We Hit 50K Subscribers — Y’all Are Wild (In the Best Way)

So…I wasn’t even planning to write this today.

I was minding my business, drinking some aggressively overpriced coffee, trying to figure out if the next episode should be about burnout or contracts (spoiler: probably both), when I got a text from someone on the team that just said:

“50K.”

I stared at it for a second. Thought maybe it was a typo. Then I opened the analytics, and sure enough… we just crossed 50,000 subscribers across all platforms. No ads. No PR machine. Just word of mouth, support from the community, and people like you deciding this podcast was worth listening to, sharing, and sticking with.

So here we are. And honestly, I just want to say — thank you.

Like, deep breath, hand over the heart, holy sht thank you.*

This podcast started out of frustration.

I’m not gonna lie — when I started I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman, I had no idea how many people would relate to that title.

I just knew I was tired of watching incredibly talented artists feel lost when it came to the “business” side of things. I was tired of the advice out there sounding like it was written by a marketing bro who’s never picked up a paintbrush or been stuck in their head for three days trying to name a zine. You know what I mean?

There was no space for artists who did want to build sustainable careers — but didn’t want to turn into walking brands or content machines in the process. That’s where the show came from.

It was never about “beating the algorithm.” It was about building something honest. It was about asking questions like:

• How do I price my work without feeling like a scammer?

• How do I promote myself without cringing?

• What do I do when I feel like a fraud — even when things are going well?

• How do I handle taxes, contracts, and invoices without wanting to cry?

Turns out, a lot of people were asking the same things.

50K isn’t just a number.

Sure, 50,000 subscribers looks good — don’t get me wrong. I screenshotted it. I showed my mom. I got a little weird about it for like an hour. But here’s what it really means to me:

It means there are 50,000 people out there who want to make art and make a living — and aren’t willing to sacrifice their voice or their values to do it.

It means that artists are hungry for conversations that go deeper than “just make content every day.”

It means that maybe, just maybe, we’re changing the way people think about creativity and business. And we’re doing it together.

Some of y’all listen while painting. Some of you tune in while doing admin stuff (bless you). Some of you have told me the podcast kept you company during a brutal creative block. That kind of thing…that’s bigger than numbers. That’s community.

Where do we go from here?

I’ll be real — I didn’t have a five-year plan when I started this podcast. Hell, I barely had a five-episode plan. But now that we’re here, I’m fired up about what comes next.

I want to bring on more guests who’ve found weird, wonderful ways to make this life work — and aren’t afraid to talk about the mess behind the scenes.

I want to keep answering the questions you’re too embarrassed to ask out loud. (Yes, even the “should I just get a day job?” one.)

I want to make it easier for you to feel proud of your work and get paid for it — without feeling like you’ve gotta pretend to be someone else.

And yeah, I want the show to grow. Not for clout. But because the more artists hear these conversations, the less alone they feel. And that? That matters.

Thank you. For real.

If you’ve ever sent in a question, shared an episode, left a review, told a friend, or even just listened quietly while thinking, “huh, okay that makes sense”… thank you. You’re the reason this works.

Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just found the podcast because someone sent you that “how to stop underpricing your art” episode — you’re part of this.

So here’s to the first 50K.

Here’s to the artists who’ve been told they’re not “professional” enough.
Here’s to the weirdos making zines at 2am.
Here’s to the people still figuring it out (hi, same).
Here’s to the next 50K — and all the messy, brilliant stories we’ll tell along the way.

With love and zero spreadsheets,
Luis

P.S. If you’re sitting on an idea, a project, or a dream that feels “too small” — just remember: this started with a podcast mic, a Google Doc, and zero clue how many people would care. You never know who’s waiting for your thing.