Current Events > Have you ever quit a project / business that you helped start?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I co-founded a podcast in July 2018 and we put out 150 episodes between then and the time I left in Sep 2020. We got upto about 150,000 downloads, and interviewed lots of famous youtubers and the like. We were pretty well known in the podcasting world.

Well, I left because the other host was being a d*** to me and refused to stop "for the comedy of it" so I said "f*** it", put in a 1 month notice, and left.

Since then, they've continued to grow, got another 100k downloads or so, 2 new cohosts. I don't think the show's as good without me, but that doesn't matter. I'm so so so so so happy and relieved to be out of that toxic environment. I didn't realize the mental and emotional toll it was taking on me to have to sit there and be bullied every week. I was dreading it, and the first couple weeks after I left felt surreal because I was basically getting out of an abusive situation.

Feels good to be able to focus on other things and myself.

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Joker98 posted...

I don't think the show's as good without me, but that doesn't matter.

This was really unnecessary, because as someone who has no idea what your podcast is and seeing that they gained more downloads after you left, it sounds like you are just being bitter about their success. Not saying that's the reality, but as an outsider reading your story, that's how it comes off.

It sounds like you are happy you left and it was the right decision for you, so hopefully you are fully happy with that decision. Good for you- I'm sure you will appreciate the experience and learn from the situation, and maybe you can use it to start your own podcast somewhere down the road.

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plenty. the only one i really care about though, i only quit after everyone else quit.

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AlCalavicci posted...

This was really unnecessary, because as someone who has no idea what your podcast is and seeing that they gained more downloads after you left, it sounds like you are just being bitter about their success. Not saying that's the reality, but as an outsider reading your story, that's how it comes off.

Lol, well the reason for the increased downloads is that the show went on YouTube, which results in a wider audience. Probably was unnecessary to put tho, I just put it in because it's part of my experience.

It sounds like you are happy you left and it was the right decision for you, so hopefully you are fully happy with that decision. Good for you- I'm sure you will appreciate the experience and learn from the situation, and maybe you can use it to start your own podcast somewhere down the road.

Thank you, I do believe it was the right decision. I learned everything I had to learn. I've done 3 podcasts total now, and don't plan to do more anytime soon, but maybe one day. For now, I want to focus on other types of projects.

MedeaLysistrata posted...

plenty. the only one i really care about though, i only quit after everyone else quit.

What was the project if you don't mind me asking?

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Joker98 posted...

What was the project if you don't mind me asking?

water-based infrastructure charity overseas

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MedeaLysistrata posted...

water-based infrastructure charity overseas

that sounds so interesting! Why did the project end?

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Joker98 posted...

that sounds so interesting! Why did the project end?

well, it ended because everyone left and i was the only one working on it. so i guess it was my fault.

what was your podcast about?

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Joker98 posted...

Thank you, I do believe it was the right decision. I learned everything I had to learn. I've done 3 podcasts total now, and don't plan to do more anytime soon, but maybe one day. For now, I want to focus on other types of projects.

What kind of other projects are you looking into pursuing? Other broadcasting type things, or completely different types of projects?

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MedeaLysistrata posted...

well, it ended because everyone left and i was the only one working on it. so i guess it was my fault.

what was your podcast about?

Well, at least you got to do some good work while it lasted =/ I'm sorry it had to end

We interviewed YouTubers mostly. The show started off pretty small, interviewing pretty much anyone we could who had more than a couple thousand instagram followers lol. But soon we were interviewing YouTubers with 1M + subs regularly. It felt really validating initially to be able to grow the podcast using strategy that ended up working really well, and to be able to talk to so many famous people and learn what they had to teach me about all kinds of things. But eventually I realized that I wasn't happy and I had to leave.

AlCalavicci posted...

What kind of other projects are you looking into pursuing? Other broadcasting type things, or completely different types of projects?

At this particular time, I'm focused on my own growth and building strong relationships with my friends. I'm also learning languages, exploring new hobbies, etc. I'm still working on various misc audio projects here and there, but rather than trying to get famous, the goal is to entertain my friends.

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Joker98 posted...

Well, at least you got to do some good work while it lasted =/ I'm sorry it had to end

We interviewed YouTubers mostly. The show started off pretty small, interviewing pretty much anyone we could who had more than a couple thousand instagram followers lol. But soon we were interviewing YouTubers with 1M + subs regularly. It felt really validating initially to be able to grow the podcast using strategy that ended up working really well, and to be able to talk to so many famous people and learn what they had to teach me about all kinds of things. But eventually I realized that I wasn't happy and I had to leave.

That's pretty cool. To me having something actually come together and take off is the big draw of it, I guess, so it's nice to know it does happen. But I guess you just have a different set of issues at that level.

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MedeaLysistrata posted...

That's pretty cool. To me having something actually come together and take off is the big draw of it, I guess, so it's nice to know it does happen. But I guess you just have a different set of issues at that level.

I completely understand. Watching something take off is super rewarding. For me, the big problems started happening when I realized that the other host was being more mean than he had to be and when I asked him to tone it down he refused to. That's when I knew something was wrong. I solicited the advice of my aunt who's a behavioral therapist who informed me that he's a narcissist and is using me for his own gain, which I now look back and see in retrospect. At that point, I decided I wasn't going to be taken advantage of anymore even if it meant stepping away from my baby so to speak.

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Growing up I had always been a little skate rat. Fresh out of high school I gained a skateboard sponsorship. It was a small company started by an artist friend of mine. We toured on the West coast and I performed in a few demos while on tour. I still have photos of my shoot at Washington St. Bridge in San Diego. It was great and I got to meet tons of legendary skaters such as Butch Sterbins and Stu Graham. A few years go by and the company isn't doing so hot, though we sold out of our back stock of boards and hoodies, the company isn't turning a profit. My artist friend calls me on the phone and tells me that he is going to be putting the skateboard company down for good. I was kind of broken up about it but I understood. I really don't know how I expected things to go but I at least got to live my dream of being a professional skater. I even had my own pro deck. Though my career in skateboarding was not yet over.

After coming back from another West Coast tour, I meet another talented skateboarder with ambition. Together we form a small skate crew and begin production on what would become a heavily-involved skateboard video. The first year of shooting I quit my job and spend my life savings on a warehouse where we built a full-sized 8ft vertical skateboard ramp. We continue to accumulate footage for what we thought would be the skate video to end all skate videos. Years go by and the production of the video has become very one-sided. I feel as though I am doing most of the work as far as editing, filming as well as financing this massive project. On top of this, relations between myself and the other skater are starting to sour. I won't get into details but towards the end of production, my partner decides to leave the state completely unannounced, forcing me to roll out our project on the heels of a failed Kickstarter. The plan was to put the video into production and create a DVD product that we would then sell online and at skateshops. What ended up happening was I was left with my dick in my hand and the last 5 years of my life squandered on a project that flopped right out the gates. To save face, I uploaded the project to YouTube. At the very least I could share the fruits of my labor with the world.


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Wii_Shaker posted...

Growing up I had always been a little skate rat. Fresh out of high school I gained a skateboard sponsorship. It was a small company started by an artist friend of mine. We toured on the West coast and I performed in a few demos while on tour. I still have photos of my shoot at Washington St. Bridge in San Diego. It was great and I got to meet tons of legendary skaters such as Butch Sterbins and Stu Graham. A few years go by and the company isn't doing so hot, though we sold out of our back stock of boards and hoodies, the company isn't turning a profit. My artist friend calls me on the phone and tells me that he is going to be putting the skateboard company down for good. I was kind of broken up about it but I understood. I really don't know how I expected things to go but I at least got to live my dream of being a professional skater. I even had my own pro deck. Though my career in skateboarding was not yet over.

After coming back from another West Coast tour, I meet another talented skateboarder with ambition. Together we form a small skate crew and begin production on what would become a heavily-involved skateboard video. The first year of shooting I quit my job and spend my life savings on a warehouse where we built a full-sized 8ft vertical skateboard ramp. We continue to accumulate footage for what we thought would be the skate video to end all skate videos. Years go by and the production of the video has become very one-sided. I feel as though I am doing most of the work as far as editing, filming as well as financing this massive project. On top of this, relations between myself and the other skater are starting to sour. I won't get into details but towards the end of production, my partner decides to leave the state completely unannounced, forcing me to roll out our project on the heels of a failed Kickstarter. The plan was to put the video into production and create a DVD product that we would then sell online and at skateshops. What ended up happening was I was left with my dick in my hand and the last 5 years of my life squandered on a project that flopped right out the gates. To save face, I uploaded the project to YouTube. At the very least I could share the fruits of my labor with the world.

aww man Im sorry to hear that :/


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Joker98 posted...

aww man Im sorry to hear that :/

Shit happens. Life happens. You move on.

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