Roadmap to Making Money with Podcasts Part 2: Listener Support and Paid Subscriptions

In the comedy, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation there is a character who is jobless and making no money at all. When asked about why he’s still not making any money, the punchline comes, “Catherine says he’s been holding out for a management position.” The joke is that he hasn’t started doing any work and he never will because he’s waiting for a position that requires experience and better payout. This is an attitude that keeps many from making money online and especially in the podcasting world. Everyone wants to make $1,000,000+ and so most people never enjoy making $100-$1,000+ a month and growing from there.

Some podcasts make a steady income by engaging their most loyal fans to chip in a few dollars each month. This section explores monetization methods where your audience directly supports you: crowdfunding, memberships, and paid subscriptions. These include platforms like, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Spotify paid subscriptions, and more. We’ll look at how story-driven podcasts can offer bonus content or perks to fans, real examples of shows making bank from their fan communities, and steps to set up your own membership program.

Why Membership Models Work

In the creator world, there’s a famous idea that having “1,000 true fans” can be enough to sustain you. A “true fan” is someone who loves your content so much they’re willing to pay for extra material or just to support you. For a story-driven podcast, even a few dozen or hundred dedicated listeners can become your financial backbone through memberships.

Unlike ads (which require volume), listener support scales with depth of engagement. If your storytelling deeply resonates with people, they might happily pay $5, $10, or $20 per month for bonus stories, early access, ad-free episodes, or simply to keep the show going. This is both lucrative and rewarding – you earn money and build a closer community.

Real-World Example—True Crime Obsessed on : True Crime Obsessed (a comedic true-crime recap podcast) is a story-driven show that turned its audience into a revenue engine. As of 2025, it has nearly 50,000 patrons on , contributing an estimated $140,000–$350,000 per month. How? By offering multiple tiers of membership with perks: bonus episodes, access to show videos, ad-free content, and even VIP meet-and-greets at live shows. This incredible success shows the upper end of what’s possible with fan support – they built a devoted fanbase and then gave that fanbase ways to engage more (and pay for the privilege). While that scale is exceptional, many smaller podcasts also sustain themselves nicely on  with far fewer supporters.

Membership Options

Let’s break down the common ways to let your listeners financially support your podcast:

You create a page for your podcast and offer membership tiers.

For example: $3/month might get a supporter a shout-out and occasional bonus minisode, $5/month gives access to a monthly bonus episode or behind-the-scenes content, $10/month might include merch discounts or live Q&A access, etc. Listeners sign up and  handles the recurring billing. Other platforms: Memberful (’s sister for embedding on your own site), Ko-fi (allows monthly support or one-time “coffee” donations), Buy Me a Coffee (simple one-off donations or memberships), and Glow.fm (a platform for podcast-specific memberships that provides private RSS feeds).

Podcast App Subscriptions (Apple, Spotify, etc.): In recent years, big platforms made it easier to offer paid podcasts. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions let you put bonus episodes or ad-free versions behind a paywall in Apple’s app. Listeners can subscribe with one click. Spotify (via Anchor) also allows you to mark episodes as subscriber-only; Spotify users can pay to unlock them. These are convenient because they’re integrated into apps (no need for listeners to juggle  logins or separate feeds). However, they can lock you into that platform (only Apple listeners see Apple subs, etc.), and platforms take a cut (Apple takes 30% of subscription revenue in year one, 15% after; Spotify currently takes 5% after an initial free period). There are also third-party services like Supercast and Substack that offer paid subscription feeds:

Supercast specializes in podcast memberships by providing a private feed link to each subscriber that can be opened in most podcast apps (giving you flexibility outside the big platforms).

Substack is known for newsletters, but it also supports podcasts – you could run a Substack where subscribers get your written posts and bonus podcast episodes bundled together.

One-Time Crowdfunding or Donations: Another model is asking for one-time support. Some podcasters run a Kickstarter or IndieGoGo to fund a season of their story podcast up front (essentially pre-selling the content). Others simply put a PayPal donate button or cryptocurrency wallet link on their site for fans who feel generous. While this is straightforward, it’s less reliable and ongoing than memberships. It can work for specific projects or passionate fan bases. For instance, a fiction podcast might crowdfund to produce an ambitious audio drama season with higher production value – fans “invest” to make it happen, and in return maybe they get a producer credit or swag.

Each option has its pros and cons, but they all share a principle: give your listeners a way to support you directly. Often, you’ll provide exclusive content or perks as a thank-you, creating a win-win: fans get more of what they love, and you get paid for creating it.

How Story-Driven Podcasts Use Memberships (Examples & What to Offer)

Please study these examples of narrative podcasts that have embraced listener support.

Criminal Plus (Premium Membership): Criminal, a polished narrative crime podcast, launched “Criminal Plus” in 2023 after 10 years of free episodes. For $5/month or $50/year, fans get bonus content, exclusive merchandise, and ad-free episodes – the main show stays free with ads. They even offer a higher tier ($80/year) with quarterly live video chats and extra merch perks. This model lets die-hard fans get an “inside look” at how Criminal is made and enjoy the show with no ads, while providing the creators (now part of Vox Media) a steady stream of revenue. The key here is that Criminal waited until it had millions of loyal listenersbefore rolling out a paid tier, ensuring plenty of takers.

Welcome to Night Vale Fan Club: Welcome to Night Vale, a popular fiction podcast (community radio updates from a surreal desert town), has cultivated a devoted fandom. They offer memberships through , boasting over 10,000 members there. Fans who join get things like bonus content (“The Librarian Story” bonus episode), access to a members-only discourse (like a fan Discord server or book club), and early access to live show tickets. The show also has an official “membership” on their site that basically links to . This demonstrates how even a quirky, narrative show can generate solid income by mobilizing its fan community – Night Vale’s patron count suggests a huge monthly revenue likely in the tens of thousands of dollars, which helps fund their production and live events.

Fiction Podcasts on : Numerous indie fiction podcasts (audio dramas, actual-play RPG shows, etc.) live off . For example, The Magnus Archives (horror fiction) and Hello from the Magic Tavern (fantasy comedy) have  communities that support bonus episodes or early releases. The Last Podcast on the Left (a horror/true crime comedy show) offers  tiers that grant extra weekly episodes and access to their entire back catalog, and has about 14,000 patrons paying ~$82,000 per month. Though it’s part comedy, the storytelling and research element is key to their fanbase – and fans happily pay for more of it.

What can you offer to entice listeners to subscribe or join your ? Here are ideas particularly suited to story-driven podcasts:

Bonus Episodes or Side Stories: Perhaps you release biweekly free episodes, but paying supporters get an extra mini-sode or a spinoff story each month. These could be prequel stories, “after show” discussions, Q&A about the true story behind your fiction, or even raw tape of interviews (for non-fiction narratives). This is the most common perk – essentially, more content for the biggest fans.

Ad-Free Feeds: Some fans will pay simply to remove interruptions. You can provide a private RSS feed to members that has all the regular episodes but without the ads or sponsor messages. Platforms like  and Apple Subscriptions make offering an ad-free version easy. This is low-effort on your part (no extra content to create, just a different feed), yet high value to those who loathe ads.

Early Access: Give paying listeners episodes a few days or a week early. Story podcast fans often can’t wait to hear what happens next – if they can get the next chapter early for a few bucks, many will. Example: My Favorite Murder (a true-crime comedy) ran a “Fan Cult” membership on their own site that provided early access to ticket sales and exclusive minisodes for members, capitalizing on their fervent fanbase.

Behind-the-Scenes Content: Take your fans deeper into your creative process. This could be exclusive blog posts, videos, or audio extras about how you craft your story, blooper reels, research notes, or interviews with the real people behind your stories (if it’s a factual podcast). For instance, the creators of Criminal mentioned that Criminal Plus will give fans “an inside look at how Criminal gets made”. That kind of behind-the-scenes intimacy can be a strong draw for superfans.

Community and Interaction: People who love your content likely love discussing it. You can offer access to a patron-only Discord server, forum, or live chat sessions. Maybe host a monthly live Zoom hangout or a stream where you answer fan questions or even perform a short story live. Building a community makes membership feel more like joining a club than a transaction. It also reinforces their loyalty – if a listener has made friends in your fan community, they’ll be more inclined to keep supporting.

Merch and Physical Rewards: Combine membership with merchandise. For higher tiers, you could include stickers, a poster, or a T-shirt after a certain billing period. Some podcasts send an annual gift (e.g. a care package with show-themed goodies) to long-term patrons. Criminal Plus, as noted, even has “exclusive merchandise” for members and discounts on their merch store at the premium tier. People love swag, especially if it’s exclusive (like a shirt only available to members).

The beauty of listener support is you can start at any time, even with a modest following. If you have 100 listeners and 5 of them become patrons at $5, that’s $25/month – not huge, but it can cover your hosting fees. As your show grows, those numbers can scale. Many creators find that about 1-5% of their audience might convert to paying members, depending on how compelling the perks are and how much they value your content. So if you have 1,000 listeners, getting 20-50 supporters isn’t unrealistic, which at say $5 each is $100-$250/month. That can only go up as both your audience and your tiers expand.

6 Really Big Deals to Make or Break You

Ready to turn on the “support” button? Here are the fundamental steps and tips to launch a listener funding model:

1. Decide on Your Platform: If you want a robust, community-friendly solution,  is a great start (it’s popular and listeners may already be familiar with it). If your audience is heavy on a certain app, consider their built-in option (Apple or Spotify) for ease of use. For maximum cross-platform reach, something like Supercast can let all listeners (regardless of app) subscribe via a credit card and receive a private feed link to use in their favorite podcast app. Review the fee structures:  takes about 8-12% (including payment processing), Apple takes 30% (but no processing fees), Spotify 5% (after 2023), Supercast ~59¢ + 5% per subscriber. If you want to give free trials or have multiple tiers,  or Supercast might be better; Apple and Spotify are usually one flat price (though Apple now allows multiple subscriptions per show).
2. Plan Your Tiers and Benefits: Start simple. You can even launch with just one tier (e.g. “Support the show – $5 = bonus episode every month + ad-free feed”). You can always add more tiers later when you see demand. Make sure you can consistently deliver the promised perks – don’t commit to a weekly bonus episode if that’s unsustainable for you. It’s better to over-deliver than under-deliver. Also, price logically: common tiers are $2 or $3 (basic thank-you tier), $5 (most popular tier with core bonus content), $10+ (superfans tier with extra perks). Look at similar podcasts’  pages for inspiration on pricing and rewards.
3. Set Up the Tech: If using , configure your tiers, write a compelling description of why you’re asking for support (be honest about how it helps you create the show). Upload any existing bonus content if you have some (to reward early joiners with a little library). If using Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, you’ll need to enroll in the Apple Podcasters Program (costs ~$20/year) and then you can mark episodes as subscriber-only in Apple’s interface. For Spotify, it’s done via your Anchor account by enabling podcast subscriptions and selecting content to put behind the paywall. Supercast or others will guide you to create subscription checkout pages and private RSS feeds. Important: If you offer an ad-free feed or bonus episodes, you may need to publish those on a separate feed.  now provides private RSS feeds for audio posts, which you can generate and give to patrons. Alternatively, you might use your podcast host’s feature (some hosts like Acast and Buzzsprout offer paid subscription feeds). Make sure whatever solution you choose is user-friendly: you don’t want supporters to struggle to actually get the content they paid for.
4. Promote It (But Keep It Classy): Once everything is set, announce your membership program to your audience. The best place is in your podcast episodes themselves – e.g. a brief mention at the end of each episode: “If you enjoyed this story, consider supporting us on . For $5 a month, you’ll get bonus mini-episodes and help us keep the show running. Find the link in our show notes.” Keep this call-to-action short and positive. You can also plug it on your social media, website, or email newsletter if you have one. Perhaps do a special free episode or teaser of what patrons would get (for instance, release the first bonus episode on the main feed as a sample). One strategy: highlight the community – e.g. “Join our  community and get to interact with other fans and us directly!” People are more motivated by belonging and extra content than by charity, so frame it as they get something cool (on top of supporting you).
5. Deliver and Engage: Treat your supporters like VIPs. Deliver the promised content on time. Engage with their comments or messages if they reach out. Publicly thank them when appropriate (some pods read out patron names or have a credits section). Listen to their feedback – often your paying fans can give great ideas for new content or improvements. This tight feedback loop can even improve your free show, making the whole podcast better. The more appreciated and involved your members feel, the longer they’ll stick around (which means stable recurring revenue for you).
6. Scale Up Carefully: Over time, you can add new tiers or benefits. Perhaps you start a $15 tier for a quarterly live video hangout, once you have enough $5 members and see interest. Always ensure higher tiers truly get added value. You can also do limited-time promotions, like “Sign up this month and get a free sticker” or set goals (e.g. “If we hit 100 patrons, I’ll produce a special bonus episode for all patrons”). Goals can motivate listeners to band together and support.

One caution

Paid content vs. free content balance. Be mindful not to lock all your best content behind paywalls. The free feed is your main growth driver—if a new listener finds your show and sees only crumbs because all the juicy stuff is for subscribers, they might not stick around to become a subscriber. A good rule of thumb is to keep your core narrative episodes free, and use subscriptions for complementary content (bonus stories, aftershows, early access, etc.), not the main storyline. That way, new listeners can fall in love with your show at no cost, and your most ardent fans still have reason to upgrade for more.

It’s a Big Sea, and The Fish Matter

It’s important to make the rights decisions on your podcasting platform. Below are some recommendations and a quick explanation of why they might be preferable to other options. But, at the end of the day, you need to make the choice that is best for you.

• Apple Podcasts Subscriptions is great for monetizing on Apple’s platform; best if a large chunk of your listeners use Apple Podcasts.
• Spotify (via Anchor) allows easy in-app subscriptions for Spotify listeners; good to convert a Spotify-heavy audience.
• Supercast For paid membership platform providing private feeds that work on almost any app; great if you want branding control and a simple subscriber experience.
• Glow.fm / Supporting Cast toe use other podcast-specific membership services; Glow is easy to set up for donations or extras, Supporting Cast is often used by established networks.
• Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee for simple alternatives for donations or basic memberships without as much overhead or complexity as  (but also less feature-rich).
• Substack if you also produce written content (like show transcripts, short stories, or a newsletter) alongside your audio, Substack can bundle those mediums. Fans subscribe to you on Substack and get your newsletter plus premium podcast episodes in one place.

Use language to empower your audience to support you directly can be one of the most rewarding ways to monetize. It doesn’t require thousands of listeners – just a core of engaged ones. By offering extra value through bonus episodes, early releases, or simply a closer connection, you turn listeners into financial partners with you. This brings in revenue and it establishes a community around your podcast. Many story-driven podcasts thrive on this model, as it aligns perfectly with the intimacy of storytelling – your listeners feel invested in you and your stories.

In Part 3, we’ll look at another beginner-friendly revenue stream: affiliate marketing and partnerships, where you can earn by recommending products and services to your listeners.

END NOTES AND SOURCES

Riverside.fm Podcast Statistics

 “76% of podcast listeners prefer shows that publish new episodes regularly.”

 https://riverside.fm/blog/podcast-statistics

This Is Criminal – Official Website

 “Criminal launched January of 2014 and has been consistently releasing episodes weekly on Fridays.”

 https://thisiscriminal.com/about

Lore (Podcast) – Wikipedia

 “The podcast airs on a biweekly schedule and episodes run 20–30 minutes.”

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lore_(podcast)

MrBallen Podcast – iHeart

 “MrBallen releases two episodes per week, often a mix of YouTube‑adapted stories and podcast exclusives.”

 https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-mrballen-podcast-strange-d-92648121

The Moth Podcast – Stories Archive

 “The Moth Podcast typically features 1–2 stories per episode and releases on Tuesdays, with Radio Hour episodes on Fridays.”

 https://themoth.org/stories

Lower Street – How to Structure a Podcast

 Best practices on pacing, narrative beats, and monetization alignment.

 https://lowerstreet.co/how-to/structure-podcast

Montgomery County Business Blog – Podcasting in Marketing: Pros and Cons

 Discusses the growing use of podcasting as a marketing and income platform.

 https://business.montgomerycc.org/blog/engage-5202/post/podcasting-in-marketing-the-pros-and-cons-39719

Apple Podcasts for Creators – Subscription Tools

 Apple’s tools for monetizing with exclusive content and bonuses.

 https://podcasters.apple.com/

Patreon for Podcasts

 Highlights successful shows like Chapo Trap House, Last Podcast on the Left, and Welcome to Night Vale.

 https://www.patreon.com/podcasts

Supercast – Premium Podcast Subscriptions

 A subscription‑podcasting platform built for creators who want control and higher margins.

 https://www.supercast.com/

Welcome to Night Vale – Membership Tiers

 Fan monetization through paid extras and membership levels.

 https://welcometonightvale.com/