Equal Matters

Boredom has crept across the land. Millions are uninspired by the current conditions. Technology, politics, wealth disparity. Clearly, we are divided. This is your opportunity to become a standard bearer. A standard bearer isn't satisfied with being number one or the best in their industry. Standard bearers are here to change their industries for the better. Or lead their company to new heights. H...

One word had an outsized influence on my life story. That word is depression. Diagnosed at 19, I carried that word around like a guilty verdict for 20 years. A word that became the central theme in the story I was living. My story’s theme became a sentence. Depression became my label and my excuse. “I can’t help it,” I’d say after making a poor decision. And I believed it. Because four people told...

You’ve been sold a story. By the government. By the media. By AI companies promising to save the world. By wellness gurus warning you that the train is leaving and you'd better get on. Most of the time, you don’t even know it’s happening. It’s part of our culture. That’s the power of language. It doesn’t announce itself. It seeps in. You breathe it, you absorb it, and before long, you’re living so...

There is an economy bigger than oil. Bigger than tech. Bigger than anything Wall Street tracks. It is built on your emotions. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what I call the Division Economy. The invisible system that media companies, social platforms, advertisers, and marketers have spent decades engineering around one simple truth: fear and outrage keep you clicking. And if you are n...

You've been told to command the room your whole career. That advice is costing you promotions, deals, and the impact you've worked hard to earn. In this episode, Rob Hunter, 27-year broadcaster, #1 rated radio host, and Master of Communication, breaks down the fundamental difference between commanding a room and changing one. You'll hear the real stories of Susy, who got promoted after stopping tr...

Most men don't have a place where they can just talk. Not perform. Not network. Not scroll. Just talk. The barbershop used to be that place. For a lot of us, it still is. Clipper Kev, owner of PHX Fades Barbershop, has been behind the chair for ten years. Ten thousand hours. Thirty-eight days in a row without a day off. Okay, more like 90. In that chair, he's mentored kids who've never had a consi...

Why is everyone so angry? Because your outrage is a trillion-dollar commodity. After 25 years behind the mic, talk show host Rob Hunter is pulling back the curtain on the "Division Economy." Voltaire said, "history does not repeat itself. Man does." Here's the pattern of man. Every four generations or so, trust erodes. Let's go back to the Great Depression (1929) through the devestation of Hurrica...

Stop Pitching. Start Telling Stories. The internet called it "the worst speech ever." When New York Yankees star Aaron Judge gave an impromptu pep talk to Team USA, social media trolls were quick to compare him to Hollywood scripts and rehearsed movie monologues. But they missed the point entirely. In this episode of Equal Matters , veteran broadcaster Rob Hunter (27-year radio host and communicat...

Great quarterbacks move on quickly after interceptions and that fascinates me. I studied and applied those lessons to my communication, especially in those big moments. Big moments when I had to lead, advocate for myself, and make a pitch. This is a preview of an episode on my Substack about how learning those lessons improved my outcomes. These skills will improve yours as well, helping you creat...

Every meeting is like a poker table. Whether you are pitching your idea or client. Every negotiation for a raise is a game. Every room is an opportunity, unless you stay on the sidelines. The movie Rounders teaches us that poker requires skills to win, so does life. Two characters offer two different approaches. Which one are you? Joey Knish? The grinder who plays it safe for 15 years, pays his bi...

Small business owners, I have breaking news for you... Poor communication is costing you hundreds of thousands in revenue. One company in Phoenix lost all my future business and referrals because of it. We, your customers, want three things: Treat us well Make things easy Provide good value Miss these, and thousands of dollars evaporate in silence. You'll never hear about it. But your competitors...

When Netflix announced its $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery on December 5, 2025, two CEOs had to communicate the same massive change to completely different audiences. The stakes couldn't be higher. 300 million Netflix subscribers. 128 million HBO Max users. 49,000 employees are wondering if they'll have jobs next year. And Hollywood legends like James Cameron saying, "Netflix wo...

Ndamukong Suh was nasty. He was fined and suspended. His teammates thought he was an ahole. But, Suh changed his ways. He got C.L.E.A.R. He learned how to improve his communication & emotional intelligence. In doing so, the most penalized player in the league became a respected leader and Super Bowl Champ. This is the power of your voice. In this episode of Equal Matters, you'll learn the thre...

Game 7. Millions watching. And Tyrese Halliburton's secret weapon wasn't his jumpshot. Before the biggest game of his career, the Indiana Pacers star made one crucial decision: he refused to listen to "poison narratives" from sports media. While everyone else was talking, he was present. And that presence powered his performance all the way to the NBA Finals - before tearing his achilles. Here's w...

Where a conversation can lead you... Rep. Analise Ortiz canvasses one of the oldest neighborhoods in Phoenix, knocking on doors. She gets out here often enough to have a callous on her knuckle. Ortiz just finished her first term in the House and is now running for state Senate. You'll meet residents and learn what issues matter to them. You'll learn about school vouchers, affordable housing, and t...

What happens when your identity gets wrapped up in work? For Erika Diaz it started with a dead squirrel at 14. The more accolades she received, the deeper her attachment to work. So much so she attended a partial hospitalization program to break the cycle. Erika takes the veil off mental health by being so personal about her journey. Especially since she's been thrown another curveball - learning...

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer has been threatened and scrutinized. All because of his role. If you want to learn more about HOW elections work, this episode is for you. You'll hear about the intricacies and controversies surrounding elections in Maricopa County involving: Voter registration Mail-in voting In-person voting (run by Board of Supervisors) Fraud protections How votes are coun...

Jeffrey Shaw is a business coach, mentor, author, and speaker. And a fantastic human. Jeffrey started selling eggs at the age of 14. That's where his self employment life began. A journey that hasn't ended yet. Along the way, he's built a very successful photography and coaching business. He'll also explain his marketing system. Jeffrey offers profound insights on empathy, authenticity, and breaki...

Meet Coach Mycal Anders. He's the founder of Next Level Performance Consulting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Coach Derz helps leaders who have given it all to their business and career reconnect with themselves. Hear about the transformative power of self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, and finding joy in life's journey. We go back in time to Mycal's years in the Marine Corp. How did that experience la...

The US Government borrowed $3 TRILLION in the past 365 days. This borrowing is taking place when interest rates are high. Which means $1.2 trillion is being spent on interest alone. Not educating kids. Not helping correct injustice. Nope. Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ) joins the Equal Matters podcast to dig deeper into how this happens and why. The Arizona Republican will also explain why it...

There are 5 benefits to getting out of your comfort zone. New experiences Broadens perspective Discovery Confidence Builder Compounds Rob Hunter explores these benefits after exiting his comfort zone during the country music festival Stagecoach. There he listened to music he never wanted to like, drove an RV he never wanted to drive, and cold plunged in water too cold to think about. Growth happen...

Todd Anderson embodies a walk-on mentality. Meaning he believes in putting in the effort to earn your spot. On the Earn It All podcast, Todd talks about how he developed his mentality during high school football. Lessons he carried with him to earn a walk-on spot at Michigan State University. Then into the NFL. After leaving the NFL, Todd struggled to find purpose. Eventually finding it in helping...

Politics is an interesting business. One major challenge in Arizona is lack of affordable housing. In many ways, housing costs are amplified by government regulations. Something Arizona State Representative Analise Ortiz worked hard to remove with the Arizona Starter Homes Act. An act fellow Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed. Hobbs cited military and first responder criticism as the main reason...

New York City. A magical place. In this episode, join host Rob Hunter and his friend Rob Coppola (retired NYPD) on a journey through America's most populated city. You'll meet Peanut and Josh. Two New Yorkers who explain what life is really like there. You'll also hear from Dan. He's a tour guide that offers an inside view of the mafia in Little Italy. You'll hear a protest, learn about New York C...

What is a community? Today, on Equal Matters we explore the term. In this case, Equal Matters visits a political election rally. Arizona Rep. Analise Ortiz and Arizona State Senator Anna Hernandez represent one of the lowest income areas of the state. It's a community not often visited by media. We wanted to discuss the issues most impactful for them and learn more about the community. You'll hear...