[clemsen]

In Germany many podcasts use Flattr.com (http://flattr.com/) as a form of microdonations. While this service can be used for basically anything that has a website, podcasts tend to make up a significant portion of the flattrs, it seems. Interestingly in the US sponsored podcasts seem to be dominant, while in Germany the ad-free and donation based form (or funded by public radio) is probably the majority.

Does anybody know the reason why microdonations never really gained traction in the US?

[freehunter]

Just curious, which German podcasts do you listen to? I'm struggling to keep my German skills up, and while I have a handful of German podcasts, most of them are geared towards people learning German, not people who just want to hear the language as it is spoken.

[clemsen]

Here are some recommendations:

* "Küchenradio" one of the oldest German podcasts. The authors visit and interview people or interesting places, or just talk, mainly around Berlin. The podcast is uncut even in interview situatons. (http://www.kuechenstud.io/kuechenradio/)

* Basically all podcasts from Metaebene. Especially "Freakshow" (the team talks about technology and apple etc.), "CRE2 (very long (2-3h) interviews about technology, culture and society), and "Fokus Europa" (about Europe). The Author Tim Pritlove is probably Germany's most famous podcaster. (http://metaebene.me/podcasts/)

* "Sanft und Sorgfältig". The weekly radio show of comedian Jan Böhmermann and musician Olli Schulz, talking about the week and various other subjects. (http://www.radioeins.de/archiv/podcast/zwei_alte_hasen.html)

* "Das ARD Radiofeature". In depth documentation for public radio stations about various topics. Well produced. (http://www.ard.de/home/radio/das_ARD_radiofeature/272100/ind...)

[freehunter]

Freakshow ist ganz toll, aber sehr lange. Vier stunden? Yikes!

Vielen Dank!

[jccalhoun]

Flattr never really took off but I don't know why. Patreon is taking off. Practically every podcast I listen to uses it.

One reason why ad-based is the more common model is that in the USA we are more used to ad-supported media than pay-only commercial-free? I know I have heard some podcasters say that they have gotten comments from UK listeners that it sounds weird to the UK listeners to have the host read ads. In the USA this is a common thing on radio (they will have pre-recorded radio but then have the host actually read other commercials as well).

But that is all just me guessing.