Hitting the Pause Button and Planning for Growth | Podcast Episode #144

Episode Transcript

Brittany:

Well, hello there, friend. Welcome to episode 144 of the B.Hooked Podcast. By now you’ve read the title, so the cat is officially out of the bag. But don’t worry—I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here, helping you get better at your craft in other ways.

Honestly, I’m hitting the pause button on this show, as I alluded to in the last episode with Brittany from Ideal Me. You heard me mention in that discussion that she said some things I really needed to hear. That’s because I’ve been battling with this decision for a while. Truth is, I’ve struggled with this more than any other decision I’ve made this year—maybe ever.

You know how much I love this podcast. It’s incredibly valuable for me to connect with other makers, crocheters, and knitters—and to be able to share those conversations with you is just so special.

So I want to start by saying: this show is absolutely coming back. It’s not going away permanently. This is not goodbye. I could never just walk away from podcasting—it’s become such a big part of my life and something I truly look forward to. I know it’s something you look forward to as well, and I couldn’t let you down in that way.

To me, a weekly show isn’t just a commitment I’ve made to myself—it’s a commitment I’ve made to you. And that’s something I don’t take lightly.

However, through some really valuable conversations and heart-to-hearts, I’ve realized that in order to keep that commitment—to continue motivating and supporting you—I need to shift my focus, just briefly, to make the BHooked community the best it can be.

First and foremost, I want to assure you again: the podcast will continue with episode 145. But for the first time in Be Hooked podcast history, I’m hitting pause for a few months.

There are three reasons behind this decision, and I want to share them with you today—along with what to expect when the show returns.

If you’ve been listening for a while, you probably know I’m a little nutty when it comes to planning, time management, and productivity. So if there were a way to keep this show going weekly while also building new resources, I’d be the one to figure it out. And trust me, I’ve tried for months. But here’s the honest truth: for me, multitasking isn’t something I strive to master.

In my experience, multitasking means doing several things kind of lousy. And that’s not the experience I want for you when you visit BHooked.com or interact with me on social media. I want to be fully present. I want to be the best version of myself and provide you with the best resources you can find online—resources you feel confident recommending to a friend.

I know this all sounds a little cryptic. You can tell something’s happening, but you might be thinking, “Come on, Brittany—just tell me what’s up!”

So here’s what I can share right now.

A couple of months ago, I joined a Whip Wednesday live show on Instagram with Leigh from Coco Crochet Leigh. For the first time out loud, I shared that BHooked.com is getting a new look. If you’ve visited the site recently, you may have seen a survey at the top of the page. So yes—it’s happening! But it actually started way back in April.

There were a lot of reasons behind the redesign, but the biggest is this: there are over 500 posts and pages on BHooked.com—free patterns, podcast episodes, tutorials, and more. Every single one has hours of work behind it and contains something I truly believe will help you get better at your craft.

But I’ve never been fully satisfied with how those resources are organized—or how easily you can find what you need. So that’s the first reason for the pause: BHooked.com is getting a full redesign to make it easier for you to access the most helpful content.

Now, even though I’ve been working on this since April, much of what I’ll be doing during this break is still in its early stages. I’m hesitant to share too many details just yet, because some things might change. I don’t want to get your hopes up or set the wrong expectation.

But I can share the second reason for the pause: to finally build something the B.Hooked community has been asking for over and over again. Actually—two things:

1. A better way to learn from me in an environment where access to me is possible.
2. A way to enjoy ad-free resources.

Let’s talk about the ads. I’ve always been honest about this: B.Hooked is my full-time job. If you’re new here, the short version is this—I worked a regular 8:30 to 4:30 job after college until 2017, and built BHooked in my spare time. When my passion (and income) from B.Hooked surpassed my day job, I took the leap and went full time.

That means I rely on the income from B.Hooked to support myself and my husband. Ads help make that possible, and they allow me to offer free content to everyone.

But I also know that some people want a different experience—one that’s ad-free, more convenient, and gives them access to me for help and support. So that’s what I’m building—something new that meets that need.

That brings me to another big dream: the potential to grow a small, mighty team. I’ve always been upfront that I’m a one-woman show here. I wear all the hats—and honestly, I love it. But I’ve also always known: you can’t do it all, and you can’t do everything well.

Hiring someone part-time—or maybe even full-time—is a huge decision. One I’ve taken seriously. But with these new resources, that step might finally become possible. And if it does, it’ll help turn some of these big dreams into real tools and content you can use to grow your skills and stay inspired.

Now, the third reason for the break is a little show restructuring.

To be honest, I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet—and I need your help to figure it out.

Last year, I ran a survey that helped shape this show into something you wanted to listen to. That feedback was incredibly helpful, and I want to do it again. This year’s survey will include a few questions that will give me insight into what you want and need from the podcast going forward.

We continue to be one of the very few—maybe the only—crochet-focused podcasts out there. And with that comes the responsibility to strike the right balance between what you want and what I can give.

So, if you have a few minutes, please head to BHooked.com/podcastsurvey to share your thoughts. Every single answer will be read and used to shape the next season of the show.

Now for the final big question: When will the podcast return?

This is the question I’ve wrestled with most. And as much as I hate to leave it open-ended, I think that’s what’s best right now.

What I’m building during this break is totally new territory for me, and I just don’t know exactly how long it will take.

Here’s what I do know: I hope to take some much-needed family time in December and start the new year with fresh momentum. Some projects are progressing quickly. Others need more time to build and refine.

So while I can’t give you an exact date for episode 145, I can promise this: I’ll work as diligently as possible so you’re not without a crochet podcast for long.

Here’s what you can do in the meantime so you don’t miss the next episode:
1. Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast player. That way, you’ll be notified when episode 145 drops.
2. Follow me on social media. I’m on Facebook at @BHookedCrochet and on Instagram and Twitter at @BHooked. I’ll definitely post announcements there when we’re back.

The cool thing? There are already 143 episodes packed with crochet inspiration, tips, and encouragement. If you need a podcast fix during the break, I’d love for you to go back and revisit those earlier episodes. They’re still full of relevant info to support your crochet and knitting journey—or even business building if that’s your thing.

Here’s the big takeaway from this episode:
It’s okay to take a break from something if it means coming back stronger. Whether you’re a blogger, designer, or crafter, it’s okay to pause so you can refine your purpose or serve better. I think that’s something we can all relate to.

All right—don’t forget:
Visit bhooked.com/podcastsurvey to share your thoughts.
Subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.
Check out past episodes during the break.
And follow me on social so you’ll know exactly when the podcast returns.

That’s it for this episode. Thank you so much for tuning in—and even more for sticking with me all the way to the end.

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends here in the States.
Happy holidays to all who celebrate.
And cheers to an epic new year.

I’ll see you soon, friend.

this project

On the show, Brittany aims to inspire you and help you grow in your craft. Through her own stories and the stories of special guests, you’ll discover tips and tricks to improve your crochet and knitting skills and find inspiration to make something that makes you happy.

When you want to kick back and learn from yarn industry experts, grab some yarn, your favorite cozy beverage and turn on The BHooked Podcast. There’s never a shortage of all things crochet, knitting or yarn. Listen & subscribe on your favorite podcast player!

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