Can Bitcoin Fix Podcasting? Inside the Fountain App and the Future of Creator Payments with Nick Malster (ep.241)

Can Bitcoin transform the way podcasts are created, distributed, and monetized? In this episode, Wojtek sits down with Nick Malster, co-founder of the Fountain app, to explore how Bitcoin and Nostr could reshape the future of podcasting and the creator economy. Key Topics: Fountain App's origins and vision Challenges of marketing Bitcoin and Nostr Podcast and music distribution Building a startup and the importance of community Onboarding users to Fountain Nick's personal journey into BitcoinFountain started as an attempt to build a better podcast app - one that connects listeners and creators in a more social, interactive, and rewarding way. Unlike traditional podcast platforms, Fountain integrates Bitcoin payments, community features, and decentralized technology to create a new model for podcast discovery and monetization. Nick explains the origins of Fountain, the vision behind the platform, and the challenges of building a startup that sits at the intersection of podcasting, Bitcoin, and Nostr. The conversation explores why many podcast apps feel purely functional and how Fountain aims to transform listening into a community-driven experience where listeners can directly support creators. We also discuss the broader challenges of introducing decentralized technologies to mainstream audiences. Nick shares insights on onboarding users to Bitcoin and Nostr, why self-custody and private keys can be intimidating, and how Fountain is working to simplify the experience while maintaining the benefits of open systems. The episode also dives into the creator economy and how traditional music and podcast platforms often fail to reward creators fairly. Fountain’s model allows listeners to send Bitcoin “zaps” and directly support podcasts and artists, offering an alternative to the closed ecosystems of large streaming platforms. Nick also shares his personal journey into Bitcoin and how books like The Bitcoin Standard helped him understand the role of sound money in society and the broader implications of decentralized technologies. If you’re interested in Bitcoin, podcasting, the creator economy, or decentralized social media, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how new technologies could reshape the future of content and online communities. Listen to the full episode to discover how Fountain is building a new model for podcasts, creators, and communities in the Bitcoin era. All the love, all the power, all of the time! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link: https://linktr.ee/w.salski Join FountainFM today: https://fountain.fm/ Mentioned Episodes and Books: "The Bitcoin Standard" - https://fountain.fm/episode/RCwkrgPTPzFgvS2wGrkF "Touching the Void" book - https://amzn.eu/d/09zeLMmL "Touching the Void" movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/ Social Media Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unusual.stories\_podcast/ YouTube:https://youtube.com/@w.salskicreativeworks?si=vduv475byjqWChqV Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2bcP2r30SdpUuUCU6Jmnk9?si=5d2a4438ae524b0a Primal.net: @wspodcast