A New Initiative: A Podcast (Patreon)

Hey All,

I hope you're doing very well!

A few days ago, I wrote a letter to the audience outlining a few issues, including upcoming merch plans (which I'm so stoked about... soon!), a 9/11 episode I'm brewing on with my father, and more. In there, I indicated that there was something else I wanted to tell you about, and the time for that is now.

I have a hankering to do something new with CLS. Better put, I want to make an addition to the CLS family in the form of a brief, modest ~20 minute podcast each week, something to accompany you on a drive to the grocery store, or walking down the street to get a coffee. Y'know. Wherever. People have so many podcasts to listen to, shows to watch, content to absorb. There are people out there that listen to things at two and three times the speed in order to get it all in! You don't need another 60-120 minute show in your life. You need something pithy. That's what I want to deliver.

I thought long and hard about how to do this, and how to make it fit, and I think I've sorted everything out. So, here's the plan:

I've added a new "goal" here on Patreon. The original goal, when my most ambitious projection had me getting 1,000 total Patreon supporters, was to do two CLS episodes a week at $10,000/month. Obviously, that goal was eclipsed in literally 90 minutes following launch (I thought it would maybe never happen, and if it did, it would take a long time), and ever since then, I kind of just left it there as a reminder of the incredibly successful launch of CLS in March. A relic of the past, as it were.

But today, I finally erased it, and added a new goal, this one not about money, but about people. Today, I sit at just under 5,000 Patreon supporters, which is completely insane. I hoped and prayed that maybe a thousand people would financially support what I do; CLS received six and a half times that much support at the outset. But as I continue to shed subs that wanted to show temporary support for my new endeavor, or simply wanted to let me know that I had folks in my corner (or people that simply don't like the show!), I figured I could probably do more to retain folks that are already here, and maybe even attract some newcomers, above and beyond all of the things that are already being offered.

One of the beautiful things about Patreon is that it allows us to work towards a goal together, and so today I'm unveiling a new product idea that I hope is realized. I'm calling it CLS Presents: Random Thoughts, a podcast series about things distinctly not political and distinctly not historical. A way to explore other passions, interests, questions, and ideas in a way that makes sense.

And yes, the first episode will be about video games.

But beyond that, it could be about anything. I have a list of things I want to talk to you about, that I think could provoke thought, or start an interesting conversation. Maybe I'll just have some things I want to get off my chest. Whatever it is, I'm excited about this show, because it'll be a good way for me to express myself outside of history and politics. Better yet, the show will heavily revolve around all of you, because I want you to submit your ideas, questions, comments, and concerns, too.

Now, CLS Presents: Random Thoughts will be a little different than what you're used to, in multiple ways. While CLS itself lives on YouTube, and then as a podcast only for $5+/month Patreon subs, Random Thoughts will live on podcast services, and will be available early to $5+/month subs. That said, even subbing at the $1/month or $2/month level will contribute towards the 5,000+ concurrent subs that will be necessary to get the show going. For each month that turns over with 5,000+ subs here on Patreon, I'll commit to four episodes of Random Thoughts the following month. And so on and so forth.

I have no idea if there's a demand for this. Maybe there isn't. I don't know! But I wanted to throw it out there into the world so that you'd know what I was thinking of doing, and to see if you were interested.

As always, your feedback isn't only desired, but actually quite necessary, to keep it coming!

Thank you for your time, your support, your love, and your attention. I appreciate all of you. Take care, -Colin