TrueFans: Supporting Independent Podcasters & Music Creators

 There are times when you discover a podcast and organization that almost completely encapsulates the thematic premise for your activity / passion. That's the case with Creators by TrueFans. The show is co-hosted by two pros -- Claire Waite Brown and Sam Sethi. Since they're from England, here's my analogy. That's like having Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer on the same EPL team (That's soccer or football).

At Ear Worthy, one of our prime directives (Star Trek reference!) is to help independent podcasts with discoverability and create more visibility for them, so monetization becomes an easier lift.  

 Creators by TrueFans is a podcast from TrueFans.fm that spotlights independent podcast creators and music artists, offering them increased visibility and a platform to connect with their fans. Hosted by Sam Sethi and Claire Waite Brown, the weekly show features a new creator, discusses platform updates for monetization and discovery, and explores trends in the podcasting and music industries. Listeners can support the podcast through micropayments called SATs, leave feedback via SuperComments, and engage with hosts on social media.

Each episode highlights a different independent podcast or music artist. (NOTE: TrueFans is a major supporter of indie music artists, also) It provides information on new features within TrueFans.fm, focusing on discovery, interactivity, and monetization opportunities for creators. The hosts discuss broader trends in the "podosphere" and the future of creator monetization.

TrueFans.fm aims to solve the discoverability challenge for independent creators, and the podcast serves as a mechanism for this. Episodes are available on the truefans.fm website and potentially other podcast platforms. Listeners use the "SuperComments" feature or leave comments directly on episode pages to suggest creators to feature.

The show, which began in late April, has been a breakthrough for indie podcasters by offering tools to raise visibility, create a community, and adopt strategies for monetization.  

The hosts of Creators by TrueFans are Claire Waite Brown and Sam Sethi, who are two brilliant podcasting pros whose discrete skills make for a superb show and groundbreaking support system for indie podcasters. 

Claire Waite Brown is a podcaster, podcast advisor, and audio editor who hosts the podcast Creativity Found, which features interviews with adults who have rediscovered their creativity. She also founded the Creativity Found directory of creative activities. Claire is also the host/co-host and producer of Podcasting 2.0 in Practice. Claire also offers a Podcast Startup Sanity Check - an hour's chat to clarify and simplify the process of starting your own podcast, AND Podcasting 2.0 Clarity Call - a one-hour chat to establish which Podcasting 2.0 features podcasters can use with your podcast to improve discovery, interactivity, and monetization potential.

Sam Sethi is the technical genius behind TrueFans.fm. He is the CEO of TrueFans.fm, 

and the host/producer of Podnews Weekly Review with James Cridland.

This is how Podcasting Tech Creator/Host introduced Sam when he was a guest on his show. 
"Sam Sethi, an innovative entrepreneur in the podcasting industry, embarked on a journey to forge his own path. Fueled by passion and a vision for the future, he founded a pioneering platform that now stands as the leading entity supporting the majority of Podcasting 2.0 tags. Driven by a belief in the boundless potential of podcasting, Sam continually pushes the boundaries of the medium. By operating at the cutting edge of the industry, he is not only advancing podcasting technology but also setting a pace that allows others to catch up, all while enjoying the exhilarating ride on the forefront of innovation."

Let me tell you my experience with TrueFans. I signed up and was immediately able to donate via the platform to indie podcasts I wished to support. The issue I almost always have with Patreon is that making a donation to an indie podcast is more like a subscription than a donation. I can't speak for you, dear readers, but I like the freedom to direct my funds to go to indie podcasters when and where I want.

The TrueFans ecosystem also rewards members for comments on podcasters. In addition, the website and app allows members to set up playlists, receive notifications when their favorite podcasts drop a new episode, and manages micropayments.

TrueFans.fm has also been developing a new hosting platform. Unlike hosting services from some large companies, indie creators maintain more control.

To summarize, Creators by TrueFans is a podcast series and a broader platform that spotlights and supports independent podcast and music creators. The podcast features interviews with creators, discusses industry trends, and promotes TrueFans.fm's features for creator discovery, interactivity, and monetization.

I recommend checking out Creators by TrueFans, the podcast, and TrueFans the website or app. It's an ecosystem built for podcasters, podcast fans, and musical creators by the very people who understand how all can benefit from creating and listening to podcasts and music.