Creators from TrueFans: Showcasing Independent Podcasting

What do independent podcasters hope for in 2026?

In this new-year mixtape episode, guests that have featured on Creators from TrueFans in 2025 share their personal hopes for their indie podcasts and for the independent podcasting landscape as a whole.Aspirations range from continued growth and increased listener engagement to securing sponsorships and expanding into new formats, including in-person series. A recurring theme is the desire for better support and recognition for independent podcasters, and many express a wish for clearer categories, more meaningful listener statistics beyond just downloads, and a shift away from the dominance of celebrity or AI-generated content towards valuing authentic, human-made stories.The episode underscores the vital role of independent creators as the ‘lifeline of the podcast industry’, advocating for an environment where depth, honesty, creativity, and the impact of storytelling are valued above mere numbers. Listeners are invited to join the conversation and share their own aspirations for independent podcasting in 2026 directly on the TrueFans app, reinforcing our show's commitment to community and interaction.Sam Sethi and Claire Waite Brown started Creators from TrueFans in early summer 2025 with the aim of amplifying the creative endeavours of independent podcasters and highlight how TrueFans supports discovery, interactivity, and monetization for indie voices.See below for links to the podcasts featured, which will also be linked to in the chapters!What are indie creators hoping for:The Year of the Indie VoiceThere’s a strong collective hope for 2026 to be the year where independent podcasts gain greater recognition and are valued for their depth, creativity, and authentic storytelling, rather than just download numbers or celebrity status.Beyond Downloads Creators are yearning for improved analytics, specifically asking for metrics like listener retention, actual listening time, and engagement data, to better understand their audience and the impact of their content.Sustainable Growth and MonetizationMany indie podcasters hope to find more sustainable ways to fund their passion projects, seeking sponsorships that align with their show’s values and clearer pathways to remuneration, moving beyond a "labor of love" into financially viable endeavours.Enhanced Listener EngagementA strong desire exists among creators for more direct feedback and interaction with their audience, emphasizing the need for accessible platforms and features that facilitate two-way conversations, like those offered by TrueFans.Rethinking Podcast CategorizationCalls for better, more descriptive podcast categories and formats are made, arguing against, for example, broad ‘arts and entertainment’ tags that lump diverse indie shows with celebrity content, hindering discoverability for unique or niche productions.Listen to the podcasts featured in this episode by clicking on their links:The Failing Writers PodcastThe Story of WomanIndie Business ClubThe Late Bloomer ActorMultispectiveIn Ten Years TimeWatts on Your ScreenExhibitionistasThe Adult Ballet StudioThe Cashflow ShowBook Imprint The Friendship FileAnd, recommended by Ear Worthy: Better Call Daddy, The Wine Pair Podcast, 5 Random Questions, The Road to Rediscovery

Human Connection and Feeling Heard

Ever felt deeply connected to a story, even if it's vastly different from your own?Jennica Sadhwani shares the compelling origins of her show, Multispective, which aims to amplify diverse voices sharing stories of overcoming adversity, fostering connection through shared human experience. She details how her personal journey of being a good listener evolved into a podcast idea after a stranger's suggestion, highlighting the universal desire for people to be heard.Jennica delves into the practicalities of indie podcasting, from finding unique guests through her network and directories like Podmatch, to efficiently managing her workload as a full-time teacher by outsourcing tasks, leveraging AI, and maintaining a structured schedule. The conversation also explores the challenges of standing out in a saturated social media landscape and the inspiring, supportive community within podcasting.Sam and Claire expand on the future of podcasting, discussing the transformative potential of Podcasting 2.0 features like automated transcripts, chapters, and innovative monetization methods such as value-for-value payments and micropayments, emphasizing TrueFans' commitment to supporting independent creators in their discovery and financial sustainability.Listen to Multispective hereEar Worthy's top 10 new indie podcasts for 2025Creators from TrueFans on Substack Find TrueFans hereMusic: How It Is from Ketsa MusicFeedback: TrueFans SupportRead: Creators BlogRecommendations: Creators Podroll

Pals, Podcasts and Possibilities

Friendship files and the future of podcasting.In this week's episode of Creators from TrueFans, Claire chats with Jayne Morgan, the creative mind behind The Friendship File podcast. Jayne shares the unique premise of her show, where two friends independently answer 17 questions about their relationship and then react to each other’s responses. She explains how the podcast delves into the unsung yet incredibly vital role of friendship in our lives, from the heartwarming to the hilariously surprising.Jayne opens up about the personal journey of bringing The Friendship File to life, starting it during lockdown as a true ‘labour of love’. She discusses the self-selecting nature of guests who are eager to explore their friendships in this intimate format, emphasizing how recording alone fosters candid and often transformative conversations.A professional podcast producer herself, Jayne also shares her industry insights, including her passion for audio-first storytelling amidst the growing push for video content and the challenges of sustaining a passion project.Sam and Claire then delve into exciting developments at TrueFans, including a sneak peek at the new Listen Time dashboard, offering unparalleled analytics for creators.They also cover major upcoming events in the podcasting world, such as PodFest, The Podcast Show London, and The Rest is Fest, and celebrate TrueFans’ recent recognition by the Podcast Tech Stack blog for its innovative monetization approach. Claire also takes a moment to champion a crowdfunding campaign for On Spec podcast, an independent show doing crucial investigative work. Listen to The Friendship File hereRead the Podcast Tech Stack article hereFinancially support On Spec hereCreators from TrueFans on Substack Find TrueFans hereMusic: How It Is from Ketsa MusicFeedback: TrueFans SupportRead: Creators BlogRecommendations: Creators Podroll

Tiny Payments, Big Stories

Books that change lives and tech that changes podcasting.This time Claire welcomes Rebecca Thandi Norman, the creative force behind the Book Imprint podcast. Rebecca shares the evolution of her show, from the Agatha Christie-focused Tea & Murder to Book Imprint, which explores the profound impact of books on individuals before the age of 25. She delves into her unique approach to guest selection, ensuring a diverse range of voices, and opens up about the dedicated team behind Audi Productions that makes her podcast a reality, highlighting the importance of collaboration in independent podcasting.Claire and Sam provide expert insights, detailing TrueFans' innovative approach to hosting, including transparent cost analytics, listener micropayments, and advanced features designed to empower independent creators.Plus, find out which books have left an imprint on Sam.The CreatorWhile Rebecca is a writer she considers herself "first and foremost a reader," and the podcast provides an outlet for constant reading and writing.The motto of Book Imprint is "everyone is interesting," and Rebecca intentionally seeks diverse guests from different industries to show that books can change the lives of people outside of the publishing or intellectual world.The show's production team, Audi Productions, opts to take healthy breaks in between seasons to recalibrate, research guests, and avoid burnout.Beyond the MP3Sam and Claire discuss the alternate enclosure feature, a Podcasting 2.0 extension to the RSS feed that can point to supplementary content, such as video, a soundbite, or a translated file.Sam gives an update on TrueFans hosting, including highlighting that the analytics dashboard will show the total listen time and the number of apps that consumed the episode.Sam and Claire discuss the possibility for creators to set a suggested value for episodes, designed to cover a podcaster's hosting costs. Listeners have the final decision on how much they choose to contribute (including giving less, zero, or more than the suggested value).Don't forget: You can support this show by streaming SATs from your TrueFans wallet or leaving a super comment! Listen to Book Imprint hereBooks Sam and Claire talked aboutCreators from TrueFans on Substack Find TrueFans hereMusic: How It Is from Ketsa MusicFeedback: TrueFans SupportRead: Creators BlogRecommendations: Creators Podroll

Missions, Metrics and Managing Chapters

Powerful storytelling, innovative documentary production and vital discussions on the future of podcasting metrics.This time, Claire interviews Anna Stoecklein, creator of The Story of Woman, to find out more about her critically acclaimed new documentary series:The Story of Woman: Finding Strength in KenyaA Harrowing Topic, a Powerful Message: Hear how Anna travelled to Kenya to create a three-part series on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), telling the human stories behind the statistics and research.Rewriting Tradition: In this series Anna speaks with survivors, activists, and community leaders in a Somali community in Nairobi and a Maasai community in rural Kenya, showcasing the strength and untapped potential of those working to rewrite tradition from the inside out.Splitting the Sats: Learn how TrueFans enables creators like Anna to use the splits feature in their digital wallet to distribute listener-streamed payments (SATs) between herself and partnering organisations, such as the Orchid Project.Creator Strategy: Funding and FeaturesNew Metrics for Success: Sam explains how hosting on TrueFans provides creators with valuable metrics, including actual listen time and percent completion, that are far more useful to sponsors than traditional download numbers.Apple Joins the Chapter Party: Sam and Claire discuss the major industry news that Apple Podcasts will soon support chapters, whether their own or ones provided by the podcaster, including those that carry the Podcasting 2.0 format. Apple will automatically generate chapters using AI/transcripts, but creators are advised to make their own chapters for full control, dynamic updates (even weeks later), and the ability to include images and links that appear in all supporting apps.Don't forget: You can support this show by streaming SATs from your TrueFans wallet or leaving a super comment! Listen to The Story of Woman hereCreators from TrueFans on Substack Find TrueFans hereMusic: How It Is from Ketsa MusicFeedback: TrueFans SupportRead: Creators BlogRecommendations: Creators Podroll