For the past 10 weeks I’ve been showing up—week after week—committed to building this podcast and connecting with you. Along the way, I’ve wrestled with the difference between obsession and commitment, the cost versus the value of creating content, and what it really means to thrive in today’s engagement economy.

In this episode, I reflect on how obsession differs from true commitment in the creative process, why engagement has become the real currency of the internet, and how creators measure the balance between value and cost in their work. I also dig into the broken state of traditional publishing, the opportunities for indie authors, and the importance of discoverability and connection for anyone trying to reach an audience. At the heart of it, I’m exploring why I continue this podcast, how it’s evolving, and what it means to create consistently in a way that provides value without burning out.

I also reference Tia Jana’s essay Dear Authors, Leave Amazon the Hell Alone, which you can read here.

If this episode resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected], leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app, and subscribe so you won’t miss future episodes. Your engagement lets me know this podcast is providing value—and it helps me decide where to take it next.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianajim.substack.com