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What Drives Us and PriusChat Podcasts

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by stevemcelroy, Jun 28, 2011.

  1. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    I have listened to the What Drives Us podcast from relatively early on - I think i picked it up at about episode 10 and recently I have given the PriusChat show a try. Originally I really enjoyed the podcasts but recently I have found that the show prep is lacking (or not existent at all) and that the desire to deliver one liners overwhelms all else.

    So I was driving from Cape Cod to Philly a few days ago and had not updated my ipod for about a week and listened to both of the most recent shows back to back and by the end I had a headache. Just an example of each - in each of the podcasts there were tons of each -

    In both shows they discussed the announcement by Ford that they would be bringing the plug in and hybrid versions of the C-Max to the US, but not the large 7 passenger version. They talked for a while and never mentioned that the smaller hybrid and plug in were the C-Max and that the larger one was the Grand C-Max. They did not mention or seem to know the fact that they are different models with just similar names (and a shared platform).

    In one show they were talking about the 7 passenger Grand C-Max and either Danny or Russel made a terrific point - bringing up that the take rate on the 3rd row for the Rav4 was really low because that 3rd row was really small and an expensive option. A dead on comment - my wife and I looked at the Rav4 a few years a back and thought that the 3rd row was too small to be useful - it was not even big enough for my (at the time) 8 year old. Unfortunately just following the point someone chimed in with a comment that the 3rd row would do badly in crash tests because of fat kid test dummies.

    So - I guess my question to the other Prius Chatters is am I just being to critical or do others have the same oppinion?
     
  2. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

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    I like both podcasts as is...
     
  3. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    I agree with Steve. I've tried to listen to these casts, but I just can't get into it. Discussions do not hold my attention as I sense they're ill-prepared, and seem to loose topic focus and discussion direction.
     
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    This is good feedback.

    I thoroughly enjoy the shows but it can always be better. Keep the input coming. :)
     
  5. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    It's my opinion that the last couple podcasts have been some of the best ones so far.

    :D
     
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Nah, you were not in them so they were lacking in sarcasm and humor. I like it with you on the panel.
     
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Thanks, man.
    I have decided to cut back from my weekly commitment to spend more face time with my wife. I'm planning on popping in from time to time.
     
  8. Russell Frost

    Russell Frost the whatdrives.us guy

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    Thanks for the feedback and when I say that, I mean it. I'm glad some people were engaged enough to be listening and posting about the show.

    To steve's comment:

    -I'd be lying if I said that same thought has been echoing a little bit in my head lately (that we should be more prepped).
    -Excuse: All of us on the show do other things during the day. While I prep the news (so I really have no excuse) some of them don't see the topics until not long before the show. Which doesn't mean better prep isn't a good point. It is.
    -It's russell


    To bob:

    -Thanks dude!


    To twittel:

    -I'll admit to this, we don't really try to be the show for everyone. Part of the payoff for all of us who do the show without getting paid (and that's everyone) is that we do the show we would like. And yes, that means that "style" (or lack thereof) may not connect with everyone. It would be great to be everyone's favorite show but we don't try to be. Which isn't to say we aren't always looking for ways to be better or more appealing, we are. We just want to do it our way. Who knows? In a year we may come simpering back begging for listeners and be very stoic. I doubt it but it could happen.
    -Thank you for at least trying to listen. Seriously, I appreciate it.


    To f8l:

    -You are a huge asset to show. I think you've shown that in your first appearance. We don't even miss Schaefer...


    To Tony:

    -Tony, you know I'm kidding. You know I love you like a brother. You know the show wouldn't be anything without your involvement. Take a break dude but do come back to us. The only reason we had that justin guy on is we all got tired of shouting out to him every week.


    Thanks again, everyone, for taking to the time to post a thought or two.
     
  9. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    1 person likes this.
  10. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    Russell - Thanks for taking the time to respond. I do understand that all of you guys have your own lives and regular gigs that pay the bills and that the podcasts are more of labor of love than anything else. I guess that all I have to say is that I liked the shows more in the past - the past few months the tenor has been more polarized opinions and more emphasis on one-liners. Chemistry will always be evolving but as you guys start taking stronger opinions on issues the background info becomes more important.

    Best of luck with the podcasts in the future and congrats and thanks for everything that you, Danny and everyone else has done in the past.
     
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Thanks, Russell! And thank you to everyone providing input. As Danny's replacement and new co-host of the show I plan on ending world hunger and the polarization of political parties. With my hand at the helm, global warming will cool off and Charlie Sheen will no longer be "winning"! I plan to rejuvenate our economy with innovative measures to control trade tariffs and I will save polar bears and burrowing owls in the process.

    Ok, I'm kidding. Now back to work! :D
     
  12. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

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    Thanks for talking about the show Russell!

    I guess I like the little bit of "off the cuff" way about it, kind of like any real discussion would be amongst knowledgeable participants.

    A more rigid, scripted, prepared for show, would feel more like an advertisement to me.

    Roundtable versus news story...
     
  13. savrip

    savrip Junior Member

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    I love both shows. What Drives Us does seem more developed and prepared. It also has double the input for discussion, in that there are usually 4 panelist instead of PriusChat's 2. I love them both, and look forward to them each week. Where's that Kenwood Low-Profile Sub contest? :)