The Blueprint by Smoking Gun Creative Agency

Mark Jermaine Clayton grew up ducking family chaos in Oklahoma City - he ended up an All-American and a first-round NFL Draft pick. This is a pro athlete's post-career story that's less about what he lost and more about what he built next. When we straight up asked him before the pod, Mark Clayton described himself to us as a “former baller turned entrepreneur” - he was a wide receiver for the Bal...

Scott Graham has been on our show 3 times - you’d think that would mean something, but the truth is he won’t stop showing up at our door. Scott Graham is the founder of Pinpoint Merch - a DFW-based custom merchandise company he has been running for 19 years, with clients like Montana Knife Co, Black Rifle Coffee, Ghost Energy, the Grand Ole Opry and more. In between our off topic excursions, we co...

He lost his wife, lived on the street, and went to jail. A few years later, Rick Hopper was on a path that would take him to ABC’s Shark Tank and became a millionaire. Rick Hopper is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, and author based in DFW - best known as the creator of ReadeREST, the magnetic eyeglass holder that became Lori Greiner's very first deal on Shark Tank. His new book, The Bridge from I...

Guy Mezger was shot, stabbed three times, and run over on his motorcycle - all before turning pro as a fighter. Guy Mezger is a former King of Pancrase World Champion and Lion's Den team member - one of the most dominant MMA fighters of the 1990s. Today he's a holistic health practitioner and co-founder of Dynamis, a telehealth clinic built around preventative medicine, peptide therapy, and hormon...

At 21, Brayden Stewart is already signed to Warner Chappell in Nashville and playing rock and roll "greasier than a chicken bone on the floor of a Jiffy Lube." He’s one of those rare youngsters who talks about music the way someone twice his age wishes they could. If you follow the show, you know we love our East Texas southern rock boys! Brayden grew up in Scurry, Texas and was raised on his dad'...

Brolin Mawejje is a pro snowboarder from Uganda. Let that sink in! That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though - Brolin’s also a medical student and, as we cover in this episode, a survivor of some pretty extreme circumstances. Brolin’s life journey is a can’t-miss story spanning major historical events, passion, true self belief, and ultimate willingness to find one’s own purpose. Brolin Mawejje o...

This week’s guest is George DiGianni - he describes himself as a consultant, keynote speaker and entrepreneur, but DFW listeners also may know him from the radio station The Ticket! George dives into his Goal Compression program for success, tells us about his theory on “strategic discomfort,” shares insights for leaders and business owners, and more! https://georgedigianni.com/ – Follow us: https...

Our guests this week are Cody Cresswell and Brandon Callies - if you’ve been paying attention to the East Texas music scene, then you already know their names, but if this is your first time hearing about them, it won’t be the last! Cody and Brandon are on to talk about their music endeavors, teach our host Brandon what the heck a guitar is, and more - plus, for the first time ever, we’re kicking...

This week’s guest is Jeremy Dicken - a real estate broker from Greenville, Texas who took an unconventional path to his career. It’s not actually that far fetched to say Jeremy could teach a cow to sell a house!i We’re talking life experiences, the value of personal connections, the value of work ethic and some unconventional use of Airpods. This one’s a great episode to learn if you’re looking to...

Our guest this week is Bob Arvin. You may not know his name, but we’d wager you’ve probably seen his work - he contributed at Disney and on Inspector Gadget, Bicentennial Man, and his production company’s international smash hit The God Man has been seen by at least 500 million people worldwide. Bob’s journey is proof of the power of a dream - if you want to do something, go do it! Watch and learn...

Our guest this week is esteemed artist Gregory Siff - known for his emotive art style, Gregory’s works have been included in MoMA PS1’s “Rockaway!”, “Vans Custom Culture” at the Whitney Museum of American Art and in luxury fashion house Saint Laurent’s F/W 2018 Collection. Plus, Gregory’s probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet and he’s our first ever guest to bring live painting to the Blueprint...

This week on the podcast, we’re talking with Boomer Cornwell - founder and president of Dynamis Health Group. We’re running it all the way back to the early days - discussing where Boomer came from, how he landed in the health science field, learning to be a leader and more. Plus, Boomer takes the time to explain some hot topics like hormone therapies, weight loss meds, peptides and more. It’s a c...

This week on the pod, we’re talking to Brandon Copeland from Copeland Home Services - a Florida transplant to the DFW Metroplex who’s telling us about his quick rise to success in the home services industry. We’re getting down to brass tacks about running a tri-trade plumbing, HVAC and electric business, from customer relations to managing leads and more. A must-listen for nuggets of truth if you’...

This week, we’re chatting with Christy Trujillo - author of Trusting You . Christy’s pulling back the curtain on her journey: one that wasn’t always very fun. From high-pressure sales roles to a few traumatic experiences that led to spiritual and emotional awakenings, Christy’s here to tell it all. Whether you’re looking for an emotional boost or not, this one’s a great listen! https://www.christy...

This week, we have the stately Scott Graham of Pinpoint Merch joining us to commemorate the 69th episode of The Blueprint. Much to the behest of our producer, this is a scattershot conversation - in between off topic stories, Scott’s dropping knowledge about the apparel industry and sharing about some of his most vulnerable moments. (Listen for that story and let us know your thoughts) https://pin...

This week, we’re talking with Brad Skistimas - the musician behind Five Times August and Juicebox Jukebox. Brad’s telling us about his 25-year journey in the music industry, from high school talent shows to having songs featured on MTV. He pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities of the music business and also goes in depth about his unexpected creative pivot to becoming a “protest artist,” a...

This week we’re excited to have Zyzick Owens remoting into the podcast! Zyzick’s the VP of Operations at Skyline Education - an academics, arts and athletics powerhouse with humble beginnings - and we’re getting into it all, starting with the story of Zyzick’s own mother founding the organization. We’re specifically focusing on AZ Compass Prep - as you’ll hear, they started small in a church and n...

This week, we’re sitting with Jason Wilson - veteran and BBQ enthusiast behind Meat Therapy . From the high-adrenaline realities of his role as a lead gunner while stationed in Baghdad to the high-pressure environment of hospital administration during a global pandemic, Jason pulls back the curtain on his story and delves into why he started Meat Therapy. Plus, Jason lets us in on some serious BBQ...

This week we’re sitting down with Tony B of The Culture Connextion - he’s a marketing veteran who specializes in helping major brands navigate the complex landscape of cultural relevance. This one’s a discussion on culture, PR disasters, connecting with consumers the right way and more. https://www.cultureconnextion.com/ – Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/nosmokenofire/ https://www.facebook.co...

This week we have John Zacharias, CEO of Advantage Health Care Systems, sharing the story of his ricochet path to success - from starting as a triple-time college student to never finishing school, and finding his niche in the medical business. We’re talking everything from emerging technologies to business mindset in this one - enjoy! www.advantagehcs.com – Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/no...

For the first time, we have a repeat guest back for an update - from Gallery DeFi , not.travis and Kyle Sauter are on The Blueprint this week to talk about finally opening, their mission to make art more accessible for the Dallas community, their future vision for Gallery DeFi and all the twists and turns along the way. www.gallerydefi.io – Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/nosmokenofire/ https...

This week on The Blueprint, we have Chris Hinckley - he’s a multi-hyphenate co-founder of XCLUSIV Productions, and we have to address it - this dude looks like Thor. We’re discussing life, relationships, media production, business, and Chris’s unshakeable approach. Enjoy! https://xclusivproductions.com/ – Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/nosmokenofire/ https://www.facebook.com/nosmokenofire/ h...

This week on the podcast we have Taylor Artman, CEO and founder of Surf & Turf Golf. Taylor takes us through his journey starting as a highly competitive junior and college golfer, sharing why he ultimately left the professional circuit after seven years to find a bigger purpose in the golf industry. Taylor pulls back the curtain on Surf & Turf’s unique business model, building its brand o...

This week, we’re sitting down with serial entrepreneur Bobby Davis, founder of Dirt Rock Dallas. Bobby describes himself as a “Failure Navigator” and opens up the way he uses those failures to fuel his success. For Bobby, Dirt Rock Dallas isn’t just about moving earth: it’s about literally laying the foundation for future legacies. This one’s a powerful conversation about integrity, resilience, an...

After a short hiatus, we’re back! In a raw and inspiring return, we sit down with Weston Richey , founder of XCLUSIV PRODUCTIONS (you may also know him from Love Island). Weston takes us through his dramatic life journey, from growing up with a "perfect life" to having his world flipped upside down as a teenager. He shares the painful truth of abandonment, dealing with a turbulent family life, and...