S1E2 - The UU Hysterical Society

The Reacher’s Handbook

Episode Notes

A podcast on making social media meaningful, finding your joy, and what to do when the life you’ve imagined for yourself gets stuck in committee.

In 2016 I left Unitarian Universalist seminary to experiment with new ways of building community and making meaning. Today, I run Mirth and Dignity, a UU humour not for profit with a monthly reach of nearly two million people. Along the way, I learned how to create content that was engaging without feeling the clickbait rage machine. I learned how to make money in new ways. I learned how to create organizations that run totally differently from traditional structures. I learned how to understand marketing and algorithms but not be ruled by them. Whether you’re a religious professional wondering about “New Ministry” or a content creator trying to figure out how to bring more meaning to your work… I created this podcast for you. And filled it with everything that I wish someone had told me ten years ago.

That thing that’s whispering to you? It’s closer than you think.

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Ali Abdal, the YouTuber I mention, is someone who has made a career out of figuring out his not-a-Ministry as he goes and doing this out loud for everyone to see. It’s so helpful. The thing I mention, where he’s thinking “maybe this is a real thing I should prioritize” is found in his agonizing about whether to switch to YouTube last November. You can find it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZOVLrLXKCE. What I find so interesting is how hard he’s working to shift out of his old ways of attributing value… His choice is pretty clear at this point. He’s got a thriving business with many employees, changing tons of lives. Side note: Ali Adbal’s work on how to become a Youtuber is the best I’ve seen. If that’s what you want to pursue, don’t learn from me (I’m a terrible Youtuber). Learn from Ali. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpopyNZKYKw

Want to follow what Mirth and Dignity and get hilarious stuff to you inbox? Sign up to Mirth and Dignity’s email list at https://www.uuhystericalsociety.com, to receive emails when AND ONLY WHEN we have something VERY VALUABLE for you. Seriously. Our emails come out so rarely that people contact us to complain about it. We will not spam you, share your address, or treat your attention like it’s anything less than the deeply precious life force that it is.

Our mailing list, worship resources, shop, and general shenanigans can be found at our website uuhystericalsociety.com.

If you’re on Facebook, you can like our page (Mirth and Dignity) for very heavily curated content, or join the main group (UU Hysterical Society) for a shmozzle of lovely hilarity and shenanigans.

Liz’s other podcast is a comedy one, with Rev Anne Barker. Search for “The Cracked Cup” in your podcast player of choice, or listen online at crackedcuppodcast.com.

Feedback? Questions? Comments? Comments disguised as questions? Liz can be reached via the contact form on the UUHS website, at https://www.uuhystericalsociety.com/contact. Preaching enquiries should come through there as well—and don’t forget to check out our recorded worship resources!

Our DEEP AND PROFOUND GRATITUDE goes to the UU Funding Program, which you can learn about at uufunding.org. And to our loyal Patreon supporters—we couldn’t do this without you. Learn more about becoming a Patron at patreon.com/MirthandDignity.

Music is by Blue dot Sessions, editing of the script was done by the lovely Trude Diamond, and editing and producing of the podcast was done by Anwyn Diakuw. If you’re looking to start a podcast, but don’t really want to edit or produce (like Liz), reach out to Anwyn at [e-mail].