TMEPODCAST

As summer winds down, I’ve been taking some time to reflect — not just on what I’ve done these past few months, but on how far I’ve come since the start of this year.

When summer began, I set some goals for myself. Some I hit, some are still in progress — and honestly, that’s more than okay. I’m learning that progress doesn’t always look like a checklist getting perfectly ticked off. It looks like growth, it looks like showing up, and sometimes it looks like pivoting when things don’t go as planned.

One of the biggest areas of growth for me has been this podcast. When I launched it back in March, I’ll be honest — I needed a lot of hand-holding. From the editing to uploading to figuring out tech glitches, I leaned heavily on others to help me make it happen. But now? I can proudly say I’m doing it on my own. Even when my computer’s being slow or something isn’t working, I don’t panic. I troubleshoot. I figure it out. And that feels huge.

Another win this summer? I finally developed a system that works for me. I started batching episodes — recording several at a time, editing when I can, and scheduling them out so I’m not scrambling every week to line up guests or push out content. That shift alone has brought me so much peace. It removed the pressure and made podcasting feel fun and sustainable again.

Now, is my online content exactly where I want it to be? No. I thought I’d have thousands and thousands of followers by now — but I’m learning that growth is growth, even when it’s slow. In fact, I’ve realized that if this had blown up overnight, I probably wouldn’t have been ready for it. There’s something beautiful about growing into your goals at your own pace.

With school starting again in just over a week, my schedule’s about to shift. I won’t have full days open for interviews or editing. Time is going to be more limited, which is why I’m so grateful I’ve taken the time to build a system that works for me. The foundation is there now. I know how to move through the process, and I’m more organized with my time and energy.

And speaking of content — creating it is no joke. Like, truly. I’ve gained a whole new level of respect for content creators. It’s a full-time job in and of itself. From filming to editing to managing storage (shout out to my phone constantly running out of space), it takes a lot of effort and attention to detail. I used to think content creation was just posting cute clips — now I know it’s a skill. And just like any skill, it takes time to develop. A year, maybe more. But I’m committed to learning it.

This summer, I also found pride in something else: the body of work I’ve built. When I look at my YouTube channel and see a library of episodes — full conversations, full stories — I feel genuinely proud. Every guest I’ve interviewed has given me positive feedback. Every story shared has added something valuable not just to listeners, but to me. These interviews have helped me grow, heal, and connect in ways I never imagined.

So no, I didn’t hit every single summer goal. But I showed up. I put something out there every week. I built consistency. I developed confidence. And I reminded myself that it’s okay to be a work in progress — because that’s what growth is.

Summer may be ending, but the momentum I’ve built isn’t. I’m ready for this next chapter. And I’m excited to keep showing up — imperfectly, intentionally, and with purpose.

💜 Marissa