We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Randie Chapman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Randie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about spending on things like coffee when times are tough?

In 2022 I invested a little over 2k in my business when we were just coming out of lean lean times. I was so nervous to take the plunge and lots of guilt and shame came up for me as I debated on investing in the two coaching programs I’d been eyeing.

One program would give me a community and help me with marketing and showing up on social media in a way that was structured and made sense.

The other program was specifically for people in my career, and it focused on getting more organized, onboarding our clients in a professional and high quality way, and just really good stuff. But I was afraid!

Soon though, after talking to my husband and praying about it (and pulling some cards LOL). I realized if I wanted to attract clients who invested money into themselves and their businesses then I had to go first. I couldn’t ask for something I wasn’t even willing to do for myself. And I’m so glad I did it.

And one of the best parts is, I made back more than what I spent by the time the year was up.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Randie Chapman and I got into this business first as a podcaster. In 2018, I co-founded, co-produced, and co-hosted a podcast with my husband called the Black Millennial Marriage Podcast. We were going to use the podcast to document becoming parents, but we had a miscarriage. But with our family’s support, we were encouraged to still keep the podcast idea. So, we focused the podcast around our marriage and it’s been a blessing. We’ve made a lot of friends, and have built a community, and we were also featured in the New York Times and appeared on the Tamron Hall Show. It’s been a ride.

However, when we started the podcast we did everything ourselves. We produced, edited, built our site, wrote our show notes, managed social media, and created audiograms–all by ourselves. And eventually the work fell to me when my husband began a technology program. So, I learned how to do everything and people started to notice my work and asked me to edit their podcasts or come on as a co-producer.

I soon realized that I really loved doing this work, and I knew I had to pick a side. I could either stay in my current traditional 9-5 or become a podcast manager. I chose podcasting and in 2021, I launched my business.

For my clients I edit their podcasts, give them feedback, create their show notes, create their feeds on podcast platforms, upload and schedule their podcasts, place ads on their podcasts, and create their snippets for social media. And what I think sets me a part from other Podcast Managers is that I was a podcaster first.

I did a lot of the grunt work on my own and with my husband and so I know what it feels like to be tired and frustrated with some of the podcasts processes, and I know what it’s like to want to connect to an audience and gain a community. And so not only do I bring my editing expertise, but I bring my success and experience as a podcaster for those who imagine the same for themselves.

Lastly, what I’m most proud of is that I largely have lifetime clients, and I’m so grateful. I really get invested in people’s shows and their lives, and many of my clients have transitioned to also being friends and they highly respect my work and my effort. And I highly respect them. And I want my potential clients to know that my work is spectacular and I sincerely care that people put out podcasts they can not only be proud of, but that can also positively affect someone’s lives. It takes a village and I’m excited and grateful I get to do this work.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Oh yes! I pull inspiration from so many things. Some of my favorites:

Book: Get Rich, Lucky Bitch: Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First Class Life, by Denise Duffield-Thomas

Book: Discovering the Inner Mother, by Bethany Webster. (This may seem like an odd one, but I’m learning that our personal/cultural/spiritual mother wounds really do affect how we show up in the world and our money mindset. This book has done wonders for me).

Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson

Podcasts: Chill and Prosper, hosted by Denise Duffield-Thomas

Podcasts: Homecoming, hosted by Dr. Thema

I highly recommend all of these!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I took the Money Archetype quiz created by Denise Duffield-Thomas, and learned a few things HAHA. But also that “Accumulator” is one of my money archetypes. Meaning, you can trust me with money. I’m usually the banker when playing games, and I keep track of all bills due and etc. in my day to day life and in my marriage.

However, the shadow side of this is also that I will often NOT spend money even if spending money will help me get money. Deep in this is scarcity mindset and I think that’s what’s been the oddest most profound thing about starting a business. Because for me, it’s been triggering and has brought up lots of things I’d picked up as a kid about money and success.

So, I’ve had to unlearn that spending money with intention and even for personal desires is not bad and I don’t have to continually explain why or deprive myself of things as I’m trying to reach money or other goals. I also don’t need to hoard money like it’ll never make its way back to me.

Now, this is way easier said than done. But unlearning this has been pivotal for my business, especially as a start-up. And not just for business related things, but for personal. Now, I’ll buy myself something even if it doesn’t “make sense” to someone else or doesn’t have a purpose I can monetize. For instance, I recently bought this paint by numbers set and it’s so much fun and was only about $30. In the past, I would have never done this for myself because I couldn’t justify it and I would not have felt like I deserved to have it, and mainly because I hadn’t hit so and so goal.

Phew! It’s a lot.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wordieproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordieproductions/