🧐 Frequently Asked Questions

It’s mostly answers.

Our mission is to create efficient ways for people to support and connect with creators.

With that in mind we worked backwards from the outcome of mutual benefit to what we’re progressively building.

🎧 Quick overview.

1. Lenny is dedicated to helping the podcast ecosystem in the most fair and effective way possible.
2. Your support is split between the top 4 podcasts you have chosen that have opted-in to the platform.
3. No supporting payment will be taken until at least one of your chosen podcasts has opted in. We’ll notify the creators you’ve chosen that they have an enthusiastic listener!
4. When one or more does, your subscription will be un-paused and the support payment will be taken within 28 days.
5. The support amount (usually $4) is split between the podcasts that you have chosen AND have opted in — if 1 then $4 per month, if 2 then $2 each, if 3 then $1.33 and if 4 then $1. These amounts from supporters to podcast creators accumulate until the individual creators request the balance to be paid out.
6. Lenny doesn’t represent or promote any podcast creators without their expressed. It’s an unbiased method for listeners to support podcasts and for creators to receive listener support.

What do you get for a monthly subscription?

• A thank you message from the Podcast Creators you’re supporting
• Podcasts can choose how they reward you. Some have merch discounts, chat communities or ad-free feeds
• You get more of what you already enjoy! A more financially sustainable podcast means the hosts can keep make the show for you.

Why contribute to podcast creators?

• It make a big difference to creators, every show has costs.
• You’re investing in future episodes from the people you enjoy listening to.
• Be part of what we’re building for listener and creators.

Is this a new podcast app?

• No. Listen where you listen now. Lenny is a web app that manages payments and handles all the necessary podcast data.

Prefer ads?

• Most podcasts don’t have the option to make money from ads. If the shows you listen to run ads then they’re doing better than the rest.
• Lenny helps you support your favourite podcasts who can’t make revenue form ads.

Why “Lenny”?

• Because of Lenny Bruce. A US comedian and satirist.
• Lenny Bruce paved the way for outspoken counterculture-era comedians, and his trial for obscenity is seen as a landmark for freedom of speech in the United States.

Why build it?

• We made it to be another way Listeners can support Creators. Current options don’t do the job for all the Listeners and other services will be better for some Listeners or podcast Creators. Like Musicians having options we wanted to give podcast creators another one too.

Is Lenny.fm a business?

• Yes. We’re a mission driven business to build efficient products that work for creators and audiences.
• 90% goes to creators, 10% fee. That’s for us to cover costs and keep developing so more people can support creators efficiently.
• Ad agencies charge ~50%, other subscription platforms are between 8 and 30%.
• Creators are notified when they start receiving contributions and are paid on request. We use Stripe mostly to handle the transactions.

What’s ahead?

• Thanks for asking! Plenty ahead, especially as things are new and we’re getting started. More features, better product.

What about privacy?

• Private. We’re only interested in helping people support and contribute to creators. In the future we’re planning some opt-in features. But for now it’s all clean lines.

Who makes it?

• Three people in Melbourne, Australia. One podcast producer and three developers. Dan’s in London.

There’s me, Courtney! Picking up some kids furniture.