Revolutionising Podcasting with Sam Sethi, CEO of TrueFans and co-host of Podnews Weekly Review
- S5E258
- 1:15:17
- August 26th 2025
In this episode of the G&T Sessions, Andrew Turner interviews Sam Sethi, a veteran in the tech and media space. They discuss Sam's extensive background in the software industry, his journey through various tech companies, and his current venture, TrueFans, which aims to revolutionise podcasting through micro-payments and community engagement. The conversation delves into the evolution of podcasting, the importance of content ownership, and the future of advertising in a digital landscape. Sam shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in the podcasting industry, emphasising the need for creators to connect directly with their audiences and monetise their content effectively.
Sam Sethi is a 30 year veteran of the IT industry. He has held senior technical and marketing director roles across a number of companies including Microsoft, Netscape, Gateway Computers and Microstrategy. Sam has also been an entrepreneur having started and successfully sold 4 startups covering home automation, fashion, journalism and e-commerce. He also started TechCrunch Europe and has been an angel investor and mentor to numerous startups.
Today Sam is the co-host of Podnews Weekly Review and the Chief Evangelist of the Podcast Standards Project. He is also the Founder & CEO of TrueFans, a new Podcasting 3.0 marketplace for independent content creators producing podcasts, music, audiobooks, online courses and films, all delivered via RSS. With TrueFans, creators are not forced to monetise their content with advertising or subscription paywalls. Instead fans can directly reward their favourite content creators with digital micropayments.
Before entering the IT industry, Sam was an Army Officer in the Parachute Regiment and in his spare time enjoys teaching Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art, playing Padel as well as importing German & Austrian fine wine.
Takeaways
- Sam Sethi has a rich background in tech and media.
- TrueFans aims to create a value exchange for content creators.
- Micro-payments can revolutionise how creators earn from their content.
- The traditional download model for podcasts is becoming obsolete.
- Quality content is increasingly being recognised as valuable.
- Decentralisation is a key trend in the future of the web.
- Creators need to own their audience and content.
- Advertising models need to adapt to the changing landscape.
- The future of podcasting includes streaming technology over downloads.
- TrueFans is set to launch innovative features for podcasters.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sam Sethi and His Journey
02:38 Sam's Early Career and Experiences in Tech
05:24 The Evolution of the Web and Podcasting
08:12 Insights on Micro-Payments and Decentralisation
10:54 The Launch of TrueFans and Its Vision
13:53 The Future of Content Creation and Community Engagement
16:50 The Shift from Traditional Media to Digital Platforms
19:36 The Importance of Ownership in Content Creation
22:21 The Role of Community in Podcasting and Content Commerce
28:20 Value Exchange in Content Creation
29:32 Curating Diverse Perspectives
30:27 Understanding Listener Engagement
32:30 Innovative Advertising Models
34:46 The Future of Micro Payments
37:13 Challenges for Advertisers
39:52 Decentralisation and Community Engagement
42:02 The Shift in Content Monetisation
45:13 TrueFans: A New Value Exchange Model
47:10 Apple's Payment Control and Market Dynamics
50:54 Simplifying Micro Payments for Creators
56:39 The Evolution of Streaming Technology
59:29 Transitioning to a New Podcasting Model
01:02:10 Innovations in Podcast Hosting
01:05:49 The Future of Podcast Metrics
01:08:21 The Role of Major Platforms in Podcasting
01:11:22 Building a Sustainable Podcasting Ecosystem
Links
The G&T Sessions
We cover G = Growth from a Personal & Business perspective, as it is a fascinating and compelling topic to share stories and experiences, and T = Technology, something that is everywhere and is firmly here to stay...asking the questions about what does it mean, is it for good, how do we harness it and ensure it helps our future.
So, in the G&T Sessions Podcast, we are speaking directly to ourselves, when we were younger, not as wise as we are today, how could we know how transformative that Technology would affect the world .... And know how getting your personal growth and mindset in order, is a key building block and enabler to any organisation or business idea you want to scale.
We're going to try to take you, the audience, on a journey through the stories and lessons of gifted and talented people who have written their own personal growth stories, dealt with amazing peaks and character building valleys, but have learned and carved their own path to making their own history and future.
#Gifted #Talented.
Given Tech now integrates into so many areas of our life and many people see this as their new path for opportunity, we will also discuss Tech with our guests who are growing, advising, supporting, coaching and innovating in and around technology and so the founders, co-founders, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, leadership teams of tomorrow will know how to realise their dreams, find and unleash their own ideas to become unicorns, build new markets, new businesses & disrupt the world for the greater good.
#Growth #Tech
Andrew Turner has worked for corporates, start-ups within corporates and start-ups in UK, EMEA, USA and Asia and proud alumni of organisations including GE, SAP, Tesco, WANdisco, EE & Telefonica and now having gone plural, supporting multiple organisations on growth strategy besides spreading the word with The G&T Sessions https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamandrewjturner/
