Small Podcast, Smart Network: The Best Indie Podcast Networks for Beginners

Published August 3, 2024 | By Matt

Launching a podcast is exciting, but growing an audience can feel overwhelming if you’re working alone. For small and beginner shows, joining a smaller podcast network can offer support, visibility, and community without giving up creative control.

In this guide, we’ll cover the indie and niche podcast networks that actually welcome smaller shows, what they offer, and how to decide if one is right for you.

Why Consider a Small Network?

Pros

Built-in cross-promotion with other indie shows
Credibility from being “part of a network”
Access to community, mentorship, or production tips
A chance to reach niche audiences (geek culture, sports, paranormal, family, etc.)

Cons

Limited ad sales or marketing resources
Modest audience bump compared to big networks
Monetization often remains DIY (Patreon, affiliate links, etc.)

Small networks are best for shows with consistent publishing but modest download numbers, and for creators who value collaboration as much as growth.

Click here for my favorite podcast network for small podcasts

Quick Comparison Table

Network	Niche/Focus	Accepts Indies?	What You Get	Monetization	Best For
The Oracl3 Network	Diverse indie voices, lots of true crime	Yes	Cross-promo, community, social media boosts	DIY (Patreon, sponsors)	Indie storytellers wanting peer support
GonnaGeek Network	Geek culture: comics, gaming, sci-fi	Yes, selective	Listing, promo swaps, geek community cred	DIY	Tech/geek hobby podcasts
Belly Up Sports	Sports talk, fan culture	Yes	Website features, cross-promo feeds	Some ads, DIY Patreon	Passionate sports fans
Saturday Morning Media	Family-friendly, kids shows	Limited	Brand credibility, cross-promo with other family shows	Patreon, merch	Children’s or family creators
Atlantic Transmission	NYC indie collective	Invite only	Hands-on production help, community	DIY	Local creatives, comedy shows
Anomalist Radio Network	Paranormal, fringe, indie artists	Yes	Live streams, eclectic audience	DIY	Paranormal and fringe enthusiasts
Podcast Advocate Network	Creative, compassionate indies	Yes	Editing help, newsletter, cross-promo	DIY + Patreon	Fiction, history, audio drama
Bliss Life Press	Spirituality, wellness	Yes	Brand alignment, support hub	Indirect (courses, products)	Self-help/wellness podcasters
The Outpost FM	Geek, pop culture	Small circle	Simple hosting hub, cross-promo	DIY	Cult fandoms, UK creators
Gaming Podcast Alliance	Video game podcasts	Yes (informal)	Roundtables, collabs, promo swaps	DIY	Indie gaming podcasters
Sports Radio Detroit	Detroit local sports	Local only	Local press access, cross-promo	Small ads	Regional sports fans
Washed Up Network	Sports, pop culture	Yes	Social pushes, cross-overs, “Washed Up Radio”	DIY	Young/up-and-coming voices
Cast Junkie (Community)	All indie, esp. fiction	Yes	Discord community, promo swaps, blog features	DIY Patreon	Audio drama & narrative indies
Fable and Folly	Audio fiction, dramas	Selective	Ad sales, premium F&F Plus, cross-promo	Ads + subscription	Ambitious narrative shows
That’s Not Canon	Australian indie collective	Yes	Training, cross-promo, Patreon support	Minimal, DIY	Global indies wanting community

Mini Profiles: What You’ll Actually Get

The Oracl3 Network

A diverse, inclusive collective. Pros: full creative freedom, supportive peers. Cons: no monetization built in. Best for storytellers seeking community.

GonnaGeek Network

Geeky podcasts by and for geeks. Pros: great production standards, organic guest swaps. Cons: selective entry, no ad sales. Best for hobbyists in tech or comics.

Belly Up Sports

“The Internet’s Sports Bar.” Pros: community vibe, cross-promo feeds. Cons: mid-sized reach, extra content workload. Best for passionate sports fans wanting camaraderie.

Podcast Advocate Network

Mission-driven indie network. Pros: editing help, kind community, newsletters. Cons: small scale, modest visibility. Best for creative audio drama/history projects.

Cast Junkie

More community than network. Pros: active Discord, indie fans ready to listen. Cons: no ad sales or formal infrastructure. Best for fiction podcasts and indies willing to engage.

How to Know If a Small Network Is Right for You

Green Flags

They clearly accept indie/new shows
Active on social or newsletters promoting members
Evidence of cross-promo or roundtables
Transparent about who runs it

Red Flags

Vague promises of “huge growth” with no specifics
Demands ownership of your RSS feed
Pay-to-join without clear benefits

How to Pitch (Template)

What to include:

Show logline (20 words or less)
Niche fit with the network’s audience
Publishing cadence + consistency proof
Audio sample link
Cross-promo ideas (guesting, trailer swaps)
Cover art + promo assets
Download stats (even small ones, show growth trend)

Sample Subject Line:
“[Show Name]: Indie [niche] podcast, consistent schedule, looking to join [Network]”

Monetization Reality for Small Networks

Mostly DIY: Patreon, Ko-fi, affiliate links
Occasional Ad Sales: Belly Up, Fable & Folly, Headgum (but selective)
Indirect Models: Bliss Life Press (courses/products), Saturday Morning Media (Patreon/merch)
Community Growth → Monetization Later: Cast Junkie, Podcast Advocate

Final Thoughts

Small podcast networks won’t make you famous overnight. What they can do is give you community, collaboration, and incremental growth—things that are hard to find when podcasting alone. For many beginners, that’s the right next step.

If your goal is credibility, peers, and cross-promo, start with a small network. If your goal is big sponsorship dollars right away, keep building your show first. You also might want to pickup our free monetization methods ebook + traffic training.

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