It used to be that podcast downloads were the main data point podcasters would use to track their growth. The thinking was, get X amount of downloads per month and sponsors will jump at you with wallets full of cash. While that may have been the way back in the day, today's success metrics looks a lot different when it comes to podcast success. In this special live recording of In & Around Podcasting from PodSummit YYC 2024 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Danny is joined by Kattie Laur and Tim Truax to talk about how you can take advantage of them, and reframe your thinking and discussion around monetization and sponsorship. Takeaways: The podcasting industry is evolving, and metrics should extend beyond just downloads. Engaged listeners are more valuable than sheer download numbers when seeking sponsorships. Indie podcasters should focus on local sponsorships to create meaningful monetization opportunities. Understanding your audience's engagement can help shape your content and sponsorship strategies. Value for value models allow listeners to support creators without traditional sponsorships. Experimenting with different ad formats can improve listener retention and engagement rates. Companies mentioned in this episode: Bumper Captivate Apple Spotify Acast Douglas AG1 Buy Me a Coffee North Bay Echo Canadaland Our guest co-hosts this week: Kattie Laur Kattie Laur is an award-winning, freelance podcast producer and writer based in Brantford, Ontario. She has a life-long love of public radio, and has been clinging to the podcasting space since 2013. As both a professional and independent podcast creator, Kattie’s insights have her keenly focused on making the Canadian podcasting ecosystem sustainable, equitable and world-renowned. Kattie writes the biweekly newsletter for the Canadian podcasting ecosystem, Pod the North. Pod the North’s regular readers include many media excutives from the likes of CBC Podcasts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She is currently also working on her debut podcast, Canardian, in association with her newsletter coming Spring 2024. Kattie's Website @podthenorth on Instagram @PodKatt on X Kattie on YouTube Links to interesting things from this episode PodSummit: Canada's Podcast Event Funding Opportunities - ISO-BEA SCOOP: A look at the Canadian podcast sponsorship economy. Are hyperlocal podcast networks replacing local media? In & Around Podcasting is a podcast industry podcast started by Mark Asquith and Danny Brown and now hosted by Elsie Escobar and Rob Walch, continuing its mission as an industry show that belongs to the whole community. If you enjoy the show, we'd love for you to leave us a rating or review on your favourite podcast app! You can also drop us a tip at https://www.inandaroundpodcasting.com/support, too! If you're an independent creator who would like to co-host with us, please let us know via Twitter and we'll get you booked! Please tell your friends that the show is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, plus wherever else they may listen to their podcasts. If you'd like your podcast trailer featuring in our "Wave File" segment, submit it via this quick contact form, please. The podcast is also available at In & Around Podcasting. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy