there she goes - jschlatt

the challenge

the next few days passed in a blur. after that night at the bar, i found myself replaying every moment in my mind. schlatt's teasing remarks, his smirking face, and the way he'd leaned in when i took my shot—it all swirled around in my thoughts. but instead of warmth, there was a lingering sense of confusion. his rough edges made it hard to discern whether he was genuinely supportive or just messing with me.

i dove into planning my podcast, determined to make it something special. i spent hours brainstorming topics, reaching out to potential guests, and researching the best equipment. every time i felt overwhelmed, i'd think back to that night and how energized i'd felt surrounded by schlatt, ted, and tucker. it felt like a dream, but the more i thought about it, the more i questioned his intentions.

the following week, i decided to take a leap and invite tucker on my podcast as my first guest. he had been encouraging, and it felt like a natural step. i shot him a message, my heart racing as i hit send. to my surprise, he replied almost instantly, agreeing to join me for a casual chat about content creation and finding one's niche.

"you're going to do great," he texted back. "can't wait to help you get started!"

the night of our recording, i felt a mixture of excitement and nerves. i set up my makeshift studio in my small apartment, cluttered with equipment and notes. my heart raced as i double-checked everything, ensuring the microphone was working and the camera was set up just right. i wanted this to be perfect.

when tucker arrived, he walked in with an easy smile, looking casual yet effortlessly cool in his hoodie and jeans. "hey, charlotte! thanks for having me," he said, settling down in front of the microphone.

"thank you for coming on! this means a lot," i replied, trying to contain my excitement. i hit record, and we dove into conversation. the hour flew by as we chatted about our experiences, the challenges we faced, and our shared love for storytelling.

tucker's energy was infectious, and as we discussed everything from the early days of our content creation journeys to the importance of mental health, i felt my confidence grow. i found my rhythm, and soon enough, the nervousness that had plagued me melted away."you've got a natural talent for this," he said, leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. "it's clear you're passionate about what you do."

"thank you! it feels good to finally get my thoughts out there," i admitted, a genuine smile breaking across my face. "sometimes, i worry if anyone will listen, but hearing you say that helps."

"trust me, they will," tucker assured me. "people connect with authenticity, and you've got that in spades."after we wrapped up, we sat back and relaxed. "so, what's next for you?" he asked, curious."i've got a few more guests lined up," i said, feeling a spark of excitement. "but honestly, i want to figure out how to make my voice stand out. there are so many podcasts out there, and i want mine to be unique."

"the best way to do that is to be true to yourself," he advised, leaning forward earnestly. "share your stories, your struggles, and your wins. people love to connect with real experiences."his words resonated with me. it was what i had been trying to do all along, but now, it felt clearer than ever. i wanted to be the voice that someone could relate to, someone who was real and unfiltered.

after tucker left, i felt invigorated, my mind buzzing with ideas. i couldn't shake the feeling of how natural it had been to talk to him, and the encouragement he had given me ignited a fire within. the next morning, i started outlining my next episode, focusing on mental health and the importance of community.

as the days turned into weeks, i continued to work hard on my podcast. i invited more guests, each one adding their unique perspective and stories. with every episode, my confidence grew, and my listener base slowly started to expand. it felt exhilarating to share my journey and connect with others who resonated with the topics i discussed.

but through it all, my thoughts kept drifting back to schlatt. it was hard not to when he and the other hosts often posted snippets of their lives on social media. he had a way of cutting through the noise, but now it felt like he was constantly poking fun at my efforts. every time he posted something sarcastic or critical, my stomach twisted with frustration and confusion.one afternoon, after recording a particularly emotional episode, i decided to reach out to him. "hey, johnathan," i typed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. "would you be interested in being a guest on my podcast? it would be great to hear your thoughts on content creation and the industry."

my heart raced as i hit send. would he be interested? or would he brush it off as another one of my ambitious ideas? the thought made me anxious, but before i could overthink it, he replied. "sure, but don't expect me to pull any punches," he shot back. "you ready for that?"his response left me feeling uneasy. did he see my podcast as a joke? the playful jab felt more cutting than encouraging, and it left me questioning whether he truly believed in me or just enjoyed watching me stumble.

the day of our recording, i arrived early, my nerves bubbling beneath the surface. i had prepared my questions, but there was an underlying tension that made me second-guess everything. when schlatt walked in, casually dressed but with an air of arrogance that filled the room, my heart skipped a beat.

"you look nervous," he said, smirking as he slid into the chair across from me.

"are you really ready for this? i mean, you're the one who invited me."

"of course i am," i replied, trying to sound confident. "this is a big opportunity for me, and i'm excited to hear your thoughts.""great. just don't expect me to coddle you," he replied, his tone blunt. "i'm not here to fluff your ego."

i nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. his demeanor felt more like a challenge than an invitation, and i wondered if i had made a mistake in asking him. "i wouldn't want that anyway," i said, hoping to match his energy. "i want the truth."as we began recording, the conversation flowed, but it was far from comfortable. he had a way of cutting deep, questioning my motivations and the direction of my podcast. "you really think people care about your opinions? it's a saturated market, charlotte. you better have something unique to offer."

each jab hit harder than the last, and though part of me wanted to defend myself, another part felt the weight of his words. was he trying to help me, or was he just getting a kick out of tearing me down? it left me feeling confused and frustrated, battling between wanting to prove him wrong and questioning if he was right.

"i'm here to tell my story," i said, my voice steadier than i felt. "i think that's what people connect with, and that's what makes my podcast different."

"if that's true, then why does it feel like you're trying too hard?" he shot back, his expression unreadable. "you can't just throw some heartfelt words around and think it'll resonate. you need substance."

the conversation continued, and as the recording wrapped up, i felt drained. his critical edge lingered in the air, and i struggled to decipher whether it was tough love or just mean-spiritedness. as we finished, he leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips.

"you survived," he said, a glimmer of something in his eyes that made me wonder if he was proud or simply mocking me. "just remember, this world isn't kind. you've got to be ready for anything."

i left that café feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. his words echoed in my mind as i walked home, and for the first time, i felt a sense of clarity battling against confusion. part of me was grateful for the challenge, but another part felt like he was pushing me away just as quickly as he was drawing me in.the night air was crisp as i made my way home, the city lights twinkling around me. the path ahead felt brighter, filled with possibilities, but the confusion lingered. maybe this was just the beginning of something extraordinary, or maybe it was a road filled with obstacles i had yet to uncover.