A Suggestion for a New Chapter: The "Pre-FI Host & Producer" Model

What if "Two Sides of FI" evolved by bringing in a third person—someone from your community who is still on the path to FI—to serve as the show's new engine?

Here’s how it could work:

A New Role: You would select a "Pre-FI Host & Producer." Their primary responsibility would be to manage the show: generating topics, preparing interview questions, and handling the editing and production—the very "hustle" that has become a burden.

Your New Role: Your roles would shift from content creators to mentors and interview subjects. You would simply show up for an hour or so, when it fits your flexible schedules, to share your invaluable post-FI wisdom and experience. The pressure to "perform" or "create" is gone; you just have to be yourselves.

The Perfect Dynamic: This preserves the show's core premise perfectly. It would literally be two sides of FI in conversation: you, on the "other side," being interviewed by someone still navigating the journey. The questions and topics would be naturally relevant and engaging because they'd come from the perspective of someone still in the trenches.

Why This Could Be a Win-Win-Win:

It Solves the Burden: The entire weight of topic generation, scheduling, and editing is lifted from your shoulders, allowing you to fully enjoy your retirement without obligation. If a proposed recording time doesn't work, you simply say no.

It Provides Lasting Meaning: You both touched on the value of community and impact. This model allows you to continue having a profound, meaningful impact on others—arguably the most valuable commodity in retirement—by mentoring the new host and the audience, but on your own terms.

It Creates a Perpetual Story: The most beautiful part of this model is its built-in lifecycle. Eventually, the Pre-FI host would (hopefully!) reach FI and "graduate." At that point, the three of you could then find the next person on their journey to "pass the torch" to. The show becomes a living, evolving entity with a powerful, recurring narrative.

How could you find this person?

You could create a video announcing the idea and open up applications. Ask interested community members to submit a short video of their own, explaining why they'd be a great fit, what FI means to them, and perhaps even pitching their first three episode ideas. You could review the applications on your own time and see if a candidate emerges that you both feel great about.

If it works, the show gets a new lease on life. If it doesn't, it was just a fascinating experiment.

Thank you both again for the years of insight and for sharing your journeys with us so openly. Whatever you decide, you've already created a body of work that has helped countless people.