I Spent $13K on a Podcast I Quit

Written By Leah Lowe

It’s been a minute since I uploaded a video to YouTube—November, to be exact. And if I’m being honest, I needed the break. Money was tight, so I let go of my studio rental last October. I had plans to shoot in PeerSpace locations or maybe the same studio once a month, but then the election hit, and mentally, I just wasn’t in a creative space because I was emotionally drained.

Shortly after, I picked up two new clients—one with travel involved—and the other that was just pre-production heavy, but life just kept happening.

But beyond the schedule, I also had to face something bigger: I didn’t enjoy podcasting anymore.

Podcasting required a lot of research, outlining, editing, and emotional bandwidth I didn’t want to spend on topics I didn’t really have a passion for talking about. So I walked away. I’m a retired podcaster now—and honestly, I’ve never felt more free.

Letting Go Was Part of the Journey

I spent over $13,000 to produce that podcast. And even though I eventually let it go, I don’t see that money as a loss. It gave me practice. It helped me grow. It built my confidence as both a cinematographer and a business owner.

That podcast taught me how to:

  • Repurpose long-form content into short-form content

  • Shoot in different lighting setups across various locations

  • Strengthen my grip and gaffing skills

  • Develop my own voice in cinematography instead of copying trends

So… Why Come Back to YouTube?

For a while, I debated just letting YouTube go. But after some real reflection, I’ve decided to come back—with a fresh purpose.

I don’t want to become another tutorial channel teaching filmmaking basics and upselling courses in every description. There’s nothing wrong with those channels (some of them got me to where I am today), but it’s not the path for me. Especially when so many are selling knowledge they haven’t fully lived yet.

If I ever create a course, it’ll be years from now—with real experience behind it.

What to Expect Moving Forward

My channel is going to document the raw, behind-the-scenes life of a full-time cinematographer who’s actively building a production company in Nashville, Tennessee. No filters, no rented Lambos. Just real life.

You’ll see:

  • Shoot days, travel days, and slow days

  • Breakdowns of past and current projects

  • Honest vlogs—from creative process to gear talk to living with my parents at 31 (yep, in a twin bed!)

  • What success looks like without penthouses, Teslas, or Dubai trips

Because here’s the truth:

I’m 31, living at home rent-free.

My car is paid off.

I own my gear.

I invest in my business without stressing.

I set my own hours and rates.

And that makes me successful—way more than I ever felt sitting at a call center job back in 2018, trying to pay off a college degree that led nowhere.

This Journey Is Just Getting Started

So if you’re someone chasing creative freedom, building something from the ground up, or just trying to figure it out as you go—I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel & follow the journey in real time.

Watch the full video on YouTube to hear the whole story and see what’s coming next.

I’m excited for this new chapter—and I hope it inspires you to define success on your terms, too.

Leah Lowe