Relay FM
Relay FM is an independent podcast network founded in 2014 that aggregates ~20+ weekly shows covering technology, the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and creativity, monetized through paid memberships ($7/month or $70/year), per-show sponsorships, merchandise, and ticketed live events for individual consumer listeners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Relay FM does
Relay FM is an independent podcast network founded in 2014 by Myke Hurley and Stephen Hackett, operating as Relay FM, LLC and headquartered in Austin, Texas (with a Memphis, TN mailing address). The company aggregates a portfolio of approximately 20+ weekly podcasts covering technology, the Apple ecosystem, productivity, gaming, stationery, and creative workflows, with shows such as Mac Power Users, Connected, Upgrade, Clockwise, Cortex, The Pen Addict, Analog(ue), Virtual, and Thoroughly Considered. Content is distributed through major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, YouTube, and RSS feeds.
The underlying technology stack is assembled from third-party services rather than proprietary infrastructure: Libsyn handles audio hosting, Memberful manages paid membership subscriptions, Stripe processes payments, Squarespace powers the blog, and Ti.to handles ticketing for live events. The membership program is priced at $7 per month or $70 per year, granting ad-free episodes, members-only podcasts, and access to a Discord community.
The business operates on three revenue streams: paid membership subscriptions (recurring), podcast sponsorships (advertising sold per show, with rotating sponsors such as Squarespace, Mercury Weather, Workbrew, Daylite, Fitbod, and Sentry), and merchandise sold through a Cotton Bureau storefront. Live events, ticketed through Ti.to, add a fourth event-driven revenue channel. Relay FM serves individual consumer listeners interested in technology, creativity, and the Apple ecosystem, with no enterprise or B2B customer base and no disclosed institutional funding.
Relay FM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Relay FM
- Legal name
- Relay FM, LLC
- Website
- https://relay.fm
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Relay FM is an independent podcast network founded in 2014 that aggregates ~20+ weekly shows covering technology, the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and creativity, monetized through paid memberships ($7/month or $70/year), per-show sponsorships, merchandise, and ticketed live events for individual consumer listeners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Relay FM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcast Network
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where Relay FM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Relay FM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership/Subscription: Monthly and annual paid memberships offering ad-free episodes, members-only podcasts, and Discord community access. Priced at $7/month or $70/year.
- Podcast Sponsorships: Sponsors such as Workbrew, Daylite, Squarespace, Mercury Weather, and others advertise during podcast episodes. Each show has multiple sponsors integrated into episodes.
- Merchandise: Merchandise including stickers and shirts sold through Cotton Bureau. The site links to a store for Relay-branded merchandise.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Membership - $7/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership - $70/year |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
Relay FM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Relay FM operates an independent podcast network producing weekly technology and creativity-focused audio shows hosted by influential internet personalities. The network distributes episodes across major podcast platforms and monetizes through paid memberships offering ad-free content, members-only shows, and Discord community access, supplemented by podcast sponsorships and branded merchandise.
Product overview
Relay FM is a podcast network offering a platform of multiple technology and creativity-focused shows. The core product is the Relay FM Podcast Network itself, which comprises numerous individual podcast shows including Mac Power Users (Apple technology workflows), Connected (Apple and tech panel), Upgrade (technology shaping lives), Clockwise (rapid-fire tech discussions), Cortex (creative workflows), The Pen Addict (stationery), Virtual (video games), Analog(ue) (digital life impact), and many others. Additional offerings include a paid Membership program ($7/month or $70/year) providing ad-free content, longer episodes, members-only podcasts, and Discord access; Live Events featuring in-person shows; and a merchandise Store via Cotton Bureau. The network distributes content through multiple platforms including Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, YouTube, and RSS feeds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Relay FM Membership A paid membership program priced at $7/month or $70/year that provides listeners with ad-free and longer episodes of Relay FM podcasts, access to members-only podcast feeds, and entry to the Relay FM Discord community.
- Mac Power Users A weekly podcast about getting the most from Apple technology through focused topic discussions and workflow guest interviews, hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Robles.
- Connected A weekly panel podcast discussing Apple and the impact of technology on everyday life, hosted by Federico Viticci, Stephen Hackett, and Myke Hurley.
- Upgrade A weekly podcast examining how technology shapes our lives, from devices and apps to streaming services, hosted by Jason Snell and Myke Hurley.
- Clockwise A rapid-fire 30-minute weekly podcast discussing current technology issues with two special guests, hosted by Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent.
- Cortex A podcast exploring how creative people think about and complete their work, covering workflows, apps, devices, and habits, hosted by Myke Hurley.
- Analog(ue) A podcast about how digital devices make people feel and how they change lives for better and worse, hosted by Casey Liss and Myke Hurley.
- Virtual A podcast about games, gamers, game makers, and gaming culture, hosted by Federico Viticci and Myke Hurley.
- Relay FM Live Events In-person live podcast show events featuring Relay FM hosts and special guests, with ticket sales managed through the Ti.to platform.
- Relay FM Store Merchandise store offering Relay FM branded items such as stickers and shirts, fulfilled through the Cotton Bureau platform.
Companies that use Relay FM
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Relay FM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Relay FM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Relay FM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Maximum Fun: Maximum Fun is an independent, listener-supported podcast network founded by Jesse Thorn, operating a multi-show portfolio with membership/sponsorship monetization. It is directly comparable to Relay FM as a peer-sized independent podcast network monetized through memberships, sponsorships, and a shared community ethos.
- Gimlet Media (Spotify Studios): Gimlet Media was a high-profile independent tech and culture podcast network, now owned by Spotify. It is comparable to Relay FM as a multi-show portfolio network where host-driven storytelling and tech-adjacent content drove audience growth and advertiser demand.
- Earwolf (SiriusXM): Earwolf is a long-running podcast network operating multiple comedy and culture shows, now owned by SiriusXM. It is directly comparable to Relay FM as a network that aggregates individual podcast shows under a shared brand, monetized through sponsorships and platform deals.
- Radiotopia (PRX): Radiotopia is PRX's curated podcast network of independently produced shows with listener-supported and sponsorship revenue. It is comparable to Relay FM as a curated multi-show network leveraging host reputations and distributed monetization models.
- Crooked Media: Crooked Media is an independent podcast and media company founded by political commentators, operating a portfolio of high-profile shows. It is comparable to Relay FM as a host-driven, multi-show independent podcast network monetized through ads and a paying subscriber base.
- Headgum: Headgum is an independent comedy and culture podcast network operating multiple shows with host-led audiences. It is comparable to Relay FM as a peer-sized indie network aggregating creators under shared distribution, ad sales, and community operations.
Broad incumbents
- Wondery: Wondery is a major podcast network acquired by Amazon, producing high-budget narrative and talk shows at significantly greater scale. It is comparable as a broader incumbent in podcasting that competes for top-tier hosts, ad budgets, and audio platform distribution.
- The Ringer: The Ringer is a media and podcast network owned by Spotify, covering sports, tech, and pop culture across multiple shows. It is comparable as a broader media incumbent that operates host-driven podcast portfolios with cross-platform distribution.
- Pinna: Pinna is a subscription audio streaming service for kids and families, operating curated audio series. It is comparable as a subscription-driven audio network distributing content via mobile apps and major podcast platforms, sitting adjacent to Relay FM's audio vertical.
Others
- Midroll Media: Midroll Media is a podcast advertising sales and hosting business (SiriusXM). It is adjacent rather than a direct competitor, but comparable to Relay FM as a podcast monetization ecosystem participant that handles sponsorship sales infrastructure used by independent shows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Relay FM social profiles
Digital presenceRelay FM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Relay FM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Relay FM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Relay FM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Relay FM
What does Relay FM do?
Relay FM operates an independent podcast network producing weekly technology and creativity-focused audio shows hosted by influential internet personalities. The network distributes episodes across major podcast platforms and monetizes through paid memberships offering ad-free content, members-only shows, and Discord community access, supplemented by podcast sponsorships and branded merchandise.
Is Relay FM a public or private company?
Relay FM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Relay FM founded?
Relay FM was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Relay FM based?
Relay FM is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Relay FM make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership/Subscription is the primary driver. The others are podcast Sponsorships and merchandise.
Who are Relay FM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Maximum Fun, Gimlet Media (Spotify Studios), Earwolf (SiriusXM), Radiotopia (PRX), Crooked Media and Headgum. Broad incumbents are Wondery, The Ringer and Pinna. Midroll Media is listed as an others.
Does Relay FM have an API?
No public API is recorded for Relay FM.
What industry is Relay FM in?
Relay FM's product category is Podcast Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication. Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 4832.