Open Letter to Podcasters

My response to The Peripheral Pod’s “So You Wanna Be A Podcaster”

Thank you.

Thanks everyone of you. Thank you beginners, whose audio is imperfect — but perfectly fine — because microphones alone begin at least at a hundred dollars.

Thank you to the pros, who take the meager Patreon benefits and pour it right back into equipment to make your show better for us.

Thanks to everyone who navigates Patreon, and therefore pays up front for patron rewards, or for merchandise, in the hope of offsetting some costs.

I bet most listeners have no idea how much those shirts, those stickers, those hats cost you, so allow me to enlighten them.

Shirts for instance — with custom printing, like “X Pod” — can cost about $2-$8 per shirt — but the only way to keep the cost/per shirt down is to buy a bunch at a time.

Basic math makes that a sizeable investment, ranging from $200 to $800 — to START — all in the hope listeners will support your podcast, either via Patreon or by buying your merch.

Thanks for the monthly costs you pay to host the podcasts. That isn’t free, and sound files are gigantic.*

Because sound files are so big, every podcaster needs to purchase special hosting to reliably deliver these huge files, fast —

— to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and as most listeners are familiar, “wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks also for taking the deep dive into the MANY pages of regulations Apple alone has for podcasts — in order even to get approved — technical specifications for CODE that many listeners would weep if they had to try to handle…

…Not to mention how often JUST APPLE switches everything up.

Thanks most of all, podcasters, for taking all the abuse from listeners who somehow labor under the illusion you have only One Listener, and it is THEM.


This sort of Listener is sadly common, and is a coward, because they hide, faceless, behind single-star reviews and harsh words, or behind social media accounts which mask their true names.

They feel free then, to unleash on you all of their own misery: their jealousy, loneliness, anger, because they won’t ever have to look you in the eye.

On behalf of all the listeners who deeply appreciate the amazing and wonderful listening hours you graciously give us, I offer our sorrow for the pain they cause you all.

I also encourage you, podcasters, to feel pity toward these lost sad souls. You rise so far above them.

Podcasters, you have changed so many lives, inspired so many souls, taken action and live lives with purpose.

There is no gratitude enough for what you give, and while the buzzing flies may try to sting at times…

Try to remember the most profoundly grateful listeners are always here, though mostly silent.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Williams Bushey

*Thanks also for using your own personal money to buy hardware like external hard drives — a lot of them — or cloud-based storage — to BACK UP your podcasts, in case of problems.

Elizabeth M W Bushey

Written by

Ask me anything. Expect honesty and kindness. I have a podcast here: bit.ly/look-vote

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