Welcome to 2026. In this first episode of the new year, I’m sharing six strategic lessons from 2025 that changed how I work—from shifting to newsletter-first architecture, to creating systems that enable creativity rather than kill it, to recognizing when strategic thinking starts to cost more than it’s worth.
In This Episode
- Newsletter-first architecture: Why the newsletter became the business and the podcast became newsletter growth infrastructure
- How better questions in my guest submission form filters for quality and saves time
- Why systems don’t kill creativity—they enable it by removing decision fatigue
- Content gating creates better value through clear hierarchy (free vs. premium)
- Guest quality compounds; guest quantity doesn’t—one excellent guest beats three mediocre ones
- The tension between strategic thinking and creative joy, and the warning signs to watch for
- The shift from SEO optimization to conversion optimization in episode descriptions
- What “sustainable” actually means when building a creative business
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Mentions and Related Episodes
Missing Royalties: Revenue Recovery Strategies with Amani Roberts (Ep 339)
How to Conduct a Personal Royalty Audit and Recover Missing Money (Ep 340)
Jesse Flores – Distribution Partnerships And Strategic Planning For Independent Artists (Ep 338)
Resources
The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo
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