Podcasting Led to Keynoting with Richard Branson

I’ve officially been a podcaster since 2014 when my first audio show aired on Apple, reaching #1 on the charts just weeks later.

I’m writing this as I sit in my car as nature refreshes itself with the rain, listening to my favorite musician “Ren” while my Mom shops for her groceries. I relish the time alone.

Thought I'd take this time to share the story how I formed the deep connection to why my podcasts exist.

I’ve been creating media since elementary school. My Dad gifted me a video camera for my 6th grade graduation and later an IBM Thinkpad laptop being the early tech adopter he was. He must have gone deep on the credit card. He was never one to be responsible with money, however I’m grateful he extended himself in that instance to see my creativity flourish. It catapulted me in ways I could have never imagined.

I would have probably never built the first action sports social network if it weren’t for that rare IBM Thinkpad and clunky Sony video camera. I discovered chat groups, html, video production and possibilities. I discovered a way to express myself through technology that wasn’t reliant on the pen and paper I was used to writing poems and drawing art.

Years later I launched a startup that my heart was madly in love with. This was before startups were a thing, I was pretty much out of my mind to be pursuing such an unbelievable dream. I wanted to build the Google of action sports. I ended up meeting Zuck (who I simply called Mark) at an SF event that I snuck into when MySpace was still dominating so he wasn't the icon he is today. I built an enthusiastic team using Craigslist and hustle without knowing anything I was doing or how to lead. I chatted with Gary Vaynerchuk about life when he was just growing Wine Library TV. I even pitched Sequoia Capital without any contacts and took chances which led to raising money from heart driven investors. Luckily I serendipitously connected to my future mentor, Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, who became a dear friend (I terribly miss). Since those early days I have since been featured in the biggest media publications. All these experiences eventually led to starting an audio podcast in 2013, well I conceived of it in 2012 while working with a company and pitched them the idea. They turned it down and I decided to start my own. I thought the podcasting industry would follow in the steps of YouTube and I wanted to be there for the rise. My hunch was right. It's now a billion dollar advertising opportunity and I'm lucky to be a part of the mix.

It’s because of my podcast I’m keynoting with Richard Branson later this year at Haste and Hustle. It’s because of my podcast the Swiss government contracted me to meet with startup founders all across Eastern Europe. It’s from my podcast I’ve formed relationships with extraordinary guests, some guests have even become my closest friends. It's because of my podcast I have unimaginable opportunities and access.

What's most important to me is what my podcasts do for others. Thanks to my podcasts, guests have raised money and listeners have found their dream job by listening to companies that inspired them. My podcasts WeAreLATech, Women in Tech, Hello Customer (the latter is no longer in production) have been so empowering in peoples lives.

My podcasts aren’t about me having thought leadership, even though I did gain that by consequence. My podcasts are about sincerity. My podcasts are about living a life of purpose. The episodes are about being an auditory mentor for listeners and a place for guests working so diligently to pursue the impossible to be championed.

I’ve been to over 100 countries celebrating people in tech from Bosnia to across the US. My favorite places to source guests are in the corners where no one is looking. The beautifully talented inspiring person who has yet to share their voice publicly.

One of my favorite podcast guests is the very founder of this platform I’m messaging you through. This newsletter platform is called Beehiiv. The founder, Tyler Denk, reminds me of everything I admire and respect about when I first started up, before it was “cool” to be a founder. He’s so intensely passionate about building. He gives his whole self to this company. Sacrifices so much to focus on engineering the most impactful newsletter platform so creatives can thrive with ease.

I no longer believe in not being healthy and hustle hustle hustle ramen ramen ramen. I’m definitely now in a chapter where I prioritize breathing, rest and veggies. However, a true founder - true founders give our absolute all at least once. And let me tell you, it’s so worth the ride.

I would do every painful sleep deprived deep in debt moment again because that’s how enriching it is to be a founder when you’re building with dedication and passion. Even the nights I was too tired to drive home from the office and would pull over to sleep in my car I'd do again. The nights I cried out of exhaustion not knowing how to lead I would do again. The stressful days I didn't know how I was going to make revenue in time to exist another hour... I'd do again.

Being a self sacrificing all in founder was worth it because of the days that we were the only indie media tech company approved to shoot action sports legends Ryan Sheckler, Shaun White, Nyjah Huston and Tony Hawk. It was worth it to become featured speakers at the mecca of tech conference South by Southwest getting credited for being social media innovators. It was worth it to sit at that park with Mark Zuckerberg (even though I told him he'd never surpass MySpace opps) before he became a future icon, and get to know Ev Williams at an after party, a founder I am deeply moved by.

My action sports videos were art I’d watch again and again so proud of what my team produced, our content led to partnerships with YouTube and became some of the first viral videos, my web design iterations were magnetic, my company culture was my everything.

Being a founder is a life of mystery and adventure. We create our realities. It may not be easy, but it's an absolute privilege to be a founder.

My podcasts are there to support all these courageous dreamers in our tech world; engineers, founders, designers to product people.

So how’s this help you in your pursuit to elevate your business podcast… It’s my Why that makes my shows stands apart from the rest. People feel that unspoken energy.

Have you thought about how your podcast deeply serves others on a human level?

Would love to hear about your show and how it moves people. If you have a moment reply to this email and do share.

An Aside: This newsletter is written by me, a human, not an AI. I am writing this newsletter because my dream since I was a little girl has been to be an impactful respected author one day. This newsletter is an opportunity for me to practice my writing style. If you gain value and enjoy what you've read please consider sharing with someone who you think would like it too. Someday, with enough support from the community, my writing may be on a Bestseller list... ✍️ 📖