500 Downloads: The Truth Behind the Grind

What does 500 downloads really mean for a growing podcast?

It means late nights.
 It means showing up when nobody is watching.
 It means believing in your purpose before the world sees the vision.

In this episode of The Blinded Truth Podcast, hosts Destinnee Vance and Eric Foster pull back the curtain on the real grind behind building a podcast from the ground up. From hitting record with faith instead of followers, to staying committed to the mission of unmasking pain, revealing truth, and creating space for healing.

This milestone isn’t just about numbers.
 It’s about impact.
 It’s about the stories that need to be told.
 And it’s about building a platform where truth, trauma, recovery, and resilience can be shared openly.

If you're chasing a dream, building something from scratch, or trying to turn pain into purpose — this episode is for you.

And remember: every big platform started with zero.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Welcome to the Blinded Truth True Shot Podcast where real stories meet real healing. We are your host, Destiny Vance, and co-host. And today's episode is titled 500 Downloads: The Truth Behind the Grind. First, we want to say thank you to every single person who has listened, shared, supported, and believed in this podcast. Reaching 500 downloads might look like just a number to some people, but to us, it represents 500 moments where truth, healing, and real conversations reach someone who needed it. But let's be honest for a moment. Sometimes people look at what you're building and think it's easy. They see the outcome, but they don't see the late nights, the doubts, the learning curves, or the moments you question, if it's even worth continuing. This conversation is for anyone working on a vision, building something from the ground up or chasing a goal that hasn't fully manifested yet. Because the truth behind the grind is breakthrough often happens right after the moment people decide to quit. So if you're building something, dreaming about it, or trying to become something better, don't give up. Don't give up before the miracle happens. This episode is powered by Destiny Is by Choice Support Services because your journey, your voice, and your truth matter. So this is a great title that you came up with because you actually did a little short reel about not giving up five minutes before the miracle. And I think recently we were in a not um giving up moment, but it was kind of like, where are we in the podcast? I think we we lost some motivation when the things happened with before, way before last year, but like recently when we saw that 500 downloads, it kind of like oh my gosh. It was a moment of like listening. Yeah. And I think that and you being asked to come do an episode in June. We ain't gonna say a lot because we're gonna have to surprise them, but I just think that those moments is just like keeping us, not I'm not gonna say keeping us going, but it's kind of like this is this is amazing.

SPEAKER_00 2:33

I think the behind the scenes stuff is what keeps me motivated. Like I know you do a whole lot of work and then reaching out with the tab and all that. Um it's like the small wins that keeps me motivated. Yeah, I I you know, giving up, I don't know if it crossed my mind, but you know, a little uh worry, yeah. Um not knowing if it's working.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

But then you I I think of um who am I really doing it for?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

If nobody watched it, I think I would just say we still do it.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Yeah, we would because our goal is not to, I mean, we would love to see this blow out the water in a a beautiful way where it it just impacts so many souls. But I think our real goal is to help people. So even if we have a thousand followers or five followers, we want to continue to do that because we know that once it do blow up, there's gonna be old episodes that somebody can watch and be like, they put this out years ago. I wish I had this years ago. And like you said, the small wins, like like being asked to come do a workshop with a not a huge nonprofit here, that was big for me because I was sitting there with Avalon and just listening to how they say they're making an impact in the community. And I looked at her and I was like, making an impact in the community, and you know how she is, she's so bubbly. She's like, Yeah! So I'm like, We're making an impact in the community. Cause I guess we we we just didn't know, you know, because we really hadn't had I mean, we had the conversation with Pastor Todd and he was like, Yeah, I've been seeing y'all. We're kinda like, how you been seeing us? But I think that it's hard when you are trying to accomplish a goal or do something and you don't see the results to keep pushing on. I think that's what's hard for a lot of people, like, you know.

SPEAKER_00 4:38

Well the thing is, like, when you want to do a podcast and you're thinking about doing one, you don't know everything it takes to do that podcast, right? And you don't know how much it costs to do a podcast.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

So with us paying for everything out of our pocket, our engineers and all that stuff, if you're not if you if you don't have that stream of income coming in, it can be it can be discouraging. Yeah. Um because you're starting and you gotta sacrifice here just because this needs to be done. Yeah, it's worth it. Yeah, you know, because you see the vision, you know, um, and it's a grind, like you said, it's a grind.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

Yeah, like it's it's a non-stop grind. Like there's times that, you know, I'm going from work, school, podcasts, and I'm up, you know, past 11, 12 o'clock, I'm talking with guests, and I think for us, the hard part too is who we attach to what we're doing. Yeah. Because so many people want to come, they hear the word podcast, and they want to come and and talk, but it's like that doesn't align with what what what we're doing.

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Because my whole thing is um if I interview somebody, I'm gonna make sure that their reputation holds up.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

You know, I'm not I don't want to be attached to to anything that's gonna make me look bad.

SPEAKER_01 5:58

You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Not just on the podcast, but after the podcast is over. I don't want to be the person that said, oh, they had him on or her on the show and they did this, you know. I don't want that, you know, and and it's hard because it's gonna be a lot of people that don't want to be up here and and and we could probably want them to be up here, but it can come to a point where something might hold them back from being up here, and it's not in no malice, it's just protecting the brand because if anything, we're liable for a lot of stuff now, you know. We're just not liable for a little bit, we got a lot going on when it comes to it's a lot into it, it's all I got trying to say.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

So, what keeps motivating you to continue to do this or accomplish any goal? I mean, like, even when I was watching you get all of your certification as a peer, like even, and please, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but like even pushing on in the midst of barriers and adversity that you face with you know getting certain jobs and stuff as a peer, like what continues to push you on to continue to do what you're doing even when you don't see the wins?

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Having putting in like 15 applications, getting hired 15 times, getting offered 15 times, and my background coming back and saying no, because the period for my last uh possession charge is not long enough, right? All of them knows. But my whole thing is if I keep going and keep getting better and getting more education and stuff like that, it's gonna be a point where they can't deny me. Yeah, and it's not me asking them, can I work for y'all? It's them gonna be asking me, can you work for me? Yeah, you know, um, because when it comes to what I do, I'm not gonna say I'm the best, but I'm next to the best.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

I know that. There's nobody on earth that can do what I do. You know, I and uh that's not being cocky, it's just being it is what it is, because of how I stayed humble and when I go into places, I don't have to tell the people I'm still on their level. I show them. You know, when I go in somewhere, I'm talking, I'm meeting, I'm greeting, I'm shaking hands, I'm asking questions, I'm interviewing before. I, you know, it's just like I want everybody to know that they that I still see them as human.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

You know, because a lot of times we be getting looked at as animalistic and the people who look at you, use a big word. That's what I do on occasion. You know, I got a couple, you know, they ain't lose all the brains. Annibalistic. Yeah, but it's like, you know, what are you? I mean it's gotta be something to keep you, you know, you know, but you don't get many no's, though. But I I do know that by being around you and seeing what you're gonna do. You don't get too many no's.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

I don't get too many no.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Oh, so let me ask you a question then. How is getting that no gonna affect you?

SPEAKER_01 8:55

So getting a no from me is like okay, because I've come to the conclusion that if I got the no, it's because I'm not supposed to be in that space. Like that's not meant for me. And then later on, it it becomes revealed to me because there's been times like I've gotten job offers, people wanted me, and then I said no, and I'm not understanding why I'm having to say no at that moment because the money looks good, the job looks good, or the opportunity looks good, and I'm just like something's not sitting right inside of me to say yes, and then I understand the no. Like maybe somebody that wanted to hire me, they're actually not a good supervisor, or maybe the or maybe I needed to be at home, you know what I'm saying? But what keeps me pushing and doing the work that I do and doing the podcast um is because I have a a place in my heart to help people. Um what's the saying? Teach one, reach one, or reach one, teach one. And so it's kinda like even if I'm not your cup of tea, that's fine, you can keep scrolling. But I know that I'm the tea for the right person. Like the right person will see our episodes or see our reels and say, I resonate with that. Like, share.

SPEAKER_00 10:27

And you know, from us coming from different backgrounds, right? I think that when I came into this this space of getting my life together, I had a whole lot of hopes, a whole lot of dreams of I seen a bigger picture, I wanted to do this and do that. And I fixated on doing just that, but I didn't do the research all the way to know that this might happen. You know, so for anybody who wanted to get into this space, I would tell them to um do the research about the barrier crimes and stuff like that. But but don't give up on if you want to do something. Yeah, it was like just know that if you get these certificates, it may be a a waiting point before you can really actually use them.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

You know, uh, but anything don't kill you make you stronger, man. So um with me, I I embrace the nose, you know, because I know that um what's meant for me is meant for me. I know God gonna um put me where he wants me to be at, you know. Um my life is not a mystery no more. You know, I believe in in God. I let him lead me and and and what it's gonna be for me, it's gonna be for me, no matter how long it takes to get there. Is is is a marathon, it's not a race. Nice husband told us that. It's a marathon.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

And I think I think that also plays a play of why sometimes people give up because, you know, like they think that, oh, I'm I'm 35 now, I should be here because I see other people be here. I just saw somebody's TikTok where this lady said that she started her um like clothing line and stuff in her 40s, and then she didn't get to and then she had her first baby, I want to say at like 35, 36 or something like that. Um, but she said that she didn't get to leave her corporate job until like 45, 46. And for me, I can only imagine the anxiety she probably felt because you just now starting your own company, but it goes to show like your timing shouldn't be on other people's timing. And I think that's why a lot of times people give up because they it like it doesn't look like the way it should at that moment.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

And and and I had to gotta I have to say this because of um people in early recovery and like coming out of treatment and getting in recovery, and they see um people that are are peer recovery specialists, you know, um, and they be like, I want to do that.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Yeah. And my message to them is Or they say, or they say, I'm gonna get a year clean and I'm I'm gonna get my I'm gonna get a car, I'm gonna get a house, I'm gonna get all this stuff.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

But the thing is though, um, just because you're you get clean in your recovery, don't mean your path is to become a peer. You know, um, it could be a lot of things to do with your life and and and and being a peer is not as glamorous as it looks. And if you're not mentally ready for the a role like that, it can take you under, man, because you take on a lot of people's problems. And if you got problems yourself, it's gonna be a long day.

SPEAKER_01 13:21

I used to say, I used to tell when I did re-entry, I used to go into the jails and I would tell them, like, show up their face chic, this is what this is what I got. Tell me what happened with the charge, tell me what happened. And then I would say, well, what's your goal when you get out? You know, and then they would tell me it most of the time, it was, I'm gonna get my house, I'm gonna get a car, and I'm gonna get some money. Okay, but tell me how we're gonna accomplish those goals. And I would tell them, I would say, that sounds great, but tell me this. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? And they it and I love that question because I would get so many random answers, and they would be like, This is exactly why I asked you this question, because they'll be like, Well, it depends on who's looking in the mirror with me. And I'm like, Exactly. So what do you see? And so I would tell them, I would say, when you look in the mirror, you should be looking at you. And when you look to the left and when you look to the right, depending on who's in your view, you're looking at what you're what they look like or what they got going on. But when you look in the mirror, you're looking at yourself. That means the focus should be on yourself. If the focus is on yourself, that means you're focused on building a foundation so that way when you get the nose, when you get the car, when you get your kids back, your foundation is firm or building, meaning, what does what do I need to do to accomplish these things?

SPEAKER_00 14:49

But also working the re-entry. I I mean I love working in it, but I don't miss it. No, and and it's because you know, like they want to get all this stuff, but they don't want to put the work in to get it.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

And that was the whole point, and and that's the whole point of this episode because a lot of people they they want the podcast, they want the the followers, they want the things in life, but then they don't want to put the work into it, or like one of the I think one of the best things Bear told us was don't deviate from your why and your purpose, and that's what a lot of content creators do, or people that are in this industry, they deviate because it's what they got going on feels like it's not working, and and sometimes in life you take these shortcuts because you feel like it's not working.

SPEAKER_00 15:46

But them shortcuts always let you crash and burn.

SPEAKER_01 15:49

Ugh.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

You know, because um and we all do it, yeah. But normally if you take a shortcut, there's something wrong with it. Yeah, you know, like but like me, like me wanting to be in the background of the podcast, like stagehand or something, is is is big because I wanted to do a podcast at one point, you know, and I was like, nah, I don't want to be on a podcast about equipment and everything, but and I'm stuck in front of the camera now.

SPEAKER_01 16:13

But that's you though, because if people really get to know you, then they know like you are the person in the room that you will go and network and and connect with people, but at the same time, you're not gonna be the loud person in the room. You're gonna be the quiet person that that notices what everybody did in certain moments where I'm in the room where I'm like the person that's like, hey, how are you? Yes, this is what I'm doing, you know. Like I'm the person that when my mom and my kids go to an event with me, they're like giving the keys because they know I'm I'm being pulled from different directions because they ready to go to the car. I'm still being pulled on different directions.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

So yeah, I mean, you know, you gotta put the work in to get the results, you know. Yeah, and you know, this is the thing about going to the gym, and if you don't go every be consistent with it, you're not gonna get the results that you want. And I gotta remind myself that because I just be like, man, I just want to be able to just show up, you know, do my little one, two, and I'm out. And it's it it don't happen like that, you know. Um, maybe one day it will. Maybe one day, you know, I'll be able to just come to a building. Uh not maybe when that day comes that I'll be able to just show up to a building, turn the lights on, turn the switches on, everything's already set up, all thing. I just sit in front of the screen, doom, hit send to the engineer, boom, and it's a rock.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Yeah, we're gonna get to that point.

SPEAKER_00 17:35

But it doesn't take that work, yeah, consistent grind.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

And and you know what? I think that that makes it even more worth it because I can remember getting so upset one time. And Kayla, if you're watching this, I love you. But there was one time my sister was given a car by a church member, paid for everything, and I remember getting so mad because I got two kids and we were struggling, and I was like, it's okay, nobody give me a car. And something my cousin said was, how you gonna get mad at her blessing? But I was mad because I was like, oh, so you don't see me down here struggling? I can't get but you but but if you're watching this, I know you I love you. I got mad because I felt like she didn't appreciate it, but it it made me realize I did appreciate what I had because I worked.

SPEAKER_00 18:33

But let me ask you a question on that. Was it for you to decide whether or not she appreciated it?

SPEAKER_01 18:37

It wasn't, and I and later on with growth, I realized that I had realized that didn't have anything to do with me, and I was operating out of anger, I was operating out of anger and jealousy, and anything that you do in life, you cannot look at other people's lives and blessing and dictate if they deserve it or not.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

And and by saying that is because I was I was for a minute, I was like, why is this person steady moving forward and they ain't doing half the work? But what I have come to realize is no matter they're moving forward, doesn't mean they can stay there. Yeah, I'm taking my time, God is throwing me in the right direction, and I know it's gonna be I'll be able to withstand everything that's coming in my way because I'm taking baby stuff, you know, and I'm doing it, I'm doing it the right way. So I know it's it's from the good part, not because you know, everything that glitter ain't go, and just because something happens, you're like, I mean God did it. Yeah, you know, the devil can do some things too, just to see how your faith is.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

And you know, and you know something else that I learned too? I learned that you really gotta watch what you pray for because you might pray for a million dollars, or you might pray for a$60,000 job or$80,000 job or$100,000 job. But it and and sometimes it's given to you.

SPEAKER_00 20:04

I I can witness that.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

But you can't handle it.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

Let me tell you, in 2020, I was making$12,000,$13 an hour, and my job offered me$25,63 an hour. High spend job that I had at the time, and I was I was like, oh snap. But all that money started coming in, I went straight to the street.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

You can't sometimes you can't, and that's another episode. Man, that's another episode because because imagine this being homeless living in the outing. That's crazy. That's a whole nother episode. That's a whole nother episode.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

Oh well, God is good.

SPEAKER_01 20:47

You just listened to the blind of truth, truth shot. 500 downloads, the truth behind the grind, powered by destiny is by choice support services. To everyone who has listened, supported, shared an episode, or encouraged us along the way. Thank you. You are part of this journey. And to anyone out there working toward a goal that feels slow, heavy, or uncertain, hear this clearly. Progress doesn't always look loud. Sometimes it looks like consistency, sometimes it looks like showing up when nobody is clapping yet. We said that all the time. The grind can be quiet, the growth can be slow, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. Don't quit before the breakthrough. Don't walk away before the miracle, and don't let the opinions of others stop the purpose placed inside of you. Remember your destiny is by choice, not by chance, and keep walking in your truth until next time. This is your host and co host.