Last week, I wrote about the small victories: charged mics, working cameras, and a team that finally felt like a team. This week, we leveled up again. Fewer tech headaches, smoother setup, and, for the first time, our main camera survived the entire shoot. (Small miracles, right?)
But as anyone who’s tried to build something real knows, progress isn’t just about what works; it’s about what you learn when things don’t go as planned.
The Plan vs. The Path
Going in, we thought we could tackle the four pillars of strength: physical, mental, emotional, and relational, in a single episode. Spoiler: we didn’t even come close.
We started with “What comes to mind when you hear the word strong?” and, before we knew it, we were deep in the trenches of physical strength. Stories, setbacks, lessons learned the hard way. Luke brought some counterpoints. Kat grounded us with her perspective. The conversation took on a life of its own.
Halfway through, I made the call: let’s not rush this. Let’s give each pillar the space it deserves. So, what was supposed to be a single episode is now a mini-series. Sometimes the best move is to follow where the conversation wants to go.
Lessons from the Studio
Every session, we’re getting better, not just at the technical stuff, but at the art of showing up. We found that running a “faux episode” rundown before hitting record helped us get loose, get focused, and get real. It’s a small ritual, but it’s making a big difference.
We’re also learning not to force the arc. The best moments happen when we let the conversation breathe. When we stop trying to tick boxes and start listening, to each other, and to what the topic is really asking of us.
Life Happens, And We’re Choosing to Honor That
There’s another reason you haven’t heard our voices in your feed just yet: life is happening, and we’re choosing to honor that.
Between shooting and editing, we’re in a season of major milestones. Between the three of us, we’ve got a handful of high school and college graduations, some in-state, some out-of-state, plus, on a personal note, I’m about to welcome my first grandson, Liam. (My daughter Angelina is being induced this Friday the 13th. Talk about timing!) With so much happening, we made the call to slow-roll the editing and release of our first episode.
Why Wait?
We want to do this right. Once we drop episode one, we’re committing to a weekly release schedule, no missed weeks, no scrambling. That means getting ahead on shooting, taking the time to edit each episode to our standards, and making sure we can deliver every week, reliably and predictably.
This isn’t just about launching a podcast. It’s about building trust, with ourselves, and with you. Consistency matters. We want every episode to hit the mark, not just in content, but in quality and timing.
The Shape of Strong (So Far)
This week’s episode is all about physical strength, not just the gym stories, but what strength means when the weights are down and life gets heavy. We barely scratched the surface of the other pillars, which tells me we’re onto something worth digging into.
Next up: we’ll keep exploring what “strong” means, and how that definition has changed for each of us over time. From growing up in the ‘70s and ‘90s to navigating today’s world, the idea of strength keeps evolving. And so do we.
What’s Next
So, if you’re waiting for that first drop, know that we’re working behind the scenes, refining, editing, and stacking up episodes, so that when we do launch, you can count on us to show up every week. In the meantime, we’ll keep sharing updates, lessons, and a look behind the curtain as we build The Other Side of Strong, one honest conversation at a time.
For now, we’re just grateful to be here, learning out loud, and bringing you along for the ride.
The lights are still on. The team is still in place. And every time we hit record, we’re getting a little closer to the other side of strong.
Thanks for your patience, and for walking this warpath with us. The best is yet to come.
🎧 Subscribe to the podcast
📬 Join the Brotherhood for behind-the-scenes content
📣 Share this article with someone walking their own path
About the Author
James Farias is the founder and co-host of The Other Side of Strong, a podcast exploring what strength really means in 2025, beyond image, ego, or empty flex.
He’s a father of six, a business owner, and a man who’s rebuilt himself from the inside out. With over 30 years of leadership experience, James creates space for conversations that most people never get to have about growth, grit, fatherhood, failure, and the warpath to becoming someone worth following.
You can follow James on
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
Recent Comments