WE MADE THE LIST. FINDING ARIZONA PODCAST IS ONE OF THE BEST ARIZONA PODCASTS

Finding Arizona Podcast was just named one of the Best 89 Arizona Podcasts by MillionPodcasts … NUMBER 10 IN FACT! MillionPodcasts is a searchable database of 2.7 million podcasts built for PR, marketing, and guest-booking outreach. Out of thousands of shows across this state, we are sitting in the top ten. That is not something we take lightly, and we do not want to let it pass without saying THANK YOU to every single person who made it possible.

You. The listeners. The guests. The Arizona businesses and community leaders who sat across from us, trusted us with their stories, and let us share them with the world. Over 520 episodes and 10 years of showing up every single week!

MillionPodcasts ranks shows based on Apple review count, Apple and Spotify ratings, monthly listeners, consistency, and overall authority in the niche. We are proud to hold a 4.9 Apple rating and we do not take that score for granted. Every review, every share, every time someone sent an episode to a friend is what this recognition is built on. If you haven’t left us a review please do so on Apple Podcasts.

What made us smile even more? A Taste of AZ, one of the shows we have produced right here at Found House, also made the list at number 52. Two shows from our family in the top 89. Arizona is doing something, and we are honored to be part of it.

We started Finding Arizona with one simple idea: sit down with the people who make this state great and let them tell their story in their own words. No script. No spin. Just a real conversation with a real person who is building something here in Arizona and deserves to be heard. We still believe in that idea just as much today as we did at episode one.

So what is next? More stories. More episodes. More Arizona. We are not slowing down. If anything, this lights a fire to keep going and keep getting better.

If you have never listened before, now is a great time to start. And if you have been with us from the beginning, “Thank you.”

Arizona, we are finding you and we are not stopping.

XoXo

Britt

WHAT ADVERTISING WEEK NEW YORK TAUGHT ME THAT AI NEVER COULD

I have a podcast. I have a production company. I create content for a living and I help other people do the same. I know how to use every AI tool in the game and I use them every single week.

And I just got back from New York with a notebook full of things no algorithm is ever going to teach me.

I went to Advertising Week NYC for work, representing KNOW Women in rooms full of brand executives, agency leads, and media minds who are shaping the way the world communicates. I sat in session after session, raised my hand to compete on a game show and met Flavor Flav Backstage. BUT What I actually learned was something way more important than marketing and advertising….. it was all of it IRL.

IRL is irreplaceable and the best teacher. Not in a nostalgic, put your phon -down, ‘back-in-my-day’ kind of way. In a this is where the real magic happens kind of way. The conversations that happened between sessions, in hallways, at lunch tables, on escalators, on the streets in New York City between strangers who realized they were building the same thing from different angles. That is where I learned more in 2 days than I could learn in two months of scrolling, researching, and prompting.

AI can give me information. It cannot give me the moment a speaker pauses mid-sentence and says something that lands so specifically in your chest. It cannot replicate the energy of a room full of people who all decided to show up. It cannot manufacture the kind of trust that gets built when someone looks you in the eye and says your name.

One session said it in a way I keep coming back to: devotion over awareness. “ROI gets you awareness. Devotion gets you remembered.” You cannot automate devotion. You cannot prompt your way into it. Devotion comes from showing up, consistently, as yourself, in rooms where it counts.

Another session said people are starving for unstructured, low pressure, real conversation. Not content. Conversation. Book clubs are winning. Roundtables are winning. Podcasts are winning. Because you cannot fake a real conversation and people know the difference. What are the kids calling it? Performative?

So go to the thing. Book the flight. Be in the room. Raise your hand to be on the game show- shout out to ‘The Perfect Line’.

XoXo Britt

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LAUNCH A PODCAST

A brand marketer slid into my inbox last week with a question I get more than almost any other: "How much does it cost to launch a decent podcast for my brand?"

Honest answer? It depends on what "decent" means to you. But I'm going to break it down in a way that actually helps you budget, plan, and decide whether to DIY it or hand it off to someone who does this every day.

Let's start with what's in the bag: The gear, if you're doing it yourself. Everything you see in the photo above is what I bring to a podcast production. Not a studio full of equipment. A bag. A really good bag.

• Sony Alpha ZV-E10 — the camera that makes your podcast look like a production, not a Zoom call. Around $895 new, less if you buy refurbished.

• DJI Mic Wireless — the wireless mic system that changed everything for on-location recording. Around $165.

• Newer Mini Lavalier Mics — the backup, the guest mic, the insurance policy. Around $25.

• AC-PW 20 Continuous Power — because nothing ends a recording session faster than a dead battery. Around $30.

• Ulanzi RGB Video Light — compact, color-tunable, and better than any ring light you've ever used. Around $20.

• 67" Tripod — stable, portable, reliable. Around $40.

• Digital Timer — keeping segments tight is a production skill. This $10 tool is non-negotiable.

Total for a solid DIY setup: roughly $1,200 to $1,500 in gear, one time.

Then there's software. Riverside or PodBean for recording ($20-30/month), a hosting platform like Buzzsprout or Spotify for Podcasters (free to start), and editing software or a subscription to an AI editing tool ($15-40/month). Budget another $50-70/month to run the show technically.

So for a brand doing it themselves with good equipment and basic software: $1,200 to $1,500 upfront, plus $50-70/month ongoing.

But here's what the gear cost doesn't include:Your time. And your time has a dollar value attached to it.

Editing one 30-minute episode can take 2-4 hours. Writing show notes, creating audiograms, scheduling guests, managing the RSS feed, repurposing content for social — that's another 3-5 hours per episode. For a weekly show, you're looking at a part-time job on top of your actual job.

That's where a production partner comes in.

What does it cost to hire someone like Found House, Finding Arizona Podcast’s Production Company? Found House works with clients at different levels depending on what they need. We have one bids including guest coordination, recording, editing, show notes, social content, and distribution and we have clients we bill at an hourly rate built for businesses that want a show done right without adding headcount. It's the one that gets you a show you're actually proud of, published consistently, without you touching a timeline or an audio file.

And because we have done this for 10 years and over 500 episodes under our belt what I have noticed for brands that want to launch smart and grow fast, working with a production team from day one is almost always the better investment. You skip the learning curve, you skip the gear decisions, and you show up to record. That's it.

The real question isn't how much it costs to launch a podcast. It's how much it costs you not to have one while your competitors are already in people's earbuds. Found House is ready when you are. Let's talk about what your show could look like.

WHY BUC-EE'S ARIZONA WORKS AND EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKING NOTES

I need to fact-check myself right out of the gate, because I almost went on the internet and said Arizona got the first Buc-ee's outside of Texas. We didn't. Buc-ee's has been expanding since 2018, starting with Alabama, and has since made its way through the South, the Midwest, and up the coast. BUT Goodyear just became the most western Buc-ee's location in the entire country. People camped out in 100+ degree Arizona heat before the doors opened at 6 a.m. We thought about it, but waited a solid 7 days before seeing the beaver!

Walking up passed the 120 gas pumps I could feel it. What was it? What is it about this brand? Why does a gas station with a beaver mascot inspire road trips and a line around a building before sunrise?

1. The customer service isn't a script- it's a standard.

You know how Chick-fil-A says "my pleasure". Like, do you really mean it? Buc-ee's doesn't have a catchphrase. What they have is an actual standard. Staffing levels that make you feel like the store was expecting you specifically, bathrooms so clean they've literally won awards for it, and employees who seem to genuinely want to be there. There's a difference between training someone to perform friendliness and creating a culture where people actually show up that way.

2. The consistency is almost aggressive.

Every Buc-ee's has a bronze beaver statue. Every Buc-ee's has Beaver Nuggets. Every Buc-ee's will have brisket sandwiches ready at 11 a.m. You don't have to wonder. You don't have to check the app. You don't have to ask if they have the thing. The thing is there. It's always there. There are Easter eggs baked into every location: the same mascot, the same merchandise layout, the same energy and it creates this feeling of belonging even if you've never been to that specific store before. Seeing it in the wild creates a fuel pump fraternity. Branding that consistent isn't an accident. It's a commitment. It's the kind of commitment that makes a brand feel like a place, and a place feel like a destination.

3. The beaver. The damn beaver. (pun intended)

The mascot is everything. He's got a little smirk. He's a little smug. He's wearing a hat, he's on your t-shirt, he's the bronze statue you're definitely taking a photo with, and he's inexplicably on a matching swimsuites you now own with your son. The Buc-ee's beaver is the rare mascot that doesn't try too hard. He just exists with complete confidence, and somehow that confidence transfers to the whole brand. You trust Buc-ee's because the beaver trusts Buc-ee's. Here's what Buc-ee's actually teaches us about building something that lasts: people don't fall in love with businesses. They fall in love with experiences that feel consistent, genuine, and a little bit fun.

Whether you're building a household, brand, a podcast, or a business that formula works everywhere. I hope you feel some way about what we put out there, part of our Arizona family no matter where you live.

XoXo

Britt.

TOY STORY 5 IS CURING THE LONELINESS PANDEMIC

This past weekend, my family did and apparently we weren't the only ones…Toy Story 5 just had the biggest opening weekend of 2026… Worldwide, it pulled in $312 million in three days. Thats nostalgic elder millennials out to relive their childhood, taking their kids, inviting their coworkers and pre K friends…

So here's my theory: Toy Story 5 is curing the loneliness pandemic. We spent 90 minutes watching a screen tell us a story about the effects of screens. BUT The movie isn't anti-technology. It’s CONNECTION is still the thing we're all chasing, even when we don't realize it. A scrolling feed full of likes, although it fees like temporary connection, will never replace someone sitting next to you, laughing at the same joke, in the same room, at the same time.

And that's exactly what happened in theaters across the country this weekend. People who hadn't set foot in a theater in years showed up because the story promised something worth showing up for. We didn't just watch Woody and Buzz wrestle with being needed less. We got to be together, fully present, for the first time in a while for some of us.

So thank you, Toy Story 5. Thank you for the record-breaking weekend, the extra butter popcorn, the nostalgia, and mostly thank you for getting us back in a room together.

XoXo

Britt

WHAT ITS LIKE TO RUN A BUSINESS AND A 9-TO-5 IN PHOENIX

People see the podcast. The events. The travel. The content. And they ask me, "How do you do all of that?" And I smile, because the honest answer is: carefully, imperfectly, and with a lot of calendar blocking. Here's the truth about being an intrapreneur in Phoenix… It's not a glamorous juggle. It's a deliberate one.

My 9-to-5 is at KNOW Women, a global media company and network built for high-impact women. I travel, I show up, I pour into that work- and I mean it. It's not filler while I "wait" to go full-time on my own thing. The skills and relationships I build there directly sharpen what I bring to Found House and Finding Arizona. But let's not romanticize it. There are mornings I'm scheduling a podcast recording at 6 AM before a travel day. There are evenings I'm editing show notes after my son goes to bed. There are weeks where something in one world has to wait so the other world doesn't fall apart. And here is what I am learning: That's not failure- that's the actual beauty of building something real.

What makes it work in Phoenix specifically for me? This city’s entrepreneurial energy here is different. We're not trying to be anything else. We're building things that are genuinely ours- rooted in community, driven by relationships, and measured by impact more than optics. When I'm out at a local event or recording an episode of Finding Arizona, I feel it. People here are doing things. And they want to be seen doing them.

The biggest shift I’m still learning to take? Stop waiting for the "right time" to take your business seriously or yourself. Found House launched in 2023 because we decided it was time- not because everything was perfectly aligned. Nothing ever is. You build as you go, and the 9-to-5 can actually be a safety net that gives you the freedom to build smarter, not faster.

If you're somewhere in that in-between working by day and building your dream by night- you're not behind. You're exactly where you need to be. And if part of that dream involves starting a podcast or growing the one you already have, I'd love to be the team that helps you get there. Found House works with entrepreneurs, brands, and businesses ready to share their story. Let's build something together. → findingarizonapodcast.com/found-house

HOW TO START A FREE LITTLE LIBRARY

Some Christmas wishes turn into more than gifts- they turn into traditions. This year, I asked for something simple: a Little Free Library for our front yard. SIMPLE. I say with a smile because I tried to “make” one with scrap wood for 6 months. I even tried to repurpose my son’s Melissa and Doug Kitchen- nope! So I decide to put it on my Christmas List. (Which you can revisit that blog here)

What I got was a Wooden Little Library Outdoor Book Box Storage with Bench - our very own neighborhood little library book exchange- and a new rhythm to our lifestyle that I didn’t even know we needed. The build itself was half the fun. We found an incredible Little Free Library build kit on Amazon, spent an afternoon assembling it together, and officially registered The Three Bears on the Little Free Library website. Once it was live, it felt real-real- like we had officially joined a global community of readers. Now? My son looks forward to checking it daily. Not just for what books might be inside, but for the idea that books come and go, just like people, stories, and seasons.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a Little Free Library at home, this is your sign. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to exist.

The Three Bears name came from not only my love for the Chicago Bears, but the story of our family of 3. Watching books come and go, talking about which books we’ll leave, which ones we’ll take, and who might read them next… just right.

Happy Reading

XoXo

Britt

Little Free Library: Take a Book. Share a Book.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization with a mission to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access for all through a global network.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED BEING IN ROOMS WITH MILLIONAIRE WOMEN

Over the last few years, I’ve found myself in rooms with women running seven-figure companies, leading global teams, and quietly changing entire industries. Through my work with KNOW Women, time spent at WPO (Women President's Organization) and WEW (Women Elevating Women) events, and the interviews I’ve produced and participated in, I’ve had a front-row seat to conversations most people never hear.

What surprised me most wasn’t what these women had. It was how they thought.

Not louder. Not flashier. Just clearer.

CONFIDENCE ISN’T LOUD- IT’S GROUNDED

Confidence in these rooms doesn’t sound like over-explaining or constant self-promotion. No one is rushing to prove they belong. No one is padding resumes mid-conversation. Decisions are made calmly. Opinions are shared without qualifiers. That kind of confidence hits differently, especially as women who were taught to soften, explain, or justify.

TIME IS THE REAL CURRENCY

If there’s one thing millionaire women protect fiercely, it’s their time. Meetings are purposeful. Boundaries are clear. Calendars aren’t chaotic- they’re intentional. And “no” is said without apology or a five-sentence explanation. Seeing this up close forced me to look at my own life and work. Where was I overcommitting? Over-explaining? Filling my calendar just to feel productive?

Turns out, doing less is a power move.

SUCCESSFUL WOMEN DON’T DO IT ALONE

Behind every strong woman in these rooms is a trusted circle. Peer groups. Advisors. Friends who tell the truth behind closed doors. Partners who prepare the meals, drop off and pickups and bedtimes so we can be in these rooms. Community isn’t a bonus- it’s infrastructure. At KNOW I’ve seen how powerful it is when women stop pretending they have it all figured out and start having honest conversations instead. Those moments don’t always happen on stage. They happen over coffee, in hallways, or in quiet follow-ups long after the event ends- Catch up Call with Britt!

HOW THESE ROOMS CHANGED THE WAY I WORK

Being in these rooms didn’t make me want more. It made me want better. Better boundaries. Better stories. Better use of my time.

Being in these rooms didn’t make me want to be someone else- it made me more intentional about being me.

I show up clearer now. I stop doing things that don’t move the needle.

“Does it pay us or pay us forward?”

Producing podcasts, capturing stories, and building connections isn’t just content- it’s legacy work. And these women reminded me that how you work matters just as much as what you build. How you do one thing is how you do everything.

XoXo

The Woman behind the Women

A LEGO ROOM BUILT TO GROW

From Design Sketches to a Real-Life LEGO Dream Room, Atlas’ big boy LEGO room is officially complete! What started as a tip toe in the world of LEGO, turned into a full cannonball into a DIY LEGO bedroom makeover that blended creativity, function, and a whole lot of patience. This wasn’t just a room refresh. This was a Pinterest board come to life—from custom LEGO storage to statement decor pieces and a car bed that took its sweet time to arrive. Worth it? Absolutely.

After 4 years with my January birthday baby, I was ready to take a PARTY break for one year. I sat down Atlas and said: instead of 1 day to celebrate- what if we redid your room so you can have a party, everyday!

Like any good project, this one started on a screen. I mocked up the layout in Adobe (of course I did), mapping out shelving, lighting, and how we could create a space that would grow with him—not just something cute for right now.

Seeing those sketches translate into a real LEGO playroom felt surreal. Every build, shelf, and detail had a purpose.

What were we working with? Five years of outgrown nursery. We transitioned his crib the max three times, we over used the infamous IKEA KALLAX units vertically and horizontally. The peel and stick wallpaper- was barely holding on.

After operation clear out and before room install, we had to rewire electrical to accommodate a projector. One small idea turned into a full-blown project, but now the room doubles as a LEGO build zone and a cozy movie space. Totally worth the extra effort.

The biggest DIY win? Custom LEGO floating shelves. These shelves turned LEGO builds into actual displays- like art, but cooler. DIY projects like this gave the room character, not just minifigs.

Finds We Loved (Yes, Even With the Wait)

Let’s talk about the bed. He was NOT aggreeing to a basic bed. He also was NOT into bunk beds or beds with under stage desks. So what would ANY young boy want for a bed? A car bed! Maybe he can now get a CB radio and talk to other car beds!

This was a major Amazon score- even though delivery took a shocking 4–6 weeks (I know… AMAZON). Once it arrived, it anchored the entire room.

My other favorite Amazon find was his LEGO Comforter - It’s comfortable, playful, and even came with bonus school supplies like a pencil case and folders—which felt like an unexpected win. He opened it mid January after a Tuesday delivery drop of and screamed, “This is what I wanted for Christmas!”

Etsy- I know, its a WIN! We ordered LEGO Vinyl wall stickers and the quality was incredible. Also, after a fail from an amazon order I had to resort to Etsy for a wall light switch and after its as installed it was touch the room needed.

I won’t sugarcoat it—there were moments.

Packages showing up daily.

Me asking, “Wait… this is eight shelves?”
The bed delay.

That 2 am night where I cried and said “I wish I had done a party instead.”
That awkward almost-finished stage where nothing feels done.

But once everything came together, it clicked. The room feels creative, functional, and full of personality. A space where he can build, imagine, rest, and feel proud of what he creates. He wont leave!

Now, I’m in my lego era too!

XoXo

Britt

GOLDEN GLOBES JUST WENT FULL PODCAST!

You might’ve missed it but the Golden Globes have officially dipped a toe into the podcast world. The 2026 Globes (the 83rd edition) will include a brand-new “Best Podcast” award. THIS IS HUGE! It’s the first time this film/TV institution is recognizing audio (and video) creators. “Look Ma- We made it"!”

Well, not yet. As with all things Hollywood-style: there’s more behind the curtain…..

First you had to be “Eligible.”

Who Made the Cut? The 25 Golden Globes “Eligible” Podcasts for 2026 are:

• 20/20 (ABC News)

• 48 Hours (CBS News)

• Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

• Call Her Daddy

• Candace

• Crime Junkie

• Dateline NBC

• Good Hang with Amy Poehler

• Morbid

• MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

• Pardon My Take

• Pod Save America

• Rotten Mango

• Shawn Ryan Show

• SmartLess

• Stuff You Should Know

• The Ben Shapiro Show

• The Bill Simmons Podcast

• The Daily (The New York Times)

• The Joe Rogan Experience

• The Megyn Kelly Show

• The Mel Robbins Podcast

• The Tucker Carlson Show

• This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

• Up First (NPR)

So what does “Eligible” actually mean? What are The Rules?

To qualify, a podcast must’ve released at least 6 episodes between January 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025, and each episode must be at least 30 minutes long.

Thats it?

Once “eligible”, the 25 creators must submit the podcast through the official submission site (the window was Oct 2–Oct 31, 2025). If you don’t submit, you’re out- even if you made the list.

Here’s where the “pay-to-play” comes in. The submissions aren’t free. According to the official rules, there’s a “$5,000 screening-platform access fee per title (plus added costs if you choose higher security, etc.)”

The six nominees for the inaugural best podcast award are

1. “Armchair Expert” with Dax Shepard

2. “Call Her Daddy” with Alex Cooper

3. “Good Hang” with Amy Poehler

4. “The Mel Robbins Podcast”

5. “Up First,” from NPR

6. “Smartless,” hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett

The following will be considered to determine the winner per the Globes.

• the quality

• creativity

• audience engagement

• “impact” of the podcast

What does this mean for us Podcasters -Indie / Boutique / Small Fish like us?

If you’re making podcasts because you care about voice, community, story- don’t let the $5k scare you off. Maybe this award system isn’t built for us … yet. But damn if it doesn’t remind us how powerful our medium is. Now more tha never! And if enough of us create smart and honest work- maybe we’ll reshape the system from the outside in.

Keep pushing record

XoXo

Your favorite Podcast Producer Britt