Paywall Podcast - Subscription strategies for news and magazine publishers
Episodes
Why Your Newsletter is the Product
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most traditional publishers view their email list as a secondary tool, a simple vehicle used to drive traffic back to their website. Dylan Redekop, fo...
Lessons from a 50-Year Whistleblowing Legacy
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a 50-year-old brand built on whistleblowing and independent journalism has to master digital subscriptions? For Ben Moss, CEO of The...
Buffett’s $351M Publishing Bet.
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Warren Buffett just placed a $351 million bet on the New York Times, proving that the reader revenue model is the ultimate turnaround story for modern...
Escaping the Discount Trap: Why Your Promo is Killing Your Email List
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been there: a holiday hits, you need a revenue bump, and you blast a "50% Off" coupon to everyone. It feels like a win until you see the d...
Why SEO is No Longer Enough:The Rise of AI Overviews
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re diving into the "hellscape" (as we like to call it) of Google’s AI Overviews and the rise of zero-click searches. While Goo...
How Mexico News Daily Built a 100% Reader-Revenue Powerhouse
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you buy a declining news site and immediately delete every single advertisement? For Travis Bembenek, CEO and Publisher of Mexico Ne...
7 Revenue Killers That Sank a 240-Year-Old Newspaper (And How to Fix Them)
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast powered by Leaky Paywall, Pete and Tyler conduct a detailed teardown of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, analyzing ...
How to Turn Subscription Features into Benefits
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler dive into the world of subscriptions and paywalls, exploring how publishers can better communicate the benefits they o...
How to Automate Your Newsletter
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast powered by Leaky Paywall, Pete and Tyler discuss why increasing your email cadence is the secret to converting ...
Are Paid Subscriptions Worth The Customer Service Hassle?
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, Pete and Tyler give an "absolute yes", arguing that the "enormous" revenue gain far outweighs the admin work. ...
Build Confidence with Your Subscription System Using Simple Levers
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss the importance of confidence for publishers in transitioning to paid subscriptions. They explore the challenge...
The Upgrade Path: How to Nurture Subscribers to Higher Price Tiers
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss the importance of meeting customer expectations in subscription services. They explore how publishers can bett...
Will a Paywall Hurt Your Traffic from SEO, Social, and AI?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Paywall Podcast, Pete and Tyler discuss the impact of paywalls on digital publishing, addressing common misconceptions about th...
The Newsletter Flywheel: How to Build Your Email List and Convert More Readers
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler break down a simple newsletter plan that powers your flywheel. You'll learn where free registration fits, how to speak...
The Digital Tide: Mastering Magazine Publishing's Digital Shift
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, Pete interviews Wally Wallace from the design agency 50 Fish. Wally has spent years helping magazine publisher...
Case Study: List Builder vs Conversion Champ
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore a case study comparing two news publishers with similar markets but differing strategies in email list growth and paid sub...
Scaling Local: A Publisher’s 104% Subscription Playbook
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss the success of a local news publisher who has implemented a new subscription model through the Paywall Project...
Cloudflare’s Pay-Per-Crawl: Sustainable Income or Just Spare Change?
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler explore Cloudflare's new product aimed at managing AI crawlers on publisher websites. They discuss the potential impac...
The Truth About Paywall Evasion, AI, Google, and Passwords
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss the complexities of paywalls in digital publishing, focusing on the challenges of paywall evasion through AI, ...
Copy Clarity 101: Turning Scanners into Subscribers
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss the significant impact of a single word on boosting publisher registrations and the importance of simplifying ...
Revenue Roadblocks: How the Little Things on Your Website Cost You Big
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss various friction points on websites that hinder revenue generation for publishers. They explore issues such as...
From Donations to Subscriptions: How KB Independent Built a Sustainable Local News Model
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, brought to you by Leaky Paywall, Pete and Tyler explore the journey of KB Independent, a nonprofit news outlet...
How Often Should You Send Your Newsletter?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, brought to you by Leaky Paywall, Pete and Tyler discuss the critical importance of email frequency for publish...
Your First 100 Paid Subscribers (And What to Expect)
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by Leaky Paywall, Pete and Tyler discuss the strategies for news and magazine publishers to set up e...
AI-Powered LocalCalendar: How SalemReporter.com Became the Go-To Events Destination
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discuss the implementation and impact of a local events calendar on ...
10 reasons why your subscription revenue is underperforming (and how to fix them)
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler focus on the top 10 reasons for underperforming subscription revenue...
Your Event Calendar challenge and our take on the solution
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discuss the difficulties faced by local and regional publishers in m...
How content restrictions drive subscriptions
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discuss the various content restriction strategies for news and maga...
Subscription Sticker Shock: Should You Raise Your Prices?
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discuss strategies for increasing subscription prices without affect...
Black Friday Without the Profit Burn
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discusses the optimal Black Friday strategies for news and magazine ...
How Mexico News Daily Streamlines Newsletters with Flowletter for a Seamless Reader Experience
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler explores Flow Letter, an innovative newsletter system that integrate...
Promote Subscription Benefits Over Features in Seconds using AI
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler focus on the importance of emphasizing subscriber benefits over feat...
How to Boost Traffic, Build Your Email List, and Increase Subscriptions with the Right Paywall Strategy
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler provide an in-depth analysis on how news and magazine publishers can ...
The Subscription Page Formula: Best Practices Blueprint
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler provide an in-depth analysis of successful paywall strategies for ...
Achieving a 20% Conversion Rate: The Local Publisher’s Winning Formula
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, sponsored by LeakyPaywall, Pete and Tyler discuss effective paywall and subscription strategies for news and...
From YouTube Advertising to Boosting Paid Subscribers on Your Website: Strategies for Sustainable Growth
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, Pete and Tyler discuss a publisher's transition from relying solely on YouTube ad revenue to implementing read...
Maximizing Revenue and Reach: How KBIndependent Achieves Subscription Growth, Donations, and Free Content Distribution
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall Podcast, Pete and Tyler discuss a unique nonprofit news subscription model implemented by Key Biz Camp. The model allow...
Impact of accessibility laws on publishers websites and how to stay compliant
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Paywall Podcast features a conversation about web accessibility with Bet Hannon, CEO and founder of AccessiCart. The discussion f...
Elevating Your Paywall Strategy: Essential Moves for 2024 and Beyond
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss what publishers should focus on in 2024 + current trends in the industry.Article Summary:In our latest episode of the Paywall P...
Growing Paid Subscriptions with Facebook Ads: A Small Boats Magazine Case Study (part 3 of 3)
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the final part of their promotion series, Pete and Tyler discuss how Small Boats Magazine is using Facebook ads to drive both paid and free subscri...
How to setup a successful holiday subscription promotion + results (Part 2 of 3)
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss how to set successful holiday promotions along with recent results from a publisher's Black Friday promotion.
10 Subscription Promotions That Work for Publishers (Part 1 of 3)
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss promotion strategies for publishers that actually work.Here are the key points they cover:Avoid Low-Value Promotions: Promoting...
Special Episode: Publisher Mastermind | How To Setup Your Newsletters To Grow Paid Subscriptions
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Leaky Paywall hosts the second Publisher Mastermind live webinar where Pete discusses strategies for how to setup newsletters...
Unlocking Success: Salem Reporter’s 5-Month Journey to Audience and Revenue Growth
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Paywall podcast, we dive into a case study on Salem Reporter, a local news publisher that has seen significant success in growi...
Special Episode: Publisher Mastermind | How To Convert Your Casual Readers Into Paid Subscribers
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Leaky Paywall hosts the first-ever Publisher Mastermind live webinar where Pete discusses strategies for converting casual re...
Add more value to your publication with subscriber only commenting
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss subscriber-only commenting and how it can be a value add for paid subscribers.
Special Episode: Pete stops by the Powered By Coffee podcast to talk paywall monetization strategy
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete stops by the Powered By Coffee podcast to talk paywall monetization strategy.Here's an excerpt from Powered By Coffee:Discover the secrets of mon...
3 ways AI will shake up your reader revenue
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss AI and how it relates to reader revenue for news and magazine publishers.
Special Episode: WordPress Publisher Sessions
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A repost of the third WordPress Publisher Sessions recording. Learn how to grow community and revenue with newsletters.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
How magazine publishers should approach reader revenue
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss how magazine publishers can grow paid subscriptions and maintain digital ad revenue at the same time.
Special Episode: Subscription Strategies with Pete Ericson
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A repost of the second WordPress Publisher Sessions recording. Learn how to grow community and revenue with newsletters.https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
How to convert more readers with targeted messaging
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Tyler discuss how you can convert more paid readers with targeted messaging.
How to motivate your free registered reader to become a full paying subscriber with a drip email campaign
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 40, Peter and Tyler discuss how drip campaigns can be used to help motivate free registered readers into loyal paying subscribers.
38 | Can a pay per article option actually boost subscriptions?
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Peter and Tyler discuss how Intellimusica.com is using a pay per article option on their site.
39 | What percentage of your audience should be paid subscribers?
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss what percentage of your audience should be paid subscribers based on your market size.
37 | Is Your Free Registration Hurting Your Paid Subscriptions?
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Peter and Tyler discuss free registrations and if they are hurting your paid subscriptions.
35 | It’s your subscriber. It’s time to control your data.
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss the importance of owning your subscriber data.
34 | Special Episode: WordPress Publisher Sessions
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A repost of the first WordPress Publisher Sessions recording. Learn how to grow community and revenue with newsletters.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
33 | Subscriber Behavior: What insights do you need?
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss what kind of data you should be looking at to make informed decisions about your publication subscriptions.
32 | Predictions for 2023
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode Pete and Tyler discuss their 2023 predictions for publishers and digital subscriptions.
31 | How to easily produce a premium newsletter to your paid subscribers
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Catch the video recording on YouTube.
30 | It’s time for your website to stop annoying your readers
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss 7 ways you can make your website less annoying and create a better reader experience.
29 | How your paywall helps you build relationships with your readers
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It might sound counterintuitive, but a paywall can be a helpful tool in building relationships with your readers.
28 | Will your paywall kill your website traffic? (and ad revenue)
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a publisher nervous about implementing a paywall? Today Pete and Tyler discuss what to expect with traffic and ad revenue when you turn on yo...
27 | How would WE build a local news publication?
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss how they would build a local news publication from the ground up.
26 | Should you take donations or sell subscriptions/memberships?
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have a question you'd like us to answer? Get in touch at leakypaywall.com
25 | How to succeed digitally with local news: An interview with Tyler Channel
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Paywall ProjectGet the FREE Subscription Accelerator™ guide
24 | Should you offer a subscription level that hides ads?
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today Pete answers the question: Should you offer a subscription level that hides ads?Easily hide ads from Leaky Paywall subscribers with Ad Dropper.
Ep 23 | How many articles should you give away for free on your publication's website?
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Leaky Paywall
Episode 22 | How to Monetize Your Free Registration Level
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pete discusses the 5 ways to monetize your free registration level.
Episode 21 | Fix these 10 things on your paywall now
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pete and Tyler discuss quick and easy ways to fix your paywall and increase your paid subscriptions.
Episode 20 | Subscription Accelerator™ Part 4: 15 New & Easy Publishing Tactics To Boost Your Subscription Revenue
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
https://leakypaywall.com/1. Hide ads from your subscribersAd Dropper2. Have a donation levelName Your Price3. Open up classified posting to Leaky Payw...
Episode 19 | Subscription Accelerator™ Part 3: Converting Casual Readers to Paid Subscribers
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we discuss three main topics for converting free users into paid subscribers.1. Your messaging and benefits2. Touchpoints and Targeting3. Easy o...
Episode 18 | Subscription Accelerator™ Part 2: The Email Newsletter
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Jeremy discuss the email newsletter for news and magazine publishers. Leaky Paywall Mailchimp Add-OnUTM Generator
Episode 17 | Subscription Accelerator™ Part 1: The Free Subscription Level
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the new ZEEN101 Subscription Accelerator™ and how you can use it to build your email list and grow subscriptions.
Episode 16 | 7 ways to successfully sell corporate, group, and bulk subscriptions
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss 7 ways to successfully sell corporate, group, and bulk subscriptions with Leaky Paywall.
Episode 15 | Easy ways to level up your website to build paid subscriptions - Part 3
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we discuss new products you can offer to increase your revenue.
Episode 14 | Easy ways to level up your website to build paid subscriptions - Part 2
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 covers targeting the existing subscribers that you have, both free and paid.
Episode 13 | Easy ways to level up your website to build paid subscriptions - Part 1
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
1. TouchpointsWhat are touchpoints? When a visitor lands on your website and they start to run into things like subscription nags, and then email noti...
Episode 12 | Interview with Greg Grisolano of Land Line Media
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Paywall Podcast is brought to you by ZEEN101, the makers of Leaky Paywall. Leaky Paywall is the most flexible WordPress subscrip...
Episode 11 | Paid subscriptions and virtual conferences with Hal Niedzviecki of Broken Pencil Magazine
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with Hal Niedzviecki of Broken Pencil Magazine discussing lessons in paid subscriptions and with his his first ever virtual conference.
Episode 10 | Interview with Wally Wallace of 50Fish on Social Media Marketing
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode Pete and Wally discuss social media marketing and how it relates to digital publishing.
Episode 9 | Exciting Things We've Been Working On
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Insights for tracking and analyzing audience engagement.Sponsored issues with IssueM.Should you raise prices for your existing subscribers?Coming Soon...
Episode 8 | Local News Publishers: Subscriptions vs. Memberships vs. Donations
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode we discuss whether you as a publisher should sell memberships, subscriptions, or ask for donations. In coversations over the last ...
Episode 7 | Interview with Todd Moen of Catch Magazine
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Catch MagazineZEEN101
Episode 6 | Interview with Greg Wolfe on magazine renewals and gift subscription strategies
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today Pete interviews Greg Wolfe of 4 String Media about how to generate more profits from your existing subscribers through some tactical methodology...
Episode 5 | How to generate more paid subscriptions with promotions
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we discuss 10 different promotion ideas you can use right now for the upcoming holiday season.
Episode 4 | Interview with Street Photography Magazine
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Street Photography MagazineZEEN101
Episode 3 | 6 Examples of Successful Publication & Product Launches
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In today's show we discuss 6 different publishers that have launched new publications and products. Learn strategies and tactics that you can use in ...
Episode 2 | How to set up your paywall to convert more paying subscribers
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk about the strategy to setting up your paywall. Learn about the top four approaches to building your email lists and converting paid sub...
Episode 1 | Why have a paywall?
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode we discuss why a publisher should have a paywall on their website.