New Client or New Job?

Jeremiah Tittle
Sep 4, 2018 · 5 min read

How far off the path can a new client take you?

From your original course, do you turn rather than veer?

And more importantly, how does your alignment with the client impact your effectiveness to achieve their goals?

On Labor Day, I write this. On mindset.

The mindset of labor.

Seth Godin writes about Labor Day in his blog, stating that back in the day, Americans didn’t have choices. We have so many more choices than our grandparents who probably worked at the same company for like ever.

At this moment, I’m on the verge of something new. And I‘ve made a choice.

Not same old, same old, “same same” as my Nepali cousins say.

No more mix & repeat.

I take on the new role as Head of Podcasts for LA-based start up Klooma.

Native Creative Podcasts, Corner Unit Media’s West Coast office in LA

Meanwhile, my new podcast production company Native Creative is live.

And Corner Unit Media’s west coast office is open for business.

So, my choice was to build Klooma’s business and my own simultaneously.

I’m always keen on hedging, adding job security in a business prone to volatility.

At Klooma, I will need to embrace the role of builder and buyer.

That challenge quickly expands the strategy of betting on podcasts just one month into this entrepreneurial thing.

Approaching it as ownership, Klooma — to me — is an important new client.

I’m truly honored that they’re handing me the reigns of their podcasting business.

I am confident in the task at hand given my hands-on research overseeing production on two hit podcasts while at TuneIn (Two Man Weave and The Bob Lefsetz Podcast).

Two Man Weave with Kenyon Martin & Michael Rapaport LIVE from the NBA Finals in Oakland

Despite that, I know I’ll be tested.

Candidly, it feels like the first day at school. Or at least, like the day before the first day at school. Might not sleep so well tonight.

Counting sheep turns to dreams of walking naked through high school.

Before you know it, you’re alarm goes off, and you head to Beverly Hills to begin a journey with what you believe to be the next successful innovator and content creator in a challenging space.

Video, podcasts, and crosshairs squarely on Netflix with premium content. It’s an exciting moment to take on this new role with a globally focused company.

I’m hoping to create art with some memorable storytelling in addition to driving commercially successful content seeding Klooma’s premium business.

Meanwhile, a lot of the Native Creative projects in motion are approaching maturity this fall with a launch of The 500 Podcast with Josh Adam Meyers on Halloween 2018.

Here’s Bill Burr smoking a cigar after recording with Josh.

This show will be published November 20th and the album they’re talking about on Episode 497 is The White Stripes’ White Blood Cells. Can’t wait to share more as we approach November.

In other podcast news, we created this audiogram to promote Meek Mill and Philadelphia 76ers owner Michael Rubin’s appearance on Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom. Can’t say enough about this crew. Thanks to Jason, Jenna, and Juan for partnering with Native Creative on this show.

Coming up this week, the guest is Kim Kardashian West. That’s all.

We soundproofed a studio in Woodland Hills for the one & only Robert Kandell, host of TuffLove.LIVE Thursdays @ 10am PST & available anytime as a podcast on Apple, Stitcher and RobertKandell.com. Rob is a straight shooter, humble, and a pleasure to work with. His new book unHIDDEN will be published September 22nd.

Robert Kandell in the Tuff Love LIVE studio

My work with author Dale Maharidge progresses as we review the first draft of the script for the first episode of the show. Burn Coast is set for 2019 launch and its going to be huge!

Sometimes you can just feel it. Anyways, producing a true crime series which also captures the maturation of the marijuana industry with an accomplished journo is the ultimate for this podcast geek. Who wouldn’t want to be the producer on a series thats claiming to be The Wire meets Weeds in the woods.

Rock drummer Kenny Aronoff’s new podcast has a ton of momentum in step with his speaking business taking off. It may have started with a drum kit many moons ago, but it’s expanded to making an impact on those who will listen to his message: wake up and follow your passion. Great dude. Proud to be working with him.

With these types of exciting projects, I knew I couldn’t leave behind managing the intersection of art and business leading Native Creative and running Corner Unit Media’s west coast office. The entrepreneurial spirit within me needs to be embedded in all my work and fortunately, Klooma supports this.

On the verge of day one in the office, it’s thrilling to control my own destiny, to communicate publicly about my growing business while I set the framework to grow theirs. I’m vested in the success of all of these projects, and while I’m biased and bullish, I promise not to put out any junk.

Finding another hit is about strategy and iteration. It can be done.

On Labor Day. Mindset is everything.

INDUSTRY NEWS:

A couple congratulations are in order as two of my recent talent have begun new ventures in entirely different directions:

Bob Lefsetz expands his empire beyond his necessary blog, the podcast I was so fortunate to produce over the last year, and his consultancy and speaking businesses by partnering with SiriusXM Radio to launch Lefsetz Live! Hear the first episode Tuesday, Sept 11th at 7pm ET / 4pm PT. Happy for Bob!

Nick Ferguson played safety for the Jets, Broncos, and Texans. Now, after his second season coaching the San Francisco 49ers’ secondary in training camp, he’s been brought on as an assistant to the assistant of the team’s secondary. After working with him as talent on NFL on TuneIn for a few years, I could not be more proud of such a stand up guy with the dedication and character to make it in whatever he does!

Lastly, my hero Nick Quah published a new Hot Pod newsletter with voluminous industry news. The most interesting pieces pertain to Welcome to Night Vale’s experiment with dynamic ad insertion, Google at 20 years old, and The Washington Post’s new Podcast EP hire. To all my friends and family back home in DC, watch out for Hurricane Woodward!

Jeremiah Tittle

Written by

Founder, Native Creative Podcasts. BBC Commentator. Alum: SiriusXM, iHeart, TuneIn, Cumulus, The Guardian, beIN, AP, Westwood One.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade