How The Video Lab Grew in 2025 | Sioux Falls Podcast & Content Studio
As we wrapped up 2025, I sat down with a very special guest—our studio tech, Rianna—to reflect on a year that truly changed everything for The Video Lab.
If you’ve recorded in the studio this year, you already know Rianna. She’s the calm presence behind the cameras, the one adjusting angles, dialing in lighting, and reminding you to “start with a smile.” She joined The Video Lab in February 2025 after previously being my mentee through the media studies department at USF. At the time, the studio concept was still evolving. We weren’t even in our current space yet.
Looking back, it’s amazing how much can change in a year.
From Curtains to a Content Studio
When Rianna first started, we were operating out of a single large room in the Rock Island building. We divided the space with curtains and built multiple sets within one open area. It worked… but it didn’t feel quite right.
After touring a few content studios in Las Vegas and seeing how they structured separate recording rooms, I knew we had to shift directions. That led to our move into the 300 building in downtown Sioux Falls, where we now have three dedicated video sets.
The difference has been significant.
Instead of assembling cameras and lights every time, we now roll in our “mega desk,” plug in audio, flip on the lights, and we’re ready to go. The ease of setup has improved the client experience and allowed us to focus more on coaching and less on technical scrambling.
Helping Clients Grow
One of Rianna’s favorite parts of this year has been the relationships built inside the studio. We’ve welcomed podcasters, course creators, YouTubers, nonprofits, real estate professionals, and business leaders.
A standout story? Amy Pokela.
Amy has been recording a course for her nonprofit in the studio for the past year. Watching her complete multiple modules and bring her course full circle was a reminder of why this work matters. In 2026, we’ve decided we’re going to celebrate client milestones more intentionally.
We’ve also helped launch brand-new podcasts and elevate existing ones. For some clients, coming into a professional space changed the way they show up. For others, simply booking time created accountability. When a calendar invite pops up, content actually gets made.
That consistency changes everything.
What We’ve Learned
Technically, Rianna has grown tremendously—lighting, camera angles, audio, workflow. But the bigger shift has been mindset.
She described it as moving from thinking about what she needed to learn for herself to focusing on how she can serve others. Helping clients feel comfortable. Coaching them on small details. Creating an experience where recording feels easy, not intimidating.
That’s the heart of The Video Lab.
On my end, this year reinforced the importance of taking calculated risks. I originally thought The Video Lab would begin primarily as online education. Instead, the physical studio came first—and that decision opened doors to coaching and education in a much more natural way.
We’ve worked with 20–30 studio clients this year, hosted around 30 tours, and averaged steady growth since June. Not explosive growth. Steady growth. And that feels right.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The biggest change coming in 2026? My wife, Erica, officially joining the team.
She brings systems and organizational strength that will help remove bottlenecks and allow the studio to grow beyond just me. That shift alone is going to reshape how we operate.
We’ll also continue refining lighting, workflows, scheduling systems, and possibly adding full camera setups to each room.
More than anything, though, we’re grateful.
Grateful for the clients who trusted us.
Grateful for the tours.
Grateful for the momentum.
2025 laid the foundation.
Now, we build.
