Thanks to Our First Patrons and Sleep With Me Plus Tour Tangent | Bonus Show

Retrospective

 

900 Numbers

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/the-30-weirdest-1-900-numbers-from-the-80s

https://priceonomics.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-1-900-number/

https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/weird-1-900-numbers

 

Discord

https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2022/05/17/how-discord-became-the-center-the-universe-gamers

https://www.protocol.com/discord

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-discord-went-from-gaming-everything-story-15b-app-wishpond

 

Tragedy of the Commons

https://earth.org/what-is-tragedy-of-the-commons/

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tragedy-of-the-commons.asp

https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/tragedy-of-the-commons-impact-on-sustainability-issues

 

Podcasting Economics

https://www.marketplace.org/2023/12/06/after-the-podcast-industry-boom-and-bust-whats-next/

https://htmm.medium.com/wondery-the-economics-behind-podcasting-35153360a6df

https://smartasset.com/career/the-economics-of-podcasting

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

This is a surprise bonus episode

A tribute to the first 300 people who supported the show

 

Deep Dark Night United

n/a

 

PLUGS

n/a

 

SPONSORS

n/a

 

INTRO

I’ve been making this show for 10 years

This intro developed organically

My long form of talking about Sleep With Me Plus

The ultimate SWM experience is different for each listener

Most people listen linearly to the ad-supported version

I wish it could exist for free with no ads, but alas not now

Maybe you relate to some of these listening methods

“Sleep With Me? Whatever” – that’s fine!

Listeners have taught me to get out of all or nothing thinking

An actual plug for Sleep With Me Plus

We designed the bonus content around Patreon

But now we can channel the bonus content in ways that listeners actually want

Podcast as Sleep Service

Sleepy Dull Service

1-900-SWM

And now the Referral Program means you can get SWM+ for free

You can also gift subscriptions!

Some people don’t want music or don’t want the stories

If you listen all night long, the best way is surely SWM+ 

You can make your own playlists

And you get access to the archives

Everything is in its own feed

The Bonus Content Feed

There’s also the SWM Discord community

A lot of people prefer to lurk, and that’s fine

Or maybe you really love this firehose feed

We didn’t even realize there were gaps in the archive until we could look through SWM+

We’re looking for people to sign up

There’s a one week free trial

We still highly recommend Pocketcast

Or use Pocketcast exclusively for SWM!

Please sign up for the trial

We went through this before with Patreon, and we can do it again

This really is about the future of the show

We really need those all-night listeners and international listeners

If 1 out of 100 people signed up, we could do SWM in another language once a month, easy

This was a long-winded intro, but yeah we can do this!

 

STORY

I’m gonna change this up in the moment

I normally record the episode in modules

Some behind the scenes lingo

Before 2021, we recorded the show one way

2 styles of recording days

Episode recording day

I use the Thank You as a vocal warmup

It helps me get into SWM mindset

The episode is recorded 3 to 4 months in advance

But it should sound totally spontaneous

I can’t fathom how I used to do this while also working a full time job

My daughter started high school 2.5 years ago

It’s kind of far from me

So I work at a coworking space instead on the days I drive her to school

In the past, I’d record 5 days a week

The goal used to be recording 2.5 episodes per week

Life’s always happening outside of the podcast

I don’t have an office there, I just use their cafe tables

So I can’t record episodes there

Today is a Monday

Story portions can take up to 2 hours to record

I have to work a little more on the weekend with this new model, but that’s okay

It’s been kind of a quiet time for support

Let’s look at the first people who supported the show back in 2016

Maybe this could be an episode?

My brother Ted was the first person to sing up

Judith was #2 – I remember her fondly

Julie C, who is a nod-erator and introduced me to “friends beyond the binary”

MaryBeth

Michael – still a patron

Jean

Millstone

Jennifer D, for 4 months

My mom

Madison, still a patron

Either my brother or my Dad

Vicky, for 3 years

Karen, still a patron

Grant, a patron for 5 years

Gene, for 10 months

The average SWM patron lasts for 18 months

Danielle, for 2 years

Colleen, for 3 years

Amanda, for 4.5 years

RJ, for 4 years

Mike, for 3 years

Sen, still a patron

Joe, still a patron

Bonnie

Some patrons’ cards decline, which is an issue with Patreon

Jen W, thanks for still supporting

Joseph, still

Summer, Stacy – very involved in the FB group

Cole, for about a year

Angie

Jenny is still a patron

Dawanna

Claudia

Julie G – a very active listener

Katherine, still

Mary

Cheryl Lynn

Laura, Jasmine, Ray, Geraldine, Marcy, David, Amanda, Sandy

I think half of this first 40 still listen to the show

Most people move on, which is also cool

Dalton, Sarah, etc

Miriam, still active

Nicole, still patron

Ada, still

Kim, Sarah, Annie, Michelle, Brandon

I’ve met Allie H at a live show

Betsy, Maureen C, Mikel, Heather, Andrea

Linda, still a patron

Nancy, Mary, Michelle R, Sarah, Christine, Kerry

Jen, still active

Melanie, Amy, Carolina, Deborah, Sarah N, Tasmin, Trish, Scott R, Robin, Nancy

Steve S – holy cow

Bonnie M, Rory, Sharon, JD, Anya

Alison, still a patron

JB, Jennifer, my sister-in-law Julie

Kit, still supporting

Patricia, SY, Jennifer, Michelle, Melissa

Colleen, still a patron

Now we’re in Day 2 of Patreon launch

I was just working nonstop in the early days

I basically wanted the money to pay Posty

Robert, Margaret, Kimblerly, Alexandra

Jennifer G

Sean M

Wow, so many still-current patrons

I did a lot of research before diving into Patreon

Most people assume you make money podcasting, but that’s not true

Sure, let’s talk sponsors and money now

Most people passively consume

It’s very difficult to get 0.5% of regular listeners to be a patron

I’m not good with numbers, but trust me

If we were at 5% of listeners, we could really flourish and expand

Sponsorship is a really difficult way to make consistent money

It needs to be a mix of advertising and direct support

We’ve had wilder swings in our sponsorship income

It’s hard to be consistent

If you support the show and listen, it does help

Truly anybody that helps is incredible

A lot of podcasters still have dayjobs

Back to the list

Daniel, still a patron

Vesna, my friend!

Adam, Kit, Louise

Lori S, still a Patron

I remember Edward and Esme

Vanna, Kathy, Jill

Margot V, still a patron

Josh, David, Michael, Autumn, Rachel, Barth, Allyson, Robert, Scott

Thanks Nancy

164 is either my brother or my dad

Sterling, what’s up!

Jenny R, still a patron

Julie F, still a patron

Stanley W, still a patron!

Cynthia C, still a patron!

TRB!

Mike B, 186, thanks

Emily H

Mafeo

Michael M, with the famous name 

Amy E, 197, thank you

Melanie P, 206, thanks!

Cory S, 212, thank you!

Stewart A and Stewart B

Nathan J, 233, still a patron

Jeremy B, 237, what’s up

Becca N, 256

Alice T, 257

Kathy S, 259

Liza W, 263

Tupemara, 273

Samantha B, 284

Cindy Z, 288, thanks!

Elise S, 289

Liv, 290

Demetriou, 291

It’s weird the still-active patrons clump together

Kristen H, 299

Kate, 305

Fay, 307

I’m not sure if we ever got to paying Posty for 8 episodes a month

Then we found Karl W to also help

My big mistake with Patreon support

Credit Card Processing took a big chunk out of it

Then I started feeling impostor syndrome

There’s always people who are willing to dunk on the podcast

It’s normal that people don’t like change

People going through stuff would take out their ire on me

My job isn’t to directly react to the pushback

I lowered the entry fee to $1, which was a futile attempt

No matter the price, the same people will support the show

I went against the research and followed my 

A single $1 charge is honestly more annoying for people

I want the show to be something of real value for the listeners

Julie C and Stacy and others encouraged me to value myself more and raise the price

I shouldn’t have let my fear get in my own way

That $1 ask set the show back for a while

It just felt important to acknowledge these people

All I can do is be here for you

I wouldn’t be here without you

Thanks and goodnight

 

PATREON THANKS

n/a

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1,222a

Title: Thanks to Our First Patrons and Sleep With Me Plus Tour Tangent | Bonus Show

Deep Dark Night United: n/a

Plugs: n/a

Sponsors: n/a

Patreon Thanks: n/a

Notable Language:

• Listen Linearly
• Sleepy Dull Service
• Firehose Feed

 

Notable Culture:

• Sleep With Me Plus

• Patreon
• 1-900-SWM
• Discord
• Pocketcast

 

Notable Talking Points:

• I’ve been making this show for 10 years
• This intro developed organically
• My long form of talking about Sleep With Me Plus
• The ultimate SWM experience is different for each listener
• Most people listen linearly to the ad-supported version
• I wish it could exist for free with no ads, but alas not now
• Maybe you relate to some of these listening methods
• “Sleep With Me? Whatever” – that’s fine!
• Listeners have taught me to get out of all or nothing thinking
• An actual plug for Sleep With Me Plus
• We designed the bonus content around Patreon
• But now we can channel the bonus content in ways that listeners actually want
• Podcast as Sleep Service
• Sleepy Dull Service
• 1-900-SWM
• And now the Referral Program means you can get SWM+ for free
• You can also gift subscriptions!
• Some people don’t want music or don’t want the stories
• If you listen all night long, the best way is surely SWM+ 
• You can make your own playlists
• And you get access to the archives
• Everything is in its own feed
• The Bonus Content Feed
• There’s also the SWM Discord community
• A lot of people prefer to lurk, and that’s fine
• Or maybe you really love this firehose feed
• We didn’t even realize there were gaps in the archive until we could look through SWM+
• We’re looking for people to sign up
• There’s a one week free trial
• We still highly recommend Pocketcast
• Or use Pocketcast exclusively for SWM!
• Please sign up for the trial
• We went through this before with Patreon, and we can do it again
• This really is about the future of the show
• We really need those all-night listeners and international listeners
• If 1 out of 100 people signed up, we could do SWM in another language once a month, easy
• This was a long-winded intro, but yeah we can do this!
• I’m gonna change this up in the moment
• I normally record the episode in modules
• Some behind the scenes lingo
• Before 2021, we recorded the show one way
• 2 styles of recording days
• Episode recording day
• I use the Thank You as a vocal warmup
• It helps me get into SWM mindset
• The episode is recorded 3 to 4 months in advance
• But it should sound totally spontaneous
• I can’t fathom how I used to do this while also working a full time job
• My daughter started high school 2.5 years ago
• It’s kind of far from me
• So I work at a coworking space instead on the days I drive her to school
• In the past, I’d record 5 days a week
• The goal used to be recording 2.5 episodes per week
• Life’s always happening outside of the podcast
• I don’t have an office there, I just use their cafe tables
• So I can’t record episodes there
• Today is a Monday
• Story portions can take up to 2 hours to record
• I have to work a little more on the weekend with this new model, but that’s okay
• It’s been kind of a quiet time for support
• Let’s look at the first people who supported the show back in 2016
• Maybe this could be an episode?
• My brother Ted was the first person to sing up
• Judith was #2 – I remember her fondly
• Julie C, who is a nod-erator and introduced me to “friends beyond the binary”
• MaryBeth
• Michael – still a patron
• Jean
• Millstone
• Jennifer D, for 4 months
• My mom
• Madison, still a patron
• Either my brother or my Dad
• Vicky, for 3 years
• Karen, still a patron
• Grant, a patron for 5 years
• Gene, for 10 months
• The average SWM patron lasts for 18 months
• Danielle, for 2 years
• Colleen, for 3 years
• Amanda, for 4.5 years
• RJ, for 4 years
• Mike, for 3 years
• Sen, still a patron
• Joe, still a patron
• Bonnie
• Some patrons’ cards decline, which is an issue with Patreon
• Jen W, thanks for still supporting
• Joseph, still
• Summer, Stacy – very involved in the FB group
• Cole, for about a year
• Angie
• Jenny is still a patron
• Dawanna
• Claudia
• Julie G – a very active listener
• Katherine, still
• Mary
• Cheryl Lynn
• Laura, Jasmine, Ray, Geraldine, Marcy, David, Amanda, Sandy
• I think half of this first 40 still listen to the show
• Most people move on, which is also cool
• Dalton, Sarah, etc
• Miriam, still active
• Nicole, still patron
• Ada, still
• Kim, Sarah, Annie, Michelle, Brandon
• I’ve met Allie H at a live show
• Betsy, Maureen C, Mikel, Heather, Andrea
• Linda, still a patron
• Nancy, Mary, Michelle R, Sarah, Christine, Kerry
• Jen, still active
• Melanie, Amy, Carolina, Deborah, Sarah N, Tasmin, Trish, Scott R, Robin, Nancy
• Steve S – holy cow
• Bonnie M, Rory, Sharon, JD, Anya
• Alison, still a patron
• JB, Jennifer, my sister-in-law Julie
• Kit, still supporting
• Patricia, SY, Jennifer, Michelle, Melissa
• Colleen, still a patron
• Now we’re in Day 2 of Patreon launch
• I was just working nonstop in the early days
• I basically wanted the money to pay Posty
• Robert, Margaret, Kimblerly, Alexandra
• Jennifer G
• Sean M
• Wow, so many still-current patrons
• I did a lot of research before diving into Patreon
• Most people assume you make money podcasting, but that’s not true
• Sure, let’s talk sponsors and money now
• Most people passively consume
• It’s very difficult to get 0.5% of regular listeners to be a patron
• I’m not good with numbers, but trust me
• If we were at 5% of listeners, we could really flourish and expand
• Sponsorship is a really difficult way to make consistent money
• It needs to be a mix of advertising and direct support
• We’ve had wilder swings in our sponsorship income
• It’s hard to be consistent
• If you support the show and listen, it does help
• Truly anybody that helps is incredible
• A lot of podcasters still have dayjobs
• Back to the list
• Daniel, still a patron
• Vesna, my friend!
• Adam, Kit, Louise
• Lori S, still a Patron
• I remember Edward and Esme
• Vanna, Kathy, Jill
• Margot V, still a patron
• Josh, David, Michael, Autumn, Rachel, Barth, Allyson, Robert, Scott
• Thanks Nancy
• 164 is either my brother or my dad
• Sterling, what’s up!
• Jenny R, still a patron
• Julie F, still a patron
• Stanley W, still a patron!
• Cynthia C, still a patron!
• TRB!
• Mike B, 186, thanks
• Emily H
• Mafeo
• Michael M, with the famous name 
• Amy E, 197, thank you
• Melanie P, 206, thanks!
• Cory S, 212, thank you!
• Stewart A and Stewart B
• Nathan J, 233, still a patron
• Jeremy B, 237, what’s up
• Becca N, 256
• Alice T, 257
• Kathy S, 259
• Liza W, 263
• Tupemara, 273
• Samantha B, 284
• Cindy Z, 288, thanks!
• Elise S, 289
• Liv, 290
• Demetriou, 291
• It’s weird the still-active patrons clump together
• Kristen H, 299
• Kate, 305
• Fay, 307
• I’m not sure if we ever got to paying Posty for 8 episodes a month
• Then we found Karl W to also help
• My big mistake with Patreon support
• Credit Card Processing took a big chunk out of it
• Then I started feeling impostor syndrome
• There’s always people who are willing to dunk on the podcast
• It’s normal that people don’t like change
• People going through stuff would take out their ire on me
• My job isn’t to directly react to the pushback
• I lowered the entry fee to $1, which was a futile attempt
• No matter the price, the same people will support the show
• I went against the research and followed my 
• A single $1 charge is honestly more annoying for people
• I want the show to be something of real value for the listeners
• Julie C and Stacy and others encouraged me to value myself more and raise the price
• I shouldn’t have let my fear get in my own way
• That $1 ask set the show back for a while
• It just felt important to acknowledge these people
• All I can do is be here for you
• I wouldn’t be here without you
• Thanks and goodnight