Castamatic and Boosts

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Recently I have been Lunix Unplugged and Self-Hosted. It's by listening to self-hosted that I decided to experiment and learn about Linux by experimenting with Pis and projects created for Pi such as PhotoPrismPi, Pi-Hole and Nextcloud, to mention just a few.

These podcasts kept mentioning [boosts](https://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/boost/), sats, value for value and compatible apps such as Castamatic, among others. I haven't played with the others but I have played with [Castamatic](https://castamatic.com/). It behaves like other podcasts and you can choose between using the iTunes podcast list or the Podcast Index podcast list. I used the Apple Podcast list, for now.

> Castamatic uses a system called "listener engagement" to determine which podcasts are eligible for [boosts](https://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/boost/). Listener engagement is calculated based on a number of factors, including the number of times a podcast is played, the number of times it is downloaded, and the number of times it is shared.

## Quantifying Attention

With conventional podcasts apps you download podcasts but there is no way of seeing whether a podcast was listened to, shared and more. With Castamatic, among other apps listening time and shares are quantified by the app, which benefits both the podcast producers, and listeners. It benefits podcast listeners because podcasts they enjoy listening to become more visible but it also helps podcast makers because they can quantify engagement more easily, than without the app.

You can go further, if you use Value for Value but I haven't touched this. It's tied in to bitcoins and satochis and I don't want to touch them. If they had another way of tracking listening time and payment then I would consider it.

## Just Another App

If I oversimplify things then this is yet another podcast app that gives you the choice to add podcasts from the Apple Directory or the Podcast Index. It works with Apple Watches and Car Play as I saw this morning. If you just want to change podcast app then this one is worth playing with. If you export your library from the Apple Podcast App then you can add it to this podcast

## My Issue

Recently I have come across two problems with podcasts. They're too long. I want half an hour to an hour, not one and a half or more hours. The second issue is that they often have bad adverts. I find that I can listen to plenty of Late Night Linux Family podcasts consecutively because the ads are at the right point in the show not to be a nuissance. I hate podcasts that start with an advert.

## Jupiter Broadcasting

With [Jupiter Broadcasting](https://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/membership/) podcasts the idea is that they are listener funded, so the more listeners contribute the more resilient the podcasts become. You can contribute by Sats, by boosts via specific apps, but also by monthly memberships. I'm contributing by listening via Castamatic, and mentioning the concept, rather than financially.

The concept is interesting. At the moment you can pay for Spotify, Audible or YouTube Premium to access certain podcasts. This is similar but at an independent level. You're helping podcasts directly, rather than monoliths.

## And Finally

For years I used Pocket Casts for podcasts but eventually stopped when they encouraged paying for the app, but also because when the app was updated it required us to log back in. I slid over to the Apple Podcast App and used that for a while and now that I heard of Castamatic I decided to try it, because of the new concept. An app that quantifies listener engagement is useful.

If the more I listen to a podcast, the better it does, then I'm happy. I don't like writing reviews or giving stars. Id rather actual attention be counted, and that's what the app does. That attention could become a few satochies per minute. Of course there is the membership option, seperate from the App. I am still new to these podcasts so time will decide

## A Podcast App

This is yet another podcast and so far I haven't noticed any specific flaws with the app.