How I Launched Two Podcasts After Quitting Twice

In my years building a creative career, I've had my share of wins—and plenty of losses.

Those losses hit my self-esteem hard, but each one also taught me something crucial about resilience, growth, and the power of trying again.

After Sundance 2016, I quit my band.

A dodgy record deal killed our momentum, and it just wasn't fun anymore. That experience taught me that sometimes, even when you put your heart and soul into something, things can fall apart. And that's okay.

I started a brand/web agency and to grow the business, I thought, “heck… maybe I could be a good podcaster.”

Why?

Well, I was obsessed with podcasts—listening to them every chance I got.

That’s enough, right?

I also think my curiosity, empathy, and ADHD gave me a natural drive to learn from others on a wide range of topics.

In January 2018, on my birthday, I launched "The Personal Brand Podcast." I'd been working for myself for about two years, and I had seen firsthand how powerful personal branding could be for breaking through the noise in business. I wanted to share those insights with clients and other people trying to navigate the challenges of working for themselves.

To my surprise, the podcast launched with a bang.

I managed to secure interviews with some truly amazing people: Jack Delosa, Jules Sebastian, Jess Ruhfus, Chris Ducker, Tracey Spicer, Melissa Ambrosini, and more.

These were people I deeply admired, and I couldn't believe they agreed to be part of my show.

The podcast hit the Apple Podcasts charts, ranking above shows I'd looked up to for years. The feedback was incredible:

"The questions you asked and the material you have been getting out of your guests has really hit the nail on the head. You should be flippin' proud of what you're doing; you're kicking all sorts of goals, and it looks like you're having a lot of fun too."

"Chad Barnier, the creator, is brilliant and has hundreds of tips that can help you grow."

"It was so good and refreshing! Normally, I hear marketing stuff, and it just feels like a huge brain fart, but that was so engaging I didn't turn it off at all."

"Absolutely amazing interview! Both of you were just brilliant! You are such a natural speaker—very informative and clear."

"I listened to the first few episodes of your podcast on the weekend and found them super insightful and really interesting! I'm kind of kicking myself for hesitating to listen to them."

"You did an incredible job. It was so insightful, and I gained a lot of wisdom from it."

"Brilliant first episode of your podcast. You have such a natural interviewing talent, and I love how intuitive your questions were."

It felt like I was finally onto something that mattered.

But behind the scenes, my mental health was deteriorating. I was dealing with depression, and the pressure I put on myself was immense.

Then, I lost an episode with a notable guest due to tech issues.

It was gone.

Completely wiped.

I felt embarrassed and ashamed, and that single moment triggered a spiral I wasn't prepared for.

I stopped podcasting, even holding back episodes I did have ready to go.

Then I stopped working on my business altogether.

Eventually, I walked away.

I started working in retail—selling furniture and coffee for a while. It was a way to escape the shame, the self-doubt, and the overwhelming sense of failure that had taken hold. The weight of that shame was crushing, especially since I thought those feelings of self-hatred were behind me, something I'd conquered during my teenage years. When they resurfaced, they hit even harder.

A few years later, I began to find my footing again. I got involved in LGBTQI+ advocacy, particularly focusing on bisexuality. I started connecting with a community that inspired me, and the idea for a new podcast, "BiFocal," was born. I designed the branding, created social media accounts, and even built a healthy following before launch—everything was set.

But then, the imposter syndrome crept back in.

The doubts started whispering: "Who are you to do this?"

I waited for the confidence to come, but it never did.

The podcast never launched.

Once again, I found myself in that familiar spiral of self-doubt.

And now, here we are in 2024.

Today, I have two podcasts:

Statement Brand at The Firm - on Personal Branding

Give It To Me Bi with Steve Spencer - on Bisexuality

They're both launched, out in the world, and thriving.

So how did I get from there to here?

Launch before you're ready.

You'll learn more after launching than you ever will while waiting. There is almost nothing more important than pressing the big green button.

Perfectionism is just rebranded procrastination. I’m considering getting that tattooed on my eyeballs…

I'm still learning this every day—it's better to launch early and iterate than to never launch at all.

Collaboration is key.

Find people who push and encourage you.

Self-doubt and imposter syndrome can be vicious, but it's often just a false narrative we tell ourselves.

Your perspective matters, and even if it's been said before, someone wants to hear it from you.

I'm incredibly fortunate to work with people I absolutely adore—people who inspire me to be a better version of myself.

Make it easy to create.

Set up systems that minimise friction.

This could mean investing in the right equipment—microphones, preamps, headphones—or creating streamlined workflows like spreadsheets, checklists, and automations.

Whatever it is, make it easy to press that button and get your work out there.

I'm so proud of myself.

It's rare that I say that.

But it's important that I do.

This journey wasn't just my work—it was shaped by every person who supported me along the way.

But for the parts that were mine, I'm damn proud.

Photos: Me podcasting in 2017 vs. 2024

Graphics: Podcast artwork then vs. now