After a six-month hiatus, the Storytelling in a Small Town crew is back and better than ever! Trent, Brian, and AJ reunite to catch up on their incredibly busy summers and share exciting updates about their businesses and creative projects.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• AJ's transformative trip to Mexico and his nonprofit's massive $75,000 grant win (talk about a 10X scaling event!)
• Brian's wedding videography marathon—15 weddings in one summer!
• Trent's launch of the Snohomish Podcast Network, bringing local podcasters together with resources, events, and community
• The new Snohomish Podcast Playground concept: a space for aspiring podcasters to test their ideas before fully committing
• Why having backup support as a solo business owner isn't optional—it's essential

Plus, a teaser for what's coming this season: The hosts are diving deep into AI, the evolution of storytelling in the social media age, and why being authentically human is more important than ever in a world drowning in "AI slop."

Whether you're a fellow creative, small business owner, or just love hearing about the behind-the-scenes journey of building something meaningful in your community, this episode is your warm welcome back to the conversation.

Recorded on International Podcasting Day—because of course it was!

All good stories must come to an end (or at least and intermission). Listen as we recap the role Storytelling in a Smalltown has had in our careers and what we see as the future of the podcast as we take a break for the busy summer season.

Follow Trent, AJ, and Brian for updates on what projects are going on in their lives:

Trent: https://www.redtruxwa.com/

AJ: https://www.thesotosphotos.com/

Brian: https://www.snohomishfilm.com/

In this episode, we dive deep into the pros and cons of hiring a full-time video content creator for your business. While having an in-house video producer may seem like an attractive option, we explore why outsourcing video content might actually be the smarter move.

We break down the benefits of working with specialized freelance creators and agencies who bring expertise, creativity, and flexibility to the table. At the same time, we discuss the increasing value of having a full-time marketing strategist on your team to drive the bigger picture — aligning your video content with your overall brand strategy, managing campaigns, and optimizing ROI.

If you're on the fence about whether to hire a full-time video maker or outsource, this episode will give you the insights you need to make a decision that helps your business grow and thrive. Tune in to find out why sometimes, the best investment is not just in more content, but in a strategy that brings it all together.