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The biggest lie we tell ourselves as creators is that we need more inspiration, when what we really need is a system. For our season finale, we get honest about what seven weeks of building a podcast taught us about the social media algorithm, engagement, and the small choices that quietly decide whether people stop scrolling or never notice you at all.

We talk through the shift from using social media “for fun” to using it with intention, and why posting whenever you feel like it is not a strategy. We break down what actually moved the needle for us: consistency that survives low motivation, cleaner presentation, and fixing the tiny formatting details that can wreck reach (including text sitting out of frame). We also share why talking head video often beats voiceovers when you’re still earning attention, plus what we noticed when a collaboration post brought in people we didn’t know while an informative post lit up our existing circle.

Then we zoom out into the real storyline behind the tactics: the creator learning curve. We tell a personal story about buying the tools before knowing the craft, that humbling moment of realizing you’re not ready yet, and why starting over is not failure, it’s part of the work. Audio-only growth is tough, getting on camera can be uncomfortable, and the paint is still wet, but we keep climbing the next mountain anyway.

If you’re building a podcast, growing on Instagram, or trying to stay consistent with content creation, hit play and take what you need. Subscribe for the next season, share this with a friend who’s building, and leave a review with the one system you’re using to stay consistent.

It's The Climb Playlisthttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/521MZuM0WwX8rQly3BOizb?si=739a3344fcc245d8

Yore on Smith Street is a weekly culture and commentary podcast hosted by Smith Street. Blending current events, pop culture, and storytelling, each episode connects today’s headlines to the deeper narratives behind them — because every moment has a backstory.

https://www.smithstreetsounds.com/

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You ever publish something you know is good, then watch it land with a thud? That moment can mess with your head fast, especially when you’re trying to grow, stay consistent, and build something real. We get honest about that frustration and the doubts that follow, then pull it apart piece by piece so it turns into fuel instead of a dead end.

We dig into what consistency actually means for content creation and social media strategy. It’s not always “post more.” Sometimes it’s posting less, but on a rhythm you can sustain, so your audience (and the Instagram algorithm) learns to expect you. We also talk about the unsexy stuff that quietly kills reach: content optimization, safe zones, and how a simple template mistake can push your headline out of frame so people never stop to read. Small fixes can create a big shift.

Then we go deeper than tactics. We talk perfectionism, especially the kind that looks like “preference” and keeps you from doing more talking-on-camera content. We compare polished production to raw energy, and why real connection can beat perfect lighting when it’s just you without a crew. And we pull a lesson from business history with Pepsi vs Coca-Cola: sometimes you don’t win by going head-to-head, you win by pivoting, owning a smarter lane, and adapting your approach.

If you’re building a brand, a community, an email list, or just trying to keep going without losing yourself, press play. Subscribe, share this with a creator friend, and leave a review with the one adjustment you’re making next.

Yore on Smith Street is a weekly culture and commentary podcast hosted by Smith Street. Blending current events, pop culture, and storytelling, each episode connects today’s headlines to the deeper narratives behind them — because every moment has a backstory.

https://www.smithstreetsounds.com/

Send us Fan Mail

If your entire online presence vanished tomorrow, would your work still have a way to reach the people who support you? That question is the heartbeat of this Smith Street conversation, sparked by the noise around LaRussell stepping back from social media after backlash. What catches my attention isn’t the hot takes; it’s the leverage: selling 30,000 copies independently means you can log off and still communicate with your audience, because you built direct access.

We dig into what that really takes in the creator economy: an owned audience through email marketing, text updates, and a contact list you control. We talk about why “more followers” is often the wrong goal, how the social media algorithm can quietly cut your reach, and how information silos make us think everyone sees what we see. Platform mergers and curated feeds raise the stakes, so the most valuable metric becomes simple: can you reach your people on demand?

From there, I get practical and personal: sending your work to real people, building a site, staying consistent while you experiment, and permitting yourself to start now, not on somebody else’s schedule. We even detour into small life updates and shoutouts, because progress is rarely just business, it’s a mindset too. If this hit home, subscribe, share it with one creator who needs a backup plan, and leave a review with your answer: what’s your best way to stay reachable off-platform?

Ending Song - Pick it Up - Smith Street

Spring Breakthrough Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/53VwxVXTxfLYuuCKybZ9Mg?si=81f94cc5e34746b5

Yore on Smith Street is a weekly culture and commentary podcast hosted by Smith Street. Blending current events, pop culture, and storytelling, each episode connects today’s headlines to the deeper narratives behind them — because every moment has a backstory.

https://www.smithstreetsounds.com/