A podcast would first need some kind of traction first. This could be done by testing out pilots with various interest groups, or releasing them to a decently populous audience on something like Reddit, and see which kind/subject gets the best feedback first. After, you can slowly release the podcast as you grow the fanbase/population base. At this point, Patreon would probably be helpful, as the few listeners you have are probably pretty dedicated listeners. At the same time, you would want to grow your social outlets at the same time, finding stories using them, tweeting when stories come out, and getting involved in the community that the podcast is about. Eventually, with some luck, the podcast will grow to a stage where it can be supported by ads/sponsored content. As you grow larger, you can probably shift off of things like Patreon so you no longer need listeners to support you in order to grow, but they are still helpful. At this point, podcasting can probably be a full time job.