The Freedom Founders Podcast

What good is the freedom we've spent a lifetime building if we don't use it to make a difference? In this episode, Dr. David Phelps sits down with Rick Green, founder of Patriot Academy and former Texas state legislator, to explore what it means to use our freedom, experience, and influence to make a lasting difference. Rick shares how his father's encouragement shaped his life, why he shifted his...

His father’s voice was still there. In a letter. At 19, Blake Brewer lost his father in a snorkeling accident during a family vacation in Hawaii. Hours later, his mother found a letter in his father’s briefcase—one he had intended to give Blake on that trip. His father was gone, but his words remained. More than two decades later, Blake still returns to that letter. In this episode, I sit down wit...

You’ve probably spent years being told that putting money into a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement account is the responsible thing to do. Make the contribution. Take the deduction. Let it grow. But there is a part most busy doctors rarely think about: Eventually, the IRS wants its money back. If you build a large pre-tax retirement account without a plan for how that money will come out, what look...

The investments that performed well during the era of cheap money may carry far more risk today—even when the projected returns still look familiar. In this episode, I sit down with longtime real estate investor and former private banker Anna Kelley to examine what higher interest rates, a weakening labor market, and the growing wall of maturing debt could mean for everyday investors. Anna explain...

Personal sovereignty starts with taking responsibility for your own life. David Phelps reconnects with entrepreneur, author, speaker, and business and mindset strategist Lee Milteer to discuss resilience, independent thinking, intentional habits, preparedness, entrepreneurship, and why protecting your attention and surrounding yourself with the right people matter in a rapidly changing world. EPIS...

For high achievers, success can become a moving target. You hit the goal. Make more money. Build the business. Earn the recognition. And somehow, it still doesn’t feel like enough. In this conversation, David sits down with Brad Chandler to explore the deeper beliefs that can drive achievement, workaholism, and the constant need to prove yourself. Brad shares how his own pursuit of success was sha...

What happens when the growth strategy that built your business becomes the very thing that breaks it? Mark Drager built a digital marketing agency from scratch starting in 2006, growing it into a multi-million dollar company working with international brands, national airlines, and NBA teams. Then COVID hit, wiping out 70% of his revenue overnight. Mark and David dig into the real story behind tha...

At some point, more money stops meaningfully changing your life. Jason Medley has experienced both sides of that equation. After losing nearly everything in 2008, he rebuilt, created significant financial success, and eventually reached a point where money no longer provided the same reward it once did. That forced a different question:  If more money isn’t going to change your life, what will? In...

The Wealthy Don’t Invest Like Everyone Else: Taking Control Beyond Wall Street – Ep28 Mat Sorensen What if the money you’ve spent decades building is invested in things you barely understand—and controlled by people you’ll never meet? Mat Sorensen is a business and tax attorney, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Directed IRA. After helping thousands of investors use retirement accounts to purch...

What if the secret to lifting your grandchildren at 85 isn't a supplement or a cold plunge, but a lifestyle you start today? Dr. Howard Luks is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and author of Longevity Simplified . His message is simple: our bodies were designed to move, and the capabilities you don't train are the ones you lose. Howard explains why the 10,000-step goal is a marketing myth, why...

What if the financial security you have spent your life building is the very thing keeping you from freedom? Most people are taught to follow a familiar path: Get an education. Find a good job. Save money. Contribute to retirement accounts. Avoid mistakes. Trust the experts. It sounds responsible. But Kim Kiyosaki believes there is a more important question beneath that advice: Are you building se...

What if the most meaningful work of your life begins after you've already become successful? Many business owners spend decades building a thriving company, providing for their families, and earning the freedom they once dreamed about. But eventually, a different question emerges: Now what? In this conversation, David sits down with longtime friend, attorney, entrepreneur, and author  Ben Glass  t...

“Normal isn’t optimal”. What if the exhaustion, brain fog, poor sleep, anxiety, and declining energy you have learned to tolerate are not simply the price of getting older? In this episode, Steve Adam’s joins David to reveal the hidden health crisis facing many high-achieving men: they remain productive enough to keep performing while their health quietly moves from optimal to functional, dysfunct...

Most investment mistakes don't begin with bad spreadsheets. They begin with bad psychology. Scott Corbett has spent decades working behind the scenes with real estate operators, capital raisers, and entrepreneurs. In this conversation with Dr. David Phelps, he shares what he's learned about evaluating trust, managing risk, and why the best investment decisions often have more to do with character...

"On redefining success once you stop chasing a finish line" Success isn't the finish line—it's the beginning of a more intentional life. David Phelps sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Dream Business Mastermind founder Jim Palmer to discuss purpose beyond business, redefining retirement, creating time freedom, and why the best chapter of life begins when you stop waiting for someday. Connect...

" A Wall Street insider on choosing temperament over intelligence — and how your best business instincts work against you" Successful business owners often become poor investors for one simple reason—they bring the wrong mindset. David Phelps sits down with investor and author David Leiter to unpack timeless investing principles, avoid costly mistakes, manage emotions through market cycles, and bu...

Mike Capuzzi—entrepreneur, author, publisher, and host of the Unstoppable After 50 podcast—shares what happens when success stops being about building more and starts being about living better. This candid conversation explores purpose, family, health, relationships, and why the second half of life may be the most meaningful chapter yet. Episode Links: Get David Phelps’ Book -  https://exitoptiona...

"A Comfort Zone Is a Lie You Sell Yourself" In this conversation, David and Patrick get into what actually separates good decision-makers from poor ones — and why the moment you feel most certain is often the moment you're most exposed. They unpack why elevated emotion gives a false signal of clarity, why indecision is itself a decision you're responsible for, and why you can't hold control over y...

Mike Hambright—real estate entrepreneur, investor, educator, and founder of Investor Fuel—shares how his definition of success has evolved from chasing financial freedom to pursuing purpose, impact, and time freedom. This conversation explores decision-making, entrepreneurship, margin, legacy, and why building a life you love matters more than building a bigger business. Episode Links: Get David P...

What if success isn’t about doing more—but creating more freedom? David Phelps sits down with Zach Hoskins, entrepreneur, COO, and leadership coach, to discuss designing a life around intentionality, family, gratitude, and the belief that time—not money—is your most valuable form of dry powder. This conversation challenges conventional hustle culture and offers a refreshing framework for building...

How do You Build for Freedom Without Getting Trapped by Your Own Success? In this episode, Dr David Phelps sits down with Perrin DesPortes to unpack one of the most overlooked problems in dentistry today — the practice that's become too valuable for a clean, simple exit. If you've ever wondered how to transition your practice without taking a discount, handing it to a DSO, or getting trapped in a...

What if most of what we believe about education is wrong? In this episode, Daniel Louzonis—founder of The Einstein Blueprint, educator, entrepreneur, and former Wall Street trader—shares why traditional schooling leaves massive human potential untapped. From homeschooling and accelerated learning to entrepreneurship, screens, and social intelligence, Daniel explains how parents can help kids becom...

What if the key to better leadership isn’t reacting faster—but thinking deeper? In this episode, Schuyler Williamson—West Point graduate, Army combat veteran, entrepreneur, and author of The Steady Leader —shares how military leadership principles, intentional thinking, and faith-driven purpose shaped both his business journey and his life. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom on lead...

Most investors think they understand risk—until the cycle turns. In this episode, Anna Kelley—real estate operator, LP, and former institutional investor—breaks down why today’s economy is more fragile than it looks. From liquidity cycles to debt risk and market illusions, Anna shares what she’s watching closely and how disciplined investors can navigate uncertainty without getting caught in the n...

Most business owners think the goal is simple: scale, sell, retire. But what if that path creates more regret than freedom? CFO Burt Copeland breaks down why most exits fail—and how to build a business that gives you control, income, and options. This conversation challenges everything you’ve been told about selling. Episode Links: Burt Copeland - New Life CFO - https://newlifecfo.com/ Get My New...