Are subscriptions really the most sustainable source of owned revenue in podcasting—and in media?
In this episode of PodBiz, Norma Jean Belenky speaks with Eric Barnett, Vice President of Revenue at Supporting Cast, about the power and strategy behind podcast subscriptions. Eric breaks down how publishers, networks, and independent creators can build owned revenue streams, structure high-converting bonus content, and expand into corporate internal podcasting.
As he puts it: “The ice cream in the sundae is your bonus content—that is the main star people are coming to the subscription for. All the other stuff like merchandise discounts, community, and events are the whipped cream and cherry on top.”
Here are some insightful moments within the episode:
• Why subscriptions offer revenue that podcasters truly own
• How Slate Plus led to the founding of Supporting Cast
• Why bonus content drives more subscription conversions than community features alone
• Finding the sweet spot for subscription pricing and episode cadence
• Key benchmarks for when a podcast should launch a paid tier
• Best practices for audio calls to action and Spotify Open Access integrations
• How internal company podcasts cut through corporate email fatigue
Eric Barnett is the Vice President of Revenue at Supporting Cast, the leading independent podcast subscription platform powering premium experiences for major publishers, networks, and creators. With nearly 15 years in the audio industry, including extensive work in digital audiobook distribution at Findaway, Eric specializes in business development, partnerships, and monetization strategies across audio and corporate media.
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: / in / eric-barnett-audio
Learn more at Supporting Cast: www.supportingcast.fm
Episode Chapters
00:00 – The Ice Cream Sundae Analogy for Podcast Subscriptions
00:28 – Welcome to PodBiz
01:17 – Introducing Eric Barnett & Where the Money Is in Podcasting
02:57 – The History of Supporting Cast & Slate Plus
05:49 – Subscription Trends: Networks vs. Independent Creators
08:42 – What Bonus Content Actually Works Best?
10:45 – Bonus Content vs. Building a Community
12:03 – PodBiz is Brought to You by Lean and Loaf
13:18 – Pricing and Release Cadence Strategies
15:05 – Starting with One Tier vs. Launching Multiple Tiers
17:42 – When is the Right Time to Launch a Subscription?
19:57 – Best Practices for Promoting Your Subscription
23:20 – Eric’s Journey in Audio: From Audiobooks to Podcasting
27:30 – How Gated Podcast Technology & Individual RSS Feeds Work
31:17 – The Mindset Needed for Long-Term Subscription Success
32:43 – The Power of Internal Corporate Podcasting
39:25 – The Importance of Relationships in Business
41:58 – Common Mistakes Creators Make with Subscriptions
44:24 – Managing Subscriptions Across Large Networks
46:10 – What Eric Would Do Differently Starting Over
48:02 – The Future of Podcasting
Some Additional PodBiz Buzz…
“I believe the real money and the money that you truly own is with podcast subscriptions.”
“It’s not something that you’re adding to your show; it’s something that’s a part of your show.”
“When you own that revenue, it’s life-changing for these podcasts—it changes the trajectory of the whole show.”