Wooohoooo! This better not be like Betsy and Vicky's designer bag business, I subscribed for 3 months of audio goodness (I'm broke, that's quite a vote of confidence). Welcome back and when do I get my first fix?

Glad you guys are back. This is one of the few podcasts that I would pay for. Here is my question, my wife and I both love the show. Will we both be able to listen with one subscription?

So I paid for three months and am thrilled you're back. I just hope this won't be like Betsy and Vicky's designer bag business. :o) So when do I get my fix? I've missed you guys (esp. Betsy). xoxo

Hi, I want you to know that ive been a big fan of your podcast for years since 2005 and despite the long hiatuses I've stuck with you guys. But you cant charge for a podcast. You just cant! I love you guys, but I would never ever pay for your show or any show. In fact, if possible i will try to pirate it. You can't charge for something that was once free. Its better to just stop doing them.

Hi Chris, That is awesome! It is great to hear from longtime listeners. Especially those that stuck with us, even now.

It is hard to even know where to begin with your thoughts.

I'll try though.

I can charge for a podcast and I now do. We ask for a small amount per episode, 37 cents if someone pays monthly. 37 Cents!

That is a little over a penny per minute of each 30+ minute show.

For a base of $4.49 a month we deliver 12 episodes a month. That is less than a #3 meal at any fast food place in the country. If our show isn't worth that to you then that is okay, we are glad that you got enjoyment out of the previous shows.

All of those, btw, you can still listen to in iTunes. There are over 500 FREE episodes in iTunes of the old Croncast.

Which gets me to my next set of points. Croncast - The New York Days is something that was never free or going to be free (if we were able to begin recording again).

New York has been very difficult for us and continues to be. We have to be insanely resourceful about how we live our lives and continue pushing forward to even at base feed our family.

Croncast has allowed us to now have some savings and treat the kids to things like I dunno, shopping for fun $10 plastic toys. Betsy and I are grateful in ways that you can't imagine to all of those that have chosen to support Croncast.

Croncast costs money to produce, host and manage - even when free to listeners. We've found a way to make it sustainable with a little left over.

There is no shame in getting paid for your work. I imagine that when you go to your day job they pay you, right? And then you use that money to pay for things like food, heat and entertainment.

Croncast and podcasting in general is work. If you would never pay a podcaster then you should do them a favor and stop listening or watching. They're doing you a favor by entertaining you for free. And in turn when they look to you to help support their efforts you choose to get in their face and tell them that you have a right to it for free, even if you have to pirate it. That my friend is shameful.

We work hard to produce our podcast, put in long hours and are grateful to those have come along for the ride while crank out The New York Days. The shows are better than ever and we are having more fun doing the shows. I never thought that would be possible.

Betsy (who is now over my shoulder at this point) and myself are sorry to see you go. We wish you the best in your life. Thanks for listening for all those years.

Cheers,

K and B.

Wow. I appreciate the long response. I think its just how charging for a podcast seems to be against the spirit of the whole medium. It basically indicates that podcasting has failed. That its not self sustaining and can't make money off of advertising.

When a podcast is free i think that as listeners everyone feels so lucky to get all the free entertainment. Almost all listeners know they are getting something of value without charge. That makes us feel like we are your friends. That you have invited us over to be part of the conversation. But you wouldnt charge your friends to come over. The illusion is shattered. Now we feel like its a service and not a friendship and instead of feeling greatful, now we feel you owe us content and with every show we have to think "did i get my money's worth?." Its such a change for the worse in the listener/podcaster relationship. I know why you have to do it to keep recording, but that sort of money adds up. The same reason that you have to do it is probably the same reason many of your listeners wont be able to follow you anymore. :(

I must have sounded harsh in my previous comment, from january, but i think it reflects how most people think. You can definitely charge for a thing that has never been free, but its hard or impossible to get many people to pay for something that once was free, even if the pay version is enhanced. So many times I have seen websites try to turn content into a for-pay model that burns away all good will. It allways left a bad taste in my mouth.
Well i would like to get cool, but i just cant add another bill to the pile in these economic times. I think i may be out of a job soon myself. I think back in 2005 you would have been against this sort of business model. I watched podcasting grow, and then stagnate and shrink. I think seeing croncast charge just feels like the end of a really amazing era that i didn't want to see go.