Doing it All and Doing it Broke

Podcasting, Prosperity and the Problem in between.

Hiiiii Friends!

It’s been a little while, but I’ve been doing it all! Between family, friends and work… my plate (and my heart) are currently FULL. Like, to the brim. Don’t ask me to do a thing.

In our most recent episode of Doing It All, Sarah and I sat down with Cameron Oaks Rogers, and somewhere between the laughter and deep conversation, I found myself admitting something I hadn’t really said out loud before:

I’m getting caught up in the numbers.

Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’ve never been a quantitative data girlie. Which is honestly hilarious considering my background as an educator—where metrics and benchmarks are everything. But in this new phase of my life and career, I can’t help but compare. It’s like I know that numbers shouldn’t define the worth of this podcast, but at the same time, I need them to translate into something tangible. Money. Support. Growth that feels sustainable.

At my core, I’m a happy person. I find joy in the small things, and I’m grateful for the path I’m on. But I also want to be content in this season of growth, without constantly moving the goalpost. It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s next, and forget to appreciate what’s happening right now. I don’t want to be the kind of person who can’t see their own progress because they’re too busy chasing the next milestone.

I’ve talked about this feeling before. Back when we had Sommer Hill on, I mentioned that I feel disconnected from Doing It All in good ways. I’m not embarrassed to shoot my shot, to DM guests I admire, to pitch the podcast to brands or potential partners. I don’t have that typical hesitation I might have any other time when it comes to putting myself out there socially. That’s a win. But here’s the both/and of it all: I want this podcast to be financially successful. Our analytics are KILLING it. We’re seeing the engagement, the listens, the growth. But where’s the funding?

I know the game. We could make gimmicky Reels and TikToks, post more viral-friendly clips, do all the things that seem to be the formula for quick success. But the whole premise of Doing It All is that we’re quite literally doing it all. Sarah and I both have full-time jobs. We have families, responsibilities, and commitments that matter deeply to us. What we need in this season isn’t necessarily more content to make—it’s support for all the other smaller things that could help us convert engaged listeners into financial sustainability.

And here’s the thing—every positive review, every text or DM saying how much an episode resonated with someone? It fills me with pride. Those messages mean the world to me because they remind me why we do this. But as much as I cherish them…

Compliments unfortunately do not equal cash.

They don’t pay for production, for marketing, for the time and energy we pour into this work. Ya’ll know I’m anti-capitalist at heart, but right now? Cash rules everything around me. (Real ones know—It’s in my blood.) I love this work, but love don’t pay the damn bills.

Another thing I truly do love is my tiny little corner of the internet, where my followers genuinely engage and communicate with me. I’m not into the nonsense of buying followers, chasing a blue check (for what?), or having bots all over my feed. I value real community—genuine connection and thoughtful feedback from people who actually care about what we’re building. That’s why I admire Cam’s community so much, and it’s exactly what I hope to continue growing here. The people who show up, interact, and invest in these conversations—that’s the kind of audience that makes this all worthwhile.

So what does that look like? Sponsorships that align with our mission. Brand partnerships that make sense. Real support that allows us to do this work without burning out.

The dream is to create a show that grows without forcing us to sacrifice everything else in the process.

If you’re reading this and you’ve been listening, engaging, cheering us on—thank you. Every share, every comment, every subscription matters more than you know. And if you’re in a position to help connect us with funding opportunities, consider this my DM to you!

We’re in it for the long haul. Let’s make it happen.

xoxo,

Maya