June 1, 2026

77: Building a Podcast Network That Actually Supports Creators (Not Just Ad Sales)

77: Building a Podcast Network That Actually Supports Creators (Not Just Ad Sales)
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon
Season 4

Guest: Rich Butler, Founder—RAGE Works Podcast Network

Originally aired on: Podcast Network Insights with Greg Wasserman

Listen to the original: https://rss.com/podcasts/podcast-network-insights/2751235/

About This Episode

What happens when a podcast network stops chasing CPMs and starts asking a different question: how do we help creators actually stick around?

Rich Butler has been running the RAGE Works Podcast Network since 2014, 12 years without changing the core model. In this conversation with Greg Wasserman, Rich walks through the architecture of a network built on a shared aggregation feed, friction removal, and a revenue split that puts the creator's independence first.

If you're a podcaster evaluating networks or a creator building your own, this episode is a practical look at what support from a network can actually mean.

Quick Stats

  • Network founded: 2014—12 years running
  • Longest-running show: Turnbuckle Tabloid—525+ episodes
  • Hosting platform: Captivate FM
  • Revenue model: 80/20 split (network-sourced ads only)

What We Cover

0:00 — The jockey and the horse

Why talent matters more than gear and the analogy that frames everything.

3:08 — What a podcast network actually is

Rich's definition: a one-stop shop for discoverability, cross-pollination, and variety.

4:37 — How RAGE Works started

From a 400-episode run on Blog Talk Radio to building a network for the people who caught the podcast bug.

7:41 — The network feed model explained

Why running a shared aggregation feed helps new shows build an audience before their individual feed even goes live.

10:01 — Revenue without chasing ad sales

How the network makes money and why creator-sourced sponsorships get zero cut.

16:09 — Red flags when evaluating a network

The first question to ask isn't "how will you grow my show?" It's "how are you growing the network?"

19:11 — What Rich actually does as a network operator

Removing friction: RSS setup, editing, distribution, mic technique feedback, and platform reporting.

23:29 — Audio vs. video in 2026

Why audio comes first, how video complements it, and why the "us vs. them" framing is wrong.

27:48 — Onboarding new shows

The discoverability call, the gear list, the Google Drive workflow, and how real onboarding actually works.

33:43 — The long game and the ROI reframe

Why Rich defines ROI as "return on interest" and what Gary Vaynerchuk said on stage that nearly ended the network.

39:41 — Book recommendations

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* — two books every podcaster should read.

45:21 — Final thought: just create the thing

26 years in, Rich's parting message for anyone still waiting to start.

Key Takeaways

  1. A shared network feed isn't just a distribution trick, it's a litmus test for new shows and a built-in audience-building tool before a podcast's individual feed even goes live.
  2. Most networks fail creators by leading with ad sales. Removing friction (RSS, editing, submission, platform reporting) is the actual service.
  3. If a creator sources their own sponsor, the network takes nothing. That's a deliberate choice, not a gap in the model.
  4. Audio first, always. Good audio teaches storytelling through inflection. Video amplifies what's already there; it doesn't replace it.
  5. Consistency is the real filter. If a network has to chase you for your episode, the show is already in trouble.
  6. Download counts aren't the metric. Ten loyal listeners in a room look very different when you're standing in front of them.

Quote of the Episode

"The podcast is the horse. You're the jockey. You have to be the compelling talent that makes me want to give a damn about you."
— Rich Butler, Founder, RAGE Works Podcast Network

Resources Mentioned