I am going to express my honest and bitter opinion as a regular, average listener and not someone directly or indirectly involved with the subject of ufology.
I have a doctorate in mechanical engineering and I was always fascinated with the subject of alien life in the Universe as well as with all major scientific questions and unknowns. I consider this subject to be a field of scientific research and not an opportunity for new-age mental ill people to use for their delusions instead of seeking psychiatric therapy. As a result, I've been listening to Paracast ever since it started because it takes the subject seriously and tries to find good guests who do follow the scientific method in their attempt to resolve this mystery. But it is not the only podcast I listen because many other subjects interest me. Therefore, If I was to pay a subscription for every single podcast I listen then I would need to have two jobs to support my habit.
I am not willing to pay any subscription fee because, in my own personal opinion, the podcast platform is not and was never meant to be a business opportunity. Podcasts are a cheap and easy way for all kinds of people to express their opinions and talk about subjects of particular interest to them. This platform has grown and today there are some very high quality podcasts out there with very interesting discussions and important guests, all for free. Why would I pay for a podcast about a subject which is controversial and unfortunately pursued by all kinds of crazy people who know nothing about true research other than writing books mostly based on fiction in order to make some easy money, people who are mostly uneducated scam artists?
Paracast is indeed trying to do a serious job in this field but one cannot have a weekly podcast inviting the same 2 or 3 serious people who are actually doing real research and they do not suffer from hallucinations or delusions of personal high importance for the future of our planet and the universe. I pay 10 euros per month for Netflix and that gives me hours of programming available to me on a daily basis. So, in comparison, even a dollar for a weekly podcast on such a subject and guests one cannot really trust is too much in my opinion. Perhaps some people who are deeply involved in this field think it is impossible not to get their weekly dose of Paracast but I believe that they do not represent the vast majority of listeners who, apparently, did not even bother to vote, unless Paracast reaches less than 100 people in which case making money out of them is meaningless.
Also, I do not understand the rational behind someone doing a weekly podcast who expects to make a living out of it. For someone to make a living out of presenting information on a weekly basis in today's competitive and information overloaded world he must do high quality professional work based on his personal or a team's extensive research work. And this is not Paracast or any other podcast I am aware of for that matter. I have to say that I was surprised when I realised that the people who make Paracast want to make money out of this and made changes which resulted in a podcast of lower quality than the past and full of very silly advertisements which obviously target the less intelligent people out there I do not associate with typical Paracast listeners. I understand that the people behind Paracast may have financial difficulties and employment problems but a podcast is not the platform for someone to make a living and any attempt to do so will certainly fail. The subject of ufology is a passion for a few people and I think that this is how Paracast started. If for whatever reason it cannot continue as a passion and love for a strange subject because the producers have financial problems or other concerns then it should terminate. Asking for money or inserting humiliating for the listeners ads is not the solution, it is simply a slow depressing death of a once great podcast.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk
There are numerous podcasts out there who are accessed only via a subscription. In fact, that is becoming relatively common nowadays except for very new start-ups or people pursuing the podcast purely as a labor of love or a hobby. Here are some successful examples:
1. MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE is a prime example of 2-3 guys making a living simply from doing their podcast. They do extensive research to prepare for each episode. Most of the time there is no guest. The show is a sort of audio paranormal newspaper. They provide free content and exceptional additional shows and extended shows by subscription. Although I no longer subscribe, if someone were to ask me for ONE SHOW to subscribe to, it would definitely be MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE.
2. MYSTERIOUS MATTERS is by subscription and claims to be an award winning podcast (there are awards for podcasts?).
3. VERITAS - gives half the episode free and then you pay for the rest
4. RED ICE - gives half the episode free and then you pay for the rest
5. JIM HAROLD - has made a success with subscriptions. I once subscribed and he has a TON of content for the subscriber in various categories.
6. DREAMLAND - gives half the episode free and then you pay for the rest
7. COAST TO COAST - Radio Broadcast with subscription to 4-5 years of archived shows. Around $6 a month.
8. PARATOPIA (which is probably a sore subject around here). That podcast ended only because the 2 hosts grew tired of it and felt they had nothing further to say. It began free but became subscription only with a by-episode purchase option. The 2 hosts still do an occasional episode available for purchase singularly.
Of course, there are still excellent free podcasts out there like OPEN MINDS and THE UNEXPLAINED by Howard Hughes. There are many others popping up. I agree that there still are a lot of free shows of very high quality on the internet. I can only surmise that such shows are hosted or managed by people with deep pockets so that an income from the podcast is not necessary. In Gene's case, I believe it is necessary, so going to a subscription only service makes sense.
My central point is that the internet is always in a state of flux. You can't make a proclamation about the true nature of podcasts and expect it to stick.
As for serious content, how can you keep a show going on "serious" content nowadays,. when even MUFON has given up on that viewpoint because it bores most people?
Big Secret: For the general public, UFOs and the paranormal are ENTERTAINMENT.
As you noted, how many guests can you find doing serious research except on cases that may be 50 or more years old. If I have to hear about Rendlesham and Roswell one more time, I may become violent like a Trump supporter.
I honestly don't know how a podcast can book a guest every week if the guest must be some sort of credentialed "serious" researcher. Where are you going to find them? As a marketing strategy, I just don't see how it can work. You want to know the biggest selling book on the paranormal and UFO's right now? David Wilcock's THE ASCENSION MYSTERIES.
)