512. The One Question That Keeps Listeners Hooked

0:05 Marc Ronick: Good morning Today is Thursday, May, the seventh, 2026, and today the loud, quiet podcast gives us a chance to unpack conversational flow, opening hooks, co host, dynamics, story detours and endings that do more than wrap things up. So if you're listening live on clubhouse, hit the share button, clubhouse lets you. And if you're catching this via podcast, YouTube, etc, please share this with a fellow podcaster. And now give us about 30 seconds, and we'll get things Thanks for being here. The podcasting morning chat is powered by ironic media helping podcasters launch polish and grow great shows, and by content creators, accountant helping creators build real business behind their content.

1:00 Good morning again. Podcasting morning chat. Thank you. Oh, podcasting morning show, darn it, I did it right yesterday. Thank you for being here. I am your host, Marc Ronick and currently on stage with me, my co hosts, we have DR Fay, Ralph Estep, Alex Ballish, Jonathan Howard, Sid Meadows and BC Babbles. You can learn more about all of these people over at podcasting morning show.com/people and before we which I'm really excited about, we want to remind you about our Spotlight series. If you'd like your podcast to be featured on the podcasting morning show for free, no strings attached. Submit a 62nd clip about your show, something that gives people a real feel for your podcast, and if we select it, we'll play the clip on a future episode, share what stood out to us and introduce your show to So all you got to do is submit your clip now at podcasting morning show.com/spotlight we have finally started to receive entries. Thank you to those who have and I want to encourage you please do this.

2:17 This is totally free. There are no strings attached. We just want to find different ways that we can support our community members, and we think this is a great way to do it. And I'm going to encourage my co hosts on stage. This goes for you guys too. This, there's no there are no exceptions to this little series that we're doing here. So if you guys want to do it, Ralph and I are going to withhold hours for the time being. A you're learning all about the podcasting morning show by being here, so no need. And Ralph's a producer, he gets his spotlight every so often here on the show too.

2:59 So we're going to first allow all of the rest of you to get some of that spotlight as well. We're not trying to hog it all. We want to share that spotlight with you. Now I'd love to get in to it, and I'm kind of rushing to get into it, because historically, when we do our evaluation series, we tend to go a little over our hour. So we're going to try to do this loud, quiet, empty nest living hosted by community members Rick and Clancy Denton.

3:40 the empty nest. Stage, Rick and Clancy are married. They raised kids together, and now they're figuring out what life looks like when the house is quieter. parenting role starts changing We can't review all of the episodes, so we asked that they submit one and Rick and Clancy chose, still a student, still our responsibility. Empty Nesters debate episode 130 and before I go any further, if you want to hear the whole episode that we're going to be breaking down today, you can use the link in the show notes or go to podcasting morning show.com/loud quiet. Anyway, the episode centers around a very relatable situation.

4:28 Their son, Tanner, who's in grad school, had a tire issue right before spring break in March. He doesn't ask Rick and Clancy to pay for it, but it does spark a conversation between them and maybe a little friendly debate, and it's all over when your child is still a student, how much responsibility? Still belongs to you, and in this tic responsibility trying to get Ralph's ears to perk up a little bit. Today, we're going to listen to a few short moments from the episode. I have clips to play for you and talk about what the show does well, where the structure could be stronger, and how Rick and Clancy can make the listener experience even clearer.

5:15 But we will not be biased. We will still point out the good, the bad. I can't say the ugly, because I really don't believe there was anything ugly about this show, and for that matter, nothing bad, but maybe room for improvement as well. So we're going to discuss things chemistry as CO hosts, how well the conversation moves from a practical situation into We'll talk about episode flow. We'll talk about structure. We'll talk about the how they end the show with the CTA.

5:57 So here's where I think I want to start. I'm going to ask the room here, and I'm looking here, just about every single person on stage filled out our evaluation form that I ask our team to fill out. It's really just a way to get us that we can have a constructive conversation here. And like I said, vast majority on stage has already done this. So the question I have for you, did you feel like you're understood who this podcast is for, when you pressed play on the episode, when you heard even the whole episode, do you feel like it was understood who this podcast is for? Would anyone like to kick?

6:41 Ralph Estep Jr: Yeah, it was for Yeah. Tell right from the beginning, because this is the very conversation that my wife and I have almost on a daily basis. Marc Ronick: Okay, Ralph Estep Jr: I have a 24 year old out of the house and a 28 year old out of the house, and they know mom is the easy mark, so they always go to her, and I bought that for them. Oh, fantastic. So it was very much directed at me, so it made it very difficult for me to to under I mean, I was so engulfed in it that it was hard for me to think about the mechanics of it, because I was so engaged in the conversation, thinking, wow, this is like my wife and I on a daily basis. So it grabbed me right away. And then, of course, you know, you asked, you said, My Financial ears pop perked up.

7:26 I had some real strong ideas that was, that was a commentary, thing. Marc Ronick: Well, maybe at some as we dig in, I think that question will be more and more visible, more and more center stage, and I think we may want to address some of it too. So if we have some time, we'll do that. In the meantime, let's check in with Sid. Go ahead. Sid, good morning. Sid Meadows: Good morning, everybody. So like Ralph, I am the ideal client of this podcast. I have two kids that are both away at college, and I happen to know Rick and Clancy personally. Met them at Empower podcasting too. And, yeah, I mean, I knew exactly who it was for and what this is about, for sure.

8:10 And to Ralph's point, Oh, I saw so an easy mark. It's really funny how they call her when they call me Marc Ronick: and Sid, even if you didn't know Rick and Clancy personally, you still feel the wealth. Sid Meadows: I mean, empty nesting. I mean, I post about Adventures of empty nesting, right? And when we on our Facebook page, when we go to our travel and stuff. So, yeah, I mean, easily, this is for me. Even if I didn't know that, I would know this was for me. There's a discoverability issue, I think, with the title that I'm But yes, I would have thought, because this conference, we've had this conversation. So I think we have a different opinion. Maybe it's just a different way we parent. The key here, this will hit a nerve with you. This episode, I think, hits a nerve with you on your parenting style.

9:01 Marc Ronick: Yeah, and I see emphatically, okay, yeah. And you know what I do want to do that. I'm going to keep things moving. And I know that historically, we've gone back and forth when we want to talk about the branding, quote, unquote, of the podcast we're evaluating. And I want to do it first, and I want to do it efficiently. And since Sid brought up the name. Let's start there. So before we listen to clips, we'll spend just a few minutes on the packaging of the show. So first, let's talk about the series name and the episode title. And we'll start with the series name, the loud quiet is the full name. Well, actually the full name is the loud, quiet, empty nest living. So the loud, quiet is the name of the podcast, their subtitle that follows, empty nest living.

9:48 Now, Sid, you. Let's go to you. You said that you think there could be a discoverability problem because of the name. Let's hear a little more. And I know several people agree with you, by the way, Sid Meadows: yeah, I don't know. loud, quiet into, you know, my name came from, and so I don't I think I could probably try to decipher it, but I don't not thinking that way. My issue with it is when I went into the apple search bar and I typed empty nesting or empty nester, there was no show. Couldn't find it anywhere. But when I typed empty nest like, showed up everywhere, because it's in their title, right?

10:29 And it showed up like number four on the shows, and several other episodes showed up when you looked at the episode only page. I think about myself, and when I find out things or try to discover things for empty nesters to do, or life about empty nesting, those are the keywords that I use. I don't use empty tests. So I just I've never typed or never said we're doing empty nests, or we're in an empty nest, right? I use one empty nester empty nesting, and I think those are stronger keywords. So for a discoverability issue, I think I might consider trying to add that somewhere that you show up under those was it?

11:10 I believe you could do research to the most powerful keywords, right? using one of those other Marc Ronick: I yeah, I had no that direction. I thought you were going to really pick apart the loud quiet, which that one I connect with, as far as what its meaning is, right? It's that it feels very loud in the house because it's so quiet, because you're so used to having multiple kids running around, driving them around, doing all the things, and then all of a sudden, it's very quiet, and that feels very loud. Sid Meadows: Thank you. Thank you. That makes dude, I've said that so many times because I was empty nesting, and I'm like, It's quiet, like the house.

11:52 There's no patter, pitter patter of feet anywhere anymore. So now, like when you said that, I went, Oh, wow. Again, now, but again, that's not an I'm gonna search, right? So if I'm an empty nester or a new empty nester trying to figure out how to maneuver through life without your kids being at home, those are not words that I am going to type into the search bar to try to find a podcast about Marc Ronick: Yeah, and just so you guys know, like I've shared, they hired me as their That was one of the first questions I had for them was, Are you sure you want to go with the loud quiet? Because I don't think that's something that your audience is searching for. And they were very sure.

12:33 They were adamant. No, we're not changing it. They a, they really like the name, and I do like the name too. And B, they named their book that, I think that's the name of their business as well. So look, I think that advice givers, we might up with the don't get too clever titles. And I appreciate that Rick and Clancy added that tagline. And to Sid, to your point, yeah, I think of it like that. But you're right, if I'm going to go search, I'm not going to search empty nest if I'm looking for some answers, some value for me as an empty nester, I'm going to look for empty nester.

13:17 So they could simply change that tagline to empty nester living, and then boom, then they might come up a lot more. Like you said, if that's what people are searching for, great advice. I appreciate that. And team, I know several if you have something to add to this, not just reiterate what Sid and I are talking about, But I really want to keep this moving, because I have lots of clips to play, so Ralph Estep Jr: I would just flip it. I would flip the third word you said first, and then the loud client, the loud quiet as the subtitle, and then I'll let us move on. I would just flip it, because I think that would still allow them their business, name their book, name their branding, but I think it would be more easy to search. If they flipped it, D.R.

14:02 Fay: I agree I would flip it also, but also, you have to ask, they named this after their But what about the next book they're going to write? Another book they're not going to are they going to change the podcast name when the new book comes out? Marc Ronick: So, but I think it is all part of that brand, that packaging, right? Like maybe their new book might be about something totally different. Who knows? Or they may never write a book. But I think my point is that, you know, this is all part of this chapter of their life, Lots of podcasts, lots of authors end up creating podcasts with their book titles, yeah, D.R. Fay: and I personally think improved upon, because usually third book, and it just would be want to say the word generic, but it would be something that's more encompassing all the books.

14:58 My other thing. Is that the branding, the cover art, and I know we don't talk a lot about the cover art from now on, because it's more visual, but the colors that they have chosen, I tend to think that color combination is more for why a young audience you know more for a kids kind of thing I see, BC nodding his head, I would think that there'd be some kind of more sophistication is not the right word either. I hate words in the morning, so mouth says glory, and guess I Did I say that out loud? But you know what I mean, something that moves it out of the adolescent kind of feel.

15:52 And the font, the there's like a two color, tri color thing on the font. Marc Ronick: Yeah, by the way, anybody wants to go to podcasting. Morning show.com/join us. You can check out the video feeds. I'm sharing the image of their cover image right now. D.R. Fay: Yeah, so that's, that's what I have to say. I see that. BC is agreeing with me a little Alex Ballish: bit there. Yeah, really is. It's, it's hard, because when you're trying to pick something. You put all you put all your eggs in that basket. And as much as I don't think that the title, Ralph said, flip it or do something, I mean, they're going with it, they may have to make a tweak here or there. So, you know, at the end of the day, let's get to the next clip.

16:37 Marc Ronick: Yeah, right, mic. I want to give you the respect and give you the mic. Jonathan Howard: It's, it's fine. I personally think that the it stands out in their in their niche of things like so when you search empty minesters It's bright, it's bold. I personally don't hate it. And I think it, you know, it says all the things it needs to say on it, Marc Ronick: Yep, I agree with you. I think it's eye catching, for sure. I think it stands out in a sea of podcast covers. And I Yeah, and it's like you said, it's big and bold. It has everything you need to see to understand what the show is about. So yeah, I'm with you there, Jonathan. All right, I want to get to quickly the episode title. Okay, so that episode title, of course, now I've lost it in because I was trying to do too many things at once. Here it is, the episode title, still a student, still our responsibility.

17:35 How do we feel? Quickly? Dr, I'll come to you. How do you feel about that episode title? D.R. Fay: I think the title is It says exactly what the show is about. I was trying to retitle it in my mind, and quite frankly, I couldn't come up with anything that was better than that. Yeah, so I it's fine. Marc Ronick: I think especially when you think about their offer, yeah, it's perfect, Alex, it. Alex Ballish: What did Ralph? Ralph was like, ready to start yelling at his wife after the title. I mean, honestly, you know, this is a struggle that everybody deals with that has kids, whether they're, you know, always dealing with it. Marc Ronick: Yeah, yep.

18:21 All right, let's keep things moving. Sid Meadows: Have a quick. Okay, go ahead. Sid Meadows: Sid, read the title Marc Ronick: Oh, just, just here our responsibility. Sid Meadows: Okay, Marc Ronick: by the way, I was on it goes on to say empty nesters debate. Sid Meadows: Okay, I thought I responsibility, and I wasn't Yeah, so we're good. It uses the word our hour, Marc Ronick: yes, Sid Meadows: so that's good. Marc Ronick: Okay, cool, cool. So this first clip, let me do this. This first clip. This is the opening of the episode where he can Clancy. because the show has officially passed 10,000 downloads and this happened last month. That's a meaningful milestone, and it's a nice community building moment.

19:09 Let me play it, and then let's talk about it Clip: this week on the loud quiet, still a student, still our responsibility. Empty Nesters debate. Hey everyone, welcome back to the loud, quiet. Hey, before we get into today's episode, we want to say thank you. Thank you, because we just received notice that we have And while we say we've gone over it, it's actually you, you the listener, you the viewer, you're this, you're the ones that are And we are so appreciative that this little idea that started as something just for Clancy and me to stay connected has become, well, something that you actually care about you enjoy and as a part of your weekly rhythm.

19:52 And we thank you all for allowing us to hit that milestone. Yeah, we do. We really appreciate it. And you know, for we are, I. Well into March, and as we talked about last week, March Madness is going on. It is currently on our TV downstairs, while we are game. We are taking the time to record, because we know there are people out there listening. This week, we wanted to talk about supporting your children. We have, we have talked about that topic quite a bit, and we had a call from our son Tanner this week, and his tire was had a slow leak.

20:41 Marc Ronick: Okay, so how do you as a listener, how did how did And I'm going to go to BC first, because I saw he raised his hand as the clip was playing. So go for it. BC, what are your thoughts? BC Babbles: I like that. Eventually they let us know that we're talking about grad school here, not an undergrad student, I don't know, from the parents perspective, I don't have that, but I don't know if like undergrad would be quite the time. You would say, Oh, they're the market and whatnot. But I do like that they provided this kind of foundational story, you know, where it's kind of like one of those things, where it can happen at any time, but it's happening now that they're in grad school been kind of out there for a while, and what prompts the question, are we still going to try to take this on ourselves as parents, or is this the time to make sure that this kid can fly on his own? I also wanted to say earlier with the title of the episode, I kind of wish they would have gone all caps with the first still to kind of be like, still a student, right, still a responsibility, right to kind of Because, again, I don't know about that point in their lives, you're ready to push them out of the nest at that point, but my caveat, Marc Ronick: okay, so fair, and this is the advantage slash disadvantage of listening to the whole episode, because in that intro, they didn't really set anything up yet, other than share with us that they hit 10,000 and that they were grateful for it, right?

22:10 So I'm curious, the main episode topic doesn't fully arrive until about, really a minute in, right? Because they were about a you before they even teased what and even that tease that followed the 10,000 downloads, it really wasn't enough yet for me to, like, sink my teeth into it and understand, as a fellow empty nester, what about supporting our kids like it's not enough context For me yet, and when we hear talk about often get to the point at the very beginning, tell us why we should be listening to this. And that didn't happen. So, yeah, I'll just jump ahead instead of try to pull it out of everybody.

22:55 I think that's a problem, right? I think that it's important to I think that is something that that helps you connect and bond with your audience. But I think we did it a little too soon. I think Rick and Clancy wanted to do would would have benefited, or really, their audience would have benefited, doing it a little bit later, maybe after they've really set up the show. Now, Ralph, I know see you raise your hand Ralph Estep Jr: Absolutely. I think they lost out on a strategic thing. They could have went right to the story. Hey, we got this call from our son the other day. I think that would have set the table so much better. That kind of stuff. About 10,000 downloads. I actually would put that at the end of the episode.

23:36 I think that's for the true believers, your people who are in there, because they're going to listen to the whole thing anyway, and that's the people you really want to say, hey, thank you for this. But at the front end, I would have got right into the story, because the tension would have started immediately. You said, Oh, I got to hear this, because this happened to us last week. Marc Ronick: Yeah. And I like that. They first start with the setup, right? They didn't just say, Hey, thanks for the 10,000 they first said on. And they do this on all their episodes, they say, Hey, on this episode of The loud, quiet we're discussing, and they say that episode title, I think that they should dig in deeper after they do that like I think it works to say that what the episode title is, then give us more. You know, it's Rick's voice. He, you know, you could say Clancy.

24:17 And I get into a big debate about whether or not we should still be paying for our students things when they're now a grad in grad school, right? Just even that alone might give you just enough. I could see Ralph and Sid who have said they are so relate to this content. I could see them lean in, leaning in right away when you set it up that way, whereas, opposed to, if you're a new listener, it's cool. You might be like, Oh, this is cool. A lot of people are downloading this show, right? But you're not interested yet. You don't really, you may not really care that they've hit 10,000 downloads. You'll care once they hook you, once you feel like they are your people.

24:57 So, yeah, just a little thought. There is. Does anyone else want to chime in at all? Okay, Jonathan, go ahead, yeah. And then we'll go to Sid. I Jonathan Howard: just wanted to say and kind of touched on it. Need a hook right at the beginning of and they needed some more hooks throughout the episode as well, just to kind of give it structure, but right at the beginning that I felt like they needed a hook to tell me what the episode is about, to get me interested in the episode Go ahead. Sid, Sid Meadows: all right, can you hear me, Mark? Marc Ronick: I sure can. Sid Meadows: So I love today on the loud, quiet, I love that hook, right? I love that or that setup, right? Today on the loud quiet, Clancy and I are debating, when do we stop paying for our students while they're in college or something like that, right?

25:42 And so I really like that, because it does tell you at the very, very beginning what are they going to be debating. Because we know that it's a bit of a debating show, right? And talking back and forth. I also think I don't like the use of the term we've episode till later, but I don't like the use of the term of grad student, in my mind as an empty nester, there's no distinction between being a undergrad student and a grad student. They are still a student. That's my mind. This may go to parenting, right? Marc Ronick: Yeah, Sid Meadows: but in my mind, there's still a student. So I would not distinguish the two. missed if I was a brand new listened to this show before, be lost as to who they are, whatsoever, you assume, and you come to this show episode 130 that you know who they are, Hey, I'm Rick plank. See, we've been married for 30 years, and we're recently empty nesting, and we're going to be talking to you all about the life of an empty nester or something to that effect, right? At least, tell me who you are.

26:44 There was no introduction. Mine's really short. Hey, I'm sinned as I'm your host. I just really quick, but I think there's could benefit from tell me who you are, especially my brand new listener, because you kind of content. Marc Ronick: I appreciate that suggestion. Sid, yeah. And I also appreciate what you said, like, what how you do it on your show. It's real quick. It's one line. It's just a way to set up so that new listeners really have a sense of who they're listening to. I think that's really important. Thank you for that one. Sid, all right, where shall we go? Let's you know, one interesting thing about the intro also is really as far as the setup goes. The clip I want to play next is where the story turns into a reason to keep listening.

27:28 Clancy asks a question, and I think that's really the hook, right? So, yeah, I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to play it first or set it up more. But I'm just going to play it. Let's get into it. Clip: I have a history of having cannot lie, even big. No, rims are big, yeah. Okay, anyways, we're not talking about me here. Okay, so this brought about a little bit of discussion between resonated with the name y'all what did we buy the tire? Did we buy the tire?

28:20 What? What did we decide, and how did we get to that decision? And let's, let's start with this by saying we were not asked to buy the tire. There was no request that was So this is really yours and my internal discussion, not that we even thought of it that way, but of supporting your adult kids Yes. And I think we brought some assumptions yes into this, because my knee jerk reaction was, well, that sucks, and it does suck, yeah, but it sucks. Good luck. Yeah, that's what savings is for. Marc Ronick: Yeah. So I'll come to you in a second. This was the other part I was hesitating to share before playing the clip, and I'm glad I waited this whole thing that Rick adds in that Tanner never actually asked them to pay for it. That makes that makes the dilemma more interesting, because now this isn't just about helping a kid.

29:15 It's about boundaries and money and adulting and how parents decide when or when they should or shouldn't step in, right? So I actually like that. And again, this all it took about three minutes to get to this moment. And I think this moment, something like it, is what we're Ralph, you wanted to add something? Ralph Estep Jr: Yeah, actually. And I thought her story about the big tires and all that was kind of misplaced, because I thought the better way to go would have been that whole discussion of, well, he didn't actually ask us for it, because if you're a parent, that's what the kids do. They don't come right out and ask, they go, Mom, I gotta get some new tires.

29:59 I'm not sure. Know, how I'm going to pay for it, that would have been more impactful for me. Mark the story about the big rims that I don't lie, that's kind of funny, but I just don't know that it played. They were trying to take this and that tension that they have between the two of them, Marc Ronick: well, for more context, I appreciate that. For more context, you know, I think what was happening prior to where we started the clip, they were getting into a little bit of banter, and I actually appreciated that moment. That's why I left it in there, because I liked that we got to get to know the host a little bit, right? I think that helps with the listeners, connection to the hosts, right? And the fact that they were being playful, they were giggling, they were having a little bit of fun. I just feel like that sets the right tone, the style of their show, right?

30:43 And I also appreciate, and we're going to get to this as well, that Clancy does a great job of getting them back on track when they do go on tangents, because they do sometimes, and again, I don't mind a tangent every so often on a podcast, like I said, So I just think, yeah, I think that there is a time and a place, and Clancy does a great job a couple of times through the episode saying, Okay, we're getting off track. Or she doesn't even announce that, where they're getting off track. She just reels it back in. And I think that's an important thing, especially when you have more than one co host that the CO that you know, you got each other's back and you got the shows back.

31:24 Anything else anyone wants to add about this clip before I go into the next one? D.R. Fay: Okay? Marc Ronick: Dr, has something go ahead. Dr, D.R. Fay: yeah, I didn't mind the banter. I think it helped establish the chemistry, even for a new listener like myself, I think it established the chemistry between them, the playfulness between them, yeah, so that's what I have to Marc Ronick: say. Fair enough. Fair enough. Okay, so now, is it safe? All right, before I go any moment and share tomorrow's Ralph Estep Jr: Oh, thank you, Tomorrow, we've got the famous Rob Greenlee going to join the show. We're going to talk about a little kerfuffle he's been in over the word used to fringe as it relates to podcasting 2.0 but Rob's been gracious enough to join us.

32:17 about his insight and why he that word the next time over. So come join us tomorrow. We're gonna talk about podcasting 2.0 we're gonna talk about AI and we're talking about where the whole industry is going from a dude who's been there from very much to beginning a Hall of Fame winner and a guy that we can all look up to. We don't always agree with everything he says, but we want to give him the opportunity to tell us what his insights are. So make sure you join us tomorrow morning for Marc Ronick: that. Yeah, and we don't agree with each other all the time here as well. So that's nothing new, nothing different with this show. And we love Rob, so tune in tomorrow, 8am Eastern podcasting morning show.com/join us. All right, let's go to this next clip. This clip is the one, or at least it's one of the best examples of what I think the loud quiet does. Well, the episode starts with a practical parenting question, should we pay for our adults, sons, tires.

33:17 becomes more personal, because about how they communicate as a couple, and how that's changed over time, and how this decision both of them. So let me play this next clip Clip: how we process choosing to adult kid, and it opened up some assumptions that we bring to And so we got off the phone, and I turned to you and I said, So are we not gonna help him out with that at all? And this goes to that I felt like I could directly ask you that question. I may not have felt that way several years ago. Why that's interesting.

34:03 That makes me sound like an ogre, and I've never well, okay, you know what? I think maybe, no, I don't think it's that. I think maybe I came at it a little softer. I think I probably maybe a few years ago would have said, Hey, we're gonna help him with that. question that makes Okay, that sitting there going, Whoa, right? That's not how I've approached No, no, our life in our marriage, no, I think I probably I came at it a little differently. Oh, I can tell you how you would have said it five or six years ago. You're not gonna pay for the tire. Oh no. You know what I probably would and say, hey, we'll pay for your text ago. What?That's not what I thought, Okay? Because that's actually, I know, yeah, because as the mom, I just want to be like, Oh yes, we'll, we'll help you. Won't do it.

35:01 Marc Ronick: I think Jonathan mic is unmuted. Jonathan, did you? Jonathan Howard: Oh, that was But can add in, I think they did a phenomenal job touching on all the different angles that were going on in their head during this conversation, and kind of showing people what, you know, how they thought through a lot of this, because as it continues, they even go into, well, it was the male son, not the daughter, and, like all of that stuff, and how that would play out differently. And I thought they did a really good job exploring that. And it was interesting to hear insights. That, Marc Ronick: yeah, I'm with you there. Jonathan, I think, yeah, it's very revealing as to who they are. We get to really get to know them again.

35:43 Great for connecting with your audience. I'm with you there. Did anyone else want to chime in on anything here? Sid, go ahead. Sid Meadows: You know this whole first listened to it, I wrote in at the time that part of the bit too long. And I think I said that was too long and maybe a little misplaced. But now hearing it again, I changed my mind about that. Marc Ronick: Okay, Sid Meadows: but this communication issue is a big topic in the life of empty nesters. Marc Ronick: How do we Sid Meadows: communicate? Who do they communicate with that would make and how they do it. I love the very natural flow and, like, What do you mean? I'm an ogre kind of thing that's very much we see that happen in real life, you know, with no mics on. And I think it's a really important conversation that could be had in a separate episode, just about, how do you communicate as empty nesters, and how do you or how do you or how do you communicate with your kids? How do you stay on the same page, so that they see a united front, not a divided front, those kind of because it's a really, really important topic, as we because, just like our kids are learning to navigate school, we are learning to navigate a house without children, right? And so I think it's a really important topic. And now thank you for the for changing my perspective on it. Marc Ronick: Yeah, you're welcome, and thank you for sharing yours.

37:04 You know, I've asked them, when I was working with them, to save some of their quote, unquote discussions, their actual, real life discussions for the show, to make the those moments feel even more raw and real, which I was giggling because I know that's really hard. I've talked about it with my wife, Amy, before, like, because we want to, actually, we've talked about the idea, the desire to do a podcast together, and I've said to her, maybe one angle is when we have a beef with one another, we save Ralph, I know you're shaking your head, but I would, I would be willing to bet it would be a very engaging show.

37:48 Ralph Estep Jr: I'm sure it But when I'm going to go back to ogre, because I've been called ogre many times, like, I think my kids think that's my name. I'm dad slash ogre. So when they said that, I was like, yeah, man, I am the ogre, and I'm a proud ogre marker. Marc Ronick: Okay? Shrek. So I think what works here is that the conversation feels really lived in. They're not performing a debate, right? They're letting us hear how the debate actually works inside their relationship for a show about empty nest living, that's really valuable because the audience probably isn't looking just for advice, right? They're looking for They want to hear people processing the same weird, emotional, everyday stuff that they're processing.

38:33 So the strength of this show is clearly the organic relationship dynamic, but organic conversation brings a challenge too, because you could ask, how do you let the conversation breathe without letting the listener lose the thread? Right? So that'll bring us to this next clip, four, where they're sharing a moment where Clancy's actually acknowledging they may be getting off topic. This is what I was mentioning earlier. the off topic moment also their relationship and how they process these decisions that they make together. So let's take a listen.

39:13 Clip: I really do think we in our business discussions than discussions. Yeah, and I know we're totally getting off topic, but we're opening the door into our relationship for you guys. So I feel like our relationship side, I don't feel like there's been as much controversy on that because, maybe because a lot of it gets taken up, we're just gonna agree because we're fatigued in discussing, I mean business, because we have to discuss so much.

39:54 Could be with the business We're so happy when we aren't discussing those things, that we're just happy to be together. Maybe that mean, maybe so, and I think that's an example of what we're talking about here, that the fire may be in the business, but in this case is like, push back on Yeah, tell me what you're thinking about. Marc Ronick: So the question have stayed in the episode? The better question now is, how do you help the listener understand why the detour matters, right? So, what are your thoughts? Did the detour deepen this episode for you, or did it start to pull you away from the original question?

40:35 Your thoughts? Ralph Estep Jr: I thought the detour was fine mark, but one thing I just remembered when I was listening to this more of a structure thing, and I don't know if anybody else picked it up. Did anybody else think the Ralph Estep Jr: too close? Yes, like, and I'm not, this isn't a criticism. No, no. It's all through the whole thing. And I it reminded me in that clip to answer your first question, I thought the detour was fine, and I thought it was actually endearing and made you more and built the relationship, sure, and I felt through the whole thing, the cuts were just way too close, like I would have let it breathe a little bit more, because it was almost like, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And I think I was an editing decision. I'm assuming I don't do their editing. I'm not an editor, but it felt a little too close to me. Marc Ronick: Yeah. I mean, look, there are moments that I appreciate, like they certainly intentionally leave in long pauses on it at times, because sometimes Clancy does take a moment. She takes a beat before she kind of gathers her thoughts, which I appreciate, no no criticism there, right? But yeah, what does does anyone else agree with that? Like, Yeah, I heard, and I've talked with them about their editing before, because they are doing their own editing, and I respect that, right?

41:41 And there are moments where the edits are a little too tight. And I think that, I do believe that even an average listener might hear that and kind of cock their head like, Huh, what just happened there, right? They may not even know it was a quote, unquote bad edit, but it might be a little jarring or confusing to an average listener. I'm going to go to BC and then Sid, go ahead, BC, BC Babbles: yeah, I would say. In contrast, there are some moments where edits don't happen I forget quite where it was, but it's an earlier part of the episode where there's just this unnecessarily long dead space pause, yeah, and something that Clancy is saying.

42:21 And I'm like, that could have been easily two and a half seconds shorter, like right there, easily, Marc Ronick: to be honest with you, I might have tightened a couple of those pauses a little bit that you heard here today, just for the sake of keeping things moving here on the show. Yeah, you too. Yes, good, yes. So I hear you there. BC, and I could, I would say again, I like having longer pauses. I like keeping those in, because it does sometimes create some tension, right? Like, I lean in. I'm like, where is Clancy gonna go? Right now, right? Like, but I think they could be a little tighter to your point as well. BC, I'm with you there. Sid, yeah, oh, go ahead. Well, let's finish from BC first, go ahead.

43:02 BC Babbles: BC, go ahead. Marc Ronick: Okay, go ahead. Sid, Sid Meadows: yeah, I don't listen like you guys listen. Marc Ronick: Yeah. Sid Meadows: I'm not listening for those editing things. And I didn't notice anything. I did notice the pauses were a little bit long, but I also understand the power of the pause, yeah, but the cuts you're talking about, I don't notice any of that. I don't know where the cut was too short, or because I don't listen like that. I listen as a consumer and to learn something, or to be educated, or whatever it is, right? So I don't listen to any of that, but, but again, listening to this clip, I think this show actually underlying, without actually even saying it is really about a couple learning to navigate and communicate together. They talk about communicating in business and communicating in real life, or, you know, as a couple. That's really what this show is about, because, because I said a minute ago, I mean, navigating the life of being an empty Master is not easy.

43:56 You have to do so many different things and, you know, and so it's, I think that's really, this is about communication. This is about communication. This is about how couples communicate. And this is a topic that is happens all the time when you have kids in college, like, who pays for what? But this is really about how you communicate as a couple, and how, in my mind, how you maintain your relationship, How you can see, because your life has changed so much when your kids leave, it's almost like you're dating again, and you have to, honestly, have to relearn that skill, if you will. So I think this is more about what this show is about than just the experiences of being empty, messy. It's about couples communicating effectively together, and I will add to stay together, Marc Ronick: I'm with you.

44:44 It's relatability. That's the factor of this show. That's what makes it a good show for their target audience. They're very relatable, and they say it. They put a disclaimer in their show notes. They say it on the show. I believe that this is not ad. Advice. They're not telling you what's wrong or what's right. experience, and you'll either with it. But I think it's all still relatable. And you know, in a conversational podcast, when we have tangents like this, they can be great when they're what Sid has discovered, digging a little help, so I think even know, the reason this matters is really about the tire. It's about how we talk through parenting decisions now that our And I'm not saying you have to say that, right?

45:41 But like, because I think in this case, we can connect those dots. But sometimes I think it helps if you've gone on a big tangent to bring it home and to try to tie a ribbon around it when you can. Sid Meadows: So Mark Junaid ask a really good question in the chat. He says he might have missed it at the top of the episode, but what's their goal for this podcast, do you know? Marc Ronick: Do I know their goal? Their goal is to be a a stomping ground for empty nesters, to build a community of empty nesters and to work as a nest life. Is that okay? So, oh yeah. Sid Meadows: I think it's great.

46:24 a really good question. I also think you know something like as again, this goes back to parenting. I know the answer to this question. If I weren't listening for an evaluation, I probably would have dropped off really soon, because I know the answer to this question. I know how I would answer this question, right and but I think I'm saying that to say is that maybe the setup of something going to go to how you parent, they made, but how we make Or, you know, why we made this decision, what decision would you make? Because if they had done a shout out to me or given me a way to communicate to them, whether it's through speak pipe or text them or whatever, how would you answer this question? What would you have done in this situation?

47:14 responded, this is what I would have done, right so, because you're going to have difference of opinions from parents who are navigating the same journey than what their banter was right, or what their decision was, or even how they got there. So I think that there, there's a way here to get your audience involved in a question like this, because a lot of parents are going to have an immediate answer like I have Marc Ronick: totally with you great advice. Sid, yeah, bring it back to the audience and get them involved in the conversation by asking them a question and then maybe reiterating that question. Facebook group, a pretty active one, the growing one. They could put that question in there as a follow up to the episode as well. Yeah.

47:57 BC, is this a legacy? Hand raise, or did you actually want to add BC Babbles: something? It's a new hand raise. Marc Ronick: Okay, go forward BC Babbles: to the same point. when you back, when you were keep the name loud quiet, probably better SEO approaches think the choice of loud quiet their perspective audience to is what I'm looking for. The loud, quiet, I totally get that new, empty, lack of kid spawned ambiance in the house. What do I do now? So I think that's that artists too artistic or not, are not SEO enough or not.

48:39 I think that's a great, nuanced choice to all the same points that were just brought up. Marc Ronick: I love it. Thank you for that. BC, all right, so this next clip, we're on our final two, and I think we're doing fairly well on time here. I'd probably call this one of their strongest moments, too. This is so I think actually this was BC alluded to this part of the podcast episode, Clancy asks Rick a clean comparison question. She says, if their daughter Tegan called with the same tire issue, what would Rick do? Right? So let me play this for you. Clip: The first thing I said said, Hey, Dad, my tire has a replaced. Would you pay for it?

49:27 It was a great question to ask, because it hit on all the categories that some are subconscious, some are conscious, that were going on in my mind, in the assumption that I had walking in of No, of course, we're not going to pay for it. And the answer to your question was yes, I bet we would have. And the reason no, we would have not, I bet. I think that's fine to say. I guess whenever I'm trying to kind of that way. You. And it was interesting to kind of process through the factors behind that, and one of them is undergrad versus graduate, right? There's something mentally and I think it's because I didn't go to graduate school, so I've thought of myself as a student a I'm not in the, quote, real world until I graduated from my undergraduate experience.

50:26 And so because that's when I became a I'm in the real world, that has been this mental line in my mind of all right, you are still under kind of the parental influence support and a deeper sense of influence and support when you're an undergrad. So that alone was factor number one. And before we go into any of the your mind? Marc Ronick: Okay, so did that comparison create the clearest turning point in the episode? Yeah. Sid, see you raising your hand. Go for Sid Meadows: it. This question made me hit the stop button, because I have a daughter and a son, yeah, and I'm like, holy crap. Do we treat them differently?

51:11 Do we have higher expectations on him? Because he's a boy, and when we push him to do something that we would not push her to do, she's the older one, right? Made me stop and really think about as a parent, what do we do? And I don't know that I came up to an answer, but wow, what an amazing question. Because I can tell you, if you have children of opposite sex, you've had this question come up. This has come up in your brain, are we treating her differently than we treat him? Because that's usually the case. We're going to treat the girl differently. And I kind of am going to sit with Rick a little bit like, Yeah, I think I do treat her a little bit different. I'm easier on her, Marc Ronick: right Sid Meadows: and so, but yeah, it made me. It literally made me hit the stop button and go, Wow.

51:58 Does he notice, if we're doing it enough, does he notice that we're doing it right? I mean, like the impact on him so but you know, my position on this is, they're both in school, and mom and dad are going to pay for whatever they need. Doesn't matter that she's in graduate school and he's in undergraduate school. Doesn't matter that he's on scholarship and she's not on scholarship. Doesn't matter that she lives in London, he lives in Kansas. It doesn't matter there are kids. And this is what I mean about is a very different people have different parenting styles, and for mine, it's never even a question. He's had these issues. Like, hey, this is what happened to my truck. I'm like, go to this. Go to the place. And I remember this vividly.

52:40 He had something break on his truck. And I'm like, just go to the shop and get him to fix it. You have a credit card. They each have a credit card. Like, here's a credit card. I don't have to give them. You got the credit card. Go get it fixed, because your safety is more important than saving money. It's a vehicle issue, right? And what did he do? He orders the part on mine. He tries to fix it himself, and he can't. He brings a buddy over and try to fix it himself, and he can't. He finally gets to school, and one of his buddies at school helps him fix it so he could save 200 bucks. I appreciate that, but not necessary, right? And so that's why this question, just like, made me stop and like, think, do we treat them differently? And I think at the core of the answer is, yeah, we do treat them differently, and it's something now that I will always think about. So thank you for asking that question, Marc Ronick: yeah. And yeah.

53:28 I mean, I think it hits a lot of areas, right? It hits on their roles as parents. It hits on their children, their genders, undergrad versus grad, and how differently we might treat each child without even realizing it. So, yeah, great that. So that's what Sid just demonstrated, is that, again, this episode that we're evaluating really speaks to the target audience, right? Dr, you wanted to add something? D.R. Fay: Yeah, I did excuse me for their new listeners, I just want to remind both of the hosts new name in the episode, for Tegan? Is that the name Tegan?

54:15 Marc Ronick: Yep, D.R. Fay: I probably would have said if I had been Clancy. Well, Tegan, our daughter, Marc Ronick: yes, yes, D.R. Fay: so, and that would be for the new listeners. Now, I know we're getting short on time, and I just wanted to mention, Marc Ronick: yeah, D.R. Fay: like, the biggest been missed is a mid roll for you know, whatever they want to sell at the time. Yeah, utilize the whoosh that we do all the time in our episodes and get is sell some books. At least it might pay for your hosting platform, you know.

54:55 Marc Ronick: Yeah, absolutely. I think that's a great suggestion. Thank you. Dr, okay. Let's because, as you pointed out, we are short on time, and I'm asking everybody, please stick around, because we're really getting close to wrapping up here. But I want to play let's see. Yeah, let's play it. This is the final resolution to the episode, plus the CTA, and this is where they reveal what they did, and they explain why they feel comfortable with their they don't frame their choice as the only right answer. This is what we were talking Like they say this is their decision, because look, different audiences that are listening to their show, different people in their audience might be in different positions, right? There might be some people listening that are in a financial position where they can't keep paying for their kids now that they're in grad school or beyond. Or maybe there are also parents that are out there that think I just that's just not our responsibility anymore, and they got to learn now on their own, right? So, but so I like how they do that, and I want to, let's just get to it right now, and if I can't remember if this clip reveals what their decision was. So if it doesn't, I'll share at the end. So Clip: I think we've kind of revealed what the answer to this is.

56:09 And we did choose to buy the So in the end, we did, and there's parts I'm very comfortable the decision, and even the way we phrased it was that you're still a student. We got this, and he was super appreciative. There's still a twinge in me that's like, are we enabling? It's keeping that sort of radar up. And there's people listening that may go, Yeah, you made the wrong choice. I don't think we made the wrong choice, knowing all of the factors that fed into our decision, we made our choice. So it's not the wrong choice. It was the choice that we decided to make. People may not agree with it, but it was our choice. And I think that's very, very true. I think it's easier to make that when you do see them being responsible adults in other ways want to, yeah, help them out when things do mess up their plans, which we all know, like I said, that will continue to happen. So let them be a kid for a little bit longer, while they can.

57:13 So yes, so I'm sure y'all have all had things that you've helped your kiddos out with, or, you know, maybe you've chosen to tell them, I can't Maybe you maybe just can't, and that's valid reason too. Oh yeah. So you know, we hope you all enjoyed this episode. And check us out at the loud quiet.com and also check out our book on Amazon, the loud quiet. And thanks for joining us on another episode of the loud, quiet, Marc Ronick: okay, so yeah, there was that CTA and Dr, I agree with you. We're waiting till the very end of the show to do that. And a lot of people may not be there for that very last moment. They may have just pressed stop, because they know they got the resolution. They heard the wrap up, and they think, Okay, I'm done, and they move on.

57:59 And plus, at the ending, they tend to make it too short. If it was a mid roll, they could expand a little bit on the book, and you know what it's about, and how they came to write it, and stuff like that. Absolutely, I agree with you, and I think that the where this ending does work well, it answers the episode's main question. It makes room for listeners who may see the decision differently, and it widens the story from Rick and Clancy's specific situation to the listeners own parenting choices, right? And so we've already, I have some notes here about the CTA, but I think we've hit it right. Like they, yeah, they couldn't really expand much more because they were at the very end of the show, and it would probably would have been even more effective if they did it mid roll.

58:46 So I'm with you there. Dr, anyone else have anything else they want to share before I kind of share my final thoughts? Sid Meadows: Yeah, I want to jump in real quick. So I enjoy my relationship and friendship with Rick and Clancy. I enjoy their show. I enjoyed this show, but it needed a stronger CT at the end, tell me what to do. Tell me to go to your Facebook group and come and join in. Right tell me to go. Just tell rather than send me to the website. Tell me what you want me to do if I if I say listener really enjoyed, and they say all the way to the end and they want Is the is the next step really, just go to your website, and if they are, what are they going to Like, what is it that? How are you going to bring them into your community? How are you going to get them on There's so many opportunities here.

59:34 Because if this is a niche like this is a big niche. So, you know, lean into the CTA and tell me what you want me to do. Marc Ronick: Yeah, thank you. Sid, anyone else with any Yeah, let me go to Janae, and then I'll go to Jonathan Go ahead. Junaid, Junaid: morning, everyone. episode and the podcast. And on that fourth clip, I was like, you know, this is not a podcast for. Empty Nesters alone. It's for all parents, because, as a parent myself, of four kids, you know, sure we might treat one kid different from the other, and then the kid also saying, Hey, you treat me different than the other younger kids. Or he would ask me, like my older one, like, is this how I was when I was younger?

1:00:20 On the behavior of the younger kids like this, was this, was this how I was? So that was interesting. So it is not a podcast for just for emptiness. I think it's a podcast for parents with kids, because we you know, either they're in grad school or either you have an empty nest or not, it's the same kind of situation that you go through. And I love what Sid shared. You know, you need to have a very specific call to action. And for this specific episode, I would say, Hey, have you felt the same way about your kids? Go to the Facebook community and post, Hey, I just listened to this episode, and this is how I would do so very specific. They just listened to the episode, and then just saying, Hey, this is how I would handle the situation, or this is how I already handle the situation, because it's evoking connection, relatability, about being a parent and how you would treat the different sex child. And then the book I would, I would say that they should mention the book in the beginning, because it's the same name, yep.

1:01:20 And so for the new people that are coming in, they're like, hey, oh, there's the book also. So then as they're listening, they're browsing Amazon as well, thing. Marc Ronick: Yeah, I'm with you there. Janae, thank you. I'm going to keep it moving. add final thoughts? Jonathan Howard: So I'll be really quick. I honestly that last question that they asked, the more I listened through all the clips and stuff that we listened to the more. I think they needed to lead the episode, and I appreciate that it was a conversation that uncovered and got to that point. But I think they needed to lead the episode with that question and that quick conversation about, you know, whether it was because he was a, you know, male, female, whatever, because that would have grabbed people really quick, and they left the end where I don't know that people would have gotten to it all the way, because even Sid said he wouldn't have, maybe not listened all the way.

1:02:06 Marc Ronick: Yeah, and I think down to a little bit more Like, if they really sat down, and I don't, I'm not saying they didn't, right? But maybe thinking about where this conversation is going to go, have a little almost like a pre interview with each other, right? And talk about it, because they might have gotten to that idea prior to the show, and then thought, oh, you know what? This is going to create the suspense we need. And then they could have readjusted things so structure could have played a little more of a role there, perhaps, but great points as well, and great points all around today. Thank you guys. I said the loud quiet has a strong foundation, for sure, because Rick and Clancy have something that's hard to manufacture.

1:02:46 They do have real chemistry. They are a married couple. They have history and a clear the clear life stage that they're embracing right now. And the best moments happen when the conversation moves from that specific situation that they're talking about into a bigger question, which I would say is, do we help our adult kids? Do we step back? How do we know the difference? Right? That's the heart of the episode. Rick and Clancy can bring the kind of question forward earlier and invite listeners to respond more directly, like Jonathan is saying the show becomes easier to follow, easier to share, and easier to connect with. So overall, I'd say, fantastic job. And I'm not just saying that because they're former clients. I think that it's clear.

1:03:32 It's evident here, because we did have a few people that are their direct audience, by the way. Side note, one of the things of demographics are the kids kids their age, that are getting the kick out of hearing how what the parents are thinking and how they're dealing that they're in. I found that really fascinating. Great job. Rick and Clancy. Appreciate you guys submitting. I've actually been hounding them for a little while to submit. I thought they would be a great example to break down, and I'm glad they did. So thank you. Great job. The loud quiet. If you want to check out that episode, go to podcasting remember to join us tomorrow at 8am Eastern here at podcasting morning show.com/join us. We'll have Rob Greenlee join us, and we'll be talking about some controversy based off of some things he said, which we felt were maybe harmless, and it got way blown out of proportion, but we're going to get his perspective on podcasting and podcasting 2.0 so come join us tomorrow, 8am Eastern and until then, make it a great day. Everybody.

1:04:46 Take care. Bye.