We have always been about keeping it open, but wanted to reflect on introducing the community to the heart behind a newly launched initiative: Keep It Open. Rather than simply becoming another fundraising effort, Keep It Open is positioned as a statement about sustainability and independence, not just for the podcast, but for the broader open web community.
Bob makes it clear that the project moves beyond transactional relationships. Sponsorships and business partnerships keep the show running, but Keep It Open is about more than that. It’s built on a belief in shared stewardship: an open invitation to listeners and makers to become fellow believers in the ongoing work of honest conversation and open web advocacy.
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The philosophy is simple. Good infrastructure and honest dialogue need caring people. As Bob Dunn mentions, “the open source world runs on people contributing the things they believe in… because good infrastructure, whether it’s a library, a tool or a conversation, needs people who care about it enough to sustain it”.
This isn’t about exclusive memberships, lavish perks, or superficial rewards. Instead, contributors are thanked genuinely, sometimes by name, reflecting what truly matters to the Open Channels FM community.
Keep It Open is humble in its approach and clear in its mission. There is no hype, just a genuine appeal to anyone who values independent voices and wants to see them thrive. The call is one for sustainability, not for glory.
