REAL Mentors Podcast

Jeff Fieldstad built a successful financial services business from the ground up starting at 22 years old. He got comfortable, recognized the danger in that and moved his entire family to Las Vegas deliberately to surround himself with people operating at a higher level. He had another great run, sold the business in 2020 at 35 years old and thought he was finally done.He was not done. Three years into early retirement he came back as co-owner of a national window replacement company with something he did not have the first time around. Clarity on what actually matters.Jeff's entire philosophy is built around one idea. How you show up at home is exactly how you show up in business. A man who builds a fortune but loses his family in the process has not built success. He has built the opposite of it.In this episode Jeff and Sean get into what it actually means to let go of control in business and in parenting, why your path to a goal will constantly change even when the goal does not and what growing up watching his siblings make destructive decisions taught him about hunger, drive and the life he refused to settle for.If you are an entrepreneur trying to scale your business, build wealth and keep your family intact at the same time this episode is exactly what you need to hear.This Episode Explores:✅ Building a financial services career from scratch at 22 and walking away at the top✅ Moving to Las Vegas on purpose to surround himself with high level earners and what that environment did for him✅ Selling his business in 2020 at 35 years old and discovering that early retirement was not what he imagined✅ Coming back as co-owner of a national window replacement company with a completely different mindset and set of priorities✅ Why his wife's instincts have been right more times than he can count and what finally listening to her changed in their marriage and business✅ Growing up in a tough environment watching his siblings make decisions he refused to repeat and how that shaped his hunger✅ Why building wealth while losing your family is not success but the opposite of it✅ The Jim Rohn principle that completely changed how he approaches every challenge he faces✅ Why you cannot control the path to your goal and why surrendering that control is actually what moves you forward✅ How you show up at home is exactly how you show up in business and why that single idea changes everything🔗 Connect with Jeff FieldstadInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_fieldstad/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Nate DeTracy was 23 years old when he lost both of his parents in a car accident. No safety net, no roadmap and no one coming to save him. He fell into drugs and alcohol until the day he walked into a gym and watched a man completely transform his body on stage. That single moment redirected everything.What followed was a career built on discipline, identity and an obsession with pulling other people up with him. Nate became an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, built multiple seven figure organizations in direct sales, survived the 2008 financial crash when everything collapsed and rebuilt from scratch. He has personally developed over 30 six figure earners on his teams. Now he is partnered with MAKE Wellness, a groundbreaking peptide wellness company, where he broke every direct sales record in the company within his first three months.But what actually drives Nate is not the accolades. It is the why. In this episode he and Sean dig into what keeps people moving when the grind wears them out, why most people stop dreaming somewhere between high school and their first real failure and what it actually means to build leaders instead of just building a downline.This Episode Explores:✅ Losing both parents at 23 and choosing the gym over the streets✅ Building his first fitness business around elite athletes before the 2008 crash wiped it out✅ How his wife walking into his gym started his entire direct sales career✅ Why 20 percent of all millionaires were made through the direct sales channel✅ What MAKE Wellness is doing differently by making peptide science accessible to everyone✅ Why the hybrid affiliate and direct sales model is the future of network marketing✅ How to get clear on your why before the grind burns you out completely✅ Why your brain is literally wired to drive you toward or keep you away from your goals✅ The difference between raising good kids and raising good adults✅ Why it is never about who you are but always about who you are becoming🔗 Connect with Nate DeTracyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathandetracy/MAKE Wellness: makewellness.comFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Brent Gove has three rules for life. Life isn't fair, you are entitled to nothing and no one is coming to save you. Not the Republicans, not the Democrats, not your mentor and not your coach. You have to get on the struggle bus yourself and ride it all the way through.Brent sold over 5,000 homes, ran one of the largest Keller Williams franchises in the country, reached the top 11 agents worldwide at Re/Max and built an organization of over 40,000 agents by getting around the right people and actually implementing what they taught him. In 1999 he lost thirty thousand dollars in three hours and says it was the best thing that ever happened to him because it forced him to ask a question he had never asked himself before.In this episode Brent and Sean get into why suffering is a right of passage not a punishment, what it actually takes to build a real estate empire from scratch and why the biggest room in the world is always the room for improvement.This Episode Explores:✅ The three rules of life Brent lives by and teaches his kids every single day✅ Losing $30,000 in three hours in 1999 and why he calls it the best thing that ever happened to him✅ How asking one question he had never asked himself completely changed his production overnight✅ Getting around Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn and John Maxwell and actually implementing what they taught✅ Why the limiting factor in your life is always you and so is the solution✅ Building an organization of 40,000 agents and what leadership at that scale actually requires✅ Why suffering builds character and why protecting people from struggle quietly destroys their potential✅ How becoming a Christian shifted the way he leads his business and his family✅ Why you can never hit a goal you have never been willing to set for yourself🔗 Connect with Brent GoveInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgoverealestate/Website: https://www.brentgove.com/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Jason Shipley started his first business with ten thousand dollars split across two credit cards, a triple net lease on an old pizza building in Hutchinson Kansas and no idea what he was doing. What he did have was an absolute will to win and a promise he made to his first employer — that in five years he would know more about the business than anyone. He kept that promise.Today Jason is the CEO of Midwest Custom Engineering, building custom industrial equipment for the bioeconomy, biomass and material processing industries across the country. He also runs a portfolio of companies and investments across real estate, debt notes and equities. He built all of it from nothing, taught himself plumbing and electrical along the way and never stopped learning.But the most important part of this episode has nothing to do with business. Jason shares the most devastating moment of his life and how he found his way through it one empowering decision at a time. This conversation will stay with you.This Episode Explores:✅ Starting a smoke shop on an Indian reservation with $10K on credit cards and no income✅ Cold calling a commercial real estate CEO on a Saturday and negotiating a triple net lease as a broke kid✅ Teaching himself plumbing, electrical and real estate from a $4,000 starting point✅ Promising his first employer he would know more than him in five years and delivering on it✅ Building Midwest Custom Engineering into a leading American manufacturing company✅ Investing across real estate, debt notes, equities and blockchain assets✅ The moment that tested everything he believed about God, life and resilience✅ How gratitude became the tool that pulled him out of the deepest despair of his life✅ Why everybody is going to go through something and how you find your way out🔗 Connect with Jason ShipleyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonshipleyofficial/Website: midwestcustomengineering.comYouTube: youtube.com/@MidwestCustomEngineeringFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Vanessa Baird-Streeter grew up in one of the most segregated areas of the country where her family could afford a better neighborhood but was never shown those houses. That experience became the lens she has carried into every room she has entered since.She started her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, spent a decade in finance and then made history as the first woman of color to serve as Suffolk County Deputy County Executive. In that role she managed a $3.7 billion municipal budget, chaired New York State's most comprehensive police reform plan and led the COVID-19 response for Long Island's most underserved communities. Today she is the President and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island and she is still doing the same thing she has always done, which is changing systems from the inside out.In this episode Vanessa and Sean get into what it actually costs to be the first in rooms that were not built for you, why success means nothing if you are not opening doors behind you and what it looks like to build a decades long career rooted in purpose over recognition.If you are interested in leadership, public service, generational wealth, breaking barriers or what it takes to create real change in your community this episode is required watching.This Episode Explores:✅ Growing up in a deliberately segregated Long Island community and what that shaped in her from the start✅ Building her career on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs and what finance taught her about access and power✅ Making history as the first woman of color to serve as Suffolk County Deputy County Executive✅ Chairing New York State's most comprehensive police reform and reinvention plan✅ Leading COVID-19 response efforts for Long Island's most underserved and vulnerable communities✅ Why she turned down grad school at University of Chicago and what that decision actually gave her✅ How always leaving on good terms and building bridges became one of her greatest career strategies✅ Managing a $3.7 billion municipal budget and what that level of responsibility requires✅ Why AI is eliminating entry level jobs and what education needs to look like going forward✅ What it means to lift others up without losing yourself and why she believes that is the secret to a fulfilled life🔗 Connect with Vanessa Baird-StreeterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa.b.streeter/Health and Welfare Council of Long Island: https://hwcli.com/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Alexis Morgan founded her first real estate investment fund at twenty years old. By twenty one she was managing over forty million dollars. No Wall Street connections. No family money. Just a young woman who figured out how private lending works and built her own version of it from scratch.Today she's the founder of Peach State Capital Group, a private lending and real estate investing platform with over two hundred funded transactions and consistent double digit returns for her investors. She also runs masterminds and education platforms built for the people the financial system was never designed to include.In this episode Alexis breaks down exactly how private lending works, why relationships are the real currency in real estate investing and what it actually takes to raise capital and scale a real estate fund from zero. She gets honest about early money mistakes, the events that changed how she saw the industry and why she says yes to every first invitation.If you are serious about real estate investing, private lending, raising capital or building generational wealth this episode is required watching.This Episode Explores:✅ How to start a real estate investment fund with no Wall Street background✅ What private lending is and why real estate investors need it over traditional banks✅ How she raised and deployed tens of millions through Peach State Capital Group✅ Attending dozens of paid events in year one to build high value relationships✅ The $30,000 event that showed her what real estate investing looks like at scale✅ Using LinkedIn and Instagram to build investor trust through transparency✅ Why private lenders hold the most leverage in any real estate deal✅ How to transition from residential to commercial real estate investing✅ Building wealth and access for people Wall Street was never designed to serve🔗 Connect with Alexis Morgan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexismorganinvests/Peach State Capital Group: https://www.peachstatecapital.com/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Esther Acosta didn't see herself as a comedian. Then one open mic she flourished and found her calling. Three years later she's sold out over thirty shows, performed at the Laugh Factory in Chicago and built one of New York's most authentic comedy platforms from scratch.But before any of that, there was a family secret she didn't find out about until she was twenty one and a pattern she kept repeating in relationships without knowing why. A mother who saw something in her daughter before her daughter could see it herself.Esther's comedy comes straight from her life. A Cuban household, the bad boys, the restaurant kitchen and the things Latina women live through but rarely hear talked about on stage. When she tells a joke she's telling the truth and in this episode she brought all of it.This Episode Explores:✅ Growing up Cuban in Hialeah and the family secret that changed everything✅ Why she kept choosing the wrong men and what she finally realized underneath it✅ The open mic that launched everything and the comedian who refused to believe it was her first time✅ The Latin comedy legend who inspired her to just start✅ Building Out of Control Comedy into thirty sold out shows✅ Running Rincon Criollo, the family restaurant from Corona Queens to Long Island✅ Why we spend our adult lives chasing what we never got as kids🔗 Connect with Esther Acosta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherthecubancomicRincon Criollo: https://www.rincon-criollo.com/Rincon Criollo: https://www.instagram.com/rinconcriollo76/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Kelly Siegel grew up with alcoholic parents who beat him when they came home drunk. He learned early that showing fear meant weakness and that survival required toughness. By college he was shipping weed on planes and slinging hundred dollar bags of dope to pay tuition. Then he got arrested, everybody testified against him, the college threw him out and the system threw the book at him.He looked in the mirror and said he did this. Then he negotiated his way back into college at twenty years old while fighting criminal charges and did four months in county jail. That moment in a jail cell is where he decided he was never putting himself in that position again.Today Kelly is the CEO of National Technology Management, a high seven figure company approaching eight figures, a motivational speaker and author of Harder Than Life: Weaponizing Poverty, Addiction and Violence. His message is simple: you can learn every business system in the world but if you don't do the work between your ears none of it matters.In this episode Kelly and Sean get into generational cycles of abuse, what it actually means to heal, why scaling yourself is the only real business strategy and the TLC framework Kelly swears by for winning in every area of life.This Episode Explores:✅ Alcoholic parents, childhood beatings and learning to exile fear to survive✅ Shipping weed on planes and selling drugs through college✅ Getting arrested, facing 60 years and everyone turning against him✅ Negotiating his way back into college at twenty years old from a jail cell✅ The mirror moment, which is taking full accountability with no parents to run home to ✅ How street survival instincts kept him small in business for years✅ IFS therapy, exiled emotions and why you can't push out the bad without pushing out the good✅ The first person who genuinely offered to help him and how that changed everything✅ Why you are your best investment and bleeding on people who didn't cut you✅ The TLC framework: Training, Learning and Coaching as a daily operating system🔗 Connect with Kelly SiegelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.siegel.71/YouTube: youtube.com/@harderthanlifeWebsite: harderthanlife.comBook: Harder Than LifeFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Jonnie Parsons had the $70,000 truck, the four bedroom house and the white picket fence. He gave it all away chasing a void he couldn't fill. What followed was meth, opiates, fentanyl, eighteen months in county jail inside a two year stretch and getting arrested in front of his son and his girlfriend who barely spoke English and didn't have a license.He was a firefighter risking his career to get high two days before his shift. He was a construction worker making good money at eighteen and spending it all on drugs. He kept coming back to the same bottom in different cities, different jobs and different circumstances because the problem was never the situation. It was him.The turning point came in a spiritual dorm behind bars in one of Florida's toughest counties. For the first time in his life, Jonnie says he was in chains and felt completely free. That's where he found God and where everything actually changed.Today, seven years removed from homelessness and addiction, Jonnie is the Executive Vice President of Alliance Land Development, author of the 365-day devotional Unshakable and a man who refuses to waste the life he almost lost several times over.This Episode Explores:✅ Growing up in Fort Pierce with a Vietnam vet father and a mother who never missed a day of work✅ Making good money at eighteen in construction and finding meth and opiates on the job site✅ The void that no amount of money, sex or drugs could fill✅ Eighteen months in county jail inside two years and getting beaten by cops on the last arrest✅ Being a firefighter and using cocaine two days before shifts knowing he could be drug tested✅ Fentanyl taking him to his absolute bottom✅ Getting arrested in front of his son and girlfriend with a warrant out for his arrest✅ Finding God in a spiritual dorm in one of Florida's toughest county jails✅ Getting married with $11 Walmart rings because the pastor paid the $85 marriage certificate✅ From homeless drug addict to Executive VP in seven years🔗 Connect with Jonnie ParsonsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonnie_parsons_official/Book: Unshakable 365 Day Devotional E-Book: 5 Daily Disciplines of Personal DevelopmentFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Kereen Evans migrated to the United States at eleven years old. She went on to become a Manhattan prosecutor, a legal advisor, a podcast host in the top ten percent of all podcasts worldwide and a passion to purpose coach. She didn't plan all of it. She just kept moving.In this episode, Kereen gets into what drew her to the prosecutor's office in the first place which was not to lock people up, but to help people stuck in addiction cycles get treatment instead of sentences. She breaks down how that work shaped the way she sees people, asks questions and leads conversations. And she gets honest about what it actually looks like to build a full life while still becoming who you're supposed to be.This is a conversation about alignment, humanity and what happens when you stop waiting for the right moment and just start.This Episode Explores:✅ Migrating to the US at eleven and what that shaped in her✅ From paralegal to Manhattan prosecutor: the path that wasn't random✅ Working in drug treatment alternative programs: rehabilitation over incarceration✅ Why she asks probing questions in every conversation and what that cost her in relationships✅ Bail reform, petty crimes and what real justice actually looks like✅ Views change but choosing humanity first, stays the same✅ Building a podcast to the top ten percent of all shows worldwide✅ Connecting your talents, passions and purpose without waiting until you're ready🔗 Connect with Kereen Evans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekereenconnection/YouTube: youtube.com/@thekereenconnectionWebsite: thekereenconnection.com Podcast: The Kereen ConnectionFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Ryan Zofay started using drugs at 11. By his late teens he was incarcerated, facing a potential life sentence. Most people don't come back from that but Ryan built a 9-figure business from it.The turning point wasn't a strategy. It was his mother, newly sober herself, walking into that detention center with the 12-step program and a decision to stop abandoning her son. That moment cracked open something that anger, hustle, and failed ventures in his 20s never could.Today Ryan is the founder of We Level Up, a national addiction treatment organization he built from the ground up starting in 2013. He's also a speaker, life and business coach, and author of An Unlikely Businessman: From Overdoses to Multimillionaire. His mission is simple: help people stop reliving the past by finally dealing with what created it.In this episode, Ryan and Sean get into what it actually takes to break generational cycles, why self-acceptance is the real foundation of success, and why surrounding yourself with the wrong people keeps you stuck longer than any addiction ever could.This Episode Explores:✅ Drugs at 11, incarceration by his teens and the childhood trauma underneath it all✅ A mother's sobriety visit that changed everything✅ How the 12-step program became the foundation for a 9-figure business✅ Anger, failed ventures, and what his 20s really taught him✅ Founding We Level Up in 2013 from sales to mission-driven impact✅ Why you keep reliving the past until you meet the unmet needs underneath it✅ Falling in love with yourself as a business strategy, not just self-help talk✅ The ESOP plan: transitioning to employee ownership by 2030✅ Why who you're around matters more than what you know🔗 Connect with Ryan ZofayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.zofay/YouTube: youtube.com/@ryanzofayWebsite: ryanzofay.com Book: An Unlikely BusinessmanFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Franjez grew up in Yonkers with nothing and says that's exactly why he appreciates everything. Raised in a Dominican household where daily drinking was just part of life, he spent years as a New York State corrections officer feeling lost, chasing control and going through the motions. Then a doctor's visit and the right roommate at the right time cracked something open.Now he's the host of Talk About It with Franjez, a platform built on transparency and the conversations most people avoid. Every episode starts the same way, by asking “where did you grow up?” or “how was your childhood?” because Franjez believes everything you are today lives in what you experienced before you had words for it.In this episode, he and Sean get into what it really takes to do a complete 180, why your subconscious is running the show whether you like it or not and what it means to go all in on something you actually love. Including everything hard that comes with it.This Episode Explores: ✅ Growing up Dominican in Yonkers and normalizing what others would call dysfunction ✅ 8.5 years as a corrections officer and feeling lost, goalless or chasing control ✅ The doctor's visit that forced him to pay attention ✅ How one roommate and The Four Agreements changed his trajectory ✅ Why every guest starts with childhood and why that's not an accident ✅ Going all in on content creation: food reviews, podcasting, and building a brand on positivity🔗 Connect with Franjez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franjez/YouTube: youtube.com/@franjez Podcast: Talk About It with FranjezFollow REAL Mentors Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcast Host Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

Men's mental health is in crisis. The statistics prove it. The disconnection proves it. And nobody wants to sit with that long enough to actually fix it.Vinny Brusco decided to build the fix. He's a certified life coach, Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, host of The Council of Dudes podcast, and founder of Agora Social Club — a physical space in Westchester, NY built specifically to give men a place to connect, grow, and stop white-knuckling life alone. No bar. No ego. No small talk. Just intentional brotherhood.In this episode, Vinny gets into why modern convenience is killing character, what it actually means to be a father versus just a dad, and why most men are ruled by their thoughts instead of leading from them. This is a conversation about what men are missing and what it takes to build it back.This Episode Explores: ✅ The male loneliness epidemic: depression, suicide rates, and the failure to launch ✅ Why comfort is the enemy of the character men actually need ✅ Meditation, sensory deprivation, and BJJ as tools for staying grounded under pressure ✅ Dad vs. father: the difference between being fun and being intentional ✅ How Agora Social Club became the modern fourth place men are desperate for ✅ Self-sabotage, the lure of comfort, and why the journey never gets easier, you just get stronger🔗 Connect with Vinny Brusco Instagram: @vinnybrusco Website: vinnybrusco.com Agora Social Club: agorasocialclub.com | @agora_westchesterFollow REAL Mentors Podcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcast Host Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin

High-pressure leaders don't fail because they lack strategy. They fail because their nervous system is running a program their ambition can't override. Ian Garfinkel is a Neural Performance and Executive Function Specialist and founder of Evolution Mindset. He works with high-pressure leaders and teams on the things most coaches won't touch. He focuses on identity reconstruction, nervous system regulation and what he calls purpose engineering. His core conviction: your thoughts mean nothing if your body hasn't felt them first. In this episode, Ian breaks down why the highest performers are often the most wired for self-sabotage, how unregulated nervous systems kill focus and execution and what it actually takes to build habits that hold under real pressure, not just in calm conditions. This Episode Explores: ✅ Why thoughts without feeling are just noise ✅ How your nervous system overrides your best intentions ✅ The neuroscience behind why high performers plateau and stall ✅ Identity reconstruction and changing who you are, not just what you do ✅ Purpose engineering and why most people are executing the wrong mission ✅ What nervous system regulation looks like in high-stakes environments 🔗 Connect with Ian Garfinkel: / iangarfinkelevolutionary Follow REAL Mentors Podcast Instagram: / realmentorspodcast Host Sean Martin: / theseanmartin

From streets and needles to $700K business turnarounds, Trevor Cowley shares his brutal path: extreme poverty, 4 years of IV heroin addiction, homeless rock bottom, and cold-turkey mountain detox. Now co-owner of Easier Accounting and host of Real Business Owners Podcast (2M+ downloads), he reveals how stacking cash, extreme discipline, and facing demons built his empire. Expect unfiltered truths on pain as transformation, why opportunity hunts money, and honoring commitments when you feel like quitting.This Episode Explores:✅ Half marathons EVERY DAY (131 indoor laps) for a moving world record✅ Praying for injury to escape pain—then adapting through it✅ IV drugs daily for 3.5 years: heroin, meth, anything to escape✅ Kicked out homeless at 24: "I'm a complete loser" wakeup✅ $120K sales to partnership: "If it's my money, it's my rules"✅ No high school diploma? "School told me I'm an idiot"—sales was his out✅ Why pain lowers standards (even porta-potty sprints) and how to hold yours✅ "Opportunity finds money"—why broke people miss breaks✅ 3 years of two-a-days + writing "The Journey to Becoming Remarkable"Real pain, real resilience, real wealth—when breaking your word hurts worse than running 13.1 miles daily.🔗 Connect with Trevor CowleyInstagram: @trevorleecowley @realbusinessownersFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinTags & KeywordsTrevor Cowley, Real Business Owners Podcast, Easier Accounting, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, half marathon every day, world record running, addiction recovery, heroin to millionaire, IV drugs story, homeless to entrepreneur, business turnaround, extreme discipline, radical ownership, stack cash opportunity, pain adaptation, detox cold turkey, no degree success, sales to CEO, St George Utah entrepreneur, resilience mindset, world record chase, two-a-days streak, becoming remarkable, business ownership, mental toughness, poverty to wealth, facing demons

From managing a $25M P&L in male-dominated HVAC to building a thriving restaurant franchise (and recently exiting amid "financial debris"), Angela Goodman reveals how core wounds—like over-helping others—sabotage entrepreneurs' wealth and growth. She shares her raw journey: grateful for her parents' divorce at age 8, twice-divorced herself, and now coaching high-performers to prioritize self-leadership, trust God as provider, and scale without burnout. Faith, tough decisions, and personal evolution drive her Evolve event and EVOLVE thru God podcast.This Episode Explores:- "Financial debris": Lessons from her messy business exit- Self-sacrifice as the #1 entrepreneur killer—and how to heal it- "Your bank account is a mirror" of hidden interpersonal issues- God as provider: Making hard calls without carrying your team's burden- Saving vs. serving: Why over-helping creates dependency- From corporate pay gaps ("My boobs kept me from earning") to franchise success- Building culture in restaurants amid COVID chaos- Faith beyond religion: Spirituality for business and life- Evolve event: Immersive growth for faith-based leaders (March 2026, Savannah)---🔗 Connect with Angela GoodmanInstagram: Instagram.com/msangelagoodmanEvolve Event: evolve-us.orgFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin📚 Book: "Beyond the Bronx: From Prison to Purpose" https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Grab Your Copy 👉 https://a.co/d/gKLMhg9/🎙️ Podcast: R.E.A.L Mentors Podcast (New episodes every week)💬 Money Mindset Movement---Tags & KeywordsAngela Goodman, Evolve Through God, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, faith-based entrepreneurship, self-sacrifice entrepreneurs, financial debris, business exit lessons, God as provider, saving vs serving, personal development coach, HVAC corporate to franchise, restaurant business culture, core wounds healing, spirituality vs religion, Evolve event Savannah 2026, entrepreneur self-leadership, cash flow mirror, people-pleasing trap, faith and business growth, women's entrepreneurship, male-dominated industry, burnout recovery, purpose-driven scaling, resilience, mindset shift, non-denominational faith, high-performer retreats, Valkyrie Ventures​

From Princeton/Stanford engineer and ex-NASA scientist to culture pioneer, Rajiv unveils why elite teams win through simple pencil-and-paper maps—not tech or offsites. He shares the SEAL captain's wake-up call ("That's not icing, that's the CAKE"), house cleaner Betty's transformation from overwhelm to piña coladas, and why "I'm not a scientist" is "bloody nonsense" anyone can fix. Discover how leaders build unbreakable camaraderie via self-awareness tools that work for CEOs and 8-year-olds alike.This Episode Explores:- "Personal science": Map your life, family, and spaces for instant clarity- Why Silicon Valley tech fails but colored pencils build high-performance bonds- SEAL truth: "Know yourself and your team or lose the battle guaranteed"- Betty's story: Ditch "Super Betty" pretense, unlock family help- Expert confession: Health pros had "zero data" on daily life- Camaraderie code: Collective reflection trumps carrots, sticks, retreats- Lead small: Start with 3 people, inspire change through stories- Upcoming book: Camaraderie – Foundations of joyful teams (July 2026)- Real talk on ditching experts, tapping innate skills, and forging teams that thrive under pressure.🔗 Connect with Rajiv MehtaWebsite: https://mappingourselves.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rajivmehta0Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinAbout the Guest – Rajiv MehtaRajiv Mehta is a speaker, consultant, and personal science pioneer. Trained at Princeton and Stanford, he advanced aerospace at NASA Ames and innovation at Apple before shifting to human-centered tools via Mapping Ourselves. His analog frameworks empower leaders—from execs to house cleaners—to map relationships, environments, and days for deeper self-knowledge and team camaraderie. Author of forthcoming Camaraderie: Rethinking High-Performing Teams, he's spoken at corporations, SEAL teams, and communities worldwide.Tags & KeywordsRajiv Mehta, Mapping Ourselves, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, NASA engineer, Apple innovation, personal science, know yourself, team camaraderie, high-performing teams, self-awareness tools, care maps, collective reflection, SEAL leadership, Super Betty story, colored pencils vs tech, Silicon Valley reject, offsites fail, expert myths, bloody nonsense science, house cleaners to CEOs, Princeton Stanford, business culture, leadership bonds, joyful teams, personal development, emotional intelligence, NASA to mentorship, podcast guest, motivation, growth mindset

She had the corner office, the MBA, two kids, a husband, and the suburban dream. Then a stranger punched her in the face, threw her to the asphalt, and strangled her until she blacked out in a parking lot at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday. Most people would've stayed a victim. Erika Rothenberger decided to change the law instead.In this episode of The REAL Mentors Podcast, host Sean Martin sits down with Erika Rothenberger—civil engineer, corporate director at Henkels & McCoy, keynote speaker, author of Audacious Expansion, and the woman behind "Erika's Law," a bill pushing Pennsylvania to make strangling a stranger a felony instead of a misdemeanor. They go deep on the brutal 2022 attack that nearly killed her, the backyard moment where she chose to thrive instead of break, the childhood trauma she'd been burying for decades, and the exact frameworks she uses to rebuild identity after devastation. This isn't a story about "staying positive." It's a blueprint for what to do when life hits you in the face—literally.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✅ The minute-by-minute story of Erika's attack by a stranger in a quiet Pennsylvania suburb—and the survival instinct that saved her life✅ Why her attacker—a man imprisoned 12 years in NY who assaulted multiple women and prison guards—received concurrent sentencing of only 15–20 years✅ The backyard decision: how hearing her kids laugh three days after the assault rewired her entire identity✅ Why she told her attacker "I forgive you" in court—and why forgiveness is a selfish act (in the best way)✅ The disturbing PA law loophole: strangling a stranger is a misdemeanor, but threatening to strangle someone carries a harsher sentence✅ Her BOLD framework—Believe, Ongoing, Lean on Others, Develop Others—and how it was already in place before the attack prepared her to survive it✅ The 3-3-30 method✅ Why she calls midlife an "awakening," not a crisis—and what finally made her leave the corporate comfort zone✅ The Triangle of Life (from her mother): Health → Family → Passion—and how to keep it upright when everything tilts✅ How childhood trauma from growing up with two alcoholic parents resurfaced after the assault—and why she says therapy should be as automatic as going to the doctorWho This Episode Is For:If you've ever felt like your past, your trauma, or your circumstances are permanent roadblocks—this one's for you. Whether you're justice-impacted, rebuilding after a setback, an entrepreneur from a chaotic background, a nonprofit leader, a social worker, or just someone who keeps waiting for the "right time" to go after what you actually want—Erika's story will challenge every excuse you've been telling yourself.This is not motivational fluff. This is a woman who got beaten unconscious by a stranger, showed up to court 11 times over three years, forgave the man who nearly killed her, wrote a 222-page book, sold out a 180-woman summit, and is currently getting a law changed in Pennsylvania. Real story. Uncomfortable truth. Usable framework.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:01:15 – Erika Rothenberger: engineer, speaker, assault survivor, and legislative advocate03:34 – What Audacious Expansion is really about and why she wrote it now07:03 – The "beautiful life" illusion: corner office, MBA, corporate ladder—but something was missing07:50 – June 16, 2022: the pink blazer, the parking lot, the punch10:55 – The attacker's story: 12 years in a NY prison, multiple assaults, premature release11:45 – The backyard moment: hoodie in June, kids laughing, the decision to thrive13:18 – "Erika's Law": why strangling a stranger in PA is still just a misdemeanor19:09 – The BOLD method and the 3-3-30 daily framework explained25:15 – Childhood trauma, alcoholic parents, and why everyone needs a therapist28:19 – The Triangle of Life: Health, Family, Passion—keep it uprightAbout The REAL Mentors Podcast:REAL = Real Examples Altering Lives. Hosted by Sean Martin—Bronx-born, formerly incarcerated, college-educated, ex–six-figure earner, now coach, mentor, and author of Beyond The Bronx. Raw, honest conversations with people whose lived experiences inform the work they do now.SEO and Tags:assault survivor story, trauma to purpose, women in construction, audacious expansion book, strangulation law Pennsylvania, Erika's Law PA, forgiveness after violence, midlife awakening women, BOLD method framework, 3-3-30 daily method, domestic violence advocacy, self-imposed prison mindset, breaking trauma cycles, women empowerment podcast, survivor to thriver, legacy after trauma, women's month

Your voice is your ultimate superpower and Matt Berthot proves it.Former choir director Matt Berthot joins Sean Martin on the REAL Mentors Podcast to reveal how vocal power unlocked Sean's prison story, sparked life-changing breakthroughs, and fueled Matt's own radical reinvention. From small-town Kansas wrestler and state champ to getting fired as a "toxic male" after 19 years teaching, Matt now coaches leaders to master Craft (technique), Artistry (storytelling), and Performance Magic (hypnotic flow) that commands rooms and creates goosebumps.Discover the 2013 Mariah moment where Matt intuitively "saw" her hidden visualization, the wrestling finals comeback aligning mind-body-spirit, and his 4-step framework (meditate, energy, visualize, act) downloaded before a London presentation. This is raw reinvention: divorce, job loss, walk of shame — transformed into better fatherhood, coaching pros like Ed Mylett, and wealth as byproduct.This Episode Explores:- How voice technique + emotional frequency = mind-reading intuition- Performance Magic: Goosebump flow like Mahomes or Jordan- Fired at 40+: Trading comfort for soul-level calling- "Energy is frequency" — why regulated emotions hypnotize audiences- 4 questions to find your purpose: Love, tick, roles, why you're here- Reinvention pain: Losing job/marriage, gaining coaches and clarity- Full-circle friendship: Matt sparked Sean's first public prison storyPerfect for entrepreneurs, speakers, leaders, and anyone scared to shed their old identity for vocal mastery and unstoppable presence.🔗 Connect with Matt BerthotWebsite: voicebymatt.comInstagram: instagram.com/voicebymattEmail: [email protected] REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: instagram.com/theseanmartinTags & KeywordsMatt Berthot, Voice By Matt, voice coaching, vocal power, performance magic, speaking coach, energy frequency, Joe Dispenza, emotional regulation, reinvention after 40, fired to freedom, small town success, Kansas wrestler, choir director story, UnMute event, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, public speaking mastery, flow state speaking, hypnotic presence, storytelling framework, vocal athlete, personal growth, leadership communication, entrepreneur voice training, overcoming fear, finding your calling, mindset shift, self-development, emotional intelligence, peak performance, spiritual awakening, authenticity on stage

In this episode of the REAL Mentors Podcast, serial entrepreneur and Gathering The Kings founder Chaz Wolfe sits down with Sean Martin to unpack how self‑belief, faith, and intentionality can completely rewrite your story. From being raised by a single mom and watching her walk away from the welfare system, to building and selling multiple seven‑figure businesses, Chaz shows what happens when you decide to bet on yourself, over and over again.You’ll hear why he believes the real “freedom ticket” is learning to sell, how he uses the Bible as a decision filter for money, marriage, and parenting, and what it actually looks like to build millions without sacrificing your family. Chaz also breaks down his “grateful but not done” mindset, how he engineers challenge for his kids (like making them buy their own bikes), and why most people stay stuck in scarcity even when they don’t have to.This Episode Explores:- How belief and courage become the real cheat code in business and life- Growing up with a single mom, welfare, and the moment that changed everything- Why “sales is the first freedom ticket” for non‑traditional and non‑college founders- Using faith as a practical decision‑making filter for money, marriage, and legacy- Scarcity vs. abundance, and why most people’s brains fight their own goals- Raising resilient, ownership‑minded kids in a comfortable, affluent environment- The “grateful but not done” framework for high achievers who already “won”- Protecting your marriage and family with daily intentional habits- Building businesses that support an exceptional life, not replace itIf you’re an entrepreneur, parent, or leader who knows you were made for more — but refuse to lose your family, health, or soul along the way — this conversation will challenge your beliefs and push you to go all‑in on you.🔗 Connect with Chaz WolfeWebsite: https://www.chazwolfe.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCM1-6UfgrdBzqk1k20VJgXQ Gathering The Kings: https://www.gatheringthekings.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/gtkfamilymastermindFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinTags & KeywordsChaz Wolfe, Gathering The Kings, Driven To Win podcast, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, entrepreneurial mindset, self‑belief, belief in yourself, cheat code to life, faith driven entrepreneur, Christian entrepreneur, generational wealth, legacy, family first entrepreneur, marriage and business, raising resilient kids, abundance mindset, scarcity mindset, sales skills, freedom through sales, personal development, high performance, intentional parenting, fatherhood, husband, purpose driven business, business and faith, self confidence, courage, leadership, growth, mindset, exceptional life

Andelina Storm brings a raw, faith-filled Gen Z perspective to mental health on the REAL Mentors Podcast with Sean Martin. A 20-year-old psych student and author of Sanity in the Storm, Andelina opens up about OCD, anxiety, PMDD, depression, and the friend’s suicide that pushed her to write a book she calls a “toolkit” for people in the dark. She shares how Christian faith, vulnerability, and small daily wins helped her climb out of suicidal thoughts—and how social media, isolation, and processed lifestyles are fueling a mental health crisis in her generation.In this conversation, Andelina explains why she believes Gen Z is “a generation that lacks faith,” how believing “this is all there is” leads to despair, and why vulnerability is actually a biological and spiritual advantage—not a weakness. She breaks down what a day in depression really looks like, why just getting out of bed counts as a win, and how she uses scripture, slow mornings, and community to navigate PMDD and emotional storms. This episode is a must-watch for parents, young adults, and anyone who wants to better understand the inner world of struggling Gen Z kids—and how faith, honesty, and connection can bring them back.​This Episode Explores:- Why Gen Z is facing record levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts- How a friend’s suicide and her own dark season led Andelina to write Sanity in the Storm- The role of Christian faith and seeing Jesus as Lord and Savior in finding hope- Social media “highlight reels,” comparison, and why “for the most part, social media is a lie”- PMDD, hormones, and what monthly “suicidal rage” actually feels like for her- Why vulnerability lowers anxiety and puts your brain into a growth mindset- The power of redefining success: why “just getting out of bed” is sometimes a real win- Creating a positive algorithm: using timers, boundaries, and curation on your feed- Learning to focus on what you can control instead of global chaos and politics- Turning grief, OCD, ADHD, and depression into tools that can help others healThis episode is about honest faith, messy feelings, and the courage it takes to tell the truth about your mental health so you—and the people watching you—can finally start to heal.--​🔗 Connect with Andelina StormWebsite & Book (Sanity in the Storm): sanityinthestorm.com (book also available on Amazon)​Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@PeaceInTheStormPodcastthttps://open.spotify.com/show/58blc3GLDLM4M0dCO0FQTl​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andelina.stormhttps://www.instagram.com/peaceinthestormpodcast/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin--Tags & KeywordsAndelina Storm, Sanity in the Storm, Peace in the Storm podcast, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Gen Z mental health, Christian mental health, faith and anxiety, depression, PMDD, OCD, suicide prevention, grief, small wins, vulnerability, growth mindset, social media and mental health, TikTok depression, Instagram comparison, Gen Z faith crisis, Jesus, hope, coping skills, Bible and mental health, college mental health, Michigan State student, emotional health, resilience, authenticity, transparency, purpose, young adult struggles, parents and teens, mental health toolkit, Christian Gen Z speaker

David Perlleshi, Albanian-American broker (Bronx-born to '89 Kosovo immigrants) reveals how he ditched corporate paychecks for uncapped potential, scaling mom-and-pop storage facilities into institutional goldmines. From seeing "down units as gold" to closing 200+ deals with his 7-person team, David breaks down why self-storage crushes multifamily (35% expense ratios, month-to-month flexibility), his no-shortcuts integrity code ("Don't screw anybody"), and building trust with 9-figure clients over breakfast—not pitches.Get the playbook on off-market sourcing, CapEx execution, upgrading your network, and why authenticity filters the right partners for long-term wins.This Episode Explores:- Self-storage vs multifamily: lower costs, faster rate growth, bigger exits- 13 off-market flips: turning sub-50K sq ft assets into REIT magnets- "No consistent paycheck" mindset- Dad's rule: "The worst thing is success while looking over your shoulder"- Albanian family values fueling discipline, honor, and deal-making- From baseball scholarship to $1B+ valuation expert- Value-first sales: breakfasts with billionaires, zero hard pitches- Mentoring young entrepreneurs through social media and proximity- Why authenticity repels wrong clients, attracts lifetime partners- Immigrant hustle: 65 cousins, hard-working parents, uncles as blueprint- Perfect for real estate investors, brokers, developers, and anyone trading time for money.🔗 Connect with David PerlleshiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-perlleshi-7b632985Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlleshi_cre/Franklin Street: https://franklinst.com/user_profile/david-perlleshi/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinTags & KeywordsDavid Perlleshi, self storage investing, self-storage broker, Franklin Street, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, storage vs multifamily, real estate investing, off-market deals, relationship selling, business integrity, immigrant entrepreneur, Albanian success story, real estate mentorship, CapEx strategy, storage development, REIT pipeline, value-add investing, network building, no paycheck lifestyle, authenticity in sales, Bronx real estate, Westchester entrepreneur, commercial brokerage, storage expense ratios, institutional self-storage, deal sourcing, sales philosophy, family business values, entrepreneurial mindset

In this episode of The REAL Mentors Podcast, Belinda Ramos, now Executive Director of Community Connections for Youth in the South Bronx, reveals why the most effective way to prevent youth incarceration is hiring people who've lived through it. Her organization staffs 80% formerly incarcerated adults as mentors—"credible messengers" who understand the streets, the system, and the trauma—cutting recidivism rates by 60%.You'll discover:→ Why her brother (dark-skinned, Black Puerto Rican) was scapegoated by their own family while she (lighter-skinned) got opportunities→ The "arrested development" phenomenon: how incarceration freezes emotional growth at the age you entered→ Why schools and families don't teach emotional regulation—and how this fuels the prison pipeline→ How Newburgh, NY (violent crime 198% above national average) became her training ground for justice work→ The gratitude practice Sean used in his prison cell that works anywhere→ Her brother's redemption arc: from decades of cycling through incarceration to age 55, now working at Fortune Society→ Why "the answer is in the community"—and why distant experts keep failing marginalized youthThe uncomfortable truth: Most youth don't need punishment—they need adults who've been where they are. CCFY meets families at crisis moments (first arrest, probation) before deep system involvement creates compounding barriers: homelessness, employment discrimination, fractured relationships, shame.Host Sean Martin (formerly incarcerated) creates the rare space where both guests speak the same language—lived experience of trauma, systems, and redemption. As Sean shares: he didn't learn about processing FEELINGS until prison anger management workshops. That's how emotionally stunted poverty and chaos make us.--Community Connections for Youth:📍 149th & 3rd Ave, Bronx, 7th floor (walk-ins welcome 9am-5pm)🌐 www.cc-fy.org | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cc4y/📧 Serving South Bronx families for 16 years💼 Programs: Youth diversion, parent support, court advocacy, transformative mentoringFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: www.instagram.com/theseanmartinBeyond The Bronx Book: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Grab Your Copy 👉 https://a.co/d/gKLMhg9/--TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Opening: "The Bronx is crushed. But I see beauty in that."02:22 - Growing up in Newburgh, NY (one of America's most dangerous cities)04:44 - Church as sanctuary during 1980s racial marginalization09:14 - Faith as justice framework: Christianity without dogma10:09 - The day her mother died and her brother disappeared15:02 - "His experiences were a grown man's. Who he was was a child."17:18 - Why prison taught Sean about feelings (after earning six figures)20:30 - Rock bottom before finding purpose at CCFY22:05 - Brother's journey: 33 when they reconnected, 55 when he found stability25:25 - How credible messengers work: 80% staff are program alumni30:03 - Self-actualization: "You want to get this clean or get this filthy?"31:52 - Emotional literacy as violence prevention--About The Real Mentors:REAL = Real Examples Altering Lives. Host Sean Martin interviews leaders and people whose lived experiences—incarceration, addiction, poverty, trauma—inform their work transforming systems. Authentic conversations about redemption that don't sugarcoat the struggle.Subscribe for stories proving transformation is possible no matter where you're starting from.--Tags

At 29, Sean Martin was making six figures... then he went to prison. Most people would call that career suicide. But he calls it the best thing that ever happened to him.In this raw, no-BS episode, Sean sits down to get interviewed about his journey from the Bronx projects to building a multi-million dollar ventures and the uncomfortable truths about mindset, sobriety, and identity that he's never fully shared before.If you think your background, your mistakes, or your circumstances are permanent roadblocks, this episode will change how you see everything.📺 In this special episode, host of the REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin gets interviewed by Dan Sachkowsky ("Big D"), and it gets real:✅ Why Sean turned himself in for attempted robbery—and how prison became his greatest teacher✅ The harsh truth about why 20+ years of high-functional alcoholism masked his potential✅ How getting sober completely changed his business trajectory✅ The 3 invisible ceilings that keep entrepreneurs stuck between $500K and $2M (and how to break through them)✅ Why Sean LEFT AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) after 6 months✅ How he went from Bronx poverty to a multi-million dollar life✅ The mindset shift nobody talks about that separates 7-figure from 8-figure entrepreneurs✅ His mission to impact 10 million inner-city youth—and why it mattersThis isn't motivational sh*t. This is the real story, the uncomfortable truths, and the framework Sean uses to coach entrepreneurs who are ready to scale.This episode is for:🚀 Entrepreneurs stuck on a revenue plateau – Making $500K to $2M but can't break through, working 60+ hours, feeling like something's missing📈 People ready to scale from 1 to 10 million – Looking for the framework that actually works🔄 Anyone in recovery or facing a major life change – Struggling with identity and wondering if there's another way💪 People from disadvantaged backgrounds – Who've been told their circumstances determine their ceiling🧠 Those interested in mindset work – Tired of tactics; ready for the psychology that actually shifts results👥 Leaders and future leaders – Who want to understand how to mentor, inspire, and think bigger--Follow Sean Martin:📱 Instagram: www.instagram.com/theseanmartin📚 Book: "Beyond the Bronx: From Prison to Purpose" https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Grab Your Copy 👉 https://a.co/d/gKLMhg9/🎙️ Podcast: R.E.A.L Mentors Podcast (New episodes every week)💬 Money Mindset MovementFollow Dan Sachkowsky:📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_big_dan_official/--🎯 ABOUT R.E.A.L MENTORS PODCASTReal Examples Altering LivesTo share real stories from real people who've gone from zero to hero, failure to success, stuck to unstoppable.Every episode breaks down the invisible ceilings that keep people stuck and gives you the framework to break through them.Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creator, someone in recovery, or just someone ready for a change, this podcast is for you.New episodes every week. No BS. No hype. Just REAL conversations.Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube--📊 SEO TAGS#SeanMartin #RealMentorsPodcast #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #PrisonToSuccess #MindsetShift #Sobriety #RealEstate #BusinessCoaching #Motivation #SuccessStory #PodcastEpisode #MoneyMindset #ScalingBusiness #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #DanSachkowsky #BeyondTheBronx #InnerCityYouth #BreakthroughMindset #RecoveryJourney #Mentorship #FromZeroToHero #BusinessGrowth #IdentityShift #AlcoholRecovery...

Jason Lacayo drops raw truths on the Real Mentors Podcast—exposing the mental toll of policing from Bronx streets to badge.From NYPD's violent 46th Precinct ("the Alamo") to White Plains PD's Mental Health Outreach Team, Jason reveals how cops compartmentalize gunshot victims, cope with morbid humor on severed limbs, and fight loneliness after losing street friends. He slams "defund the police" as "dumbest sh*t," shares his Honduran roots policing "from the middle," and opens up on peer support, generational shifts in recruiting, and building men's mental fitness via Agora Social Club.This episode uncovers policing's human side: soul-draining calls, split-second life-or-death choices, and staying compassionate amid stigma.This Episode Explores:- Bronx project's heavy-handed cops vs. respected neighborhood officers- NYPD rookie shock: "Guys get stuck seeing holes in them"- Cop bars, alcohol, and dark jokes on accidents/dead bodies- "Uniform = tool of death": Why officers cry post-shootings- Policing "from the middle": Bridging streets and blue- Mental Health Outreach: Housing unhoused, aiding mentally ill- Losing friends as a cop: "Instantly you sell out?"- Generational cop shift: Remote jobs over pensions- Agora Social Club: Jujitsu, co-working for men's mental health- Real talk on cop trauma, reform realities, and reclaiming humanity under the badge.🔗 Connect with Jason LacayoInstagram: https://instagram.com/therealjumpmanjayTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealjumpmanjayFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: instagram.com/theseanmartinTags & KeywordsJason Lacayo, White Plains PD, NYPD 46th Precinct, SWAT operator, mental health outreach, cop mental health, defund the police, policing from the middle, Bronx Alamo, morbid cop humor, police trauma, first responder wellness, peer support, generational policing, Agora Social Club, Reps for Responders, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, ex-NYPD, police reform, criminal justice, Honduran American, men's mental fitness, jujitsu community, bodycam realities, cop loneliness, uniform humanity, second chances law enforcement, Westchester PD

Amaurys "Bronx Native" Grullon drops Bronx truth bombs on the REAL Mentors Podcast; raw stories of hustle, heartbreak, and unbreakable pride from a kid raised in Section 8 who built a cultural empire without leaving home.Co-founder of Bronx Native, Amaurys Grullon shares how he and his sister turned "no Bronx merch" into a Mott Haven flagship store, Nike collabs, Yankees deals, and a movement blending creativity, entrepreneurship, and community giveback. He gets real about "crabs in a barrel" gatekeeping, scarcity mindset pulling down local success, and why staying rooted blocks from Cardinal Hayes beats escaping. From Pentecostal single-mom roots and dad’s pool hall hustle to NYT fame off pop-ups, Amaurys reveals his "more is more" blueprint for thriving in the BX.This Episode Explores:- Bronx Native origins: Apartment shelf to global brand in 2015- "Crabs in a barrel": Community pushback and gatekeeper lows- "No pressure, no diamond": Embracing struggle for growth- Scarcity mindset vs. optimism—protecting "precious energy"- 2016 breakthrough: Events, networking, NYT feature, pop-up magic- "Most beautiful place on earth": Reframing Bronx pride amid stereotypes- Building creative ecosystem (GET Studios, Tag Up, Change the Narrative)- "Comfortable in your uncomfortability" staying local while scaling- Father hustler lessons, early art commissions, school-to-SVA journey- Future 2026 vision: Books, docs, festivals, drives for BX unity- Real talk on Bronx entrepreneurship, mindset shifts, cultural pride, and rising above—perfect for hustlers chasing legacy from the streets.🔗 Connect with Amaurys GrullonInstagram: www.instagram.com/amaurysgrullonBronx Native: www.bronxnativeshop.com www.instagram.com/thebronxnativeFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: @realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: @theseanmartinTags & KeywordsAmaurys Grullon, Bronx Native, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, Bronx entrepreneur, Boogie Down pride, section 8 success, crabs in a barrel, scarcity mindset, Bronx hustle, cultural brand, Mott Haven store, Nike Yankees collabs, entrepreneurship Bronx, gatekeepers old heads, no pressure no diamond, more is more, precious energy, Cardinal Hayes, Bronx Community College, SVA design, community giveback, Bronx merch movement, personal development NYC, resilience mindset, creative entrepreneur, Hunts Point roots, change the narrative, BX unity

Over 30 years in salsa and freestyle, Luis Damon, Warner-signed artist faced it all: Premio Lo Nuestro nominations, world tours, then post-9/11 rock bottom at Cablevision. Divorce hit hardest—"swallowing rusty screws" for his daughter—until therapy unlocked reinvention. Now indie, he owns his sound, videos, and 2026 "Rat Pack" revival with Frankie Negron and Papote Jimenez, bringing NY salsa fire back.Luis opens up on channeling grief into art, unlearning trauma, and why drive trumps talent.This Episode Explores:- Bronx roots: Public assistance to LaGuardia High and first single at 19- Warner deal at 23: 3 albums, Olga Tañón duet #30 Billboard hit- Post-9/11 pivot: From global stages to survival jobs amid reggaeton rise- Divorce trauma, depression, and therapy's game-changing lessons- Turning friend’s cancer death into a 5-part film outlet- La India duet disaster—and opening for her next- Indie ownership: Songs, videos, YouTube, no label chains- 2026 NY salsa comeback with Negron & Jimenez Rat Pack vibe- Fatherhood first: Hiding pain to protect his kid- Drive over talent: "I wanted it so bad, nothing stopped me"- Real talk on pain, persistence, and rhythm as medicine when life tests your limits.🔗 Connect with Luis DamonInstagram: https://instagram.com/luisdamonYouTube: https://youtube.com/@luisdamon1Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinTags & KeywordsLuis Damon, salsa singer, freestyle artist, Real Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, Bronx musician, Lo Nuestro nominee, Warner Brothers salsa, Son By 4, NY salsa revival, music comeback, therapy after divorce, fatherhood struggles, post-9/11 survival, indie artist ownership, Frankie Negron collab, Papote Jimenez, Rat Pack salsa, Billboard Latin hits, reggaeton era pivot, channeling pain into art, music therapy, drive vs talent, Puerto Rican American artist, LaGuardia performing arts, Olga Tañón duet, La India concert, personal growth, resilience, Latin music 2026

Stephen Scoggins returns raw vulnerability to the REAL Mentors Podcast, revealing how pride led to homelessness at 22—and humility built a 9-figure empire.Scoggins discusses the five constraints that hinder leadership and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of humility, presence, and faith. He reflects on his experiences with faith, personal challenges, and the transformative power of intentionality in relationships. The conversation highlights the significance of focusing on personal growth and the impact of mentorship in overcoming life's obstacles.This Episode Explores:- Emphasizes the importance of calling leaders higher.- Homelessness from pride: Rock bottom to resilience- The 5 Constraints costing millions, divorces, and legacy- Presence is crucial in personal and professional relationships.- Insecurity decoded: "Ego is inside you." Build compounded confidence.- Faith reset: Truth over wounds, breaking church hurt- Inner alignment: From chasing toys to "I am whole"- Fatherhood hacks: "Let me tell you about you" affirmations- Business flow: Scale without burnout or betrayal- The power of intentionality in relationships and personal growth.--🔗 Connect with Stephen ScogginsWebsite: https://stephenscoggins.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/stephen_scogginsFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin--Tags & KeywordsStephen Scoggins, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, homelessness to millionaire, 9-figure exit, 5 constraints, arrogance humility, presence parenting, insecurity ego, faith journey, business scaling, fatherhood lessons, generational healing, inner wholeness, leadership alignment, podcast motivation, entrepreneur mindset, resilience story, personal development, family legacy, spiritual growth, business failure lessons, overcoming fear

Jessica Rivera joins the REAL Mentors Podcast sharing her raw journey from Brooklyn food stamps to leading a $4 billion organization as a young Latina single mom – and now transforming leaders through her coaching firm, JRCC.From welfare rejection and imposter syndrome in male-dominated corporate spaces to doubling her income at a Flatbush car lot, Jessica reveals how she broke free from toxic bosses to coach high-performers at Turner Construction, LVMH and Chase. She gets real about self-betrayal, identity work and stopping generational trauma before it hits your kids.This podcast episode explores:When you first betrayed yourself (and how it’s still sabotaging you)Leading $4B revenue teams as the only woman of colorFrom broke at 30 to homeowner and high-earner as a single momWhy "polished" brands fail. Be bold, not copy and paste.Ending generational trauma: Stop passing your pain to your kidsGod’s poke-push-kick to your true purposeBuilding authentic communication from identity, not scriptsA masterclass in grit, self-awareness and turning survival into soul-aligned success.--🔗 Connect with Jessica RiveraInstagram: @jessicarivera.coWebsite: https://jessicarivera.co/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/Book Beyond The Bronx: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Get your copy: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bronx-Purpose-Sean-Martin/dp/B0G549HF8Y/--Tags & KeywordsJessica Rivera, JRCC, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, self-betrayal, generational trauma, imposter syndrome, Latina leader, corporate coaching, identity work, single mom success, food stamps to millionaire, toxic boss, Brooklyn grit, Queens Village, Long Island entrepreneur, communication coaching, leadership development, breaking cycles, purpose alignment, work ethic, Puerto Rican roots, corporate ladder, authenticity branding, people pleasing recovery, soul work​

Josh York, GymGuyz founder, gives raw energy to REAL Mentors Podcast, revealing how he scaled in-home fitness from a kitchen table to 3,000+ cities across 32 states and 7 countries, providing insights about true discipline, and why most people will never achieve success in life.From a tough Long Island upbringing with no direction, Josh built a rebellion against failing gyms by prioritizing accountability, street smarts over book smarts, and an unbreakable mindset. He shares firing 70 trainers before breakthroughs, no sick days ever, and raising "no softies" kids who stock vending machines. Faith, execution over busyness, and discomfort as fuel drive his unstoppable empire.This Episode Explores:- Believing to achieve. Faith and mindset are foundational; without belief, success stays out of reach.- Mindset mastery: "If you're not first, you're last"- Street smarts vs. school: Why grades don't predict success- Hard beginnings fuel wins. Turn tough upbringings and bad cards into positive drive, never drugs or excuses.- Rebellion against gyms, apps, treadmills- Raising driven kids with no softness to create good leaders.- The power of not quitting to achieve success- Business systems and perfect processes before franchising; delegate weaknesses to smarter people.- Real grit, real scale, real results when you do what others won't.- How comfort kills growth.---🔗 Connect with Josh YorkInstagram: https://instagram.com/joshyorkgg https://instagram.com/gymguyzGymGuyz: https://gymguyz.comFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---Tags & KeywordsJosh York, GymGuyz, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, in-home fitness, fitness franchise, mindset mastery, street smarts, never quit, 70 trainers failed, no sick days, GymGuyz scaling, fitness rebellion, accountability training, Long Island entrepreneur, faith in business, raising driven kids, AI workouts, discomfort growth, execution over busy, unstoppable discipline, personal training business, franchise success, anti-gym movement, early riser hustle, protein over donuts

Jake Hamilton, founder of Behind the Fight, sits down with the Real Mentors Podcast to drop raw truth about masculinity, marriage, and what actually changes a man.After nearly losing his marriage to church-approved workaholism, Jake was confronted with a brutal reality: you will never transform a marriage unless you have the man’s heart. In this episode, he unpacks why a man has to go first, why 50/50 relationships don’t work, and how one decision—not leaving—can course-correct a high percentage of marriages over time.Alongside his wife Nicci, Jake opens up about father wounds, shame, work, faith, and rebuilding a marriage that had become “not a marriage.” They break down how childhood patterns show up in conflict, what women really want (security and stability), what men really want (desire and respect), and how to build a relationship and a life that are led, not controlled.This Episode Explores:- “You will never transform a marriage unless you have the man’s heart”- The stat that most marriages eventually course-correct if the man simply decides not to leave- Why a man has to go first—even when he doesn’t feel like it- Why 50/50 relationships fail and pull women out of their feminine- What women really want vs. what men really want- Workaholism in church culture and how “serving” can quietly destroy your family- How Jake and Nicci rebuilt from “I’m not divorcing you, but this ain’t a marriage”- Calling men up vs. calling men out (and why shame doesn’t work)- “Whatever we don’t transform will be transferred” to our kids and relationships- Building a business and mission with your spouse without losing the marriage- Embracing tension: why there is no “arrival” and purpose is a spiral, not a finish lineThis episode is about real manhood, real pressure, and the courage it takes to stay, lead, and transform when everything in you wants to run.--🔗 Connect with Jake and Nicci HamiltonInstagram: https://instagram.com/thejakehamilton | https://instagram.com/niccihamiltonBehind the Fight: https://thisisthefight.com/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinBook: https://instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook--Tags & Keywords (for YouTube / podcast backend)Jake Hamilton, Behind the Fight, Real Mentors Podcast, Beyond The Bronx Book, Sean Martin, masculinity, manhood, marriage advice, marriage transformation, relationships, husbands, wives, traditional relationships, 50/50 relationships don’t work, feminine and masculine energy, security and stability, desire and respect, workaholism, church culture, Christian marriage, faith and family, fatherhood, father wounds, generational trauma, emotional health, men’s mental health, men’s group, men’s work, calling men up, leadership, purpose, legacy, building a business with your spouse, rebuilding marriage, staying not leaving, how to be a man in marriage

What does it take to steer a child away from the justice system? For Demishia Owens, it took surviving her own childhood trauma to find the answer.As a 20-year veteran Program Director at EAC Network, Demishia has helped divert thousands of Long Island youth from incarceration. In this raw episode, she reveals the strategies behind her programs' 90% success rate and shares the personal story—from kidnapping survivor to community leader—that fuels her work.We dive deep into the realities of the foster care system, the "forgotten" teenage demographic, and why mentorship is the single most powerful tool for changing a life. Demishia also challenges parents to do their own work, explaining why "change can't occur without change."Key Takeaways:- Trauma to Triumph: Navigating life after kidnapping and assault.- Mentorship 101: Why a simple text message can save a foster kid's life.- Program Success: How AFY and Home Base keep kids out of jail.- Parental Responsibility: The hard conversations parents need to have.- Burnout Hacks: Strategies for staying healthy in high-stress careers.- Community Action: How you can join the NY Teenage Toy Drive.Whether you're a social worker, parent, or someone looking for purpose, this conversation offers a blueprint for making a real difference.---🔗 Connect with Demishia Owens & EAC NetworkWebsite: https://eac-network.orgLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/demishia-owens-a7572034Volunteer: https://eac-network.org/volunteerFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---About the Guest – Demishia OwensDemishia Owens is a distinguished leader in youth advocacy and social services. As Program Director at EAC Network, she manages critical initiatives including Alternatives for Youth (AFY), Home Base, and Chance to Advance. With a Master’s in Human Services and decades of field experience, Demishia specializes in crisis intervention, foster care mentorship, and family support, earning recognition from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office for her community impact.---Tags & KeywordsDemishia Owens, EAC Network, mentorship, foster youth support, juvenile diversion programs, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, social work burnout, trauma recovery, parenting teens, community leadership, Long Island charities, volunteer opportunities, PINS program, youth empowerment, breaking generational cycles, nonprofit management, emotional intelligence, crisis intervention, family therapy, social justice, advocacy.

Since founding EJ's PJs with just 34 pairs of pajamas on her front porch in 2011, Patricia has built a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that's distributed nearly 20,000 pairs of brand new pajamas across 8 states. But this episode goes deeper than the numbers—it's about the transformation that fueled the mission.At 300 pounds, Patricia made a decision on July 12, 2013, that changed everything. She lost over 100 pounds naturally, became a bodybuilding competitor, found her faith, and turned her personal healing into a movement. Today, she's a Suffolk County crossing guard, award-winning nonprofit founder, and the woman inspired by a viral act of kindness that sent her 800 miles to Kentucky.This Episode Explores:- How 34 pajamas became 20,000 lives changed in 14 years- Her weight loss journey: from 300 pounds to transformation and purpose- Food addiction and the struggle nobody talks about- Losing her mother at age 3 and becoming a mother figure to thousands- The viral bus driver story that sparked a movement across 8 states- Her faith journey: from pain to baptism to purpose- Building a nonprofit while working as a crossing guard- The award-winning work recognized by Suffolk County Sheriff and Town of Brookhaven- Why one pair of pajamas matters more than you think- Turning trauma into triumph and passion into mission- What it takes to think bigger and refuse to stay small- Family, faith, and the power of paying it forwardThis episode is about real transformation, authentic purpose, and the quiet strength it takes to see a need and answer it—one pair of pajamas at a time.---🔗 Connect with Patricia Millicent PoggiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejspjspajamadrive/Website: https://ejspjs.orgFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/REALMentorsPodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/---About the Guest – Patricia Millicent PoggiPatricia Millicent Poggi is a community leader, nonprofit founder, and living example of transformation. After overcoming food addiction and losing 100+ pounds naturally, she channeled her personal healing into EJ's PJs—a nonprofit that started with 34 pairs of pajamas and has now touched nearly 20,000 lives across 8 states. As a Suffolk County crossing guard, award-winning social entrepreneur, and woman of faith, Patricia has been honored by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, recognized by the Town of Brookhaven, and funded by the Starbucks Foundation. Her work proves that purpose doesn't require perfection—it requires heart, consistency, and the willingness to see people others overlook.---Tags & KeywordsPatricia Millicent Poggi, EJ's PJs, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Long Island entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, weight loss transformation, food addiction recovery, community service, Suffolk County crossing guard, social impact, 20,000 pajamas, viral kindness, Kentucky distribution, faith journey, second chances, purpose-driven mission, family values, authentic leadership, trauma to triumph, giving back, holiday charity, women entrepreneurs, small business growth, grassroots nonprofit, Starbucks Foundation grant, community impact, personal transformation, motherhood, resilience, integrity, legacy building, inspirational story, social equity, local hero, life purpose, gratitude, compassion, empowerment

Content creation is the new hustle, but most creators don't know how to monetize it. Myq "Success" Rodriguez, founder and CEO of The Brand Success LLC and co-author of The Content to Cash Bible, returns to break down the real science of turning clout into currency.In this conversation, Myq unpacks the creator economy like never before—from why going viral is a trap to how clout without strategy leaves you broke. He shares brutal truths about the influencer space, reveals why your circle is your ceiling, and explains the three non-negotiable steps every creator needs to scale sustainable income.Myq also opens up about building a brand-first mindset, the importance of execution over ideas, and how fatherhood shaped his philosophy on integrity, relationships, and long-term wealth building.This Episode Explores:- Why clout is not currency—and how to convert attention into real money- The viral trap: why going viral without preparation is a disaster- The creator economy opportunity: $500B+ industry by 2030- Three essential steps to building a profitable personal brand- How your circle downloads your limitations- The business side of content creation most creators ignore- Execution is the real flex—why ideas mean nothing without follow-through- Integrity, transparency, and servant leadership in business- Balancing fatherhood with entrepreneurship and ambition- The difference between chasing quick money and building a sustainable brandThis episode is about real strategy, real accountability, and the discipline it takes to build lasting wealth in the creator economy—not hype, not shortcuts, just honest insight from someone managing millions in creator deals.---🔗 Connect with Myq RodriguezInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myqsuccess/The Content to Cash Bible: Available on AmazonFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/Book: Beyond The Bronx (Coming Real Soon)---About the Guest – Myq RodriguezMyq Rodriguez is a branding strategist, entrepreneur, and creator-economy expert with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, influencer management, and digital growth. As Founder and CEO of The Brand Success LLC—a NYC-based talent management and marketing firm—Myq has helped urban and multicultural creators scale to millions of followers and secured over $15 million in brand partnerships for his clients.He is the co-author of The Content to Cash Bible, a comprehensive guide to monetizing content and building wealth in the creator economy, published in 2024. Through his work with leading influencers and his public speaking engagements, Myq advocates for business literacy, integrity-driven leadership, and the power of personal branding. A Bronx native and father, Myq emphasizes the importance of community, mentorship, and building careers—not just moments—in the digital age.---Tags & KeywordsCreator economy, content monetization, personal branding, influencer management, content to cash, Myq Rodriguez, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, building wealth online, creator business strategy, brand development, content strategy, digital growth, social media influencer, monetizing content, urban entrepreneur, NYC branding, creator income, digital entrepreneurship, content creator success, brand strategy, audience growth, influencer deals, building a personal brand, entrepreneurship mindset, content creator economy, sustainable income, creator wealth, online business, influencer partnership, brand deals, digital marketing, creator monetization strategies, building an audience, content creation business,...

Melvin Thomas is building something most people never imagine possible. At 22, he was a psychiatric social worker on a mobile crisis team in Brooklyn, talking a 17-year-old down from a fire escape. Today, he's the founder of Mr. Thomas NYC—a luxury brand creating handcrafted, one-of-one lapel pins that celebrities wear on national television.But this episode isn't just about pins and profit. It's about the Bronx kid who became the youngest dean ever hired in the NYC public school system, who still teaches kids K-8 by day, coaches basketball through the Omari Lawrence Foundation, and just launched his podcast to inspire the next generation.Topics:Crisis counselor to luxury designerFire escape moment at 22Youngest dean ever hired in NYCPandemic scraps to $10K pinsAdam Lefkoe collaboration (NBA broadcast)Authentic craftsmanship & storytellingWhy only 30% of kids have both parentsMentorship & what men owe their communitiesDominican heritage & family valuesReal talk on mental health & medicationThis episode is about real struggle turned into art, real impact on young lives, and the responsibility of men who make it out to bring others with them.---🔗 Connect with Melvin ThomasInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.thomasnyc/Podcast (New!): "What's the Deal with Mr. Thomas?" | https://www.instagram.com/whatsthedealwithmrthomas/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin---About the Guest – Melvin ThomasMelvin Thomas is the founder and principal artisan of Mr. Thomas NYC, a luxury brand redefining handcrafted accessories through one-of-one lapel pins and brooches. Born and raised in the Bronx to Dominican immigrant parents, Thomas broke barriers as the youngest dean ever hired in the New York City public school system at just 23 years old.With degrees in Sociology and English from Lehman College, Thomas began his career as a psychiatric social worker on a mobile crisis team at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn—a position that shaped his understanding of human connection and resilience.During the pandemic, while working as a dean, Thomas discovered his artistic calling through therapeutic metalwork using construction scraps. What started as pandemic therapy evolved into a luxury pin business that caught the attention of NBA broadcaster Adam Lefkoe, leading to a collaboration with celebrity jeweler Aunt Tasha Diamonds on a solid gold, glow-in-the-dark piece featured on national television.Today, Thomas operates Mr. Thomas NYC with a waiting list of clients, coaches basketball through the Omari Lawrence Foundation, and serves as a dean in Spanish Harlem working with K-8 students. He recently launched his podcast "What's the Deal with Mr. Thomas?" to amplify voices of people of color in entrepreneurship and leadership.---Tags & Keywords:Melvin Thomas, Mr. Thomas NYC, lapel pins, luxury brand, handcrafted accessories, Real Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, Bronx entrepreneur, youngest dean NYC, Dominican heritage, psychiatric social worker, pandemic business, crisis counselor, mentor, fatherhood, community impact, second chances, purpose-driven business, authentic craftsmanship, education, leadership, New York City, artisan, luxury accessories, wearable art, storytelling, confidence, mental health, immigrant mentality, generational wealth, FDNY, NYPD, Adam Lefkoe, Aunt Tasha Diamonds, basketball coaching, Omari Lawrence Foundation, inspiring next generation, social impact, redemption, transformation, resilience, personal growth, business mindset, authentic leadership, Latino representation, inspirational...

Since his early days working as a janitor for $8/hour, Michael "DJ SPYNFO" Eagen has built multiple six-figure businesses in the South Bronx—and he's stayed there the entire time. But this isn't a typical success story. It's about Emmy-award recognition, founding Sankofa Haus, navigating generational trauma, and choosing legacy over escape.In this conversation, SPYNFO breaks down how he built 4 thriving businesses simultaneously, why he refuses to focus on money while making serious wealth, and what happens when you stop chasing success and start building community. He also gets deeply vulnerable about parenting, breaking generational cycles, and the real cost of growth—including the friendships that don't survive it.This Episode Explores:- How an $8/hour janitor became an Emmy-winning entrepreneur (without leaving the Bronx)- Building 4 businesses simultaneously: Hot 97 radio, Sankofa Haus, Mr. Matrimony weddings, and Airbnb- The generational trauma that shapes every decision (and how to transform it)- Why "manage your attention" beats "manage your time" every single time- The uncomfortable truth about why friendships end when you succeed- His Pitbulls DJ Crew induction by Funkmaster Flex and 20+ years at the top of hip-hop- Creating experiences over chasing money—and making more money doing it- Parenting with intention: saying "I love you" twice daily and breaking cycles- Manifesting what you want by thinking differently about the multiverse- The South Bronx real estate opportunity nobody's talking about- Building cultural spaces that preserve identity while transforming neighborhoods- Discipline over motivation: the framework that changed everythingThis episode is about staying rooted while reaching your peak, building legacy in your own community, and understanding that the real wealth is what you create for people, not what you keep for yourself.---🔗 Connect with DJ SPYNFOInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/djspynfo/ | https://www.instagram.com/mrmatrimony | https://www.instagram.com/sankofahausSankofa Haus: sankofahaus.comDJ Services: https://www.djspynfo.net/Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin---About the Guest – DJ SPYNFODJ SPYNFO (Michael Eagen) is an Emmy Award-winning DJ, Hot 97 radio personality, and South Bronx cultural entrepreneur. Inducted into Funkmaster Flex's elite Pitbulls DJ Crew, SPYNFO has performed on BET's Rap City and collaborated with major hip-hop artists including Ludacris, Nas, and Keyshia Cole. As founder of Sankofa Haus—a transformative 2,400+ sq ft cultural event space in Mott Haven—he creates platforms for emerging artists while preserving neighborhood identity. SPYNFO also runs Mr. Matrimony Entertainment, a premier destination wedding DJ service, and operates a profitable Airbnb in the South Bronx. His Emmy-winning documentary work with NYC Tourism's "Local Legends" series showcases his commitment to reclaiming South Bronx narratives. SPYNFO is proof that you don't have to leave your community to elevate it.---Keywords & TagsDJ SPYNFO, Michael Eagen, Hot 97, Emmy Award winner, Sankofa Haus, South Bronx entrepreneur, real estate development, generational trauma, parenting, Pitbulls DJ Crew, Funkmaster Flex, entrepreneurship podcast, multiple income streams, Airbnb business, wedding DJ, cultural spaces, community building, legacy wealth, Bronx development, social impact, hip-hop culture, business mindset, family values, generational wealth, NYC business, urban development, manifestation, discipline, intentional parenting, emotional intelligence, business...

Music executive Max Escobar shares his journey from professional baseball with the Cincinnati Reds to becoming one of the most influential Latin music executives in the industry. Learn how he built AudioMack's Latin division, signed 4,000 artists in two months, and founded 1844 Tech music distribution company with Universal Music backing.What You'll Learn:✅ How to break into the music industry from outside entertainment✅ Music contract negotiation strategies for independent artists✅ Building a music distribution company from scratch✅ Latin music industry insights from Ozuna, Bad Bunny, and top artists✅ Club promotion to music executive career transition✅ A&R secrets from Konvict Music and AudioMack experience✅ Dominican artist challenges: splits, publishing, and organization✅ Using AI (ChatGPT) to navigate contracts and learning✅ Renegotiating bad music deals with leverage tactics✅ Building legacy and long-term success in entertainmentConnect with Max Escobar:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxescobar/1844 Tech: https://www.instagram.com/1844.tech/Follow REAL Mentors Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/Book: Beyond The Bronx (Coming Soon!)About Max Escobar - Music Executive & EntrepreneurMax Escobar is the founder and CEO of 1844 Tech, a music distribution company focused on Latin artist independence and ownership. Before founding 1844 Tech, Max built AudioMack's entire Latin music division, working directly with superstars including Ozuna, Bad Bunny, Mike Towers, and Farruko. His music industry career began at Konvict Music as an A&R, where he signed Omega El Fuerte. Prior to music, Max was a professional baseball player signed to the Cincinnati Reds organization. Today, 1844 Tech has distributed 4,500+ songs for 400+ artists and maintains a partnership with Universal Music Group.Related Topics & Keywords:Music business, music executive career, Latin music industry, music distribution company, AudioMack, Bad Bunny success, Ozuna, Dominican artists, music contracts explained, music publishing, A&R career, Konvict Music, Akon, music entrepreneurship, independent artist tips, music marketing strategy, Bronx entrepreneurs, Cincinnati Reds, career pivot, club promotion, DJ management, music industry secrets, contract negotiation, Universal Music, 1844 Tech, Dominican trap music, Lobo Montana, United Palace, music legacy, fatherhood and business, baseball to music, athlete entrepreneur, Latin trap, reggaeton business, music streaming, artist ownership, music masters, splits and publishing, ChatGPT for contracts, renegotiate music deals, music lawyer alternatives, artist empowerment, Dominican Republic, New York music scene, Bronx hustle, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin podcast, entrepreneur interviews

Vladimir Bautista went from hustling on the streets of Harlem’s Sugar Hill to becoming one of New York’s leading voices in cannabis culture and social equity. A Dominican-American raised by a single mother, Vlad saw firsthand how communities like his were targeted by the War on Drugs. After being arrested over 20 times for cannabis, he turned that same street hustle into a mission—to create opportunity, ownership, and education in an industry that once criminalized him.Today, he’s the co-founder and CEO of Happy Munkey, a cannabis lifestyle brand and dispensary that’s redefining what it means to “choose happy” while leading the movement for equity, culture, and inclusion in New York’s legal cannabis market.This episode explores:- Growing up in Harlem’s Sugar Hill during the 80s and 90s—and what the “Dominican version of A Bronx Tale” looked like- Early exposure to drugs, hustling, and survival—and the turning point that led Vlad toward cannabis instead of cocaine- Being arrested 22 times and why that “street education” became his real MBA- The birth of Happy Munkey: from underground parties to the “Studio 54 of cannabis”- How a pandemic, politics, and perseverance led to legalization in New York- The fight for equity—why Vlad and his team pushed for the MCA bill over big-money lobbyists- Choosing Dyckman over downtown: why he built the first dispensary above 125th Street and kept it in the community- How representation, legacy, and access change entire neighborhoods- The lessons from single motherhood, community respect, and moral integrity that shaped his leadership- Overcoming imposter syndrome, staying authentic in every room, and turning pain into purposeThis episode is about transformation, advocacy, and ownership—how a kid from Sugar Hill turned the very thing that once got him locked up into a bridge for education, opportunity, and cultural pride. Vlad’s story will challenge you to rethink what equity truly means and remind you that legacy isn’t about money—it’s about coming back home to build something bigger than yourself.---🔗 Connect with Vladimir BautistaInstagram: @vladimirbautista123Happy Munkey: https://happymunkey.com🎙️ Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: @realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: @theseanmartin---🔥 About the Guest – Vladimir BautistaVladimir Bautista is the co-founder and CEO of Happy Munkey, a New York-based cannabis lifestyle brand and dispensary dedicated to culture, community, and social equity. Born and raised in Harlem’s Sugar Hill neighborhood to Dominican immigrant parents, Vlad’s life reflects both the hardship and hope of New York’s inner city. After multiple arrests for cannabis-related offenses, he transformed his experience into advocacy—becoming a voice for legacy operators and disenfranchised entrepreneurs in the new era of legalization.From underground events dubbed the “Studio 54 of Cannabis” to public speaking engagements across the U.S., UK, and Spain, Vlad continues to use his platform to bridge the gap between culture and commerce, reminding the world that the future of cannabis must include the people who built it.---Tags & KeywordsVladimir Bautista, Happy Munkey, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, cannabis legalization, social equity, Harlem Sugar Hill, Dominican American, New York dispensary, cannabis entrepreneur, legacy to legal, Studio 54 of cannabis, social justice, War on Drugs, restorative justice, advocacy, Bronx entrepreneurs, representation, community impact, street hustle to CEO, resilience, mentorship, culture, Dyckman, New York cannabis industry, purpose-driven business, empowerment, legacy building

Coss Marte is back on the Real Mentors Podcast with an update that’s as raw as it gets.Since his first appearance, the founder of ConBody and ConBud has faced new challenges — this time from the state itself. After building three licensed cannabis shops in just 15 months, Coss and more than 150 other small dispensary owners were hit with sudden rule changes that could force them to shut down.In this conversation, Coss breaks down what’s really happening behind New York’s cannabis laws, how politics and power plays are crushing small businesses, and why he refuses to give up. He also opens up about fatherhood, faith, and what it means to build a family and business with transparency, trust, and love.This Episode Explores:The state’s last-minute regulation change threatening 150+ dispensariesThe lawsuit Coss filed to protect small, justice-impacted entrepreneursLobbyists, corporate influence, and the politics behind New York’s cannabis rolloutLessons from his father’s Bronx bodega and what real work ethic looks likeHow honesty changed his relationship with his son after prisonRaising kids with openness and empathyBuilding ConBud and ConBody with integrity and community in mindWorking full-time with his wife and balancing marriage with missionStaying grounded when everything you built is on the lineThis episode is about real pressure, real growth, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward when everything you’ve worked for is tested.---🔗 Connect with Coss MarteInstagram: https://instagram.com/cossmarteConBody: https://conbody.comhttps://instagram.com/conbodyConBud: https://instagram.com/conbudnyFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---About the Guest – Coss MarteCoss Marte is an entrepreneur, author, and advocate for second chances. After serving time in prison, he turned his life around by launching ConBody, a fitness brand employing people with past convictions, and ConBud, one of New York’s first justice-driven cannabis dispensaries. His work has been featured on TEDx, Forbes, CNN, and The Today Show. Today, Coss continues to fight for fairness, opportunity, and the communities he came from.---Tags & KeywordsCoss Marte, ConBody, ConBud, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Bronx entrepreneur, second chances, New York dispensary law, cannabis business, prison to purpose, criminal justice reform, immigrant story, family values, transparency, integrity, redemption, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, resilience, legacy, purpose-driven business, mindset, marriage and business, NYC small business, political reform, community empowerment, social equity, leadership, growth, life after prison

Hugo Sánchez went from spending two decades away from society to becoming the Founder & CEO of MOTI, a multi-million-dollar tech startup that’s redefining how humans connect, communicate, and get paid for their time.A proud Puerto Rican from Bayamón who rebuilt his life from zero, Hugo embodies what it means to bet on yourself. From construction and dry-cleaning businesses to creating a global consulting platform, he proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—or to win big by believing bigger.This episode explores:Growing up in Puerto Rico and the early habits that shaped (and tested) his pathLosing both parents while serving time—and what it taught him about purpose and perspectiveComing home after 20 years to a world that moved on—and why he refused to stay behindSpotting opportunity in what others ignored: “Nobody wanted to work. I saw work everywhere.”The leap from dry cleaning and construction to founding a tech companyHow he raised $1.2M without venture capital—using micro-investing and pure hustleBuilding MOTI: a video-and-payments platform for coaches, consultants, and creatorsWhy data privacy, human trust, and simplicity beat hype and trendsCreating a billion-dollar mindset from nothing: “MOTI only needs 100,000 users—that’s a $300M app.”Lessons on betting everything—his house, car, and savings—to prove what’s possibleAge, faith, and fire: why 57 is the new start line, not the finishThis episode is about resilience, reinvention, and the price of waiting.Hugo’s story reminds us that comfort is costly, timing is an illusion, and your biggest asset isn’t money—it’s belief.---🔗 Connect with Hugo SánchezMOTI App: https://motiapp.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/hugos.motiFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---🔥 About the Guest – Hugo SánchezHugo Sánchez is a Puerto Rican entrepreneur, visionary, and the Founder & CEO of MOTI, a multi-million-dollar tech startup designed to help professionals and creators monetize their time through seamless video calls, payments, and scheduling.After rebuilding his life from the ground up, Hugo turned his experience into a philosophy: time is the most valuable currency. His no-excuses approach to life and business has inspired thousands to stop waiting, start moving, and take control of their financial freedom—one call at a time.---Tags & KeywordsHugo Sánchez, MOTI App, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, entrepreneurship, Puerto Rican tech founder, micro investing, startup funding, creator economy, time monetization, video consulting, fintech, resilience, second chances, comeback story, self-belief, legacy, faith, human connection, data privacy, reinventing yourself, motivational stories, Bronx podcast, tech innovation, digital entrepreneurship, rebuild your life

Dan “Big D” Sachkowsky went from filing bankruptcy at 24 to rebuilding a multimillion-dollar construction and coaching empire rooted in faith, structure, and the discipline to say no.Raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey by immigrant parents who taught him to work hard but think small, Dan learned early that breaking generational limits meant unlearning everything he’d been told. At 15, his father told him, “we’ll never be rich.” That moment lit a fire that would define his life.Today, he’s a serial entrepreneur, real-estate investor, and performance coach known for helping business owners buy back their time, build real systems, and lead with purpose.This episode explores:Growing up in Elizabeth, NJ and discovering the gap between survival and successThe 15-year-old moment that redefined his belief in what was possibleFinding mentors who said “I believe in you” and how that changed everythingBuilding a thriving construction business—then losing it all at 24 during the 2007 crashLessons from bankruptcy, humility, and rebuilding with five income streamsFaith through crisis: his son’s near-death accident and rediscovering GodWhy failure tolerance is the ultimate entrepreneurial skillCompeting with yourself, not others, and designing a “life blueprint” instead of just a business planThe power of saying no—and how discipline and structure create more yesesFatherhood, responsibility, and teaching kids gratitude in a world of excessThis episode is about breaking cycles, redefining wealth, and learning that saying no isn’t rejection, it’s alignment. Dan’s story will challenge you to trade busyness for balance, ego for faith, and comfort for calling.---🔗 Connect with Dan “Big D” SachkowskyWebsite: dansachkowsky.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_big_dan_official/🎙️ Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/---🔥 About the Guest – Dan “Big D” SachkowskyDan Sachkowsky is an entrepreneur, investor, and business coach who built and scaled multiple construction companies before launching Big D Coaching, a platform that helps business owners regain focus, systemize growth, and live with intention. His coaching philosophy blends faith, structure, and high-performance strategy—teaching that true freedom comes from discipline, not hustle. Through his story of failure, faith, and rebuilding, Dan helps others design lives that work as hard as they do.---Tags & KeywordsDan Sachkowsky, Big D, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, entrepreneurship, business coaching, mindset, discipline, faith and success, bankruptcy recovery, time management, systems and processes, construction business, leadership, mentorship, resilience, the power of saying no, legacy building, fatherhood, immigrant mentality, self-development, personal growth, real estate investing, purpose over profit

Chad Willardson went from top 2% at Merrill Lynch, speaking on Wall Street stages, to walking away from the corporate “matrix” to build a life where family and freedom come first. Today, he’s the founder of Pacific Capital, a fiduciary wealth advisory firm serving entrepreneurs and families, a five-time author, and a leading voice challenging the hustle culture with a new framework: work-life integration.Raised with strong family and faith values but no entrepreneurial wealth, Chad learned early that true success isn’t just about a big bank account—it’s about being present at home and building wealth that lasts across generations. His books Smart, Not Spoiled and Why Work-Life Balance Is a Lie reveal how to raise grounded kids, manage money differently, and create both financial freedom and family legacy at the same time.This episode explores:Growing up in a family that valued presence and faith over money—and how that shaped his pathTurning down lucrative Wall Street jobs as a newlywed to prioritize marriage and fatherhoodLeaving Merrill Lynch after 9 years despite high performance, and the freedom entrepreneurship unlockedWhy entrepreneurs are “wealth wired differently”—and why traditional advice fails themSmart, Not Spoiled: practical ways to raise kids who understand money, work ethic, and value creationWhy financial literacy should be taught in schools from 1st grade through collegeThe viral Babysitter Guide that became a parenting and leadership lessonMissing the Kentucky Derby “main event” to make his son’s playoff game—and why he’d do it 100 out of 100 timesWork-life integration: putting family on the calendar first, then businessHow money mindsets are inherited—and how anyone can rewire theirs to build wealthWhy financial freedom is possible for everyone, regardless of backgroundThis episode is about faith, family, and freedom. Chad’s story will challenge you to stop chasing hustle culture, start defining success on your own terms, and create wealth without sacrificing the relationships that matter most.---🔗 Connect with Chad WillardsonWebsite: https://chadwillardson.comBook: https://fullyinvested.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/chadwillardsonFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost - Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---🔥 About the Guest – Chad WillardsonChad Willardson is the President & Founder of Pacific Capital, a fiduciary wealth advisory firm in Southern California. With 23+ years advising entrepreneurs and families, Chad is a trusted voice on financial freedom, family legacy, and entrepreneur-focused wealth strategies. He’s the author of five books, including Smart, Not Spoiled and Why Work-Life Balance Is a Lie. His work has been featured in major outlets, and his viral parenting and money frameworks have reached millions. A husband, father of five, and entrepreneur, Chad leads with faith, integrity, and the belief that real success means thriving in both business and family life.---Tags & KeywordsChad Willardson, Pacific Capital, Smart Not Spoiled, Why Work Life Balance is a Lie, Fully Invested, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, financial freedom, wealth management, entrepreneur money mindset, family legacy, parenting and money, financial literacy, entrepreneur wealth, fiduciary, Wall Street to entrepreneur, money mindset, wealth wired differently, faith and business, work life integration, freedom and family

Abbie Ayala went from hustling in the Bronx during the 1990s “get money” era to becoming the host of the ABFive Podcast, a raw and authentic platform that gives real people a voice. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, Abbie became a father at 19, grew up alongside his daughter, and later learned the hard truths of parenting, hustling, and surviving street life. From driving cabs for drug dealers and executives alike, to realizing in a tense moment that he wasn’t built for the streets, Abbie found his path in storytelling. What started with Fat Joe’s IG Lives and a conversation with his pregnant daughter turned into a purpose-driven mission: using his podcast to impact lives, represent the Bronx, and show what it means to keep it real.This episode explores:- Growing up in Puerto Rico and the Bronx, and how his mom’s strength shaped his path- Becoming a young father at 19, raising a daughter while still trying to figure out life- The “get money era” of the 90s—hustling cabs, street temptations- Starting the “Calls from the Inside” segment to give incarcerated voices a platform- Why peace is more valuable than wealth—and why authenticity always wins- Lessons on networking, impostor syndrome, and building a Bronx-rooted community through podcastingThis episode is about resilience, authenticity, and using storytelling as a tool for impact. Abbie’s journey will challenge you to rethink what “success” looks like, to stop chasing validation, and to start building your own lane—by any means necessary.---🔗 Connect with Abbie AyalaInstagram: https://instagram.com/abfive_podcastYouTube: @LIVEWITHABFIVEFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---🔥 About the Guest – Abbie AyalaAbbie Ayala is the host and creator of the ABFive Podcast (Live with AB5ive), a Bronx-born show spotlighting real stories from hustlers, entrepreneurs, DJs, community leaders, and everyday people with extraordinary journeys. Inspired by Fat Joe’s IG Lives, Abbie launched his podcast with raw conversations—beginning with his own daughter—and grew it into a 70+ episode platform built on authenticity and impact. A proud father, Bronx native, and union doorman, Abbie blends street lessons, family values, and guerrilla-style production into a one-of-a-kind show that proves you don’t need a studio to make an impact—you just need heart, hustle, and a tripod.---Tags & KeywordsAbbie Ayala, ABFive Podcast, Live with AB5ive, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Bronx podcast, Bronx hustle, Bronx storytellers, Fat Joe IG Live, young fatherhood, parenting in the Bronx, street hustle, 32BJ doorman, authentic storytelling, guerrilla podcasting, Bronx DJs, Funk Flex interview, Toughie, Major Galore, South of Girls, Calls from the Inside, impact over money, chasing peace, keeping it real

Chef Kelvin Fernandez went from a kid in Harlem who didn’t even realize his family was poor—to becoming the youngest executive chef in New York City at just 22, a Beat Bobby Flay winner, and a private chef trusted by Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. Raised by Dominican immigrant parents, Kelvin discovered cooking in high school, found discipline in kitchens that tested him to the edge, and built a career on sacrifice, flavor, and breaking down gatekeeping in the culinary world.This episode explores:Growing up in Harlem, food stamps, and immigrant gritCutting his thumb in the kitchen and choosing discipline over excusesWinning a full scholarship to the Culinary Institute of AmericaBecoming the youngest executive chef in NYC at 22Competing on Chopped, winning Beat Bobby Flay with his signature arepa, and landing on Forbes 30 Under 30Building La Marina’s legendary Uptown kitchen crew and creating Tasting TuesdaysThe private chef chapter: from Jose Reyes to Jennifer Lopez, and why he walked awayOpening doors for the next generation and eliminating “gatekeeping” in the industryWhy family and partnership with his wife are now his greatest ingredients for successThis episode is about grit, mentorship, and redefining what success tastes like. Chef Kelvin’s story will challenge you to see setbacks as seasoning, believe in the power of discipline, and remember that the perfect bite isn’t just on a plate—it’s in the life you build.---🔗 Connect with Chef Kelvin FernandezInstagram: https://instagram.com/chefkelvinFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin---🔥 About the Guest – Chef Kelvin FernandezChef Kelvin Fernandez is a Dominican-American chef raised in Harlem, New York. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Kelvin became the youngest executive chef in New York City at 22, and has since led kitchens at La Marina, Blend, and The Strand Hotel. Known for his elevated Latin cuisine and signature arepas, Kelvin is a Beat Bobby Flay winner, a Chopped finalist, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. His career spans restaurants, celebrity private chef work, and mentorship programs that open doors for the next generation of culinary talent. Today, Kelvin continues to innovate through pop-ups, private events, and his upcoming sports bar venture, while championing collaboration and authenticity in every kitchen he touches.---Tags & KeywordsChef Kelvin Fernandez, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Forbes 30 Under 30, La Marina, Dominican chef, Harlem success story, Latin cuisine, arepas, culinary mentorship, discipline, gatekeeping, hospitality, Jennifer Lopez chef, Alex Rodriguez chef, CIA scholarship, immigrant story, resilience, New York chefs, mentorship, food entrepreneurship, private chef, Uptown chefs

J. Scott Scheel went from a broke twenty-something living in his mom’s basement to a nationally known commercial real estate investor and educator whose mantra—“one deal, one time can change your life forever”—has helped 100,000+ entrepreneurs get into the game. Raised in Cleveland with humble beginnings and a faith-first compass, Scott learned to turn adversity into advantage, master creative finance, and build a community where integrity leads.This episode explores:Growing up in Cleveland, family hardship, and the Blizzard of ’77 moment that changed everythingFrom “Big Man Words” with dad to the power of communication and leadershipEarly hustle to first business at 14—and the lessons (and lines) not to crossLosing it all in his 20s, moving into the basement, and rebuilding from zeroThe 24-unit apartment deal that produced ~$850K tax-free in 18 months (and how he structured it)Seller financing, options, wraparounds, subject-to, and master-lease plays explained simplyWhy immigrants often “see” U.S. real estate more clearly—and how land ownership changes outcomesHow to add value if you have time but no money (and vice versa)The current CRE landscape: banks, auctions, cap rates, and why creative finance wins nowBuilding Commercial Academy’s diverse, pay-it-forward community (and how to plug in with integrity)Mindset over mechanics: authenticity, starting small, and taking the first step—todayThis episode is about resilience, ethical deal-making, and compressing time with the right strategy and people. Scott’s story will challenge you to stop “thinking with your wallet,” start thinking with your plan, and use integrity-based collaboration to change your financial trajectory, one signature at a time.---🔗 Connect with J. Scott ScheelWebsite: Commercial AcademyInstagram: @officialjscottscheelFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: @realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: @theseanmartin---🔥 About the Guest – J. Scott ScheelJ. Scott Scheel is a commercial real estate investor, educator, and entrepreneur from Cleveland, Ohio. A proud capitalist who leads with service and faith, Scott has built and repositioned assets across multifamily, retail, office, and land—often using creative finance to unlock value where others see roadblocks. He’s the founder of Commercial Academy, a training and deal-making community that has guided 100,000+ students with a practical, integrity-first approach to acquiring, financing, and managing commercial property. Scott’s “One Deal, One Time” framework demystifies complex deals into actionable steps, helping everyday operators, W-2 earners, and seasoned investors compress years of progress into months—without betting the farm.---Tags & KeywordsJ. Scott Scheel, Commercial Academy, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, one deal one time, commercial real estate, creative finance, seller financing, master lease, options, subject-to, triple-net (NNN), due diligence, cap rates, interest rates, immigrant mindset, resilience, ethical capitalism, leadership, mentorship, Huge Profits Podcast, Cleveland success story, wealth building, financial independence

Sean Callagy went from being a Division I baseball captain at Columbia University — with dreams of playing pro ball — to having those dreams shatter overnight when he discovered at 17 he was going blind. Instead of giving up, he built a multi-state law firm, pioneered an entire industry, and created a movement teaching people how to master influence, business, and themselves.This episode explores:Growing up in a family where blindness was generationalFinding out at he was going blind and watching his baseball dream dieFrom Division I athlete to founder of Callagy Law, a 100+ person firmBuilding a 40-person firm in just two years with no money and no business cardSecuring two Top 100 National Jury Verdicts — while legally blindInventing the medical revenue recovery industry, recovering over $600M for healthcare providersThe influence of Tony Robbins, including spending 15 days in Tony’s bedroomThe creation of Unblinded and the Results FormulaWhy everything in life comes down to your ability to create a “yes”The balance between business success, family, faith, and philanthropyThis episode is about resilience, influence, and leading with both heart and strategy. Sean’s story will challenge you to see beyond your limitations and recognize the power of integrity-based influence to transform business and life.---🔗 Connect with Sean CallagyWebsite: https://callagylaw.comUnblinded: https://unblindedmastery.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanrcallagy/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@seancallagyFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin/---🔥 About the Guest – Sean CallagySean Robert Callagy is a keynote speaker, attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has built multiple enterprises while navigating life legally blind. He is the founder of Callagy Law, a multi-state firm with more than 100 team members, and the co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Unblinded, a training company focused on integrity-based human influence and business growth.He is one of only two attorneys in the United States to achieve two Top 100 National Jury Verdicts between 2014 and 2016, and the only one to do so while legally blind. He is also credited with pioneering the medical revenue recovery industry, helping healthcare providers recover over $600 million.A former Division I baseball captain at Columbia University, Sean is now a sought-after speaker and trainer, having delivered over 2,000 talks in just two years to audiences of up to 15,000 people. He has shared the stage with Tony Robbins, Grant Cardone, Daymond John, and Kevin O’Leary. A former Trustee of the American Foundation for the Blind and founder of the Callagy Christian Foundation, Sean continues to use his story, strategies, and faith to help people create more money, time, and impact through the power of integrity-based influence.---Tags & KeywordsSean Callagy, Callagy Law, Unblinded, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, integrity-based influence, Sean Callagy blind attorney, Top 100 Jury Verdicts, medical revenue recovery pioneer, influence mastery, sales training, leadership, personal development, Tony Robbins, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, resilience, business growth, self mastery, Jersey success stories, motivational podcast, Sean Martin podcast

They ride in leather. They look intimidating. But behind the image is something deeper. Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) is an international nonprofit of riders who stand guard for kids who’ve survived abuse — escorting them into courtrooms, surrounding them with love, and showing them they’re stronger than the people who tried to hurt them.On this episode of the REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin sits down in-studio with Scout (Vice President & New York State Secretary) and Uprizer (Public Relations Director/Secretary/Road Captain) from the B.A.C.A. Long Island Chapter, to reveal how bikers are flipping the script on stereotypes and using their presence to turn fear into courage.This episode explores:The origins of B.A.C.A. and why it was founded by a child therapist in 1995Breaking the biker stereotypeHow 30–40 bikers escorting a child into court changes everythingThe strict vetting and training process (FBI checks, 60+ modules, 1–1.5 year probation)Why B.A.C.A. is structured like a corporation but runs 100% on volunteersHow community, presence, and love are breaking cycles of abuse worldwideThis episode is about shattering stereotypes, standing up for the voiceless, and proving that presence can heal what pain tried to destroy.---🔗 Learn more about B.A.C.A.Website: https://bacaworld.orgInstagram: @bikersagainstchildabuseintl🔗 Connect with REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin/---🔥 About the Guests – B.A.C.A. Long Island ChapterScout is the Vice President of the B.A.C.A. Long Island Chapter and the newly appointed New York State Secretary for the organization. A U.S. Army veteran who served 7.5 years active duty and 7 years in the reserves, Scout has also spent 27 years at Connection Network, a nonprofit supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Previously, he served as acting director of a domestic violence organization. A lifelong servant-leader, Scout discovered a new mission in his 60s: empowering children to live without fear.Uprizer is the Public Relations Director, Secretary, and Road Captain of B.A.C.A. Long Island. Joining in 2019 before the pandemic, Uprizer has become a primary contact for multiple children, often going above and beyond — from late-night phone calls to personal mentorship. He embodies the B.A.C.A. creed: bikers are not here to intimidate, but to empower the most vulnerable by standing with them through their healing journey.Together, Scout and Uprizer represent how B.A.C.A. blends brotherhood, discipline, and compassion into a powerful force for child protection.---Tags & Keywords:Bikers Against Child Abuse, BACA Long Island, Scout BACA, Uprizer BACA, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, child abuse prevention, child advocacy, biker community, nonprofit Long Island, Emagine Awards, motorcycle club stereotypes, child trauma recovery, courtroom escorts, volunteer bikers, community impact, grassroots nonprofits, second chances, biker brotherhood, people who hate child abuse, child empowerment#REALMentorsPodcast #SeanMartin #BACA #BikersAgainstChildAbuse #ChildAdvocacy #BreakTheCycle #GuardiansOnWheels #PeopleWhoRide #StopChildAbuse

Saddiq Ali went from running “distribution” in high school — with 9th and 10th graders selling for him and pulling in $600 a day — to becoming a former NYPD officer who walked away from the badge to build something bigger: Drive Forward Academy, a Bronx-based training program that helps underserved and justice-impacted communities earn their CDL licenses and second chances.This episode explores:Running a school “distribution” network at 16 and making $600 a dayChoosing responsibility young, inspired by his younger brother and hustler momGoing from criminology degree → NYPD → walking away from the forceWhat cuffing a 16-year-old taught him about purpose and systemsSleeping in his car for a year while out-earning his NYPD salaryFrom fitness entrepreneur to dump trucks to Drive Forward AcademyHow DFA trains formerly incarcerated and underserved communities tuition-free (government funded)Why he believes mentorship + financial literacy + CDL training is the key to breaking cyclesBuilding a team, raising standards, and scaling to a $10M visionThis episode is about second chances, resilience, and building purpose-driven systems that transform lives. Saddiq’s journey will challenge you to rethink hustle, leadership, and what it really means to leave a legacy.---🔗 Connect with Saddiq AliInstagram: https://instagram.com/saddiq.alDrive Forward Academy: https://instagram.com/driveforwardacademyWebsite: https://driveforwardacademy.comFollow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin/---🔥 About the Guest – Saddiq AliSaddiq Ali (born Haleem Saddiq Livingston Jr.) is the Founder & CEO of Drive Forward Academy, a Bronx-based workforce training program providing CDL licenses, mentorship, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship education to underserved and justice-impacted communities.A former NYPD officer who served in the 41st and 43rd Precincts, Saddiq left the badge to become an entrepreneur and educator, building ventures in fitness (Rack-Squad Fitness), trucking (Trace Coalition Logistics), and logistics before launching Drive Forward Academy.He has already helped more than 150 participants earn their CDL permits and careers, with a mission to impact 10,000 lives by 2027 and grow into a $10M+ organization. Known for turning his early $600-a-day high school hustle into a lifelong drive, Saddiq now focuses on second chances, reentry programs, and economic mobility for Bronx and NYC communities.---Tags & Keywords:Saddiq Ali, Drive Forward Academy, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Bronx entrepreneur, NYPD stories, CDL training, second chance programs, resilience, mentorship, community impact, trucking business, $600 a day hustle, Bronx success stories, reentry programs NYC, Sean Martin podcast#SaddiqAli #REALMentorsPodcast #SeanMartin #DriveForwardAcademy #SecondChances #Entrepreneur #FormerNYPD #Resilience #Mentorship

Jenn Drummond went from surviving a car accident she shouldn’t have walked away from — to becoming the first woman in history to summit the Seven Second Summits, the second-highest peaks on each of the seven continents and some of the most dangerous climbs in the world.Her story is one of impossible odds transformed into record-breaking achievement. After police rebuilt her crash 50 different ways — every outcome ending in death but the real one — Jenn decided she would no longer wait for “someday.” She committed to living fully, showing her seven children what it means to chase the life you love, and proving that the biggest mountains aren’t just on a map.From building a multimillion-dollar financial services business in her twenties to writing goodbye letters in a storm at 16,000 feet, Jenn shares how she’s balanced motherhood, business, and extreme adventure while navigating fear, ego, and purpose. She reveals why she walked away from a second world record attempt, the lessons mountains teach that no boardroom can, and how surviving near-death has shaped every decision since.In this episode, they talk about:The car accident that should have killed her — and the moment she decided to start living nowGoing from no mountaineering experience to summiting the Seven Second SummitsBalancing risk, motherhood, and a purpose-driven missionWhy climbing the second-highest peaks is more dangerous than EverestHow business skills helped her survive the mountains (and vice versa)The near-death storm on Mount Logan where she wrote goodbye letters to her kidsWalking away from a second world record attempt after questioning her “why”Turning failure into momentum through quick wins and reframing lossesThe lessons mountains teach about leadership, resilience, and humilityWhy she believes showing your kids you love your life is the greatest giftThis episode is about courage, clarity, and the relentless pursuit of what matters most. Jenn’s story will make you rethink what’s possible — in the mountains and in your own life.🔗 Connect with Jenn DrummondWebsite: https://jenndrummond.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/thejenndrummond/LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jenn-drummond/🔗 Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin/🔥 About the Guest – Jenn DrummondJenn Drummond is a world record–holding mountaineer, speaker, author, podcast host, and mother of seven. She is the first woman in history to complete the Seven Second Summits — the second-highest peaks on each continent. After surviving a near-fatal car accident in 2018, Jenn committed to living fully and showing her children the power of resilience, courage, and chasing audacious goals. Her story has been featured on Good Morning America, Women’s Health, and in global media.Tags & Keywords:Jenn Drummond, Seven Second Summits, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, first woman to summit, mountaineering, world record climber, survival story, car accident survivor, motherhood, risk and reward, mountain climbing, Mount Logan storm, near death, resilience, leadership, Everest, Denali, K2, purpose-driven life, balancing family and ambition, mental toughness, adventure inspiration, business and mountains, personal growth, goal setting, overcoming fear, determination, summit success, life lessons from the mountains#JennDrummond #REALMentorsPodcast #SeanMartin #SevenSecondSummits #WorldRecord #SurvivorStory #Mountaineering #LifePurpose #Resilience #Courage #Adventure #Inspiration