Quinn’s Next Step and Next Step Media Productions were not the springboards I had hoped God prepared for me. I uploaded three videos from August through December 2024. Debt had added up. I focused on updating my resume, filling out applications for full time jobs, and finding video gigs through contractors.

One particular gig was the Garth Brooks induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. It was the first time they had a sole inductee perform his own songs rather than have other artists perform his hits. It felt like an unimpressive shadow of the country music artist my mother had introduced me to as a kid.

The Studios at Fischer happened to be working with local country artist Pug Johnson on music videos for his upcoming El Cabron album. They honored me with a ten-week contract to participate. As we recorded scenes for his love-letter ballad Believer, I began to be filled with hope.

But even as things were improving locally, the national media landscape felt more chaotic than ever.

The Daily Wire controversies from the Steven Crowder term sheet, firing Candace Owens, and Brett Cooper’s departure was it for me. Dave Rubin’s shift from open debate, dialogue, and reconciliation into teaming up with Ben Shapiro to criticize Candace rather than mediate a debate, convinced me both subscriptions were on the chopping block. I was fed up.

I was tired of being lied to and manipulated by those I had previously trusted. All of this stacked up when I needed to cut monthly costs anyway. I was ready to work, watch less content generally, hoping next year would continue to bring more gig contracts.

Patrick Bet David’s PBD Podcast had become my new go-to for a morning show. I was inspired by their Future Looks Bright slogan, insightful commentary, open conversations, and debate with people from opposing sides of an argument. Most days I would get an hour or so into the show before I pulled myself away to get to work on home and personal projects. It became an encouragement for growth, self-improvement, and openness.

The new landscape of independent voices had emerged as corporate conservatism began to lose support from previous pandemic heights.

The Joe Rogan Experience was the top podcast everywhere. FOX was dominated by Greg Gutfeld. Tucker Carlson took his viewers to the Tucker Carlson Network.

Candace Owens had taken her viewers from The Daily Wire. Brett Cooper later followed as they tried to replace her on The Comments Section with her former producer and maid of honor.

Former President Donald Trump had survived two assassination attempts before winning the U.S. presidency for a second time. Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA were credited with their Get Out the Vote campaign. Kirk was credited with bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA movement into the MAGA Trump administration. This increased the win, showing that Republicans and Democrats could work together. President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy for reelection, handing his endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris and bypassing the Democratic primary process altogether.

Breaking into 2025 was a time for renewal. President Trump was given a second chance to take the lessons he learned in the first administration, plus his four years out of office, and show us what America First and MAGA stood for. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. The Russia/Ukraine conflict seemed to slow down. Oil was back in business. Elon Musk was supporting Trump with a Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, review of waste in government agencies. Trade wars and tariffs were back on the foreign policy playing board. Mark Zuckerburg fired Facebook fact-checkers.

January was a time of encouragement for me, and I tried to share that in my content. The Pacific Palisades wildfires, covered by Adam Carolla, gave me an idea for a Quinn’s Next Step January episode, sharing encouragements while burning brush on the property.

After a year of fracture, pressure, and letting go, I felt something I had not felt in a long time. A quiet sense that things could begin again.

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