School Owner Talk

Episode 467| Why This Business Still Gets to Us (Even After 30+ Years) Podcast Description In Episode 467 of School Owner Talk, Duane and Allie keep it real about something most school owners feel but don’t always say out loud: this business can still get to you—even after decades of experience. They talk through the emotional side of running a martial arts school in today’s world: parents pushing back on standards, kids struggling with focus and emotional regulation, the constant tension betwee

Episode 466: Is Your Martial Arts School Still Working for You? Podcast Description In Episode 466 of School Owner Talk, Duane and Allie have a real conversation many school owners need to hear: Is the school you built still working for you—or are you working nonstop to keep a version of it alive that no longer fits your life? The conversation began with Allie considering whether to end Saturday classes after looking closely at attendance, revenue, time commitment, and the personal cost of being

Episode 465: The 3 Most Important People on Your Team (And Why They Matter) Podcast Description In Episode 465 of School Owner Talk, Duane and Allie hit record on a conversation that started off as “let’s talk accounting”… and turned into a bigger (and honestly more important) discussion about the people you need around you if you want to run a stable school and build a life you actually get to enjoy. The big idea is simple: most martial arts school owners don’t fail because they’re bad instruct

464 | The Emotional Toll of Running a Martial Arts School: When You Care More Than They Do Podcast Description Running a martial arts school can be one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. At the same time, it can quietly wear you down—especially when you pour years into a student and they disappear overnight. In this episode, Duane and Allie talk honestly about the emotional toll of teaching: the frustration of “instant gratification” culture, the tension between keeping standards and keepi

463| Martial Arts: The Anti-Chaos Program Podcast Description Life feels louder than it used to. Families are stretched thin. Kids are overstimulated, distracted, and riding an emotional roller coaster that a lot of school owners don’t remember seeing at this level years ago. In this episode, Duane and Allie make the case that martial arts schools shouldn’t position themselves as “just another after-school activity.” Instead, they should lead with what parents actually want: outcomes. Because wh

Episode 462: If You Disappeared Tomorrow, Would Your School Still Run? Podcast Description What happens to your martial arts school if you’re suddenly not there? Not “I’m taking a planned vacation” not there. Not “I’ll still answer texts between classes” not there. We mean: you’re out. Unexpected. Surgery. Family emergency. Injury. Something you didn’t schedule. In this episode, Duane and Allie dig into a real-life gut check (literally): Duane ended up in the hospital for eight days after an eme