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Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent Podcasting

Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent Podcasting

By: Sam Sethi & Claire Waite Brown
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Championing independent podcasters and their supporters, each episode features an interview with an indie podcaster to talk about their show and how they make it, and which Podcasting 2.0 features could be of use to them to improve discoverability, interactivity and monetisation for their podcast. Co-hosts Claire Waite Brown and Sam Sethi also discuss what's happening in the podcast world that might be of interest and use to independent podcast creators.

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Episodes
  • Metadata, Maps and Marketing

    Metadata, Maps and Marketing
    5 Oct 2026
    How to breathe fresh life into your podcast back catalogue using 'unsexy text', and how independent creators can eam up in networks to boost discoverability.Stephanie Fuccio, host of Geopats Abroad, shares how she intentionally wrapped up her expat podcast four years ago, only to realize its 92 evergreen episodes were still ripe for new listeners. She explains how in one-week she retitled all 92 past episodes, and is now concentrating on polishing show notes and planting engagement cues to continue to resurface past episodes.Claire and Sam then unpack a stack of platform updates, from clever tricks for resurfacing older episodes to the difference between publishers and networks. Plus, they share an update on native iOS/Android apps, map out Independent Podcast Award nominees with location tags, and invite creators to a live demo of the new TrueFans Network Feed!In this episode, we explore:Modernizing Evergreen Audio: Steph shares how she uses AI tools to help cleaned up keywords and update show notes for better search discoverability.The Power of 'Unsexy Text': Why tweaking episode titles and metadata creates real listener connections, and why podcasting often 'forgets itself' by ignoring past episodes.Real Connection over Slippery Downloads: Shifting focus away from misleading download stats towards real community building, lead generation and interactive comments.Resurfacing Gems with Featured Episodes: Claire shares how creators can use the Featured Episode setting in TrueFans to pull back-catalogue episodes right to the top of their feed.Publishers vs. Networks: Sam breaks down how individual creators can join forces into a Network to pool listener numbers and attract bigger sponsors.TrueFans Network Feed Live Demo: A heads-up about Claire and Sam's upcoming live demo on Thursday, October 29th at 5:00 PM UK time (10:00 AM PDT) showcasing how podcasters can cross-promote and build networks together. Reserve your spot here.Native iOS & Android App Update: Answering fan mail from David John Clark, Sam outlines the shift from web apps to native iOS and Android apps, bringing 'liquid content' to CarPlay, Apple Watch and smart TVs by late October.Putting Podcasts on the Map: How TrueFans is using the Podcasting 2.0 Location Tag to map nominated shows for the Independent Podcast Awards, and how hosts can drop their pin in their Creators Dashboard.Marketing Podcasting 2.0: Sam and Claire discuss breaking down the 28 P2.0 tags into digestible steps (Monetization, Discovery, Interactivity) so creators aren't overwhelmed.Listen to Geopats Abroad hereJoin the Live Demo: Register for the TrueFans Network Feed Live Demo taking place October 29th.Submit this form to be featured on the TrueFans home pageFollow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads.Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or hereRead: TrueFans blogRecommendations: Creators PodrollFeedback: TrueFans SupportMusic: How It Is from Ketsa Music
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    46 mins
  • Somatic Healing, Slow Podcasting and Stats

    Somatic Healing, Slow Podcasting and Stats
    21 Sep 2026

    How can podcasters reject rigid ‘bro-marketing’ metrics, embrace the gift economy and build an evergreen show that lights them up, all while balancing family life and business?


    Melissa Maouris, creator of Reparenting Podcast, shares her inspiration for running her show as a free resource rooted in the gift economy rather than transactional gains, and how she has managed to produce Season 3 at her own pace alongside motherhood and a full-time coaching practice.


    Claire and Sam discuss the widespread adoption of the RSS Funding Tag and other monetization options within TrueFans, and preview the upcoming TrueFans newsletter functionality, designed to help independent creators build community.


    In this episode, we explore:

    • Reparenting and Somatic Healing: Melissa breaks down how reparenting helps listeners strip back inherited identity expectations, reconnect with their authentic selves and process suppressed emotions through a somatic lens.
    • The Gift Economy vs. Transactional Living: Why Melissa launched her podcast as a free resource to give from a place of surplus and overflow, and how creating purely from love keeps her inspired.
    • The Power of Slow Podcasting: How Melissa balances recording around raising two children and running a coaching practice – taking two years to complete Season 3 on her own timeline rather than adhering to rigid weekly release pressure.
    • Rejecting ‘Bro-Marketing’ and Hands-On Editing: Navigating frustrations with hyper-capitalized podcast metrics, and why she chooses to edit her own episodes to retain full creative control.
    • Demystifying the RSS Funding Tag: Matt Medeiros champions the Funding Tag, described as the podcast industry's easiest way for creators to accept external support.
    • Creator Newsletters and Stats: Sam and Claire reveal how TrueFans is expanding newsletter functionality to all claimed shows, enabling hosts to publish newsletters with subscriber open rates and link-click rank analytics.


    Listen to Reparenting Podcast here

    Matt Medeiros' Funding page


    Submit this form to be featured on the TrueFans home page


    Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads.


    Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here

    Read: TrueFans blog

    Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Feedback: TrueFans Support

    Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music
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    31 mins
  • Typography, Transcripts and Tight Edits

    Typography, Transcripts and Tight Edits
    7 Sep 2026

    How do the tiny, unnoticed details of everyday communication shape our behaviour, and how can podcasters apply that same rigorous eye for detail to elevate their content, reach, and editing?


    In this episode, communications consultant and creator of Communication Untangled, Sue Keogh, explains how her fascinating career across radio production, digital media, and marketing agency work led her to explore the hidden designs that quietly govern our lives, from motorway signage and medical device instructions to voting slips and restaurant menus.


    Claire and Sam discuss some of the technicalities of independent podcasting, debating everything from RSS feed accessibility and cutting-edge geosearch to the painful reality of editing out involuntary mouth clicks.


    PLUS, who should present the Independnet Podcast Award for the category that TrueFans has sponsored, Sam or Claire? Comment with your pick.


    In this episode, we explore:

    • The Power of Planning and Batching: How Sue managed to record four episodes in just two days by blocking business time, building Trello workflow boards, and using pre-interview prep calls to ensure a brilliant, tight recording.
    • Bringing Audio to Life with Chapters: Sue and Claire discuss the power of Podcasting 2.0 chapters, sharing how adding visuals, such as photos of fonts, menus, and gallery captions, adds a whole new layer of lock-screen interactivity.
    • Accessibility and the Transcript Gap: Sam and Claire tackle why more hosting platforms and creators aren't utilizing free or cheap transcripts, and propose a user-driven ‘request transcript’ button to push for better industry-wide adoption.
    • Hyper-Local Discovery via Map Radius: Sam explains the newly implemented geosearch feature on TrueFans, showcasing how listeners can discover podcasts within a specific radius based on their location.
    • ‘Set-and-Forget’ Automated Social Sharing: How fans can link their social media profiles to TrueFans and choose ‘verbs’ (like Play, Share, or Become a Fan) to auto-post their podcast activity and recommendations.
    • The Brutal Art of the Edit: Claire and Sam discuss podcast judging pet peeves like ‘flabby’ intros, the painstaking task of cleaning up mouth clicks and breaths, and how to maintain a natural conversation cadence without making edits sound too clipped or robotic.


    Listen to Communication Untangled here


    Submit this form to be featured on the TrueFans home page


    Follow @TrueFans.fm on Instagram and/or Threads.


    You can support the show by streaming payments from your TrueFans wallet while you listen.

    Leave a super comment via the speech bubble icon in the TrueFans app.

    Learn more about TrueFans features by listening to our sister show, Fanzone.



    Find TrueFans in the App Store or Play Store, or here

    Read: TrueFans blog

    Recommendations: Creators Podroll

    Feedback: TrueFans Support

    Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music
    Show more Show less
    45 mins
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