Transcript 0:00 Six years ago, I started Honey & Hustle with nothing but two cameras, some shitty lav microphones, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. 0:10 What began as scrappy one-on-one interviews in the Triangle has evolved into a full-fledged media brand, complete with documentary-style films, live virtual events, a print magazine, which is coming soon, and a community that keeps me going even on the hardest days. 0:28 So if you're listening to this, that means you. So thank you. This month marks six years of evolution, experimentation, and refusing to quit. 0:39 If you'll indulge me, I'd like to reflect on why I'm more committed than ever to this beautiful, messy journey of storytelling through video podcasting. 0:49 Each era of this show has taught me something, grown me as a creator or business owner, and given me something to celebrate. So let's go for a walk down memory lane and stay till the end for some special announcements. 1:03 These are the eras of Honey & Hustle. Season one. The team was just me. I did one-on-one in-person interviews with only Triangle business owners. 1:15 I learned all parts of video podcast production, from pre-production to editing and marketing. I started this show only posting episodes to Facebook and YouTube. 1:25 I didn't put the audio on streaming platforms until after season one finished. They are no longer available because the audio was terrible, thanks to the aforementioned shitty lav mics and my inexperience with audio. 1:39 We live and we learn. Season two, the team was again just me. I did virtual interviews with a mix of Triangle business owners, but also business owners from across the country. 1:52 With less camera gear involved, I spent more time learning to be a better interviewer. I recorded these on Zoom and StreamYard, so not great video quality. 2:02 I also didn't have a dedicated mic at the time, so the raw audio was only passable. 2:08 I think I got a pass because this was still during the pandemic, and people were just used to crappy Zoom quality audio, so I didn't stand out that much. 2:16 However, I did learn how to edit audio a little bit better given the simplicity, so the quality is still decent. In season three, the team expanded a little bit. It was me. 2:28 I had four different editors, two for my in-person interviews and two for my virtual interviews, and a social person. I did one-on-one in-person and virtual interviews with only Triangle folks. 2:40 I finally accepted that I was drawn to the North Carolina business ecosystem and wanted to focus on local media. The show improved in quality. 2:50 I was putting out episodes more consistently, and I had more social media assets. 2:55 I definitely learned a lot about building a creative team and had a better understanding of the importance of establishing processes and hiring standards. 3:03 Because I had a team, I had more time to focus on learning our brand voice and positioning. I wanna say this was the season that Honey & Hustle hit a thousand followers on Twitter when that still meant something. 3:14 For season four, the team was again me plus a few other people. I had two editors, a YouTube marketing consultant, a podcast marketing consultant, and a behind-the-scenes photographer/production assistant. 3:28 I did one-on-one in-person and virtual interviews with North Carolina business owners. We expanded our reach to business owners outside of the Triangle. 3:36 We established our taste, and I grew my brand profile by speaking at events. At Resonate Podcast Festival, I learned how to build a business and community ecosystem around a podcast. 3:48 It was the push I needed to start this newsletter and gain our first multi-episode sponsor. 3:54 Because I was attending so many audio storytelling events, I learned how to get great audio in any scenario, live or remote, thanks to learning about mics and pickup patterns. 4:06 It's almost like learning about how lenses and composition allow you to tell different stories in photography and filmmaking. This is probably the most consequential season of the show. 4:18 With a team of this size, my growing expertise in packaging and marketing a show, and growing the show into a dedicated multimedia platform, we really grew our audience and listenership. 4:29 Paying team members and traveling to podcast events were very expensive, but it helped propel the show forward in ways I couldn't have done alone in the same amount of time. That was a lot. 4:41 So as you can imagine, season five, the team downsized back to me. I did fewer interviews and more crossover episodes with creators and media friends on topics related to business and creativity. 4:56 I took some time to experiment with different audio storytelling formats, and this is the first season without any video episodes. Season four was a huge lift in every sense of the word. 5:08 So as you can imagine, I got burnt out with one-to-one interviews and felt that I could be more expansive with the show and the medium of video podcasting. 5:20 I wanted to take some time off, spend more time behind the scenes in video production and research, and do some lower lift but still relevant episodes to fall back in love with the medium. 5:31 Because I started doing so many solo episodes and co-hosted episodes, I learned how to build host affinity and deepen the relationship between my community and the podcast. 5:42 I also spent a lot of time learning how to successfully package new show formats for different platforms. The platforms that I use are social media, newsletters, and YouTube. I did the Daily Podcast Challenge last year. 5:55 I did a new segment of the show called Elevator Pitch. I did some crossover episodes and some event recaps to name a few. I'll link some of those below in the description if you wanna check them out. 6:06 For Season 6, our current season, right now the team is me and a camera operator as needed. I'm doing some documentary style episodes, some narrative vignettes, and some short form audio pieces. 6:20 We'll even be recording a live episode, so stay tuned for how you can check that out. The Daily Challenge for Black History Month/February returned with a theme this year, Book Club. 6:32 I built on the Daily Podcast Challenge with more structure, more curation, better marketing, and garnered a way better reception. 6:40 My whole goal with this season is to show the fruits of my labor while I was hibernating a bit from video podcasting. 6:47 I'm putting my foot on the necks of everyone complaining about why their show won't grow when they won't spend at least as much time as I have making and marketing a better show. 6:59 Expect to continue seeing more formats, greater consistency, and higher quality episodes. 7:05 This is the result of years in film and audio production, developing systems that not only work for me, but work with a team, and having trusted creative collaborators and sounding boards for ideas. 7:18 I'm not abandoning everything I've done in the past. I'm building upon the foundation of the show. The Daily Challenge has returned and will continue to be an annual staple of the show. Elevator Pitch will return. 7:31 Video interviews will return with higher production quality. Honey Pot Hotline, our new short form audio segment, will make some appearances, testing the limits of what I know about sound design and audio mixing. 7:43 However, media isn't our only area of innovation this season. We're also diving more into products, both digital and physical, and live events, both in person and virtual. 7:55 We're creating products and experiences that are unique to us. The magazine is just the beginning. Product development is taking longer than I thought, which is okay. 8:05 The quality of everything that we put out is extremely important to me. The podcasters I admire most have been at it for seven to 10 years or more, and I still feel like I'm just getting started. 8:17 Thank you for being a part of this ride as I make my way to those milestones as well. 8:22 At my core, I believe in the spirit of storytelling, no matter the medium, and I know this creative project will be a part of my brand for years to come. 8:31 I'm already planning next year's Daily Podcast Challenge for February. 8:35 When I see podcasters with podcast business ecosystems that look attractive to me, they've all been podcasting for seven to 10 years or more, have experimented with different formats, have angled their show for TV and live recordings, and have an indescribable close-knit relationship with their community. 8:53 Just to last that long speaks to incredible grit in an industry that's still searching for a middle class. 9:00 To be a Black woman podcaster in 2026 still feels like I'm swimming upstream in many ways, making a case for a medium that many are still warming up to or seeking access to at the indie level. 9:12 This is a business like any other, and making it profitable is a huge goal so that we can continue making the things we're proud of that benefit you. I wanna keep this conversation going. 9:22 Let's keep building creative businesses and projects that we love just because. 9:26 I'm hosting a live stream celebration on Friday night, which is March 13th, Friday the 13th, at 6:00 PM, and we'll be doing a giveaway for five lucky winners. 9:37 I'll leave the link to RSVP in the description below, and I would love to see you there. Even if you can't attend live, though I highly recommend that you do, you'll get a copy of the recording. Thank you for being here. 9:50 I'm rooting for you, and I hope to see you Friday during our live stream. [upbeat music] If you've been getting value from Honey & Hustle, I need a quick favor. Would you take 30 seconds right now to leave a review? 10:04 Reviews help other people discover the show, and honestly, they help me know what's landing with you. Whether it's this episode or one from a few months ago that stuck with you, just share what made it worth your time. 10:17 You can leave a review wherever you're listening right now, and I appreciate it in advance. See you in the next episode. [upbeat music]
