537. When Your Family Doesn't Understand Your Podcast

0:04 Ralph Estep Jr.: A good morning, Today is Friday, June the 12th, 2026 we're going somewhere personal. We're going to talk about podcasting and the people in your life who have to live with your podcasting. Could be a great discussion today. So, if you're listening on Clubhouse, hit the share button, top right hand side of the screen, and share whatever clubhouse let you. If you want to join us live, go to Podcasting Morning chat.com/join us. And if you're joining us via podcast, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. please share this episode with a fellow podcaster. and we'll get things going. today. Clip: You the podcasting morning launch, polish, and grow great shows, and by Content Creators Accountant, helping creators build real business behind their morning again, everybody. Welcome to the Friday edition of duties today and helping out Mark, who is continuing to travel and do some volunteer work at a camp.

1:35 Just a reminder, we will not have a show on Monday, so you will come back and join us on Tuesday when we're going to be joined by Ariel Nissenblatt, another Hall of Fame podcaster, so that's going to be a great one. So, don't forget to join us on Tuesday. Now, join a Hall DR: of Fame tour. Yeah, I know Ralph Estep Jr.: that's a total of four if you've been keeping track. So, we are in on a Hall of Fame tour for sure. And joining me again on stage, we've got Sid Meadows, DR. Fay, and BC Babbles, and Dan from the audience has joined us as well. So today we're going to talk do is we're going to do one of If you've been following the show, you we've been asking for spotlights to be sent in, and this particular one is called At the Counter with the Baking pastor, so at the counter with the baking pastor is a gentle space for honest conversations about faith, grief, healing, and the hard seasons of life. If you ever thought I thought I was the only one, there's a chair waiting for you at the counter.

2:36 that right now. Clip: Welcome to At the Counter with the baking pastor. I'm Laura. Pull up a chair. There's no rush here this season. We're sitting with the hard days, the ones that don't resolve quickly, the ones that change us in ways we didn't ask for. So, for someone who's listening, who feels stretched thin, they're still showing up, they're still holding things together, and kind of faking it, but inside they feel like they are right at their edge. What would you want them to know about that place? If you're on the edge and you're said in the song, don't allow your circumstances to define you.

3:28 what you're going through, it's okay to join the edge, so don't allow that to be your story, all to be all. Ralph Estep Jr.: Well, that was the spotlight. Does anybody want to comment on the spotlight submission? The only thing I would say, and I mean this in the most constructive way possible, is that the audio on the guest was a little bit crackly. So, the only thing I would say is one thing: if you're going to use this as a trailer, it's probably a good idea to do a little bit of re-engineering of that sound. Did anybody else pick up on that DR: I didn't know that we were but yeah, you know, if you run paid version is a million times different than the free version. I think it would really clean it that I'm hearing on the on the clip.

4:18 So yeah, Ralph Estep Jr.: go ahead, Sid. I see you wanted to make a comment. Then I'll go to BC. Sid Meadows: So, whenever you're Sorry about that, by the way. Whenever you're important.. when I could talk.. morning, aren't they? Did I say.. Oh crap, I just.. I never thought I would actually be the one to get that, but okay. Here we are. So it's important to remember that whenever you're promoting your show, whether it's through a clip or in talking to people about it, or sharing a video about whatever it is you're doing, it's really important to check in on your energy level and.

4:59 And to be sure that you're creating the type of energy and vibe that your show creates, but also the type of energy and vibe that will want people to listen to it, and I think that the energy in this one was just a little bit flat for me, so I think it's just important to check in with your energy, Ralph Estep Jr.: that's a very Go ahead, BC. I know you wanted to make a comment. Then we're going to move on to our topic of the day. BC Babbles: Yes. Good morning. I feel exactly the same way as it does. The energy definitely needed some bump, for sure. She also reminds me a bit of my own client, who is a post retiree, wants to get into storytelling now with their background and in being a coach, and there's something about the scriptedness of it.

5:43 I understand this person speaking on a mic yet. This might be a new venture for them, a new kind of venture for them, but and this is not me trying to hark on a new storyteller by any means, but I would say over time try to become familiar enough with your own message that you don't have to come off so scripted, you know. This is something that she wants to really connect with people on, especially when it comes to grief. You know, you want to be able to sound a lot more personable, and we can definitely sense the stanzas in each of the lines that she delivers in her intro. So, I would say make that a goal at some point to become a bit more off script at some point, Ralph Estep Jr.: BC, and I just want to encourage everybody to continue.

6:26 Go ahead, DR. Seen to me interrupt you there. DR: I am piggybacking off of ahead that if I had, because her then when it switched over to lower, so I'm trying to think that was that low, what could I say to the guest to raise up that level a little bit, you Ralph Estep Jr.: Yeah, that's a tough one, because that could be their vibe of that person too, like I want to be careful about that. I wasn't talking so much about that. It's just to me it was the there were some artifacts that I heard as I was listening to, like real some weird, like electronic, DR: definitely some audio stuff going on, but the energy level of the guest was even lower than the hosts. Ralph Estep Jr.: No, I agree with that. DR: So I was, I'm trying to figure out what I would say to the guest to make them a little bit up more, that wouldn't you know, be like an elephant on the that they're aware of that even the listeners are picking up on, Ralph Estep Jr.: I agree, DR.

7:42 to our topic for today. We'll put a link to in the show notes that you can go check out that show, but we want to really thank them for sending that in and check out their show. It sounds like a pretty interesting show. Well, I want to start today with a question that nobody really asked about out loud in podcasting circles, and I was thinking about what to talk about today earlier in the of the things that's been a to be sort of a true confession episode, I think, for some of us, is how's your spouse doing How's your partner handling the recording sessions, the equipment purchases, that equipment budget, the hours staring at a screen, the conversations you have with strangers that you've never met with, because if we think about it, behind a lot of podcasters, there's someone who didn't sign up for this, this hobby or this business, someone who supports you anyway, someone who doesn't fully understand why you do it, and sometimes someone who's quietly struggling with it. So today I really want to talk about that. So to get the warm, the room warmed up. I want to get to where people are. I'm going to ask everybody to put in the comments, or you can actually come on stage and ask the question. I want you to raise your hands and tell me which of these would would suit you.

8:51 And the first one is this: my partner is fully supportive, they get it completely. Second one, my partner is tolerant, they don't always understand, but they let me do it. The next one is my partner has mixed feelings, it's a source of some tension. Or this one, I'm single, I only have the answer to myself. And then the final one, my family is my biggest challenge, not a partner. So I see a lot of people want to then we'll go to Sid and generate, so go ahead, BC. BC Babbles: I'm single, and I time being. So I'm enjoying the freedom while I have it. I also want to say it's a really where when you're dating someone who's a radio DJ, like the personal life becomes free, free game, right?

9:38 But that's back when the company's paying for all the merchant, all the stuff to make the studio with podcasting, you have to buy everything yourself. I wonder what that difference and shift in monetary responsibility looks like for everyone else. Ralph Estep Jr.: Go ahead, Sid, you're up. And then we'll go to Junaid. Sid Meadows: Well, I was putting with. But I will say that my wife, Teresa, is extremely of my content creation journey, because it is a journey, and so, yeah, I don't, we don't struggle with this, because here's why we don't struggle with this, she's an overachiever too, and she's very humble, and very much an introvert, unlike me, which is probably why we've been married for 30 years, that and I traveled for 15 years of our married life, right? But you know, she's an overachiever and is very well known in her industry, and I say all the time, she's all that in a bag of chips, so she's living this similar journey, she's just not as public as me, but she is very supportive, and I'm very supportive of her.

10:46 And we learned a long time ago that if we were both going to have careers, then we needed to lean into supporting each other and what our dreams and desires are. And so we've been successfully years. Ralph Estep Jr.: I think that's great. Sid, go ahead. Junaid, you're up. Junaid: Good morning. I thought the options that you said were 1234, and we had to put 1234, That picked the first one. Ralph Estep Jr.: Sorry about Yes, I could have been a little clearer, Junaid: but no, I do agree with Sid saying, you know, Sid, my wife's totally fine with it. She initially, she was like, because before I even stepped into podcasting, I would kept telling her, you know, this is not what I want to do anymore, like I'm not feeling fulfilled in my job, not feeling that this is fulfilling me, this is not something, you know, you have that feeling when you're going through life, right, you have different phases, so when I was still working full time, but was giving me fulfillment in there, but then over time I crazy that both my, my wife and I, we both work from home, she travels every other week for understands the time and energy that goes into making something successful. So I'm really, really fortunate to be with her, and we're going to be celebrating our 20 years in marriage. So super excited to have these

12:17 supportive people in our lives, is such a blessing that we don't think about it when we're in it, but then when you move back and look at it, it's like, wow, if for somebody else I wouldn't be able to do this, and having that communication between your partner is so important because it puts a mental pressure on you as well, then it doesn't help you get out your authentic sin, but I'll stop here. Ralph Estep Jr.: Thank you, I also want to put a comment that we got in the live stream, and it's from Sambaza. It says, 'My partner is 100% supportive. They understand the podcast and are willing to help me in anything I want to do in the podcast. They even give me suggestions, which some have turned out to be awesome.

12:59 So, I thought that was a really valuable point. DR. looks like you want to make a comment, so go ahead. DR. DR: Yeah, you know, it's funny, I, because I produce and I have clients, and it took a little while to get that first client, and when I first quit my nine to fiver, and my husband was like, well, what do you want to do? I said, well, you know, I think I'm going to go into podcast. He didn't know what the word meant, he had no idea, and so that was a hurdle that I wanted to do something with my life that he didn't even couldn't conceive what that was. And certainly, since I've gotten my first client, second client, and you know, I've since I've gotten clients that has changed.

13:42 He is more on board with what I'm doing. He still doesn't know exactly what I'm doing, and if truth be told, I would love it if, when he came home from work and I asked him how his day went, and he would tell me, and then I wish that he would follow up with how was your day, you know what? What did you record today? Who did you help today? I would love it so much if he would ask that, and he doesn't, so yeah, but we're, we're safe. over 20 years, so we're safe, Ralph Estep Jr.: all right.

14:23 True confession time for Ralph. So this has been a major struggle for me, and my wife just doesn't get it, you know. For us, it's been a, it's been a constant source of stress. She doesn't understand the money I spend on this. She doesn't understand why I have this. She always says, "Why do you have this need to be seen by people? She's a very introverted person, and I am the opposite of that, and that's been a challenge, because she doesn't get it, and she's acting, she's actually said to me times, "Listen, I don't want to hear about podcasting all the time. She said, "All you talk about is podcasting, all I hear is podcasting and podcasting, and she goes, "Ralph. I just don't care, and that's been hard for me. And in full disclosure, we have a difficult relationship, and I say that I love my wife, don't misunderstand me.

15:08 But it's been a challenge, and I think I need to be intellectually honest here, and that's one of the reasons I picked this topic today, because it's hard for me, and you know, it's been one of tolerates it, but there's zero. I want to say support, so even to the extent, like when we were Why are you bothering to take all this gear with you, Ralph? Why are you doing this? I said, because I made a commitment, and I'm one of these people that follows through on my commitment. She says, well, you know, it's not really paying your bills, it's not doing this, it's not doing that. So I get where she's coming from, but it's been a real challenge, and so anyway, I just wanted to monetize DR: a little bit, right? You've monetized as much as your ranch and everything is you've got going on, right, but yeah, you have monetized, and the fact that you're you doing consultations for people who are podcasting, I mean, that's that's got to be worth something as well.

16:06 People are coming to you for your expertise. So, does she recognize that you have an expertise in this genre? Ralph Estep Jr.: Oh, I think she's starting to see that, and I think there's a little bit of jealousy that goes on too. Like, why are there so many people reaching out there, like she doesn't understand the fact that I have hundreds of 1000s of YouTube subscribers, and I don't say that from a place of arrogance at all, exactly. I think it's just like this thing, like, well, Who is this person, and why did this lady send you a message, and why did this happen, and why did that happen, and and that's been a challenge, and so, because I am 100% in love with my wife, but it would be great if there was more support, like that would be awesome. DR: Yeah, Ralph Estep Jr.: you know, I see what I'm gonna read what Gabe put in the, in the messages here.

16:48 He said, my wife is super supportive of my podcast endeavors. I'm blessed to have that in my life. My past marriage broke down partly due to what was going on live in live streaming and being a public persona. Yeah, Gabe, I totally get that, and I think that's hard. So, I want to pivot to another question. I want to ask him, and then we've got actually some mailbag questions that DR. is going to help me go through. But let's talk about what podcasting looks like in your household. Rough. Yeah, go ahead, go ahead, Junaid. Junaid: Before we move on to the every year. It's called the Commitment summit, and the design for, you know, people that are in this public space that are sharing content, that are content creators, but it's like a couple, always couples not just a you problem, right, There's a ton of people that are in this space, they're like, my spouse doesn't understand, my partner doesn't understand, because they haven't walked the path of this personal growth, right. My wife didn't understand any of it four years ago until she hired a coach to lose weight herself, and she's going to this coach every single day, she's following all her learning all these things. She's like, "Wow, this is a lot of work that goes into it to be influenced or to make money and come through this process. And she started understanding what I was going through for the four years before that.

18:17 So, I think there's a growth that needs to happen for the understanding to come in place, and this thing that Gay mentioned in the chat, you know, it's the same thing. It's not every person is going to be in the growth level that we're at. Everybody's on a different highway, and you don't Wait, but I don't see the cows on the road. What are you talking about? Because they're a totally different highway. So, thank you so much for sharing and being so Appreciate it. Ralph Estep Jr.: No problem, Junaid. That's the one thing you'll know about me. I am very transparent because I think somebody could be listening that maybe feels the same way I do. And so, has anybody else come across where podcasting has turned into a real argument with alluded to that with your, your ex-spouse, or you know, do the people closest to you actually listen to your show?

19:03 It's interesting. you listen to my shoes? He's like, I listen to Mel Robbins, Ralph, and I listen to this one, and I listen to that one, and I'm like, okay, that's great. I said, but do you listen to some of the stuff I put out? Well, Ralph, it's just not my cup of tea, and you know what, I can respect that, but there are days when it hurts to be very candid with you. I'll send it out to my, my two boys or two extended family. Like, oh yeah, that sounds good, Ralph. That sounds good. Move right along. But I don't want to make this the Ralph show. Did anybody else want to share before we get into some of our mailbag questions? I think both of those things are same thing, but I kind of tied so I'll have been my family does not listen to my show.

19:45 Whenever I send one of the important to my kids, I just get Well, that's okay, because my show's about office furniture and the people and the products and the future, and that's not - they're not interested in that, right? It's. but they're all very supportive of it, so much so it's really funny. I don't know if I told you guys this, but my daughter started an internship working for a fashion media company in London, and part of her job is she's working on their intern, she's working on their podcast team, and so now all of a sudden, she's reaching out to dad for advice about podcasting and asking me questions of things that she doesn't understand, and it's been really understand podcasting the way that I understand it, because when I asked her, when she, when they told her that they wanted her on the podcast team, I said, did you tell them your dad was a relevant, and I said, yes, it's very relevant, but since she, since then, she has told them, and they're like, oh, Lucy, learn everything you can for that evolution. Ralph Estep Jr.: That's awesome, to our first mailbag question of the day.

21:01 I'm not sure how many we'll get to, because I want to leave some time for wins of the week. But here's the first one I found out on Reddit. DR: Okay, so it says, my husband He's not mean about it. He just doesn't get why I spend so many hours on something that makes no money. I love doing it, but I feel guilty every time I sit down to record. How do other podcasters deal with a partner who doesn't see the value in what you do? And this is what you were just talking about, Ralph. Ralph Estep Jr.: Yeah, this one really hit close to home for me, and it's been a challenge. Like I said, I wish I had an answer to this when they say, 'Hey, here, go do this. I think it really depends on your partner.

21:42 I love what Junaid said, and I don't want to speak for Janae, but I think what he said is this has been an evolutionary type of person to get to that, and I don't know, maybe I'll get to that as well. I've been doing it for several years now, so I'm not sure we're going to get there, but this is a tough one. this one? Alex: Yeah, I'll flip it. Ralph Estep Jr.: Good morning, By the way, great to see you. Alex: Yeah, good morning. You know what podcasters have to realize is that it's a hobby, I don't care if you're making money or not. It's like any other thing that whatever your thing is, I know a lot of friends of mine that have they like to run, they like to do this, they like to do that, and if this person, if their partner, husband, wife doesn't get it, that's okay, but as long as they acknowledge it and understand, like when I do podcasting with my podcast, or when I did podcasting with my podcast partner, you know, she just knew that I needed that time to do my thing, and I think that that's why it was so important, and you know, I ended up doing to go back to the other question, you know, I ended up doing a podcast with my daughter, which was kind of a My wife would help with the script, I would interview my daughter for the books, and it was kind of a family thing.

23:09 It was kind of our thing, but at the same time, if somebody has an interest, whether it's podcasting or anything else, as long as they respect that they do it, they don't have to like it. And going back to what Sid said, it's just so funny how a parent is always teaching, whether they, whether the, whether the daughter wants to or not, because my Lucy would Dad, I don't want to do anything with you, because you're doing podcasting and I'm in I'm just glad to know that my 11 your 20 something year old, so process, I think. Ralph Estep Jr.: Thank you, Alex. Let's go ahead and go to BC, and then I'm going to go to Sid. BC Babbles: Yeah, one curiosity I have is for those who have a non-podcasting partner, at the very least, is there at least one attempt to break down and translate what it is to your non-podcasting partner to help them alleviate questions, or just so they have a bit of a better grasp on what it is we are venturing into as podcasters. Ralph Estep Jr.: Can you break it out a little bit more? Can you read?

24:18 I just wanna make sure I understand what you're asking. I apologize. DR: That's okay. BC Babbles: Yeah, yeah. So we're talking a lot about how there's this language barrier between podcasters and their non-podcasting partners. So, what I'm curious about, though, is that for those of us who have non-podcasting partners, are we at least at some point taking the try the attempt to break down and translate what it is we're doing, so they have a little more of a relaxed perception about it, so they're not so worried, no, it's not so many questions, they're more lax about it. DR: So, with me, you know, my belongs to one of the biggest nation, right here in.

25:02 the paper, and the only reason say, I'm gonna say the name, why forgot who's the number one that I always hate, Alex: Joe Rogan, Joe Rogan, DR: Joe Rogan, the only reason why he knows about Joe Rogan is because Joe Rogan is so much into the pop culture. When he reads a newspaper, he'll read about some big name that was on the Joe Rogan show, and things like that. So every now and then he will come to me and say, well, what does Joe Rogan say about it? And he knows that I'm going to, you know, we have these little fake, you know smile. He also knows about the bad friends. There's a show called Bad Friends, and he does know about that one as well.

25:52 But that's about it. He doesn't really question me about what I do, why I do it. I don't think he realizes that the main thing that I do is marketing, you know, there, and I try and get through to him that there are podcasts that are funny, there are podcasts that are true crime, those are not what I do, I help entrepreneurs market their business through their podcast, so it's, it's basically marketing is what I do, it's the basis of what I do, the foundation, Alex: but to point, I think it's more about just your relationship, because every entire existence loves something hate something about their people should hate podcasting, something to accept it or your partner is in it, and I the most important thing. Does that make sense?

27:05 Junaid: There's two things I of them is, so initially my wife you for 20 years, it doesn't or not, and that's a huge right, much in all of those things that it doesn't matter, and then you can also look at it from this other perspective. A fish does not care what a bird can do, right? So imagine our partners are a different animal, and they're like, oh, cool, you can swim, that's cool, I can fly over here, right? So it's totally fine if they don't, they're not into what we're into, but as long as they see that we smile, that we're happy with what we're doing, and that's why DR. He asks you those questions about Joe Rogan, because he knows you hate him so much, and you're gonna put a smile on your face, and he loves seeing you smile, that's all it DR: is. Yeah, we Junaid: love to see our partners smile and be happy, and that's all it is.

28:10 So, it doesn't matter if they are into what we are into, like I don't even know what I mean. I had to look up on LinkedIn on my wife's title, is for her company. She manages a team of 140 people. I don't know her title, right? I'll ask her all the time what she's doing and what she's going through, and she'll, she'll share in full detail all the things that are happening, and she doesn't ask I mean, most of that sounds she does, but I don't have a whole lot to share itself, but I think know, we're just going to keep Thank you, Junaid. I want to go to Sid, because I promised to bring Sid in here a few minutes ago.

28:51 Sid, go ahead. Sid Meadows: Oh, thank you, Ralph. And Jonathan raised his pepper too, by the way. So I have a couple of things here to this lady that asked the there's some underlying things there that I would probably want to sit down and explore with my partner, my spouse, and one of them appeared to be money, because she mentioned money in the conversation in the post, right? So I'd want to sit down and understand, but I would also say to her, there is the opportunity exists for you to make money on your podcast, you just have to figure out what it is you're looking for and who are the right sponsors, and but you can generate revenue with your podcast, so don't let that necessarily be the barrier, but I think you got to have a conversation about it. The second thing I would say is, you know, my wife is actually the reason that I'm a podcaster, what the heck is this, and wow, this is really cool, and I want to do this one day, and it took me several years, but I'll also say that part of the reason I don't have this struggle is my life. A sought-after podcast guest in her industry, I bet she's been on 100 podcasts as a guest or panels, and so she understands what it is, but she doesn't listen. My wife is an executive in the healthcare industry, she, DR: okay, Sid Meadows: healthcare, she is in the technology, she, she's the chief information officer of a hospital system, as of Monday, by the way, got a

30:24 new job, and she was the chief information, she was the chief information officer of a children's hospital in Fort Worth for 15 years, and she's just done a lot of really cool things in her career, and she is a sought-after thought leader, sits on panel world speaking on the topic, and her PhD, and almost finished And so this was the other thing that I was gonna say that works really well for us, especially when we empty nested. Sunday is our day, we have to work on the weekends. I do, she does, she's studying a lot, trying to finish her we dedicate Sunday as our day. our offices, we do things actually has helped us stay so crazy, and so setting aside think, would be really important can you step away from your podcasting, and dedicate that partner? The other thing that I would say, last thing I'll say, is to Alex, I appreciate the support, Alex, and I know you and Lucy have had a really good time doing what you're doing, but I'm going to disagree with you. Podcasting is not a hobby, it is a job for me. It is a job, it is part of my career, it's part of my business, it's a key component of my business today. And so I don't view it as a hobby, I view it as something that helps me grow, helps me

31:57 make money, helps my business make money, and helps support my I just wanted to say this. I meant, whatever your thing is, job, hobby, whatever. I know I use hobby, and I know that I totally understand what you mean, Finn. Ralph Estep Jr.: Thank you, Sid. I just wanted to say one thing here, and then we're going to move on to the second question. I think there's a practical answer here too, and it goes along the lines of what Sid just tracking expenses, building an audience, working towards revenue, that's a different conversation than I just like doing it. When there's a financial framework around it, even skeptical partners often come around if they see you're and it stops being a hobby and with the plan. But let's go ahead and move on to our second. DR: Jonathan might have had something to.. Ralph Estep Jr.: I apologize, Jonathan. Go ahead.

32:46 Jonathan Howard: So, I was just gonna mention one, you know, obviously being single makes it a lot easier, but two, having those.. you know, your partner podcasting if they are awesome. Ralph Estep Jr.: DR, you want to kind of goes along the lines of, I sure do. Okay, so question number two, my wife actually listens to every episode I put out, she's my biggest fan, but lately she's starting to started giving me feedback, and some of it is pretty critical. I don't know how to tell her that her notes are kind of bumming me out without hurting her feelings. Anyone else have navigating feedback from a spouse? Oh, I can jump in here, because so I was very transparent. So, at the beginning of my podcast journey, my wife says, "You know what, I'll help you with this podcast, and I said, 'Oh, that'd be great.

33:43 And she says, 'How about I do this? How about I help you with your transcripts? I said, 'That would be really helpful, because I didn't know I wasn't aware of all the AI tools. And this one day, she, she sends me a message. She goes, 'If you say one more time like, or if you say this, or if you say that, she goes, 'You're driving me crazy, and I gotta be honest with you, I was very defensive about it at first, and I said, "You're right, though, I'm doing all these filler words. So, for me, it was really.. it was helpful to me, like I think you had to understand, like, where the feedback was coming from, and she just said, "Ralph, if you say that one more time, I'm going to lose my stuff. Well, I appreciate that feedback, but it was a little hard coming from her at first.

34:25 Does anybody else want to comment about ever getting feedback from somebody that you care about? Alex: Well, when you wish for there, Ralph. That's the, that's the moral of that story, and it is hard, but I know Ty does something to Ralph Estep Jr.: say. Go ahead, Knikki. Glad to see you this morning. Knikki: Good to see you too. I was about to give you a heart emoji, Alex. I agree with you that definitely be careful what you wish for, because you, you might not be exactly what you But I will say this: there's the hurts is because of our own Is allowing yourself to say to observe the situation from, like, a if you were a filmmaker, you know, if you're watching a movie, your ego is not involved, you're you're watching the movie for pure entertainment purposes and for joy, and, and all of that, and so when someone's giving you feedback, if you can approach the situation in that same way, where you're taking your ego out of it, and you're just observing moment, it's okay too, because we need sometimes to feel a little bit of pain to move forward, and that's okay.

35:36 It's not a bad thing to feel when he did feel that pain, it Okay, it didn't hurt him, and it didn't hurt his business, and it didn't hurt the people who he helped. The only thing that it hurt was his ego. Then you say, "Oh, okay, this now let me put that to the side, the constructive criticism was, and see if there's a nugget, a gem, a pearl that I can take my podcast, because oftentimes people, it doesn't come from Sid Ralph or anybody you know, or people that we necessarily because all these people in the room do their, you know, they do podcasting, so when we take more open and we're a little bit feedback, but oftentimes the the people who we least expect.

36:31 It could come from a man, a woman. We, I always joke with my mom and her boyfriend anytime he tells us anything, we always say stuff like that. We joke about it, sort of in the same way that Dr. jokes with her husband, so we'll make these little light jokes about it, but we realized that when someone is giving us feedback, it might not come from the person that we expected it to, it might not even come from the person who we wanted it to come from, but there, there's a reason why that feedback was given to us, and we need to take It can be bruised for a minute, but it's going to be okay if we heed the lesson and make the improvements to our podcast, because that feedback was meant for you.

37:12 It was meant for you, and we need to hear that. We may not, it might not be what we want to hear, but we need to hear it. Ralph Estep Jr.: Thank you, Knikki. I agree, and I want to go to Sid. Sid, go ahead. Sid Meadows: So, if the your giving you feedback like you said like, likes and ums, I feedback. It may not come across as constructive feedback, but you're getting constructive feedback of those kinds of things that we all struggle with, because we all do. I can't even think about how many times I use the word like or write in my content, but and there it is. feedback like, well, you didn't answer that question, or you should have gone deeper, or why did you answer the question that way, or you should ask better questions of that guest, and then your partner is not your ideal listener.

38:03 I just would smile and say thank you, because really the feedback you want is from your ideal listener and telling you what they want to hear more of, so that you can improve your content to attract more of them. So I would just smile and say thank you. Ralph Estep Jr.: I think that's a very valid point. Does anybody want to comment on this mailbag? and move on to the next one. DR. But does anybody want to comment on this one? Alex: I just find it interesting. The last two questions, one is supportive, one is not supportive, and it's just.. it's a dance, and that's what relationships are all about. So you're not going to please everybody, and you just try to do the best you can. Ralph Estep Jr.: I think that is Go ahead, DR. You want to go on to our third question.

38:46 DR: Yep, third and final I'm a single parent. My kids are teenagers, and they are embarrassed by my podcast, genuinely mortified that I do this. I keep the topics totally clean, but act like, but they act like I'm doing something shameful. Has anyone dealt with family members who are embarrassed by your show? Ralph Estep Jr.: All right, I don't, I don't honestly have an answer for this. Jonathan Howard: I do. Ralph Estep Jr.: Go ahead, Jonathan. Jonathan Howard: Tuss, and I'll keep it PG, tough DR: breasts, chicken breasts, Jonathan Howard: yeah, tough. I mean, I think when it comes down to it, you have to do something that is right for you, even if your kids are teenagers, things that are right for your business, things that are right for you to grow, and you got to get out there and do, you know, do the thing, and it's not easy, so take the time and do it. Ralph Estep Jr.: Good point.

39:44 Go ahead, Sid. I see you want to make a comment. This is, I'm loving Sid's comments today. He is really leaning in today, and I appreciate it. Yeah. Sid Meadows: Oh, I'm back Except I'm driving to the doctors. I've got the doctor every Friday morning for a shot. But anyways, that's another story. But my, I think this is natural. Your kids specifically, your kids don't know how to deal with, let's say, quote unquote famous or infamous parents, or parents that live out loud or live publicly, and I know that my kids were a bit embarrassed. Oh, my dad's podcaster kind of thing for a while, but they're just not me. My kids didn't grow up around anybody in a family being a public figure, being infamous.

40:27 you know, I just think it's understand. And then, when they see how much joy it brings you, I think that they start to change their perspective, or when they experience, or they see what people are saying about you in a positive way, it starts to change their perspective, and I can tell you almost every day, my son asked me about my podcast, and how my podcast is doing, where before he wouldn't even acknowledge that I was a podcaster, so it's like Alex said earlier, this is like a journey you're on with your family, with your friends, with your partner, spouse, you're on a journey with them, and hopefully they lean in to see, they lean in, and they get to experience how much joy this brings you, and that they will start to support you in the way that we all really truly need to I have that support in my family.

41:18 Ralph Estep Jr.: I agree, Sid, Billy Thorpe put in the default responsibility of a down on it. Yeah, Billy, I tend to agree with you on that one. Mine are 2025 and 28 so almost 29 So I think that's my goal was to embarrass them. Did anybody else want to comment on this one before we get to our engine? Alex: Do you want to respond to what Billy said? Go ahead, Ralph Estep Jr.: Alex. Alex: He got so famous he Okay, let's just put it out there, you know. He doesn't know that, because he just left, and you know, I mean, we all know Sid is famous, and all, and everything else, but he's not Billy Famous. And Ralph, I know you got all, you got 47 podcasts, but you're really not Billy Famous, so I mean, that's Ralph Estep Jr.: I am definitely not Billy or Alex famous, Alex: Joe Rogan. I'm infamous, that's right.

42:09 Ralph Estep Jr.: Billy has Billy, did you want to remark about those comments? No, Alex is for the first time, I think I agree with him. I'm very famous in my own mind, but I'm still famous. Knikki, go ahead. I see you wanted to comment as well. Go ahead, Knikki. Knikki: I do have a question. I don't have kids, thank God, and I'm single, thank God, all of that by choice, because these problems are not my cup of tea. But I do have a question, and a lot of times we say that people who are following their dream, people who are following their passion and doing what they care about support other people who are following theirs, and I think all of us in this room definitely fit that bill. Like, if I were to tell you guys that I'm, you know, pursuing a YouTube channel or whatever, you stuff, and you would never have anything negative to say about it, or even think about it, because you would know what that journey is like, so my question is, does the same thing apply to kids? Is the reason that they are not supportive, or they're embarrassment because their figure, because, or partly due actually doing anything that about, so they don't understand the experience and the journey of it. I Ralph Estep Jr.: think that is a very interesting question, Knikki.

43:29 And I think there's some truth to what you just said. I really do. I think there's validness in that. I really do. Does anybody with Knikki? Sid Meadows: Yes. So, Knikki, this is a really interesting question. I can tell you, like I see my daughter and her excitement around what she's doing in her internship, that she's 23 she's discovering what she loves to do, and she's really leaning into the things that she's discovering it, and I think that's the important thing, is we all had to discover what we really enjoy doing. 20 years ago, I didn't know about podcasting, and I would have, if going to be a podcaster one day, right? But, and, but it's a joy for me to see my kids discovering what they love to do.

44:17 My son got to college and is thriving because he's doing and studying what he wants to study and really embracing all of his classes so much so that he's got the second highest grade point average in his class in college, which is fantastic for a kid that like struggled to get B's and but Nikki, I have a question for You're a teacher. What do your kids, air quote, think about you being a podcaster? Have they do they know, and have think about it? Knikki: That is a great question. And so I'll tell you my experience. So I am a wide open book when it comes to entrepreneur. Worship the fact that I have businesses, I help people go straight, I podcast, I have my YouTube channel, and I don't drop all of that information on them on day one, but what I will say is I have businesses, I will say that, and I'll be kind of vague about it, and then whenever the vibe is right in the classroom, I will drop a little bit more information. I'll be like, oh yeah, I was just talking about that on my podcast last night, and I do it in a subtle way like that. And then they're like, wait, wait, wait, what? You have a podcast, and I'm like, yeah.

45:34 teach high school kids, by the can we find it? Can we look it up? And there's a no phone policy in the school, so the kids can't look it up on their phones, they have to look it up on their Chromebooks, but they will find it, they will 100% find the podcast, and they'll be like, "Is this you, the gentle year? And I'm like, "Yeah. And then they'll hit play and do all that kind of stuff. And, of course, they're teenagers, so they're going to laugh and giggle when they hear my voice, because they don't, they don't see me in that light all the.. ever, so when they hear me like, "Oh, wow. But what ends up happening with the kids is that they get really interested. They will ask a few questions here or there, like, "Oh, you have a professional microphone, where did you get that? or this and that.

46:17 They'll start asking questions. They're very interested, they're very intrigued by those things, they typically, because they're Gen Zers, and they're a little bit more, they're a little bit more reserved, and it's not all of them, but most of them are like that, that I personally teach, they're reserved, so they keep a lot of their observations and their thoughts to themselves, because this is a very harsh, harsh generation. When it comes to the success of one another, they're not extremely supportive when somebody, not me personally, but of each other, they're not extremely supportive when somebody is doing something outside of the box. They will say things like, oh, who does she think she is, or every, she just, she thinks he or she thinks that they're better than everybody, so they talk, and they've learned the language of being a failure, and they've learned the language of being a loser, and they speak that language fluently to each other.

47:11 Unfortunately, so when they see a teacher who's doing something outside of the box, and they're podcasting, or they're running a them contrast and a perspective that they hadn't considered, because most of their teachers don't do those types of things, so in a lot of ways they are inspired by it. They are definitely afraid of doing it because of the social risk factor that they may personally experience if they tried it themselves. This is the generation that is very attuned to playing it safe. They want to play it safe, but they do feel inspired by you following your own dreams as a teacher.

47:55 They'll always ask, well, what are you going to do this summer? What are you going to do over spring break, Miss Fernandez? What are you going to do over the weekend, Miss Fernandez. They want to know what you're doing, because secretly, even though they don't say it out loud, secretly they want to see you win, because it inspires them to feel like they can do it too. loud. Ralph Estep Jr.: Knikki, thank you so much. Sid Meadows: Have a follow up real quick around. Ralph Estep Jr.: So then we got to get the wins in a week, everybody get ready with their wins. Sid Meadows: Yes, sir. So, Knikki, it would be fascinating to follow your students' journey in life to see how many of them you inspire to step into doing what they love to do, into being a content creator, into being a sharing so openly the way, and them, which that curiosity could So, I hope that you're, you will then come back and report when one of them becomes famous.

48:56 Ralph Estep Jr.: All right, it week. And, Sid, you put a one in there. Sid, do you want to start our win cycle here? Go ahead, Sid. Sid Meadows: Yes, I will. And then I have to drop off because I have to walk into the doctor's office. So, but thank you, Ralph. You know, this has been an amazing week for me. So, this is this is the week of the year that we have our really big furniture convention in Chicago called Neocon. It only happens once a year, and there's 30,000 40,000 people that come, and it's just a really exciting week for me, because I get to meet a lot of people that listen to my because they stop me in the just, it's a really emotional one of the things that was to visit with and take a picture sponsors, because they were all there except one of them, and it just really helped to deepen the relationship.

49:55 I had one in, not even without it, without me even asking one. Of them said we were talking about the show, and how much he enjoyed it, and how great it's been for them, and he asking, I'm in for next year we're going to do it again next year, so it's just been a, it's been a really great week, lots will boil it down to I'm so that I have been able to build have spent my entire career, relationships I would not be where I am today. So my win is the relationships that I've been able to build over the last 30 years talking about and selling and leading teams with all things about office furniture. Ralph Estep Jr.: Congratulations, Sid. Thank you for sharing that.

50:48 Let's go to Tim Bryan. Go ahead, Tim, you're up. Tim: All right, thank you so You've been doing a fantastic job this week, I gotta say, man. So I'm thankful for you, but my win this week.. I've got two. First one is on Wednesday. My twins turned 12, and according to them, I am the most famous and the greatest podcaster in the world. So DR: awesome. Tim: So that always, you know, me that they're like, Papa, this guy, you're talking to that So they turned 12. They had a great day. And then this week I had two people reach out to me for interviews on one of my One person was from the UK and the other person was based in Japan, and it was interesting because I do pod match, and you know, I could guess from there, but these two guys, out of nowhere, out of the blue, decided that they had to be on my podcast, and I answered Dave Jackson's question of the week by reading their emails to me about, you know, why they wanted to be on my show, and all that kind of good stuff, so I'm just happy that people from around the globe are finding my podcast and wanting to be a bond, a part of it.

52:07 Ralph Estep Jr.: Congratulations, it's great. Go ahead, DR. You are up, my friend. DR: Okay, so this week I had I've ever known, I've known him for over 50 years. He came into Nashville. He's now a.. he produces movies in LA, and there's someone who flew him in to talk about their project, and I got to spend time with Steve Ullman, and so that was my win of the week. Ralph Estep Jr.: Very good. BC, would you like to share a win of the week? BC Babbles: Ah, nothing too crazy going on as of yet. I still got two big projects that I'm waiting to hear news on, but in the meantime, trucking along, working hard, trying to get momentum going in multiple directions, and full time will be happening this weekend, lots of full time. Ralph Estep Jr.: Awesome.

52:55 All right, Knikki, would you like to share a win of the week? Knikki: Yeah, I was just gonna Ralph's presence here this week. It's really been invaluable. And then also, I did. I have a couple weeks ago I had a call with Ralph that was a 15 minute free call, and I had asked him about, like, monetizing the podcast, because I had thought that just having a sponsor was really the only way to monetize, but then when I told him I have my own like businesses that tie into what I do on my podcast, I've been advertising on my own, my own stuff. And he told me, he goes, that's the best way to do it, that's, or at least, as a really great, honestly, it's the best way, but it's the great way to monetize your podcast, because everything you're doing is a lead into what you already have, this ecosystem that you've built out, and I can see that very, very clearly now.

53:49 to pull something from whatever it is that I'm doing in the education space and embed that awesome. I love it. Ralph Estep Jr.: Awesome, that Glad to hear that, Jonathan. Do you have a win you would like to share? Jonathan Howard: I will share. I am officially out of the hospital now for two days. I was in for about five or six days, and Raph, you'll be very happy to know that I am still making money on the podcast. Ralph Estep Jr.: That's awesome news. Well, thank you, Jonathan. I'll share. I got two wins this week. Number one win was getting to meet my grandson this week, And last night I wrote a song for him, and I'm gonna.. it's gonna be released on iTunes, on Spotify, on iHeart Media, and it's a lullaby from Grandpop to grandson, and I can't even listen to it because I just But that's that is really my win of the week, and the other win of the week is having the opportunity to host this.

54:42 This week has been, it's been a challenge, but it's really been, it's been a lot of fun, and I've appreciated everyone that's helped out and stepped up to help me. So, I just want to thank everybody for that. There's one more win I want to list here, because some Baza put this in the live stream, and he said my win of the week was my part. Her listened to my podcast on my current series and gave me some positive remarks. I love it when I get to receive comments from her as we discuss about the podcast. So, Sambaza, thank you so much for sharing that. That goes right along with what we talked about today. So, again, don't forget, no show on Monday, and then we're coming in Tuesday with Ariel Nissenblatt, so make sure you make a point to join in on Tuesday morning. We're talking about podcast growth. She's got some great ideas.

55:26 She actually is running this new thing called something about the trailer park, so she's going to talk about the podcast trailers, making your content more easy to find. So I just want to thank support this week, and whatever you do today, make it a great day, and make it a great again on Tuesday. Be well, my friends.