How do you build a podcast that earns from every direction while keeping its creative core intact?
In this episode of PodBiz, Norma Jean Belenky speaks with Jack Levy, Creator, Producer, Director, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder & COO of Manifest Media Productions and creator of Table Read, the scripted series that brought Hollywood’s table-read tradition to podcasting. Jack shares how he turned creativity, collaboration, and business acumen into what he calls a “360 monetization” model that keeps storytelling at the center.
As he puts it:
“Money in podcasts is like a goddamn Easter egg hunt when you’re three. Everyone’s chasing the biggest egg, but if you’re paying attention, you’ll fill your basket with smaller ones that are worth even more.”
• What 360 monetization really means for creators and producers
• How Table Read turned community and collaboration into revenue
• Why partnerships and product alignment can be more valuable than ads
• How fiction and storytelling remain untapped business opportunities
• The importance of patience, quality, and purpose in building a brand
• What Jack wishes every independent podcaster understood about growth
Jack Levy is the Co-Founder of Manifest Media Productions and the creator of Table Read, a scripted podcast that transforms Hollywood’s creative process into audio storytelling. With a background in film and production, Jack’s work bridges creative culture with sustainable business practices, helping creators turn great stories into profitable ventures.
Connect with Jack on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0506446/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacklevyanefx/
The Table Read Podcast Website: https://www.tablereadpodcast.com/
Listen to The Table Read Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grg-the-pod/id1809713147?i=1000710066981
(00:00) Opening | Defining the 360-degree view of monetization
(02:19) Table Read | How the concept started and found its audience
(06:42) Building a business | Early partnerships and first wins
(10:33) Collaboration | Why aligned partners matter more than ad spend
(14:51) Storytelling and sustainability | Keeping creativity profitable
(19:03) Fiction podcasts | Why narrative formats are still wide open
(23:28) Audience growth | Building and maintaining a real community
(28:15) Easter eggs | What real monetization looks like in practice
(32:57) Lessons learned | Advice for new creators
(36:44) What’s next | The future of Table Read and Manifest Media
“You can’t pay people to care. You have to make something they believe in.”
“I just decided to stop waiting for somebody else to fund the thing I wanted to make.”
“The whole point of podcasting for me is the freedom to create without waiting for permission.”
PodBiz is the podcast about the business of podcasting. Hosted by industry veterans Norma Jean Belenky and John Kiernan, the show features conversations with creators, executives, and platform leaders to answer one question: Where’s the money in podcasting?
Each episode dives into monetization strategy, adtech, branded content, IP development, and audience growth. Guests include leaders from Acast, Captivate, Crooked Media, Buzzsprout, True Native Media, Podfest, and more.
Learn more: njbmedia.co | thepodhouseproductions.com
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