Monetization

A big trend with most podcasts today is monetization. Though it's not a new idea, many podcasters are searching for different ways to get paid for what's become apart of their daily lives and have turned to unexpected sources like Proflowers and the Fleshlight.
I too have considered different ways I could monetize The Danger Tapes, but whenever I think about it I come to the same conclusion: What's the point?
Why should I stress myself out over a couple of dollars a month? From what I can conjure, companies that are willing to sponsor podcasts only pay out when promo codes are used.  I am not bashing these companies in the least bit, because I have considered using Joe Rogan's Fleshlight or Alpha Brain offer. This means of income is really for those that have an audience and though I do have a small audience, I don't think I should try to push these things onto anybody seeing as how most of the people that listen are those that I know personally.
I don't want to make my friends feel obligated to sponsor the podcast. If they like what I'm doing, sponsorship should come in the form of downloads.
What I would rather do is find a way to create something original so that I could use my network to sell it for a couple of bucks. My idea is that say I want to sell one episode of my podcast or a collection of thoughts and essays about the mishaps of my everyday life. My thinking is that I could probably make the same amount of money that I would with a bigger following through some other company.
AND to not completely close myself off to sponsorship, I have toyed with the idea of sponsoring restaurants/small businesses that I like. I think it's fair to say that the Amish had it right. I believe in the barter system and often its fair for everybody to trade goods to which they can produce. I can do the same as my network grows by having a really good burger place sponsor me and say for everybody that mentions the podcast, I get a free meal at this place in return. That isn't the exact plan that I have, but I rough idea that I do want to consider, because I would really like a free burger every now and then.
So aside from free burgers and a couple bucks here and there, the podcast itself will be free for a very long time. It's like I keep saying: I have a job that pays for bills and leisure. I don't need another job that I need to keep on top of. I'm having fun with the podcast and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as I keep doing episodes.
By the way, it's come to my attention that I need to give credit to the rest of my people -NID, Animal House, Machete, Christian Thompson, etc- because they also do what they love for free. I had to come back and edit this in because I'd feel like an ass if made it seem that I was the only one not getting paid.
 So big ups to everyone. Keep on trucking and all the good stuff.