The Bounce Rate Podcast | IndoorMedia

Trust is one of the most important forces in local business. It affects who gets the meeting, who gets the referral, who earns the sale, and who customers come back to when they have options. In this episode, we break down how trust is actually built through three simple ideas: making clear promises, delivering small victories, and repairing the relationship when something goes wrong. We also expl...

Risk is part of every business decision, but not every risk is worth taking. In this episode of The Bounce Rate, we talk about the difference between gambling, guessing, and making a calculated move. From lottery tickets and casino logic to entrepreneurship, career changes, and betting on yourself, the conversation explores how business owners weigh cost, reward, probability, ego, and timing. We a...

The grand opening is exciting. The ribbon is cut, the room is full, the potential feels endless, and everything still has that fresh-start glow. But what happens after the confetti is swept away and the day-to-day reality sets in? In this episode, we talk about how businesses, careers, hobbies, and even personal milestones can lose their early spark over time, and what it takes to keep moving once...

You know that thing you’ve been avoiding? The task, conversation, chore, decision, or next step that keeps hanging around in the back of your mind? In this episode, we dig into why we put off the things that could actually help us grow. From expired food containers and tax dread to hard family visits, business pivots, AI anxiety, and the strange confidence that comes from finally fixing a toilet,...

Today we dig into one of most dreaded experiences: bombing on stage. From awkward silence and flop sweat to bad reviews, slow sales, and failed marketing ideas, we explore how recovering from a bad set can teach business owners how to listen, adjust, and keep going. Whether you’re holding a microphone or running a local business, the goal is the same: don’t panic, don’t blame the crowd, and learn...

Choosing a business is a lot like choosing a partner: first impressions matter, red flags are real, and the right match is about more than just looking good online. In this episode, we compare dating profiles to local business profiles and break down what makes people swipe right or walk away, from clear photos and specific bios to bad reviews, defensive responses, fake exclusivity, and “all flex,...

This week on The Bounce Rate, we head back to the classroom to talk about what learning can teach us about customer experience. From gold stars and dodgeball dominance to AI, Chick-fil-A, and the emotional trauma of a $17 to-go container, the crew breaks down the five laws of learning and how they apply to business. Readiness, exercise, primacy, intensity, and disuse all shape how customers unders...

Theme parks are built around deliberate experiences. The sights, sounds, pathways, employee interactions, smells, signage, and even the waiting areas are all part of a larger emotional journey. In this episode, we look at how that same thinking applies to local businesses. From Disney and Six Flags to Casa Bonita, the Savannah Bananas, McDonald’s, neighborhood burger joints, and independent restau...

Local business owners are not short on confidence. They have to believe they can sign the lease, open the doors, make payroll, deal with taxes, survive bad advice, calm angry customers, and still wake up thinking tomorrow might be the day it all clicks. In this episode of The Bounce Rate, we’re giving local business owners the pep talk they probably need and definitely deserve. We talk about the s...

What makes something “authentic”? Is it tradition, taste, history, brand identity, or just the version people refuse to let go of? In this episode of The Bounce Rate, we start with deep dish pizza and end up somewhere much bigger: New Coke, Texas barbecue, Warby Parker, Netflix, Chipotle, A24, and the dangerous business of changing what people already love. Along the way, we dig into why some inno...

What if there’s no Back to the Future DeLorean coming to fix your mistakes (or fast-forward you to success?) In this episode, we dive into the messy, hilarious, and sometimes uncomfortable truth about how we relate to time. Are you reflecting on the past… or just cringing at it? Are you planning for the future… or just daydreaming? And what happens when someone lives entirely in the present with z...

Strike a pose… but not for the runway. This episode of The Bounce Rate takes a sharp, practical look at “modeling” Not fashion, but the way you model your processes, habits, and business decisions. From our outfit review to breaking down real-world execution, the conversation lands on a simple truth: best practices are only valuable if you actually use them. We unpack the tension between following...

This episode uses Return of the Jedi as a springboard to explore how plans often go wrong and why recovery matters more than flawless execution. We touch on Luke's growth, the controversial Ewoks and Yub Nub soundtrack, big reveals from the saga, and parallels to parenting and running a small business. The core takeaway: success is earned through resilience—what you do when you get punched in the...

In this episode we use The Empire Strikes Back to explore how pressure, setbacks, and slow progress reveal true character and leadership. We draw practical lessons about performing under stress, persistence, and the payoff of steady work. Jedi Knights are valued for how they act when things go wrong, not when they are meditating on rocks, and progress often feels slow until you need to leave Dagob...

Join us for part 1 of our 3 part saga exploring the life and professional lessons we can gather from the original Star Wars films. In Episode One (actually 4) we talk through how Luke Skywalker (and most of us) turn manageable problems into galaxy-sized crises when fear takes the wheel. We also break down why trusting your training, leaning on the right people, and staying open to unexpected paths...

In this episode we explore how early success and confidence can quietly replace curiosity, creating an "expert beginner" or local maximum where growth stalls. From our natural knacks that get in the way to COVID-era reinvention, we breakdown how comfort and routine can become a hidden plateau. Hear practical ways to break out: model people ahead of you, deliberately return to beginner mode, and re...

In this episode we explore why people avoid bold moves and how to start doing spicier things in life and business. We talk our go-to practical steps (finding unexpected inspiration, generating seven intentionally stupid ideas, involve supportive people.) We hope listeners will embrace big moves without getting paralyzed by fear or habit.

In this episode of The Bounce Rate we explore how businesses with long purchase cycles (your realtors, your urgent care clinics, your mattress sellers.) We discuss why it's important to stay visible when customers only buy every few years. From displaying neighborhood expertise, unique signage, and medical upsells, we highlight the challenges of low-frequency buying and the mortgage lock that slow...

In this episode, we "expertly" use a chemistry metaphor to break down the elements of local business. Compounds such as compliance, production, location, distribution, advertising, and customer relationships make crucial (and sometimes volatile) reactions. No single element guarantees success.

This episode of The Bounce Rate dives into Valentine's Day: the commercialization, the loyalty, and the relationships with local business. Is there a more romantic medium than email and SMS marketing? We'll find out!

In this special Superbowl episode, football becomes a metaphor for local business, (because of course it does.) Our hosts argue that systems and teamwork can matter more than raw talent, whether you’re running a company or trying not to implode in the fourth quarter. Franchises are discussed as a tempting shortcut for small business owners who’d rather buy a playbook than write one themselves. Alo...

Failure gets a bad rap. In this episode of The Bounce Rate, we look at failure from a few different angles: as a teacher, as a measuring stick, and as an unavoidable part of doing literally anything worthwhile. Sometimes a mistake is the thing that makes progress finally visible. Sometimes it’s just a face-plant you have to stand up from and keep moving. Along the way, we spiral through cruise-shi...

Eric Shafer hosts today with James and Roger as they break down gym marketing in the new year, exploring what actually gets people to join and stay: convenience (parking and hours), cleanliness, class vs. facility models, and the power of relationships and retention. What offers actually work? Day passes, intro sessions, and low-risk memberships? And how do big-box brands compare to boutique studi...

Let's kick off 2026 with a sincere Batman apology, some resolutions that are definitely happening, and some solid guidance for local businesses in the coming year. Take bigger risks with creative and ad spend, listen to and learn from customers (including speaking to non-English audiences), and get obsessed with metrics to grow leads and impact in the new year.

In this most festive episode, we riff on favorite holiday films (Batman Returns, Miracle on 34th Street, The Green Knight, and Christmas Vacation) drawing parallels with local marketing and small business ownership. We explore themes of transformation, belief in marketing, taking responsibility for growth, and navigating chaos with optimism and teamwork.