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A lease ended and a bigger vision began. We walk you through the Thorn City ecosystem built to help entrepreneurial podcast hosts grow without burnout: a strategic booking agency, an audio-first production playbook, automation that saves 10 plus hours a week, and a curated marketplace that connects serious creatives with serious shows. If you’ve felt the grind of editing, posting, and pitching with little to show for it, this is your blueprint for smarter momentum.

We start with the why: shutting down the physical studio forced a reset on systems, priorities, and process. That reset led to a rebrand with a clear niche—entrepreneurial podcast hosts—and a mission to turn visibility into a repeatable outcome. You’ll hear how we use PodMatch for streamlined guest booking, why audio still converts best, and how short-form video supports discovery rather than becoming a second full-time job. We unpack a practical workflow for prep, recordings, assets, and distribution that compounds episode over episode, instead of starting from zero each week.

From there, we dive into the marketplace: vetted editors, writers, designers, producers, and media buyers in one hub so you can move fast with people you trust. We talk sponsor readiness, packaging your authority for brand partners, and smarter ads that go beyond feeds—think high-intent placements and community screens that put your show in front of buyers who care. Along the way, we share milestones, revenue models, and a three-year roadmap to scale the syndicate across new markets.

If you’re using a podcast to power your business, these tools and strategies will help you be seen, be heard, and be remembered. Follow the show, share this with a creator who needs systems, and leave a review with your biggest bottleneck—we’ll build the next playbook around it.

Welcome 2 Thorn City — Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Remembered.
Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management, this ad introduces the ecosystem built for creators, entrepreneurs, and solo hustlers ready to turn visibility into value. Tap in and learn how to join the movement.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

Send us a text

Doors close, a new stage opens, and we get brutally honest about what it takes to move from reacting to building systems that actually scale. We share the mindset shift that anchors our work—identity, clarity, and consistency—and how that translates into an audio-first podcast that drives real leads instead of chasing vanity metrics.

We walk through a 30-day launch framework built around four sprints: foundation and infrastructure, core product build, branding and client experience, and sales and launch. You will hear why an audio-first strategy creates consistent output, how to use video as a support channel, and what it means to build a show that feeds your business. Whether you prefer DIY or want a DFY team, the system removes guesswork with templates, SOPs, and a master dashboard that keeps you focused. No skipped steps, no bloated workflows, just a clear path from idea to a professional, consistent podcast.

We also pull back the curtain on the bigger vision: the Thorn City Syndicate as the engine and the Spotlight Show as the amplifier, supported by a creative vendor network and marketplace. From production and design to web, SEO, and paid media, the goal is visibility that transforms your brand and frees your time. You do not need millions of followers; you need the right listeners and a plan that turns attention into outcomes. If you have skills to contribute or want to stress-test the system as a beta, there is a seat for you at the table.

Ready to level up your presence with intention? Tap play, join the vendor network, or grab the free digital report card at Thorn City Syndicate. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so we can keep building a platform where all of us can win.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

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We break down how visibility, structure, and storytelling reshape the independent podcast game — through the lens of a full Thorn City rebrand, a new ecosystem, and a creator-first mindset. From a decade of gig-economy grind to building an agency and a marketplace, this episode lays out the blueprint for indie longevity.

Episode Topics

• audio-first vs video-for-reach
• Thorn City Syndicate rebrand + ecosystem
• Thorn City Spotlight Show focus + tagline
• indie podcast failure rates + what causes them
• cadence, publishing systems, and benchmarks
• PodMatch for guesting, sourcing, & agency services
• five levers of differentiation for indie hosts
• micro-audiences vs vanity metrics
• repurposing into clips, reels, blogs, emails
• collaborations, guest swaps, and strategic partnerships
• vendor marketplace, studio pipeline, and visibility services
• the “Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Remembered.” framework

Use my link: joinpodmatch.com/ThornCity — tap in and let’s work.
Make sure you subscribe to Thorn City Spotlight on YouTube.

Welcome 2 Thorn City — Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Remembered.
Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management, this ad introduces the ecosystem built for creators, entrepreneurs, and solo hustlers ready to turn visibility into value. Tap in and learn how to join the movement.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

Send us a text

The energy of a fresh brand hits different when it finally matches the mission. We open with that spark and trace the road from managing a friend’s music career to building a studio and stepping fully into independent podcasting. The theme never changed—transformation and visibility—but the container had to. When the show name, description, and vibe no longer reflect who you’re serving, a 360 rebrand stops being scary and starts being obvious.

We talk candidly about the podcast landscape going full commercial and why the indie lane still wins on intimacy, speed, and trust. That means choosing focus over noise: defining who we serve, clarifying offers, and aligning the story with what listeners need now. A key turning point came through PodMatch—an email from founder Alex Sanfilipo, a data-driven quiz, and a clean booking system that turned interest into action. The timing wasn’t luck; it was visibility doing its job after we boosted our digital listings from a middling grade to an A, expanded services, and built a clearer path to work with us.

From there, we break down a simple growth system: map the customer journey, meet people at their problem, and guide them with content that proves value fast. All bookings now route through PodMatch for organization and small payouts per launched episode, creating habits that sustain output. We explore how to use a digital report card, improve discoverability, and design episodes and offers that make people feel seen—and ready to book. If you’re moving from gig work to focused creator, or rethinking your show to match your next chapter, this conversation gives you the playbook.

If this hit home, tap follow, share it with one indie creator who needs a rebrand push, and leave a quick review to help more of us get seen and heard.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

Send us a text

Ready for a rebrand that actually moves the needle? We open the playbook on turning a solo livestream into a full growth engine: a visibility-first coaching program, a creative vendor network, and a marketplace that brings steady leads to creators and small businesses. No fluff—just the systems, tools, and mindsets that turn “I’ve got an idea” into “we shipped, we scaled, and we got paid.”

We start with execution, because logos don’t drive revenue. You’ll hear how five years of launching podcasts behind the camera shaped a coaching offer built around clarity, consistent formats, and distribution that reaches buyers. From one-on-one strategy to tight group cohorts and practical workshops, the focus is helping creators move past that last step—fixing digital hygiene, content cadence, and offer positioning so momentum sticks. Then we dig into the advertising puzzle. Instead of chasing celebrity-style deals, we map a realistic pathway: define ad inventory, package outcomes, align with local SEO and listings, and use clean analytics to earn bigger checks.

The creative vendor network sits at the heart of the plan. Photographers, editors, designers, producers—plug into a marketplace where services are clearly listed, intake is standardized, and leads route while you work. Clients book through a single storefront, vendors get paid fairly, and referrals become a habit, not a hope. We also preview the new website, the Thorn City Concierge for guided support, and the social management toolkit that keeps every channel consistent without wasting hours. To ground it all, we share the digital snapshot report—an honest grade of listings, reviews, social, SEO, and ads—so you can see where silent leaks stall growth and how to fix them fast.

If you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or small business ready to get seen, heard, and remembered, this conversation gives you the blueprint: visibility coaching, marketplace muscle, and an ad strategy you can actually run. Subscribe for more, drop a comment with “coaching” or “vendor” to get involved, and share this with a friend who’s one step away from a breakthrough. Your move—what should we go deeper on next?

Welcome 2 Thorn City — Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Remembered.
Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management, this ad introduces the ecosystem built for creators, entrepreneurs, and solo hustlers ready to turn visibility into value. Tap in and learn how to join the movement.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

The door closes on one studio, and a bigger vision swings wide open. We take you inside Thorn City’s evolution from a local nod to the Rose City to a blueprint for creators who want focus over fame and visibility that actually converts. What started as managing a best friend’s hip hop career grew into award-winning productions, a podcast studio that forged community, and now a vendor network and marketplace designed to help creators get paid without going it alone.

We talk about the tough parts most people skip: the grind behind entrepreneurship, the mental stamina to keep moving when budgets are thin, and the discipline to pivot with purpose. You’ll hear how GMP Podcast Studios launched in the pandemic, what we learned from producing the Honesty music video, and why quality beats speed when crafting the Third Twin full-length album and documentary. That comeback story isn’t just content it’s a model for pacing your releases, protecting your brand, and shipping work you can stand behind.

The next chapter is fully digital and deeply collaborative. We’re building a new website, a clear landing page, and a white-label powered service marketplace so we can fulfill fast and keep standards high. Our vendor network brings together podcast hosts, editors, videographers, photographers, freelancers, and small business owners who want to share opportunities, generate leads, and grow together. We’re also rolling out host coaching to help you find your voice, sharpen your format, and build a brand that lasts.

If you’re ready to be seen, be heard, and be remembered, come build with us. Subscribe, share this with a creator who needs momentum, and drop a DM if you want in on the vendor network. Your story deserves a system let’s put it to work.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

The doors at GMP Podcast Studios are closing, but the vision is getting louder. I’m pulling back the curtain on how we went from music tours and award-winning videos to building a creator-first HQ—and how five sponsorships came together before the follower count said we “deserved” them.

You’ll hear the real origin story with Third Twin, from paying for studio time to filming the Honesty video with a full crew and script, then carrying that energy through festival wins and wild New York moments. When COVID halted shows, we turned the stage into a platform: a podcast studio built for creators and entrepreneurs who want visibility that leads to revenue. I never planned to be on camera, so I built a spotlight format that puts our guests first and quietly builds relationships that travel farther than any algorithm.

The most practical part? How we secured sponsors without big numbers. I mapped our mission to a community credit union’s business spotlight and pitched a fit they couldn’t ignore—then repeated the play with Travel Portland after they saw our setup and intent. Along the way, I share why visibility is focus, not fame, and how a simple, clear value exchange beats CPM math when you’re still growing.

We also get tactical about the next phase: redefining our niche, tightening mission and vision, and evolving Thorn City Syndicate into digital brand management for creators and founders. Production that ships weekly. Sponsorships that align. An ad product built for the way brands actually buy. Plus, a call for producers and partners ready to learn the craft and help keep the red light on.

Subscribe, share this with a creator who needs a boost, and leave a review with the one sponsorship question you want answered next. Let’s build platforms that help you be seen, be heard, and be remembered.

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com

In this episode of the Thorn City Spotlight Show, host Na’eem Hall sits down with Jermaine Thompson, owner of The Highest Xpectation a Portland-grown, Black-owned cannabis dispensary that’s changing the game. With three OLCC licenses covering retail, production, and processing, Jermaine shares what it means to be a vertically integrated operator and how he uses his business to uplift the community.

We dive into his 13-year journey in the industry, discuss equitable pricing, and learn how The Highest Xpectation is more than just a brand — it’s a mission to serve, inspire, and elevate.

📍 Located at 4931 NE 33rd Avenue (corner of 33rd & Alberta)

📲 Follow them on IG: @THX33rd

🌐 Visit: TheHighestXpectation.com

🎙️ Topics Covered:

• How Jermaine got started in cannabis
• The value of owning multiple OLCC licenses
• What vertical integration means in this space
• The power of giving back and staying community-first
• Summer deals, daily discounts & how to “Just say THX”

🚀 Subscribe & Stay Connected!

🔗 Subscribe Now: https://www.youtube.com/@thorncityspotlight

📱 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorncityspotlight

🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://thorn-city-syndicate.captivate.fm/listen

🎥 Watch the Live Show: https://www.twitch.tv/thorncitypodcastguy

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Apply here: https://www.thorncitysyndicate.com/guest-intake-form

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#JermaineThompson, #TheHighestXpectation, #PortlandDispensary, #BlackOwnedBusiness, #CannabisCommunity, #CannabisEntrepreneur, #VerticalIntegration, #TopShelfFlower, #OregonCannabis, #CannabisCulture, #EquityInCannabis, #THX33rd, #JustSayTHX, #ThornCitySpotlight, #NaeemHall, #PortlandBusiness, #SupportLocal, #SmallBusinessSpotlight, #CannabisPodcast, #PortlandPodcaster

🎧 Powered by Thorn City Syndicate Management — the ecosystem for creators & entrepreneurs.
📺 Watch the show: YouTube.com/@ThornCitySpotlight
📱 Follow the movement: @ThornCitySyndicate
🔗 Join the Founding 7: ThornCitySyndicate.com