Indie Author Magazine Podcast

The Indie Author Magazine Podcast is the audio companion to Indie Author Magazine (IAM), the leading trade publication for self-published authors founded by Chelle Honiker and Alice Briggs. The podcast makes IAM's magazine content — in-depth business strategy articles, industry analysis, and author entrepreneurship coverage — available for on-the-go listening without requiring a screen.

What You Get#

• Magazine content in audio: Episodes narrate full magazine articles rather than producing standalone interview content. Listeners get the same rigorous, long-form analysis as IAM subscribers, delivered in podcast form. Host persona "Indie Annie" narrates the articles.
• Format evolution in 2026: Issue #56 (December 2025) was the final monthly magazine edition. The podcast shifted to standalone deep dives in 2026 covering individual magazine articles — recent topics include StorytellerOS (March 2026 article), newsletter swaps, AI book spam policy, and AI writing platforms like PlotDrive.
• 208+ episodes: Dating from 2022 (Apple Podcasts ID 1643546798), with topics including AI in publishing, audiobook production, wide vs. Amazon-exclusive distribution, author branding, copyright basics, and marketing strategy. Current cadence is biweekly per Apple Podcasts.
• Platform availability: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and major podcast directories.

Who It's For#

• Business-minded indie authors: Authors who treat publishing as a business and want informed analysis of industry trends, tools, and strategies rather than craft education.
• IAM magazine readers: If you already subscribe to Indie Author Magazine, the podcast delivers the same content in an audio format suited to commutes, gym sessions, or any time you can't read.
• Authors monitoring industry shifts: Episodes cover platform changes at Amazon KDP, distribution developments, AI tools, and the economics of self-publishing as they unfold.

Pricing: Free.

Strengths#

• Trade publication credibility: IAM editorial standards are higher than most author-hosted podcasts. Content is researched and edited, not improvised from interview prep notes.
• Business depth: Unlike craft-focused shows, IAM goes deep on the financial and operational side of indie publishing — pricing strategies, distribution models, rights management, and author business structure.
• Founded by practitioners: Chelle Honiker and Alice Briggs built the magazine from the indie author community outward. The editorial perspective comes from experience, not journalism.

Limitations#

• Not a craft podcast: Episodes don't cover story structure, writing process, or genre mechanics. This is entirely the business of being an author — writers looking for craft education should look elsewhere.
• Low review count: Only 3 Apple Podcasts ratings (3.7/5 average) as of May 2026, making it difficult to gauge overall listener satisfaction from public data.
• Format in transition: The shift from monthly magazine narrations to article-by-article deep dives began in 2026. Cadence settled at biweekly (not weekly as originally planned); long-term format still evolving as the magazine-to-podcast pipeline matures.

Alternatives#

The Self-Publishing Formula Podcast covers similar business territory with a heavier interview format and larger back catalog. For general indie author news and strategy, the ALLi Podcast (from Alliance of Independent Authors) provides similar trade-publication-level analysis.