[…] being able to say, “wherever you get your podcasts” is a radical statement. Because what it represents is the triumph of exactly the kind of technology that’s supposed to be impossible: open, empowering tech that’s not owned by any one company, that can’t be controlled by any one company, and that allows people to have ownership over their work and their relationship with their audience.
What podcasting holds in the promise of its open format is the proof that an open web can still thrive and be relevant, that it can inspire new systems that are similarly open to take root and grow.
I agree and have similar hopes for the future of podcasting, and the open web at large. The issues I see out there is that the funding for the majority of podcasters I listen to comes from Patreon support.
I like the concept of Patreon, but dislike how essential it has become to the podcaster’s livelihood. The only alternatives seem to be to sign with platforms like Spotify, or, in the case of blog writing, Substack. Obviously, I don’t consider these to be better alternatives to Patreon.
I’ve been wondering for a few years now how to create a better alternative to Patreon that is closer to the sentiments echoed in the business model of Nebula or some sort of nonprofit or community driven alternative to Patreon as it has basically just become a corporate middle man between podcasters (and content creators as a whole).
The RSS feed has been the greatest boon left to the internet by the saint, Aaron Swartz. But how to financially support the creators of these pieces of media on a decentralized platform eludes me. I just know relying on a singular entity like Patreon is probably not sustainable in the long term.
The problem with Nebula is that it is a paywall, something that is considered to be the most evil by some on Lemmy.
At the end of the day, content is paid for by getting everyone to pay, asking some to pay, advertising, or the creator is willing to do it for free as a hobby.
Nebula is a creator run coop, I believe. I’m happy to pay for that, and do.