Navigating the Future: A Personal Update from Ariel Goodbody

In this introspective episode of Easy Stories in English, host Ariel Goodbody shares a series of candid confessions regarding the current state of the podcast, the challenges of creative entrepreneurship, and a critical pivot in strategy aimed at better serving the audience.

The "Story Builders" Dilemma

Goodbody recently launched the Story Builders Online Course, an eight-week group Zoom program designed to be a unique, interactive experience where participants collaboratively create a story to be featured on the podcast. Despite extensive promotion—including creative videos and numerous emails—the course has faced a significant hurdle: zero sign-ups.

Goodbody explains that the course was intended to be the "everything I would want in a language course," emphasizing that it is not merely about "imaginary role plays or hypothetical grammar exercises." Instead, it offers a "concrete goal" and a "real tangible goal" that provides students with a sense of completion, unlike traditional courses that often rely on abstract diplomas. The host remains hopeful that with a minimum of just three students, the course could still proceed, offering an intimate and highly personalized learning environment.

The Necessity of Audience Insight

Recognizing the gap between the intended value of the course and the audience's actual needs, Goodbody admits, "I assumed I knew what you all wanted and clearly I got it wrong." To bridge this gap, the host is launching a new survey. The previous survey, conducted in January 2021, is now outdated. By visiting easystoriesinenglish.com/ask, listeners are encouraged to provide feedback on what they find most useful—whether it be books, more frequent podcast episodes, or live streams. As an incentive, participants will receive a bonus beginner-level story, The City Mouse and the Country Mouse.

Balancing Passion with Stability

Beyond the course, Goodbody shares the personal struggle of balancing creative work with financial stability. While the dream is to make the podcast a "main job," the reality of navigating unpredictable algorithms and financial pressure led to significant stress. This has prompted a change in the podcast's cadence: episodes will return to a fortnightly schedule as the host takes on a teaching position at a London language school.

This decision is framed not as a lack of gratitude, but as a practical necessity. Goodbody expresses deep appreciation for the community's support—through donations, premium memberships, and reviews—noting that the ability to earn money from creative work is a privilege.

A Call to Action

Ultimately, the episode serves as a vital request for audience participation. Whether through signing up for Story Builders at easystoriesinenglish.com/build or completing the survey, Goodbody emphasizes that listener input is essential for the future direction of the show. By understanding the audience's preferences, the host hopes to avoid the stress of launching projects like in-person events that might not align with listener desires. The episode concludes with a sincere expression of gratitude, highlighting that the primary goal remains to continue providing high-quality content that truly resonates with the learners.