Important Update: Membership Billing changes & an apology (Patreon)

Hi, lovelies!

Please forgive the long post. I have a few things I want to address and didn't want to spam you with updates.

TLDR: Patreon is discontinuing the payment model my page is currently using, so I am switching to the new Subscription model, and also I want to apologize and give some background info on why my content has not been released in a timely manner and why I have not been meeting my personal standard as a content creator recently. This month's Listeners Choice audio will be released tomorrow. EDIT: they will hopefully be released before the end of the month. I’m so so sorry, but I’m so sick i’ve been unable to work more than 5 mins at a time, I have a dr visit scheduled but hopefully it’s just a 48 hour bug. IF YOU ARE UNSUBSCRIBING THIS MONTH: please reach out to me via patreon DM, my email, or twitter and i will make sure you get access to the content you’ve paid for. I am so sorry for this mess guys.

REGARDING PATREON'S BILLING MODEL: 

I recently received notice from Patreon that they will be discontinuing the current membership billing model that my page uses (the “Pay up front” model), and that they will be starting the process in a couple of months.

I want to get ahead of this while I still have time to figure the new (to me) plan out, so I have updated my page to the Subscription model.

What this means: Currently, when you subscribe, no matter the day of the month. You pay the first month’s charge on that day, but any and all following months are charged on the 1st of the month. I preferred this method since some of my tiers only have access to content I release that specific month, and having everyone pay on the 1st of the month kept people from getting access to the content without paying for it. However, with the Subscription model, you will pay the initial day you subscribe, and then the following months you’ll pay on the same day. (So if you sign up on the 5th, your payment will always be due on the 5th).

For existing members: your payment date will stay the 1st as it currently is, per Patreon, so you don’t need to worry about getting double charged next month.

For new members: starting next month, you’ll pick your renewing payment date based on when you subscribe. I’ve been on Patreon for many years now and have only ever used the “Pay up front” model, so there may be some unexpected growing pains while I figure out the new model and how to release content. It shouldn’t really affect you guys, but if it does, please reach out to me. I want to make this as painless as possible, and if switching over causes anyone stress or issues, I want to rectify them to the best of my ability!

REGARDING MONTHLY CONTENT RELEASES:

It’s no secret that I’ve been struggling with releasing Patreon content in a timely manner over the past few months.

I prefer to release the first audio of the month before the 7th, and the second audio of the month before the 21st, but recently I’ve been having issues keeping to that schedule.

I try not to make excuses or burden you guys with my personal life, but 2024 has been an extremely difficult year for me mentally, physically, emotionally, medically, and financially. Quite a few major life issues all seemed to dogpile on me in the last year, and I’ve never had such a difficult period of time in my life.

Because of that, my mental health has been in the toilet, big time. I mentioned previously that I started antidepressants, and my prescription was actually increased earlier this month and now I’m feeling a lot more myself. Not 100%, but also not like I’m drowning in a sea of stress and hopelessness. I also started personal therapy again full-time this month with a new amazing therapist who actually understands me and my issues and has already helped me immensely in identifying potential solutions and paths forward.

All of this is to say: I am so genuinely sorry that I haven’t been the quality of creator that I want to be and that I strive to be. I’ve let myself down, and I’ve let down my loyal listeners. This month's Listeners Choice audio will be released tomorrow, and I hope you enjoy it. Truly, it's one of the best scripts I've written in a while, and I just wish I had been able to complete the audio sooner so I didn't release it so late in the month.

Going forward, I'm hoping to be able to return to my normal release timelines quickly. Things are looking up, but I'm not perfect, and I may have months similar to this one. I'm trying to find the balance between giving myself grace during a difficult life period and staying a content creator who is respectful of her listeners' time and money. It's not been easy, obviously, but I feel like I'm starting to get my balance.

Thank you for the hundredth time to each and every one of you for your support, kind words, and understanding. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Here's to the next year! We're going to make it through and be better for the struggle. I have so many plans and ideas that I've been wanting to tackle and not had the motivation, and I cannot WAIT to be able to show them to you guys.

Love,

Lupine