Sensible Woo is the mind. Sasquatch Media Grounds is the muscle.

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Hey Reader,

When I opened Sasquatch Media Grounds, I knew I’d be early to market in Vancouver–Portland. This region worships the scrappy origin story. The duct-tape-and-dreams mythology. I love an underdog… but I also can’t ignore the irony.

For a crowd that loves to posture about anti-capitalism, y’all sure do love buying gear. 😮‍💨 Mics. Cameras. Interfaces. Lenses. Then you slide into my inbox asking which SaaS stack to subscribe to next… while also wanting to be an AI-free, morally superior brand. The cognitive dissonance is Olympic level. I respect the stamina.

But here’s the part that’s about to make the virtue debate look adorable.

​RAMageddon.​

The AI industry is hoovering up global memory supply at a rate that is warping the semiconductor market. Translation… higher hardware prices, longer back orders, and in some cases, delays measured in years. Not weeks... YEARS. Some analysts are openly talking about timelines that stretch toward a decade for certain stabilizations.

Yes, tech bros are greedy. We all know that and I'll save my rant for another day. The bigger story is chips.

I pay attention to Taiwan because I’m half Taiwanese 🇹🇼 and was born there. Taiwan isn’t just geopolitically spicy… it controls a massive share of advanced microchip production. The kind that runs your car, your editing software, your phone, your entire creator economy. You think global superpowers are circling Taiwan for vibes? No. They want control over the literal brain of the modern world.

So when I saw the strain on the semiconductor industry a few years ago, all of my internal flags went up and I've been following the story ever since. We saw a preview of this during Covid with the supply chain but it's way worse now.

No chips = No content empire.

When I built the studio, I thought the third-space vibe would be enough. What I did not fully account for was how quickly hardware scarcity would become a forcing function. Because when your dream setup is on back order for two years… you don’t buy it. You rent it.

This is how entertainment has always worked and how I have been conditioned to run production since the start of my career. You rent the gear or book the studio. You walk in, record your season, grab your files, and leave. Efficient. Predictable. Profitable. It has always been wild to me that outside major metros, creators are obsessed with owning every shiny object like it’s a personality trait. Those days are closing fast.

From an environmental standpoint, shared infrastructure beats everyone hoarding depreciating tech. If virtue is your thing, communal studios win. But beyond ethics, the math is brutal. Micro-creators trying to “save money” by DIY-ing everything are often flushing cash down invisible drains with unused subscriptions, half-upgrades, and gear that ages out before it earns its keep.

Meanwhile, boutique studios in mid-sized markets are rising because they make economic sense. I’m already seeing the uptick in studio packages. Not because people suddenly love leaving their house… but because the spreadsheet is finally telling the truth.

So when you ask, “How do I save money on my podcast?” stop fetishizing the tech stack. Look for someone like me wherever you are. Or batch your season as a destination recording experience. It works and is weirdly more affordable than you working remotely. Let Sasquatch deal with RAMageddon while you build your glorious empire.

And yes… RAM isn't the only thing on last call like a club about to close for the night. We’ve got last calls on events, too. Scroll down for all the details. ⬇️

• The Creator Economy Dojo’s February workshop on 30-second ad spots is closing. If your show isn’t covering its own overhead yet, this might be the smartest move you make all year.
• We’ve also got final spots for the networking happy hour celebrating The Awkward Handshake. And if you're not local, you can still listen to the show.​

The market is tightening. Hardware is tightening. The window for delusion is tightening.

Adapt with strategy instead of panic. And while you're at it, turn up the volume. You’ve got this. 🔥

Gossip From the Creator Trenches...

⭐️ Follow the Talent, Not the Fantasy

I was deep in the new America’s Next Top Model documentary on Netflix (the tea was scalding 🍿) and catching up on DMs when I stumbled across Reese Witherspoon dropping career advice that stopped my scroll. Her take? Follow your talent, not some vague, romanticized dream. If you can talk for hours without notes, that’s not random. That’s a podcast and a YouTube channel. That’s a distribution asset waiting to be used. While everyone is pivoting like it’s an Olympic sport right now, maybe the smarter move is simpler. Lean into what you’re already wired to do well.
🔗 Get the pep talk​

🎥 Apple Enters the Video Chat

Apple Podcasts is rolling out native video this spring. Yes, people are excited. No, this does not suddenly replace YouTube. Video on Apple’s app will not apply to every RSS feed, and it’s not a one-to-one competitor with YouTube’s search ecosystem. Think distribution expansion, not platform war. Industry folks are buzzing, especially heading into SXSW. I’ll report back after I’ve heard the hallway chatter in March. For now, don’t panic and don’t overcorrect.
🔗 Here’s what you need to know​

👁️ Privacy Is Not a Given

As indie creators face backlash for speaking out online, the conversation about free speech is no longer theoretical. Marketing channels are shifting. Algorithms are tightening. Platform behavior is changing. When audiences drift away from social feeds, you will need durable distribution. Think: networking, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube. The “old-fashioned” tools suddenly look very smart. If your entire strategy depends on rented land, this is your nudge.
🔗 Don’t ignore this shift​

🎙️ February Intensive... LAST CALL!

LAST CALL!

Thirty seconds is enough to generate revenue.

It’s also enough to sound stiff, awkward, or overly salesy if you haven’t trained the skill.

On February 25th at 2pm Pacific (5pm Eastern), I’m teaching a 2-hour focused live intensive on one core revenue muscle: writing and delivering 30-second ad spots that hold attention, feel natural, and convert.

This includes promos for your own show, cross-promotions with other creators, and host-read ads for paying sponsors. If you plan to monetize your podcast or channel, this is not optional training. It’s foundational.

By the end of the session, you will have:

• A repeatable 30-second ad framework
• At least one written ad draft
• Guidance on how to read it so it sounds like you
• A simple editing checklist you can reuse
• Clear next steps for monetization conversations

This is practice, not theory. Each participant will deliver at least one live read of their ad in the group workshop, so come prepared to be on camera and on the mic.

If you’ve avoided ads because you don’t want to sound weird or transactional, this is where that changes. If you’ve been undercharging because you don’t know how to structure value in a short read, this is where that shifts.

​Investment: $197​
​Live session plus replay access included.

$197.00 🎙️ 30-Second Ads That Pay Live Intensive — February 25th​ 2pm - 4pm Pacific / 5pm - 7pm Eastern ​Live session + replay access included.... Read more Join us live! 🎙️

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One important note: this workshop is included for all Creator Economy Dojo members. If you plan to attend multiple intensives this year or want ongoing structure around promotion and monetization, the Dojo may be the better move. If you simply want this focused skill training, you can grab your seat here:

👉 Reserve your spot for 30-Second Ads That Pay​

🤝 Networking Party... LAST CALL!

LAST CALL!

We are officially hosting our very first Awkward Handshake networking party, and yes… it’s structured on purpose.

Friday, February 27th​
​5:30pm to 7:30pm​
​Dovetail Cellars​
404 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA

This is not a business card roulette situation. It is a casual but guided evening for people who want better conversations and more human connection. We will keep the format tight and run on time. Two hours. No chaos. No wandering aimlessly while pretending to check your phone.

Your hosts are Mary Williams (Sasquatch Media Grounds and Sensible Woo) and Megan Eckman (Fat Cap and PDX Spellbound). We care deeply about the rooms we build. That means curated energy, intentional structure, and enough spaciousness for real dialogue.

There will be light bites. You can purchase Dovetail’s excellent wine. You will leave knowing at least one person better than when you walked in.

One past attendee said it best:

We are capping this under 50 people to protect the vibe. If you’re even thinking about it, RSVP. These rooms fill because people are hungry for substance.

Come practice connection like it matters. Because it does.

At the time of this email send, we have a small handful of spots left. If you catch this announcement later and the form doesn't work, it means we hit capacity.

📸 Reputation Is the New Reach

Here’s your uncomfortable truth of the week: assume everything is screenshot-able.

Every post. Every comment. Every client interaction. Every brand choice. The era of sloppy visibility is over. We are moving into a decade where reputation matters more than raw reach… and a lot of people are about to get caught flat-footed.

The free excerpt on YouTube this week touches the edge of that shift. We talk about why hidden rot is surfacing everywhere, why emotional residue is running high, and why so many brands are misfiring in public right now. If your nervous system has felt buzzy or reactive, you’re not imagining it.

I dropped a short excerpt on YouTube so you can feel the shift for yourself. Tap to hear this week's excerpt ⤵️

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Want the whole thing?

Inside the full Woo Crew episode, we go much deeper. What this means for your leadership. How to protect your name while still speaking boldly. How to regulate yourself before you post something you regret. And how to build integrity that compounds over time instead of chasing numbers that evaporate.

This is not a “manifest your way through it” season. It’s a reputation season.

$7 a month gets you the full breakdown, CEO-level context, and the practical guardrails that keep your brand steady while everything else glitches.

Reach got us through the last decade. Reputation will decide the next one.

Let's Hang Out I have exciting news! I'm officially booked to speak on stage at Podcast Movement Evolutions @ SXSW. I'll be speaking on March 15th at Skybox on 6th. Priority is given to badge holders for SXSW but you can request admission through Podcast Movement for access. I'll have an interest form soon, so I can coordinate an IRL meetup for those of you headed to the ATX.

Participate + Join In I stepped down from the Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries Board of Trustees after a multi-month fight to stop special-interest conservatives from stripping equity and intellectual freedom out of the governing documents. They pushed it through. I’m more effective off the board than in a seat that has been structurally compromised. So I’m using my platform to support the action that you can take right now, which is signing the librarians’ union petition. ➡️ Participate here!​