The Riley Black Project
The Riley Black Project
5 Canceled Flights… Was It Even Worth It?
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Five canceled flights.
Getting stranded in Baltimore.
…And somehow, it was still worth it.
In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal break down their full experience traveling to and from the Michigan Maker Summit—including one of the most chaotic travel stories they’ve ever lived through.
But this isn’t just a travel horror story…
It’s about community, showing up, teaching, and why events like this matter more than ever.
We dive into:
• The Michigan Maker Summit experience from start to finish
• Teaching content creation classes (and why the smallest class mattered most)
• Why intentional content beats posting just to post
• The power of in-person community and networking
• Packaging, perceived value, and simple ways to increase product pricing
• Behind-the-scenes of filming, teaching, and connecting at events
• The unexpected reality of travel delays, cancellations, and problem-solving in real time
• Getting stranded in Baltimore… and how the maker community showed up for us
• Why sometimes the worst situations lead to the best connections
This episode is part business lesson, part life update, and part “you won’t believe this actually happened” story.
If you're a maker, creator, or small business owner, this one hits on everything from growth to grit.
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