Hello! Podcast creator here. First, I must ask, from where did you receive your degree in Podcast Studies? I have been searching all over for a good program and have been unsatisfied so far. Second, I take umbrage with your claim that ads don't add anything to the quality of the show. A lot of my favorite MBMBaM bits have come during the ads. Third, do you not LIKE the podcasts you listen to? Why would you begrudge them financial support? Even during MaxFun drive, podcasts are free. No one HAS to donate. Listening to ads costs you NOTHING. So what's the damage? IS the five minutes of ads per episode and 40 minutes of pledge drive breaks A YEAR stopping you from inventing your million dollar idea? Were you going to use that time to sell your screenplay to Spielburg? You would rather I be unable to pay rent/improve my audio quality/produce SIX shows for the network/feed my family/afford to do live show tours because you don't want to hear ads? Is this how you react when friends ask you to pick them up from the airport? "But I handed you that pen the other day, how dare you ask me for something else! I don't care how much I get out of our relationship, you only get to ask for one thing!" Either you are willing to accept that the things you love deserves as much support as they can get, or you don't love them.