My First Solo Episode: Building a Podcast on the Side While Working a 9–5

This episode is a little different… my first solo episode.

Because life happens. Showing up for your dreams doesn’t always look perfect. It looks like doing what you can with where you are.

As the host of this podcast, that means continuing to build, to show up, and to stay committed to the community we’re creating, even when life, work, and everything in between try to get in the way.

In this episode, I share a quick check-in. What it’s been feeling like behind the scenes, the moments of overwhelm, and practicing grace, which is just as important as staying consistent.

I also touch on what we’ve been building lately, where the podcast is going, and the core idea that continues to guide everything we do. Bringing to light the real-life transitions that don’t always get a voice.

This is a short, honest conversation. A one-on-one moment to pause, reset, and keep going.

If you’re navigating your own transitions, building something of your own, or trying to stay on track, this one is for you.

Listen in for a real, 1:1 chat with your Wait… What’s Next host.

New episodes every week.

Wait... What's Next? 

Host: Laura Alba 
Co-Host: Amanda Brilhante
Executive Producer: Lauren Atkinson

Instagram: @waitwhatsnextpod, @lauraalbaz & @amandakbril

Email:  waitwhatsnextpod@gmail.com

Transcript

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Hello and welcome back to another episode of Wait What's Next? This is the podcast for those in-betweeners, for those people who are in the middle of pivoting or making a life-changing decision. And truly just the transitions in life. Today it's gonna be a very different podcast. I am doing a solo episode, which I will get into why later on down the episode. But it's gonna be a short one and it's gonna be a sweet one. And the reason why I wanted to jump on doing a quick recording today is because if you're anything like me and we already have a community of people who listen to the podcast, when I listen to one of my favorite podcasts, or I just follow a channel that I really like, I almost am always waiting for that creator or that podcast or that video to drop. And that is something that I look forward every week because in a weird way it's part of my community, even though they don't know me, but I enjoy that type of content that I follow. So for those of you who have been following us from the beginning and supporting the podcast, I don't want to lap you down. This is me getting out of my comfort zone and creating a solo one, which is very different. We're just gonna wing it today. I hope you enjoy it. It's just gonna be a quick little chat. One is I wanted to stay consistent and make sure that those who are expecting an episode this week they get a fun one. Two, because this is a podcast where I really want to continue having honest conversations, keep it genuine, and be vulnerable at the core. I wanted to share why we didn't have time to record a podcast this week. Truly, Amanda has been such a supporter. She's been the greatest co-host. I am enjoying doing this show with her. She's been very available, always working on my time, and then we're working together, keeping it flexible so we can make this project happen and continue pushing forward. But in all honesty, and this is the part where I want all of you who are working on a project or following a dream to keep it honest and real talk. Because as much as I love this dream, and I'm really living the dream of creating this podcast and doing it with some amazing creators and my friends, people that are so talented in many different ways. A dream is not just a dream and it's not all fun and games. It truly has to become a job. And it's not always easy. You don't have all the time in the world to be able to do it. And so this is when you have to realize that this is not just a hobby or a fun project, but if you're really serious, you really have to put in the time and sacrifice a lot of things. Do not rumble about it. I wanted to say the truth. And the truth is I have been a little bit overwhelmed in the past few weeks, and I haven't been able to stay on a schedule with recording and all of that. While Amanda has been very supporting, sometimes you just have to accept the fact that you cannot do it all and just try to show up, practice grace. At the end of the day, do the best you can. However, because I still want to show up for myself and for the goals that I am putting and that I want to go for, I decided to do a quick one so I wouldn't go this week without releasing an episode. So again, this is me being vulnerable and telling the truth. Maybe this inspires any of you who it's hesitating or who's going on a pivot or who also has a side hassle or a project to not feel frustrated. Sometimes you have to pause, get a perspective, and then keep it pushing. Now that that has been addressed, I also wanted to give a few updates of some things that we've been working on behind the scenes. Some housekeeping things. I first want to say thank you to Amanda for jumping on this train with me, for being so fun, for bringing her own personality and her own side and compliment to the podcast. I truly, truly enjoy every time we sit down and record, even though getting together, scheduling, staying on track can be a little bit challenging because we both have nine to fives, we both have full lives outside of the podcast. But once we sit down and we turn on the mics, it just becomes magic. We both live the episode feeling so much better, like we've had a therapy session. So, Amanda, this goes to you. Thank you so much for joining me for doing this wild ride with me. I am so excited for what's to come, what we're waiting. I am so grateful that you hear me out, hear my elevator pitch to get you on the podcast and be a co-host with me. Not only did you jump on it and took a chance on me, but also you're doing a great job. So I am so thankful. Another update that we have is we officially have an executive producer for the podcast. And it's my dear and best friend, Lauren Atkinson. She jumped on this project and is already killing it. We have been having some great strategy sessions, conversations, how we're developing the branding of the podcast, making sure that we enhance the message so then the people that choose to listen to us, they're here for the right reasons and they know what they can expect from us. I am so excited, and I'm probably gonna be repeating this word along this episode so much, because once you start your own dream and you start sort of alone, and I do have to say my co-host last season, she helped me build the beginning and just the infrastructure, just getting it started. But at the end of the day, it is my dream. Starting alone was hard. However, once you continue pushing on your dreams, like I said in past episodes, the universe starts responding back to you, and the right people, the right circumstances, show up to help you continue building that dream. It's almost showing you that you're on the right path and that maybe you are onto something that is gonna be amazing. We don't know what the future holds, but I feel like having Lauren jumping in as our executive producer has shown me that I am really truly creating something that is gonna be so meaningful. Not only is challenging, it's challenging in so many different ways, but it's making us grow in so many directions and wearing so many different hats that I never thought I was going to wear. I just want to say welcome, Lauren Atkinson, and thank you so much for also jumping on this wild ride with me. I am so excited. We keep sending long voice memos because we have so many creative ideas throughout the day. We just cannot wait for our strategy meeting every week. Truly, it's making me feel like I'm on the right path and that we are building something of value and that is gonna create a community of people that is just gonna be amazing. So stay tuned because since Lauren is gonna be such a huge part of the behind the scenes, the strategy and the production of the podcast, we naturally have to introduce her to the community of Wait, What's Next? And so we are prepping an interview and bringing Lauren as our guest so you guys can get to know her, know her background story. Every time we reference her, you guys know who we're talking about because she is gonna be a huge part of the podcast, even if she's not recording with us on the regular basis. Lauren discussed to you, I'm so thankful for you. You are not only my best friend and an amazing human being, but you have so much talent. The company that you're working for is so lucky to have you, and I am so lucky to have you, and I can't wait to see what we'll build together. That being said, we have been working on so many exciting things. The reason why I also wanted to talk about our new executive producer is because she has helped me and direct me into honing in on who our community is, who are the people that are gonna be resonating with our podcast. One of the conversations that resonated with me in doing exercises on brand development was who is the listener of this podcast? Who is the person that it's going to feel they're walking away from each of the episodes with something new, with something they can use and with something on value? Those people are anyone and everyone who is living in the real world, who is constantly in the transitions of life. And I'm not just talking about the highlight real, let's talk about something that's trendy, let's just try to go viral or talk about topics that people are talking about. No, I'm talking about the day-to-day, the mundane things that we all as human beings experience and that nobody truly is talking about. And we want to be vulnerable, we want to be honest, and we want to be genuine. Because as a podcast lover, don't get me wrong, I love the hassle, I love the motivation. I follow a ton of podcasts that give me the spark to continue pushing on the things that I love and that I dream of. But what is not talked about enough is the behind the scenes, the real buildup in what truly goes behind doors when you're building something that is so meaningful to you. Whether it is a career, whether it is you coming into your body and building up a wellness routine that feels like it fits your life, or you're working on all aspects of wellness and nutrition, and you're being pulled in so many directions because there's just so much information out there that you're still trying to find what best fits you. Or if you're navigating a career shift and you feel like you're alone because at the end of the day, yes, maybe a lot of people are navigating, finding a new job, but everyone is doing it on their own, in their house, by themselves, with no community and no support. I just think that those conversations have helped me the most when I am going through a transition. Rather than sitting here and making anybody motivated and talk about all of the good things that happen on the other side. I just think that we need to raise our voices and talk about everything that happens in between. Because that is where growth happens. And that is the real value that I personally have gained from having access to people who have done it before me, who I admire and who I really want to learn from reality, and not just the highlight real, not just the I am doing great and hustle, hustle, hustle. And no, creating blueprints and creating guidelines from other people's experiences, but in a way that resonates with myself. That was our conclusion from the brand development that we had. And I thought that it would be so great to share with you guys because you guys are listening. I want to make sure that if you're here, you're here for the right reasons and that you're here to stay. Because we're just getting started, we're getting the conversations there. I really want to build up a community that grows with us and that never feels left out on conversations. Because we're all real people, I want to end this little rant by saying I want to prioritize conversations that help build human beings instead of just working on the hassle creating humans, only doing. Because what really matters, I think, at the end of the day and in the long run, is who we are at our core, who we are as people, not defined by what we do, what we have, or by the people that knows us, but who we are at our core, how we can navigate this world by just staying genuine and really taking all the layers that we put on to be able to fit in. With that being said, this very short episode is coming to an end. I wanted to keep it short. I wanted to have a real conversation with you guys. Honestly, this was really fun. I was a little scared because when you're doing a solo episode, you don't really have the other person that you can talk to and bounce each other's ideas. Sometimes one of my favorite episodes are of people that I admire, and they just sit down, grab the mic, and talk to you, and it just feels like we're having a one-on-one conversation. So I hope you feel the same. I hope that this was helpful. Guys, we have so many excited things coming. I am truly living the dream. And for those of you who are supporting us from the beginning or who just started listening, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is my dream. And just continue doing the journey with us. We'll be back next week, Amanda and I, with a fun new episode. Don't forget to find us on all the socials. I don't have to go through them at Wait What's Next Pot. I'm also blogging on YouTube, the behind the scenes of the podcast. Stay tuned because we are creating so many other outlets that will make it easier for us to connect and to continue the conversations offline. So I'll see you guys next week. Bye.