Until Next Time: A Love Letter to the Listeners of Have A Seat

Speaker A: Foreign. Well, hello, you. Hello there, my friend. I'm Deb Coleman. And for one last time, welcome to have a Seat Conversations with Women in the Workplace podcast. I am m. Your host, Deb Coleman. Oh, friends, this is going to be a little different. Um, yeah. Wow. Saying that intro today hits a little different, uh, because after five years and over 250 episodes and countless cups of coffee, countless, we have arrived, my friend, at the final show. The final episode. The finale. The finale episode of have a Seat. And let me tell you, it is absolutely bittersweet. Uh, uh. There's no other way to say it. This podcast has been so much more than a passion project for me. I know when I started five years ago, that was my tagline. This is my passion project. But it's been, it has grown into so much more. It's been a classroom, a confessional, a cheerleading corner, a therapy session, and above all, above all, a community. But don't worry, do not worry. This isn't a sad episode. This isn't a teary so long. This is a celebration. It's a love letter, if you will. A standing ovation for every guest, every listener, and every single woman in the workplace who's inspired me to press record week after week. So in this final episode, I want to reflect on what this wild ride has meant to me professionally, personally, and yes, even emotionally. I'll share some behind the scenes milestones, thank the incredible humans who made this show possible, and talk a little about what's next. Next. But before we dive in, let me just say this clearly and from the heart. This is not goodbye, my friend. This is absolutely a see you later because you'll still find me out there in your LinkedIn feed at EA conferences cheering you on every step of the way. So whether this is your first episode with me, or your 200th episode, or whether you stumbled across this show during your commute or binge listened during a job search, hey, you. I am so glad you're here for this final chapter. All right. Okay. All right, so deep breath one last time, won't you come into my virtual living room and have a seat? All right, so let's talk numbers. Let's start this conversation off with some numbers. Because if you know me, you know I am not usually the look at my stats kind of podcaster. I never have been. And I'm not really going to turn into that for this final show either. But they are here and I'd love to share some with you. So, um, I'd like to take a Minute to celebrate what this little engine of a podcast has done over the past five years. Yes. Cinco anos. I can't believe it. Because these numbers, they're not just mine. They belong to all of us. They truly do. So let's start with those numbers, shall we? Okay, let me. As of the date of this recording In June of 2025, have a C podcast has amassed over 32,000 downloads. I. Let me read that again. I just. I literally just pulled these stats today. Again, I'm not a stats person. I know every podcast coach out there is, like, choking right now, but no, I'm really not, because that's just how much I love podcasting, the art of it. So, yeah, over 32, 000 downloads. Crazy. Um, more than 250 episodes. Close to 300, I should say. I have, like, 200. Like 90, I think, or something like that. I know, right? So close to 300. Um, some of them were, of course, mini cast and episodes, which were just me and the mic, but most of them are interviews and guests. Right. So my podcast has been listened to in over 60 countries, from the United States to Singapore, the UK, Canada, Australia. Let me see. Uh, Germany, South Africa, and yes, even Iceland. I struck gold in Iceland. You don't even know Iceland is on my bucket list. I totally, totally want to go to Reykjavik and see the Roya Borealis. That is absolutely on my lifetime bucket list. But yeah, shout out to Iceland. Awesome. Uh, um, international crazy. Like, who this. This lady in Henderson, Nevada, has reached somebody in Iceland. I mean, it's insane for me to think about. Sorry, I'm just looking at these for the first time. I'm, like, blown away. Um, top cities, shout out to. Oh, Sterling, Virginia. Hello, Chicago. Love it. Chi Town, la. Hi. My sister homet. Um, New York. Yes, I'll get to you someday, too. And my international family in Singapore and London too. Seriously. Oh, my God. How cool is that? So cool. So very cool. So now, was this show ever about the numbers? No, certainly it wasn't. But do the numbers make me tear up a little also? Yes. Okay. They really do. I mean, wow. I'm just looking. Like I said, I just read these over before I hit record, so I'm kind of looking at this again for, like, the second time, and I'm just. I'm blown away. Singapore. Wow, that's amazing. Thank you, Singapore. Thank you. Um, you know what? Honestly, because behind every download, to me, this is. This is me. This is my. This is my $0.02 when it comes to podcasting, because behind every download is a person, especially in regards to have a seat. It's a woman tuning in during her commute or her lunch break or her. Please just don't talk to me. Walk around the block. Every single one of you, my listeners made this podcast what it became. That is 100 facts. Absolutely. And can we talk about the most listened to episodes really quick, of which there are many? There are so many that got so many high numbers, it's crazy. But let me just say, say those of you, you know who you are, because I reached out to you, y' all showed up for those conversations. Seriously, you did. Whether we were talking confidence, mindset, or career growth, those episodes seriously struck a chord. And I'm. And it meant the world. It meant the world to see them resonate with so many of you. Can I just say, I did notice, like on a graph, that the any episode with confidence in the title or in the show notes that specifically spoke about the fact that we'd be discussing confidence in some way, shape or form. Those hints hit hard. Those hit high. They were some of my most listened to in addition to so many others. But confidence, it's a thing out there for women in the workplace today. Those of you, those sociologists of you out there, or those career coaches who might be listening, take note. Confidence still resonates. Really, really high. Really, really high. At least in my community. All right, and let's see. Let's see now. Uh, okay, so this I have to say too, because this is also kind of important to me too. Look, I didn't have a big team behind me. I really don't. I really gotta, like, you know, post all the stats. I have to follow it up with that. I didn't have a big team behind me. I have zero sponsors. Never have and apparently never will either, because this is the last show. I never was sponsored. No one ever paid for this podcast but me. I never had a big team behind you. Behind me. Excuse me. Unless it was like, if you count my fur, baby, and my husband. But I did it all. I. I was my own social media marketer. I was my cop, my own copywriter. I was my own guest relations. I was my audio specialist. I was the host of the show, the producer, the creative director. I did everything from tip to toe. I outsourced nothing. Nothing. Because let me repeat, I'm not saying that to be like, I'm better than. No, I did that because I love the art of podcasting. I loved everything that it entails. Five years ago, when I looked into how to start a podcast. And I started that incredible rabbit hole deep. Um, everything that said that you're gonna have to be responsible for and do on a weekly basis, every. All the little things, I was all for it. My smile just grew bigger and bigger and bigger with every to do. I read because I was in love and still am with the art of podcasting. So I have nobody behind me. I don't outsource jack shit. I do it all myself. That's how passionate I am about it. So, I mean, if you do, that's fantastic. Good for you. You are recognizing that there's only so many hours in and you have outsourced and delegated those certain podcast tasks to others, and I salute you. That is fantastic. Good for you. Honestly, that's fantastic. Um, but for me and. And my show. Nope, it's all me. No sponsors, no fancy studio, and no production crew. Just me, a microphone, a whole bunch of learning, and an even bigger heart, honestly. And that's really where it came from. That's. That's my studio. That makes up my studio. A microphone, the, A, uh, learning mindset, and a. And a bigger heart and passion for the art of podcasting. So when I say I'm proud of what we. And I say we, honestly, what we have built here, I mean it. I absolutely mean it. This podcast, have a seat. Has been one of the most rewarding, creatively fulfilling things I've ever done. And seeing it grow from a little passion project to a globally downloaded show, that's not just statistics. That's my friend. That is honestly a dream realized. It really is. It really is. And that just came to me. I hope you like that. That really is a dream realized. And hey, if you're listening right now and thinking about starting something of your own, whatever it be, whatever it is, let this be your permission slip that it's possible. And I'm living proof of that. Honestly. Honestly, five years ago, if you would have told me where I sit now, I would have laughed you out of the room. So it is possible. You just have to start. All right, so let's get into what really made. Have a seat. What it is, which is you. You, my beautiful listener. Yes. Whether you tuned in every week or stumbled on an episode during a tough season in your life, or just hit play on a whim and stuck around. Thank you. Thank you so much. In all caps. Thank you. You are the reason this show made it five whole years. You are the reason I kept the microphone on, even on the days when it was hard to find words, whether it was a solo show or a show with a guest, even on those days. You are the reason I grew into a better communicator, a, uh, braver woman, and, yes, even a stronger voice. This podcast wasn't just for me. It was for you. And you made it worth every minute. You certainly did. I promise you listen to my newsletter subscribers, your replies, your emojis, your hit, this hit home today day messages. Wow. They honestly, hey, they kept me going more than you even know. I love those messages. Opening those emails felt like receiving hugs from across the country, and I felt every single one. Thank you so much to my LinkedIn. Have a seat, Community family. Hey, y'. All, thank you for cheering, sharing, liking, and lifting this podcast into the feed over and over again. All those shares, those comments, those thumbs up, they meant the world. They still do. And they count for so much. Every time someone tagged me with, you need to hear this episode, I got a little choked up. Or every time I saw someone forward an episode of mine to somebody else or to their feed. Wow. Like, it just. It really, like, took me a minute. It. I just stare at that. Stare at that feed, at that post going, oh, my God, they shared my show. That's crazy. Uh, the support on that platform, honestly, has been unreal. Thank you. Thank you so very much. And to those of you who left reviews on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or sent voice messages. Yes. With which I have received a few amazing. Thank you. Appreciate you. I read every single one. I might be a little slow, but I got to them, and I've read every single one and tried to respond. I saved some of them even. For example, like the voicemail I received from my dear friend Esther, who passed away. Her, um, mother sent me a message because I replayed her episode in honor in the anniversary of her passing, and her mother sent me a voicemail thanking me for replaying that episode because she got to hear her daughter's voice again. And, um. Wow. That. That. Wow. I didn't expect it. I didn't expect to say that, first of all, so thank you for allowing me to say that. But that's what I meant. Those voicemails even touched me. And I keep them. I have kept every single one of those messages because just to remind myself that this show mattered to someone. It mattered to someone. So thank you. Wow. And, um. Oh, to my guests. Oh, my gosh. Uh, I'm not gonna cry. You're crying. I'm not crying. Okay. Y' all trusted me with your stories. You said, yes, Listen, friends, you said yes to a podcast that at the time had maybe, maybe three followers and a logo I made super quick on canva in like 15 minutes, right? You believed in me when I was just figuring out how to hit record. You brought your full selves to the mic. Your wisdom, your heart, your laughter, your tears. And you gave my listeners so, so much. Honestly, so much. You didn't just show up, you gave. You gave of yourself, you gave of your expertise and you gave of your time. And that's, that's a gift I, I just simply will never, ever forget. I will never forget. If I had a mission for this podcast, it was this. It was to hold space for the voices of women in the workplace in all our messy, brilliant, powerful, still evolving glory. And each of you, each of you that I mentioned helped me do that. From my very first guest to the. My mo. My last guest, my most recent and last guest. I know I sound like a broken record, but I just don't know the other. The words to describe it. Thank you. I mean, honestly, I appreciate and, and, and thank you so very much. Thank you for sitting down with me and thank you for saying yes. Thank you for saying yes. All right, so, uh, let's see. Um, trying to, trying to keep this going here. Uh, before I move into what's next, I need to take a moment, I need to take a moment, a very important one to shout out to my co CEO, my co producer and my co conspirator. To be honest with you in life, my dear, sweet, beautiful, handsome hubs husband, Paul. Um, you. I've made mention of him in many solo episodes. You guys should probably, you probably know him maybe as much as you know me. Um, he's definitely been like that silent, that silent, uh, character in many of my solo episodes. Um, listen, five years ago, this podcast is started with him. I'm being 100 honest with you. It started with him because five years ago, in a moment of pure marital. Marital. Marital. I'm going to say that marital honesty. Like, you know those moments in your marriage when your, your partner just looks at you and is like, look, I gotta just. I'm um, taking the gloves off for a second. Don't get angry. I gotta tell you something right though. In that moment he looked at me because I was mid rant through something, you know, I was complaining about work, obviously, right? And I was da, da, da. You know, and bless his heart, he was listening to every word. Midway through that rant though, he looked at me and he said, you have a lot to say. You know what, honey? You have a lot to say. You should really just sit behind a mic already and tell your story. You should start a podcast. At the time, I, uh, laughed. I'm like, okay. He didn't. He didn't. He was like, I'm serious. What are you looking at me like that for? Right? And that's how have a Seat was born. I sat at. In our kitchen island. At our kitchen island. I'm like, okay, well, if we go forward, what. How should. What would I name it? Like, because we all start that way, right? Every podcaster is like, what should my name be? Um, and he is one who we came up with, have a Seat. He actually did. He's like, well, every time we have a visitor come into the house, like, one of the first things out of your mouth is, come on in, have a seat. Like, I. Not. It's just so good to see you. Have a seat. Oh, um, I'm glad you made it. How was the drive? Come in. Have a seat. Like, it's always, have a seat. Have a seat. Somehow factors its way into my greeting. And so he's like, you should really call it have a Seat. Well, I like any good newbie podcaster, I went into all the podcast directories and I did a search for if there was any other podcast called have a Seat. And there was. There was. Granted, they hadn't recorded a show in, like, over a year, but still, it was there. And so I couldn't call it just simply have a Seat. So I tagged on Conversations with Women in the Workplace, because that's exactly what I wanted to do. And so I just added that on to make my show stand out. So have a seat. Conversations with Women in the Work. Seat in the Workplace. Sorry, have a Seat. Conversations with Women in the Workplace podcast was born. So, Paul, my honey, my boo, thank you for that loving nudge and for believing in this show long before it ever had a name, really, and, uh, long before it had a listener or even a single download. This one, low key. Okay, let me back that up. This one, high key is dedicated to you. Dedicated to you, my love. And of course, to my co director and resident tail wagger, our fur baby, Jack, Jackpot Coleman Shih Tzu to the stars. Um, Mr. Jack, you sat through hours of editing sessions, listened to me talk to myself out loud, like, daily, and never once complained, except maybe when I, you know, was over a little bit overly passionate in one of my mini casts. But seriously, my, uh, our little shih tzu Jack, you are the goodest of good boys. And yes, you deserve all the credit. So thank you, my Jack. All right, so now that that's out of the way, Paul and Jack, my two biggest fans, love you guys. All right, so now let's talk about what's next. Let's talk about what's next. Um, so here's the part where I remind you that this is not goodbye. This is not goodbye in any way, shape or form. This is just a see you later, it's a stay in touch, or a you know where to find me. Okay, that's it. I'm not saying goodbye. Nope. This is see you later, stay in touch, and you know where to find me. Because the mic may be getting turned off. Yes. But the conversation, the conversation, my friend, is far, far from over. You'll still find me out in the wild, on LinkedIn, in inboxes, at EA conferences, and anywhere women are showing up and doing the work to support each other. That's where I will be. If you see me at a conference, come say hi, come up and say hello. I'll probably be the one holding coffee, wearing something with a lot of pockets and ready to talk about how to streamline your workflows or streamline your grocery list. Like it. You know me at conference, you never know what you're gonna get. Um, it depends on the day, right? Um, but come up and say hello. I would love to meet some of my, my, my supporters in person. And hey, if you've ever thought, you know what, I kind of want to start a podcast. I actually have had so many conversations with that sentence with other women this past week because I've been slowly just sort of teasing that I'm going to be sun setting my show. And I mean, 10 times out of 10, it's met with. You know what? I have kind of wanted to start a podcast. Boom. Love that. That is like music to my ears. Honestly, if that is the direction you want to go in, let me just say this. I'm your girl. Seriously. Reach out, ask questions, bounce ideas. Let me be your sounding board. Because if this little show has taught me anything, it's that there's room for your voice, too. Absolutely. You don't need fancy equipment. I am a testimony to that. You don't need a million followers. I am also a testim to that. You just need something to say and the courage to say it. That's all you need. And you are, uh, you're already winning. You're already winning. And finally, let me leave you with this. Oh, uh, goodness. I started have a Seat to center conversations with women in the workplace. But along the way, I realized that that workplace quote, workplace doesn't just mean one kind of space. It doesn't just mean one kind of space. It's a corporate ladder. It's a corner office. It's a kitchen table. It's a side hustle. It's a nonprofit boardroom. It's the school drop off lane. It's the remote Zoom Square. Or even a quiet car ride after an incredibly long shift or incredibly long day. It's wherever we show up, show out, and make things happen as women. That's our workplace. So to all of you, whether you're climbing the ranks, launching something new, managing a team or a household, or both, thank you very much. Or both. I see you, I honor you, and I'm still cheering wildly in your corner. So to every woman who's ever felt overlooked, underestimated, undervalued, this seat was always, always. The seat was always meant for you. And even though the podcast is rapping, even though the podcast is sunsetting, the mission isn't. You deserve to be in every room. You deserve to take up all the space. You deserve to speak up and be heard wherever you work, whatever you do and whoever you are becoming. This isn't the end, my sis. It's just the next chapter, honestly. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for listening. Thank you for letting me into your world, your earbuds, your commute, your workday, and yes, your heart. So, for the last time, under the have a seat umbrella, this is Deb Coleman signing off for now and forever reminding you, what do I always tell you? Your homework assignment is my friend. Right. Take care, be well. And remember, keep having those conversations. Love y'. All. Sam.