So October is pledge drive for the podcast. The donate button to the right has been set to go to Rob Zacny’s Paypal and not mine, and that’s how it will be for another month, though we’ll stop talking about it after this week. (Some people lag on listening, hence the time delay.)
We’ve been happy with the response so far from readers and listeners. We have a great and responsive audience, our comment section is full every week and your support is one reason why we’ve been able to get great guests and panelist this year under Rob’s hosting umbrella. So thanks to all who have donated.
But here’s the thing. Listening is up, and donations are down from last year. Lots of reasons for this, I guess. I don’t know enough about where our listeners are coming from to analyze why traffic has steadily grown from late last year and through this year to know why people are either giving less or feel less connected to the show.
I do know that times are tough and that every dollar is a luxury. And I won’t guilt anyone into donating to a show that is free and will always be free. This is, as I’ve said, a “tip your server” moment. Every week Rob and I get requests, suggestions, demands – all the things you would expect from an audience that expects quality and trusts us to deliver it. So while you can, and if you can afford it, throw what you can at the Donate button on the sidebar.
This “podcast fiscal” year, Three Moves Ahead moved from a steady panel to a series of great discussions with some our favorite British colleagues, had the first in depth breakdown of Alpha Centauri with Brian Reynolds, dealt with serious wargames in a way no other podcast does, melds the world of board and computer wargames as they should be, and had six weeks of Soren Johnson being brilliant. And I said my farewell as host, if not patron. And tomorrow’s show will be one of the rare non-strategy shows with a guest who should talk more about games.
It’s been a good year, and I’ve learned a lot from both Rob and his guests and from all of you that comment. I think Three Moves Ahead is unique in the podcast space, and our subscriptions keep growing. But it takes work and time and effort to plan, organize and schedule a show that works. This will never make a profit, and will never cost you a cent you don’t have to pay.
But now’s your chance to thank Rob, Julian, Bruce, producer Michael Hermes and myself.
Honestly, it’s better than buying me a beer later. I need to watch my weight. I can’t speak for Bruce’s weight. He looks small, but emotion has a cosmic weight.
