557. The Cost of Coming Back Before You’re Ready

Marc Ronick (00:09.223)
I said the podcasting morning show would return in September.

Marc Ronick (00:17.351)
I said the podcast actually let me do this real quick. Sleep. Here we go. Three, two, one.

I said the podcasting morning show would return in September. The truth is, I'm not ready to bring it back. So I'm extending the pause, and right now I don't have a new return date. I wanted to tell you that directly because this show and this community mean a lot to me. You deserve an honest update and

Marc Ronick (00:56.773)
I said the podcasting morning show would return in September. The truth is, I'm not ready to bring it back. So I'm extending the pause, and right now I don't have a new return date. I wanted to tell you that directly because this show and this community mean a lot to me. You deserve an honest update about where I am, even when the honest answer is I'm still figuring it out.

When I first announced the pause, I said I was taking August off and planned to return in September. At the time I felt pressure to give everyone a clear plan. I felt like I needed to put an end date on the pause and tell you exactly when I'd be back. September felt like an answer. Now that September is here, I realize I gave you an answer before I really knew what I needed. And I do feel some guilt about changing what I announced.

I know there are people who've been waiting for the show to return. I've heard from many of you. I know that there are people who've made the podcasting morning show part of their routine. There's also a little fear around leaving the timeline open. When you step away from something you've done consistently, you wonder what'll happen. You wonder if people will still be there. You wonder if connection will remain.

But I also know that returning because I said I would, while something inside me is saying I need more time, wouldn't be fair to me. It wouldn't be fair to this show or to you. The regular schedule had become overwhelming and unsustainable for me. I was carrying the morning show, iRonick media, empowered podcasting, and everything else happening in my life. I needed room to rest.

I needed room to think. And something I didn't recognize at the time, I needed room to reconnect with my creativity. This pause has started giving me that room. I feel better without the pressure of having to prepare for and produce the show several mornings every week. At some point, five mornings a week. I can feel my curiosity returning. I'm I'm becoming excited.

Marc Ronick (03:21.162)
About creating again. And the biggest surprise has been how many new possibilities started appearing when I stopped forcing myself to know what came next. And then we held Empowered Podcasting three. For anyone who may not know, Empowered Podcasting is the conference I founded three years ago. This year's event affected me in a way I'm still processing.

I received so much positive feedback. I received so much positive feedback from people who attended. I've heard how deeply the experience resonated with people. I've heard people talk about the energy in the room, the connections they made, and how safe they felt to show up as themselves. These conversations meant so much to me. At the beginning of the conference, I shared the message that had been on my heart.

When you find your people, you become empowered. I believed those words when I said them. By the end of the conference, I felt like the community had reflected them back to me.

This group of people helped me see what we've created together. They helped me see parts of myself that I think I've I'm finally ready to explore more deeply. I felt freer at EPC3. I trusted myself more. I allowed myself to be more present, more spontaneous, and more fully who I am.

And somehow the more I allowed myself to do that, the more it seemed to give other people permission to do the same.

Marc Ronick (05:10.719)
That experience reminded me how powerful community can be. It reminded me how much I care about creating spaces where people feel seen, they feel supported and empowered to become more fully themselves. It's also making me think more deeply about how I want to serve this community moving forward. I want to create more intentional experiences. I want to explore what.

Empowered podcasting can become through future events and other opportunities for us to connect.

I've also started exploring the new idea of a new podcast about community. It would look at how community shapes us, how it empowers us, and what it means to create the kinds of spaces where people can truly belong. I see that podcast and the podcasting morning show as two separate projects that could absolutely coexist.

I'm giving the new idea some room to develop without rushing it or placing another deadline on myself. And for the first time in my career, I've also felt inspired to develop a signature speech.

And for the first time in my career, I've felt inspired to develop a signature speech. That's another creative possibility I wouldn't have allowed myself to explore if open space in my week were still being filled by the morning show.

Marc Ronick (06:45.713)
I don't know where all this will lead yet. And I'm trying to become more comfortable saying that kind of thing. I'm considering what the podcasting morning show could look like when it returns. I'm thinking about the format, the schedule, and how the show can continue serving this community in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable. I still care deeply about this show. I still k I still care dee let me start it.

I still care deeply about this show. I still care deeply about you. And I'm allowing myself the time to understand what the next version of all this should be.

While the regular show is paused, I may come back with occasional mini episodes like this one. When I have something meaningful to share, I want to be able to check in with you and bring you along as I work through it. And as I think about everything this show has become, I keep coming back to the people who helped build it with me. I want to thank all the co hosts and contributors who've helped build and sustain.

Podcasting morning show. This show has never been something I created alone. Their voices, their ideas, time, energy, and care have helped make it really what it is. And to everyone who's listened, joined us live, shared an episode, left a comment, attended an event, or simply made us part of your morning. Thank you.

You've helped create something that matters to me more than I can fully put into words. As I've reconnected with my own creative energy, I've also been reminded how much I enjoy helping other people bring their ideas to life. Helping someone shape a podcast, improve the show they already have, or build a meaningful community around the work that continues to energize me. So if you're developing a podcast, you're looking for

Marc Ronick (08:55.504)
production or consulting support or thinking about how to build a stronger community around what you do, I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at marc at ironickmedia.com, Marc spelled with a C, iRonick spelled with a C K. I I'll put all that in the show notes for you. For now, when it comes to the morning show, I'm gonna give keep for now, when it comes to the morning show, I'm gonna keep giving myself the space to explore.

I'm gonna keep listening to what this experience is trying to show me. And I'll keep sharing parts of that process with you along the way. Taking more time doesn't change how much this show and this community means to me.

The space is helping me understand how I want to show up and serve this community with greater intention. When you find your people, you become empowered. Thank you for being my people.

Thank you for your patience, for your trust, and your continued support. It means everything to me.

So until next time, make it a great day, everybody. Take care.