Meet Molly Smith | Podcaster & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Molly Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Molly, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
During the height of the pandemic, I noticed that my friends and I were rewatching a lot of our old “comfort movies”, and we’d have funny conversations about how some of them held up really well, while some of them didn’t. These conversations inspired the premise of the podcast: Did That Age Well?. I’ve always loved writing about and discussing pop culture, so a creating podcast about movies from the past made a lot of sense to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a professional creative, consistency has become one of my most important values. Even when I’m feeling uninspired, unmotivated, or stuck, I know that good ideas probably won’t hit me like random bolts of lightning. I have to be continuously flexing my creative muscle in order to find my “flow”. With that said, I also believe in chasing ideas that make you feel free from expectations (whenever it’s feasible).

I created my podcast, Did That Age Well?, with a “why not?” attitude — I knew that I would have fun and be fulfilled by my work, even if nobody paid attention to it. Even 3 and a half years later, it still doesn’t feel like work. There was, and is, so much joy behind this project. I hope that comes through to my audience.

Because my primary goals from the start were to enjoy myself and try something new, I wasn’t caught up in the results. I was free. My creativity felt like it was on fire (in the best way) once I realized that the process was more important to me than the output. I didn’t set KPIs. I didn’t hold myself to metrics. I let go of expectations and the result was better than I could’ve imagined. However…I recognize that having a day job as a copywriter gave me the luxury to pursue my podcast as a passion project, rather than a primary source of income. If I didn’t have the free time and financial stability to start a creative endeavor “just for fun”, I’m sure I’d be telling a totally different story.

Here’s an important lesson I’ve learned: If you’re a creative with a full-time job, make sure that your passion project is ENERGIZING for you, even on the days when it’s challenging. My podcast is a generative part of my life — it makes me feel more inspired, more creative, and more excited about the unknown. The laughs and the fun carry me through my day-to-day work. It doesn’t take my focus away from my writing…in fact, I believe podcasting has made me a better writer. If your creative project feels like it’s consistently sucking the life out of you, maybe it’s time to start a new project instead.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love how each neighborhood in Denver has its own personality and unique things to do. When my friends come to visit, I like spending time in the Highlands (where I live now)… checking out the Highland Square Farmer’s Market in the summer, grabbing a pizza at Cart-Driver or Sexy Pizza, or walking to Sweet Action for some ice cream.

Baker is another area where I love to hang out. Sputnik is always fun and the food is delicious. The shops on South Broadway are awesome, from the vintage and thrift stores to cute local shops like Awakening and Decade.

Catch a yoga class at Urban Sanctuary and a bagel from Rosenberg’s in RiNo. Ohhh and get some pasta at Dio Mio (the cacio e pepe is to die for).

For people seeking something a little offbeat, of course I recommend Meow Wolf and Casa Bonita!

The music scene here is so vibrant — seeing a show at a smaller venue, like Larimer Lounge, Hi Dive, or Globe Hall, is an essential part of the Denver arts scene. And for movie lovers, I always recommend the Sie Film Center!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Dude, IDK Studios! They’ve welcomed me into a kick-ass podcast network and have helped me take my show to the next level. It’s more than a recording studio — it’s truly the creative partnership I needed.

Website: https://tinyurl.com/didthatagewell

Instagram: https://instagram.com/didthatagewell

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/molly-smith

Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@didthatagewell

Image Credits
Nick Holmby