When I started podcasting, I committed to doing it for a year and then deciding if I wanted to continue or not.

The year is up. I’ve made my decision.

I’m going to pivot.

The Hard Times & Hope podcast will go away. I’ll keep podcasting, but I’m changing it up.

I’m glad I did Hard Times & Hope. Here are four things I learned about hard times:

1. Everybody has them.
2. The intensity, duration, and flavor vary, but a hard time… is hard.
3. It gets better.
4. After coming out of a hard time, take the lessons and move on.  Don’t.  Look.  Back.

There were benefits from the podcast:

• I became a better listener, and it’s spread into my unrecorded conversations.
• I had conversations with people I never would have had.
• The guests viewed the conversation as a gift.
• The conversation often led the guest to other meaningful conversations.
• Learning to podcast gave me new friends all over the world.

What will my podcast be instead?

I’m going to record my weekly blog posts, so people have a choice to read or listen. I’m seeing it as a way of doubling down on my own stories. The new title is Jule Kucera: Reflections (even though the Imposter keeps muttering about having my name on it).

The new cover art is finished, and I like it (even though the Imposter says my name is too big, way too big, and who do I think I am?) I’ve done a test run with one of my blog posts and it feels right.

The new version of my podcast will launch November 6th! I hope you’ll join me there.

PS: One thing I’ve learned is that it’s good for me to pay attention when I’m jealous of someone. I had been jealous of Rob Slater for his Dad Sofa podcast. It’s short and host-on-mic. And yes, that’s what I’ll be doing.

That’s the plan. At least for now.

Here’s a sample, Who Is This Woman?

I hope you like it.