What started as an impulsive daily podcasting experiment has evolved into a full-on obsession for me, Zach Valenti.
If you're curious what the daily podcast was like, here's a somewhat indicative sample:
It all began with an impulsive domain name purchase of http://focused.af (this site!). All the more impulsive because I'd just been laid off from my fancy startup job and thus had my income slashed to nearly nothing, save a few side-hustle-y freelance contracts.
The vision was clear: I needed to start a daily podcast. In honor of my 27th birthday I was going to indulge real-life cosplay of popular vlogger Casey Neistat, just with an audio-only format. After getting talked out of quitting by the inimitable Amanda McLoughlin, I knew I needed a domain name as my birthday was just a few weeks away.
For an attention-deficit dude such as myself, there was no organizing brand clearer for an auditory window into my unfocused life as "Focused AF."
In just 30 days of podcasting every single day, the show had received over 30,000 downloads and 100 iTunes ratings & reviews, over half of which were written reviews. It was arguably the most successful thing I'd ever started.
Last time I uploaded regular episodes, I found it helpful for myself to have a focused outlet for compiling my notes on life where I also got feedback from a diverse audience. That being a good enough reason in itself, it doesn't hurt that many of you have shared many kind words with me about how this show and my work has touched your life.