This podcast has a problem with the ratio of signal to noise. Both literally and conceptually.
Conceptually, most episodes involve a Render employee bringing up a particular article or experience they've had that week, and other employees commenting on their thoughts about that thing. Then, after they've rambled, someone will remember that the show is ostensibly about higher education, and some tenuous connection will be made. #4 and #13 are great examples of that, though volume #7 was particularly egregious, with baseless economics rants. Each episode usually has a little gem, but for me, it isn't worth listening for fifteen minutes to get to it.
There's also a literal signal and noise problem. Most episodes are recorded in the car, while traveling to client locations. But that can result in so much noise that it's impossible to hear the signal. While listening to episode #9, I actually had to turn off the show and listen to my car to verify the road noise was coming from the podcast. Recording on the road (or at a conference, or in an airport) must be a tremendous challenge, but a higher quality microphone, more editing, and some notes to keep the conversation focused would provide considerable improvement.
Together, the result is a podcast which feels forced, as though the goal was to have a podcast, rather than a thoughtful consideration of how to provide value, further the marketing efforts of Render, and create a good experience for the listener.
