Life Lessons Learned from 100 Podcast Episodes

The beautiful part is that this all started out as a way to spend my time while in quarantine.

Back in the summer of 2020, never did I realize what this would turn into, what this would lead to.

And uh, isn't that just the beautiful thing about life?

Sometimes we have to take a chance.

Sometimes we have to choose to dance.

And I chose to dance, and the result has been absolutely magical.

So here I sit recording episode 100, and I'm left to ponder.

Do I get super philosophical or do I just cut to the point?

And then I thought, well, Kevin, it's your show, you choose.

So I figured we'll combine the two.

Because I do want to share with you some life lessons learned through 100 podcast episodes, but lessons that I believe pertain to you.

But at the same point, I do want to truly reflect on just how powerful these past two years have been for myself.

And well, all of this said is what makes up today's 100th episode.

But it was where this listener was located that blew my mind.

She was in Australia, and she had been listening to my podcast and was so excited and so compelled to reach out to me because her own brother was also blind, just like me.

And what was really meaningful about it was that she reached out to me to ask what the best way was for her to be able to share my podcast with her brother.

Because her brother was not in a good place.

He had become blind and was living in the remote area of the Australian Outback.

I don't know today whatever happened.

I wonder if he ever did listen to this podcast.

I wonder if he ever did gain any type of hope.

Hear something said that helped him, inspired him.

I hope so.

But it just meant the absolute world to me that somebody would take the time from the other side of the world to email me and thank me for what I was doing and to tell me how much it meant to her and how excited she was to share it with her own brother.

And that's one of the biggest things that has just truly blown me away about podcasting is the reaction of people.

Because it doesn't take it being somebody on the other side of the world giving me thanks that lights me up.

It's anyone.

It's the random emails.

It's the people who leave a heartfelt review on Apple Podcasts.

It's the people who use my account with buy me a coffee, who support me as a creator by donating money through that account.

And all of a sudden I get a notification that somebody who I have no idea who they are just bought me a couple of cups of coffee and left this amazing note at the same time.

It's knowing that me sitting here by myself in this once walk-in closet, now full-blown recording studio, that it's not just me in a microphone, that it's me talking to people literally all over the world.

And when the days have been a little bit difficult, and maybe I thought, wow, is this really worth it?

It's times like that when I get a little note, a little surprise from somebody just like you that has kept me going and pushing forward and ultimately has me now at 100 episodes.

Another valuable lesson that I learned early on with starting a podcast is something that I fully believe you can apply to your own life.

And that is to not spend too much time looking backwards.

I encourage you to not focus so much time on the past or even focus so much of your attention on looking forward into the future.

Because it's best to focus on right now.

Because soon enough, what's in the future will become what's right now.

And what is right now will become what was.

Podcasting, it's a lot of work.

Week after week, producing an episode, it costs money.

It costs effort.

And especially when you're blind, you have to figure things out because, you know, it does make things a little bit difficult in a life, as you may guess.

And podcasting is no exception.

Because what may be pretty easy to somebody who can see, well, it takes a little bit more figuring out when you can.

But I've done it.

I did it.

But I only did it because I kept that mindset of focusing on one episode at a time, kind of like you, focusing on one step at a time.

Because it serves us no good to always be focusing on what's ahead, because then we lose focus on what we're doing right now.

And for myself, with this podcast, it's really hit home to this.

Because if I was to keep focused ahead on, ooh, I want to get to this many episodes, I want to get this guest on my podcast, I want to do this and do this.

To me, what that does then is it diminishes what I'm doing right now.

And so I have really made a conscious effort with every guest I've interviewed to be present in that moment, to be sure that they are the star of the show, that their episode is going to be the best episode that I ever produce.

For you in your life, I encourage you to do the same.

Life's gonna go on.

We can't stop time.

That is for certain.

So stop, though, focusing on the days to come.

And instead, be sure that you're living right now for everything it's worth.

Because when tomorrow does come, I want you to be able to look back on today and smile and say, wow, that really was awesome.

Another thing that I think you may be able to relate to, and I believe is a valuable lesson in life with people.

Because what has made this podcast so spectacular, what has made it truly impactful on my life, are the people I have met, the guests who have been on my show.

But here's the little tip I have for you.

Sometimes there's people in life that we think look so cool, like, man, they got it all.

You know, the celebrities, the people on the big screen, the athletes, the ones who we think, man, if only I could just be friends with them, my life would be a whole lot better off.

You know, you know what I'm talking about.

Well, have you ever had an instance where you've actually gotten to finally meet one of these people and you were kind of disappointed?

Not that you were disappointed, like, oh my gosh, I wish I never had met that person in my life.

No, no, no, we're not going that crazy.

But I'm just talking like, wow, they weren't quite what I thought they would be.

Well, truth has it, I've loved each and every single person I've had on this podcast.

But some of the people who maybe I wasn't as excited about, the people who were just the more ordinary Joe, the person who didn't have the limelight shining on them.

Those were the people who truly blew me away.

And those were the people who I had interviews with that I believe are by far some of the most amazing episodes I released, better than those with people who are higher up in the media spotlight.

You know, it's kind of like when we go to the library.

They always say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all do.

You probably look at the books and think, oh man, that cover looks good.

Let's check out what that book's about.

But don't forget about the book over in the corner, the one that's a little dusty.

The cover is not so shiny and bright.

Because chances are when you open up that cover, what's inside is pure gold.

And I believe the same is true about people, about our friends.

So I encourage you to never hesitate to talk to strangers, to not open up and reveal who you are.

Because I believe this world will be made a whole lot better if we could all just start living life where everyone we meet, we think of them as a celebrity.

And you know what?

I believe that your life will be greatly improved if you start doing that and you realize, wow, how many amazing people there truly are in this world.

People who aren't in the spotlight, just the everyday ordinary people living out life just like you and me.

Another valuable life lesson that I learned through a podcast is you never know unless you ask.

When I reached out to some of the guests who I've had on my show, I really reached out with this kind of like, okay, I'm gonna send this email, let's see what happens.

I doubt I get a response.

And then all of a sudden the next morning I wake up and I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Wait a minute.

What was that email?

And scrolling back up in my Gmail account, and like, oh, whoa, wow, they responded.

And that reminded me, you know, it's always gonna be a no unless you ask.

Because every once in a while, when you ask, you're gonna get a yes.

And that yes is gonna lead to bigger and better things for you, for your life, for me, for the podcast, and which has made it amazing for you.

So my point there is just ask.

You'll never get a yes if you don't ask.

As I start to wrap up today's 100th episode, I have two final thoughts for you.

When I left my role as a travel agent, what I was most upset about was leaving my travel agent friends, community, travel agent family behind.

Because even though we all worked remotely from all over the world, we were all connected through different groups on Facebook or other social media sites.

And, you know, we became family.

It's what I did for seven years.

And that was what really had me the most heartbroken about deciding to close shop until I discovered that podcasting is just the same.

Podcasting, one may think, would be a lonely kind of deal.

Sitting in the studio all by yourself, talking to a microphone with nobody talking back.

Well, that part is kind of true.

But the truth of the matter is, is I have community.

I have family.

Through all the different podcasting groups I'm part of, we're all on this journey together.

And that is what I would encourage you to do.

Whatever it is that you're doing in life, I would encourage you to be sure that you're doing it with somebody.

Because, you know, I get it.

Sometimes in life we get burnt.

Friends upset us, disappoint us.

We start to lose faith in mankind.

But the reality is, is that the vast majority of people are amazing.

And we're all just trying to get through life together.

And I'm here to tell you that life is better when done together.

When we have somebody to lean on when days are tough, we have somebody to cheer us on when things go right.

It just helps.

It makes things better.

So I encourage you, whether it's through your work, through your profession, your church, sports, whatever it is, to find a group of people to do life with.

And be sure you build relationships with those people, community with those people.

And my last thought to leave you with is that in life, we all want to be part of something bigger, bigger than ourselves.

Something that leaves an impact.

And for myself, that's what's been amazing about starting a podcast, is that for me, I found a way in which I believe I'm able to leave an impact on more people's lives than I ever thought possible.

Because by this one thing, this podcast, I'm able to touch people all over the globe.

From here in Florida to Australia, to the Philippines, to Europe, literally all over the globe.

I have people tuning in week after week to listen to me, to my guests.

And I have to hope and I have to pray that something I say or something that my guest says is always some type of benefit to those who hear it.

And for you today, who is listening to me, I pray that this podcast touches you, whether it's today or one of the previous episodes or one of them to come.

That is my goal, is to leave your day today a little bit better than it was yesterday.

All because of this podcast, because of the lowdown with Kevin Lowe.

For yourself, I encourage you to think what you can do to leave your own impact on the world.

Because I'm going to tell you this it makes waking up on Monday morning a whole lot better when you have a passion driving you.

When you know that you're about to do something that day, that week, that is your way of making an impact on the world or just in your own community.

I'm telling you, that is what living is all about.

It's about giving, not receiving.

And I encourage you to spend some time to figure out what is that thing that I can start doing to start leaving an impact on my world.

I'll end this 100th episode by offering a toast.

A toast to 100 gone, a toast to 100 to be, a toast to you, the listener of this podcast, as well as a toast to my guests, because it's my guests who have left the impact on me, who have made me realize just how powerful conversation can be.

And lastly, a toast to what will be.

Because I wonder what we will be saying, what will we be talking about?

What will I be toasting when we hit 200?

Hey, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the past 100 episodes ones that I'll never forget.

Until next time, just keep living and enjoying life like it was meant to be