2022 was quite the year for me. Despite everything else that happened that had a direct impact on me and my family - inflation, gas prices, supply chain issues, the death of Queen Elizabeth, etc. - I had a good year.
It technically began in 2021 as the planning started that summer, but, ultimately, one year ago today I launched the Joe Cunningham Show at NewsTalk 96.5 KPEL in Lafayette. The brand manager at the station, Brandon Comeaux, worked very hard to make it happen, and despite some setbacks (hence starting in 2022 rather than 2021), the show has launched and, I think, been pretty successful.
Last school year was a very tough one for me. I was tasked with teaching a class I had never taught before, in a content area I was unfamiliar with and not comfortable with. I picked up some new responsibilities (that I volunteered for) and dropped some things I simply didn’t have time for. But I was feeling overwhelmed. As luck would have it, late in the summer, the opportunity to switch careers came up.
Ian Auzenne, who had been at KPEL for a bit, was leaving. At the same time, RedState wanted to bring in someone else to help with copyediting. I did the math, and it worked out better financially and, to be honest, emotionally and psychologically for me to switch things up. After almost a decade in the classroom, I left and returned to my first love, radio. I also picked up that copy editing work at RedState.
So, here I am now, a year after the show was launched, now in a different career field and getting to write more. I get to be with my family more (though I am working during the evenings, I get to do so at home), and I still get to go be a substitute from time to time at my old school and see the students I miss.
I’m starting 2023 in what I truly believe is a much better place than I was a year ago, and a lot of it has to do with the people in my life who encouraged me to make this change, supported it, and pushed me to grow. Family and friends alike knew what I knew (but was too afraid to act on at first) - it’s really where I want to and, I think, need to be.
But, I have to admit, those of you who have been here on Substack this whole time are also a big part of it. Several of you reply to the daily email, comment, or just share the posts that go up here. I don’t always respond, but I see you. And I appreciate you being part of this.
Slowly, this audience is growing. I’d love for it to just explode, but that is going to take a lot more work and a lot more time. I have friends with huge audiences, but they started out with huge audiences they could migrate over. I don’t have that, but I do have a lot of loyal listeners and readers.
So, without sounding too corny, thank you for being here, and thank you for your support as well. It means the world to me that I can speak my mind and people not only listen but care enough to interact with and share those thoughts.
I am trying to find more time to devote to y’all. I’m constantly changing what I do to see what works and what doesn’t. I want to build this audience, but I want to do so without trying to be someone else or change who I am in the process. I know plenty of people who have done that. They are always successful in the short term and gone before you know it. I want this to be something that sticks around for a while. I hope you’ll stick with me.
Thank you, and onward into 2023.
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