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I aggressively block ads and all other forms of tracking in my browser, but I have to admit that I don't generally have a problem with podcast ads. Listening to

I aggressively block ads and all other forms of tracking in my browser, but I have to admit that I don't generally have a problem with podcast ads. Listening to some podcaster blather on for a minute about some product or service at least gives me the warm fuzzy feeling that they're earning something for their efforts. More podcasters really do need to get on the premium ad-free model though. I pay money to make ads go away on a few platforms (YouTube, Spotify etc) and would gladly put my money where my mouth is and do the same for podcasts. Websites, too, if anyone can come up with a decent way to make it work - AND STOP TRACKING ME!

givinguflac 8y ago
I agree but generally avoid podcasts that are heavier in ads. As for website ads, Ars Technica has an interesting subscription that stops ads and tracking.
jeena 8y ago
I agree and also pay for YouTube, Thunderbird (donations) and a couple of podcasts (via patreon) which do not have ads. Interestingly mostly american podcasts have ads, the German and Swedish ones don't.
cortesoft 8y ago
> Listening to some podcaster blather on for a minute about some product or service at least gives me the warm fuzzy feeling that they're earning something for their efforts. You don't feel the same way about a website? What is different about podcasts? Genuinely curious, because I have a similar initial reaction but am not exactly sure why.
- pavel_lishin 8y ago
  I'm not the person you're asking, but most websites offload the ads to a different service on a different server. It's the difference between your favorite podcast performer reading some copy, and a movie on TV fading out to showcase the great deals at Luke's Honda Dealership & Taco Shop Come On Down For The Tastiest Deals In Town. It also strongly indicates that the podcast author has vetted the ads, and is at least implicitly approving of the product; on the web, it's very likely that the author has absolutely no idea what ads are being shown to their visitors.

givinguflac 8y ago

I agree but generally avoid podcasts that are heavier in ads. As for website ads, Ars Technica has an interesting subscription that stops ads and tracking.

jeena 8y ago

I agree and also pay for YouTube, Thunderbird (donations) and a couple of podcasts (via patreon) which do not have ads. Interestingly mostly american podcasts have ads, the German and Swedish ones don't.

cortesoft 8y ago

> Listening to some podcaster blather on for a minute about some product or service at least gives me the warm fuzzy feeling that they're earning something for their efforts. You don't feel the same way about a website? What is different about podcasts? Genuinely curious, because I have a similar initial reaction but am not exactly sure why.

pavel_lishin 8y ago
I'm not the person you're asking, but most websites offload the ads to a different service on a different server. It's the difference between your favorite podcast performer reading some copy, and a movie on TV fading out to showcase the great deals at Luke's Honda Dealership & Taco Shop Come On Down For The Tastiest Deals In Town. It also strongly indicates that the podcast author has vetted the ads, and is at least implicitly approving of the product; on the web, it's very likely that the author has absolutely no idea what ads are being shown to their visitors.