My Side of the Mic: Celebrating Two Years of MY FIT TRIBE
Two years! How has it gone by so quickly? As we celebrate the MY FIT TRIBE two-year anniversary, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share a little history about how it all began, what these past two years have meant to me, and why I continue to show up behind the microphone.
When we downsized our business in 2022, I found myself trying to figure out what this next chapter of my life would look like.
I had a vision of creating a wellness community. I held yoga sessions, established my life coaching business, and hosted in-person conversations with people who would eventually become podcast guests. I was exploring what felt authentic, what fueled my energy, and what might allow me to make a meaningful impact.
But as we all know, life doesn't exactly pause while you're chasing a dream.
It became a little bit of this and a little bit of that, trying different things and paying attention to what energized me versus what drained me.
Sometimes what we lose teaches us what we need.
One thing I hadn't anticipated when we sold our business was how difficult it would be to lose my team and my office.
After spending so many years building a business and leading a team, I didn't realize just how much that part of my identity meant to me. From a leadership standpoint, it was honestly devastating.
I quickly learned something about myself. I work best outside my home, surrounded by people, activity, and a sense of purpose.
So we purchased a commercial building that would become our new work home.
And wouldn't you know it? That building just happened to be home to Paradyme Productions, a recording studio.
My first thought was, Well, I guess I have to start a podcast now.
But having the idea and actually doing something about it are two very different things.
It took about a year and a half before I even mentioned the possibility to Jake, who is now my producer, and another four months before I finally decided to go for it.
The signs along the way.
When I recorded my first released episode with my dear friend Vicki, something happened that I will never forget.
I was walking past the wall of CDs and recordings Jake has displayed in the studio when, for the very first time, I noticed The Mystic Chaplain audiobook.
For those of you who have listened to MY FIT TRIBE, you may remember my conversation with Chaplain Kathy Collins, who was by my side when my dad passed away.
And there it was. Her audiobook. Right there in the studio where I was beginning this new journey.
Tears came to my eyes.
In that moment, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.
I've talked about these little breadcrumbs along the way, those moments of synchronicity that make you stop and wonder whether life is gently guiding you toward something.
That was one of those moments for me.
The why behind MY FIT TRIBE.
This podcast was never created to promote my business.
My vision was to build a community. A library of conversations filled with knowledge, experiences, encouragement, and hope.
Throughout my own fitness journey, I had met incredible people who changed the way I thought about health, nutrition, mindset, personal growth, and what was possible in my own life.
I wanted to share those people and their knowledge with others.
Not because I have all the answers. Far from it.
But because I believe there is so much we can learn from one another.
Sometimes we need information to help us make better decisions about our health. Sometimes we need a little motivation to take that first step. And sometimes we simply need to hear someone else's story to remind us that we aren't alone.
What I love most is that these conversations don't have an expiration date.
An episode recorded two years ago may be exactly what someone needs to hear today.
And when I see those older episodes being downloaded, it brings me so much joy. It means this library of conversations is being used exactly as I had hoped.
Two years later, what does success look like?
There have certainly been doubts along the way.
I mean, everyone and their sister has a podcast these days!
And starting one is a whole lot easier than consistently showing up to create something meaningful.
There have been moments when I've questioned whether I'm doing enough, reaching enough people, or making the impact I had hoped for.
But with every conversation, I walk away grateful.
Grateful for the guests who trust me with their stories. Grateful for the people who share their knowledge so generously. Grateful for the connections and friendships that have developed along the way.
And grateful for every person who takes the time to listen.
Of course, I love watching the podcast grow. Seeing downloads from countries and cities around the world that I may never visit is pretty incredible.
But my definition of success goes beyond those numbers.
If just one person hears a conversation that gives them hope, helps them feel less alone, encourages them to take better care of themselves, or reminds them to believe in what's possible, then this podcast is doing what I hoped it would do.
I think about the people we've met who have taken some of the hardest moments of their lives and turned them into opportunities to help others.
That has been one of the most powerful recurring themes throughout these two years.
We all have experiences, knowledge, and stories that can make a difference in someone else's life.
Sometimes we just need the opportunity to share them.
What's next? My Side of the Mic.
As we celebrate two years of MY FIT TRIBE, I'm excited to introduce something new.
My Side of the Mic will be a monthly blog where I can share a little more about the conversations we're having, the themes that continue to emerge, and the connections that happen beyond the microphone.
I'll also revisit past guests, share updates on their journeys, and highlight events and initiatives that deserve a little extra attention.
My hope is that this becomes another way to connect our community and help you discover conversations you may have missed.
Because MY FIT TRIBE has always been about more than fitness.
It's about mind, body, and spirit. It's about growth, resilience, kindness, and the impact we can have on others.
It's about recognizing possibility and creating the capacity to live our best lives, whatever that looks like for each of us.
Thank you for being part of the Tribe.
Two years ago, I didn't know exactly what this podcast would become.
And the truth is, I still don't.
But I'm learning to be okay with that.
I'm grateful for where this journey has taken me, the incredible people I've met, and everything I've learned along the way.
Most importantly, I'm staying open to the possibility of what comes next.
Thank you for listening, sharing, encouraging, and being part of this journey.
Here's to more conversations, more connections, and more possibilities.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
Erika Sweeney
Host & Founder, MY FIT TRIBE Podcast