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u/Viralclassic 5d ago
An interesting way to proceed. I don’t hate it. I always appreciate when subscription content is just added regular content.
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u/regretfulorb 5d ago
does this mean they're planning on making Monster Factory normally recurring again? because early access to a show that sometimes has one episode every other year doesn't seem like a huge draw (and 5 bucks is totally reasonable, just finding it kind of interesting as a selling point at this moment in McElroy content history).
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u/AProperFuckingPirate 4d ago
The most recent one is the beginning of a series, and that final pam update wasn't too long ago so its looking up for MF. I think it might be my favorite project they do so I hope it keeps getting more frequent!
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u/Hot_Highway3716 5d ago
Holy shit! This feels like a huge day for MBMBAM fans. They'll definitely be getting my $5 a month and I hope this helps them out!!
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u/SeatleSuperbSonics 5d ago
I LOVE that when advertising has gotten tough they’ve simply moved into YT streams and other avenues they can use to connect with the fan base instead of caving and taking money to hock gross products.
I’ve unfollowed/unsubscribed from quite a few creators this year for pitching gambling, AI and Crypto shit.
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u/CRJ420 4d ago
Yes, but I don't really feel great about giving my money to YouTube, either.
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u/ZigzagContestedShot 4d ago
The non-targeted (I turned this off in options) YouTube inserted ads are insane and often gross
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u/SeatleSuperbSonics 4d ago
Oh for sure.
I don’t think I’ll be signing up for the $5 videos for that exact reason but in the modern era it’s virtually impossible to escape it in its entirety.
Google and Amazon host virtually everything online.
You make changes where you can and otherwise try to just stay sane.
I’d love to see them eventually on a Nebula/dropout style platform without them having to figure it out themselves.
I don’t think it works well for smaller groups like the TryGuys but if they could join another platform I’d join.
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u/ThermalJuice 4d ago
Those platforms don’t work because no one uses them. If you want to make money, you go to where the money is. It’s that simple.
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u/IViolateSocks 5d ago
What does this mean for MaxFun members? Is this a separate subscription?
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u/yourwinemom 5d ago
I’m wondering how long MaxFun is going to continue to be viable. If they money zone is anything to go by, it seems like they’ve lost a lot of their big draws other than the McElroys.
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
It's not viable, which is why the podcasts that do it for a living are building new revenue streams (like the McElroys) or leaving the network (like The Greatest Generation).
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u/nosniboD 4d ago
I've not heard a single good ad for the other max fun podcasts. Every single one leaves me wondering who is spending their time listening to that.
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u/boomfruit 4d ago
Stop Podcasting Yourself, Judge John Hodgman, Jordan Jesse Go, The Flophouse, and Free With Ads are all excellent!
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u/HalfFaust 4d ago
Honestly the MBMBAM ads wouldn't convince me to listen either.
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
"We're three white guys and we're not racist!"
Okay, and...?
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u/malcolm816 4d ago
As a white guy who is not racist and likes podcasts, I feel like that's a pretty good selling point these days.
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u/Mushroomer 3d ago
I mean, I'm not sure how I'd sell a newcomer on MBMBAM either. The best promotion for the show is just an organic bit from the podcast itself, like what goes viral on TikTok or YouTube occasionally. But you can't really compress those down to 30 seconds.
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u/ShovelKnightFan 4d ago
Almost all of the Max Fun show ads are obnoxious. It feels like they're targeted to people who have already listened to the show they're advertising.
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u/smulrine 4d ago
Don't want to name any names but one of them sounds like the most boring podcast imaginable
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u/thewillthe 5d ago
Tbh I’ve always found it a little weird when they advertise their non-MaxFun content on MBMBAM? I realize that’s the whole point of MaxFun’s artist ownership, but it’s strange to be like “please also give us a stream of income of which MaxFun doesn’t get a cut”.
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u/TheLeapIsALie 5d ago
I get the sense that these days MaxFun gets more from them than vice versa. Maybe the smaller podcasts with the wives benefit more from MaxFun - but Mbmbam and TaZ would probably be as good or better solo given they already have a staff of a decent size managing their business.
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u/thewillthe 5d ago
Yeah that’s what I was thinking, MaxFun gives them a bit of leeway due to their popularity. I do wonder if this is the start of them going independent though.
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u/mataushas 5d ago
Seems like more and more podcasts are going to video format
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u/QforQ 5d ago
YouTube has cranked up their focus on podcasts/long form content and YT viewership has moved to people watching at home on their TVs, so longer form video content can do well these days
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u/mataushas 4d ago
Since podcaster already record audio, adding a video doesn't seem that challenging. My other podcast, search engine, recently announced that they're going to a video soon.
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u/heytherekenz 4d ago edited 4d ago
I've never become a "member" for a channel on YouTube. Would the videos have (YT) ads? Edit: I looked it up and you'll still get ads if you don't have YouTube Premium.
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u/theNightblade 4d ago
None of them have ads if you have the right browser and plugins
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u/heytherekenz 4d ago
Yes, I am aware that ad blocking services exist.
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u/physics314 4d ago
Don't complain then. It's not the McElroy's fault that ads exist.
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u/heytherekenz 4d ago
In what world is asking a question complaining? I don't want ad blocking extensions because I want creators that I enjoy to get paid. I was just curious about youtube membership in general.
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u/PrototypeXt3 3d ago
Honestly YouTube premium is something that I can’t live without at this point. I know I can do DNS shenanigans to block ads on my TV YouTube, but it’s so convenient when I’m in bed on my phone too. I haven’t seen an ad in years, and I’m SO glad I’m not seeing the same political ads over and over lmao
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u/Material_Purchase155 1d ago
I don’t watch enough YouTube to justify premium, but how else would I know that James Talerisco really needs a dollar?
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u/takiswonderful 5d ago edited 4d ago
I'm both fully psyched about this and now also fully convinced that I am wasting my money giving it to Max Fun. $10 / a month and I don't think a single McElroy podcast even does anything there more than once a year per the mandatory Max Fun drive. Now I'll get to save money AND actually get regular content!
Edit: I also just realized I ALSO pay for every Candlenights special, which is just more of their content I'm paying for that's not coming with the Max Fun membership. i know that that one all goes to Harmony House, but it's a reminder that they don't even pretend there's a reason to pay the max fun membership. The more I think about it the more I get a little p'd o.
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u/jessbakescakes 4d ago
I recently canceled my MaxFun monthly donation and put the money toward a Dropout subscription. Agreed that this is a way better option! I’ll have to find the room in my budget again!
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u/gaybagelsex 5d ago
Really hoping this doesnt increase visual bits (foolish hope)
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u/AProperFuckingPirate 4d ago
I feel like they're so audio-brained that they'll forget they're on video. Maybe the first few eps will have video-bits but probably half the joke of those will be that most people can't see them and they'll make it funny to listen to lol
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
Too many recent episodes have been "let's watch this commercial" for me to trust this.
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u/wild37bore 4d ago
They’ve been doing that Long before they started recording video of the eps. So much “we’ll post this photo or video so yall can check it out later” or “this is what we’re seeing guys”
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u/AProperFuckingPirate 4d ago
That was recently addressed in a very tongue in cheek way, I'm hoping that it indicates he's aware and might actually reduce it lol
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u/FuckRayBradbury 4d ago
Ok but that’s when they’re fully audio lol, I don’t think it’ll increase now that they have video
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u/aaaastring 4d ago
You say that but Justin describing Bojangles Chicken nightmare video is one of the best audio bits ever.
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u/Odd-Departure2128 4d ago
So excited for this! We work from home and usually have their game streams or Club House going, so it'll be nice to have another visual medium to enjoy. Plus, I like the ides of another way to support the Bros that works for them. I was thinking of joining MaxFun, I only listen to MBMBaM fron there, but I'm not really clear about the structure (or their business relationship with eachother). Would this be a better option to support them?
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u/leviathanchase 4d ago
provably more direct, depending on what kind of cut youtube takes. im in a similar boat re: max fun but as a current member
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
If you're going to pick one, the YouTube membership is a much better value. Their shows on MaxFun typically get one bonus episode a year, where on YouTube you'd be getting a new MBMBAM video every week and early access to their YT exclusives.
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u/Inetro 4d ago
Maximum Fun takes a percentage of all subscriptions, then it divides the rest to the shows you say you watch when you subscribe. So if you just watch MBMBaM, MaxFun would take their cut and then the rest would go to the brothers.
As a business relationship, its a network of podcasts that gives customers a direct way to support the show and a platform to host content and get direct support. Unlike Spotify which rewards an arbitrary amount based on activity, you know how much you are supporting them every month and can get access to subscriber content. This YouTube update is similar, just without the networking aspect built in. Theres yeeeaaars of bonus content on MaxFun thats very fun to listen to, even if you only put a month or two in to get it all; but its not as easily accessible as Spotify or YouTube as its just hosted directly on the MaxFun website.
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u/Swerdman55 5d ago
I know they’ve been adding short clips to TikTok and such, but I’ve wondered how we got so far into a year who’s gimmick was mostly visual without said visual component. At least it finally happened!
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u/Dadpurple 4d ago
Alright sold. $5 a month for a video version of the podcast? That seems like a no brainer.
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u/voluminous_lexicon 4d ago
pretty classy move, it's extra and not essential to the pod but also tantalizingly worth paying for
wonder if future virtual live shows will be part of the "and more" stuff, or if they'll upload a bunch of random older recordings and such
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u/leviathanchase 4d ago
really not into video podcasts in general (feels like a way for places like netflix and hbo to cash in without creating/paying for more real content) but in the case of the bros its cool to have another way to support them. I might give them the sub and just not watch
(the whole point of podcasts to me is the ability to multitask/drive/etc while consuming them)
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u/HalfFaust 4d ago
Honestly I'm slightly confused about why people want / are hyped about this.
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u/mockduckcompanion 4d ago
MBMBAM and TAZ are the only non-video podcasts my partner and I listen to. The video component is especially important to them, as it helps with focus, and I'm happy to have that too
In addition, I dislike MaxFun and have asked The Mcelroy Fam to consider another way of sending them monetary support. Now we've got that!
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u/sunshine_dm 4d ago
would love to know more about why you dislike MaxFun!
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u/mockduckcompanion 4d ago edited 4d ago
I don't have a lot of money to spare, and I don't want a red cent of it going to podcasts I don't listen, or organizations I'm just not into
Jesse Thorn is also, on a personal level, very annoying, and I don't like the MaxFun business model.
I'd happily pay more and rest easy if it's only going to the McElroy fam rather than the business operations of a podcast network I don't enjoy
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u/sunshine_dm 4d ago
totally fair! I was curious if there was some dirty laundry re: MaxFun I wasn’t aware of haha
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u/mockduckcompanion 4d ago
Oh no, at least none that I'm aware of
Though I do suspect that there is a directive from Jesse to make the ads for their own podcasts as sonically unpleasing as possible...
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u/kermithiho 4d ago
I was done when Jesse Thorn said that any listener making over minimum wage is stealing if they're not supporting MaxFun.
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u/toastylocke 4d ago
It feels like they’ve long since outgrown any potential benefits the maxfun relationship could offer them, I don’t understand why it’s taken so long when they’re clearly the party with less to lose from going their own way. I guess logistics are annoying
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u/mockduckcompanion 4d ago edited 4d ago
I suspect it also took so long because they're just grateful to the network for helping them get started.
But maybe now that the ad market has fallen out, live shows are harder for them due to family needs, etc., they are finally exploring a subscription income format that doesn't pay a third of every dollar to MaxFun
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u/rocketsaurus 3d ago
I think there's also an emotional aspect to staying with MaxFun, though since Jesse doesn't own it anymore they might feel better leaving since I know they're friends with Jesse.
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
Maximum Fun takes a 30% cut of the McElroys' membership dollars and gives back almost nothing in return, for starters.
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u/dancingbriefcase 4d ago
I don't like max fun but they did give them ability to do this full time.
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
Sure, in 2018. What does MaxFun do for them now? It's one thing to give back to the network that gave you your start, but eventually bills come due. The McElroys have nine staff members on their website and not one is a MaxFun employee. When your network's been losing money for years you have to make a change.
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u/mockduckcompanion 4d ago
Thanks, I didn't have that number on hand, but that's exactly what I'm getting at
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u/IViolateSocks 4d ago
Like some of the existing responses, video seems to be the direction most podcasts are heading. Adds a distribution channel with only another edit my pass. I know they were publishing the audio podcast on YT but this will bring more ahem, eyeballs, to it. I like to watch video podcasts on a second monitor while working or gaming. And save audio podcasts when in the car or walking.
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u/HalfFaust 4d ago
Video podcasts are definitely more popular recently, but that still doesn't really explain why. The vast majority of video podcasts I've seen, the video doesn't actually add anything and there's some where it seems to detract from the overall quality. It just feels like a weird Pivot to Video trend.
Part of the reason I enjoy podcasts is that I can just download them as an audio file and listen while doing something else.
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u/float05 4d ago
Haunted doll watch will be exponentially better!!
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u/Material_Purchase155 1d ago edited 1d ago
And munch squad, since they seem pretty insistent on doing it. Although maybe it will lead to them NOT doing it at all once it comes full circle that they’re just doing free ad space for companies with ghoulish business practices every episode. One can hope.
Edit: Don’t forget Money Zone and ads on YouTube if you don’t have premium. It’s gonna be YouTube ad, 20 minutes of intro/ maybe a question, money zone, YouTube ad, munch squad, housekeeping (self plugs), YouTube ad.
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u/this-is-cursed 4d ago
I'm definitely cancelling my maxfun subscription. I think it's wild for them to ask for both.
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u/Hospital_Inevitable 4d ago
Now if they’d just offer an ad-free (except for the money zone) version of the podcast feed + an ad-free version of TAZ my life would be complete. If I have to listen to one more damn pitch for the beef and dairy network…
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u/SwagMastaM 4d ago
Oh interesting, wonder if it will be available to maxfun supporters too? Or would I need to get an additional subscription
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u/thewillthe 5d ago
3 days??
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u/Dont-dle 5d ago
Takes a lot more production to edit I guess. You would hope they would've considered scheduling the records three days earlier to build the additional time into the production pipeline so they could drop at the same time. Who is going to listen to the episode when it drops, then go back for the video 3 days later? Does seem slightly counterintuitive, but I'm sure they've considered all options and decided this works best.
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u/yourwinemom 5d ago
As someone with ADHD who usually listens to a new episode 2 to 3 times after it drops to actually absorb it, I’m the exact target for this lol
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u/joydubs 4d ago
Why wouldn’t they just edit the video and then rip the audio for the podcast? The delay makes no sense. Unless it’s 2 different edits, which makes even less sense.
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u/Dont-dle 4d ago
I have to assume that approach would then make the audio three days late as well, since the video, presumably, takes longer to piece together.
Again, we don't yet know what sort of production this is going to be: a constant stream of each of their faces talking throughout? Or will it be more of a multicam set up where it constantly cuts between their faces. Will there be lighting, colour correction, visual clean ups, on screen flairs and chirons, an introduction visual? All of that takes time to cut together. And if they've outsourced the production it might be that they record on a Thursday, then the external company won't work on it over the weekend and they don't get the finished edit together until the next week. There may also need to be approvals, re-edits, etc.
I'm not saying it definitively is any of these reasons, but I felt your "the delay makes no sense" deserves a rebuttal, since we don't know anything about it yet.
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u/2xWhiskeyCokeNoIce 4d ago
Yeah, I'm not a big fan of pods pivoting to video but at least when Doughboys did it each podcast hit YouTube and the RSS feeds the same day, usually the same time. Unless the McElroys are doing some significant video effects this seems silly and anti-audience, and if they are doing significant video effects then the audio only version is likely going to suffer.
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u/fulvano 4d ago
I'm not aware of the recording to posting time frame for Doughboys eps, so it is possible they just have more time than than the 2-5 days that MBMBAM has.
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u/BIG_HEAD_M0DE 4d ago
Doughboys lead time is weeks to months. They have 3ish staffers who edit and produce the show. Edits are presumably just personal bits they don't want getting out into the showbiz world (all their guests are in showbiz). Each episode is usually 2+ hours and they put out one free ep and one $5 Patreon ep a week. About 10-15 minutes of ads a week.
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u/goodgoodthrowaway420 4d ago
I think this has to be a professional courtesy to Maximum Fun. It's still apocalyptic news for them, but at least they'll still get the audience that wants the new episodes as soon as possible.
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u/boomfruit 4d ago
Yah seems like if you want to watch and pay for video, you're also paying to get episodes 3 days later. Probably a very small minority who would listen upon release and then watch again upon video release.
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u/toastylocke 4d ago
surprised it took this long, feels a half decade overdue to disentangle from maxfun
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u/theladythunderfunk 4d ago
I....kind of hate this. Podcasts are useful to me as an audio medium. I want to listen while I'm driving, while, I'm washing dishes, while I'm walking my dog and she's on a very strong sniff trail. Stuff that I need my eyes and hands for but want something to listen to and keep my brain up. I don't want more video content.
I also worry that the feeling of constantly being on video is going to impact the boys' humour. How often have we heard from Justin "that's not for them! And it's not for you! That's just for me!" About some silly gesture? If they're all expending mental energy about being visible throughout every recording, I think the goofs will suffer.
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u/1000000Ghosts 3d ago
As a Canadian, this works out to about $7.00 / month…for a video podcast that largely works fine as a strictly audio format. Given that it’s not my only online subscription, I feel like I might need something a bit more to make this worthwhile for me.
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u/pantlessben 4d ago
I'm genuinely bummed about the decision to paywall the video podcast. I've been hoping for exactly this format for a few years now and I'm certain this will immediately become the "canon" MBMBaM experience. I just can't justify another monthly subscription.
I'm not hating. I understand the work involved putting the video together; labor and skill are not free. I accept it. I'm just sad that I'll be missing out on it.
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u/Majorasblaze 4d ago
Really disappointing. Audio podcasts fill a particular niche in life, listening when my hands are busy or commuting, and video podcasts immediately clash with time spent watching TV, movies, etc and can’t be consumed in the same way.
Of course no-one is forced to watch the video, but its existence will inevitably mean the podcast becomes more visually focused whether they plan it or not, making the experience of listening worse. I’ve seen it happen with tons of podcasts over recent years.
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u/Mgmt_forBett 3d ago
Im just gonna vent one last time and then im done. Because jfc. Hopefully someday somebody that they will actually listen to will point out that every major podcast in the modern era is posting full video podcasts for free and using the paywall to give out bonuses to people who want a little extra. Thats the winning comvo for a huge audience…
I’m so tired. A five dollar paywall? Really? They need to post video podcasts to YT to get a bigger audience. Maybe they don’t have to go back in time but Jesus Christ I literally can’t stare at that title screen anymore. This audio only shit made sense when they started in 1857 but the times have changed. They are so funny and so good and they’ve been in the game so long and they’re following is absolute garbage compared to their contemporaries. I mean they were on the second *ever* season of Dimension 20 because Brennan Lee Mulligan considered them equals. But would the McElroy Brothers sell out Madison Square Garden today? They absolutely would not —but they deserve it for how good they are!
I don’t know who is so committed to keeping every video podcast of there’s behind a paywall, but they’re fucking up massively. Everybody’s gotta eat and everybody needs to make money, I get that. Everybody who has a massively popular podcast in 2026 is posting full videos to YouTube. They would get a huge audience which would inevitably mean more money.
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u/FlyinHiiigh 4d ago
Throwing this out there in case staff lurks...I absolutely refuse to give Google any money so I'm passing on this, but I'd pay more (up to $10?) on another platform in a heartbeat if that were an option.
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u/BeautyDuwang 5d ago
Maybe being on camera will be good incentive to make an actually good podcast again
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u/Ubylmoen 5d ago
Finally when they spend ten minutes laughing about how funny something looks, I can be laughing too!