Heading to 200...

I just wrapped up post-production (what little I do) on another episode today and while that was uploading I decided to take a look around the RSS feed (where the episodes actually reside) just to reminisce.

WOW...Main Street Banking has come a looooong way in the last 4 years. That's right...4 years and over 170 episodes.

The first few episodes...sheesh...those were rough. I'd like to think they've gotten somewhat easier to listen to. I'd like to think the topics have gotten more interesting. I'd like to think that we've made a difference in the banking industry...and maybe in people's lives. That's a crazy thing to hope for out of a banking podcast, but I'd like to think that nonetheless.

So, I wanted to take a minute or two and share some of what I have learned through these years and things that I am proud of if you'll indulge me.

1: Don't be afraid to ask. We've been able to land guests that, in our industry, I would never have thought we would get. Some people we have asked have said no...but most have said yes. I am sincerely grateful that anyone would want to come on the podcast and I've enjoyed each one.

2: Be authentic. On the episode I recorded today, we were joking about my having a face for podcasting. The music on the podcast is my band Delta Heart (the house band of the Mississippi Delta!!). That's me playing bass. That's my uncle playing that lead guitar. Yes, it saves on royalties (as long as Chris hires us to play at grad school!) but it's 100% me. I can try to polish the podcast up some...but it would bore me to tears. I can't really hide my North Mississippi/West Tennessee accent...and I would sound stupid if I did. I try and make each guest forget that we're recording. I like to think of each conversation as one that we'd be having at a cocktail party. It seems to work best that way and I think it makes for a better podcast.

3: You can make an impact. Probably the proudest moment(s) we've had on the podcast was the content in March 2020. When COVID hit and hit big, I went to my bank and my former loan assistant was having to do her job through the drive-through. I've known her for nearly 10 years and I knew she was scared. There were so many questions and unknowns out there. So, we went all-in on emotional intelligence content along with practical tech at the time as well as telling stories of what was going on in other banks. As usual, I didn't have a lot of episode queued up so I had the room on the calendar...but I felt like we had a platform (a small one...but one anyway) to help bankers get through today and maybe even feel ok about tomorrow. I wanted to tell bankers that they were not alone out there.

Another impact I'm proud of came at a Barret event about a year and a half after we started. A young local banker approached me and asked if I was the one that did the podcast. Thinking I had offended someone by something I said (a situation I find myself in often), I sheepishly said "yes?". He went on to say that he listens to learn more about his new industry. He was fresh out of college and working in a branch, but he was new to banking. It helped him learn more.

Those things don't necessarily move the download numbers and build engagement and help you go virally ascending up the charts...but it sure as anything makes you feel good about what you do. And I want to thank each of you for letting us make an impact in your lives...personal and/or professional.

4: Community Banking is a pretty cool industry! I've been a banking geek for a long time and been a community banker for a long time as well. I always knew it was a cool industry. However, having talked to bankers from all over the country and talking with people that work with bankers...this is an industry that is fun. Now, I've been buried under TRID disclosures too but think about how many lives we get to impact! What's cool about community banking is that we, generally, love that about our jobs. I've said this before but whenever I talk to bankers who have retired they don't reminisce about moving the efficiency ratio down 250 bps. They don't reflect on that big relationship they landed. They talk about and reflect fondly upon those people they worked with...both in the bank and customers. They talk about that small business they took a chance on and it worked out. (They don't necessarily remember those that didn't however!). Where else can we make our communities better and get to exercise both the right and left parts of our minds?!

5: Challenge yourself. I've told the story before but when we started this, I was not into podcasts. My last experience with podcasts was well before "streaming" was a word. When I got my first iPod I signed up for a few podcasts as well as uploaded all my music. It got to the point that I had to choose between my church's sermon and my Hootie and the Blowfish albums. Guess what won out?! So, 4 months into my new job at Barret and my boss says "Hey, why don't we start a podcast?!?!" what else are you going to say. Main Street Banking started out with the Google search "How to start a podcast". There are things I would go back and do differently, sure, but I am so glad I pushed myself and took ownership of the podcast in the same way an entrepreneur would (in staff meetings, I refer to the podcast as "my baby"). I didn't know what an RSS feed was and the idea of submitting something to Apple/Amazon/Spotify scared the heck out of me but I am so glad I tried. I'm grateful I had the support of our team too!

So, I would leave you with that...to challenge yourself, be authentic, don't be afraid, know that you can make an impact, and be proud of what you do. Also...don't be afraid to have a crazy idea like a community banking podcast can make people's lives better. Own that!! Make that crazy idea your "baby". Protect it fiercely. Those "crazy" ideas are what make you the superhero you are!!!