Your digital world is uniquely yours – a personalized reality shaped by the mysterious forces of algorithms that decide what you see online. But have you ever wondered why your feed looks nothing like your friend's, despite similar interests?

Matt Watts' fascinating podcast Watts On Your Screen explores this digital divergence through conversations with people navigating their own algorithmic experiences.

For independent creators like Matt, platforms supporting Podcasting 2.0 features offer exciting possibilities. The discussion explores how features like chapters, transcripts, comments, and the upcoming Alternate Enclosure tag for video create richer listening experiences while keeping content within the open podcasting ecosystem. We also examine publisher feeds within TrueFans that help independent creators with multiple shows increase discoverability without sacrificing their independence.

Also discussed in this episode:

• What is an independent creator? Claire shares her criteria.
• How podcasters can use the Podroll feature and Publisher Feeds to aid discovery.
• What is the Alternate Enclosure and how can it be used?
• What does Podcast Standards Project certification actually mean?
• Wider support for the Funding tag.

What strange rabbit holes has your algorithm sent you down? We'd love to know what unique content appears on your screen that others might never see. Share your experiences in the comments on TrueFans.

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Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music

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Highlighting the ways independent creators can connect with audiences and potentially monetize their work while maintaining creative control, join us this week for inspiration and practical guidance for envisioning – and manifesting – your creative potential over the next decade.

In this episode, award-winning podcaster Tricia Duffy reveals how long-term planning can transform your creative life right now.

Tricia tells Claire how her podcast, In Ten Years Time: How to Live a Creative Life, grew from personal voice recordings into a research-driven show that's garnered two awards in its first year. She explains her commitment to making creativity accessible to everyone through free planning templates, rejection trackers, and other practical tools that help listeners reimagine their creative futures.

We discuss Tricia's meticulous production process – from rigorous research of psychological journals and academic studies to working with a producer who challenges her thinking. Rather than producing weekly content, she focuses on three high-quality seasonal series per year, each exploring different aspects of creative living, such as overcoming challenges, amplifying creativity, and maintaining creative momentum.

In this episode Sam and Claire also explore practical aspects of podcast monetization, with Sam highlighting how Podcasting 2.0 features in TrueFans allow for streamlined listener support and event promotion, and discuss Netflix's entry into the podcast space, contemplating what this might mean for independent creators.

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What makes a podcast valuable? Is it immediate popularity, or something deeper? "Every podcast you create will exist for many years to come," observes Clayton M. Coke of The Cashflow Show podcast, highlighting the lasting significance of podcasting as a medium that creates permanent records of our conversations and ideas.

Clayton reveals how he uses his platform to interview business owners about their successes, failures, and personal interests, but his most compelling point centres on creator compensation – why should podcasters provide their platforms as free promotional vehicles when PR teams are being paid to pitch guests? This conversation challenges the status quo and advocates for proper valuation of podcasters' work.

We also look at some of the practical aspects of the TrueFans platform, with Sam explaining how the funding tag works to create sustainable income streams for independent creators. This feature allows listeners to set monthly budgets that automatically distribute micropayments to their favourite podcasters with each new episode – creating a fair exchange of value between creator and audience.

In this episode Sam and Claire highlight a number of valuable resources for independent podcasters including newsletters like Eurowaves, Ear Worthy, and Podnews.

We also spotlight AMPD Studios in Cape Town, South Africa – a remarkable free podcasting hub founded by Jon Savage that provides recording facilities, equipment, and support to podcasters of all experience levels. This community-focused initiative now faces potential closure after losing a major sponsor, highlighting both the power and fragility of creator support systems.

Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just getting started, this episode offers insights into creating lasting content while building sustainable creator-audience relationships.

This episode discusses:

• Why podcasters should be paid for their work, especially when providing promotional value to guests
• The funding tag and the TrueFans support mechanism that allows podcasters to receive micropayments from listeners
• How comments and feedback create meaningful connections between podcasters and listeners
• The podcast blogs and newsletters — such as Eurowaves, Ear Worthy, and Podnews – that provide valuable industry resources
• Other useful podcasting resources, including The Future of Podcasting and podcasting2.org, that help creators understand and implement Podcasting 2.0 features
• AMPD Studios in South Africa offers free recording facilities for podcasters but needs financial support

Ready to support independent creators? Download the TrueFans app today and start streaming value directly to the podcasts you love.

Listen to The Cashflow Show here

Support AMPD Studios here

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Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music

Feedback: TrueFans Support

Read: Creators Blog

Recommendations: Creators Podroll