From Marine Aviator to Podcast Studio Owner: Rich Cardona on Unfilter, Podcasting for Business, and Client Acquisition

Tyler and Chris Kellum host the Whiskey Wisdom Podcast at Unfilter in Wilmington with owner Rich Cardona, a retired Marine helicopter pilot who left Amazon, explored entrepreneurship, and built a podcasting and video business that evolved from remote work into a physical studio designed to make guests “just show up.” Chris shares tasting notes on E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof. Rich discusses enlisting then becoming an officer, early retirement after being grounded from flying due to a seizure, and the challenges of transitioning from military SOPs to civilian leadership. He credits Gary Vaynerchuk as a catalyst for starting interviews and highlights podcasting’s value for relationship-building and content output, but emphasizes realistic expectations and avoiding “podcasting by proxy.” Rich explains positioning podcasts for revenue by interviewing target decision-makers, cites a logistics client closing three deals after six interviews, shares quitting alcohol after a hangover before an interview, and describes Unfilter’s modular set design, rentals, and ideal client fit.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:24 Rich Cardona Backstory

01:28 Unfilter Studio Vibe

02:17 Whiskey Bottle Breakdown

03:25 Early Marine Retirement

05:16 Enlisted to Officer Mindset

07:10 Amazon Exit and Civilian Shift

10:52 Gary V Sparked Podcasting

14:47 Podcasting for Business Growth

18:01 Client Acquisition Podcast Strategy

23:28 Guest Experience and Prep Work

27:07 Co Host Dynamic and Olympics Tangent

30:29 Skating Like Gymnastics

30:50 Hangover Podcast Wakeup

34:40 Quitting Alcohol After

36:09 Drunk Podcast Lessons

37:37 Mocktails And Hop Water

39:06 Building A Modular Studio

43:16 Peerspace Documentary Booking

44:33 Should You Start Podcasting

48:18 Podcast Value For Business

52:26 Teleprompter As A Tool

53:56 Fixing A Stale Show

57:26 Success Family And Freedom

59:17 Advice Focus And Deep Work

01:01:18 Studio Rentals And Clients

01:02:44 Wrap Up And Photos

Welcome back to the Whiskey Wisdom Podcast.

2

I'm your co-host, Tyler, y'all.

3

Today I'm with my constant co-host,

Chris Kellum, and our special guest

4

today is gonna be Rich Cardona.

5

He is the owner of this beautiful

spot that we sit in right here.

6

It is called Unfilter.

7

And before we jump in too far Yeah.

8

To it all.

9

Let's do a quick intro of you and

then we'll have Chris introduce

10

what whiskey we have sit next to us.

11

Sweet.

12

Okay.

13

Rich Cardona girl, dad retired Marine

did that I flew helicopters was my

14

last duty, so that was pretty cool.

15

Attack helicopters.

16

And then after that, I, I.

17

Worked at Amazon for a couple

years and it was awful.

18

Oh yeah.

19

So awful.

20

Yeah.

21

And then I ended up quitting and

moved in with my in-laws and dabbled

22

in entrepreneurship photography.

23

John's over there.

24

John's like a true photographer.

25

I was just like, I'll

figure something out.

26

I like to take pictures.

27

And then I was just like I could

tell a better story with video.

28

Got it.

29

Started getting into video stuff.

30

Working with military CEOs and

then eventually podcasting.

31

And then really fell in love

with that as a marketing tool,

32

not just like a thing to do.

33

Right.

34

So to speak.

35

And, and then, I mean.

36

Opened up an actual physical space a

couple years ago here in Wilmington.

37

Everything was remote before that.

38

And I love having it and I'm, I mean, I'm

glad you guys are here, so you could kind

39

of see, it's like, hopefully it's a vibe.

40

Absolutely.

41

Yes, for sure.

42

I walked in, I'm like, this is a good

vibe, because usually if someone's like,

43

oh, this is a vibe, and it's never like,

yeah, a good thing this like walked

44

and I'm like, oh, I like this so much.

45

Yeah.

46

Yeah.

47

Appreciate it.

48

The other benefit too, like it

was so weird when we were coming

49

in, like I had nothing with me.

50

Mm-hmm.

51

Like usually when we're

doing podcasts Oh, yeah.

52

Especially when we're going like, on site

somewhere, like, we're like pack mules

53

and we have like 15 backpacks and lighting

and cameras and all kinds of crap.

54

Yeah.

55

And here was awesome.

56

I, I walked in, I sat

down and got a coffee.

57

That's the goal, man.

58

That, that is the goal.

59

I just wanted, like, you

could be the talent, you know,

60

that, that's the whole goal.

61

So I'm glad, I'm glad you observed that.

62

We actually just went to New

York to do a, a shoot like a

63

podcast blitz with a client.

64

Yeah.

65

And they were speaking at a conference,

so they had like all these guests.

66

That was my first time truly

like packing up a bunch of stuff.

67

And I don't know if I would've

been able to do it without John,

68

but like we had a lot of stuff and

I was just like, this is not fun.

69

But it smooth.

70

We had no issues, like

everything went smooth.

71

But I completely understand and that's

exactly why I try and eliminate it.

72

That's awesome.

73

Yeah.

74

Before we go too far into it, Chris,

tell us a little bit about Yeah.

75

What we have here.

76

So we got one of my favorite bottles.

77

It's eh h Taylor.

78

As you guys know, we, we

like this on the podcast.

79

But I was able to source a

bottle with the barrel proof.

80

Nice.

81

Usually we do just like the

classics, but this is barrel proof.

82

It's a little different.

83

It has more of a berry note on the front

with some caramel and floral smells.

84

And then it is pretty bold, a little

bit spicier with some vanilla,

85

some oak and pepper on the taste.

86

And then on the back end,

your favorite taste rye.

87

Mm-hmm.

88

And some lingering hints of fruit.

89

So this to me is definitely a.

90

I would say like a tea style.

91

So like I would drink this, like you

could drink this in the springtime

92

'cause it has that floral hint.

93

Or you can drink it on like the

back end of summer when it's still

94

kind of warm, but not too crazy.

95

Sweet.

96

Yeah.

97

That's one of my favorite ones.

98

It's a, it's a good easy sipper.

99

Oh, nice.

100

So is, I love to collect just the little,

this fun, the different colors are fun.

101

I just like the, the bottle too.

102

Of course.

103

So I get that.

104

So tell us about in general yourself.

105

You said you were in the Marine Corps.

106

Yeah.

107

You retired.

108

Yeah.

109

So did you officially retire or you're

like, I'm done with my, I retired early.

110

Okay.

111

So I, I joke the Marine Corps never

has a recruiting problem, so we

112

had a surplus at a certain year.

113

Yeah.

114

And they're just like, they do

this thing, it's called Temporary

115

Early Retirement Authority.

116

Mm-hmm.

117

And I'm like, I don't know what

that means, but my, my buddy was at.

118

He was, he, he and I were neck and neck.

119

He's like, I'm getting out.

120

I'm like, what do you mean?

121

He's like, I'm retiring early,

I'm putting in this package.

122

I'm like, what?

123

And we're, I mean, we're best

friends and he's telling me all this.

124

And I'm like, okay.

125

So basically you get to retire

with a percentage of your base pay.

126

Usually it's like 50%, 20 years.

127

50%.

128

Right.

129

And this was like 42.5.

130

Yeah.

131

'cause I was getting out after 17.

132

Yeah.

133

Alright.

134

And the reason it made sense I mean,

when you're ready, you're ready.

135

But I was grounded from

flying 'cause I had a seizure.

136

Mm-hmm.

137

Not long after I got

back from Afghanistan.

138

And I was just like kind of going from

like obscure role to obscure role.

139

And like, that's usually when

they're just like, right.

140

Have we got a deal for you,

you're gonna go to Japan for a

141

couple years and do jack shit.

142

Right?

143

And, and I'm like, nah.

144

So I tried to get ahead of it and then I

applied to do a executive MBA with USC.

145

Mm-hmm.

146

Yeah.

147

So basically my last year I was

doing like, I was a gr a legal

148

officer at a squad, at a group

level, which is like 11 squadrons.

149

So I was just doing like paperwork stuff.

150

I had my own office and I was

like doing work half the time and

151

then like MBA stuff half the time.

152

Wow.

153

And I just like counted the days, man.

154

And so I was able to retire early

and it was just like a blessing.

155

And when I retired I was 34, so

I was in the Marine Corps exactly

156

half of my life at that point.

157

Wow.

158

Yeah.

159

It was pretty funny.

160

But yeah.

161

That's wild.

162

So now I'm always, I like to

do the front end questions.

163

Yeah.

164

Especially when it comes to military.

165

Yeah.

166

So did you enlist and then go officer?

167

Yeah, a hundred percent man.

168

So I was like private.

169

Yeah.

170

Cardona, you know, you did the

whole, and it's just like, I,

171

I'll say this though, like.

172

I don't know if anything would've been

the same if I hadn't gone that route.

173

Okay.

174

Like if you go to college first and then

you're in ROTC or whatever, and then go, I

175

think like, it's still extremely valuable,

but there's nothing like getting your,

176

for lack of a better term, is getting your

shit kicked in for three months and the

177

culture shock and like, what is happening?

178

Like, I am the smallest thing

on earth right now, and these

179

people are towering over me.

180

And then at the end of 12 weeks, you're

just like, I am completely transformed.

181

You know, it's literally like, it's

so important because it shows you

182

off the bat how much more you're

capable of than you think you are.

183

But number two is like

how to be like a teammate.

184

Mm-hmm.

185

For a lot of us, it's just like high

school sports and stuff like that,

186

but like, this is like real right.

187

So, it, it really sets the stage.

188

But yeah, without that

experience, I, I'm not sure.

189

I don't know if anything

would've been the same.

190

I like it.

191

So the reason I ask that is

because I know a lot of officers

192

who did the school route Yeah.

193

And then went in, I've actually,

surprisingly enough, I met a few

194

people recently who went through like

the actual, like military academies.

195

Yeah.

196

And I was like, oh yeah.

197

I, for, I unfortunately forget that

it's an option because there's,

198

they don't take in that many people.

199

Yeah.

200

But I know that their mindset's different.

201

Yeah.

202

And I can tell I, 'cause I have

friends all over, but I can tell

203

like, just sitting with you that

your, your vibe and your mindset of

204

like, Hey, I gotta get this done.

205

You know, because you left the

military, went to Amazon, you're

206

like, this is Oh man, as so bad.

207

But you found a way to get

into this position now.

208

Yeah.

209

And that's the diff that's

definitely a mindset thing.

210

Yeah.

211

I, I'll tell you, you're

bringing up a lot.

212

My wife went to Service

Academy, by the way.

213

She went to West Point.

214

Oh.

215

And she, she's in the Army for nine years.

216

But when you get out, I think.

217

I'm just gonna share something unique

to me that I think is valuable.

218

But when you get out, and I

was at Amazon, for example, I'm

219

like, who do I look up to here?

220

Not to say that these were bad people,

but like I had left working with some of

221

the best human beings I've ever known, and

most talent and far more talented than me.

222

So just imagine like a room.

223

We call it the ready room, and

it's all the pilots and we're all

224

getting a brief and crew chiefs

and other officers and whatever.

225

You're like, dude, everyone's like

trying to level up because you

226

cannot be like that bottom 10%.

227

Like you can't.

228

Mm-hmm.

229

So you're just like picking up on it,

picking up on it, and then after combat

230

you're just like, you just see, I

mean, everyone's completely unselfish.

231

It's, it's insane.

232

It's like the greatest thing ever

and it's also the worst thing ever.

233

But yeah, so that was like really tricky.

234

So I'm like.

235

I don't know if I freaking

could do this anymore.

236

Like I don't, I don't know if I

wanna work for anyone anymore.

237

At some point I thought about it and

then I kind of started doing this.

238

Now the complexity is, you know, you

always had someone giving you orders when

239

you were in the Marines or whatever, or

any service for that, for that matter.

240

Now it's like if I'm building a company,

it's like you set the standard, right?

241

And like there's a million ways to

go wrong and everything you thought

242

about leadership is like one way.

243

And then there's like, okay, now

you're dealing with civilians.

244

Now you're dealing with other people.

245

Like you can't just have the

military mentality, so to speak,

246

without scaring people off.

247

There's very few people who could do it.

248

Yeah.

249

So it was like, it's a really

gray area, but that was like an

250

unbelievably challenging transition.

251

One of our friends of the

podcast Catherine Bruner.

252

Oh yeah.

253

Yeah.

254

So, when she came on, when I first met

her in a different business, she was

255

talking about something very similar.

256

Yeah.

257

So she was in coast Guard.

258

Coast Guard, yes.

259

Yeah.

260

And.

261

She was saying when she like went

off on her own, like everyone

262

else had the The SOPs for you?

263

Yes.

264

In the military.

265

And she was like, I got out

and I was like, what do I do?

266

Like what do I look for?

267

And then she was like, I had

to, I realized I have to set and

268

create my own SOPs to live by.

269

Yes.

270

And so I thought that was just

really interesting kind of

271

how that mind shift occurs.

272

And I'm sure some people

do better than others.

273

Making that shift and how to create those.

274

Is that something that you

realized for yourself too?

275

Yeah, I mean, like every year it's

like every year I look back at the

276

prior year, I'm like, what an idiot.

277

Like, I didn't like, I'm just like, you

know, I think six years in now I mean John

278

was just doing SOPs yesterday for like

certain things, like how we set stuff up.

279

I'm like, you know, redundancy is really

important, but the amount of times

280

I haven't done that or the amount of

times I had a great idea and I told the

281

team about it and it lasted 30 days.

282

Like all that stuff is just like,

you think about that stuff at night.

283

Like they probably think I freaking

don't know anything, you know,

284

or that I'm a good idea fairy.

285

And I'm like, oh, we're gonna do this and

we're gonna do this and here's our goal.

286

We're gonna meet and we're gonna

have this awesome vacation.

287

And I don't know what.

288

So, it's really, really challenging

to kind of come up with things.

289

But I think you have to be com

comfortable with like, just being like,

290

these are my losses, nobody else's.

291

And it's just like, it's inevitable,

like it happens over and over and over.

292

At the same time, like losses

are learning always, right?

293

Like I always learn something, so

like if I'm going backwards, I'll know

294

it, but it's usually going forwards

and sometimes it's incremental

295

and sometimes it's a big leap.

296

I know stuff's going well

with your company, right?

297

Yeah.

298

But like, yeah, it's just,

you just have to stomach that.

299

But trust me, it's really hard

not to think about how you are

300

perceived, especially if you're

like building something in public.

301

Exactly.

302

Yeah.

303

It's freaking awful when

you're going through Amazon.

304

Then photography and then podcasting.

305

Yeah.

306

What about podcasting?

307

Did you realize like, you know

what, this is it, this is it for me.

308

Ah, so Gary v.

309

Gary Vaynerchuk.

310

Yeah.

311

I would say is a mentor of

mine, and I've been blessed.

312

I've had him on the show four times.

313

That's amazing.

314

And three of those were in person.

315

It was super cool.

316

I met him.

317

I, I wanted to meet him.

318

While I was at Amazon, I started

consuming his content towards the end.

319

And I was like drunk one night and

I'm just like watching, and I'm

320

like, this dude is outta control.

321

I'm like, I like hated him.

322

And then I'm like, he

is like bars, you know?

323

Like he is telling the truth.

324

Like, this is, I think it's everybody.

325

Yeah.

326

It's just kind of like, wait a second.

327

So there's this you guys know the show?

328

The West Wing?

329

Oh yeah.

330

One of my favorite shows ever.

331

There's this, there's this

like flashback episode where

332

Sam, the, the press secretary?

333

No, not, no, he's director

of communications.

334

He heard about Jed Bartlett,

this governor of New Hampshire.

335

And then, and then Josh is

gonna go and, and whatever.

336

And Sam's like, I think Sam goes, no,

Josh goes, and Sam's like, I can't go,

337

just let me know if he's the real deal.

338

So Josh is like, I need

to go see this in person.

339

And then he comes back and then he

goes to Sam's office and he's like.

340

And I was like feeling the same thing.

341

Like I need to see for myself,

you know, like if, if Gary v's.

342

The real thing.

343

So I go to this conference, it's

a real estate conference, dude,

344

like, I'm like in jeans and a shirt.

345

Everyone is like dressed to the

nines and like the freaking egos

346

are like outta control, right?

347

And everyone just thinks they're it.

348

And Gary V ends up coming on and he sent

his t-shirt and a beanie as he always is.

349

And I had VIP tickets and so I was like

close to the front and I'm like, I,

350

I watched and I was like, holy crap.

351

Like this is, this is awesome.

352

Yeah.

353

But then I'm like, I need to make

sure that I ask him a question.

354

Like that for me is

gonna be the true tell.

355

So, you know, I know I've known from

his podcast and all this stuff, like

356

it's really hard to get time with him.

357

Mm-hmm.

358

So he's getting ready for q and

a and he is like, you guys might

359

as well start lining up now.

360

He's like five minutes into his

thing, he's like, you know how it is.

361

And I am right here next to the aisle

and there's a microphone right here.

362

I'm like about to step up.

363

I'm like, hell yeah.

364

And I look and there's like a line.

365

Wow.

366

And I'm like, oh no.

367

And then I, there's a woman

there, I'm like, I'm right here.

368

And she's like, okay.

369

So I said something to him, I asked him

about you know, I'm transitioning from

370

the Marine Corps and this and that.

371

And I mentioned something about

podcasting and he's like, do it.

372

And I said, also, I want to

give you my squadron patch.

373

It was from, you know, from my squadron.

374

Yeah.

375

Wow.

376

I was like, I guarantee no one else

has given him something like this.

377

So I gave it to him, asked him the

question, and then and then I met

378

him backstage and he was super cool.

379

And then he's like, he was just legit.

380

So that was a very roundabout way

of saying like, I could absolutely

381

feel like he was super legit.

382

And then another conference,

I saw him again, asked him

383

if I could come to Vayner.

384

He's like, of course.

385

And I got a meeting with him and then

a podcast and all this other stuff.

386

And here's what I'll say.

387

That moment with him led to me looking

in his community and I was really

388

fond of all the, like, hustlers in

his community, people trying to do

389

something, people working out of a

nine to five and all this other stuff.

390

So he had this community called First

in Line with Gary, be on Facebook.

391

Yeah.

392

So I just started interviewing them.

393

Yeah.

394

And like it was almost like I was

doing it for him, you know, in a way.

395

And I quickly realized

like I was, this is fun.

396

Like the stories are great,

everyone's super unique and that,

397

that's how it kind of started.

398

But you know, it was literally I

owe that and entrepreneurship to

399

him and then, you know how he always

is, create content, create content.

400

I was like, this is the

easiest content to create.

401

Yeah.

402

As you guys probably know.

403

Yes.

404

Like you'd probably do this rather

than set up a camera and do your

405

shorts and all that other stuff.

406

Exactly.

407

Hundred percent.

408

Or be like, let me

script my YouTube video.

409

So, yeah, that was, that

was really the beginning.

410

He was a catalyst for sure.

411

That's awesome.

412

And so now you've kind of transitioned

into more like business owners, right?

413

Yeah.

414

And kind of using that

for marketing for them.

415

Yeah.

416

How has that kind of changed, one,

your trajectory and to business?

417

And two, what are some of the largest

benefits that the business owners

418

are seeing from having a podcast?

419

The, and the two very different questions.

420

Yeah.

421

Yeah.

422

I'll, I'll tackle one at a time.

423

So the first thing is like you guys,

i, I hesitate to ask, but like, are you

424

making a ton of money from this podcast?

425

We don't even try.

426

Okay.

427

Yeah.

428

Which means you would podcast.

429

You would podcast without the

incentive of a making money

430

because you get joy from it.

431

Yeah, absolutely.

432

I'm the same way.

433

Like truly, I love to podcast, I

love to interview people like that.

434

That is fundamentally fantastic for

no matter who you are, business owner.

435

Mom, I I, I had a client who was a

woman who retired from corporate and

436

she had lost her parents during COVID

and she wasn't able to get to see 'em.

437

So she wanted to do a podcast

interviewing other business

438

woman's moms and be like, what?

439

And, and I think it was called

stuff your mama forgot to tell you.

440

So she was just asking them questions

and like, what about this period in

441

life where you are in your fifties

and you're leaving corporate?

442

Like, what do you do then?

443

Oh wow.

444

So it was really cool.

445

So, you know, that's great.

446

You could do something like I was doing

Leadership Locker, doesn't matter.

447

If you want to do it, then it's fantastic.

448

And I think it's just

a creative expression.

449

For sure.

450

And it just allows you to

kind of network, right?

451

So there's that.

452

Now, once I started working with business

owners there's a couple categories.

453

Yeah.

454

There's people with disposable income

and there's people who need this to work.

455

And I have realized the people

who need it to work have always

456

been the hardest clients.

457

And here's why.

458

They don't have the

patience you guys do, right?

459

Like they, they believe that

podcasting can be a silver bullet

460

for their failed YouTube experiments.

461

Their failed Instagram experiments.

462

Mm-hmm.

463

And their Facebook ads that they don't

hate, they're like, well, this must work.

464

So, they need it to work.

465

And that usually creates a lot of

induced pressure at the beginning.

466

And then their podcast just sucks.

467

Right?

468

And, and it's just like, it, it, it

kind of feels more transactional.

469

But it, it doesn't mean they don't

get a ton of content out of it.

470

But I will tell you guys straight up that

for me, podcasting and what I was trying

471

to provide the clients, and I've adjusted

my positioning so much now, I used to

472

just be like, you'll get this many clips.

473

It'll be on YouTube.

474

Like, oh, that's cool, but

that's just an output, right?

475

That's not an outcome.

476

So like I've adjusted dramatically

in the last six months onto being

477

like, okay, here's what I know.

478

People wanna make money off their podcast.

479

What's the way to do that?

480

Now, before I tell you how they do that

I did work with some very, very high

481

level, a hundred million dollar CEOs and,

and these people with disposable income,

482

and they were the same as you guys.

483

Like, they were just like,

it's like goodwill, right?

484

They're just like, I just

wanna put out all this content,

485

like I just wanna be helpful.

486

And they didn't need it.

487

And those people had

more offers than anybody.

488

I believe it.

489

Yeah.

490

Do you know what I'm saying?

491

Yeah.

492

Like, they just, like, they

had so much patience and their,

493

the runway was so long that.

494

It was like the opportunities would find

them and they're just like, not now.

495

Not now.

496

Yeah.

497

And when they wanna cash

in, they will, you know?

498

So that's, that's one distinction.

499

It's, it's really important for me

to, to mention to, to listeners.

500

So the way we do it now, the way I

look at it now is using podcasting,

501

and this is slightly contrarian, using

podcasting as a way to literally like,

502

interview the decision makers of the

people you wanna work with, right?

503

Period.

504

Point blank.

505

Like, I'm so over it.

506

Like, I'm so over people.

507

Like, oh, I don't have a sponsor yet,

or this and that, and I, you know,

508

they expect to be the next whoever.

509

Jenna Kutcher, Joe Rogan, doesn't matter.

510

I'm like, no.

511

Like if you, if this really is

about money, then just interview

512

the people you wanna work with.

513

So we did a test with that, with

clients I have in Cincinnati

514

after a year of doing this.

515

And it was just output,

output, output, output.

516

Nothing was moving.

517

And they just kept asking like,

dude, when are we gonna get sponsors?

518

I.

519

I cannot get you a sponsor.

520

And when you're getting 57 downloads an

episode, like I've done everything I can.

521

Yeah.

522

Right.

523

And I go, let's do this.

524

Use it for client acquisition.

525

Mm-hmm.

526

They're in logistics and they're brokers

and they work with shippers, distributors,

527

other warehouses, I mean all these people.

528

And they interviewed, I think in the

first couple months they interviewed

529

six people, closed three deals.

530

Wow.

531

And these are like fantastic companies.

532

Yeah.

533

Right.

534

And they built rapport.

535

And you know why I wasn't shocked?

536

Because like, this is cool.

537

There's an energy exchange.

538

Yeah.

539

Back.

540

They get to know each other.

541

It's a warm intro.

542

It's not a cold call.

543

You have a reason to follow up.

544

Right?

545

Like, you now have a relationship

and it cut the sale cycle.

546

I, I think it was like one

of them said eight months.

547

I think it was more like six months.

548

But like for big.

549

Big companies, that's massive.

550

Or big deals that require that much.

551

Like you wanna shorten the sales cycle.

552

So that's how we kind of position it now.

553

And I'm just like, I'm just

gonna be that dude who's like,

554

I will lead you down this.

555

I don't care what people think, but

we're not gonna be like sleazy about it.

556

Right.

557

It's not gonna be transactional.

558

Like you should genuinely be

curious about these people anyway.

559

Exactly.

560

Yeah.

561

And if you have, and

you're not pitching, right?

562

Like I'm not pitching you on my own

show, we're just establishing rapport.

563

Yeah.

564

And if you provide a good

experience and John's seen it like

565

at the end of it they'll be like,

tell me more about what you do.

566

Yep.

567

Or how do I work with you?

568

Maybe we should collab.

569

We literally, the last interview we

did in New York that I was telling

570

you about, like we were literally

watching a potential joint venture

571

form at the end of the podcast.

572

That's amazing.

573

I'm like, I love that this works.

574

Yeah.

575

So I'm all in and, and that's,

that's where I'm at now.

576

That's awesome.

577

There's there's two people that I

follow and you described exactly

578

what they do to a t mm-hmm.

579

Is they have the longer runway.

580

They, all they do is just

provide massive value to people.

581

Yeah.

582

And they both have podcasts and that's,

that's what they do, is they sit down

583

with people, they provide massive value

and usually that outcome ends up being

584

some type of business relationship or

they get introduced to someone that

585

makes sense and they don't do it because

they know that's going to happen.

586

Yes.

587

They do it because they

love the interaction.

588

Yeah.

589

They love building community.

590

Yep.

591

And when.

592

People can genuinely feel that.

593

Yeah.

594

You know, like they know

when you actually care.

595

Like when we sit down with people, like,

we actually want to hear your story.

596

Like, that's why we started this thing.

597

That's why we don't try to

make any money off of it.

598

Yeah.

599

But yeah, it's exactly what you said too.

600

It just, it makes sense

when you actually care.

601

People care about you too.

602

Yeah.

603

The byproducts are substantial.

604

Another one of the interviews in

New York that we did, the host, our

605

client, the host was interviewing

this very up there doctor.

606

Mm-hmm.

607

Very hard to get one-on-one

time with and whatever.

608

And it's, I think, I think it was at

the end of the episode, he goes to the

609

doctor, he's like, I gotta ask you.

610

He goes, I, I promised my wife, I'd ask.

611

He goes my father-in-law is very paranoid

about Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

612

Mm-hmm.

613

And blank, blank, blank.

614

He says all this.

615

The doctor starts asking

him, did you do this?

616

He's like, yep.

617

Did you do this?

618

He is like, yep.

619

Did you do this?

620

Yep.

621

Did you do this?

622

No.

623

He goes, why not?

624

He goes, he doesn't want to.

625

It's like, what's his number?

626

He's like, I'll call him.

627

Wow.

628

I'm like, what?

629

Like, dude, like if that's me,

my wife and I are gonna have

630

fun for the next few months.

631

Right.

632

Because like, it's like, dude,

like, I mean like, I just delivered.

633

Like, come on.

634

So, I was like, man, so like

nothing might happen business wise,

635

but like, that's an intangible.

636

No one will ever forget that.

637

Yeah.

638

Right.

639

So the byproducts are substantial period.

640

Mm-hmm.

641

So like, yeah.

642

It's not just that, that's the key.

643

Like if you do 48 of these in

a year and you close 10 of 'em,

644

like you're probably good, like

depending on the size of your deals.

645

Right.

646

But the rest of 'em, the other 38,

like you just have relationships.

647

Yeah.

648

Yeah.

649

And they might connect

you to somebody else.

650

Yeah.

651

Or it's just.

652

They didn't work out at the time

'cause they weren't in that position.

653

Yeah.

654

Yes.

655

Yeah, definitely.

656

Yeah.

657

I mean like full disclosure for us

when we first started this, we gained

658

a lot of traction pretty quick.

659

'Cause we started early enough that we

could in Wilmington, 'cause that many

660

people were doing this in Wilmington.

661

And so like we started going after

sponsorships and stuff at that point.

662

And there was a few people

that are interested who weren't

663

making like buku money obviously.

664

Yeah.

665

But just like barely paying

expenses from the podcast.

666

Yeah.

667

I'm like, you know what the time

and effort that it's putting

668

into finding the sponsors.

669

Yeah.

670

Like I could be one putting

into my own business.

671

Yes.

672

And I can make a lot more one and two,

it's taking away from like actually

673

building the rapport before sitting down.

674

Yes.

675

I think that's something that a lot of

people who want to be podcasters mm-hmm.

676

Don't understand too.

677

Mm-hmm.

678

Is all the upfront work to

get someone into the chair to

679

have that good conversation.

680

I mean, let me ask you guys this, like,

that's, that's I would say pre-production

681

stuff, but like how much effort goes

into the podcast outside of just that.

682

Is it, my question is, is it easy?

683

No.

684

Ly why is it not easy?

685

Yeah.

686

'cause not only do you have the

pre-production stuff to bring onto

687

it, but even coming up with the

questions and ideas and making it

688

sound as natural as possible and

have the back and forth mm-hmm.

689

Knowing that someone is either

going to talk too much or talk too

690

little is always in the back of your

head during the podcast afterwards.

691

Yeah.

692

You do it right here, you have

someone who's actually editing

693

like almost on the fly for you.

694

Yeah.

695

But afterwards we're doing all

the post production and everything

696

'cause we don't have a whole team.

697

Yeah.

698

So yeah.

699

It's, it's a lot more than just like,

if this was us in our own studio mm-hmm.

700

This our podcast we're doing here.

701

Mm-hmm.

702

Would take three hours total.

703

Mm-hmm.

704

From like introduction, pre-planning

to postscript onto YouTube.

705

It's an investment of time.

706

Yeah.

707

Yes.

708

And effort.

709

Yes.

710

So, and that's why I think

it's like, the reason I ask

711

that is 'cause a lot of people.

712

When they get a guest I think

they make the mistake of like

713

making the guest do things.

714

Mm-hmm.

715

I'm like, dude, they're

already donating their time.

716

Right.

717

Don't ask 'em for this.

718

Like, don't ask for

their bio and headshot.

719

Like if you could find it, you

know, like slide it into your three

720

hours of stuff you gotta do anyway.

721

Exactly.

722

Yeah.

723

Do you know what I mean?

724

Like, don't ask 'em for like, Hey,

what's a link to your website?

725

Now if they have a product or

something that they wanna push

726

or a book, like that's different.

727

Yeah.

728

Right.

729

But like, you know, or I wanna do a

pre-interview, sorry if you guys have

730

done that before, but like that is like.

731

Like legit and like a pre-interview, like,

you want to qualify me for your podcast?

732

Like, no.

733

So I just think like the guest experience

is something we talk a lot about here

734

and it's just like, how can you make

it to where they're just literally

735

able to show up and just do their

thing and then be like, see you later.

736

They get a follow up email, they get

notified when the podcast is coming out.

737

They get links, they get a Google

Drive link to like the whole

738

thing, you know, all that stuff.

739

It's like, okay, cool.

740

Like all that in addition to like

whatever rapport you built is I

741

think what pushes it over the edge.

742

But like, you know, asking your guests to

do anything to me is like the wrong move.

743

And, and I think that's where

a lot of hosts can improve.

744

I've that question for you actually

just for our own benefit Perfect.

745

Is we do have a link that we

send people to Google Docs link.

746

Mm-hmm.

747

And.

748

It's up to them if they

want use it or not.

749

Mm-hmm.

750

Like if they don't do, it's not like,

oh, you can't come on the podcast.

751

Yeah.

752

But it's for them to kind of fill

out, like, Hey, these are the things

753

I really want to go over this.

754

I, I want you to introduce

me and everything.

755

Oh, okay.

756

I already have an idea

of what I want to do.

757

Mm-hmm.

758

But I send that to 'em just in

case there's something I'm missing.

759

'cause it does have like

a headshot in there.

760

'cause I will find their headshot.

761

Yeah.

762

Like on my own typically.

763

Sweet.

764

I was like, if there's something you

specifically want, go ahead and do it.

765

If you don't wanna do any

of this, that's fine too.

766

Yep.

767

Do you think that makes sense?

768

Or is that, has then anyone filled it out?

769

Yes.

770

A lot of people do actually.

771

Really?

772

Yeah.

773

Yeah.

774

There you go.

775

That's what I would say, man.

776

Like, I mean, my, my

gut was like, hell no.

777

Like, don't do that.

778

Like, just don't, just

don't even bother 'em.

779

But if they're filling it out, that means

they're eager to share what's important.

780

Yeah.

781

And they wanna steer you

in the right direction.

782

The only issue with that, I would say from

like a strategy perspective is depending

783

on what your listeners want, might not

be what, what they want to talk about.

784

Yeah.

785

Do you know what I'm saying?

786

Yeah.

787

So it's just like, you just

gotta think about that.

788

'cause if someone's

coming on to talk about.

789

I, if, if, if I was on here right

now talking about analytics, like

790

I, I promise you your audience

would be like, dude, never again.

791

You know what I'm saying?

792

So, but if we're talking about

business outcomes and outcomes

793

versus in outputs and stuff like

that, then that's different.

794

But yeah, that's the only kind of gotcha.

795

I might look for, it'd be like, am I

sure my audience wants to listen to this?

796

Mm-hmm.

797

That's it's funny too, so like,

we'll both look over the doc and

798

Tyler has the memory, like spot on.

799

He's got it like an elephant.

800

So like he'll see everything and like,

know what they want to talk about and

801

I'll glance over it and so he'll ask the

questions that they want to be asked.

802

Yeah.

803

And then I'll ask the silly questions.

804

Perfect.

805

That like, when I, 'cause when

we conceptualized the podcast,

806

it was, what are you doing?

807

Like when you meet somebody at a bar.

808

I'm typically the drunk guy who's

gonna ask you that question.

809

That makes no sense.

810

Mm-hmm.

811

And then Tyler will be like, so

in this business that you run?

812

Yeah.

813

And I'm like, no, that's a hundred

percent how we are as real people.

814

That's good though.

815

Like yeah, like have that, that dynamic.

816

Yes.

817

So one, 'cause I typically

bring the person on, I know,

818

know a little bit about 'em.

819

We've probably gone into

coffee or something before.

820

I'm like, Hey, you know what?

821

You're awesome.

822

Let's have a podcast.

823

Yeah.

824

So like, we like go down this

like deep dive like rabbit hole.

825

And Chris is like, I don't even

know what you're talking about.

826

Can we back this up a little bit?

827

Because we don't want the listener

either to be like, you just don't

828

wave too far down around that.

829

That's, that's real life, man.

830

I mean, I think it's, if there

were two, if you guys were the

831

same, then it would just be awful.

832

Right?

833

On both.

834

On both.

835

On both sides.

836

You know what I'm saying?

837

You just be like, if both of us were.

838

A DD all right.

839

Like we have Rich on here

to talk about podcasting.

840

It's like, what'd you

think about the Super Bowl?

841

And then you're asking me like,

what do you think about men's luge?

842

I'll be like, I don't know.

843

They don't need to double up.

844

Like true.

845

My wife and I are actually

talking about that the other day.

846

I, I'm gonna a DD for a minute now since

you opened the flood gate, but we were

847

watching, we, we were in Boone and we were

just getting dinner and I saw it on the

848

screen and I was like, that's two guys.

849

Like, 'cause it looked

like just one Oh, yeah.

850

Stacked on top.

851

Yeah.

852

And I was just like, I was asking her,

I'm like, at what point did someone go,

853

we should throw another guy on top, right?

854

Like, at what point was like that

would make this event better.

855

And then who was like, we should do that

for all countries all over the world.

856

And I was just like, good point.

857

Fascinated by that.

858

I'm like that's kind of crazy.

859

And, and anyway.

860

Yeah, no, I, we went down that.

861

Because we have, like, we have a TV at

work and we play any sports that like

862

any of our brand sponsor will have it on.

863

So like the Olympics

is sponsored by Omega?

864

Yeah.

865

Or like, they're the official timekeeper.

866

So we had it on the whole time.

867

Oh, nice.

868

But I'm watching this and

I'm like, the Winter Olympics

869

are literally just like, hey.

870

What would happen if like, every

single event is what would happen

871

if, like, what would happen if I put

blades on the bottom of my shoes?

872

Yes.

873

And went trying to run around here.

874

Like what would happen if we put

pads on and try, try to follow

875

this like really small puck.

876

How many people can you stack on

top of each other going down a ski?

877

And I'm like, I did go down the

curling rabbit hole to figure that out.

878

So Oh, I love curling.

879

Yeah, that actually makes sense.

880

Yeah.

881

Fun fact, it used to

be called Rumble Rock.

882

'cause that was the sound that it made.

883

Really?

884

Yeah.

885

Rumble Rock.

886

Yeah.

887

And then they changed it to curling.

888

Curling makes way more sense,

but yeah, a hundred percent.

889

But yeah, I'm, I'm super with you.

890

It's it's like the

sportsmanship award Olympics.

891

It's like, you know, everyone wants

to see track and field and like, yes.

892

Sorry.

893

I'm like, I was not tuning in for,

you know, the solo finale and skating.

894

No, it was, I saw clips.

895

I'm like, okay, this is.

896

That's way more detailed.

897

Like they were saying this does that

and that gets you this many points.

898

And I'm like, so skating is literally

gymnastics of the winter Olympics.

899

Mm, yeah, that makes sense.

900

If you break it down,

I was like, huh, okay.

901

That makes sense.

902

Ridiculous outfit, ridiculous music.

903

Yes.

904

Lots of smiles the entire time, all that.

905

Yeah.

906

Yeah.

907

My face would be sore.

908

I know it.

909

Thank you.

910

I think before we started the intro

to the podcast, we were talking

911

about you had a fun drunk story.

912

Yes.

913

Not fun.

914

So I figured this is a perfect fun.

915

I was gonna say, I dunno if it was

fun, fun, but you did say it's,

916

it's a, it's a, it's a good story.

917

So, I, I started really

getting into podcasting and I

918

forget where we were living.

919

We might've still been with my in-laws,

but I was like, I kind of have like

920

disposable income, so to speak.

921

Mm-hmm.

922

So I was making it a point to

go do in-person interviews.

923

Mm-hmm.

924

And I was also just starting to

do video work, and it was like

925

horrific video work, but people

were like paying me like nothing.

926

I'm like, here's your product.

927

Right.

928

And everyone's dissatisfied.

929

It was great.

930

So I met this group of people and

they were having another event in

931

Dallas, so I flew down to Dallas and

I went to Dallas and then I had to

932

go, and then I, I, I booked one of

the speakers at this Dallas event.

933

She was going back to Austin.

934

I'm like, can I podcast with you there?

935

So we go to Austin,

936

and that's where I worked

at Amazon in Austin.

937

Okay.

938

So I hadn't seen people in a while.

939

Yeah.

940

So I'm like, I'm in town.

941

Yeah, that's good.

942

And I was like, all right.

943

So I meet up with my friend Rachel,

have, I don't know, I mean, I

944

would be able to like smash three

old fashions in like an hour.

945

No problem.

946

Oh yeah.

947

Just like whatever.

948

Then I meet up with some other

friends, then some other friends,

949

and then next thing I know it's like.

950

I don't even remember how I

got back to my buddy's house.

951

I have a podcast, I would say at noon, and

I wake up at like eight 50 and I'm just

952

like, like it was just, oh, that taste.

953

Yeah.

954

So the whole feeling like 11

outta 10 bad, there's like a

955

club going on inside of my head.

956

And I could just feel my eyes like

burning and like, I was like freaking out.

957

Now I have, again, like

almost three hours.

958

I'm like, I should have

nothing to be worried about.

959

Like the place is at this hotel,

this beautiful new hotel a couple

960

miles from here I mean whatever.

961

And she's an author and

she's an awesome person.

962

So I get there at like 11.

963

And I'm like, I'm gonna get exposed.

964

I gotta, I gotta do something like

there's not enough gum I could chew.

965

And I was like so scared, man, that

I was like sweating the alcohol

966

through my pores and you, if you've

ever had a bad hangover, you, you

967

understand what I'm talking about.

968

So I'm like, okay.

969

So I'm like freaking out about that.

970

I'm like, I probably smell My breath to

me was just like a freaking dumpster.

971

I'm like, this is so bad.

972

So I go and I crush two sausage, egg and

cheese croissants at the like cafe there.

973

And I'm just like, I

gotta get this off right.

974

And I'm doing everything in my power.

975

I feel like my eyes are half shut.

976

The my, my head is still pounding.

977

And then we meet up and I

have this little area set up.

978

That's another thing, by the way, like

I didn't ask permission from this hotel.

979

I just like, we used a common area.

980

I was like, I think it's just

crazy back then when you're just

981

starting, you just don't care.

982

Just do it.

983

Yeah.

984

You're just like, whatever.

985

Oh yeah, we've done that.

986

I was, we have the story just

like whatever, like until someone

987

says no, it's like whatever.

988

Right?

989

So we sit down and we do this interview

probably last like an hour and we're done.

990

And I'm like, relieved.

991

I'm like, like made it through.

992

Let's, let's just depart.

993

Like, I don't want to

say another word to you.

994

Like, I just wanna pack up my shit and go.

995

And she's like, that was the

best podcast I've ever done.

996

And I'm like, I'm like, oh no, I know.

997

And she goes, I'd love for you to come to

lunch with my husband and I, I'm like, no.

998

I'm like, it, I, I literally like, I

don't even know if she finished, like,

999

explaining why it was a good idea.

00:34:31,784 --> 00:34:33,975

And it could have been like, good for

business 'cause I was just starting out.

00:34:33,975 --> 00:34:34,034

Yeah.

00:34:34,034 --> 00:34:34,605

I was like, nah.

00:34:35,385 --> 00:34:38,005

So I go hop on a plane back to Dallas.

00:34:38,005 --> 00:34:39,085

Dallas to Virginia.

00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:40,449

Or whatever.

00:34:40,449 --> 00:34:42,040

And that was the last

time I ever had a drink.

00:34:42,340 --> 00:34:42,429

Oh, wow.

00:34:42,460 --> 00:34:45,940

And and the reason is, I, I had

all that time to think about it.

00:34:45,940 --> 00:34:49,090

I'm like, if this means a lot to

me and I care about it that much,

00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,989

you know, like, why would I like

put myself in jeopardy like that.

00:34:53,260 --> 00:34:53,380

Yeah.

00:34:53,409 --> 00:34:56,920

Now, before that, I would say

like, I had alcohol issues.

00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:00,220

I mean, I was in the Marines and

saw and did some crazy stuff and

00:35:00,220 --> 00:35:02,950

there's nights that I was like, how

did that hole end up in the wall?

00:35:02,980 --> 00:35:05,050

Like, you know, just like

stuff I don't remember.

00:35:05,350 --> 00:35:06,850

So it was always a problem.

00:35:06,910 --> 00:35:10,390

And you know, I I, I'm gonna be

super transparent in therapy.

00:35:10,390 --> 00:35:11,510

I talked to my counselor about this.

00:35:11,510 --> 00:35:11,645

Mm-hmm.

00:35:11,650 --> 00:35:14,890

I'm like, why was it that it was like

the podcast showing up drunk to a

00:35:14,890 --> 00:35:19,000

podcast, did that instead of like, you

know, my wife being super concerned

00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,640

or, you know, I had a newborn and

like, what kind of example is this?

00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:22,120

Or whatever.

00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:23,980

He goes the event.

00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:25,270

It doesn't matter.

00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:28,720

He goes, what matters is there

was an event that led you to it.

00:35:28,810 --> 00:35:29,230

Mm.

00:35:29,290 --> 00:35:31,090

And he goes, everyone's

ready when they're ready.

00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:36,040

So ever since then, man, like that's when

I truly started like making a business.

00:35:36,310 --> 00:35:39,160

And we've had all up years except one.

00:35:39,890 --> 00:35:44,690

And I think like abstaining from

alcohol and I always say, I, I never

00:35:44,690 --> 00:35:45,740

know if I'll drink again or not.

00:35:45,740 --> 00:35:46,550

I don't think I will.

00:35:46,730 --> 00:35:46,970

Right.

00:35:46,970 --> 00:35:48,680

But I'm just like, that was it.

00:35:48,860 --> 00:35:50,150

It was just like super crazy.

00:35:50,150 --> 00:35:53,270

But yeah, the best podcast she

ever had happened to be like, I

00:35:53,270 --> 00:35:54,890

was freaking hammer time, man.

00:35:54,890 --> 00:35:56,150

Like, I was like, seriously?

00:35:56,570 --> 00:36:01,400

So yeah, you were probably thinking of

like, either everyone else was terrible or

00:36:01,430 --> 00:36:03,080

like I was able to like pull this through.

00:36:03,295 --> 00:36:04,055

I don't know, man.

00:36:04,055 --> 00:36:06,590

Like, I, I truly, I, I don't

even know how that went down

00:36:06,590 --> 00:36:08,900

like that, but it worked out, so.

00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:09,440

That's awesome.

00:36:09,980 --> 00:36:13,550

Like, honestly, that's kind of similar

to like a, we still drink obviously.

00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:13,820

Yeah.

00:36:13,820 --> 00:36:16,990

But, when we first started the podcast,

it was, gosh, it was not great.

00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:19,580

'Cause we didn't realize

you were drinking during it.

00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:19,910

Yeah.

00:36:19,940 --> 00:36:20,240

Oh yeah.

00:36:20,270 --> 00:36:20,360

Oh.

00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:22,130

Because we were doing

five episodes in a day.

00:36:22,130 --> 00:36:24,530

We were drinking like full

glasses at the end of the day.

00:36:24,530 --> 00:36:25,460

We were sloshed.

00:36:25,460 --> 00:36:25,940

Dang.

00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:26,150

Yeah.

00:36:26,150 --> 00:36:27,170

And then we're like, you know what?

00:36:27,170 --> 00:36:27,860

This is bad.

00:36:28,145 --> 00:36:28,225

Yeah.

00:36:28,735 --> 00:36:29,345

This isn't good.

00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:30,080

Yeah.

00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:31,460

That dang.

00:36:31,460 --> 00:36:37,580

You can, you can definitely tell

like this year or two, we were

00:36:37,580 --> 00:36:42,200

booking out like four in a day and

then we'd had a gap in between.

00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,720

So we'd either go get food

or go get another drink.

00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:45,235

Oh my God.

00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:49,880

And so like the last person

of the day just got, yeah.

00:36:49,910 --> 00:36:50,930

No clue what we talked about.

00:36:50,930 --> 00:36:51,290

Yes.

00:36:51,290 --> 00:36:53,060

It was absolutely off the rail.

00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:53,390

True.

00:36:53,390 --> 00:36:58,490

Chris questions like a hundred

percent would not advise.

00:36:58,490 --> 00:36:58,910

Yeah.

00:36:58,915 --> 00:36:58,925

Mm-hmm.

00:36:58,930 --> 00:36:59,180

No.

00:36:59,180 --> 00:36:59,360

Yeah.

00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:02,900

There was one in particular that I think

we went like during our lunch break

00:37:02,900 --> 00:37:04,250

and just drank more for some reason.

00:37:04,250 --> 00:37:05,720

I don't know why it was

a terrible decision.

00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:08,500

And, came back and I'm pretty

sure I said like the same phrase

00:37:08,500 --> 00:37:10,240

like 15 times in one podcast.

00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:11,890

And I was like, this is stupid.

00:37:12,010 --> 00:37:12,640

It's a good thing.

00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:14,710

He, he's the editor, so Right.

00:37:14,710 --> 00:37:14,950

Yeah.

00:37:14,950 --> 00:37:17,140

So I got to, it sounded a lot

better 'cause I edited out.

00:37:17,260 --> 00:37:17,440

Yeah.

00:37:17,465 --> 00:37:20,440

But, but in the meantime it was not good.

00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,860

And I think both of us like cut

down our drink just in general.

00:37:23,950 --> 00:37:24,100

Yeah.

00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:26,580

Like at least for me,

like 90% because of that.

00:37:26,585 --> 00:37:29,460

I feel like a lot of people have

now, I don't know man, maybe just

00:37:29,460 --> 00:37:32,850

'cause I'm 45, but like, I just feel

like everyone's tempered a little

00:37:32,850 --> 00:37:34,680

bit more than in my circle at least.

00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:36,030

I'm like, yes, I feel the same way.

00:37:36,090 --> 00:37:36,630

Oh yeah.

00:37:36,750 --> 00:37:36,960

Yeah.

00:37:37,020 --> 00:37:38,310

There's a lot of alternatives anyway.

00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:38,970

True.

00:37:39,780 --> 00:37:43,650

No, I think my new favorite

thing is when a bar has like an

00:37:43,650 --> 00:37:46,440

actual like na cocktail program.

00:37:46,470 --> 00:37:46,710

Yeah.

00:37:47,070 --> 00:37:50,070

And I'm like, time to try something fun.

00:37:50,130 --> 00:37:50,370

Yeah.

00:37:50,550 --> 00:37:54,300

Because like, I, I like alcohol,

but only in the, I'm at the point

00:37:54,300 --> 00:37:58,020

where I like to taste the flavors.

00:37:58,050 --> 00:37:58,200

Mm-hmm.

00:37:58,590 --> 00:38:00,570

That like a good bartender makes a drink.

00:38:00,575 --> 00:38:00,605

Mm-hmm.

00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:03,060

And so that is really when I'm.

00:38:03,585 --> 00:38:04,425

I go out and drink.

00:38:04,425 --> 00:38:08,595

Like I, I look at this, I'm like, okay,

this configuration sounds pretty good.

00:38:08,625 --> 00:38:08,715

Mm-hmm.

00:38:08,955 --> 00:38:12,165

Let me check out like what

their NA menu looks like.

00:38:12,195 --> 00:38:12,255

Yeah.

00:38:12,255 --> 00:38:15,555

Because if they have a good na menu

to go with it is my favorite thing.

00:38:15,555 --> 00:38:16,005

That's true.

00:38:16,625 --> 00:38:22,955

I went to a place in Carolina Beach once

we went on at a double date, my wife and

00:38:22,955 --> 00:38:28,145

I with some friends, and I was like, can

I have a mocktail, like old fashioned?

00:38:28,145 --> 00:38:29,405

And he's like, I'll try.

00:38:29,765 --> 00:38:31,475

It was superbly awful.

00:38:31,475 --> 00:38:32,345

I'm like, never again.

00:38:33,665 --> 00:38:34,175

Yeah, no.

00:38:34,175 --> 00:38:34,880

Like, forget it.

00:38:35,315 --> 00:38:38,855

So yeah, so like I'll do, I think

hop water is, I mean, that's

00:38:38,855 --> 00:38:40,295

just like water, but I love that.

00:38:40,955 --> 00:38:42,065

I'm like, oh man, like

the hops experience.

00:38:42,065 --> 00:38:42,515

I'm like, okay.

00:38:42,515 --> 00:38:45,395

Reminds me of when I was having

stone IPAs and all that good stuff.

00:38:45,395 --> 00:38:45,545

Right.

00:38:45,545 --> 00:38:48,395

So Stone IPAs, it's the good old days.

00:38:48,395 --> 00:38:48,665

Yeah.

00:38:48,875 --> 00:38:51,545

Yeah, dude, I used to live

right there, like at the root.

00:38:51,575 --> 00:38:51,755

Oh.

00:38:51,755 --> 00:38:54,065

I mean, it was in, when I

was stationed in California.

00:38:54,305 --> 00:38:54,635

Oh, wow.

00:38:54,665 --> 00:38:56,615

It was, if you've never been, you will.

00:38:57,005 --> 00:38:59,705

You won't wanna leave, so make

it a point to get out there.

00:38:59,705 --> 00:39:00,545

So that's pretty cool.

00:39:00,695 --> 00:39:03,395

He's been to Cali a few times.

00:39:03,425 --> 00:39:03,485

Yeah.

00:39:03,485 --> 00:39:03,575

Mm-hmm.

00:39:03,935 --> 00:39:05,375

We have not made it out that way.

00:39:05,555 --> 00:39:05,735

Yeah.

00:39:06,305 --> 00:39:09,665

But I do have a, a random question

looking around your studio.

00:39:09,695 --> 00:39:09,965

Yeah.

00:39:10,535 --> 00:39:11,795

It is gorgeous.

00:39:11,825 --> 00:39:12,185

Thank you.

00:39:12,295 --> 00:39:15,055

And I've been following like, the

journey and I love the fact that

00:39:15,055 --> 00:39:16,975

like, some of your walls move Yeah.

00:39:16,975 --> 00:39:18,055

And you can change out.

00:39:18,115 --> 00:39:18,385

Yeah.

00:39:18,385 --> 00:39:21,775

The sections, like who

did you come up with?

00:39:21,775 --> 00:39:27,085

The idea of like interchangeable

areas and kind of like how you

00:39:27,085 --> 00:39:29,875

built it from like one room to Yeah.

00:39:29,875 --> 00:39:30,715

Multi abilities.

00:39:31,045 --> 00:39:37,735

So I have two friends who have studios

and one of 'em doesn't have anything

00:39:37,735 --> 00:39:39,715

special going on in terms of like the set.

00:39:39,745 --> 00:39:42,295

He's very much camera heavy.

00:39:42,805 --> 00:39:44,995

And he goes, don't set

the set, set the shot.

00:39:45,325 --> 00:39:45,955

That's his phrase.

00:39:45,955 --> 00:39:46,645

And I'm like, Hmm.

00:39:46,795 --> 00:39:48,295

And his content is super crispy.

00:39:48,295 --> 00:39:48,775

It's amazing.

00:39:48,865 --> 00:39:49,105

Mm-hmm.

00:39:49,225 --> 00:39:52,345

And I have another friend in Austin,

we used to work at Amazon together.

00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:55,630

He has a studio, it's probably

the most prominent one.

00:39:55,630 --> 00:39:56,590

It's called Media Pouch.

00:39:57,070 --> 00:40:01,840

And he's had Gary V in there Chris, Chris

Williamson of Modern Wisdom films there.

00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:01,900

Yeah.

00:40:01,980 --> 00:40:04,290

Blue Lewis Hamilton's

been there like, oh wow.

00:40:04,410 --> 00:40:05,580

All the heavy Hitt have gone there.

00:40:05,610 --> 00:40:05,880

Yeah.

00:40:06,570 --> 00:40:13,710

Now he has w he had us at, and it

was just like always recognizable

00:40:13,710 --> 00:40:18,345

that that's like, it was filmed there

and I'm like, that's cool for him.

00:40:18,405 --> 00:40:18,825

Mm-hmm.

00:40:18,905 --> 00:40:22,860

But like if I'm a guest or if

I'm a host, like I don't want the

00:40:22,860 --> 00:40:24,900

same set as Chris True or Tyler.

00:40:24,900 --> 00:40:25,200

Right.

00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:26,610

So it's just like one of those things.

00:40:26,610 --> 00:40:28,530

So I was just like, let me see.

00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:33,420

And I did not number one with

this place, there was no market

00:40:33,420 --> 00:40:34,890

outcry for a content studio.

00:40:34,890 --> 00:40:37,620

So like, trust me when I say

like, there's been a lot of

00:40:37,620 --> 00:40:38,820

like trying to make this work.

00:40:38,820 --> 00:40:40,980

I don't know if Wilmington has

appetite for it yet, but it's

00:40:40,980 --> 00:40:42,060

coming around now for sure.

00:40:42,060 --> 00:40:42,150

Right.

00:40:42,180 --> 00:40:42,480

Yeah.

00:40:43,110 --> 00:40:47,070

Two is like, if we're gonna do that,

I just want people to have variety.

00:40:47,070 --> 00:40:48,210

So we have all kinds of.

00:40:48,690 --> 00:40:51,150

Random, you know, stuff.

00:40:51,210 --> 00:40:54,930

But the wall's on wheels, like, you

know, so they each have a, like that,

00:40:55,710 --> 00:40:57,120

the backside of that is different.

00:40:57,120 --> 00:40:59,880

That is exactly the same

on the back except black.

00:41:00,030 --> 00:41:00,180

Okay.

00:41:00,240 --> 00:41:02,760

We have good lights that could

bounce off certain of the things

00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:03,720

that we have and whatever.

00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:06,390

So I just wanted to at least

give people the option now.

00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:11,050

One thing I would say is, and John

actually set this up, so it's kind

00:41:11,050 --> 00:41:15,550

of like this, this 180 degrees always

is, is the part that moves anything

00:41:15,550 --> 00:41:16,870

outside there should never move.

00:41:17,050 --> 00:41:17,170

Gotcha.

00:41:17,170 --> 00:41:18,490

'cause I was doing stuff all the time.

00:41:18,490 --> 00:41:20,830

I'm like, dude, it'd take me like

three hours to set up for a podcast.

00:41:21,580 --> 00:41:22,660

So it was like, what an idiot.

00:41:22,660 --> 00:41:23,890

So like, this is not a good idea.

00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:28,380

But even though it's like easy to move

around and stuff, like, a lot of people

00:41:28,380 --> 00:41:32,310

like that, like, and I, I don't like it,

but like, people like it and I'm like,

00:41:32,310 --> 00:41:34,620

okay, it matters what the people want.

00:41:34,650 --> 00:41:34,920

Yeah.

00:41:34,950 --> 00:41:36,630

So like, good intentions.

00:41:37,140 --> 00:41:38,400

Not the greatest judgment.

00:41:38,430 --> 00:41:40,350

And it's not a, it's not,

it wasn't bad judgment.

00:41:40,350 --> 00:41:44,640

Like, trust me, like we, we've used

a variety, but like, I just wanted it

00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:48,600

to be a little bit more customizable

and that was really important to me.

00:41:48,690 --> 00:41:51,180

And then like the plants and some of

the random stuff we have around here.

00:41:51,180 --> 00:41:52,170

We have shelves of stuff.

00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:52,440

Yeah.

00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:55,440

One of my friends was like, she's like, it

looks like you just like went on a home.

00:41:55,470 --> 00:41:55,950

Good spree.

00:41:55,950 --> 00:41:57,570

I'm like, that's exactly what I did.

00:41:57,570 --> 00:41:58,590

I was like, where's clearance?