What are the differences between Supercast, Substack, YouTube, and Apple paid subscriptions? 

Check out our handy chart with all the details at the top of this page! All paid subscriptions come with ad-free episodes (of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Offline With Jon Favreau, and Lovett or Leave It), a subscriber-exclusive podcast feed, and early access to live-event tickets. Supercast, Substack, and YouTube paid subscribers also get ad-free video episodes of the podcasts mentioned above. 

Additionally, Supercast and Substack paid subscribers will get Crooked store discounts, while only Supercast subscribers receive our ad-free limited series feed, can upgrade to our Best Friends tier, and perhaps most significantly, get access to the Friends of the Pod server on Discord.

Why do Apple and YouTube subscriptions offer fewer benefits but cost the same as Supercast or Substack?

Platforms like Apple and YouTube manage subscriptions entirely within their own systems and take a larger share of each subscription. They also don’t give us the ability to connect your account to external tools like Discord or newsletters.

Because of that, we’re limited to offering an in-platform experience (like ad-free content and bonus videos), while platforms like Supercast and Substack allow us to provide a broader set of benefits.

We keep pricing consistent across platforms to keep things simple, but if you’re looking for the full Friends of the Pod experience, Supercast or Substack are the best options.

Why is my What A Day newsletter coming from Substack? Is this the same newsletter as before?

Yes — it’s the same What A Day newsletter you know and love. It may look a little different, but we’ve simply moved it to Substack.

What A Day is still completely free. If you’re receiving it in your inbox every day, that just means you’re subscribed to Crooked Media on Substack — not necessarily that you’re a paid subscriber.

Paid Friends of the Pod subscribers on Substack or other platforms get access to additional content and perks, but What A Day itself remains free for everyone.

What are the differences between a paid subscriber and a Friend of the Pod?

A Crooked paid subscriber and Friend of the Pod are the same thing — just different terminologies on different platforms. So, if you’re a paid subscriber on, say, Substack, we still consider you a Friend of the Pod.

If I’m a Supercast, Apple, or YouTube paid subscriber, is it better to switch over to Substack?

If you’re already a paid subscriber through Supercast, YouTube, or Apple, you don’t need to change anything. You’ll still get access to all your ad-free shows and exclusive content on the platform where you originally subscribed.

So, although Substack offers folks a new way to become a paid subscriber, there’s no need to move your subscription. In fact, if you’re a Supercast subscriber, you’ll actually lose your Friends of the Pod server access on Discord if you leave Supercast.

Can I get ad-free video if I’m a Supercast, Substack, or Apple paid subscriber?

Yes, you can! Supercast paid subscribers get ad-free YouTube links in the Friends of the Pod server on Discord, as well as in their ad-free and exclusive content feeds. Substack paid subscribers can view ad-free video using the Substack app. Unfortunately, Apple paid subscribers cannot access ad-free video at this time but this feature is coming soon!

Is there a discount for monthly vs. yearly paid subscriptions?

Yes, when offered (on Supercast, Substack, and Apple), the yearly subscription comes with a discount. Annual subscriptions are coming soon on the YouTube platform.

How Do I Find Out Which Platform I’m Subscribed to (and Paying For) My Crooked Media/Friend of the Pod Subscription On?

Apple Podcasts

1. Open the Apple Podcasts app
2. Tap your profile icon (top right)
3. Tap “Subscriptions”
4. Look for Crooked Media / Friends of the Pod
   Issues with your Friend of the Pod paid subscription on Apple Podcasts?
   Fill out this form: Subscription Help on Apple Podcasts

YouTube

1. Open YouTube
2. Go to the channel page for Pod Save America
3. Look for a “Join” button or “Member” badge

If it says “Member” = you’re paying through YouTube
You can also check:

• Click your profile → Purchases & Memberships

Issues with your paid subscription on YouTube?
Fill out this form: Subscription Help on YouTube

Substack

1. Open Substack (app or web)
2. Go to your profile/settings
3. Tap “Manage Subscription”

If you see Friends of the Pod / Crooked Media as paid = you’re subscribed there

Issues with your paid subscription on Substack?
Get Support Online: Subscription Help on Substack

Get Support via Email: support@substack.com

Supercast

1. Go to: https://crooked.supercast.com
2. Log in with your email address
3. Click “Manage Subscription”

If you can log in and see an active plan = you’re subscribed via Supercast.

Issues with your paid subscription on Supercast?
Get Support Online: Subscription Help on Supercast

Get Support via Email: support@supercast.com

“I swear I’m subscribed on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / [other app]…”

Totally fair — and you’re probably listening there.

But at the moment, there are only a few platforms where you can actually pay for and manage a Friends of the Pod subscription: Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Substack, and Supercast.

What trips people up is that you can listen to your private, ad-free feeds on other apps (like Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, etc.) after subscribing — but those apps are not where you’re being billed.

In most cases, if you’re listening on a different app, your subscription is actually being:

• Purchased and billed through Supercast or Substack
• Then connected to your listening app via a private RSS feed

So if you’re thinking “I subscribe on Spotify,” what’s usually happening is:

• You’re listening on Spotify
• But you’re paying through a different platform

If you’re not sure where you’re actually subscribed, check the platforms listed above — or look for the charge on your bank statement.

Why don’t Friends of the Pod subscribers get ad-free feeds for every Crooked Media show (like Strict Scrutiny, Hysteria, What A Day, etc.)?

Great question — and something we’re actively working on.

Right now, ad-free feeds are available for select shows (Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Offline, and Lovett or Leave It), but not across every Crooked Media show yet. Expanding ad-free access to more shows is something we’re continuing to build toward.

There are a few reasons for this — including existing ad commitments, show-specific production setups, and platform limitations — which can make it more complex to roll out ad-free versions across every show all at once.

That said, this is absolutely a priority for us, and you should expect to see more ad-free shows added to Friends of the Pod over time.

“Apple Podcasts says I’m not subscribed — do I need to subscribe again?”

Nope — you do not need to subscribe (or pay) twice.

If you’re a Friend of the Pod who subscribed through Supercast or Substack, your ad-free content lives in a separate, private feed — not the public Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Offline, or Lovett or Leave It feeds you see in Apple Podcasts.

That’s why those public show pages may say you’re not subscribed — they’re not connected to your paid subscription. (We know, super annoying, but Apple won’t let us!)

To listen ad-free, you’ll need to:

• Log into your subscription (Supercast or Substack)
• Add the specific ad-free or exclusive content podcast feed you want updating with new episodes automatically to your preferred app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

Once that’s set up, your ad-free episodes will appear in that separate feed. Make sure to add it to your favorites on your podcast player!

You can read more about how to access your subscription benefits by platform in the “How to Access Your Friends of the Pod Subscription” section above.

“I get emails from Substack and I know I’m a Friend of the Pod — why am I still seeing a paywall?”

Totally fair question — and we promise you’re not being charged twice.

If you’re seeing a paywall on Substack, it usually means you’re not subscribed on Substack specifically, even if you are a paid Friend of the Pod on another platform (like Supercast, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube).

Right now, subscriptions are platform-specific, which means access doesn’t automatically carry over between them. We’d love for it to be seamless across Substack, YouTube, Apple, and Supercast — unfortunately, those platforms don’t currently make it easy for us to connect everything behind the scenes.

So if you’re a paying subscriber but can’t access content on Substack, it just means your subscription is active on a different platform.

Scroll up to the section above to find where you’re subscribed and how to access all your benefits there.

Can I pay for a subscription through Spotify?

No, Spotify does not offer paid subscriptions. However, if you prefer to listen to your podcasts there — or on platforms such as Overcast, Pocketcast, Castro, and more — become a Friend of the Pod on Supercast or Substack, which can connect to your Spotify account (as well as to Overcast, Pocketcast, Castro, and more) and offer you all your paid-subscription perks there.

If I switch my subscription to Substack, YouTube, or Apple, can I still use the Discord server?

No — the Friends of the Pod Discord server is exclusive to Supercast subscribers.

If you switch from Supercast to Substack, YouTube, or Apple, you’ll lose access to the Discord community and everything that comes with it.

Can I still access events like AMAs and group threads through Substack, YouTube, or Apple subscriptions?

No — AMAs, group threads, and other community events all take place in the Friends of the Pod Discord server, which is only available to Supercast subscribers.

If you’re not subscribed through Supercast, you won’t be able to participate in or view those conversations. If those experiences are important to you, we recommend staying subscribed via Supercast.

Are ad-free shows included with all paid subscriptions (Supercast, Substack, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts)?

Yes — all paid Friends of the Pod subscribers, regardless of platform, get access to ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Offline with Jon Favreau, and Lovett or Leave It, along with exclusive content like Pollercoaster, Terminally Online, and Pod Save America: OnlyFriends (our bi-weekly bonus episode released every other Thursday). Subscribers also get access to our rapid response feed, Breaking News from Pod Save America, ad-free across all platforms. The main difference between platforms isn’t what you get, but where and how you access it.

How do I change my payment method for my subscription?

• In Supercast: Click on the profile icon. Select “Manage Subscription.” Go to “Plan and billing,” then choose “Manage Subscription.”
• In Substack: Go to your profile. Select “Settings.” Go to “ Subscriptions, then select “Crooked on Substack.”
• In YouTube: Go to your profile. Select “Purchases and Memberships” from the drop-down menu. Go to “Memberships,” then select “Manage Memberships.”
• In Apple: Open the Apple Podcast app. Click on the profile icon, and then select “Manage Subscriptions.” From there, click on “Friends of the Pod.”

I subscribe to Friends of the Pod (through Supercast, Substack, YouTube, or Apple), and I’m experiencing technical or payment difficulties. Whom do I reach out to?

• Supercast: Email support@supercast.com
• Substack: Email support@substack.com
• Apple: For billing questions, go to support.apple.com/billing. For tech issues, head to support.apple.com/en-us/106932.
• YouTube: Visit their Help Center at support.google.com/youtube.

Can I donate to Vote Save America (VSA) through Substack, YouTube, or Apple?

No, the VSA donation* option is only available on Supercast to Best Friends tier subscribers who live in the United States.

Why can’t I subscribe to the Best Friends tier on Supercast if I don’t live in the United States or am not a U.S. citizen?

The Best Friends tier includes a $10 monthly donation to Vote Save America, which is subject to Federal Election Commission (FEC) guidelines.

Because of these regulations, political donations must come from U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders). As a result, we’re not able to offer the Best Friends tier to international subscribers at this time.

You can still subscribe to Friends of the Pod through our other plans and get access to all the core content and benefits — the only difference is the donation component included in the Best Friends tier.

How does my contribution through Supercast’s Best Friends subscription differ from Vote Save America’s Anxiety Relief Program?

Both Vote Save America’s Anxiety Relief Program and our Friends of the Pod Best Friends subscription are excellent ways to support Vote Save America* and, you know, democracy. 

Here’s a breakdown of their differences: Your recurring donations through Vote Save America’s Anxiety Relief Program goes directly to grassroots organizations and down-ballot candidates who need it the most. (These recipients change each month, and Vote Save America will keep you updated on where your donation is going with monthly receipts.) Meanwhile, a Best Friends tier subscription to Friends of the Pod keeps the lights on at Vote Save America and powers their ongoing efforts to mobilize across all 50 states.

In order to become a subscriber at the Best Friends tier, you must be at least eighteen years old, not a federal contractor, and a US Citizen, or lawfully admitted permanent resident (i.e., green card holder). Your contribution to Vote Save America is made from your own personal funds, and funds are not being provided to you by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.

*Contributions or gifts to Vote Save America PAC are not tax deductible. Vote Save America PAC is a federal political committee and a distinct entity from Crooked Media. All electoral work and fundraising for the program, including through Crooked Media services, is conducted and paid for by Vote Save America PAC. Your contribution will be deposited in Vote Save America PAC’s Contribution Account. Individuals and federal PACs may contribute up to $5,000 per calendar year to Vote Save America PAC’s Contribution Account. Corporations, labor organizations, and other federally prohibited sources may not contribute to Vote Save America PAC’s Contribution Account. Federal law permits individuals, federal PACs, corporations, and labor unions to make unlimited contributions to Vote Save America PAC’s NonContribution Account. If you are interested in making a contribution to Vote Save America PAC’s NonContribution Account, please contact us at info@votesaveamerica.com. Contributions to Vote Save America PAC will be used at the sole discretion of Vote Save America PAC to support its programs and activities.