53- Reigning Supreme: The History of Rome

After attaining power, Augustus set about reforming the Empire.

53- Reigning Supreme

Comments

[jake1]

As for ads,a mans gotta eat. Keep it subtle though.

[Matt]

Mike, I don't think advertising would be such a bad thing, unless you did it in the middle of the podcast. But if you started each episode with "Hello, and welcome to the History of Rome, Sponsored by Audible.com. Episode #." Just A thought, but I really love your podcast and it seems fair that you get some sort of compensation for it. I know I'd listen to your podcast even if I had to sit through a a minute or two of ads, and I'm sure most of your fans would.

[Robert]

As long as the quality is good and your sense of humor is dry I see no reason why you shouldn't turn a profit. Having said that, if you are making some money on this should the fans expect any changes? Is audible going to insist on longer episodes, more frequent episodes, more detailed episodes? I don't know the terms of the deal and I am just curious.

[Andy from New Jersey]

hey mike,

Thanks for asking us what we think about taking THOR to the next step. I have no problem with including ads into the show. It's part of how things are done. I appreciate all of the hard work you put into the show and it would be great to see you get compensated more consistently.

[Dave]

I think ads would be fine. It certainly wouldn't keep me from enjoying this podcast. Besides, if it allows you to keep the future Mrs. History of Rome in a manner which she could become accustomed, then maybe she won't make you give up the podcast and get a real job.

[laura]

I love you so much, I want nothing but happiness,health and wealth for you

[Mike P]

Love the show. In fact, my girlfriend and I have listened to the entire series together over the last week or so. Definitely do the ads. You put so much work in that you deserve to make some money for it. You are providing professional, college level content, so why not get paid for it? Let the market work!

[TixGirl]

Thanks so much for asking for our input. It's a great sign of your integrity that you show a concern for your listeners. You're engaged in a labor of love, and not everyone has the opportunity to turn a labor of love into something that contributes to putting a roof over their head. So please, live the American dream! And if anyone ever accuses you of selling out, you have this podcast and these comments to which you can point as evidence of your integrity.

[Andrew Higgins]

Mike, really have been enjoying this series - listen to it on the way to work from London down to the south every week. Did a mention of it on my blog -

http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2009/03/romani-in-podcasto-sunt-maxime.html

As for ads, totally support you going for this- if it keeps you going to 476 or 1453 ad (and then what??). Go for it. Carpe Diem and all that.

Best, Andrew Higgins (London UK)

[A Free Man]

Mike,

Absolutely go with the Audible advertising. It's admirable that you've been doing this for nothing but there is absolutely no shame in making a bit of dosh out of it. You deserve it. Yours is one of the podcasts I look forward to every week and advertising or no advertising that will not change.

[Arcturus Mengsk]

I think that if you'd like to make a little extra money while you're doing this 'cast every week, go for it.

I think an added incentive for you to go the extra mile and finish the next 400 years (hell, I think you should go into Byzantine history as well, since it is my favorite stretch of history and to be honest, it is another 1000 years..) is a great idea.

I say go for it, definitely.

[heathylea]

no worries about a little advertising. there are audible.com plugs on dan carlin's hardcore history and it doesn't spoil it. as long as its before or after, and not in the middle of the podcast.

[Eamonn]

Mike,great podcast. Incorporate the advertising.

[Jón Þór Ólafsson]

As long as the ads are not annoying and nothing bothers you about the terms of the deal I would do it. Getting financially compensated for what you enjoy is good sense.

But beware "you can not serve two masters" and money has the habit of slowly moving enjoyment to the side to become the sole master of projects.

Greetings from Reykjavík.
Jón Þór.

[Gary]

I've been a regular listener for almost a year now. I agree with most of the other comments about accepting the advertisements. You've been providing a great service for free and if you need/want the money to keep providing it to us for free then go for it. I also agree that they should be subtle. That is to say at the start and/or end of the podcast. Once the episode gets going I don't want it to be interrupted.

Keep up the good work.

[Brad]

Mike,

I think a few new mountains were born in Greece since the last episode. It's all about the detail!

Just kidding. Great work as always and I really appreciate the graphics.

[calabrog]

Thumbs up on ads. Please do whatever you need to to continue your work. - Giovanni

[Lisa]

With regards to Audible ads: I listen to a large number of podcasts that are sponsored by Audible. The key is to recommend a book that's relevant to the topic (I've already bought The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire :)).

In fact I'd love it if Audible would let you narrate a book. It's a shame you didn't narrate Gibbon's book because the Audible guy makes it sound dull!).

[Inko]

Mike, you have been brightening up my Monday mornings for a while now and I think you have a good product (economically speaking) in the podcast. I have also been an audible.com member for a couple of years and enjoy it immensely, so I would see no conflict or incongruity in hearing about audible on your podcast.

That being said, you should consider whether you like audible.com enough to promote it. If you do, for sure, tell the world about it. Any as you said "money cant buy you happiness, but it can buy you control of a Mediterranean empire." So monetize away, I'll only be happy for you!

[Publius]

I listen to several podcasts and sponsorship is reasonable common. Dan carlin's hardcore history is sponsored by audible, podicitionary is sponsored by gotomypc, and This American Life has a few sponsors. I don't find it intrusive as long its reasonable. Please continue to keep all the old episodes available. I refer people to the show and you really need to be able to start from the beginning.

[Jared Croft]

When you sign up for audible, you get a free audio book. Dan Carlin's hardcore history is sponsored by audible, and his audible advertisements are personalized a bit by Dan recommending what free book you should choose (e.g. Julius Ceaser's Commentaries).

Personally, I don't mind advertisements. And of course, we listeners would all be better off if you, like Dan Carlin, were a full-time podcaster. Spending 5% of your time on advertisements and asking for pledges, like Carlin does (e.g. a buck a show, it's all we ask), wouldn't be overdoing it in my opinion.

[Joe]

As if you needed any more encouragement about sponsers:
Go for it! Most of the top podcasts are sponsered by someone or other, usually audible. I'd also like to second Lisa's idea that you should combine it with an (audio)book recommendation - that turns an ad spot into something useful. You deserve a bit of remuneration anyway.

[Jonathan Hirsch]

Do what you love. The money will follow. Who are we, your audience, to argue with the wisdom of fate? I see no reason you should not make as much profit as possible from the work you have done. And, getting a recommendation for a good Audible book from you each week would only add to the enjoyment.

[mike jones]

g'day mike
i consider THoR to be THE BEST podcast currently offered and if it requires advetising to have it continue (hopefully up untill byzantium and the fall of constantinople... i know..... lots to hope for) then so be it.
we appreciate the efforts that you have put in and anticipate every episode.
as a grateful listener and learner i have a request.... that the advertisement be mentioned only at the start or end (my preference) of each episode ( both... if they pay more)
in australia we have a public broadcaster that has introduced ads in the middle of documentories. and the storey falls .. octavian agrippa ceasar augustus who??? did what??..... so please do not break the narrative!
THoR belongs to you mike, and if you deem to make a quid from it, or not, is entirely up to you
if anyone hasnt been to 12 byzantium emporers...google now
cheers, mike, looking forward to the next installment of (my-think) octavian-augustus
mike jones qld,australia

[Daan]

Hello Mike,
I've been enjoying your podcast for a long time now: first catching up with the first 35 episodes or so when I knew of the existence and now listening to the new episodes every monday.
Although I'm not really in favour of advertisements in the podcasts, I see my fellow listeners to be much less abhored by the idea. I think it depends a lot on what the advertisements are about.
It is really interesting to see how you establish your 'version' of the history of rome. Anyway, it would also be nice to get insight in which source material you use. Does it change much from episode to episode, or are you just following one or two well known sources?
Is it mostly primary sources (like Livy and Suetonius), or the secondary recounts which gained their authority over time?