Confident Risks

After every guest, Taylor follows up with a recap to process and break down the biggest takeaways. This is the Hot Wash on Matt Legg's visit. Taylor has had the chance to travel to FDIC with Matt and get to know him well, which made this conversation even richer. Here are the highlights that stuck with him most. First, don't let the moment take over. One of the most powerful parts of Matt&...

Meet Matt Legg, Battalion Chief at Northern Lakes Fire. After 18 years in the service and a promotion to battalion chief just 8 months ago, Matt brings a front-line perspective on one of the most intense fire seasons North Idaho has faced. Northern Lakes covers 106 square miles, including Hayden, Rathdrum, Twin Lakes, and Garwood. With three staffed stations, a fourth on the way, and 9 new hires r...

After every guest, Taylor follows up with a recap to process and break down the biggest takeaways. This is the Hot Wash on Justin Capaul's visit. Taylor has known Justin for 3 to 4 years, and every time they talk, he learns something new. Here are the highlights that stuck with him most. First, the power of reviewing the tape. Just like in the Rusty episode, Taylor comes back to the value of g...

Meet Justin Capal, a 4th generation firefighter and Battalion Chief at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. With 25 years in the fire service and a software company he runs on the side, Justin lives the dual life that defines Confident Risks. Justin comes from a family of firefighters going back four generations. His great-grandpa was the first paid fireman in the area, and his grandpa, dad, uncle, an...

Every time we have a guest on, Taylor follows up with a recap episode to process and break down the biggest takeaways. This is the Hot Wash on Rusty Kramer's visit. After 12 years in the service and a fast track to battalion chief at KCFR, Rusty left us with a lot to unpack. Here are the highlights that stuck with Taylor most. First, Rusty's ability to stay cool, calm, and collected under...

KCFR Battalion Chief Rusty Kramer shares what separates good firefighters from great ones. In this episode, Rusty breaks down the mindset that saves lives. With 12 years at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and a background in the Marine Corps, Rusty brings deep insights on training, discipline, and leadership under pressure. You'll learn why muscle memory matters in emergency situations, how co...

The Real Lessons Hidden in the Fire Service. We're back with Season 3, and this season is different. Season 1 was about entrepreneurship and building confidence to start a business. Season 2 was about positivity and happiness. Season 3? We're diving into the fire service. Real stories. Real training. Real calls. Real pressure. If you're not a firefighter, you might think this doesn&#39...

When you think of confidence, what comes to mind? The loudest person in the room? Here's the truth: That person is probably the least confident person there. Real confidence isn't about talking. It's about knowing your product. Doing the research. Making an educated decision. Knowing absolutely that you made the right choice. This is Episode 1 of Confident Risks, where we answer the qu...

Self-Confidence Is Your Brand—Here's How to Build It. In this episode, we're talking about self-confidence. Not confidence in your product. Confidence in yourself. Because here's the truth: You are the brand. And self-confidence is how you sell it. **The Difference:** Product confidence means you know the product. You never have to say a word. Self-confidence means you can talk to othe...

Sacrifices vs. Trade-Offs: Why You Don't Need to Give Up Everything to Start In this episode, we're talking about something that stops most people from starting: sacrifices. The word "sacrifice" is aggressive. It makes us think we have to give up everything. But here's the truth: It's not about sacrifice. It's about trade-offs. **The Real Insight:** Trade-offs is a be...

Discipline Is Your Best Safety Net—Everything Else Is Secondary In this episode, we're talking about what separates successful people from everyone else: discipline. Most people talk about having a backup plan. A safety net. But here's the truth: Your best safety net isn't a backup plan. It's discipline. Discipline is doing something when you don't have to do it, but you do it anyway. **The Real S...

Execution Over Ideas: Why Your Plan Doesn't Matter Without Action In this episode, we're talking about the gap between having an idea and actually doing it. We all have great ideas. We've done the research. We've got the confidence. But then nothing happens. Here's what separates successful people from everyone else: they execute. **What This Episode Covers:** Why setting a dat...

There are no work instructions for starting a business. But there are 3 principles that will guide you through those first months and beyond. In this episode, we cover: Start small and keep overhead low. Don't try to be like somebody else. Focus on your customer. We explore the Lego analogy, real stories about starting from a driveway, and why word-of-mouth became my best marketing tool. This...

A classic episode from Confident Risks on how to assess and manage risk. Whether you're thinking about starting a business, making a major decision, or navigating challenges you're already facing, understanding risk is critical. Today we're breaking down one of the most important concepts for entrepreneurs and business owners: low-level risks, mid-level risks, and high-level risks. What We Cover:...

We're three months into 2026, and a lot has happened. This episode is a complete highlight reel of everything since January 1st. Whether you've been here the whole time or you're new, this episode is for you. We realized we've never really sat down and shown you the complete YTD picture in one place. You might know one part of our journey. But you don't necessarily know everyth...

Jason Marburger's visit to Confident Risks was incredible. This recap episode breaks down the key lessons from his Fireball Tools startup story. Learn why his dad's refusal to fund him changed everything, how social media became the new sales force, why negative comments are valuable, and the biggest secret to success. The core message: You don't need it all figured out. You need passi...

If you're an entrepreneur, fabricator, tradesperson, or small business owner, this episode is for you. Jason Marburger shares lessons in: building a brand on authenticity, competing with cheaper alternatives, the cost of quality manufacturing, hiring and training your team, validating product ideas before investing, protecting intellectual property, and maintaining your values while scaling. D...

Your first attempt doesn't define you. Your response to failure does. In this episode of Confident Risks, we explore the critical distinction high performers make: separating outcome from identity. Too many of us try something new, fail once, and think "I'm not good at this." But successful people know a different truth. The first 10 times you do something will be embarrassing, the next 100 times...

In this episode of Confident Risks , we dive into the critical difference between confidence and competence and why confusing the two can limit your growth, credibility, and long-term success. It is easy to look at business owners, athletes, leaders, or creators and assume success is simple. You see the highlight moments. You see the surface level results. What you do not see is the work underneat...

After our powerful conversation with retired FDNY firefighter Kevin Shea, I knew we needed to reflect on what that episode truly meant. In this follow-up, I break down the biggest lessons I took away from Kevin’s story, from his rope rescue on a 12-story building to surviving a four-and-a-half-story fall during the World Trade Center bombing. Beyond the dramatic moments, what stood out most was hi...

Why do some days feel like a 10 out of 10… and others feel like a complete failure? In this episode of Confident Risks , we break down the concept of raising your floor instead of constantly chasing your ceiling. Most people focus on their best days, trying to maximize peak performance. But real personal growth, confidence, and long-term success come from improving your worst days. We explore: Why...

In this powerful first episode of Confident Risks , we sit down with Kevin Shea , retired firefighter from the Fire Department of the City of New York , for a real and unfiltered conversation about courage, leadership, and making high-stakes decisions under pressure. Kevin shares firsthand experiences from his years serving in the FDNY, the mindset required to run toward danger, and the mental res...

Most people are not stuck because they lack talent. They are stuck because they are playing scared. In this episode, we dive into the fear that shows up before big decisions and why waiting to feel “ready” is often the very thing holding you back. From tough conversations to career moves and major life changes, growth requires courage long before confidence arrives. You will walk away with a power...

Failure is unavoidable, but burning bridges does not have to be. In this episode, we dive deep into how knee-jerk reactions, emotional responses, and impulsive decisions can permanently damage relationships and future opportunities. Drawing from experiences in sports, business, leadership, and everyday life, we explore why successful people pause before reacting and how the 24-hour rule can comple...

Being proactive is one of the most underrated, and most powerful skills for success. In this episode, we talk about why simply doing what you’re asked isn’t enough if you want to grow in your career, improve your family life, strengthen friendships, or build something meaningful. Success comes from thinking ahead, understanding the bigger picture, and becoming an asset instead of a liability. Thro...