The Worst Advice I Ever Got

Leroy Hite turned ‘fancy firewood’ from a laughable idea into a luxury brand. In this episode, he shares how faith, grit, and one bold decision—selling his house to save his business—transformed Cutting Edge Firewood into a national success.

Chris Cleveland, Head of School at Wesleyan, looks back on the worst advice he ever got: “Do what makes you happy.” On the surface, it sounds harmless—even good. But in this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got , Chris explains how chasing happiness alone can lead to shallow choices, and why purpose, responsibility, and faith create something deeper and more sustaining. It’s an honest conversati...

Kyle followed that rule for years, becoming a decorated airline pilot by shutting his feelings down. But eventually he realized the truth: every decision we make, whether in the air or on the ground, is fueled by emotions. Suppressing them doesn’t make us stronger, it makes us weaker. In this episode, Kyle shares how unlearning that advice changed his career, his relationships, and his entire appr...

“The worst advice I ever got was, exercise more and eat less. ” Sammy Williams shares how that advice, repeated over and over, became a damaging mantra that pushed him toward unhealthy extremes and left him battling shame around his body. What sounds simple on the surface was actually harmful, and it took years for him to unlearn it. In this episode, Sammy opens up about his journey to rebuild a h...

What happens when the world tells you, “You don’t have to be smart if you’re pretty” ? In this episode, Teresa Caro opens up about the dangerous advice she got early in her career—and how it fueled her drive to prove her worth beyond appearances. From shifting life stages to reinventing herself through every chapter, Teresa shares hard-earned wisdom on: Breaking free from superficial expectations...

What happens when the person you admire most tells you you’re not good enough? For John Follis, it was a college professor who pulled him aside and said: “You suck at advertising. You should quit.” At 20 years old, chasing a new dream, those words almost knocked him off course. In this episode, John shares how he pushed past that moment, built resilience through setbacks—including getting fired fo...

In The Karate Kid, the bad advice was “show them who’s boss.” For Matthew Eyers, it wasn’t a movie—it was the real message he was given early on. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Matthew unpacks how that mindset shaped his choices, why it led to more harm than good, and what he’s learned about leading with something stronger than ego.

What if “time heals all wounds” was the worst advice you could take? Clarity consultant Kyle Smith breaks down why healing is an active process, not a waiting game, and shares practical steps to turn pain into personal power.

In this episode, Chris shares how avoiding conversations about salary, business finances, and expenses keeps us stuck — and how transparency, experience sharing, and breaking the link between money and self-worth can lead to clarity, better decisions, and deeper relationships.

This week, Michael Brody-Waite shares how that well-meaning message failed him—leading to homelessness, addiction, and hopelessness by age 23. But what happened next is extraordinary. Through a 12-step program, Michael not only recovered—he built a new life from the ground up. He went from sleeping on floors to building a company that grew 20,000%, making the Inc. 500 list, and delivering one of t...

When Tom Rebers was told to "charge the going rate," it sounded safe and reasonable. But playing it safe nearly cost him his business. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got , Tom shares how he learned to set his own value, stop following industry norms, and build a business that actually works for him. If you’ve ever underpriced yourself or felt stuck following “what everyone else does,”...

Zahra is a licensed therapist who now works with psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly ibogaine, a plant medicine with powerful anti-addiction effects. In this episode, she shares her journey from traditional treatment centers to becoming an advocate for spiritual, mental, and emotional healing through plant medicine. We talk about outdated recovery models, the stigma surrounding psychedelics...

That’s the worst advice Jeremy Schneider ever got — and it’s everywhere. From the headlines to social media, we’re taught investing means timing markets, chasing trends, and hoping for quick wins. Jeremy says that’s exactly why most people stay broke. Jeremy is the founder of Personal Finance Club, a former tech entrepreneur who retired at 36, and now teaches simple, proven ways to build wealth. I...

In this episode, Joe Van Hoose talks about the messy reality of modern journalism: we need it more than ever, but the world we’ve built makes it harder than ever to do it well. Good reporting takes time, curiosity, and integrity — but today’s incentives scream: click fast, publish faster, aim later . It’s fire, ready, aim — and real journalists get burned in the process. If you care about how stor...

Sean and JB breakdown the episodes we've heard so far in this mini episode of the show during our week off celebrating our home nations independence!

Alison Bladh was told, like many of us growing up, that what you eat has nothing to do with your hormones. Turns out, that advice wasn't just wrong. It was harmful. In this episode, the nutritional therapist and hormone health expert breaks down how endocrine disruptors in ultra-processed foods affect everything from your energy and mood to your skin and metabolism. She shares her personal story o...

Kevin Palmieri was told, “Why don’t you think less?” —a dismissive response to his deep self-reflection during a personal crisis. In this episode, he shares how that moment collided with suicidal thoughts, external success, and a drive for meaning. Instead of shutting off his mind, Kevin leaned into self-awareness, using it to build a purpose-driven business and a healthier life.

In this episode, Allan shares how embracing, and eventually outgrowing,that advice led him to become one of the most influential voices in the accounting world. It’s a story about finding your lane, then building a whole new highway.

In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got , Kelly opens up about the damaging pursuit of perfection. From early praise that reinforced unrealistic standards to the hidden toll it took on her mental health, she shares how striving to be flawless actually helped her succeed... and why that made it even harder to let go. This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt like their worth depends on never mes...

Jeff Hilimire was told to “dream big.” Sounds like great advice—until it nearly burned him out. In this episode, Jeff shares how chasing massive goals led to overextension, failed ventures, and a lesson he now lives by: dream small. Focus on what matters. Build with purpose. And grow from there. From launching startups to founding 48in48, Jeff’s story is a masterclass in scaling back to move forwa...

In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got , Jamie shares why traditional business plans can be a trap for creative entrepreneurs. From freelance life to launching multiple ventures, he talks about embracing uncertainty, staying agile, and why “figuring it out as you go” isn’t failure—it’s freedom. Whether you’re a planner, a dreamer, or somewhere in between, this episode will make you rethink...

In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Lloyd shares how ignoring that advice led to a string of bold moves that opened doors in government affairs, public policy, and corporate leadership across industries. From coast-to-coast moves to global leadership roles, Lloyd’s journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the best career decisions aren’t safe—they’re personal.

In this episode, Anita shares how she rebuilt her business with a minimalist mindset—focusing on fewer, high-value clients instead of chasing constant growth. We talk about the cost of hustle culture, the power of clarity, and how success looks different when you're actually enjoying the life you're building.

In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got , Evren shares how achieving the kind of success most people dream about left him feeling empty, addicted, and disconnected from what really mattered. It took one powerful moment with his son to change his life—and inspire a journey toward real meaning. From corporate highs to completing a 100-mile ultra-marathon in the mountains of Turkey, Evren’s st...

In this episode, DePriest shares how generational expectations shaped his early career path, why he eventually walked away from corporate success, and how he found purpose in nonprofit leadership. From the weight of bad advice to the freedom of finding your “why,” this conversation is about more than just work—it’s about redefining what success really means. Follow The Worst Advice I Ever Got for...