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The Backflip Effect

The Backflip Effect

Written by: Ryan Freng & Backflip
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About this listen

We’re flipping the script—literally. The Let’s Backflip Show: Happy Hour had a good run, but it’s time for a plot twist. Welcome to The Backflip Effect, your new go-to guide for mastering video and marketing—with a side of comedy, drama, and hopefully a little wisdom.


Ryan Freng, John Shoemaker, and the Backflip crew tackle all the ups, downs, and unexpected plot twists of running a production company, a creative marketing studio… or whatever they’re calling themselves these days. From getting started and failing spectacularly to finding success and navigating daily challenges, they’re sharing it all—plus a few trade secrets they’ve picked up over 20 years in the game.


Whether you’re here to build your brand, level up your video skills, or just enjoy a good behind-the-scenes story, you’re in the right place.

Hit play. It’s gonna be awesome.

© 2026 The Backflip Effect
Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Catholic Storytelling and the Art of Co-Creation
    Jan 15 2026

    What if audiences don’t just consume stories, they finish them? We dive into that idea with a wide-ranging conversation across Catholic imagination, indie cinema, saints’ lives, and the nuts and bolts of making marketing that people actually want to share. Starting with parables and tradition, we explore how stories invite each of us to bring our history, hopes, and habits to the work, transforming it in the process. That sacramental lens, seeing outward signs that reveal inward grace, becomes a practical tool for watching movies, reading difficult texts, and crafting content with integrity.

    We take Tolkien and Flannery O’Connor as case studies in contrast. One fosters wonder and moral clarity; the other confronts sin and shock to reveal mercy. Both reward active participation. We unpack why an indie film like Wildcat, with layered performances and nonstandard form, can challenge expectations yet offer richer meaning, while a gorgeous production can still fail if its story collapses. The conversation then swings to documentary ethics: editing is always authorship, and “truth” needs context. Recognizing the filmmaker’s hand helps viewers engage critically without losing the human core of the subject.

    Finally, we connect these ideas to modern marketing. Today’s platforms are built for co-creation, remixes, duets, stitches, and reactions. We share practical tactics that 10x engagement: short loops with a setup and payoff, prompts that invite replies, and topics sourced from real searches so content meets felt needs. The goal isn’t to game an algorithm; it’s to respect people as partners who make meaning with you. Come for the theology of story, stay for the creative playbook you can use on your next post, film, or campaign. If this resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves stories as much as you do.

    For more information about us or to see all the amazing people we work with, check out our website:
    https://www.letsbackflip.com

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Pick a Partner. Not a Price.
    Jan 8 2026

    What if the problem isn’t your budget, but your buying strategy? We break down why “pick a partner, not a price” is more than a catchy line. It’s a practical path to marketing that actually works. Instead of treating video like a commodity, we share how aligning on goals, scoping together, and planning distribution turns creative into measurable growth.

    We challenge price-shopping habits with a simple test: are you comparing numbers or outcomes? You’ll hear real examples of clients who asked for a single asset but needed a smarter sequence. Fix the bottleneck first, then scale. We unpack how videos die without distribution, why paid media and SEO matter, and how content cadence keeps you top of mind long after a launch. There’s nuance too. One-off hero videos can outperform live moments at donor galas, especially when you craft the story and repurpose clips to build momentum before and after the event.

    Our approach sits between a pure production vendor and a strategy-only agency. We sprint to quick wins, gather data fast, and keep iterating so every dollar learns. Expect candid talk on scope vs cost, when it makes sense to match a competitor’s “reasonable” price, and why pushback from a true partner beats a vendor’s polite yes. If you want creative that earns attention and a distribution engine that compounds it, this conversation maps the way from first brief to business impact.

    Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a friend who’s weighing bids, and leave a review with your biggest marketing roadblock so we can tackle it next.

    For more information about us or to see all the amazing people we work with, check out our website:
    https://www.letsbackflip.com

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • How Much Does Video Production Actually Cost?
    Oct 23 2025

    Ever asked a video production company for pricing only to get a frustratingly vague answer? You're not alone. In this candid exploration of video production costs, we pull back the curtain on why "how much does video cost?" might be the wrong question altogether.

    We break down real numbers for the Midwest market, from bare-minimum $5,000 projects to $250,000 documentary films, while explaining the factors that drive these costs. But more importantly, we challenge the traditional thinking about video budgeting by focusing on outcomes rather than outputs.

    What if your $60,000 budget would deliver more value as a $30,000 production paired with $30,000 in strategic distribution? How might quarterly productions generating 21 content pieces outperform a single "hero" video? These questions reveal the true nature of effective video marketing. It's not about a one-time expense but an ongoing strategy that feeds your marketing channels consistently.

    Drawing on our experience with clients across various industries, we explain why video production costs what it does (hint: you're hiring professionals for a significant amount of their time) and why the relationship with your production partner matters more than the price tag. For businesses feeling uncomfortable with video costs, we offer a simple framework: if your investment has the potential to deliver returns many times its value, the initial price becomes less relevant than the strategic outcome.

    Ready to rethink your approach to video marketing budgets? Listen now and discover why successful businesses are asking better questions than "how much?" They're asking, "what value will this create?" Share your thoughts on video budgeting challenges, and subscribe for our upcoming episode on why you should pick a partner, not a price.

    For more information about us or to see all the amazing people we work with, check out our website:
    https://www.letsbackflip.com

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
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