🚨 To Be Blunt... I'm Exhausted

Saying goodbye to the podcast (for now), and hello to long form written content

Podcasting was a thrilling adventure until it reached a natural plateau.

If you’ve been listening to me over the years, then you’ve probably picked up on some of the ways I’ve tried to evolve the show.

It's been a balancing act - keeping you engaged while also honoring my personal boundaries.

And if there is one thing I’ve learned about myself, the best way out is through, so in all my guts and glory, I’m writing a sort of memento to pinpoint this time in my life and keep you strapped into the ride with me (should you want to stick around.)

Now, after 167 episodes and consistent Monday releases over three years, it's time for a change.

A reinvention if you will.

To Be Blunt began amidst the 2020 pandemic, born from a desire to fill the void left by lost in-person networking.

I also was just a year and some change into running RESTART, and I saw an opportunity to create a space to facilitate the types of conversations I was craving and knew others were seeking as well.

And the podcast truly rose to the occasion and then some.

The experienced caliber of guests and conversations I was able to have are invaluable for me, and I hope have been helpful to you on your respective journey in this industry.

In addition to that, I intended to use this as a space to build my thought leadership and share my expertise, and am so grateful for all the opportunities to cover events, moderate panels, and be invited as a guest onto other podcasts.

But industries evolve, and so must we.

The cannabis landscape has shifted dramatically in these four years, prompting me to reassess my approach.

While the creative process of podcasting, from scheduling to editing, has been rewarding, it's also demanding – both in time and finances.

It adds up.

Amidst these professional reflections, personal life changes have also emerged.

I’m reconsidering how I show up on social media in general.

I got married last year and am looking forward to starting a family.

This has led to an identity shift, broadening my interests to wellness and culinary pursuits, and deepening my love for hosting dinner parties.

I’m just re-evaluating my time, my values, and what I want to invest in.

We only have 24 hours in a day, how should I spend mine?

Given these changes, I'm re-embracing a new creative medium: writing.

Returning to my roots as a blogger, I'm excited to explore the written word in a more expansive format.

While the exact themes are still taking shape, you can anticipate similar pieces on topics like social media censorship and hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Along with my personal experiences navigating everything from my go-to tech stacks to marketing hacks, and what to do when a regulator visits you.

Up next is about my breakup with Square and what POS platform we moved to.

But, if you have any suggestions for specific things you’d like to hear more from me on, please get in touch and let me know.

To Be Blunt isn't disappearing; it's simply evolving.

The podcast might take a back seat, allowing written narratives to drive.

The point I’m trying to make is, that I have things to say still, I just don’t know if what I was saying was resonating anymore in the medium I was sharing.

However, I'm not closing the door on audio and video content – think of this as a hiatus, with the possibility of a future revival.

And in an attempt to not be stuck, I’m taking action.

A massive component in all of this is RESTART.

RESTART is the whole reason, I believe, I can log on here and say what I want to say.

It’s my credibility.

And now after 5 going on 6 years of being a top hemp brand in Texas, I think the foundation is there that it is time to re-focus on where we’re taking our brand.

So when I stack my daily list of priorities, RESTART is at the top.

Things that don’t directly drive revenue for my business have to be reconsidered.

And monetizing the podcast wasn’t my intention, and over the years became a thorn in my side.

Debating if I should, or shouldn’t, and if I did, how I would approach it.

Ultimately feeling defeated because it just didn’t feel right for me.

As with most things I do, I hope my oversharing can give you some peace as you wrestle with your own business and personal lives.

Remember, we're all on this one-time ride of life.

It's okay to pivot and explore new avenues!

Saying it out loud has been tough, but the more I speak it into existence, the easier (of course) it is becoming to lean into the transition and flex this new muscle.

Thank you so much for being here!

Whether you’re a long-time subscriber and fan, or you recently discovered me.

The one thing I am forever grateful for is the community we’ve cultivated.

There is so much opportunity happening in the cannabis industry at large, and I look forward to continuing to share my hot takes with you all from my corner of the Universe here in Austin, Texas.

Please reach out, I would love to connect with you whether it’s in the comments below, or my DM’s @theshaydatorabi.

PS: All episodes will still be made available across all listening platforms and always at TOBEBLUNTPOD.com