02/21/2016
Dear friends,
The Good Fight is officially on hold.
This may not be news to you, given that the last new episode came out in July. But I wanted to fill you in on what’s been happening on my end.
A little more than a year ago, on a thrilling February day, The Good Fight smashed through its Kickstarter fundraising goal with mere hours to spare. Thanks to your generosity and belief in the vision of the podcast, the show finally had the funds to support its producers for another year of shows.
A few weeks later, on another thrilling February day, my wife and son and I welcomed the newest addition to the Wikler family: my daughter Suzy Lynn, who will turn one year old this Wednesday.
Things changed fast. When it comes to kids, as a wise friend put it, one is one—and two is many.
And two jobs plus two kids? For me, at least, it was too much.
You see, I have another full-time job: I’m the Washington Director of MoveOn.org. And over the last year, that’s grown as well. When I wasn’t telling the stories of real-life David vs. Goliath battles to change the world, I was helping MoveOn members to actually fight and win them—from the Iran nuclear deal to Syrian refugees to, now, the 2016 elections and Supreme Court vacancy.
So even though I loved doing the show, and as deeply humbled as I felt—and still feel!—for the tremendous support of 1044 Kickstarter backers and so many other friends who’ve lent a hand, I had to choose. Kids and the world couldn’t wait, but the show could.
The show could yet return. Our unspent funds are securely gathering interest in a bank account. The microphones and mixers are in boxes in my basement. Our producers have moved on to other projects (hire Susan and Zach!), but the vision and promise of The Good Fight remain intact. If you’re frustrated and want a refund of your Kickstarter contribution, I totally understand; just write and let me know. Otherwise, we’ll keep the resources in trust for another day.
When will that day come? And what will the next chapter look like? I'll be totally honest: I don't know yet.
I've learned that I love broadcasting—I have the itch, and the knack. I've found an audience that loves Good Fight-type stories as much as I do. And the world is brimming with amazing stories and unlikely heroes, now more than ever. But in the course of ups and downs and twists and turns, I've learned that doing something big requires the right team with the right idea at the right moment. For me, that moment isn't now.
Until that moment comes, I want to express my gratitude. It takes a village to launch a podcast. In its first chapter of life, The Good Fight reached the #1 spot on the iTunes charts, clocked well over a million downloads, and told dozens of powerful stories about people who made a meaningful difference in the world. I’m proud to have lifted up their voices. And I’m profoundly thankful to be part of a community so dedicated to fighting the real-life good fight and making this world a better place.
Warmly,
Ben
