We recently connected with Michael Smalls and have shared our conversation below.

Michael , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

The craziest thing that has ever happened to my business is losing inspiration for it. I honestly never thought it would happen to me. With the success of the podcast, when I first started, business was booming. My first season was a great season, but oh man, my second season was even greater! The rawness of my episodes, my guests, my topics! We had a ball, and I never wanted to lose that momentum. But with my third season, that’s where things fell apart. I put all this money into my podcast and some merchandise; I spent way too much money on an LLC without knowing what I was doing. Most of the time, I really just found myself doing all the work. I had three good friends, and out of those three, my best friend Shannon McCoy (a.k.a. Timmy) was the only one helping me with the podcast. He helped the most, even though his work schedule was way more hectic than mine. So, with the podcast falling apart because of employment issues, I took a long break from it, eventually getting back to it.Do I have any regrets? No, I don’t have any, and honestly, if I had to do it all over again yes I would, we’re off break and we’re coming with the rawness. We’re giving people exactly what they want pure honesty. Just being a parent, you will make mistakes sometimes, you know, and that’s part of my podcast. You don’t have to be perfect. Fathering365 is my baby and I love it!

Michael , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Michael Smalls, and I’m 32 years old. I gained full custody of my two children in 2019. I started the podcast to change the narrative about men being bad parents. I saw many women bashing men, and I wanted to show that there are good fathers out there. How did I get into podcasting? I didn’t know how to express my opinion without sounding biased. So, I researched and created a safe space for parents to share their opinions. I started Fathering 365, a podcast that offers deep conversations and a safe space for opinions to matter. We also offer hilarious segments and 24/7 consultations through our Facebook page. My goal is to provide information and help. In my first week, I helped seven fathers who messaged me and said they had worked things out with the mother of their child. They learned that a conversation can go a long way. What sets me apart is that I care. I don’t like it when people put down other parents. My fans appreciate my neutrality and willingness to look at both sides.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A key lesson I had to unlearn is that not everyone shares your vision. The story is straightforward. As I mentioned earlier, I invested significant effort initially, and towards the end, I demonstrated to my staff that our product is valuable, and we’re offering it for free until people understand how we generate revenue through subscriptions. By producing more episodes and making our audience feel comfortable, I eventually received feedback like, it wasn’t enough.

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

Where did I have to pivot in life? As a full-time, single parent, I had to make a decision. I was working 5 days a week and managing a podcast 7 days a week, all while caring for my 2 children at home. I needed to make a decision. I required a break from the podcast, but my team couldn’t take charge. I had to communicate my needs clearly, providing guidelines for episode writing, dad jokes, story submissions, and guest interviews. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the support I needed, leading me to take a break from the podcast. My children’s needs come first, and I regret the lengthy hiatus that ensued. Nonetheless, life demands making tough decisions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/show/5XQitFRl4jzABdJiVD2SK5
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GKyd43oEL/
• Other: https://www.podpage.com/fathering365llc/

Image Credits

Brittney Adams