Episode 112
The Patreon Show
October 27, 2017 · Mike Murphy
A rundown of Patreon — what it is, who uses it, how the pledge-and-reward system works, and why Mike decided to launch his own Patreon page for the podcast.
Episode Summary: A rundown of Patreon — what it is, who uses it, how the pledge-and-reward system works, and why Mike decided to launch his own Patreon page for the podcast.
What You’ll Learn
- What Patreon is and how the creator/patron pledge system works
- Who uses Patreon: designers, musicians, podcasters, YouTubers, and more
- Why podcasters specifically gravitate toward Patreon, including private RSS feeds for patrons
- Why Mike decided to launch his own Patreon page, and what it unlocks
What Is Patreon?
Per Patreon’s own description: “Patreon is a membership platform that makes it easy for creators to get paid.” Creators sign up for a free account and build a membership page to showcase or gate content. People who find value in that work pledge a dollar amount — becoming patrons. For creators, it’s a way to get paid for work they’re already making; for patrons, it’s a way to directly support a favorite creator’s community, usually for a few dollars a month.
Who Uses Patreon?
Designers, letterers, painters, filmmakers, gamers, musicians, podcasters, vloggers, bloggers, and YouTubers.
Patreon by the Numbers (2017)
Roughly 50,000 creators and 1,000,000 active patrons per month, with an average pledge of $12 and a projected $150,000,000 paid out to creators for the year.
How Does It Work?
Free to join. Patreon takes a 5% fee plus a small processing charge, and creators only get paid once patrons do. Every Patreon page functions as an about-me/landing page — photos, video, text explaining who the creator is and what patrons can expect. The system runs on rewards: creators set up perk tiers, and patrons choose the level they want to pledge, paid via credit card or PayPal.
Why Podcasters Use Patreon
Podcasting is expensive and time-consuming to sustain, and traditional sponsorships aren’t accessible to every show. Patreon fits naturally because podcasting is fundamentally about building and nurturing a community — which is exactly what the platform is built around.
Patreon RSS feeds: patrons can get access to a private RSS feed with bonus content, subscribable in any podcast app.
Common podcaster reward ideas: MP3 downloads of episodes, PDF show notes, on-air shoutouts, promotional opportunities for patrons with their own brand/business, discounts on services, private webinars, access to live recordings, 1-on-1 calls, and coaching. Pledge tiers vary widely — most pages cluster around $1, $2, $5, $10, and $20/month, with some going up to $100+.
Other creator types lean into different rewards: illustrators offer downloadable sketches or livestreamed art sessions, YouTubers share bloopers and bonus footage, writers give early access to articles or books, and musicians let patrons hear new material first.
Mike’s Patreon Page
Available at patreon.com/mikemurphy. Honestly, Patreon didn’t initially feel like the right fit — it felt uncomfortably close to “asking for money.” But the goal has always been the same: create useful content and share knowledge that solves real problems or motivates people to go after what they want, and Patreon is simply a way to support that directly.
The starting tier is $1/month — a low-friction way for people who want to be more involved in the community to show support, unlock some locked content, get an occasional shoutout on the podcast, and Mike’s genuine thanks.
Conclusion
Patreon is an online community of creators and patrons — built to make it easier for creatives to get paid directly by the people who want them to keep making things. Used with good intention, it’s a genuinely positive, community-first model.
Questions? mike@mikemurphy.co