We were lucky to catch up with Kris Chaney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kris, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

I started in the military at 18, and after that, I had always wanted to do something in film, most likely producing or directing so I moved to LA. I’m from the Bay Area so moving to LA was a real change from The Bay. I decided to get a job in a real field first so I moved into the medical field after obtaining my degree in Biomedical Sciences and Radiology. That medical career led me to chiropractic before I left the medical sector all together and moving into physical fitness.

I realized I had a real passion for a few different things and that it was too hard to decide between everything. One of the doctors I worked for was a business owner and eventually retired from chiropractic but maintained his ownership of the practice and grew it. I knew then that I wanted to open businesses supporting my many passions. I went back to school to focus on business, marketing, and applied entrepreneurship, to gain a better understanding of business operations.

I started REEL ProduCtions, LLC., which is my production company, followed by Chane Gang Training, LLC., my personal training business. I’m working on a business plan for a real estate company with which I plan to own the land my businesses and other businesses are built on. I have a complete digital blueprint design for my physical fitness gym and am working on the plans for a medical center.

Kris, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Most people know me from my podcasts, REEL Film Reviewed, which delivers spoiler free reviews of film and TV followed by a post-viewing, in-depth discussion, and Kris of All Trades, which focuses on a range of topics from fitness, mental health, social, and community issues. I also have an online apparel and accessory store, REEL Merch, which features a lot of campaigns supporting both podcasts and various organizations. REEL ProduCtions, LLC. provides video and audio services such as: digital filming, video and audio editing, light sound mixing, scriptwriting, captions, and transcriptions. Projects include podcast production and editing to include intros and outros, film, TV, webisodes, and live productions. The REEL Podcasting Network, is in the works, and will feature a collection of podcasts focused on multiple topics.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was working in the medical field, a lot of people were proud of what I was doing, and I was happy at the time but there was always a lingering thought of more. Not to say the work wasn’t fulfilling, it was, but I wanted more and to have a much larger impact on the world. When I made the decision to leave the medical field, I knew that I wanted to go into business for myself, so it was bitter sweet. I was excited for what was to come but I was hurting with feeling like I left medical behind. A large part of my future business plans include businesses where I can leverage my medical background and knowledge from my education, working in the field, and as a patient. And that’s what I’m most proud of, is the way I have combined my passions and education to enjoy working every day. It’s sometimes hard when you’re young and unsure of what you want to do because whether there is outside pressure or not, you’re going to apply a little bit on yourself. I was very big on not wanting to waste time so I overthought a lot of my decisions. I don’t regret the route that I went, which was essentially spending a little time in each area learning what I was passionate about, but I wish that I had realized sooner, that I did not have to choose one thing.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

As someone who was never into social media, I was surprised at how quickly I was able to create an audience and following on social media. I think it was more the podcast than me. But X (Formerly Twitter) was the social media platform I used first to launch my podcast, REEL Film Reviewed, and I cannot even remember what made me think to start an account for my podcast. It may have been something I read when I was researching how to start a podcast. I had been on X (Formerly Twitter) but had not been very engaged in it. The reach you are able to get on X is great and the podcast community is great. They support each other so well and honestly, podcasting is about people knowing your podcast and where to find it, and that comes from consistency. When you are consistent, you market your episodes, those are liked and shared, and more people become aware of you. X is like the LinkedIn for small businesses and entrepreneurs. After I grew a following there, I branched out to Instagram, and started using Headliner to release short audio trailers with visuals on Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://reel-film-reviewed.productions/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel_film_reviewed_podcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/reelfilmpkc & https://twitter.com/koat_podcast
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/afone32
• Other: LinkTree – https://linktr.ee/REEL_Film_Reviewed

Image Credits
Dre Ryan