This year was wild.
Our ad revenue grew almost 2.5x and we signed more brand deals than in any previous quarter!!
I’m so grateful… and also slightly terrified.
Because if you’ve been a creator or an entrepreneur long enough, you know how these cycles work:
growth years are usually followed by quieter ones.
I had two months with zero advertisers not that long ago.
So instead of treating this year as a reason to relax, I’m using it as a chance to strengthen the foundation.
Here’s what I’m focusing on right now.
1. Upgrading the podcast studio for a new season
Right now we’re reworking the whole space with a designer, testing layouts, colors, and a few fun ideas.
One of the concepts we’re playing with is a set of TV panels that show the San Francisco skyline in real time.
Will it work? We’ll see.
But it already feels like we’re building something that reflects where the channel is going.
2. Adding new pieces to my production wardrobe
I’ve had a production wardrobe for years, and this season I’m updating it with a bit more intention.
Not trends — just a few pieces that last, look good on camera, and remove one more source of stress on filming days.
It sounds small, but it’s one of those upgrades that pays off again and again through the year.
I’m working with a stylist who uses an app with AI suggestions.
It helps us choose items that actually fit the brand and won’t need replacing anytime soon.
Tiny changes, but they make the whole workflow smoother — and that’s exactly what I want going into a new year.
3. Better gear = fewer headaches later
This year reminded me how much easier everything feels when your tools don’t slow you down.
So we’re finally updating the basics — the things I use every single day.
New cameras, cleaner lighting, better audio.
Nothing dramatic — just the kind of gear that makes filming feel calm and organized instead of “why isn’t this working again?”
It’s funny how these quiet upgrades change the whole mood of the work.
You sit down, press record, and the process just… moves.
That’s the feeling I want more of next year.
4. Setting up Roth IRAs for the kids — $7,000 today → meaningful growth later
This is something I’m genuinely excited about.
With my CPA’s guidance, I officially hired the kids for the small tasks they already do — they’re in a lot of our content, so it made sense to make it official.
They earn a minimal wage, and that money goes straight into their Roth IRA accounts. Nothing in cash — every dollar is contributed for them.
The yearly limit is $7,000, and the compounding over decades is unbelievable.
I even asked ChatGPT to calculate what happens if they never touch that money for 60 years — the numbers speak for themselves.
Let’s just say:
my 4-year-old is already on track to out-retire me😆
And of course — I’m not a CPA and this isn’t financial advice.
This is simply what my CPA approved for our family, and I’m really glad we set it up.
A record year feels amazing.
But I’m learning — year by year — that the best time to protect your future is when things are going well.
So that’s the plan:
use the high-energy year to prepare for the slow-energy one.
And try to have fun along the way.