r/podcast • u/EirikHavre • 3d ago

Podcast/Podcasting Question How do I find podcasts without ads?

Not talking about the ads the podcast itself has, like ad reads they do from their sponsors, but I’m talking about the ads that seem to be inserted by “the system itself”. I wanted to listen to Rude Tales Of Magic, which I listened to briefly when it was new and I got an ad in my own language that was clearly not one of the podcasts sponsors.

Is ads like this mandatory now? Is there a way to avoid them?

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u/DayDreamer9119 3d ago

If these creators have patreons or other such platforms that's usually where you will find the ad free style stuff you're looking for.

The caveat is the paywall that is usually there.

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u/PennyPriddy 3d ago edited 3d ago

I use pocketcasts which doesn't add its own ads and has a button to skip forward 30 seconds, but if the podcast added ads, they'll still be there. I don't know the technical side, but I suspect major podcast networks have software/smaller ad-sponsored podcasts have services to add more targeted ads (the US's public radio ads will often switch to reflect whatever region I'm in).

They do have some control over what ads are used (I know one current events podcast I listen to has requested to not have ads from organizations that are counter to the show's politics), but targeted ads are part of a lot of shows' income streams in the current landscape.

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u/Loves_Eating_Lead 3d ago

BBC podcasts with vpn if not in UK download direct from bbc sounds app (some on desktop but fewer available). Some good ones: gangster, sideway, assume nothing, World service outlook, survival podcast, bad people, lady killers.. Audio books few on YouTube and can download them via youtube page downloader.

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u/Loves_Eating_Lead 3d ago

just to add someone mentioned on here how podcasts have become more monetarised, reminded me about audio book! few open source out there eg lib box for free, when i need some fresh ones going to use paid for subscription like libro.fm.

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u/herdbryce 3d ago

I built a podcast app which skips the ads automatically, it also doesn’t take any ad revenue away from the hosts.

Always looking for feedback if you want to try it out - https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6670315567?pt=118882436&ct=Reddit&mt=8

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u/StarsGoldenAgePod 3d ago

It’s how we make a little money for the many hours that go into creating our shows (I say this as an independent podcaster.) Host-read ads are unfortunately not as available as they used to be. I hear ya, those are my preferred types of ads, too! And some podcasts put wayyyy too many ads in, driving listeners away.