Built Not Born

Naketa Ren Thigpen is the Best-Selling author of the book Selfish: Permission to Pause, Live, Love, and Laugh Your Way to Joy.  Naketa is the CEO of ThigPro Balance and Relationship Management Institute. Her work is focused on how to heal traumas while balancing work/life and LOVE. Connect with Naketa Ren Thigpen: ·     LinkedIn: Naketa Ren Thigpen ·   ...

John Stoj may be the only financial advisor who's managed over $3 billion and sushi kitchen. John spent decades on Wall Street. He traded and designed some of the most complex bonds ever seen. Then managed massive portfolios for large institutions. These experiences taught John two important lessons:. The more complex the investment, the greater its costs. The greater its costs, the worse it...

Drexwell Seymour is a best selling author and TV show host on a mission to inspire, encourage and influence others to overcome setbacks, systemic injustice and to find their purpose in life. Drexwell grew up on a small island in Turks and Caicos, where there were limited opportunities and terrible colorism. Drexwell suffered from fear and an inferiority complex his entire childhood. Today Drexwell...

Vikas Shah is an entrepreneur, investor, author and philanthropist from Manchester, England. Vikas is the author of the long form blog, ‘ Thought Economics’ and has been interviewing Nobel prize winners, business leaders, politicians, artists and Olympians. In 2021 he released his book,  ‘Thought Economics’ featuring key selections from his interviews with the likes of Richard Branson, Maya A...

Chef Yehuda Sichel is the owner of HUDA restaurant in Center City Philadelphia. Before opening HUDA , Chef Yehuda Sichel was is the Executive Chef and Partner of Abe Fisher in Philadelphia. A restaurant from James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs, Chef Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook of CookNSolo Restaurants. Connect with Chef Yehuda Sichel & HUDA Restaurant: Website: HUDA PHL IG: HUDA IG:...

Lisa Morton is the CEO & Founder of Roland Dransfield. Roland Dransfield is an integrated PR and content marketing agency with offices in Manchester, London and Los Angeles. Lisa & I discuss: How a bucket and a sponge changed the trajectory of her life. Why the world needs more leaders. How you can base your life on courage or comfort, NOT both. The 15 Principles that are the foundation of...

Sam Oropeza is the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 5th District in the special election taking place May 17, 2022. Sam and I discuss his platform, ideas to improve Philadelphia's 5th district and why Sam is uniquely qualified to do the job. Connect with Sam Oropeza: Campaign website: www.samforpasenate.com LinkedIn: Sam Oropeza Youtube: Sam Oropeza for PA State Senate Please Hit the FOLLOW...

Jackson Duncan is the founder of Focused Athletics in Philadelphia, PA. Focused Athletics is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides athletes in the Philadelphia area with the opportunity to optimize their potential. Focused Athletics provides underserved students with free SAT & ACT test prep, mentorship, meals, transportation and workouts on a weekly basis. To Make a Do...

 Josh Vogel is the co-owner of The Jiu Jitsu Company in Old City, Philadelphia. Josh & I discuss: The importance of creating a Game Plan for Jiu Jitsu and life. Longevity: How to stay on the mat. Problem solving. Self-defense vs. Sport BJJ. Lessons learned opening a small business. Connect with Josh Vogel & The Jiu Jitsu Company: The Jiu Jitsu Company IG: The Sloth Report The Jiu Jitsu Ca...

Do you have a KILLER QUESTION that you can share with me? If you do, please DM your question to me on social media. If I use your question on the show, I will send you a copy of my favorite book that I give each guest of the show, "The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday. Please DM your question to me on LinkedIn , IG, Facebook , or Twitter. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, Please HIT...

John Lefebvre is a Canadian born musician, composer, entrepreneur, lawyer, and advocate for the environment. John has lived an amazing life. John has been everything from a drug dealer, a taxi cab driver, an attorney, a convicted felon, and now an advocate for the environment. John created Netteller (now Known as Paysafe), the PayPal of online gambling. He took the company public and at its peak N...

Richard Bresler is a pioneer in Brazilian jui jitsu and author of the book "Worth Defending". Richard was literally the first American student of Brazilian / Gracie jui jitsu in America. Richard and I discuss what it was like helping finance, not only the first Gracie garage, but the first UFC. Richard tell some amazing stories of the early days of the first Gracie garage and the ultimate fighting...

Khushbu Modi is a yoga instructor and a leader in the yoga community in the Boston area. Khushbu grew up in the south where she struggled to assimilate to the traditional Indian upbringing her parents were trying to incorporate while trying to live a very American life outside her home. Eventually she move to Delaware, where one day a friend invited her to her first yoga class in college. She was...

Drew Vogel is the owner and head instructor of Framework BJJ in Seattle, Washington. Drew and I discuss: life jujitsu, family, the COVID-19 shutdown, and what it was like to be an entrepreneur who moved across the country to follow his dream to open his own Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy only to face a global pandemic just as his business was starting to grow. Drew and I discuss how jujitsu, like lif...

Mo Barrett is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, a TEDx speaker and author of the book. Pardon my Quirk. Mo has been keynote speaker at the US Air Force. Academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium. Mo categorizes herself a successful failure. She was the first member of her training team to receive an "Unsatisfactory" rating. She still went on to earn her wings and becom...

John Livens was born in Latvia in Eastern Europe in 1933 and survived both the Soviet and Nazi occupations in World War II. John was on the KGB most wanted list at the age of seven. His father was abducted by the Soviets and sent to Siberia where he died in a Gulag, John and his family were then smuggled through the Czech border into Germany with the help of an American GI and his mom's ingenuity...

Jason Goldsmith, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist focused on gastrointestinal regeneration, inflammation, immunology, cancer, and host-microbiome interactions.  Dr Goldsmith is the host of The Immunology Podcast . A weekly podcast that reviews the latest research on COVID-19 and interviews a famous scientist each week. Dr Goldsmith graduated medical school from the University of North Carolin...

Ricardo Migliarese is the co-owner and head instructor at Balance Studios MMA in Philadelphia. Ricardo is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary Relson Gracie . On this podcast, Ricardo Migliarese and I discuss: Why his late father taught him the game of chess at an early age to teach him the art of maneuvering. How his father taught him and his brother Phil that h...

Sophie McClain is an international speaker and author of the book, "The Elegance of Simplicity". Sophia was born in Algeria. Grew up in Casablanca, Morocco, where she was given the nickname, "The Crazy One" by her parents, because she literally questioned everything as a child. Sophie experienced more tragedy by 28 years old more than most people do in their entire lives. Within one year she lost...

Ron Skotarczak is Executive Vice President for Marketing Sponsorships for the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation . In his role, Ron leads two of the three sales teams responsible for promoting four professional sports teams ( NY Rangers & NY Knicks) , seven venues ( MSG, Radio City Music Hall) and two regional sports networks.  On this podcast, Ron and I discuss: · &nbsp...

Melissa Sprau is a thought leader in the world of interior design, wife, mother of two, artist and mental health advocate.   On this podcast, Melissa and I discuss: ·     Her journey of battling depression since the age of 11 years old that ultimately led her to psychedelics. ·     How being diagnosed as “gifted” as a child helped fuel he...

Phil Migliarese is the co-owner of Balance Studios MMA & RiZen Metrics both located Philadelphia. Phil is a 6 th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary Relson Gracie . Phil was born into an entrepreneurial family and has been fascinated with Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Ashtanga yoga & digital marketing since childhood.  On this podcast, Phil Migliarese and I discuss:...

Admiral Michael Mittelman is the President of Salus University in Pennsylvania.  Admiral Mittelman served in the US Navy for 30+ years and retired as a Rear Admiral. His Navy career featured a series of firsts. On this podcast, Admiral Mittelman and I discuss: ·     How he became the US Navy’s first aerospace optometrist. ·     What...

Episode 29 - "Attitude of Gratitude". As we head into the holiday season and Thanksgiving week, I just wanted to say thank you to the 28 amazing guests that took time out of their busy schedules to share their remarkable stories on the podcast. And, I like to thank you the listeners. Each guest has inspired and helped me look at the world in a better way and helped me see it more clearly than ever...

Today’s guest is Alberto Robayo.        Alberto Robayo is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary Rorion Gracie, the eldest son of Helio Gracie, the founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Alberto is the owner and head instructor at Miloki Flow BJJ academy with locations in Philadelphia, Miami, Florida and soon Charleston, SC.  Alberto, born in...