The fifth of weekly Wiley Wednesday Speech and Debate blogs is a reflective post about the future of One Clap in which Lyle takes some time to ponder what comes next for the website, social media, and podcast.
It is hard to believe that I launched the first One Clap podcast episode on March 25, 2020 - four years ago. It's also tough to even begin to explain what I thought might come from working on a podcast aimed at highlighting, celebrating, and supporting the Speech and Debate community. I was ignorant of the technology to create the podcast, new to the idea of publishing anything with my voice out there in the world, hopelessly inept at social media, and woefully unprepared for the time commitment to maintain such a project. But, looking back, I'm proud of all the work that has been done on One Clap. I wanted to take a little time in this week's blog to reflect on these four years, consider where I am right now, and ponder the future of One Clap Speech and Debate.
CLAP 1: PAST
Four years ago, I launched the podcast as a passion project to explore the transformative power of Speech and Debate, to provide resources for coaches and competitors, and to celebrate diverse voices in our community. Over the years, we've produced 200 episodes, featuring labors of love productions involving so many giving and generous heroes of the Speech and Debate community. With over 39 thousand downloads in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world, our reach (and hopefully impact) has absolutely exceeded my wildest expectations.
CLAP 2: PRESENT
We find ourselves in our fifth season, and we've hit some cool milestones. Our website has 250 posts across various categories, offering a variety of speech and debate resources and content for coaches and competitors alike. Initiatives and projects like providing daily, special episodes for a month via Camp One Clap and working to engage audiences across social media platforms have attempted to enrich our community and foster deeper connections among One Clap patrons. Even though there is a lot to celebrate, I acknowledge some level of uncertainty about the future. I remain committed to providing valuable content and engaging with our community, but I'm not sure about what level of sustainability I can maintain with One Clap. Life is wild and always only getting more wild (especially in the world of education). I'm doing my best, but I feel like I'm often falling short of serving this community in the way it deserves.
CLAP 3: FUTURE
Looking ahead, I guess I'm just not sure what the future holds for One Clap Speech and Debate. I always have about a thousand ideas I want to bring to fruition for the project, and a time deficit to try to get any of it accomplished. As I contemplate the next chapter, I'm seeking feedback to help inform the decision-making process. If you are reading this, your insights and suggestions would be much appreciated. I'm immensely grateful for the support and kindness of our community throughout this journey. Together, let's explore the possibilities that lie ahead.
FEEDCLAP: Please take a few moments to fill out the feedback form link below. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for being a part of our community!
FYI - My final post on Patreon:
Thank you, One Clap Supporters! I am leaving Patreon!
Hi, everyone! I am so thankful for your support over the last several years. You've helped me pay for the podcast hosting, the website, and my recording tools. Your kindness and financial support is deeply appreciated!
I've decided to leave Patreon for a number of reasons, but mostly I feel as though my content is sporadic and difficult to predict... I'm over-busy with too many things, and although I know many of you have small expectations when you give support (and you just want to help no matter what), I want to make sure that I am providing meaningful content that is worth supporting.
I have toyed with sunsetting the podcast too... I'm not sure how much longer I will continue to make content, and I want to make sure I stop taking financial support on a regular basis in case I just decide to shut it all down. I definitely need to think about ways to take some pressures out of my life... and I love making content for One Clap, but sometimes it is a little too much on top of everything else.
Anyway, I love and appreciate you all! Keep listening to the podcast and reach out with any ideas or thoughts you have to improve things too. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!
-Lyle
If you’d like to join the discussion here at One Clap Speech and Debate, shoot me an email at lylewiley@gmail.com or reach out here on the website. You could also contact me on social media:
Facebook: @oneclappodcast
Instagram: @one_clap_podcast
TikTok: @oneclapspeechanddebate
Get your cool One Clap Speech and Debate merchandise here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/one-clap-speech-and-debate/