I just listened to their podcast from Fincon. That was my intro and it felt a little bit like the old tiny classified ads commercials where you're sitting there wondering where the actual producess or method is.
That seems to be par for podcasts though since there is no time limit. I've recently started listening to podcasts and in general it seems there is plenty that could be cut out. Inside jokes, long self-advertisements, etc.
Good points.
The longer I listen to podcasts and "participate" in the FI "scene" the more obvious the feedback loop of blogging/podcasts/create a product and sell it becomes. It's as if I can begin to "see the matrix" after enough exposure to it. From what I can gather, this is the current "model":
1. Develop your "story" (people love stories so be sure to have one, exaggerate if need be)
2. Create a blog
3. Join every social network known to man AND dogs, link, link, link
4. Create a podcast
5. Interview the "interesting folks" (Like MMM, Nord, Collins, etc.)
6. Run out of interesting folks to interview (only so much intel out there)
7. Interview other podcasters/bloggers, be sure and give them a chance to tell their story (again)
8. Develop a product to sell, most often, it's a book or a "course" that provides "secret knowledge" that can only be obtained via the course/personal coaching/book/APP/super secret section of the website....
9. Link to others in your space, get others to join the cause and "sell them" the plan you used so they create content you can link to (thus closing the feedback loop while enlarging the space)
Rinse, wash, repeat
I'm not saying I don't enjoy the FI podcast, it can be energizing in it's own way and I often learn from it, I also enjoy the other "paths" taken by others like MMM/Nord, the folks who truly had nothing to "sell" and I think that's the difference between the schools of thought, those who were teaching without trying to earn incomes and those who are still trying to monetize the "scene".
I think every "scene" gets monetized sooner or later, the same model is being used in the health/fitness podcast/blog "space".
Eventually, no one does any physical labor, we just all have blogs/podcasts/facebook pages talking about how to have a blog/podcast/facebook page...... :)