Funds

$27/month, first 12 months in advance. If monetization occurs, I'm expecting profits to go toward improving the site or progressive causes, not as returns to investors. So, I think the entity that accepts money should be established and registered, so that donors/investors know what to expect.

Also might be able to donate software, depending on need. PM/email for details on that.

You could do this really well (I could consult the setup at a level that would be way higher than most podcasters even consider, but is still reasonable), and still never get an audience that would make it worth the money that would need to be spent to even do this at the most basic professional level possible.  If the site gets traction, some amount of money from the monetization could go toward things that would generate a loss in the beginning like podcasts.

Another issue is that the podcasts would likely be done from multiple locations, which makes the technical challenges much harder and time consuming to overcome for non-professionals (cuse probably has the ability to overcome this with some help).  Unless this would essentially be treated like a live show, you're talking major time considerations to get the materials from what I'm guessing would be 4 or 5 people recording in their own spaces.  Then all that stuff needs to be synched together, and then it needs to be edited and packaged for consumption.  This higher end version is the kind of thing that would need a dedicated producer (cuse is probably capable of this but I doubt he will like the amount of time he would have to spend on it in the early stages while he's figuring out what the podcast will ultimately be), people who have enough technical ability to create a decent recording, and someone who would be a skilled editor to package it for best consumption.

I also just found something called Zencastr that would probably be an acceptable 'start' if the professional standard is desired.  It records everything on the site, and creates files to one location after it's done from a brief look.  To make it be at the best quality, all microphones and interfaces would need to be the same, but it seems like the least problematic from a quick look at their website.  It costs $20 a month for what you're hoping to do, but I'm not thrilled at the highest sound quality being 16 Bit 44.1kHz .wav files (broadcast standard is 24 Bit 48kHz, though the quality they have is acceptable as it's CD quality).

When deciding what kind of show the podcast should be, watch a few programs on MSNBC (Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O'Donnell are likely the ones that would be closest to what you're trying to capture for the type of show you'd want to do), and you can see how a live program goes with professionals.  They often look like clowns when the teleprompter misfires, or a technical issue comes up.  That's the beauty of live anything.  If something bad happens, so be it, it's live.  If you're trying for packaged content, it needs to be tight so everyone comes across as well as possible.  That would mean everyone is using the same kind of equipment (same mics would be crucial) to get a very consistent sound quality minus whatever each person's location is. 

I'm a high end professional post-production sound mixer, and am more than capable of setting a standard of quality for both the sound and content editorial of something like this, but it would take way too much time for me to ever considering doing the actual editing/mixing for free for level I would want to deliver. My suggestion when this idea goes (at first), is to look into this Zencastr program and do lots of tests before launching (I would be willing to help with this).  If it's treated like a true live program, then it can just be editing for mistakes (using the individual files for fixes) and to make it come across better.  Zencastr helps organize the material to get the best chance of most flexibility post-recording, so I think it's likely a good choice to start with.  This stuff is not complicated to do, it's complicated to do well.  The first set up of a program will determine how complicated it is, and as I said there needs to be an extensive planning stage for logistics before anything is done.

This is the best cheapest microphone I would suggest to get to a decent professional sound quality:

www.amazon.com/Electro-Voice-635A-Handheld-Interview-Microphone/dp/B0010CKJJE/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ev+635a&qid=1555991452&s=gateway&sr=8-1

The next step up would be getting headset microphones, which would cost about $250 each after cabling, but they would be providing better isolation if multiple people are in a room at the same time.  These mics would be more similar to sports broadcast microphones.  They are great for hostile environments and lots of in room participants.

In addition to that basic equipment, you would need an XLR microphone cable, that would cost about 8-11 bucks depending on the length needed.

The microphone I linked was a staple of TV news for a tremendously long time, has a frequency response that stands up in archive recordings 40+ years old, and you can use it to hammer nails it's so durable.  I would need to do some tests on my end to see what problems it would have since it's been so long since I've used one (I would probably just rent one), but I think it would be the most user friendly microphone that could be used for this.  I can't remember for sure, but I'm not even sure you can pop a 'P' on it.  The problem with any mic like this is that people will most likely need an interface or recorder to use it, and these are all costs that shouldn't be incurred except maybe by the individuals who'd want to be the podcasters for such an unknown up or downside.  I think you're realistically looking at spending close to $1k+ for the starter professional set up (4 mics, 4 interfaces, 4 cables, mic stands are additional cost not factored in here).  I know cuse mentioned that he has professional microphones, but I'd want to know more information about that to give input.

Just keep me updated on this idea, and I could at least help from a consulting and start up level provided I have the time.