Can I Make A Living From A Podcast? with Áine Cain & Kevin Greenlee from The Murder Sheet
Nine years ago this year, I started this podcast as a bet and it was one of the greatest decisions of my life. Over the past nine years, I’ve learned more than I ever imagined I could about money, cocktails, people and so much more. My tagline for the show is “Living a better life one cocktail at a time” and this show has helped me live a better life by allowing me to have these conversations, to share them with you, and to build this community of amazing people on a journey of financial health and beyond. While I don’t utilize the show as a source of income, podcasting can certainly give you the opportunity to take a side hustle or a passion into a main hustle and my guests today did just that. Joining me are Aine and Kevin, the co-creators and co-hosts of the Murder Sheet podcast. They joined me to talk about how they took their backgrounds as a lawyer and a journalist and applied it to their podcast and ultimately how they were able to make the podcast their full-time job. And now here’s Aine and Kevin.
What are we drinking?
Aine & Kevin - Fancy Mexican Coca-Cola
Shannon - Black Cherry Schweppes
Podcast Notes
How did you folks meet and decide to start a podcast?
Before meeting each other, Anya and Kevin both had an interest in True Crime. She was writing an article about a case Kevin was working on, which is how they met. They stayed in touch after that project and eventually got romantically involved.
The podcast was Kevin’s idea initially, but once he shared it with Aine, she pictured something more serious. Each episode can take weeks or months to prepare. Since there are so many True Crime podcasts, they wanted to ensure they brought something new to the space. They like to focus on unsolved cases and treat their show as investigative journalists with a podcast.
When did it turn from a hobby to a full-time job?
They started the show in November 2020 and, for the first year, did not try to monetize the show or make money at all. Their focus was on building an audience.
A year into the show, advertisers started contacting them and making a small amount of money. As the audience continued to grow, they got more advertisers.
Along the way, they gained exposure through Wondry and Investigation Discovery. By focusing on doing the work, they were noticed by others who could help get them in front of a larger audience.
The podcast was a side hustle for some time. Once they ran the numbers and were making enough money to cover their expenses, including health insurance, they made the leap to podcasting full-time.
How do you make money with your podcast?
The primary source of revenue is host-read ads. It’s a cool, new intimate form of advertising.
There are also ads read by others that can be inserted into the podcast.
Direct listener support through platforms like Patreon.
Monetizing social media channels like YouTube.
What are some tips for folks thinking about starting a podcast?
Your voice is not out there yet. Even if the space feels crowded, it’s not full. If you feel compelled to share, don’t hesitate to get started.
Reflect and think about what you can bring to the conversation. What can you do that no one else is doing yet?
Podcasting is a lot of work. If you want to do it as a hobby or side hustle, that’s a totally great option. It can become your full-time job with time, work, and patience.
Have patience for the process, make connections where you can, and make it the best product possible. Keep making episodes. You keep getting better and better the longer you create.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is you’re thinking about starting a podcast, I encourage you to go for it. The cost to entry is not high, but the returns you get out of it, whether financial and otherwise, are well worth the investment.
Random Three Questions
What’s your favorite True Crime documentary?
Partners in life and work, what’s your next big goal as a couple?
If this was your last meal on earth, what would it be?
Connect with The Murder Sheet Team
Our FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/934242040557839/?ref=share
Art19 page: https://art19.com/shows/murder-sheet?perPage=100
Website: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Face, and let me know what you want to hear.
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