From Dreaming to Publishing

A month ago, my best friend (who's also a therapist) and I sat in his office with butterflies in our stomachs, hit record, and launched the first episode of our podcast Three Percent.

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

Just two therapists with a vision:

Create a space where men could explore emotional well-being, deeper relationships, and faith without judgment or shame.

Two mics from Amazon. No producer. No built-in audience. Just “bootstrapping it" as they say.

Just us, hitting record and hoping it would encourage our friends and family that might listen. No expectations or goals for listener numbers.

Just a commitment to do the best we could with what we had, let go of perfectionism, and release an episode each week.

And then something unexpected happened...

People didn't just listen. They showed up in ways we couldn't have imagined.

I want to share a few lessons I learned in this first month—lessons that might resonate with you, especially if you're working on your own creative projects or dreams.

1.) Doing Something Together is More Meaningful Than Going Solo

Starting this podcast with someone else has been transformative. There's something about collaboration that makes the process richer and more fulfilling.

The shared excitement when something works, sharing the burden when hard things arise, and the different perspectives that shape the final product—all of these make creative partnerships uniquely powerful.

Even the most independent projects can benefit from finding the right collaborator who shares your vision. Not to mention it’s a lot less lonely

2.) Men Need More Resources Around Vulnerability and Authenticity

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversations is that men are hungry for resources that help them engage with their stories.

Vulnerability and authenticity aren't just buzzwords—they're essential tools for building deeper relationships. When we create spaces where people can be honest about their struggles and pain, we provide the potential for healing not just for them, but for everyone they interact with.

3.) Surrender the Desire for Perfection

When we stopped trying to make everything perfect and just focused on doing the best we could with what we had, the results were better than we expected.

Our first month's numbers blew past the average for new podcasts with no prior audience (which was us) and the feedback has been so encouraging.

This reinforced something I deeply believe: authenticity resonates more than polished perfection. Stories move us more than information. People connect with the humanity in our work, not the cleaned up version of it.

Every creative endeavor teaches us something about ourselves and the world. The lessons from launching this podcast go far beyond numbers or production techniques—they're about human connection, vulnerability, and the courage to just start.

4.) The most meaningful work often starts small.

We have two Amazon mics which we pull out from under the couch in my therapy office in between clients. Our commitment right now is just to show up consistently and honestly, do what feels doable for us now, and trust the rest.

Whether you're starting something new or in the middle of your own creative journey, remember that the process itself matters just as much as the outcome. I know we hear this a lot… but it really is true.

And if you're interested in men's mental health, vulnerability, and faith, I hope you'll check out Three Percent and join our growing community.

Here's to doing meaningful work and building deeper connections along the way.

With care,

—Blake