Rhythmic tones trilled as the call connected.
Blair Dalton’s bright smile filled the screen as her video feed appeared next to mine. “Hi, Ryan!”
“Hey, how’s it going?” I said, hoping we could get the perfunctory greetings out of the way and just get down to business.
“I’m doing well. I hope you are too,” she said as she adjusted her microphone. “Thank you for jumping into this episode so quickly. I know your schedule has to be bananas, so I’m extremely grateful that you were willing to fill in.”
“No worries. I’m plenty familiar with the chaos of staying on a production schedule.”
“Tell me about it,” Blair said with a laugh. “It’s mayhem ninety percent of the time. When your name came across my desk, I looked you up and knew I had to get you on the show.”
“Can I ask where the tip came from?” I asked, guessing it was a producer who was aware of my show.
“Ophelia Kensington reached out with your information.”
. . . I didn’t know any Ophelias.
“I had one of her clients on my first show years ago. Since then, we’ve done a rebrand and have a new show concept.”
“Who was the client, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Whitney West. The romance author.”
Huh. So I just happened to get a guest spot on one of the hottest podcasts out right now, thanks to Whitney’s assistant.
That didn’t scream “meddling Willow” at all . . .
“I’m glad you reached out. I’m looking forward to chatting.”
Blair went through the interview rundown, going through all the questions she would ask to make sure they weren’t intrusive or off-limits.
The recording icon flashed on screen as she read through the segment introduction, rolling through the highlights of what I do, my podcast and programs, and accolades.
For the first time, hearing a comprehensive list of my accomplishments made me feel hollow.
In my heart of hearts, I knew I was making a difference. I kept a folder full of wedding invitations, baby announcements, and personal letters to remind me why I did what I did.
Being single never bothered me until I met the woman I was supposed to spend my life with, and couldn’t.
The accolades were simply coats of paint on an otherwise empty box. She had been the treasure I held.
“Thanks for coming on today, Ryan,” Blair said with a beaming smile.
Right. The podcast was recording.I hoped I hadn’t been making any weird faces as I put on the version of Ryan Ford that paid the bills.
“Thanks for having me,” I said.
“Let’s get right into it. Tell me how you came up with The Ford Method, and why it works.”
I ignored the pang in my gut and let out an easygoing laugh. “I’m only telling you this part because she brags about it. But my mother, who is an incredible parent and person, inspired The Ford Method. When I was young, I lost my father and she lost her husband. When she started dating again, she was looking for a partner, but all the people she datedwere looking for someone to take care of them. Some of them were too embarrassed to admit that they didn’t know how to make it through the basics of life. Some didn’t care to try and learn. The BetterYou program was actually the first piece of the puzzle I came up with. I partnered with my mom to create resources to teach people what they didn’t know in a shame-free environment. It’s hard to add value to a relationship when you’re not doing anything to better yourself. It’s not just for people looking to get relationship-ready. It’s useful for new homeowners, young people living on their own for the first time, or kids and teens who may not have safe adults to ask for help.”
“That’s incredible,” Blair said.
“Once people feel like they are in a place in their lives where a relationship would benefit them and a partner, The Ford Method is waiting for them. It’s a twelve-week framework that gives people the tools to create deep emotional connections with a partner. As humans, we crave emotional connection, but it can be hard to know where to start. The Ford Method isn’t just for men. It’s full of step-by-step guidance and easy prompts that work for any kind of partnership, and doesn’t put a financial burden on participants. Love shouldn’t be exclusive to people who have enough money to throw around to make it happen.”
“What’s your success rate?” Blair pressed.
“A business manager would probably tell me I’m an idiot, but I don’t require participants to identify themselves if they don’t want to, or give follow-up information to know if it worked. Privacy is a fleeting resource. What I can tell you is that each user receives a unique discount code when they finish the program. It’s for them to share with others who might find The Ford Method useful. As of last year, ninety-four percent of new program purchases were made using a referral code. I think word of mouth speaks for itself.”
