The Curious Jones Podcast

On this episode of  The Curious Jones Podcast , I sit down with my tattoo artist and the owner of Lost Dog Tattoo,  Corey Thompson . Corey has been tattooing for nearly 20 years and is widely respected for his work across multiple styles—most notably Japanese traditional tattooing, where he’s earned multiple awards for his craft. After spending close to 50 hours in the chair together, it was great...

Lester Young, founder of Path to Redemption and a man transformed after a 1990's murder conviction, returns to the show for a powerful second conversation. We dive into his work with at-risk youth inside juvenile detention centers and schools, his faith in God discovered during incarceration, and what real solutions look like for fatherless homes and communities searching for purpose. For Lester’s...

In 1978, Steven Kubacki vanished while skiing across frozen Lake Michigan. His gear was found near the ice — but Steven was gone. For fifteen months, his family searched with no trace… until he suddenly reappeared over 700 miles away in Massachusetts, with no memory of what had happened. After 45 years of silence, Steven reached out to me to finally tell his story — publicly, and in his own words....

In this special solo episode of The Curious Jones Podcast, I take a reflective look back at 2024—celebrating the victories, unpacking the defeats, and highlighting the moments that shaped my year. From personal growth to professional breakthroughs, I share my biggest takeaways and the lessons I’m carrying forward into 2025. I talk about what drives me, the business venture I’ve been building along...

In this episode of The Curious Jones Podcast, I sit down with Hunter Homistek, the General Manager of 247 Fighting Championship , Pittsburgh’s premier mixed martial arts promotion. Hunter shares his journey into the world of MMA, offering an inside look at the challenges of running a successful promotion. We dive into the logistics of organizing events, managing fighter relations, navigating state...

In this episode of The Curious Jones Podcast, I sit down with Ish Lopez, host of  The Relentless Project Podcast . Ish brings a unique perspective to the conversation as a law enforcement officer, firearms instructor, and combatives instructor. We dive deep into the realities of modern policing, exploring the challenges he faces on the job and the impact it has on his personal life. Ish also share...

For Episode 127 of the Curious Jones podcast, we sit down with Mark Austin, one of my closest friends and an executive in the performance nutrition and private equity world. While Mark’s expertise could lead us down countless interesting paths, this episode takes on a much more personal tone. Mark bravely shares the deeply emotional journey he and his wife have faced in trying to start a family, n...

In this gripping episode of the Curious Jones Podcast, I sit down with Shane Burke, a combat veteran of the Iraq war and budding wildlife photographer, who shares his incredible story of survival after a grizzly bear attack in the Grand Teton Mountains during his honeymoon this past May. Shane takes us through the harrowing details of the encounter, his fight for life in the wilderness, and the ph...

Daniel Carcillo is a Canadian former professional hockey player of the NHL. He was a 2x Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks and was most notably know as an "enforcer" nicknamed "Car Bomb" who in 2008, led the NHL with 324 penalty minutes, largely mainly due to fighting.  After retirement in 20215, Daniel embarked on a quest to treat the symptoms he was experiencing that were attribute...

Lucas Seibert is a professional mixed martial arts fighter, fighting out of Stout Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to calling Stout PGH home for his training, he has also embraced giving back to the same community and team he is a part of in the role of coaching youth classes there as well. An alumni of the WVU wrestling program, he currently holds a 2-0 professional record, after an undefea...

Mark Metry is a Forbes featured Keynote Speaker, and former Host of the Global Top 100 podcast, Humans 2.0 featuring the greatest leaders of our time, including Billionaires, Neuroscientists, Professional Athletes, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, and New York Times Bestselling authors where he would explore today's dynamic of the human experience and mental health.  He authored the best sellin...

Matty West is an educator who is preparing to start his 27th year teaching 12th grade Political Science & US Government at Mater Dei High School in Southern California. His mission is to Empower-Challenge-Inspire young minds with the goal to help students to think critically, and to equip students with skills to problem-solve adversity, to ask better questions, and to help students become a be...

Leading longevity authority, Troy Casey, The Certified Health Nut, has successfully restored physical, mental and emotional balance to people who have failed with all other systems. His unique holistic approach uses nature based biohacking even a child can follow. A former Versace model in Milan, Troy studied nutrition, herbs and detoxification as a way of looking and feeling great in front of the...

Brian Hess is an entrepreneur and podcast host from Pittsburgh, PA. He hosts the Brian Hess Show, daily at 8am EST and is the CEO of The Pavement Group, Top Contractor School and the newly released 1 Team Media App. In addition to being one of the most motivated and driven business owners I know, he is someone I call a friend. We talked about the journey of growing a business and pushing through i...

Benjamin Sutfin is an accomplished entrepreneur, woodworker / craftsman and author of a novel series called " The Chronicles of Eoorthe ". He is the owner and operator of Longing Woodworks and has a background in philosophy and theology which he focused on in college.  He is most proud of his role a father and husband, and someone I now call a friend. We have had many short discussions while train...

Chad Ambrose is a chess enthusiast and coach who has also found a passion in block chain technology and cryptocurrency. He currently operates "The Chess Zone" and provides private coaching for kids and adults. He is currently working to develop a line of educational products designed to help develop their chess acumen in an even broader fashion.   In addition to his passion for chess, he has ventu...

Jason Stauffer is an entrepreneur and co-founder of the Morozko Forge ice tub, the first commercially available tub for cold water immersion. A combat veteran, who set out to help create a solution for other veterans, Jason has since left Morozko and embarked on a new journey, which also included stepping away from alcohol in January of 2023. We talked about this transition in life and how it has...

Greg Overton's oil paintings have been praised for their ability to tell a story, evoke primal feelings, and remind us of the importance of connection and balance. The core of his work is his portraits of Native Americans that are powerful and seem to convey souls of the subjects. Overton's fascination with the American West began at a young age. He still holds onto Western pieces he drew and pain...

Alex Strenger is a podcast host, culture jammer, and political satirist who lives in Austin, TX. He has driven pedicabs for over a decade and regularly attends city council meetings where he has shown just how far the lines have become blurred in society through a masterclass of satire.  You can follow Alex on his social media profiles IG: @showtimealexstrenger X: TheAlexStrenger and check out his...

JD Casper is a signer / songwriter out of Austin, TX. His new EP "Sing'n Pick'n Cowboy" is available now on all music streaming platforms. Make sure you go give it a listen after you check out the podcast. ****************************************** This episode is brought to you by Lit Distribution, a Zippo Manufacturing master distributor focused on connecting alternative brands with Zippo and pu...

Ryan Michler is the host of the Order of Man podcast and founder of Order of Man, a brotherhood of like-minded men all working to become more effective fathers, husbands, business owners, and community leaders – men. In addition to his podcast, Ryan has authored 2 books, The Masculinity Manifesto and Sovereignty: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Men and he is working towards establishing the...

No guest today for this quick discussion about identifying and living for your purpose in life. I wanted to share some of my deeper thoughts and personal experiences on this and how it has effected my life during the course of a few years. If you enjoy the podcast, give it a follow, subscribe on your favorite listening platform and share it with your friends. You can also follow on social media @r...

Josh Duntz is a Navy Special Operations veteran who was a member of the Navy's elite EOD unit which specialize in performing missions neutralizing explosive weapons in almost every environment while ensuring safe passage of troops in combat zones.  Josh has transitioned into some serious ultra marathon running and endurance training, and he puts a huge focus on his recovery regimen and protocol. W...

Big Lonn is a professional security guard for multi platinum rapper and singer, Wiz Khalifa and a martial artist who practices jiu jitsu, muay thai and other mixed martial arts. He is the creator of High Rollerz Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is a purple belt under Warren Stout at Renzo Gracie of Pittsburgh (Stout Academy). In addition to High Rollerz, Lonnie is the co founder of Lonn Wicc, a natural, he...

Zach Emigh is the cofounder and head Bench Jeweler at his family's jewelry store, Emigh Jewelry Company.  He specializes in custom jewelry and has found popularity making content that showcases the interesting pieces he create and repairs for his customer. This episode is brought to you by Lit Distribution, the number one spot for custom Zippo lighters and accessories. If you are a brand that want...