The Simplecast Blog

How To Monetize Your Podcast's Back Catalog

Written by Simplecast | Sep 30, 2025

Turn your hard work into revenue by monetizing your podcast's back catalog.

Creating great podcast content? Check. Building up your audience? Check. Producing episodes that resonate with your listeners? Check. But what about your back catalog? You know, the episodes you’ve poured your time and energy into that are getting pushed to the back of the catalog? Those episodes still have value. And with the right strategy, creators can leverage them as a source of revenue. 

With the right tools, knowledge, and education around what options creators have, monetizing your back catalog isn’t as hard as it sounds. 

Monetization Strategies for Back Catalogs

Finding ways to monetize your back catalog can look different, depending on your content and goals. You don’t have to be a huge podcaster with a massive log of episodes and millions of downloads to turn your content into profits. It may seem hard to believe, but hitting 25K-50K downloads isn’t the only way your show gets an opportunity for monetization. If your download numbers look smaller than that, you’re still in the game for monetization, and strategizing is key. 

Repurposing Older Episodes and Content

Sometimes, a really great episode is still a really great episode. You don’t need to totally scratch what you’ve released and start anew. It could be as simple as adding new calls-to-action or releasing evergreen episodes paired with fresh promotion. Even small updates can breathe new life (and new revenue) into existing content. 

Create Evergreen Content That Never Wears

Have you ever listened to a random podcast episode that was so good it made you want to start from the back of their catalog and work your way up? That’s the power of evergreen content. Think timeless, always relevant, and engaging content that outlives the date it was published. 

And best of all, no matter if you’re creating evergreen content or refreshing your episodes with some new CTA’s, dynamic ad insertion tools are there for you to help you turn your hard work into hard earned cash.

What Dynamic Ad Insertion Can Do for You

Dynamic ad insertion (DAI) is a powerful way for podcasters to monetize their back catalog. Instead of having ads baked directly into your episodes, DAI lets you place ads in both new and old episodes in real time. That means that every download, no matter if it’s brand spanking new or from two years ago, can generate revenue. 

Let’s explore the pros of dynamic ad insertion.

Ads That Work for You and Your Show

You may already know, host reads are hot. They’re a great way to bring in high conversion rates, and the copy usually feels personalized and relevant to your content, you, and the audience listening—making them a great avenue for podcast creators and advertisers alike. And the best part is, host-read ads and DAI aren’t mutually exclusive. And they can be read by you which has a lasting impact on the listeners who trust your recommendations.

The biggest positive has been the support—from listeners and sponsors. You can't have success without other people." – Simplecast user

Stay Up to Date

No matter when the episode was released, DAI keeps your content feeling fresh and relevant. They let you keep your content (and the ads around it) up to date, opening the door to a wide open revenue stream.

You’re In Control

Tools are a podcaster's best friend. And if you’re looking to dive deeper into the tools we offer, Simplecast Professional can help you launch your monetization strategy.

A Simple Checklist for Getting Started with Monetization

Before you jump in, it’s important to understand the tools and strategies available to you. This simplified checklist can help get you started.

  • Research your hosting platform. Check if your podcast hosting site offers built-in tools for DAI, host-reads, and more. Platforms like Simplecast make it easy to insert and manage ads.
  • Understand your audience analytics. Where your listeners tune in from and who they are is important. Get familiar with your audience so you can target your ads effectively. 
  • Start small. Try placing ads in one or two of your most evergreen content to test the results.
  • Experiment with formats. Whether you place ads at the beginning (pre-roll), middle (mid-roll, or end (post-roll) of your episodes, look into what’s working best.
  • Update regularly. Keep your content relevant by keeping the ads running in them fresh.
  • Use your analytics tools. Keep track of impressions, click through rates, and other data to refine your strategy over time.

Monetization At Your Fingertips

No matter where you are in your podcasting journey, monetization is an exciting way to add revenue and keep your older content relevant and up to date. Simplecast has the tools you need to get your back catalog and your new episodes exactly where they need to be for maximum monetization opportunities. Let’s talk.