Constructive feedback on the U Up with Benefits price increase

I recently emailed the U Up Gmail with some constructive feedback about the U Up with Benefits price increase and wanted to share it here to see how other listeners feel.

To be clear, I’m not posting this to bash the show. I genuinely love U Up, have listened for years, and already renewed my subscription because I enjoy J&J and still look forward to the episodes every week. My feedback is more about whether the added “video option” really feels like enough added value for a premium podcast subscription, since a lot of us listen to podcasts while driving, walking, cleaning, cooking, etc.

I also think this could be a good discussion topic for a future Benefits episode, especially since Jared and Jordana do seem to pay attention to Reddit feedback. I’m curious whether other subscribers feel similarly, or whether video is actually a big selling point for some people.

Also a great time to share ideas for what the audience would actually like to hear in the podcast!

Here’s the email I sent:

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Hi U Up team!

I wanted to share some constructive feedback following the recent rollout of the price increase for subscriber episodes.

First, I want to say that I genuinely love this podcast. I have been a listener since the beginning (also OG Jtrain fan- feather feather) and have gone through many relationship-status ebbs and flows throughout that time. I am currently a “very single,” as Jared would say, 33-year-old woman who is actually not actively seeking a partner at the moment – but like Jordana, I genuinely enjoy hearing about the nuances and intricacies of relationships.
Even though my relationship status and dating goals have changed over the years, I still look forward to listening every week because I’ve come to really enjoy J&J’s banter, perspective, and dynamic. I truly love the show!

That said, I was a little disappointed to hear about the price increase being tied largely to the addition of video. While I’m sure some listeners will enjoy that option, I would guess that many podcast listeners are not necessarily seeking out video content. Podcasts are often something people listen to while doing other things: driving, cleaning, cooking, walking, etc., so the added value of video may not feel especially compelling to everyone, particularly as the primary justification for a higher subscription price.

I also listen to Oversharing and subscribe to CTFD, so I wanted to offer a few tangible ideas that I think could work really well in the U Up with Benefits space and make the increased price feel more worthwhile.

For example, I would love to hear more listener feedback episodes or segments where J&J respond to subscriber comments, follow-ups, or reactions. I also think more “live” sessions with listeners behind the paywall could be really fun and valuable, whether with couples or individuals.

Other ideas could include more dating app makeovers, ideally done live when possible so there can be real-time feedback and conversation; bringing on Dr. Naomi from time to time if she is open to it, to give her analysis on certain topics; or even having her “evaluate” J&J’s advice and provide therapist notes or additional perspective.

All that to say, I already signed up for another year of U Up with Benefits because I really do enjoy the show as it is. I just think there is room to make the premium subscription feel more valuable in ways that go beyond offering a video option.

I know this isn’t an “official submission” to the show, but I do think this could be a welcomed topic to cover on an upcoming Benefits episode: what subscribers find valuable in a premium podcast offering, what makes a paid subscription feel worth it, and how listeners actually engage with podcast content day to day. 😇

Thank you for all the work you put into the show. I’m sharing this as a longtime listener and paying subscriber who wants to see the subscription continue to improve and feel worth the added cost! 

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I just wanted to provide constructive feedback that may improve the quality of the show for those of us who have chosen to stick around. I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts due to the rhythm of my life, so I want to try and help improve if I can. Hope some additional feedback is provided!