cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/25642646
So I’ve run my own show for just about ten years now. We’ve never had ads or sponsorships of any kind other than a Patreon plug at the very end.
When I go out into the world and listen to other podcasts I’m perpetually annoyed at the lengthy, frequent ad-breaks. I don’t mind being reminded to engage or click on their link or go to a show’s Ko-Fi page, but a two minute dollar shave club or AG1 ad is just too much. And, honestly, the amount of advertising dollars some shows take makes me question their integrity just a bit. I know it might be a bit old-fashioned to think that, but I can’t help it.
What are you favorite sponsorship-free, ad-free podcasts?
CLARIFICATION EDIT: So, to clarify because it keeps coming up: I’m looking for shows with no ads and that are not on platforms that serve ads during the show in question. To me, in my mind, a podcast is an MP3, which is how I listen to them. They get downloaded and put onto an MP3 player.
I don’t watch podcasts on YouTube, and generally try to limit my time on platforms like that in general (although I find it nearly impossible to do so fully). I’m aware that some shows have ad-free versions if you access them via paid fees or behind other subscriptions models, but I’m looking for truly ad-free MP3 audio experiences. Thanks for all the recs so far! I’ve already compiled quite a list, so keep 'em coming!
I’ve recently came across SRSLY Wrong after Cory Doctorow shared about their Library Socialism 3 part series.
It has no ads, but they have several sketches that are parody ads that relate to the topics they discuss each episode.
Simon Whistler has a few, though they have sponsors.
What i have found is that if i use my vpn when downloading , some countries dont have active ads for the podcasts i listen to so it just downloads without. All i hear is a fade out and 3 sec silence and then fades back to the show
Do remember which countries?
Im usually on a Swiss vpn and i know that atleast the uk podcast , Ukraine the latest, get the ads removed.
This is like asking, “What are some good books?” Are people here really so guileless that they’re listening to podcasts simply because they have no ads? I don’t get it. You could give me 100 ad-free football podcasts and I’m not listening to any of them because I’m not interested in football.
You know what I like? People talking passionately about stuff they like. I also don’t like ads. It’s not that hard to figure out, not sure why you’re coming in so hot.
Hearing people with passion explain things they’re knowledgeable about is fun, enlightening, and interesting to me. Sue me.
While I’m at it, got any book recommendations?
Big, if true. Not even being snarky. I wish I were so open-minded. There are just some things (indeed, lots of them) that I will never be interested in.
I don’t know if it’s open-minded per se, I just like people having good discussion. Like I don’t give a shit about astrophysics, but I’ll listen to an astrophysicist explain what excites him all day. I listen to my SO gush about fountain pens all the time, but have no interest in them whatsoever. If I only listened to things I had a pre-existing interest in then I’d never discover anything new to enjoy.
One of the podcasts someone recommended in this thread is just two dudes dunking on Alex Jones. I don’t give a shit about Alex Jones, he seems like a dirtbag. But listening to them dunk on him is hilarious!
Come to think of it, there are one or two podcasts I stick with partly because I like the sound of the host’s voice. So perhaps you’re on to something after all.
I’m part of a podcast and we also do not have any adverts or sponsorship. We sell merch and we have a ko-fi account which we mention once per episode (if we remember to lol).
Subject matter is um…kind of niche though I suspect.
fits right into my society tab, sounds wild.
Popping back in to say that this is a really good show! Going right into the regular rotation, thanks for doing what you do.
Thank you! We don’t know what the fuck we’re doing half the time - but to be honest, maybe thats a good thing. Super professional presentation does turn me off a bit.
Boonta Vista. Comedy podcast out of Australia. No agenda.
Chapo Traphouse. Comedy political show out of USA. Leftist.
TrueAnon. Political show out of USA. Leftist.
QAA Podcast. Studies conspiratorial thinking and is genuinely pretty funny. Anti-capitalist.
Friendly Atheist Podcast (I think this has no ads, but I subscribed to the Patreon when I was only reading the blog and may be wrong). Focus on religious bullshittery in politics and such in USA. Pretty liberal for my taste, but when Jess shuts up about politics it’s otherwise fine. Hemet is great at sticking to the topic at hand: freedom from religion.
Some of this is right in my wheelhouse. Thanks for the recs!
I cannot more highly recommend a pod called NeverPost. It’s kind of like an audio magazine about the internet and it is great. They mention their bonus tier every episode but there’s no normal ads
