[scolson]

Of course unlimited free trials are subsidized by paid customers. It is a marketing cost and is baked in to the CAC figure that every SaaS should known and understand.

The trick isn't removing free trials, or changing unlimited to limited. Instead, the trick is to find the sweet spot between costing as little as possible while offering enough functionality that someone can actually figure out if it might be worthwhile for their use without giving them too much that they never pay. It strikes me that the OP was too far to one end of the spectrum--knowing their demographic as they were hoping to, they offered a trial that was bigger than the average podcaster would ever use. Where is the incentive to convert if you can get what you need for free?

While I would never presume to know the OPs business like they do, from a strictly personal standpoint, I find great utility in the unlimited-time aspect if budgeted appropriately.