The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex

What happens when a career-ending injury becomes the catalyst for a completely new life? In today’s episode, Ted Stern (@fitresponder) shares how snapping his ankle on duty pushed him into the online world — and how that single moment transformed him from a frustrated first responder into a multiple 6-figure fitness entrepreneur. Ted breaks down the exact steps he used to scale from making a few t...

From sleeping under bridges to building a 9-figure real estate empire, William Fonseca has lived through darkness most people never escape — addiction, homelessness, abuse, and complete loss. But instead of letting his past define him, William transformed his pain into a global mission: saving and educating children around the world through purpose-driven real estate and charitable work. In this p...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Justin Colby (@thejustincolby) — a seasoned entrepreneur who reveals the unfiltered truth behind building wealth, surviving market disasters, and reinventing yourself when everything falls apart. 💥 Justin shares powerful stories from his early days knocking on doors to the multi-million-dollar real estate empire he eventually...

In this powerful episode, Paul Alex sits down with health insurance powerhouse Mara Dorne (@maradorne) — a woman who went from losing six businesses, her home, and every sense of stability… to becoming one of the most respected leaders in the health insurance industry, generating over $1 billion in team production. Mara breaks down the real truth behind health insurance sales — the part most peopl...

What happens when two world-class Latin dancers mix culture, community, and entrepreneurship? You get Lee Edward Smith (@leeelgringuito) & Katherine Aguilar (@kataguilarsmith) — the power couple behind DCBX (@dcbxevents), Rhythm Investor, and one of the strongest relationship-driven networks in real estate today. In this episode, we dive deep into how they transformed their passion for dance into...

In today’s episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I sit down with powerhouse entrepreneurs TereZa Lolli (@terezalolli) and Anthony Lolli (@anthonylolli) — a couple who turned their personal battles, health crises, and parenting challenges into a global blueprint for transformation. From becoming a multi-millionaire at 22… To ballooning to 315 lbs and nearly losing his life… To rebuilding hi...

🔥 What do you do when no one believes in you? When people smile to your face but doubt you behind your back? In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we dive into how pressure can either break you — or build you into someone unstoppable. Paul Alex shares the real story behind leaving law enforcement, walking away from a stable career, and building multiple companies despite the doubt...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Brock McClelland (@thebrockmcclelland) shares the raw, unfiltered truth about overcoming addiction, surviving rock bottom, rebuilding his life through faith, and the mindset that took him from “nothing” to leading multiple successful companies. This is more than a story about entrepreneurship—it’s a story about grit, discipline, spiritual align...

🔥 Rejection hurts — but it’s not a dead end. It’s a detour pulling you toward something better. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down how rejection becomes one of the most powerful tools for growth, clarity, and resilience in entrepreneurship. Paul Alex shares how setbacks, ignored emails, closed doors, and lost deals redirected him toward the biggest wins of his lif...

What does it really take to reinvent your life? To go from a career built on discipline and danger… to becoming a multi-millionaire, global entrepreneur, and high-performance machine? In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Tomo Marjanovic breaks down the real blueprint behind confidence, discipline, pain, standards, and what it takes to join the top 1% of men. Tomo isn’t just succes...

When life forces you to start over, most people freeze. Drew Lutzke built a business. In this powerful episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Drew (@andrew_adltalentplug) breaks down how he went from sitting in his mom’s garage—unsure of his future—to launching ADL Search & Staffing, a faith-driven recruiting agency now expanding across major U.S. cities. Drew shares how he: 🔥 Pivoted from...

From battling addiction… to facing jail time… to becoming a multi-millionaire in high-ticket sales — Jon Briseno has lived a transformation most people wouldn’t believe. In this episode, Jon opens up about the darkest chapters of his life, the moment everything collapsed, and how hitting rock bottom forced him to rebuild with discipline, sales skills, and relentless self-belief. He went from havin...

What would you do if you earned $1.7 million before turning 21… and then lost every dollar? Most people would crumble. But today’s guest — Fareed Abedini — used that rock bottom moment as the catalyst for one of the greatest comebacks you’ll ever hear. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Fareed opens up about the brutal reality of losing millions through day trading, the shame of...

🔥 The hardest step in success isn’t the tenth — it’s the first. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down the mindset that separates dreamers from doers — and why your first uncomfortable step matters more than any strategy. Paul Alex opens up about the key decisions that changed his life, from leaving his 9-to-5 to launching multiple companies from scratch. None of it h...

What if you could build $20K–$50K/month in passive income with no tech background, no prior sales experience, and just pure grit? In today’s episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Seve Ortale (@seve_ortale_), a 25-year-old entrepreneur who went from 600 straight rejections to building a multi-six-figure residual income stream in payment processing — all in under two years....

🔥 Everyone wants to win… until it takes longer than expected. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down why so many entrepreneurs quit before they ever see results — and how you can build the mental endurance to stay the course. Paul Alex dives into the real reasons people fold early, from chasing hype instead of consistency to misunderstanding what success actually feel...

What if the lowest point of your life became the foundation of a multimillion-dollar career? In today’s episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Alex Ruiz (@iamrobertalexruiz) — a young entrepreneur who went from being homeless and lost at 21… to funding over $12 million in credit and business capital by the age of 25. Alex opens up about the adversity he faced growing up wit...

🔥 Fear isn’t your enemy—it’s your roadmap. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, discover how fear can actually become the fuel that drives your biggest breakthroughs. Paul Alex shares how stepping into the unknown—whether launching CashSwipe, facing high-pressure moments as a detective, or making his first major business moves—revealed one truth: 👉 Fear shows up when you’re clos...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Kassie Kennaugh — Air Force veteran, mother of four, former firefighter, and the entrepreneur who built, scaled, and sold her own insurance agency before becoming President of a major insurance company. Kassie’s journey is a raw, emotional blueprint of resilience. From facing trauma, depression, and self-doubt… to losi...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we’re tackling one of the biggest killers of progress—self-doubt. You know that voice that says, “You’re not ready,” or “You’ll embarrass yourself”? Paul has heard it too—especially when he left his secure detective career to chase entrepreneurship. He shares the raw truth: confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s built—one uncomfortab...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we tackle one of the most common killers of progress—overthinking. You plan, you research, you talk about it endlessly… but you never actually move. Paul breaks down how overthinking is just fear in disguise—and how to replace hesitation with momentum through courage, clarity, and consistent action. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Overthinking is fear wearin...

Every entrepreneur hits walls—failed launches, tough losses, unexpected turns. The real test isn’t whether you fall; it’s how quickly you rise. The most successful people in business don’t escape failure—they elevate from it. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we dive into how setbacks can become your greatest source of strength and clarity. You’ll discover: 💡 How to see setbac...

In business, everyone’s obsessed with moving faster—but speed without strategy is just spinning in circles. 🚀 In this solo episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we unpack why the most successful entrepreneurs build clarity first and momentum second. Here’s what you’ll take away: 🔑 How acting without clear strategy wastes more time than it saves 🏗️ Why defining your vision, offer, and tea...

💰 If your income rises and falls every month, you don’t have a business—you have a gamble. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I reveal how to transform your hustle into a predictable, scalable system that pays you consistently. From building recurring income models to automating your sales pipeline and tracking the right numbers, this episode breaks down the exact blueprint I u...

Most entrepreneurs hustle nonstop chasing success—but at what cost? In this solo episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I reveal a powerful blueprint for creating real work-life balance without slowing down your momentum. 💡 You’ll learn: ✅ Why glorifying burnout is destroying your growth and creativity ✅ How to schedule your time around priorities that truly matter—family, fitness, and f...