited translations, but the cost is prohibitive even just for proof-reading, and if there is a cheap or even free option, like Kindle Translate, then of course, authors are going to try it. If the translation gets bad reviews, they can just un-publish. There are many anecdotal stories of indie success in 2025 with AI-translated genre fiction sales (in series) in under-served markets like Italian, French, and Spanish, as well as more mainstream adoption in German. I was around in the Kindle gold-rush days of 2009-2012 and the AI-translation energy right now feels like that. There are hardly any Kindle ebooks in many of these languages compared to how many there are in English, so inevitably, the rush is on to fill the void, especially in genres that are under-served by traditional publishers in those markets. Yes, some of these AI translated books will be ‘AI-slop,' but readers are not stupid. Those books will get bad reviews and thus will sink to the bottom of the store, never to be seen again. The AI translation models are also improving rapidly, and Amazon's Kindle Translate may improve faster than most, for books specifically, since they will be able to get feedback in terms of page reads. Amazon is also a major investor in Anthropic, which makes Claude.ai, widely considered the best quality for creative writing and translation, so it's likely that is used somewhere in the mix. Some traditional publishers are also experimenting with AI-assisted translation, with Harlequin France reportedly using AI translation and human proofreaders, as reported by the European Council of Literary Translators' Associations in December 2025. Academic publisher Taylor and Francis is also using AI for book translation, noting: “Following a program of rigorous testing, Taylor & Francis has announced plans to use AI translation tools to publish books that would otherwise be unavailable to English-language readers, bringing the latest knowledge to a vastly expanded readership.” “Until now, the time and resources required to translate books has meant that the majority remained accessible only to those who could read them in the original language. Books that were translated often only became available after a significant delay. Today, with the development of sophisticated AI translation tools, it has become possible to make these important texts available to a broad readership at speed, without compromising on accuracy.” (6) AI video becomes ubiquitous. ‘Live selling' becomes the next trend in social sales. In 2025, short form AI-generated video became very high quality. OpenAI released Sora 2, and YouTube announced new Shorts creation tools with Veo 3, which you can also use directly within Gemini. There are tons of different AI video apps now, including those within the social media sites themselves. There is more video than ever and it's much easier to create. I am not a fan of short form video! I don't make it and I don't consume it, but I do love making book trailers for my Kickstarter campaigns and for adding to my book pages and using on social media. I made a trailer for The Buried and the Drowned using Midjourney for images and then animation of those images, and Canva to put them together along with ElevenLabs to generate the music. But despite the AI tools getting so much easier to use, you still have to prompt them with exactly what you want. I can't just upload my book and say, “Make a book trailer,” or “Make a short film.” This may change with generative video ads, which are likely to become more common in 2026, as video turns specifically commercial. Video ads may even be generated specifically for the user, with an audience of one, maybe even holding your book in their hands (using something like Cameos on Sora), in the same way that some AI-powered clothing stores do virtual try-ons. This might also up-end the way we discover and buy things, as the AI for eCommerce and Amazon Sellers newsletter says about OpenAI's Sora app, “OpenAI isn't just trying to build a TikTok competitor. They're building a complete reimagining of how we discover and buy things …” “The combination of ChatGPT's research capabilities and Sora's potential for emotional manipulation—I mean, “engagement”—could create something we've never seen before: an AI ecosystem that might eventually guide you through every type of purchase, from the most considered to the most impulsive.” In 2026, there will be A LOT more AI-generated video, but that also leads to the human trend of more live video. While you can use an AI avatar that looks and sounds like you using tools like HeyGen or Synthesia, live video has all the imperfect human elements that make it stand-out, plus the scarcity element which leads to the purchase decision within a countdown period. Live video is nothing new in terms of brand building and content in general, but it seems that live events primarily for direct sales might be a thing in 2026. Kim Kardashian hosted Kimsmas Live in December 2025 with a 45 minute live shopping event with special guests, described as entertainment but designed to be a sales extravaganza. Indie authors are doing a similar thing on TikTok with their books, so this is a trend to watch in 2026, especially if you feel that live selling might fit with your personality and author business goals. It's certainly not for everyone, but I suspect it will suit a different kind of creator to those who prefer ‘no face' video, or no video at all! On other aspects of the human side of social media, Adam Mosseri the CEO of Instagram put a post on Threads called Authenticity after Abundance. He said, “Everything that made creators matter—the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn't be faked—is now suddenly accessible to anyone with the right tools.” “Deepfakes are getting better and better. AI is generating photographs and videos indistinguishable from captured media. The feeds are starting to fill up with synthetic everything. And in that world, here's what I think happens.Creators matter more.” It's a long article so just to pick a few things from it: “We like to talk about “AI slop,” but there is a lot of amazing AI content … we are going to start to see more and more realistic AI content.” I've talked to my Patreon Community about this ‘tsunami of excellence' as these tools are just getting better and better and the word ‘slop' can also be applied to purely human output, too. If you think that AI content is ‘worse' than wholly human content, in 2026, you are wrong. It is now very very good, especially in the hands of people who can drive the AI tools. Back to Adam's post: “Authenticity is fast becoming a scarce resource, …The creators who succeed will be those who figure out how to maintain their authenticity [even when it can be simulated] …” “The bar is going to shift from “can you create?” to “can you make something that only you could create?” He talks about how the personal content on Instagram now is: “unpolished; it's blurry photos and shaky videos of people's daily experiences … flattering imagery is cheap to produce and boring to consume. People want content that feels real… Savvy creators are going to lean into explicitly unproduced and unflattering images of themselves. In a world where everything can be perfected, imperfection becomes a signal. Rawness isn't just aesthetic preference anymore—it's proof. It's defensive. A way of saying: this is real because it's imperfect.” While I partially love this, and I really hope it's true, as in I hope we don't need to look good for the camera anymore I would also challenge Adam on this, because pretty much every woman I know on social media has been sent sexual messages, and/or told they are ugly and/or fat when posting anything unflattering. I've certainly had both even for the same content, but I don't expect Adam has been the target for such posting! But I get his point. He goes on:“Labeling content as authentic or AI-generated is only part of the solution though. We, as an industry, are going to need to surface much more context about not only the media on our platforms, but the accounts that are sharing it in order for people to be able to make informed decisions about what to believe. Where is the account? When was it created? What else have they posted?” This is exactly what I've been saying for a while under my double down on being human focus. I use my Instagram @jfpennauthor as evidence of humanity, not as a sales channel. You can do both of course, but increasingly, you need to make sure your accounts at places have longevity and trust, even by the platforms themselves. Adam finishes: “In a world of infinite abundance and infinite doubt, the creators who can maintain trust and signal authenticity—by being real, transparent, and consistent—will stand out.” For other marketing trends for 2026, I recommend publicist Kathleen Schmidt's SubStack which is mostly focused on traditional publishing but still interesting for indies. In her 2026 article, she notes: “We have reached a social media saturation point where going viral can be meaningless and should not be the goal; authenticity and creativity should. She also says, “In-person events are important again,” and, “Social media marketing takes a nosedive… we have reached a saturation point … What publishers must figure out is how to make their social media campaigns stand out. If they remain somewhat uninspired, the money spent on social ads won't convert into book sales.” I think this is part of the rise of live selling as above, which can stand out above more ‘produced' videos. Kathleen also talks about AI usage. “AI can help lighten the burden of publicity and marketing.” “A lot of AI tools are coming to market to lessen the load: they can write pitches, create media lists for you, send pitches for you, and more. I know the industry is grappling with all things AI, but some of these tools are huge time savers and may help a book more than hurt it.” On that note … (7) AI will create, run, and optimise ads without the need for human intervention Many authors will be very happy about this as marketing is often the bane of our author business lives! As I noted in my 2026 goals, I would love to outsource more marketing tasks to AI. I want an “AI book marketing assistant” where I can upload a book and specify a budget and say, ‘Go market this,' then the AI will action the marketing, without me having to cobble together workflows between systems. Of course, it will present plans for me to approve but it will do the work itself on the various platforms and monitor and optimize things for me. I really hope 2026 is the year this becomes possible, because we are on the edge of it already in some areas. Amazon Ads launched a new agentic AI tool in September 2025 that creates professional-quality ads. I've also been working with Claude in Chrome browser to help me analyse my Amazon Ad data and suggest which keywords/products to turn off and what to put more budget into. I'll do a Patreon video on that soon. Meta announced it will enable AI ad creation by the end of 2026 for Facebook and Instagram. For authors who find ad creation overwhelming or time-consuming, this could be a game-changer. Of course, you will still need a budget! (8) 1000 True Fans becomes more important than ever Lots of authors and publishers are moaning about the difficulty of reaching readers in an era of ‘AI slop' but there is no shortage of excellent content created by humans, or humans using AI tools. As ever, our competition is less about other authors, or even authors using AI-assisted creation, we're competing against everything else that jostles for people's attention, and the volume of that is also growing exponentially. I've never been a fan of rapid release, and have said for years that you can't keep up with the pace of the machines. So play a different game. As Kevin Kelly wrote in 2008, If you have 1000 true fans, (also known as super fans), “you can make a living — if you are content to make a living but not a fortune.” [Kevin Kelly was on this show in 2023 talking about Excellent Advice for Living.] Many authors and the publishing industry are stuck in the old model of aiming to sell huge volumes of books at a low profit margin to a massive number of readers, many of them releasing ever faster to try and keep the algorithms moving. But the maths can work for the smaller audience of more invested readers and fans. If you only make $2 profit on an ebook, you need to sell 500 ebooks to make $1000, and then do it again next month. Or you can have a small community like my patreon.com/thecreativepenn where people pay $2 (or more) a month, so even a small revenue per person results in a better outcome over the year, as it is consistent monthly income with no advertising. But what if you could make $20 profit per book? That is entirely possible if you're producing high quality hardbacks on Kickstarter, or bundle deals of audiobooks, or whole series of ebooks. You would only need to sell to 50 people to make $1000. What about $100 profit per sale, which you can do with a small course or live event? You only need 10 people to make $1000, and this in-person focus also amplifies trust and fosters human connection. I've found the intimacy of my live Patreon Office Hours and also my webinars have been rewarding personally, but also financially, and are far more memorable — and potentially transformative — than a pre-recorded video or even another book. From the LinkedIn 2026 Big Ideas article: “In an AI-optimized world, intentional human connection will become the ultimate luxury.” The 1000 True Fans model is about serving a smaller, more personal audience with higher value products (and maybe services if that's your thing). As ever, its about niche and where you fit in the long long long long long tail. It's also about trust. Because there is definitely a shortage of that in so many areas, and as Adam Mosseri of Instagram has said, trust will be increasingly important. Trust takes time to build, but if you focus on serving your audience consistently, and delivering a high quality, and being authentic, this emerges as part of being human. In an echo of what happened when online commerce first took off, we are back to talking about trust. Back in 2010, I read Trust Agents: by Julien Smith and Chris Brogan, which clearly needs a comeback. There was a 10th anniversary edition published in 2020, so that's worth a read/listen. Chris Brogan was also on this show in 2017 when we talked about finding and serving your niche for the long term. That interview is still relevant, here's a quick excerpt, where I have (lightly edited) his response to my question on this topic back in 2017: Jo: The principle of know, like, and trust, why is that still important or perhaps even more important these days? Chris: There are a few things that at play there, Joanna. One is that the same tools that make it so easy for any of us to start and run a business also allow certain elements to decide whether or not they want to do something dubious. And with all new technologies that come, you know, there's nothing unique about these new technologies. In the 1800s, anyone could put anything in a bottle and sell it to you and say, this is gonna cure everything. Cancer — gone. And the bottle could have nothing in. You know, it could be Kool-Aid. And so, the idea of trying to understand what's behind the business though, one beautiful thing that's come is that we can see in much more dimensions who we're dealing with. We can understand better who's the face behind the brand. I really want people to try their best to be a lot clearer on what they stand for or what they say. And I don't really mean a tagline. I mean, humans don't really talk like that. They don't throw some sentence out as often as they can that you remember them for that phrase. But I would say that, we have so many media available to us — the plural of mediums — where we can be more of ourselves. And I think that there's a great opportunity to share the ‘you' behind the scenes, and some people get immediately terrified about this, ‘Ah, the last thing I want is for people to know more about me,' but I think we have such an opportunity. We have such an opportunity to voice our thoughts on something, to talk about the story that goes behind the product. We were all raised on overly produced material, but I think we don't want that anymore. We really want clarity, brevity, simplicity. We want the ability for what we feel is connection and then access. And so I think it's vital that we connect and show people our accessibility, not so that they can pester us with strange questions, but more so that you can say, this person stands with their product and their service and this person believes these things, and I feel something when I hear them and I wanna be part of that.” That's from Chris Brogan's interview here in 2017, and he is still blogging and speaking at writing at ChrisBrogan.com and I'm going to re-listen to the audiobook of Trust Agents again myself as I think it's more relevant than ever. The original quote comes from Bob Burg in his 1994 book, Endless Referrals, “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.” That still applies, and absolutely fits with the 1000 True Fans model of aiming to serve a smaller audience. As Kevin Kelly says in 1000 True Fans, “Instead of trying to reach the narrow and unlikely peaks of platinum bestseller hits, blockbusters, and celebrity status, you can aim for direct connection with a thousand true fans.” “On your way, no matter how many fans you actually succeed in gaining, you'll be surrounded not by faddish infatuation, but by genuine and true appreciation. It's a much saner destiny to hope for. And you are much more likely to actually arrive there.” In 2026, I hope that more authors (including me!) let go of ego goals and vanity metrics like ranking, gross sales (income before you take away costs), subscribers, followers, and likes, and consider important business numbers like profit (which is the money you have after costs like marketing are taken out), as well as number of true fans — and also lifestyle elements like number of weekends off, or days spent enjoying life and not just working! OK, that's my list of trends and predictions for 2026. Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you agree? Am I wrong? What have I missed? The post 2026 Trends And Predictions For Indie Authors And The Book Publishing Industry with Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

When Kevin Kelly dropped out of college in the 1970s, it was almost unheard of. Instead of following a traditional path, he chose a life driven by curiosity, freedom, and hands-on learning. That decision led him to hitchhike across Asia, document disappearing cultures, and eventually immerse himself in the early internet. Years later, he co-founded Wired, a magazine that soon became the voice of emerging technology and culture. In this episode, Kevin joins Ilana to share how Wired went from fighting for shelf space to redefining what a tech publication could be. He also explains his unique relationship with time, why he tracks the days he has left, and how creators today can thrive with just 1,000 true fans. Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and Senior Maverick at Wired, an award-winning magazine he co-founded in 1993. He is also a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review and the author of multiple bestselling books about the future of technology. In this episode, Ilana and Kevin will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (02:14) Choosing an Unconventional Path to Success (06:34) The Start of His Adventures in Asia (10:54) Getting into Writing and Publishing (14:17) Creating One of the First Hacker Conferences (20:18) The Grit Behind Wired Magazine's Success (30:37) The Dot-Com Bust and Why Wired was Split (34:17) The Origin and Power of “1,000 True Fans” (41:18) How a Near-Death Experience Transformed Kevin (47:10) About His Latest Book,  Colors of Asia Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and co-founder of the award-winning Wired magazine, and a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review. He is the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, which champions long-term thinking, and the creator of the Cool Tools website, which has reviewed tools daily for over 20 years. Kevin is also the author of multiple bestselling books on the future of technology, and his latest book, Colors of Asia, captures the culture of all 35 Asian countries through vivid photography. Connect with Kevin: Kevin's Website: https://kk.org  Kevin's Twitter: https://x.com/kevin2kelly  Resources Mentioned: Kevin's Book, Colors of Asia: A Visual Journey: https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Asia-Journey-Kevin-Kelly/dp/B0FGJ18PG5  Leaves of Grass: The Original 1855 Edition by Walt Whitman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1449505716  Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what's next in your career and life.

Ep 398: The 2026 World Cup ticketing fallout continues. Is it just England fans who are feeling hard done by? I get the thoughts of fans of other competing nations. FIFA have the nerve to thank and call those who bought tickets ‘true fans' & still there is no word from our FA, or our supporters club. Running time 25:23 Join the debate in our Facebook group at http://bit.ly/2hnHBzi http://www.threelionspodcast.com http://www.Twitter.com/3LionsPodcast http://www.Twitter.com/Russell_Osborne

Text Me A Question!What if you never chased virality again—and still grew faster and more profitably? We make a strong case for building 1,000 true buyers instead of courting a million passive followers, and we map the exact path to get there. The shift is simple but radical: stop optimizing for likes and start optimizing for sales by designing content that attracts the right people, connects by dissolving their doubts, and converts with clear, confident offers.

How do you get your voice heard when there's a million voices? How can people hear your music when everyone's making noise? How did a Prince who became a symbol hack the system to show the way?

KP Unpacked, the #1 number podcast in AEC breaks down how early-stage teams actually win attention and revenue in 2025. KP and Nick go deep on founder-led distribution, “signature marketing” vs checklist B2B tactics, and why authenticity beats AI-generated slop. You'll hear concrete examples from guerrilla stunts at conferences, product-led marketing, event strategy (sponsor vs booth), and running tight experiments you can pivot from fast. We also cover brand risk, mission-first messaging, and hyper-legibility: publishing the “exhaust” of your work at a useful cadence. If you build, sell, or invest in AEC or construction tech, this is your field guide to differentiation in the AI era. From Shadow's portfolio lessons to classics like “1,000 True Fans,” this episode gives you practical moves you can ship this week.The #1 podcast in AEC. KP and Nick. No fluff. Real tactics you can use.Key topics for searchAEC marketing, construction technology marketing, B2B growthFounder-led go-to-market, distribution, demand gen, ABM“AI slop” vs human creativity, signature marketing, guerrilla marketingProduct-led marketing, brand risk, mission-driven storytellingEvent strategy: sponsorship vs booths, trade show timelinesExperiments, attribution limits, small-batch campaigns, “1,000 True Fans”Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency ThinkersHope to see you there!

In this episode of the Her Empire Builder Show, Tina Tower dives deep into the critical transition every successful entrepreneur faces—the CEO shift. Tina shares her own business milestones and the mindset and strategy changes that helped her break through growth ceilings, from $300k to $1M, and beyond. This episode is packed with actionable insights for course creators ready to level up and scale their businesses, all while protecting their lifestyle and energy. Resources: Join Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/join Free CEO Guide: DM Tina “shift” on Instagram or Facebook for her CEO shift worksheet and weekly CEO meeting guide. Recommended Article: “1000 True Fans” by Kevin Kelly. Tool: Monday.com for project management and systems. Key Topics Covered What Is the CEO Shift? Understanding how “what got you here won't get you there.” The difference between hustling to build your business, and shifting into a CEO mindset for scalable, sustainable growth. Finding your sweet spot for income, responsibility, and lifestyle. Milestone Markers and Personal Anecdotes Tina's evolution at $300k, $1M, and $2M revenue levels. Evaluating the cost versus joy of going to the next level in business. Early-Stage Must-Haves Grit and personal hustle: building momentum, forming connections, and delivering exceptional service. Embracing speed, overcoming perfectionism, and learning all roles in the business. The Bottleneck and the Shift Recognizing when your current approach has become the bottleneck. Letting go of “doing it all,” and learning to trust team, systems, and processes. Thinking Like a CEO Shifting from controlling everything to leading with vision and trust. From reacting to leading intentionally and trusting your own intuition. Letting go of the need to over-deliver out of guilt or fear. Optimizing for Scale Streamlining with systems, automations, and AI before hiring more team members. Auditing your role and workload to focus on high-impact tasks. Scheduling dedicated CEO time for strategic planning. Energy Management The importance of protecting your energy as the “engine” of your business. Creating habits and boundaries for sustainability and joy. Common Traps That Keep Course Creators Stuck Believing no one can do it as well as you can. Over-delivering from guilt/fear. Equating busyness with importance. Confusing growth with scalable leverage. Action Steps Audit and delegate tasks. Start documenting and automating systems. Schedule regular CEO reflection/planning time. Clarify your vision and align your offers and audience. Protect your energy with self-care and clear boundaries. You didn't come this far to stay small. Define what your next level looks like, align your actions, and don't stop until you get there. Consistency and evolution are the keys to building a brilliant business and lifestyle.   Where to find Tina: Her Empire Builder: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tina_tower/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@herempirebuilder

“一千个铁杆粉丝”理论听起来很美：1000个人每月给你付10美元，一年就是12万美元，足以过上体面的生活。但事实是，这个算法 dangerously 不完整。我在开发自己的产品时，亲身踩过这个坑，并从中总结出了三个“没人告诉你”的隐形变量。在这个视频中，我将深入剖析这个流行模式的隐藏成本和挑战，包括：增长的假象： 为什么增长是一个缓慢且不平衡的过程，而不是一蹴而就的成功。我将分享真实案例，告诉你找到节奏需要多长时间。悄无声息的杀手：流失率： 为什么高流失率会在你意识到之前，就悄悄吞噬你的梦想和收益。隐形的成本：获客费用： 发现获取新用户的真实成本，以及它如何在不知不觉中侵蚀你的利润。这个视频是一次给所有正在创业、开发产品或运营社群的人的“清醒”时刻。我不是来告诉你我已成功，而是作为一名同路人，分享我一路上的真实心得。让我们一起聊聊，如何构建一个真正可持续的个人事业。Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/beartalk/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

From the hallowed grounds of Anfield to the corporate boxes of the Parc des Princes, the soul of football is up for grabs. This episode dives into the fiery "true fan" vs. "plastic supporter" debate, exploring how globalization, skyrocketing ticket prices, and superstar players have changed the game forever. Is it possible for a club to grow its international brand without alienating the local fans who built its legacy? We examine the apathetic atmosphere at some of Europe's biggest stadiums, the success of fan-owned models, and the real-world fight to keep the heart of the game from being priced out of existence. football fan culture, soccer history, true fan vs plastic, football globalization, Premier League business, Borussia Dortmund Yellow Wall, fan identity, club loyalty, stadium atmosphere, football ticket prices

Music revenue diversification is essential for independent artists, but how do you actually monetize your community of superfans? This follow-up to episode 333's community-building strategies explores the practical side of turning deep fan relationships into sustainable income that goes beyond streaming pennies.   Emerging direct-to-fan platforms like MySeat (highlighted by Dave Cool, formerly of Bandzoogle) allow artists to create branded mobile apps with multiple revenue streams - subscriptions, merchandise, live events, auctions, and exclusive content. Real case studies break down the revenue psychology of membership-based fan relationships and run realistic math on converting followers into paying subscribers.   But this isn't just another "build it and they will come" episode. Kevin Kelly's sobering follow-up research to his famous "1000 True Fans" theory reveals uncomfortable truths, including ambient musician Robert Rich's brutally honest financial breakdown of three decades pursuing direct fan support. The reality check considers platform risks, time costs, creative constraints, and why most successful direct-to-fan artists still need traditional exposure first to build music revenue.   Balancing optimism with realism, this episode explores genuine opportunities while setting appropriate expectations for what "success" in direct fan monetization actually looks like. Whether you're considering app platforms, subscription models, or other community revenue strategies, you'll discover how to approach these opportunities as part of a diversified career strategy rather than a complete solution.   Recommended for independent artists looking to reduce streaming dependence while exploring new music revenue opportunities and understanding the real challenges of direct fan monetization.   Key Topics:   Direct-to-fan mobile app platforms and business models Revenue psychology: consumption vs. membership Real financial case studies and conversion math Platform ownership vs. algorithm dependence Kevin Kelly's "1000 True Fans" follow-up research Robert Rich's 30-year direct fan experience Implementation strategies and cautionary considerations Diversified income approaches for sustainable careers Support the Unstarving Musician The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers. Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes. Learn from the hundreds of musicians and industry pros I've spoken with for the Unstarving Musician on topics such as marketing, songwriting, touring, sync licensing and much more. Sign up for Liner Notes. Liner Notes is an email newsletter from yours truly, in which I share some of the best knowledge gems garnered from the many conversations featured on the Unstarving Musician. You'll also be privy to the latest podcast episodes and Liner Notes subscriber exclusives. Sign up at UnstarvingMusician.com/LinerNotes. It's free and you can unsubscribe at anytime. Resources The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process. More Resources for musicians Mentioned in this Episode  MySeat Media  1,000 True Fans  The Case Against 1,000 True Fans  The Reality of Depending on True Fans  How to Build, Name, and Nurture Your Creative Community (Unstarving Musician episode 333)  Eli Lev – Spiritual Growth: From 250 Shows to Finding Sacred Space in Music (Unstarving Musician episode 332)  JR Richards – Dishwalla, His Tenth Album Forthcoming, Email Marketing, List Building, E-Commerce, Touring (Unstarving Musician episode 284)  Pardon the Interruption (Disclosure)  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support! Stay in touch! @RobonzoDrummer on  Instagram @UnstarvingMusician on Facebook  and  YouTube    

Some musicians fight to get control of their old music, and others sell off their back catalog. Songs are just another commodity in the capitalist system. Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/thenexttrack). We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks! ‌Show notes ‘I tried to be nice. Sometimes I would explode': John Fogerty on Creedence, contracts and control (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/aug/15/john-fogerty-creedence-clearwater-revival-contracts-controlling-catalogue) Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (https://amzn.to/4oSwKe6) Elvis Presley - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley) Colonel Tom Parker - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Tom_Parker) Berne Convention - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention) Bowie Bonds - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_bond#Bowie_Bonds) The Technium: 1,000 True Fans (https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/) DGM Live: 1000 Club (https://www.dgmlive.com/1000-club) Our next tracks: Jerry Garcia Band: Live at the Warfield (https://amzn.to/4lKhzRu) Ron Wood: Fearless (https://amzn.to/4n3MOrY) If you like the show, please subscribe in Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-next-track/id1116242606) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Most independent artists focus on building an audience, but the real power lies in developing a creative community. In this episode, I delve into the psychology behind transforming casual followers into passionate community members who view themselves as part of something larger. Drawing insights from my recent interview with singer-songwriter Eli Lev and his "Levitators" community, I break down the key differences between audience building and creative community development. You'll discover why community names matter more than you think, how to move beyond social media performance theater, and practical strategies for creating authentic engagement that serves both you and your supporters. I examine successful creative community examples from Trekkies to Swifties, revealing what makes certain community names stick while others fall flat. The episode also covers three core engagement strategies: collaborative content creation, meaningful interaction over metrics, and service orientation that benefits everyone involved. This episode provides a four-step action plan for building a creative community. Because in today's music industry, success isn't measured by how many people know your name, but by how many people are better off because they found your work. Recommended for independent musicians, content creators, and artists looking to create meaningful connections around their creative work.  Support the Unstarving Musician The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers. Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes. Learn from the hundreds of musicians and industry pros I've spoken with for the Unstarving Musician on topics such as marketing, songwriting, touring, sync licensing and much more. Sign up for Liner Notes. Liner Notes is an email newsletter from yours truly, in which I share some of the best knowledge gems garnered from the many conversations featured on the Unstarving Musician. You'll also be privy to the latest podcast episodes and Liner Notes subscriber exclusives. Sign up at UnstarvingMusician.com/LinerNotes. It's free and you can unsubscribe at anytime. Resources The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process. More Resources for musicians Pardon the Interruption (Disclosure)  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support! Mentioned in this Episode Robonzo.com  "1,000 True Fans" by Kevin Kelly  332 Eli Lev – Spiritual Growth: From 250 Shows to Finding Sacred Space in Music  Stay in touch! @RobonzoDrummer on  Instagram @UnstarvingMusician on Facebook  and  YouTube    

Amazon's restructuring of Wondery signals deeper issues with their podcast strategy as they distribute operations across Audible, creator services, and advertising divisions while losing approximately 110 jobs in the process.• Amazon's track record with podcast acquisitions has been underwhelming, including Art19's low market share and unfulfilled promises for high-profile shows• Dan Granger from Oxford Road suggests the reorganization represents a recalibration toward more integrated audio ecosystems• Sean King from Veritone emphasizes the importance of balancing host-read ads with other advertising forms• Patreon creators have earned over $10 billion since 2013, now receiving $2 billion annually—equal to the entire US podcast ad market• UK age verification requirements for mature content are forcing platforms like Spotify to implement face scanning or ID uploads• Riverside has quietly launched a podcast hosting service that sends video to YouTube but only audio to other platforms• New podcast technology includes Todd Cochran's GuestMatchPro for connecting content creators and specialists for interviews• True Fans is testing a new advertising option called True Ads allowing creators to purchase placement on the homepageSend James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net

James Cridland and Sam Sethi explore Spotify's mixed financial results showing strong overall growth but declining ad revenue, alongside their increasing focus on video podcasts at the expense of audio-only content.• Spotify's ads business struggling despite growth in users and profit• VP of Global Advertising Lee Brown leaving Spotify "by mutual agreement"• Video consumption growing 20 times faster than audio-only on Spotify• 16:9 image formats creating problems for traditional podcast artwork• JAR Audio rebranding to JAR Podcast Solutions with focus on measurable results: Roger Nairn explains how brands now see real value in podcasts beyond CEO vanity projects• RSS.com launching PAID (Programmatic Ads Inserted Dynamically) with $1 minimum payout• YouTube CEO Neil Mohan claiming "it's all over" for audio podcasting as video dominates• Acast financial results showing US becoming their largest market despite executive departures• Apple iOS enhanced dialogue feature improving podcast listening experience• Podcast image tag offering potential solution to artwork format challenges• Secure RSS and podcast monetization models being developed for premium content• Overcast apparently working on transcript features for podcasts• Rode introducing Call Me feature for remote podcast recording• True Fans positioning as a "value exchange" between creators and listenersVisit Buzzsprout.com for the tools, support and community to make sure you keep podcasting.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net

Buy/Sell/Short/Go to Reddit: Summer League Consumption is Required Reading for "True" Fans; TV Timeout: Eli Manning's Conflict of Interest, Celeb Advertisements, Heads of State.

Are you cultivating "true fans" or just collecting complainers? Join Andrew and Sean as they unravel the complex relationships between investors, consumers, true fans, and complainers, and how each group can make or break your business.   Ever wondered how to distinguish genuine supporters from those who might harm your community? We dive into Seth Godin's intriguing email about "generous stans" versus "cranky fans" and explore the delicate balance of engaging with your audience as partners, not just consumers.   We also take a look at Blizzard Entertainment's journey with World of Warcraft, illustrating the power of community feedback and adaptation. Plus, Andrew shares personal insights from involving fans in the development of his board game, Deliverance.   Tune in to discover how to foster a thriving fanbase that supports your mission and propels your brand to new heights! Links to check out! Seth's Blog 1,000 fans (which sort?) - https://seths.blog/2025/05/user-interaction-design-drives-outcomes/   20 Years of World of Warcraft Meeting Players Where They Are - Ion Hazzikostas, Blizzard- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f223_Km7qc   Thank you to our sponsors! HeroTime1.com - Get a 3% discount off your Hero Time Manufacturing order using code: CrowdfundingNerds101   BridgeDist.com - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!   CrowdfundingNerds.com/Academy - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!     Check out our website at crowdfundingnerds.com and join our bustling community on Facebook.   Stay Nerdy!

What's up guys.I am deep in the process of writing a mini-book for you guys on content marketing and building your "1,000 True Fans", and it's one of the main projects that I have on my plate for this year.I have to take my own advice here, and pause on the daily uploads for now, so I have the capacity to finish this book.I'm very excited to bring this to you guys and will keep you posted on when it's ready!The uploads for the podcast will be weekly moving forward. not daily.Appreciate you.

In this episode of TPR Podcast, we're joined by legendary entrepreneur, content creator, and author Pat Flynn. Known for pioneering transparency in online business through his blog Smart Passive Income, Pat shares his journey from architecture to content empire, covering everything from personal finance blogging to Pokémon YouTube channels. Lean Learning and Building True Fans with Pat Flynn [Episode 311] Resources in today's episode: - Matt Jarvis: Website | LinkedIn - Pat Flynn - Linkedin | Website

Consider this:Your audience will grow far beyond the people you currently know.Your network right now is tiny, compared to your eventual (big) audience. Your current people might not even be a good representation of your true fans!So don't make your content in fear of the judgment of your existing colleagues, friends, fans, or family. They are not your true audience.Create only for your future true fans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Send us a textHannah and Laura are in the middle of Tracy Deonn's Oathbound and are pretty sure they are "Team Nick" now. They also chat about a YA series prequel with a cringeworthy main character and Emily Henry's latest release.**This episode contains SPOILERS for Oathbound by Tracy Deonn. Spoilers begin at: 45 min 55 secs. ***CW for the episode: discussions of misogyny, sexism, racism, slavery, sexual abuse, abusive relationships, mental illness, violence, blood, colonialism, memory loss, death, kidnapping*Media Mentions:Oathbound by Tracy DeonnLegendborn by Tracy DeonnBloodmarked by Tracy DeonnMadness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia HyltonThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne CollinsThe Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne CollinsFuckbois of Literature podcastGreat Big Beautiful Life by Emily HenryCascadia the board gameAndor---Disney+The Last of Us---MaxShip Wrecked by Olivia DadeBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter (updates only): @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

Crafting a brand with meaning and scaling a business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook. ----- Welcome to episode 517 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Shen Chen, who jointly runs the English-language Japanese food blog Just One Cookbook with his wife Nami.  Preserving Tradition While Scaling a Modern Business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook This week on the podcast, Bjork sits down with Shen Chen — one-half of the powerhouse duo behind Just One Cookbook. Shen shares the behind-the-scenes story of how a humble food blog grew into a multifaceted business, spanning YouTube, e-commerce, and digital memberships. He talks about the impact of shifting traffic trends, how COVID–19 changed the game, and why sometimes a business pivot isn't just smart—it's necessary. Shen also opens up about his newest venture: a brand inspired by Japanese craftsmanship and cultural preservation. From navigating the complexities of physical products to using social media and SEO to fuel organic growth, this episode is packed with practical tips and thoughtful insights for anyone looking to build a meaningful, resilient business. You won't want to miss this episode! Three episode takeaways: From Food Blog to Full-Fledged Business: Shen shares how Just One Cookbook evolved beyond recipes, expanding into YouTube, e-commerce, and community-building. You'll also hear him talk about how external factors like COVID–19 forced a shift in strategy, leading to new ventures and unexpected growth.  Crafting a Brand with Meaning: Discover how Shen's passion for Japanese craftsmanship sparked a new business rooted in tradition. He unpacks the power of appreciating quality, preserving cultural heritage, and building a product line that tells a deeper story. What It Really Takes to Scale a Business: From social media strategy to SEO, from paid ads to packaging logistics — Shen gives us a peek behind the curtain at the not-so-glamorous, but essential, parts of running a physical goods business. Spoiler: it's a lot, but totally worth it! Resources: Just One Cookbook Tasty Food Photography by Lindsay Ostrom 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Member Mouse Interested in learning more about setting up a donor-advised fund? Shoot Bjork an email here! Shopify Episode 481 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Maximizing the Impact of Your Email List with Nathan Barry from Kit The Billion Dollar Creator Podcast, hosted by Nathan Barry and Rachel Rodgers Stainless Steel Prep Trays - JOC Goods JOC PLUS Membership JOC Goods — the Just One Cookbook store Follow Just One Cookbook and JOC Goodson Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.  

I LOVE TALKING TO TRUE FANS OF REALITY TV! THIS IS A GOOD ONE!   I'm such a fan of today's guest because she's a TRUE FAN of reality TV, whether it is Bravo… VH1… WeTV…Own Network… she watches it! I've got Vanessa of the RealiTEA Recap here with me today, and we discuss a bit of everything! We talk: the new season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kandi vs. Tamar (again, chile…), Toya & Reginae vs. THEIR FAMILY, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and SO MUCH MORE! Download and listen today!   Subscribe to the RealiTEA Recap YouTube Channel! Follow Vanessa/RealiTEA Recap on Instagram! Follow Vanessa/RealiTEA Recap on Facebook! Follow Vanessa/RealiTEA Recap on TikTok!   HEY NEW YORKERS! Book my super talented massage therapist friend, Javier, for the BEST MASSAGE OF YOUR ENTIRE LIFE!! You deserve it! Visit his Instagram page and click the link in the bio!   *** HEY! Some of you have asked how you can show your appreciation for all the content provided by your mama's favorite Black geek. How about you buy me a beer/coffee? CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT! ***   New episodes of “I Ken Not with Kendrick Tucker” are released weekly!   DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE, RATE, AND REVIEW! I LOVE 5 STARS! EMAIL ME AT IKENNOTPODCAST@GMAIL.COM! FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM! FOLLOW ME ON THREADS! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many people do you need to connect with to financially make or break your career? 1? 10? 100? 1000? In this episode we explore how you can figure out what it is that you're selling, so that trying to keep the lights on doesn't take all your creative energy. Part 2/4 of the Journey of the True Fan Series. Part 1 is episode 473 of Creative Pep Talk SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   MENTIONED: Kevin Kelly 1000 True Fans: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ Julien Baker https://julienbaker.com/ Boygenius http://xboygeniusx.com SPONSORS: MIRO Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - miro.com

Back in January 2023, we interviewed the founder of the biggest non-alcoholic beer brand in America: Athletic Brewing. Since then, Athletic has surged past an $800M valuation with a huge fundraise this summer and is now the clear leader in the category, with a 19% market share. This interview was the best one yet, so we wanted to reshare it with you here while we're on vacation. Because Athletic founder Bill Shufelt isn't just the “the Knight of Non-Alcohol Beer,” he's also got a fantastic founding story…Subscribe to our Saturday Newsletter: tboypod.com/newsletter Watch us on YouTube Submit Facts & Shoutouts Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn (Nick) & LinkedIn (Jack)About Us: From the creators of Robinhood Snacks Daily, The Best One Yet (TBOY) is the daily pop-biz news show making today's top stories your business. 20 minutes on the 3 business, economics, and finance stories you need, with fresh takes you can pretend you came up with — Pairs perfectly with your morning oatmeal ritual. Hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.