How can podcasting help you to establish credibility and craft an authentic personal brand?

Our guest podcaster is Christine Gritmon, host of Let's Talk About Brand.

After building "a fantastic audience of peers" who weren't hiring her for social media strategy but wanted to develop their own personal brands, Christine pivoted her focus—a decision that transformed her business.

With a journalist's curiosity she now delves into the stories behind successful personal brands, particularly fascinated by "the person before the person I see before me today."

Christine talks about how podcasting can build your reputation even when nobody's listening. "People do look at the fact that you have a podcast, even if they don't listen to it," she explains. The medium provides proof that you can engage in unscripted, intelligent conversation about your area of expertise—a powerful demonstration of knowledge that written content alone can't provide. For independent creators struggling with the feeling of "shouting into the void," this perspective offers a refreshing reframe.

The episode also introduces the concept of "value exchange" as a new framework for understanding creator–audience relationships beyond simple transactions. Through platforms like TrueFans, creators deliver content value while audiences reciprocate with both financial support (micropayments, subscriptions) and engagement (comments, sharing).

In the wider world, we touch on the Ear Worthy Awards for independent podcasters, what Spotify do with your show art, Secure RSS and three simple ways to get your podcast featured on the TrueFans home page.

Here's some of what you'll hear in this episode:

• Even when download numbers aren't impressive, having a podcast builds credibility and associates your name with your area of expertise
• Podcasting demonstrates your ability to have intelligent, unscripted conversations that showcase your knowledge
• Podcasting offers creative freedom that allows creators to experiment and evolve their content according to their own vision
• Using tools like Descript can streamline the editing process while preserving the natural character of conversations
• Sam introduces the concept of "value exchange" to frame TrueFans as a platform where creators deliver content value and fans reciprocate with both tangible and intangible support
• New industry developments include Spotify's shift to 16:9 cover art and Secure RSS technology for combined premium and freemium podcast content
• Independent podcasters can now purchase featured placements on the TrueFans home page
• The Ear Worthy Awards nominees for indie podcasters have been announced

Discover how podcasting offers unparalleled creative freedom while building your professional credibility, and learn about new opportunities for independent creators to boost their visibility through TrueFans' featured placements.

Listen to Let's Talk About Brand here

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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.

Listen to Watts on Your Screen here

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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.

Listen to In Ten Years Time here

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Music: How It Is from Ketsa Music

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Read: Creators Blog

Recommendations: Creators Podroll