EP273: California Cichlids & Rare African Catfish with Joe Candelaria
Release Date: 04/21/2025
EP275: Father & Son Fish Hustle: Fish-Keeping The Festae Factory
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric talks with Andy and Jaden, from Festae Factory. The conversation centers on Jaden's entrepreneurial venture selling a unique, homemade fish filter he designed and manufactured, spurred by his father's inspiration and a desire to earn money after a successful prior year at a similar event. They also discuss their family business, specializing in breeding cichlids, and touch upon their involvement in the Fishroom Punks Trading Cards project and their travels within the fish hobby community. The interview highlights themes of family, business, and the interconnectedness of the fish keeping...
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EP274: The Availability Audit
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric shares an "accountability call" from his Weekly Compass group, focusing on the concept of an "availability audit". He emphasizes that this is about evaluating what you make yourself available for, as saying you are "too busy" might actually mean you are "too available" for less important things. learn how many time management problems faced by business owners, such as dealing with office work, lead management, and answering phones, can be solved by conducting an availability audit. Eric also recommends the book "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell as a resource for this. Key...
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EP273: California Cichlids & Rare African Catfish with Joe Candelaria
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric talks with Joe from California Cichlids about his recent move to an inherited ranch with ponds and his ongoing project to relocate his fish from a remote warehouse back home after two years of daily commutes. The conversation touches upon his past experiences in the fishkeeping hobby, including early sales methods and challenges faced in the industry. They also explore his current agricultural endeavors on the property, including greenhouses and various livestock. The discussion shifts to specific fish, like albino multipunctatus and the prized pundilia nai, along with outdoor fishkeeping...
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EP272: Dig into the Dopamine & The Dollars will Follow!
The Pond Digger Podcast
Today's podcast is focused on improving sales techniques for contractors. Eric emphasizes the importance of identifying and exploring a potential client's emotional drivers, or "dopamine hits," rather than immediately focusing on the financial aspects of a project. By encouraging clients to elaborate on their aspirations and the feelings associated with their desired outcomes, contractors can build stronger connections and ultimately increase their chances of securing a sale, as "dollars will follow dopamine." Participants also share personal experiences and "wins" related to implementing...
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EP271: 50 Years of Cichlids with Ron Soucy
The Pond Digger Podcast
This interview with Ron Soucy covers his longtime involvement in the fishkeeping hobby, especially with African Cichlids. He shares memories of being among the first to breed certain Tanganyikan fish and the excitement around new species arriving. Eric and Ron discuss how the hobby has changed, with fewer new fish and the decline of local fish stores. Ron recounts interesting breeding experiences, like Synodontis catfish acting as foster parents. He also shares his experiences as a fish wholesaler and offers tips for keeping certain fish, such as lowering the water temperature for...
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EP 270: Response Ability
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric explains the concept of "response-ability" in this insightful episode of The Pond Digger Podcast. Tripplet reveals how shifting your focus from mere duty to your actual ability to respond can revolutionize your client interactions and business outcomes. Discover practical strategies, including mastering the art of qualifying questions and leveraging the strategic power of silence during negotiations. Hear real-world examples from the community and learn how developing specific skills through dedicated practice unlocks greater control, confidence, and profitability. This episode...
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EP269: San Diego Aquarium Club
The Pond Digger Podcast
Dive into the vibrant world of aquarium keeping with Angel, the passionate president of the San Diego Tropical Fish Society, as she shares the rich history of their decades-long club and the exciting events they host. Discover the unique challenges of leading an established society while embracing modern approaches like social media to engage a new generation of fish enthusiasts. This engaging conversation explores the deep connections within the fish keeping community, highlighting the crossover appeal between aquariums and ponds and the shared passion that unites hobbyists of all...
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EP268: Upgrading Our Sound w/ Melody Jackson
The Pond Digger Podcast
Eric Triplet, and his colleague MJ are experimenting with new audio equipment, specifically the RODEcaster Pro 2. Their conversation highlights the ease of setup and the potential for improved recording quality, especially in challenging environments like trade shows. Eric recounts past frustrations with unreliable equipment and expresses excitement about the portability and clarity of the new setup. They also briefly discuss the podcast's positive impact on their business and their plans for future remote and on-location recordings. Ultimately, this recording serves as a trial run and a...
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EP267: Ascension Ladder
The Pond Digger Podcast
Today's episode features a discussion about the concept of an "ascension ladder" in business, which involves offering a range of services or products at different price points to cultivate long-term customer relationships and increase revenue over time. Eric illustrates this idea with a personal anecdote about a long-term pond maintenance client who gradually increased their spending. Contrasting this positive example is a frustrating experience at a bike shop, where the staff's aggressive upselling attempts and poor customer service highlight a flawed approach to the ascension ladder and...
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EP266: The Compromise (Weekly Compass)
The Pond Digger Podcast
Today Eric shares an audio recording of his "Weekly Compass" called "The Compromise." It captures a coaching call focused on the detrimental effects of compromising on personal and professional goals. Triplett encourages listeners to identify areas where they are unnecessarily making concessions, drawing parallels to business, health, and relationships. Participants share their struggles with work-life balance, anxiety, and overcoming limiting beliefs, seeking guidance and accountability from the group. The discussion emphasizes the importance of discipline, time management through calendar...
info_outlineEric talks with Joe from California Cichlids about his recent move to an inherited ranch with ponds and his ongoing project to relocate his fish from a remote warehouse back home after two years of daily commutes. The conversation touches upon his past experiences in the fishkeeping hobby, including early sales methods and challenges faced in the industry. They also explore his current agricultural endeavors on the property, including greenhouses and various livestock. The discussion shifts to specific fish, like albino multipunctatus and the prized pundilia nai, along with outdoor fishkeeping possibilities. Finally, they briefly mention future plans for California Cichlids and an upcoming aquarium show.
Connect with Joe: https://californiacichlids.com/
- Persist through challenges when pursuing your passions or goals.
- Be open to adapting to new technologies and ways of doing things.
- It's okay to start small and learn as you go.
- Learn from your mistakes to improve your processes and outcomes.
- Find joy and fulfillment in the activities you dedicate your time to.
Resources:
- Contractor Sales Secrets: ContractorSalesSecrets.com
- Fitz Fish Ponds: Koi Trips
- Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett
- The Pond Digger: https://theponddigger.com/
- LA Pet Fair: https://www.lapetfair.com/
- Atlantic-Oase: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/
- Helix Pond Filtration: http://helixpondfiltration.com/
- TWT Contractor Circle (Facebook Group): TWT Contractor Circle
- TWT Contractor Power Circle (Facebook Group): TWT Contractor Power Circle
- The Pond Digger Instagram: Instagram
- The Pond Digger Facebook: Facebook
- Train With Triplett TikTok: TikTok