208 | Libsyn Says You Can Make Money Now – But Should You?
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Release Date: 06/30/2025
Podcast Over. Marriage Over. But Here’s What’s Next
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Hey, it's Chris — and this episode is unlike any I've ever done. I'm pulling back the curtain on everything: Yes, Podtastic Audio is officially coming to an end. Yes, my marriage is over. But... something new is starting. And I’m more excited than ever. In this bonus episode, I get real about the personal struggles I’ve been navigating — divorce, selling the house, stepping away from podcasting — and how all of that led me to my next big project: Cool Cars with Chris 🚗🔥 If you’ve ever hit rock bottom and wondered how to rebuild from something you love — this one’s for...
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211 | Why I’m Ending Podtastic Audio — A Personal Farewell to Podcasting
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Why I’m Ending Podtastic Audio — A Personal Farewell to Podcasting After years of helping indie podcasters improve their sound and stay inspired, this is the final episode of Podtastic Audio. In this honest and personal farewell, I open up about why I’ve decided to end the show, how podcasting changed my life, and where things are headed next. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just found the show, thank you for being part of the journey. 🎧 In this episode, I talk about: Why I’m stepping away from podcasting (for now) The story behind starting Podtastic Audio during...
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210 | The Ugly Side of Podcasting (That No One Talks About)
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
If you're an indie podcaster who's ever felt completely drained, discouraged, or on the verge of giving up... you're not alone. In this brutally honest episode, I open up about the real-life challenges I've been facing—personally and creatively—and how podcasting has both helped and hurt along the way. From going through divorce, to ending The Kris and Kristine Show, to watching the numbers on this very podcast unexpectedly grow—this episode is raw, vulnerable, and 100% real. I'm not here to sugarcoat the podcasting journey. I'm here to talk about the parts no one tells you when you’re...
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209 | Can AI Be Your Podcast Co-Host? A Real Conversation with ChatGPT
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Elevate your podcasting game with Riverside.fm's studio-quality recordings, lightning-fast editing, and enhanced streaming capabilities—try it today! Get 15% off with discount code Podtastic This week on Podtastic Audio, I took on a wild experiment: what if you didn’t have a human co-host… but an AI one instead? Yep, in this episode, I actually had a full-on conversation with ChatGPT to find out if AI could pull it off as a podcast partner. We cover a lot — from what a podcast even is (seriously, I told ChatGPT to pretend it didn’t know), to how indie podcasters like us...
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208 | Libsyn Says You Can Make Money Now – But Should You?
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
So, Libsyn just flipped the script on podcast monetization. No more minimum download requirements. That’s right — whether your show gets 5 downloads or 5,000, you can now run programmatic ads and make some money just for publishing your podcast. But here's the real question: just because you can… should you? In this episode of Podtastic Audio, we dig into what this change really means for indie podcasters. Is this the golden ticket to finally “getting paid,” or does it risk turning your passion project into a string of ads your listeners skip in 30 seconds flat? We’re talking: 🎯...
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207 | The Vegas Sphere Blew My Mind—Here’s What It Taught Me About Podcasting
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Elevate your podcasting game with Riverside.fm's studio-quality recordings, lightning-fast editing, and enhanced streaming capabilities—try it today! Get 15% off with discount code Podtastic So I took a trip to Vegas with my kids to see Kenny Chesney at the brand-new Sphere… and let me tell you, this place is insane. Think 16K visuals wrapped around you, 20,000 speakers, and a seat that literally vibrates with the bass. Wild. But while I was sitting there, totally immersed in this billion-dollar light show, something clicked—and it has everything to do with your podcast. In...
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206 | This One Click Trick Boosts Podcast Downloads (Ethically!)
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
🎙️ What if I told you a single click could count as a podcast download—even if no one actually listens? Wild, right? In this episode of Podtastic Audio, I uncover a powerful (and often misused) feature hidden inside major podcast hosting platforms like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Captivate — a direct MP3 link that auto-downloads and plays your episode. No app. No login. Just one click. But here’s the deal: while shady marketers use this trick to fake their numbers with bots and browser hacks, I’m showing you how to flip the script and use it the right way — with full transparency...
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205 | Why Your Podcast Isn’t Growing (And It’s Not What You Think)
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Elevate your podcasting game with Riverside.fm's studio-quality recordings, lightning-fast editing, and enhanced streaming capabilities—try it today! Get 15% off with discount code Podtastic What if the real reason your podcast isn’t growing has nothing to do with your marketing? That’s right. No funnels, no hacks, no algorithms—just some real talk about why your show might not be taking off yet… and why that’s totally okay. In this episode of , I’m breaking down the 4 core things every podcaster needs to focus on before expecting real growth. From dialing in your...
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204 | Podcasting Without Funnels: Why Great Content Beats Marketing Gimmicks
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Are you tired of being told your podcast needs a $997 funnel, a slick course, or some guru’s step-by-step plan to succeed? In this episode of Podtastic Audio, we’re breaking down what really matters in podcasting — and it’s not building a sales machine. I’m here to speak directly to indie podcasters who care more about creating meaningful content than chasing dollars. You started your show to share something real — and that’s exactly what will set you apart. 🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why your podcast isn’t just a sales funnel — it’s your voice The myth of...
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203 | Why Most Podcast Interviews Fail (And How to Fix Yours)
Podtastic Audio: Crafting Compelling Content with Crystal Clear Audio for Indie Podcasters
Elevate your podcasting game with Riverside.fm's studio-quality recordings, lightning-fast editing, and enhanced streaming capabilities—try it today! Get 15% off with discount code Podtastic If your podcast relies on guest interviews, but your episodes aren't landing the way you hoped—they might be failing for all the wrong reasons. In this episode, we’re unpacking why so many podcast interviews fall flat, especially in the indie podcasting world, and how to turn them into engaging, valuable conversations your audience will actually care about. You’ll learn: Why “just...
info_outlineSo, Libsyn just flipped the script on podcast monetization.
No more minimum download requirements. That’s right — whether your show gets 5 downloads or 5,000, you can now run programmatic ads and make some money just for publishing your podcast. But here's the real question: just because you can… should you?
In this episode of Podtastic Audio, we dig into what this change really means for indie podcasters. Is this the golden ticket to finally “getting paid,” or does it risk turning your passion project into a string of ads your listeners skip in 30 seconds flat?
We’re talking:
🎯 What Libsyn’s new ad rules actually are (and what types of content still don’t qualify)
💵 How much money you realistically can expect to make as a small show
🤖 The pros and cons of running automatic ads vs. host-read spots
🎙️ Better ways to monetize — like affiliate links, listener tips, and actually selling something
❤️ Why podcasting for the love of it still matters more than CPMs or download stats
If you’ve ever been asked “How much money do you make from your podcast?” — or wondered if you should be monetizing at all — this episode was made for you.
And hey, if you’re already running Libsyn ads, I’d love to hear how it’s working out. Spoiler alert: it might only cover your hosting… but maybe that’s enough.
The Podtastic Playbook: How to Build, Grow, and Monetize Your Podcast
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00:00 - Libsyn Opens Ads to All Podcasters
00:24 - Welcome to Podtastic Audio
01:04 - Why Audio Podcasting Still Wins
01:40 - Apple Podcasts and Simplicity
03:07 - What is “Podcasting Classic”?
03:35 - Choosing a Podcast Media Host
04:43 - How Podcast Hosting Works
06:23 - Libsyn’s New Ad Policy: No More Minimums
07:29 - Can Any Show Really Make Money Now?
08:43 - My First Experience with Paid Ads
10:10 - Host-Read Ads vs. Programmatic Ads
11:11 - Why the 2,000 Download Rule is Gone
12:09 - Content That Still Doesn’t Qualify
13:38 - Realistic Earnings from Libsyn Ads
14:30 - Breaking Down CPM and Payout Math
15:46 - Monetizing Your Back Catalog
17:07 - Why Did Libsyn Change Their Policy?
18:29 - Advertisers and Micro Shows
19:13 - Libsyn’s Business Strategy
20:10 - Do Indie Podcasters *Need* to Monetize?
20:48 - The “How Much Do You Make?” Question
21:45 - Success Without Money or Downloads
22:14 - Why Fun Comes First in Podcasting
24:04 - Pros of Running Ads on Libsyn
26:17 - The Downsides of Programmatic Ads
28:17 - Losing Control of Your Content
28:37 - When Ads Ruin the Listener Experience
29:42 - Skipping Ads is Easy (and Common)
31:07 - Better Monetization: Host-Read Ads & Affiliates
32:20 - Patreon, Tips & Listener Support
33:28 - Selling Services or Coaching
34:41 - Don’t Turn Your Show into a Commercial
35:07 - Podcasting for Love, Not Just Money
36:02 - Audio Podcasting = Personal Connection
37:14 - Thinking About Running Libsyn Ads?
37:25 - Final Thanks & Outro 3
38:25 - “Podtastic Audio” Theme Song
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