I’ve told the story countless times of my friend Liana and how a sudden illness caused a chain of events and now she is in the hospital being treated. By following tweets from Scott Bourne, it appears that tonight (Sunday the 19th) her condition worsened and she is now in ICU. Having told the story there were a few things I omitted that made a huge difference in my efforts to raise money for a cause which she approved of.
1. I am not paid by Podango or Liana for my help
2. I never intended to benefit from this venture financially
3. I never mislead or lied about anything when I was handling this crisis.
However, as the weekend unfolded, I came under fire from people both on stage and behind the scenes. This blog post will be about my effort to fulfill a wish from a friend and the fire I came under as a result. Less than 24 hours after hearing that the studio space Liana was President of would be closing down I pleaded for that not to happen and for options. Doug of Podango gave me a few options and I went with the route of collecting contracts from commercial entities that wanted to use the space but that was an uphill battle and did not equal results.
I spoke to Liana while she was in the hospital about a donation or charity kind of plan and she disapproved. Liana did not want handouts or donations. She did however say that if we offered people something of value in exchange for their donations, that would be acceptable. I envisioned the title, “charter member” for those who donate and that we make the space a place for independent filmmakers, audio engineers who are still in school and podcasters to come and create great content in a relaxed environment. She loved it and we chatted briefly about forming a not-for-profit organization and how being involved with our neighbor, the SF School of Digital Filmmaking would be a great in to market this space.
I went with it and built out the infrastructure across the web. I called Liana Saturday afternoon around 6PM and said that I was going to move forward with a telethon and she said, “ok let’s do it.” and she graciously thanked me for my help and for everyone’s help. I later learned Melissa, a friend of Liana and member of Girls Gone Geek, had also spoken to Liana and received the same approval regarding an Internet Telethon. With that, we moved forward beginning at 6:30PM PST via Ustream.TV.
After 2 hours, we had gathered nearly $1,000 in donations. We were telling people to not donate and instead help spread the word about the studio space so we could also find potential corporate sponsors for our space to help cover most costs. The whole time I continued to say that Liana asked for this and that I was not asking for money and only doing this to help out a friend. Unfortunately, this statement is what caused the most problems. By making the benefit sound like Liana’s health and wellbeing and saving the studio were one in the same, I came under fire by parties that thought it was fishy and completely amiss from what should be the focus and that was Liana’s speedy recovery and her health.
Either way, I continued my campaign and by 5PM (22 hours later) on Sunday we had reached $2,000 dollars in donations. I might also add that these donations were more like pledges. I couldn’t touch the funds that you sent and in order to approve them I had to attach a bank account to the Paypal account to even accept the money so the donations would sit in a form of escrow and would be easily refunded if our plan didn’t work.
It was shortly after we broke $2200 dollars in pledges that I saw a tweet from Scott Bourne, a close friend of Liana’s, that she had been taken to The ICU and her condition was serious. At this moment, things changed. This entire rally that was now at hour 23 had to change the course. The request Liana had given to me that she wanted the studio to stay alive was still in my mind but her illness was worsening and I had some decisions to make.
At this time, our rally to save the studio because Liana asked us to became a rally to save Liana and the studio. We didn’t properly identify the needs of this effort and confusion hit and that’s when people began to ask what we were actually asking money for? The mob mentality broke and it was me against the world. Those that had been with me since hour one (which started on Friday by the way when I heard the studio would be closed) understood that I was simply fulfilling a request from my friend but others saw this as something totally different and each person interpreted things differently.
I took a step back, gathered my thoughts and let some individuals who had donated take over the room. I went home since I had not been home in two days and checked in to the room. My friend Kolin was fending off a mob of people talking about the future of their donations and the studio, I saw Leo Laporte tweeting about the separation of the studios and Liana’s wellness and I noticed that my efforts were noble but were not delivered properly and the confusing that ensued was not reversible.
At the same time, getting in contact with the CEO of the film school to discuss the price of taking over the lease was impossible on the weekend and that discussion was a key aspect in moving forward with buying the equipment from Podango and taking over the space as an independent studio. Since negotiations weren’t happening and the clock was ticking I had to communicate with those in support of the studio’s success and fulfilling Liana’s request to keep it alive. The issue is with Liana’s current condition, the studio would certainly not be on her mind. The clock was running out for us and we couldn’t move forward with any negotiations without her. With her wellness as my top priority, I made a tough decision to go against her wishes and scrap the contribution and fundraiser efforts.
I knew that people were behind this because of Liana and because they believed in Liana’s idea of having a community co-working studio but I visited the idea that if we ask each donor if they’d like a refund or have their money go to Liana I received some criticism from people saying that if I did that, even asking people what they wanted to do meant that I had misleaded everyone (including donors) and that I would be a liar for a crook. At the same time, more people were getting suspicious with Liana’s recent move to ICU, the chances of reviving the studios in time were getting slim so I decided the following:
1. Announce that we were ending the fundraising event on the web and Ustream.TV
2. Returning every penny to every single contributor (which has been completed)
3. Letting everyone know to send your full support and well-wishes to Liana and not the studio. Liana needs our prayers right now and we need to focus our good thoughts to her recovery.
My effort to fulfill Liana’s wish and save the studio was a failure. My 48 hour journey was nearly successful but at the end of the day, my friend’s health comes first and I must admit that when I ended the telethon at 6PM, I sat in front of the camera and told everyone that we had missed the point and that this had gone on too far. Liana needed our support right now and we’re trying to save a building. The diggs, tweets and links / donations needs to stop and we need to move forward with focusing on Liana’s recovery and not the saving of this space. I walked away and, yes, this grown man cried. I sobbed over my friend because for the first time in my life, I realized that I had a friend that wasn’t well and I was afraid. I’ve never had a friend like Liana and I was wrong the whole time for not focusing more on her than some building. The money has been refunded and I will now focus all efforts on Liana’s health.
I want to send out a huge thanks to everyone who supported us throughout this 48 hour sleep-deprived journey. I met some amazing people who are not greedy and care only for other people. I’ve spoken to over 500 people via phone, email, IM, Twitter and chat room over the past 2 days and everyone is in full support of Liana and their donation was for a studio that was operated by Liana. In their minds, it was a package deal and the space couldn’t exist without her. I feel that I have made the right decision. I hope I have and I owe so much to the people that supported me this weekend. I’m now shedding tears of joy knowing that there are some truly amazing people in this world. Thank you. We raised $2,645 dollars in contributions. I’m astonished and in awe. This concludes hour 42 of no sleep.
Now please drop Liana a line and let’s wish her a speedy recovery.
40 Comments until now.
Adam – you tried to do the right thing, and thanks for doing it. There was (is) nothing we can do regarding Liana’s medical condition except offer up our well wishes. But we could try to help by looking to the future which she seemed excited by too. Nothing wrong with that, even tho some may have misunderstood your (our) effort. But so be it. Feel proud that we tried to do something, which is always better than doing nothing.
Adam,
A heartfelt post, thank you. I am one of the many that donated with the aim of saving the studio, while Liana was unable to. I am still miffed as to why anyone would be suspicious of a very commendable thing to do for a friend.
My strongest thoughts are with Liana and her family and friends, I really hope for the best.
Matt
Adam,
Your efforts and display of care and love for a friend are unmistakenable. I applaud you, Melissa and everyone who made this incredible gesture for your friend. I am saddened that the ultimate goal wasn’t achieved but agree that the real goal is Liana’s health. Although we are a country apart Im glad to consider you one of my new friends. I hope to continue that and am proud to have met you during your journey. I wish I could have helped more. I will pray now and hope for her recovery. Sleep well, you deserve it. Perhaps the next studio will have the heart and soul of such a dedicated friend…..
Best regards
Drew Griffin
P.S. It’s not a “sad ending”, IMHO, it’s an example of a community that cares, even if we may make mistakes. So I would suggest you change your heading. It is an example of a community that is fallible and human but cares and tries to do the right thing even tho we may not know what that is. The fact that we tried to do something is good.
Don’t let negative people bring you down, Adam. A lot of people would be proud to have you as their friend. Of course we all hope for Liana’s speedy recovery; the only thing that saddens me is that without the studio, she now has to recover twice: once personally and then once more professionally. Since you’re not a doctor, there is nothing you can do to help her recover her health. Therefore, in my eyes, you were doing the right thing in helping her out professionally because that is 1 thing you *can* do. I’m sorry people didn’t see it from that perspective.
PS: My offer still stands- if you need help or advice, lemme know. Take care
I haven’t been involved in this effort but it was pretty clear to me what this fund-raising was for- to save the studio. It seems like a noble effort, to try to save the work for a friend who is ill and cannot do it for herself. It didn’t seem like it was heartless, it was done out of caring for her work. I’m sorry it didn’t work out, good effort though.
I feel like there should be some way to break things into two pieces. Send Liana help and try to save the studio.
If you make them separate, then confusion could be avoided. Perchance too late, but I wish you and Liana luck either way.
Hey Adam,
first of all: You did the only thing you could do. You tried to help through action.
Since I don’t believe in a God, praying was not an option for me. Retweeting and mailing and donating some money was my way of trying to help. YOU TRIED FOR GOOD. That’s all that matters.
Remember Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
To the people doubting Adam’s motivation: Get a life! And some counseling…
Adam,
You tried – that’s the important thing to remember here. You didn’t just say ‘it’s a shame, but I can’t do anything’ you had a go.
It’s unfortunate the ‘whingers’ couldn’t separate what you were trying to do from Lianas illness -of course we all want Liana to be well again, and maybe keeping the studio might have made her feel better when she was well enough to come back to it – but the point still remains, you tried & you did a great job.
Liana couldnt ask for better friends than you & melissa. Thanks for your efforts, I’m sure she appreciates it.
Good try, Adam. It was probably just too much to accomplish in one weekend.
Can we get more info on Liana’s condition?
Adam, you know where your heart is in all of this. Know, too, that there are more of us who never doubted you or your motives.
Saving someone’s dream when they need something to hold on to is a noble endeavor.
You tried very hard to do the right thing and help out a friend. It was confusing, because the situation was confusing, and you were working on a tight deadline with little sleep. Even though it didn’t work out as hoped, your dedication and honesty throughout is to be commended and lauded. You saw a problem, you tried to fix it, to help Liana, to help the broader community- and you should be very proud.
When I woke up this morning, I saw my payment returned, and I wondered why, now I know. You’ve handled this so well– get some sleep and know that so many people admire you for going full barrels to make a difference.
Our very best wishes for Liana, but for you too- for doing the brave and caring thing from your heart.
You did a good job, Adam, and the ending, while sad, is not negative. You did what you could, with the time you had. I was happy to be a part of it.
Adam, I’m going to repeat what the many others above have stated, as I too agree in what we were contributing to.
First and foremost, Liana’s health is #1 priority. Liana’s been an inspiration to us all, a best friend, a colleague and a fantastic broadcaster.
But, as Scott Boune has been in touch with the sadder news (over Twitter) that Liana has been moved into ICU where her condition is now critical, the focus is now changed.. Liana 1st, and Studio 2nd.
Adam, you ‘were’ doing the right thing! You were the smart guy in doing it, trying to raise the funds, to save the studio and equipment. Fantastic by the way, and your efforts were greatly received, around the world!
We all now need to look to the future. First we need to focus on Liana’s medical condition, and be there for her, make visits to her (if we/you can) – make sure her friends and family are there for her. This will take time as Liana’s condition will take time to heal… I do hope she pull’s through.
Second – lets find a new space n place in SF, and build up from the ground a new production studio, for podcasters to come in an use the facilities, on a not-for-profit basis.
A studio where training is offered to podcasters, a studio where live broadcasts are made, a studio where podcasts are produced and recorded, in a fantastic non-commercial environment. I’m sure that the local media, would be interested in supporting this venture.
Adam – I Feel very proud of you, Melissa and others, that tried to do something – which, is always better than doing nothing.
To the people who doubting Adam’s motivation behind this, please just.. move on! Adam was doing the right thing, caring for the vocation of a friend, caring for the health of a friend.. and caring for saving a studio that’s helped out many broadcasters, such as Girl’s Gone Geek.
Now, let’s focus on Liana, and the “Good Times”
Adam:
I hope you are getting some sleep. You’ve had one hell of a weekend.
I was one of many that donated. Your spirit is commendable. Helping a friend in need seems like such an odd concept to many. Like Dirk, I’m not religious. However, I feel that the good you tried to do will help your friend in many ways. This world needs more people like you.
Doing good to others is not a duty, it is a joy, for it increases our own health and happiness.
I don’t understand why my donation was returned just after midnight central. Was it not enough?
Oops, my bad for not reading more. nevermind.
Adam
What you did was a success. Not a failure. You brought together many people to help make things happen. You did everything you could, and you did it single handedly.
You made a lot of people open their eyes to realize that there is someone out there that can still help make a difference in someones life.
I am sorry you did not reach your goal. You did everything you could, and alot of people saw that.
It is sad when negative comments always pass over the positive comments.
She will be proud to know she has a great friend like you.
You are awesome! Dont think otherwise!
((hugs))
Krystyl
Adam, I was honored and humbled to work with you on such a noble, wonderful project to try to help our friend Liana. We should the power of social media and what we as a community can do, and it was spectacular. You did a fantastic thing, and I’m sure once Liana is better she will greatly appreciate the effort. Please let me know if there is anything I can do more to help you, even if it’s just a phone call so you have someone to talk to.
Adam, I never doubted your intentions and always knew that you were doing your best to help your friend by trying to save something that is important to her. I think you did an amazing thing and I’m sure that Liana is very proud of you. I’ve been praying non-stop for her recovery and will continue to do so until this is all over.
You are an amazing person who was willing to put your neck on the line for those you love, and that is a rare and wonderful thing.
Adam,
You did the absolute best you could in an incredible situation. I am proud of you and every person who rallied around this cause. You all did your very best, to do what you believed was right. You are all in my prayers.
Kimberlee
Adam,
We’re all shocked and sad to hear that Liana’s health is moving from bad to worse. I’m praying for her complete recovery and I join everyone in sending Liana powerful healing and love energy.
I also want to say that having met with you at the Podango studio this weekend, your efforts in this telethon were 100% sincere. You and I shared a phone call together with Liana who very clearly wanted the studio to continue in her absence for the benefit of the community.
I also want to emphasize the powerful and positive role Scott Bourne has played in creating the studio and helping to nurture Liana’s career. Scott has always believed in the power of community and developing new talent within it.
Shows Scott created, like Girls Gone Geek and Apple Phone Show, gave jobs and opportunities to producers like Liana and others to share their creative gifts with listeners and viewers. Behind the scenes (and I know this from having worked together with both Scott and Liana), Scott has been Liana’s #1 supporter from day 1.
Any time we approach life with love and kindness, everyone benefits. By attempting to save this studio, you were helping Liana fulfill her dream.
Liana’s health is much more important than the studio, but in seeking to save it, you were giving Liana lots of love. One and the same.
Agreed with all of the above. Those of us that know you even a little never had any doubts about your motivation.
While I can’t speak for Liana, I can tell you that as a business owner, knowing that my business would be OK if I got sick – that is something that can help the healing effort.
Adam, you tried to do the right thing. Don’t sweat the haters. Best to focus your thoughts and energy on wishing Liana well.
Adam,
The whole thing, like I said, was really fun, up until the end (obviously). I’m completely exhausted and I’m pretty hungry, as I’m sure you are. I wish that you didn’t have to return all the money. Everything we did was for such a good cause.
Since it’s gone the way it has, Liana will be and has been in my thoughts and prayers.
I hope that people didn’t take my segment and think it was yours, and I’ll just say that I said everything on my own, and that I know I took it a little overboard at the end. That was all me, NOT Adam.
Either way, it was, seriously, the most fun I’ve had in a while. I wouldn’t do it again any time soon, but I wouldn’t mind chipping in on a future one (if there ever was one).
Thank you very much Adam.
-Kolin
[please direct hate-mail to: kolin@specialkolin.com]
Adam,
No matter what others may think, you tried to do a good thing and I applaud you for it. I wouldn’t have donated if I didn’t think it was a good cause.
I’ve never met Liana in person, but I’ve learned a lot from her from listening to Girls Gone Geek podcasts. In a way I feel like I’ve gotten to know her a bit, and feel lucky for that fact. I honestly would like nothing more right now than to hear that she is well. Until then I’ll be sending positive thoughts her way.
I haven’t met you either, Adam (except for chatting on Ustream during GGG), but it’s clear to me that you are a kind person and a great friend. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
~Lyssa
I’m sorry that the massive effort you undertook ended up like this. I thought the fundraiser was an amazing idea, and Liana is very lucky to have friends like you and Melissa.
I agree with several of the comments above. There is nothing you personally can do to help Liana’s health right now, aside from letting her know how much you care. The fundraiser was a real action that would have had real positive reverberations for Liana and throughout the community.
I’m sorry that it came to your final decision to end the fundraiser. The community and Liana will have lost a very special place at Podango.
All my wishes are with Liana and her recovery, and I thank you for trying to make something happen.
You are a wonderful person AJ and a job well done regardless of the odds against you on all front, and my prayers go to your friend for a speedy recovery.
there has to be away to support a space for university students, independent people to produce podcast, films and alike, to jump start their careers, like a co-op group corporation, and i like the idea setting up charter membership levels and persons using the studio should also pay a stipend membership rate. There are artist co-op galleries in existent . We were money members of this gallery in Omaha,NE > http://incolor.inetnebr.com/pww/acg/.
Congrats for a job well done. and hope for the best for your friend.
zerbina/zippywinds
Adam,
I know its difficult, but put all the haters out of your mind. You tried to help out a friend in need—and that should be commended, not questioned. i hope it all works out and LL gets healthy. Keep on truckin’. Andy Israel
You did not fail, you simply did not succeed. To Fail, is to not have tried at all when you thought you could.
Your effort was NOT a failure. It brought people together to help Liana out and hope for her recovery. I know you had Liana’s best wishes at heart. We all wanted to do something and this was our way of doing it! Liana is lucky to have a friend like you!
You are a warrior for ‘good’ my friend….never lose that. Liana is in my thoughts and prayers..blessed be.*
I was one of the “charter members”, and fully support what you tried to do. To have people tell you this is separate from her health is wrong in my opinion. When you are ill, you don’t need additional stress, and the stress from thinking you might be losing your business is something that shouldn’t be weighing on you when you are trying to heal. I think they go hand in hand so I applaude you for helping your friend, and dare I say, “our” friend get better. If you decide you need the money I’m still in, I think its well worth giving to keep the studio going, I’ve listened to many podcasts made there and would like it to continue. Keep positive Adam!
Adam, I am sorry things didn’t work out. You did a great thing in stepping in to save what is truly a great legacy started by Liana. I have learned alot from her and I consider that truly amazing considering I have never met her. I will be praying for her recovery as I will be praying for you and I know she’ll be back on the web waves as soon as she can be. Like Liana, I am single and living away from where I was raised and it’s heartwarming to know that friends like you exist. You are a blessing to her just as much as she has been a blessing to all of us.
Adam, I want to echo everyone else above. They’ve all said it better than I can. Thank you for trying!
Just my 2 cents which isn’t even worth that. To me it appears you have done a wonderful thing despite what others may think. You had no control over your friends health so you went to the next step, which was her peace of mind. Which is very important. By saving the studio and keeping something important to her going strong, it takes a worry off her shoulders and lets her concentrate completely on healing. You are a loving friend I am so sorry your efforts were misunderstood.
I think it is deplorable that anyone would accuse you of misdoing or having mislead anyone. You were very clear from the outset of this project that your intent was not to “get money”, but to save Liana’s studio.
This is certainly a case of “no good deed goes unpunished”. I’m sorry there are so many hateful souls in this world and that you were engaged by them. Reprehensible behavior from those who prefer tearing down the efforts of others to having a positive impact on the world around them!
Hi Adam
As I tweeted, I commend you not only for your devoted energy to a friend but for your success in mobilizing a community. I do not believe you misled anyone intentionally and that you in fact bent over backwards to clarify the fast-moving process. Please focus on the amazing positives of your efforts and shrug off the critics. FYI I’m continuing to send my prayers for Liana’s health and would still offer financial support in a heartbeat for value received. God bless you!
Teresa
Adam and all his supporter,
Thank you for your efforts in behalf of Liana and her desires. As we decided to close the studio for financial reasons, Adam reached out to offer alternatives in order to keep a friend’s dream alive. Adam was very sincere in all of his efforts and ideas and sought no personal gain. I applaud him for his efforts.
We currently live in trying times where once stable institutions are stumbling and businesses across the nation are making difficult decisions to cut projects, sell divisions, close down business units and more. All of these hard decisions effect real people. Liana is a real person with real dreams. It is wonderful to see someone like Adam step forward to try and make a difference for one person. If more people across the country stepped forward like Adam to help others in similar situations, we would have a much better country. All of you who supported Adam’s effort are such people, difference makers.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Liana. She is a wonderful individual and employee. She is talented and personable. It would be difficult to find someone that did not like her. She has enjoyed very much working in the studio, working with Scott Bourne and the team. Scott put together a great studio and he and Liana put together some great shows that we hope continue.
Thank you all again for your efforts and support in behalf of Liana.
I thought you would be interested to know this.
Scott Bourne has Twitted this message, today (Tue 21st October):
“Liana Lehua is still in critical condition in the ICU. Her condition is unchanged for the last three days. I will update everyone soon.”
- thanks Scott, for the update. You can follow Scott on Twitter, here: http://www.twitter.com/scottbourne
I would also like to thank Eric, the CEO behind the world’s best search engine, for commenting above – Thanks for supporting Adam, the telethon for the ‘Open Source Studio’ and for your kind words for supporting Liana. much appreciated!
Sam Downie
Presenter/broadcaster
Apple Solution Expert
Find me online here: www,dsoundz.co.uk and http://www.bristol-sounds.com
To watch a family member, a true friend, a beloved girlfriend or boyfriend be truly ill is the most gut wrenching and nerve racking experience, to fear for their life is… hard. To do what you did, in such a small amount of time is amazing. You generated such support and love for Liana creating a unification of an idea of a community experience with this studio. While this studio may be gone, the idea to have a community studio should not be. You tried to do something for Liana with her blessing and NO ONE should have doubted you or your efforts, if Liana was unable to take over the studio I’m sure part time runners could have been established. Prayers and healing thoughts to Liana!
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