The Greatest Generation Podcast Turns 10: How Two Guys Built a Star Trek Empire [2025]

A decade is long. Really long. Consider this: no single iteration of Star Trek has lasted as long as The Greatest Generation podcast has been on the air. Not The Original Series (three seasons). Not The Next Generation (seven seasons, but that's different—we'll explain). Not Deep Space Nine, Voyager, or even Enterprise, which came and went in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

But somehow, a show that started as two guys just a little bit embarrassed to have a Star Trek podcast has now hit the 10-year mark. January 25, 2026, marks a full decade since The Greatest Generation debuted. And unlike most podcasts that fade into obscurity by year two, this one has only gotten stronger, more profitable, and somehow even more ridiculous.

This is the story of how two podcasters turned a niche hobby into a full-time career, built a multimedia company, spawned multiple spinoffs, and created one of the most loyal and hilarious fan communities on the internet. It's also a masterclass in sustainable podcast growth, community building, and what happens when you stop trying to be someone else and start just being yourself—fart jokes and all.

If you've never listened to The Greatest Generation, you're missing out on something special. If you have, you already know why this milestone matters. But either way, there's a lot to unpack about how this show became what it is, why it resonates so deeply with Star Trek fans and comedy podcast listeners alike, and what happens next after a full decade of episode-by-episode recaps through four different series.

The Humble Beginnings: When a Side Project Was Just a Side Project

Let's rewind to 2016. Ben Harrison and Adam Pranica were both working in film and television production. Ben was in New York. Adam was in Seattle. They weren't planning to become full-time podcasters. They weren't even sure anyone would listen to their show. They were just two guys who loved Star Trek, thought the existing podcast landscape was missing something, and decided to fill that gap themselves.

The pitch was simple but bold: a Star Trek podcast that didn't take itself too seriously. No celebrity guests. No attempts to interview the writers or actors. Just two friends talking about episodes week after week, finding the funny moments (intentional and otherwise), celebrating the minor characters nobody cares about, and generally making fun of the franchise they loved.

This approach was refreshing. Most Star Trek podcasts at the time fell into two categories: ultra-serious fan analysis or shallow entertainment industry coverage. The Greatest Generation split the difference. It was funny but informed. Irreverent but respectful. Dumb and smart at the same time.

When the show launched, Harrison and Pranica had no idea it would turn into anything more than a hobby. Podcasting in 2016 was still a relatively new medium. There was money to be made, but the path wasn't clear. Most podcasters were doing it for passion projects, maybe picking up a few sponsorships here and there.

Then something unexpected happened.

Sponsorships and advertising account for the largest share of revenue, followed by Patreon subscriptions. Estimated data based on typical podcast monetization models.

The Viral Moment: How an Ars Technica Article Changed Everything

In 2016, a journalist named Jennifer Ouellette at Ars Technica discovered The Greatest Generation podcast. She recognized something special: two funny, smart guys doing something genuinely different with the Star Trek podcast format. She wrote an article about them, and that single piece of coverage changed the trajectory of their careers.

Harrison and Pranica have spoken openly about how significant that moment was. In interviews, they've mentioned that people still come up to them saying, "I found you guys because of that Ars article at episode five." This is not hyperbole. That one feature launched them from a few hundred listeners to thousands. From a side project to something that actually mattered.

This is a crucial lesson about media coverage and audience building: the right press at the right time can fundamentally change a creator's trajectory. But here's what made it work for The Greatest Generation: they had already built something worth covering. The article didn't create quality out of nothing. It simply amplified something that was already resonating with people who found it.

Beyond the immediate audience boost, that Ars Technica coverage gave The Greatest Generation credibility. They weren't just two random guys doing a podcast. They were interesting enough to warrant coverage in a major publication. This helped attract sponsorships, which in turn helped them invest more time and resources into the show.

Within a few years of that article, both Harrison and Pranica made the leap to Los Angeles and turned podcasting into a full-time career. This wasn't a sudden decision. It was a gradual realization that the show had grown large enough and generating enough revenue that they could justify doing it professionally.

The Structure of Success: How Two Guys Turned One Podcast Into an Empire

By 2025, The Greatest Generation had evolved far beyond a weekly podcast about Star Trek: The Next Generation. The hosts had completed entire episode-by-episode recaps of TNG, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and were nearing the end of Enterprise. But that's just the beginning.

They founded Uxbridge-Shimoda LLC, a production company named after two obscure TNG-era characters. This company became the umbrella under which multiple projects operate. Let's break down their portfolio:

The Greatest Generation (Main Show): Still running strong, episode after episode of Star Trek analysis with comedy, recurring bits, and increasingly in-depth discussion about the show's production history and behind-the-scenes details.

The Greatest Trek: A spinoff launched in 2017 that covers the newer Star Trek series (Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, etc.). This shows how successful the original show had become—they could actually launch a second show and maintain quality.

Santa Monica Mountains: A podcast about Baywatch that follows the exact same format as The Greatest Generation. Yes, Baywatch. The hosts realized their format was portable and could be applied to other shows. The fact that they chose Baywatch is hilarious and perfectly on-brand.

Factory Seconds: An irregular podcast where the hosts literally eat at different Cheesecake Factory locations and talk about... food, probably? The randomness is part of the appeal. It's the kind of bit that only works because their audience trusts them completely.

Wholesome: Created in collaboration with You Tube cooking star Adam Ragusea, this podcast is exclusive to Patreon subscribers. This is smart monetization: give free listeners the main show, charge for premium content.

This diversification is strategic but organic. It doesn't feel like a cash grab. It feels like two people who genuinely enjoy creating content and found an audience willing to follow them into whatever project they want to pursue.

Market timing and time investment are crucial for podcast success, with business knowledge and initial capital also playing significant roles. Estimated data.

The Monetization Model: How Independent Podcasters Make Money

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: how do two podcasters make a full-time living?

The Greatest Generation uses a multi-pronged monetization approach that's actually more sophisticated than most independent creators realize.

Sponsorships and Advertising: This is the traditional podcast revenue model. The show has sponsors that pay for ad reads. As the show's audience grew, so did the sponsorship rates. By 2025, with years of loyal listeners and tens of thousands of downloads per episode, sponsorship deals are lucrative enough to sustain the operation.

Patreon Subscription: Like many successful podcasts, The Greatest Generation has a Patreon where fans can pay

Network Integration: The show was folded into Maximum Fun in 2016, a podcast network. While this meant giving up some autonomy, it provided infrastructure, distribution, and additional revenue streams. Later, the hosts created their own company, which gave them more control over their intellectual property.

Merch and Licensing: The Greatest Generation has official merchandise. Mugs, shirts, hats—all with inside jokes from the show. For a community as devoted as theirs, merchandise sales are meaningful revenue.

Live Shows: The hosts perform live shows where they do the podcast in front of an audience. Live performances generate ticket sales, which is pure revenue. Moreover, live shows deepen community bonds and create content for clips and promotion.

Affiliate Partnerships: While not explicitly stated, most podcasters with credible audiences have affiliate relationships with streaming services, Amazon, and other platforms.

Here's the financial reality: a podcast with 50,000 listeners per episode, sponsorship deals at

Basic Podcast Revenue Calculation:

Assuming the following metrics:

• 50,000 downloads per episode (conservative estimate)
• 2 ad reads per episode at $2,000 each (CPM-based pricing)
• 52 episodes per year
• 2,000 Patreon subscribers at average $8/month

These numbers are rough, but they illustrate how a successful independent podcast can generate six-figure revenue. This is why Harrison and Pranica could leave traditional media jobs and make podcasting their primary focus.

The Community Factor: Why This Podcast Has Staying Power

Here's what separates The Greatest Generation from hundreds of other podcasts that launched in 2016 and are now dead: community.

The hosts didn't just create a show and broadcast it into the void. They cultivated a community of deeply engaged listeners who felt like they were part of something special. This happened through several mechanisms:

Recurring Bits and Shared Language: The show developed its own vocabulary and recurring segments. "Drunk Shimoda" is a segment where the hosts pick the most "Shimoda-like" moment from an episode (a reference to an obscure character who always gets beaten up). "Bad Bit Moment" highlights cringe comedy from the show. "Polo? Polo? Or Pollo?" plays on a running joke about pronunciation. These bits became so beloved that the community references them constantly.

Direct Engagement: The hosts interact with their audience. They read listener emails on the show. They acknowledge contributions from community members. They make inside jokes based on things listeners have shared. This creates a sense of belonging.

Live Shows and Meetups: The community has organized real-world gatherings. Listeners organize watch parties. The hosts do live shows. This transforms parasocial relationships into actual friendships. People make genuine connections through the podcast community.

Authenticity: The hosts are genuinely funny and genuinely interested in Star Trek. They're not fake-enthusiastic. They have actual opinions. When they don't like something, they say so. When they discover something cool, they get legitimately excited. This authenticity is the secret sauce that separates communities that endure from those that fade away.

Parasocial Relationships Done Right: There's been a lot of discourse about parasocial relationships in online media being unhealthy. But The Greatest Generation shows how parasocial relationships can actually be positive. The hosts encourage healthy boundaries. They acknowledge the weirdness of the dynamic. They're grateful for their listeners without being dependent on them. This creates a more sustainable community.

The community is so strong that when the hosts discussed the possibility of ending the show or moving on to other projects, listeners pushed back. Not in an aggressive way, but in a "please don't leave us" way. That's the power of genuine community.

The Evolution of Content: From Recap Show to Cultural Commentary

When The Greatest Generation started, it was genuinely just a recap show. Hosts watch an episode of TNG, then talk about it for an hour. Simple format.

But over a decade, the show evolved. The hosts became more skilled at comedy. They learned what their audience wanted. They developed interests beyond just "what happened in this episode."

The show started incorporating more production history. The hosts would talk about who directed a particular episode, or research interesting facts about when it aired and what was happening in television at that time. They started having deeper conversations about the show's themes and cultural context.

The comedy matured too. Early episodes relied more on surface-level jokes and absurdist humor (hence the famous fart jokes). By 2025, the humor was more sophisticated—callbacks to earlier episodes, deeper character analysis, more subtle comedic timing.

The hosts also became more comfortable expressing genuine opinions about Star Trek. They don't pretend every episode is good. They'll regularly say, "This episode sucks, but here's why it's funny that it sucks." This balance between loving something and being honest about its flaws is what makes the show work.

As they approached the end of their fourth series (Enterprise), the hosts started thinking about the bigger picture. They've talked about potentially rewatching the earlier series. The idea of going back to episode one of TNG and doing it all again, but with ten years of experience, new audience, and evolved understanding of the show, is genuinely exciting to the community.

This is important: a successful content project doesn't have to be static. It can evolve with the creators and the audience. The Greatest Generation proved you can maintain core identity while growing and changing.

Even at a 2% conversion rate, The Greatest Generation could generate $25,000 from merchandise sales, highlighting the potential of this secondary revenue stream. Estimated data.

The Format: Why "Just Talking" Works So Well

There's something almost counterintuitive about The Greatest Generation's success. It's not a highly produced show with multiple segments, guest appearances, and elaborate editing. It's two guys talking. That's it.

But this simplicity is actually a superpower. Here's why:

Authenticity: You can't fake two hours of genuine conversation. Either the dynamic works or it doesn't. With Harrison and Pranica, it works because they have actual chemistry. They're actually funny together. They actually like each other. This comes through the microphone.

Consistency: The format is so simple that they can maintain quality week after week without burning out. They don't need to write sketches, book guests, or do elaborate production work. They just watch an episode and talk about it.

Accessibility: There's no barrier to entry for listeners. You don't need special knowledge. You don't need to have listened to previous episodes (though longtime listeners get more jokes). You just need to like the hosts and find the episode funny.

Scalability: This format scales perfectly. As their audience grew, they didn't need to dramatically change the production. The show is just as good with 10,000 listeners as it is with 100,000 listeners.

The hosts have been very deliberate about this. They've explicitly said they don't want to bring in celebrity guests or fundamentally change the format. The core of the show is the relationship between the two hosts and the audience. Adding third-party elements would complicate that.

This is a lesson for any creator: simplicity isn't a limitation. It's often a feature. The best content usually has a clear, repeatable format that works for your specific talents and audience.

The Business of Happiness: Why This Model Matters

Harrison and Pranica have both described this as the best job they've ever had. This is significant. In an era where creative professionals often struggle financially, two podcasters have built sustainable, full-time careers doing something they genuinely love.

This matters beyond just their personal success. It's an existence proof. It proves that:

1. Independent creators can sustain themselves: You don't need to sell out to a major network or corporation. You can build a business directly with your audience.

2. Niche content can be profitable: The Greatest Generation isn't trying to appeal to everyone. It's specifically for Star Trek fans who appreciate irreverent humor. By going deep into a niche rather than broad and shallow, they built something more valuable.

3. Long-term thinking pays off: This took time. The first few years were probably hard financially. But by staying committed, the hosts built something that compound over time. Loyalty compounds. Community compounds. Trust compounds.

4. You don't need venture capital: The podcast industry is increasingly dominated by VC-backed shows that need to grow aggressively to justify investor returns. The Greatest Generation grew organically, which meant it could prioritize sustainability and quality over pure growth metrics.

The hosts have also been thoughtful about professionalization without losing authenticity. They hired employees. They formed a proper business entity. They got accountants and lawyers and business managers. But they didn't let these things distort the core product. The show is still just two guys being funny about Star Trek.

They've also been thoughtful about the fact that they're now responsible for other people's livelihoods. This has added seriousness to what started as a fun hobby. But this seriousness, as Adam Pranica has noted, has made them take the craft more seriously and produce better work.

The Lexicon: How a Podcast Creates Culture

One of the more fascinating aspects of The Greatest Generation's success is the development of its own lexicon—a specific vocabulary that's unique to the show and its community.

A "Friend of De Soto" (or Fo D) is a listener and fan of the show. The term comes from an obscure TNG character and has become the primary identity marker for the community. Calling yourself a "Friend of De Soto" signals that you're part of the in-group.

This kind of language creation is powerful. It creates identity and belonging. When you have a word for your community, the community becomes more real and more cohesive.

Beyond terminology, the show has developed its own running jokes and references that accumulate over 10 years. A listener who's been around since episode one has a vastly deeper understanding of the show's humor than someone who just started. This creates layers of engagement.

But importantly, the show remains accessible to newcomers. New listeners can jump in anytime. But longtime listeners have deeper appreciation. This is the mark of sustainable community content.

Building a sustainable media business involves key principles such as building a community and staying authentic, both rated highly in importance. (Estimated data)

The Spinoffs: When One Success Becomes Many

Once The Greatest Generation proved the model worked, Harrison and Pranica didn't rest on their laurels. They extended the brand in multiple directions.

The Greatest Trek (focused on new Star Trek shows) was a logical extension. But Santa Monica Mountains (a Baywatch podcast using the exact same format) was bolder. This was essentially saying, "Our format works for any TV show." This could have been a cash grab, but the hosts approached it with the same care and quality.

The success of these spinoffs proves several things:

1. The format is replicable: Good methodology transcends the specific subject matter.

2. The audience trusts the hosts: People were willing to listen to a podcast about Baywatch because they trusted Harrison and Pranica to make it entertaining.

3. Diversification reduces risk: By not putting all eggs in the Star Trek basket, they've created more resilience.

4. You can leverage an existing audience: The spinoffs didn't start from zero. They had an existing community to draw from.

Factory Seconds and Wholesome push even further into randomness and niche content. Factory Seconds is literally just the hosts eating at Cheesecake Factory. But it works because the community is there for the hang, not specifically for Star Trek analysis.

This speaks to something Adam Pranica explicitly said in interviews: the audience doesn't come for Star Trek specifically. They come for the hang. They come to hear two funny people talk about something they care about.

The Technology Stack: What's Required to Run a Modern Podcast

While The Greatest Generation doesn't focus on technical sophistication, it does require a decent tech stack to produce, distribute, and monetize a podcast at scale.

For production, the hosts need:

• Quality microphones and audio recording equipment
• Audio editing software (Audacity, Adobe Audition, or similar)
• Mixing and mastering tools
• A reliable recording setup (home studio)

For distribution:

• Podcast hosting platform (Podbean, Buzzsprout, Anchor, or similar)
• Distribution to all major platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.)
• Website and RSS feed management

For community engagement:

• Email list management (Mailchimp, Convert Kit, etc.)
• Patreon or similar subscription platform
• Social media management tools
• Discord or similar community platform

For monetization and business:

• Sponsorship platform (Acast, Podtrac, or direct deals)
• Analytics tools to track downloads and engagement
• Payment processing (Stripe, Pay Pal)
• Business accounting software

The key insight is that technology is enabler, not core product. The Greatest Generation doesn't rely on fancy technical features. It relies on good content, good hosts, and good community management.

Looking Forward: What Happens After Enterprise

As of early 2026, The Greatest Generation is nearing the end of Enterprise, the fourth major Star Trek series they've covered. This raises the big question: what's next?

The hosts have publicly discussed the possibility of rewatching TNG from the beginning. This isn't just repetition. It would be the same series through the lens of a more experienced comedy duo, a deeper-engaged audience, and a decade of cultural change.

There's also the possibility of covering the newer shows (Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds) more thoroughly through the main show, rather than just the Greatest Trek spinoff. As these shows have progressed and become more established, they've become more interesting to the hosts.

Then there's the question of sustainability. The hosts have said they're committed for the long haul. The idea that they're "going to die in these chairs" suggests they see this as a lifetime project. But podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint. Keeping creative momentum over 20+ years would be genuinely difficult.

What seems likely is evolution rather than conclusion. The format might change. The shows might proliferate. The community might expand. But the core—two funny people talking about stuff they care about—will probably remain.

Regardless of what happens next, the 10-year milestone is genuinely significant. In an industry where sustainability is rare and long-term success even rarer, The Greatest Generation has proven that thoughtful, community-focused content creation can build a lasting career and business.

The Greatest Generation podcast has seen significant growth in its listener base and spinoff launches over its 10-year history. Estimated data shows a steady increase in both areas, highlighting its success and influence in the podcasting world.

The Lesson for Content Creators: How to Build a Sustainable Media Business

If there's one takeaway from The Greatest Generation's decade-long success, it's that sustainable content creation requires a specific set of principles.

Find Your Angle: Don't try to be everything to everyone. Find the specific thing that makes your content different. For The Greatest Generation, it was irreverent, funny analysis of a show that most people took too seriously. For you, it might be something completely different. The key is clarity.

Build Community, Not Just Audience: An audience is passive. A community is active. People in a community talk to each other, help each other, and feel genuine connection. The difference between 100,000 passive listeners and 50,000 active community members is vast. The community members are more engaged, more likely to pay for premium content, and more likely to stick around long-term.

Be Consistent: The Greatest Generation has released episodes on a consistent schedule (usually weekly) for 10 years. This consistency builds trust. Your audience knows they can count on you. You don't have to be frequent, but you have to be reliable.

Diversify Revenue: Don't depend on a single sponsorship deal or ad network. Build multiple revenue streams so that losing one doesn't destroy your business. Sponsorships, subscriptions, merchandise, live shows, affiliate relationships—every bit helps.

Invest in Quality: You don't need expensive equipment or elaborate production. But you do need to care about quality. The Greatest Generation sounds good. The hosts are well-prepared. The show has clear audio and consistent structure. These are table stakes.

Stay Authentic: This is the hardest thing to do as you become successful, because there's always pressure to change the formula, chase growth, or appeal to a broader audience. The Greatest Generation has resisted this pressure. The show is still fundamentally the same as it was in 2016, just better.

Build Relationships With Other Creators: The hosts are part of the Maximum Fun network. They collaborate with other creators. This builds mutual support and cross-promotion opportunities. You're stronger together than alone.

Think Long-term: A decade is a long time to think about when you're starting something new. But that's the mindset required for sustainable success. You're not trying to get rich quick. You're trying to build something that can last.

The Cultural Impact: Why This Matters Beyond Star Trek

From a broader perspective, The Greatest Generation's success represents something important about media consumption and fan culture in the 2010s and 2020s.

Traditional media institutions (networks, studios, publishers) have less cultural authority than they used to. Increasingly, fans are creating their own narratives and conversations around media they love. The Greatest Generation is part of this shift. It's not official Star Trek content, but it's arguably more influential in some circles than official content.

This democratization of cultural commentary is powerful. It means that thoughtful, funny people who aren't part of the entertainment industry establishment can still build significant audiences and influence.

The Greatest Generation also shows how fan communities can be joyful and inclusive rather than toxic. The online discussion around the show is notably positive compared to many other fandoms. The hosts model healthy fandom: loving something while being honest about its flaws, celebrating minor characters, and generally having fun with the material rather than taking it too seriously.

In an era where online spaces can be pretty dark and divisive, the Greatest Generation community is a reminder that it doesn't have to be that way. A community organized around shared love of something and good humor can actually be a genuinely nice place to spend time.

The Financial Reality: What It Actually Takes

Let's be honest about the financial side. The Greatest Generation's success is not random. It required several things:

Time Investment: In the early days, the hosts were likely working other jobs while producing the podcast. This is standard for indie creators. You don't quit your job on day one. You prove the model works first.

Capital for Equipment: You need at least $500-2,000 to set up a decent home recording studio. This isn't a huge barrier, but it's not nothing. Podcasting is more accessible than video production, but you still need some initial investment.

Business Knowledge: At some point, you need to understand taxes, contracts, incorporation, and basic business operations. Many creators underestimate this. You can hire professionals, but you need to know enough to manage them intelligently.

Market Timing: The Great Generation launched in 2016, right as podcasting was entering mainstream consciousness. Being early in a growing medium helped. If they launched in 2026, they'd be competing in a much more crowded space.

Luck: All successful projects have an element of luck. An Ars Technica writer discovering them at the right time. A growth in Star Trek popularity. Finding the right network partner. You can maximize your chances of luck through quality and consistency, but you can't eliminate the role of chance.

Estimated data shows that while many listeners discover and trial a podcast, fewer progress to being community members or advocates. The Greatest Generation excels in retaining listeners through these phases.

The Personal Cost: Is It Worth It

The hosts have been surprisingly honest about the fact that professionalization came with challenges. What started as a fun hobby became a job with real stakes. Employees depend on them. Listeners depend on them. The show became a business.

This introduces pressure and stress that a pure hobby doesn't have. The hosts have mentioned feeling burnt out at various points. They've had to think about commercial considerations that wouldn't have mattered when the show was just for fun.

But both have indicated that the positives far outweigh the negatives. They get to work together on something they love. They have financial security. They've built something that matters to thousands of people. They're not working corporate jobs they don't care about.

For most creators contemplating this path, this is the real question: are you willing to exchange the purity of a hobby for the stakes and stress of a job, even if the job is doing the thing you love?

The answer for Harrison and Pranica was clearly yes.

The Networks: Working With Maximum Fun

One decision that significantly impacted The Greatest Generation's growth was joining the Maximum Fun podcast network in 2016. This is worth examining because it's a choice many indie creators face: stay independent or join a network.

For The Greatest Generation, Maximum Fun provided:

• Distribution infrastructure and relationships with podcast platforms
• Access to other podcasters in the network for collaboration and cross-promotion
• Sponsorship opportunities and negotiating power with brands
• Business and legal support
• Technical infrastructure for hosting and delivery

The trade-off was giving up some autonomy and revenue. Networks take a cut in exchange for these services.

However, the hosts later created their own company, Uxbridge-Shimoda LLC, which gave them more control over their IP and revenue. This is a common progression: creators join a network for support early on, then spin off to create their own company once they're established.

This demonstrates that there's no single "right" path. Different decisions work for different creators at different points in their journey.

The Merchandise Machine: Monetizing Community Loyalty

Merchandise seems like a small thing, but it's often underestimated by creators. The Greatest Generation has official merch with inside jokes and references from the show.

Why is this significant? Because merch serves multiple functions:

1. Revenue: Selling a $25 shirt to someone in your audience is pure profit (after manufacturing costs).

2. Marketing: A person wearing a Greatest Generation shirt is advertising the show to everyone who sees them.

3. Community Reinforcement: Owning merchandise makes someone feel more invested in the community. It's tangible proof of membership.

4. Quality Signal: If your merch is good quality and actually looks cool, it signals that you care about your brand and your audience.

Merch is not a primary revenue stream for most creators, but it's a valuable secondary stream. A typical estimate is that 3-5% of your audience will purchase merch if it's good quality and well-marketed.

For The Greatest Generation with potentially 50,000+ regular listeners, even a 2% conversion rate would generate significant revenue.

Looking at Metrics: How You Measure Podcast Success

The podcast industry loves to talk about downloads, but that's actually a misleading metric. Here's what actually matters:

Completion Rate: What percentage of people who start an episode finish it? This indicates engagement quality.

Listener Retention: Are the same people listening week after week? Or is your audience constantly churning?

Engagement Metrics: Replies to emails, social media interactions, Patreon subscribers. These indicate investment.

Revenue Per Listener: Not all downloads are equal. A highly engaged listener is worth more than a casual listener.

Audience Growth Rate: Are you growing? Stable? Declining? The trajectory matters more than the absolute number.

The Greatest Generation likely excels in all of these metrics. The fact that listeners are willing to pay for Patreon subscriptions indicates high engagement. The fact that they've maintained the show for 10 years suggests strong retention. The diversity of revenue streams suggests healthy monetization.

If you're evaluating a podcast's success, look at these metrics rather than raw download numbers. A small, engaged audience is more valuable than a large, disengaged one.

The Production Process: What Does It Actually Take

For a weekly podcast, the production process typically looks like:

Pre-production (5 hours):

• Watching or reviewing the source material (TV episode)
• Taking notes
• Planning talking points
• Technical setup

Recording (2-3 hours):

• Actual recording (usually 1.5-2 hours)
• Multiple takes for specific segments
• Setup and breakdown

Post-production (8-10 hours):

• Editing and mixing
• Adding intro/outro music
• Checking audio levels
• Creating show notes
• Uploading to hosting platform

So each episode requires roughly 15-20 hours of work. For a weekly show, that's basically a full-time job for one person.

For The Greatest Generation, this is multiplied by the fact that they also produce multiple other shows. This is why they eventually needed to hire employees and staff. You literally cannot sustain this output solo at scale.

This is an important consideration for anyone thinking about starting a podcast: producing a quality weekly show is a significant time commitment. Longer than many people realize.

The Listener Lifecycle: From Discovery to Community Member

Understanding how listeners progress through the funnel is important for building sustainable audiences.

Awareness Phase: A potential listener discovers the show through word-of-mouth, a blog post, or a social media reference.

Trial Phase: They listen to 1-3 episodes to see if they like it.

Regular Listening Phase: They're hooked. They listen weekly. They become familiar with the hosts and recurring jokes.

Community Phase: They join the Discord or social media community. They might start a Patreon subscription. They engage with other listeners.

Advocacy Phase: They tell friends about the show. They wear merchandise. They attend live shows. They're invested in the community's growth.

Not every listener goes through all of these phases. But the healthiest communities have a significant portion of listeners in the later phases.

The Greatest Generation appears to excel at moving listeners through these phases. The recurring jokes, community engagement, live shows, and merchandise all serve to deepen listener commitment.

The Future of Independent Podcasting

The Greatest Generation is part of a broader trend toward independent podcasting and creator-owned media. What started as a fringe thing (creators owning their own distribution) is now mainstream.

Several factors drive this:

Technology: Podcast hosting and distribution platforms make it easy for independent creators to reach listeners. You don't need a network or corporate backing.

Audience Preference: Audiences increasingly prefer authentic, independent creators over corporate content. There's less trust in institutions, more trust in individuals.

Economics: Advertising still works, but subscription models (Patreon, membership sites) are proving more stable and potentially more lucrative.

Scale: The podcast ecosystem has matured enough that creators can build full-time careers without relying on a network or corporation.

The Great Generation is essentially a case study in how this shift happens. The show proved that you can build a sustainable, full-time business directly with your audience, without requiring network support.

That said, networks still play a role. They provide services that independent creators might struggle with. The key is that it's now a choice rather than a requirement.

Lessons for Aspiring Podcasters

If you're thinking about starting a podcast or creating some form of serialized content, here are the lessons from The Greatest Generation:

1. Be Specific: Find your specific angle. Don't try to be everything to everyone.

2. Be Consistent: Show up on schedule. Build trust through reliability.

3. Be Authentic: Don't try to be someone you're not. Your personality is your competitive advantage.

4. Build Community: Don't just broadcast. Build actual relationships with your audience.

5. Diversify Revenue: Don't depend on any single revenue stream.

6. Think Long-term: A decade of consistent output beats a year of explosive growth that burns out.

7. Care About Quality: You don't need expensive equipment, but you need to care about how your show sounds and feels.

8. Be Patient: Success takes time. Most creators quit before they reach an audience of meaningful size.

9. Invest in Yourself: As your project grows, hire people, upgrade equipment, and professionalize. This enables further growth.

10. Remember Why You Started: The reason The Greatest Generation has staying power is that the hosts genuinely love Star Trek and love making each other laugh. Never lose that core motivation.

The 10-Year Milestone: What Does It Mean

Reaching 10 years is significant for several reasons:

It Proves Viability: The model works. It's not a fluke. A decade of consistent releases, loyal audience, and sustainable revenue proves the approach is sound.

It Demonstrates Staying Power: Not just the audience, but the creators themselves. Harrison and Pranica could have gotten bored, tried to pivot to something else, or simply run out of energy. They didn't. This speaks to both their passion and business discipline.

It Shows Cultural Impact: A 10-year podcast with a devoted community has influenced how people consume and discuss Star Trek. It's created its own language, inside jokes, and culture.

It Represents a Career: For the hosts, this isn't a side project anymore. It's a business that's generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, employed multiple people, and provided them with a genuinely comfortable living.

It's Still Growing: Unlike many long-running projects that plateau or decline after the initial growth phase, The Greatest Generation appears to still be growing. New listeners discover it every month. The community remains vibrant.

The 10-year mark is not a finish line. It's a waypoint on what will likely be a much longer journey.

FAQ

What is The Greatest Generation podcast?

The Greatest Generation is a weekly podcast that covers Star Trek: The Next Generation episode by episode. The show is hosted by Ben Harrison and Adam Pranica, who discuss each episode with humor, analysis of production details, and celebrations of minor characters. The podcast is notable for its irreverent tone, recurring comedic bits, and ability to balance genuine fandom with funny critique.

How did The Greatest Generation become a full-time career?

The show grew from a side project in 2016 to a major podcast through consistent quality, audience engagement, and strategic monetization. After being featured in Ars Technica in 2016, the show's audience grew significantly. The hosts joined the Maximum Fun network, which provided distribution infrastructure and sponsorship opportunities. Over time, multiple revenue streams (sponsorships, Patreon subscriptions, merchandise, live shows) provided enough income for the hosts to leave traditional media jobs and focus full-time on podcasting. By forming their own company, Uxbridge-Shimoda LLC, they gained more control over their intellectual property and revenue.

What makes The Greatest Generation's community so engaged?

The community is engaged because of several factors: the hosts developed their own unique vocabulary and recurring bits that listeners adopted, the hosts directly engage with their audience through social media and on the show, live shows and meetups create real-world connections, and the format emphasizes authenticity over artificial entertainment. The hosts also make it clear they don't take themselves too seriously, which creates a fun, inclusive atmosphere. The parasocial relationship between hosts and listeners is handled thoughtfully, encouraging healthy boundaries while maintaining genuine connection.

How does The Greatest Generation make money?

The podcast uses multiple revenue streams: sponsorships and advertising deals, Patreon subscriptions for premium content, merchandise sales, live show ticket sales, affiliate partnerships, and licensing deals. By diversifying revenue sources, the podcast is less dependent on any single income stream, which improves financial sustainability. The exact financial figures are not public, but industry analysis suggests a well-established podcast with 50,000+ regular listeners can generate six-figure annual revenue through these combined streams.

What are the spinoff shows from The Greatest Generation?

The main spinoffs and related projects include: The Greatest Trek, which covers newer Star Trek series (Discovery, Picard, etc.); Santa Monica Mountains, a podcast about the 1980s/90s TV show Baywatch using the same format; Factory Seconds, an irregular podcast where the hosts eat at Cheesecake Factory locations; Wholesome, a podcast about cooking created in collaboration with You Tube chef Adam Ragusea; and various other projects. These spinoffs demonstrate that the hosts' format and sensibility can be applied to other subjects beyond Star Trek.

How has The Greatest Generation evolved over 10 years?

The show has evolved from simple episode recaps to more sophisticated comedy with deeper production analysis, greater focus on the show's cultural context and history, and more polished comedic timing. The hosts became more skilled at their craft over time. The show also expanded from covering just The Next Generation to covering Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. Beyond the original show, the hosts launched multiple spinoffs, created their own company, hired employees, and professionalized their operation. However, the core format and ethos have remained consistent.

Is The Greatest Generation podcast accessible to new listeners?

Yes, the podcast is accessible to newcomers. New listeners can start with any recent episode and enjoy it without prior knowledge. However, longtime listeners (who have heard all previous episodes) have much deeper appreciation for callbacks, inside jokes, and the development of community terminology. The show doesn't require extensive Star Trek knowledge to enjoy, as the hosts explain context for casual viewers. The format of recapping episodes each week means new listeners can jump in anytime without feeling lost.

What happens after The Greatest Generation finishes covering Enterprise?

The hosts have publicly discussed potentially rewatching The Next Generation from the beginning, now with a more experienced comedy duo, deeper audience engagement, and evolved understanding of the show. This would not be a simple repeat—it would be a new interpretation of familiar material. There's also potential for deeper coverage of newer Star Trek shows through the main podcast rather than just the spinoff. The hosts have expressed commitment to continuing the project long-term, suggesting the show will continue evolving rather than ending after Enterprise.

Conclusion: The Sustainable Creator Dream

The Greatest Generation's 10-year journey is ultimately a story about the possibility of sustainable creative careers in the modern media landscape. In an era dominated by venture capital, consolidation, and corporate control of media distribution, this podcast represents something different: two people who built something meaningful directly with their audience, without relying on institutional backing or rapid growth metrics.

This doesn't mean it's easy. The hosts invested significant time and effort. They dealt with the challenges of professionalization and the stress of having employees and audience expectations. They had to learn business skills most comedians don't need. They had to overcome imposter syndrome and the weird social dynamics of parasocial relationships.

But they did it. And in doing so, they created something that's made thousands of people happier, built a genuine community, generated meaningful income for multiple people, and proved that this model can work.

For content creators considering going independent or building their own audience, The Greatest Generation is a masterclass in how to do it right. Not fast, not flashy, not growth-obsessed—but genuine, consistent, and sustainable.

The hosts have described themselves as "going to die in these chairs," suggesting this is a lifetime project. For listeners who've been around since episode one, or discovered the show last month, that's good news. There's a lot more Star Trek recaps coming.

And honestly? In a world full of chaos and awfulness, that's exactly what we need.

Key Takeaways

• The Greatest Generation proved that independent podcasters can build sustainable full-time careers through direct audience relationships without network backing
• Diversified revenue streams (sponsorships, Patreon, merchandise, live shows) are essential for podcast sustainability—no single income source is sufficient
• Community building creates value beyond audience size; engaged 50,000-listener community outperforms passive 500,000-listener audience for long-term success
• Consistency over 10 years compounds audience loyalty, enabling both hosts to transition from film production to full-time creators with multiple employees
• Format simplicity (two hosts talking about one show weekly) enables quality consistency and scalability, proving sophisticated production isn't required for success

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