What’s up, everyone!

As the calendar flips to a new year, there’s a natural pressure to reinvent everything—new goals, new strategies, new identities. But the truth is, real growth rarely comes from blowing things up. It comes from sharpening what already works.

A few years ago, I caught myself consuming content out of habit—not because it made me smarter, but because it was loud, familiar, and everywhere. Somewhere along the way, especially as a new year forced some honest reflection, I realized I wasn’t looking for affirmation anymore. I was looking for clarity. Logic. Information without spin.

That’s exactly why this conversation with Josh Pate hit home.

Josh didn’t win by yelling louder or chasing every trend. He won by doing something deceptively simple: serving his audience the way he always wanted to be served. No agenda. No pandering. Just honest, well-reasoned insight in a clearly defined lane. In an era where distribution is democratized and trust is scarce, that approach isn’t just refreshing—it’s dominant.

🔥 Here’s What We Hit

1️⃣ No Spin Builds Trust

The Idea: People don’t need you to think for them—they need information they can think with.

Why It Matters: Audiences are smarter than ever. They reward clarity, logic, and honesty far more than hot takes or validation.

Your Move: Audit your content. Are you informing your audience or performing for them? Strip out anything that exists only to get a reaction.

2️⃣ Niche Is a Superpower

The Idea: Josh stayed relentlessly focused on college football—and refused to dilute his brand.

Why It Matters: Growth doesn’t come from covering everything. It comes from owning something.

Your Move: Define your lane in one sentence. If an opportunity doesn’t reinforce that sentence, it’s probably a distraction.

3️⃣ Distribution Is No Longer a Gatekeeper

The Idea: Overhead and reach used to belong to networks. Now they live in your pocket.

Why It Matters: The internet erased the biggest barriers to entry—but only for those willing to take ownership.

Your Move: Stop waiting for permission. Build direct distribution where your audience already lives (YouTube, podcasts, socials).

4️⃣ Own the Relationship, Own the Revenue

The Idea: Josh’s most lucrative partnerships came from direct, personal relationships—not agencies.

Why It Matters: When you understand your audience better than anyone else, monetization becomes alignment—not interruption.

Your Move: Talk to your partners directly. Learn ad sales, sponsorships, and brand fit instead of outsourcing the most important conversations.

5️⃣ Don’t Betray the Audience That Built You

The Idea: The fastest way to lose trust is changing everything after success.

Why It Matters: Audiences don’t follow evolution—they follow intention.

Your Move: Before adding new formats, topics, or aesthetics, ask: does this serve the audience that got us here?

🤝 Connect with Josh Pate

• YouTube & Podcast: Josh Pate’s College Football Show

• Social: @JoshPateCFB

So, What’s Next?

🎧 Listen to the full episode here

New media isn’t the future—it’s the present. And the winners won’t be the loudest voices, but the most trusted ones.

If this episode sparked something for you, forward this newsletter to someone building a brand, a show, or a business from scratch. We’re just getting started.

For more episodes that challenge the status quo and get you thinking, follow Right About Now on Instagram and YouTube.

Stay sharp, stay hungry, and let's reach that next level.

Cheers,
Ryan Alford
Host | Right About Now
CEO | The Radcast Network