The Jose Morales Podcast

On this episode of The Jose Morales Podcast, we sit down with Sacramento’s own breakout boxing sensation, Austin Lenehan, as he prepares to make his highly anticipated professional debut.Austin isn’t just any rising fighter he is a certified powerhouse with a legendary amateur resume. He is an International Champion, a multi-time national and international medalist, was ranked in the top 10 in the United States, and holds the historic title of the youngest fighter in history to compete in the IBA World Championships.But behind the accolades lies a deeply personal story of resilience.In this episode, Austin opens up about: Turning Tragedy into Triumph: The devastating loss of his father, an Elk Grove Police Officer, during his teenage years, and the intense anger that followed. Finding the Ring: How he channeled that grief and aggression into the sport of boxing to save his life. Making History: What it means to be the very first professional boxer to come entirely through Jose Morales' amateur system and the Warrior Program.This is a story about more than just fighting; it’s about survival, legacy, and the unbreakable bond between a coach and his fighter. Whether you are a die-hard boxing fan or just love an incredible story of overcoming adversity, you do not want to miss this one.

What does a fast-food giant, a boxing academy, and a high-end barber studio have in common? For Jorrell Velasquez, the answer is the "Warrior Spirit."In this episode, we sit down with Jorrell, a dedicated barber currently operating his own private studio, to discuss his journey toward opening his first brick-and-mortar shop. But this isn't just another business expansion story. Jorrell is on a mission to solve a major gap in the industry: barber development.Inspired by the tiered "Warrior Program" at Jose Morales Boxing Academy and the rigorous internal growth systems at In-N-Out Burger, Jorrell is implementing a revolutionary tier program for his future team. We dive deep into:• The Power of Tiers: How structured progression creates better craftsmen and more loyal employees.• The Boxing Influence: Lessons in discipline and grit learned from the ring and how they translate to the shop.• Business Differentiation: How to stop competing on price and start competing on systems and culture.• Finding a Mentor: Advice for those searching for guidance in a saturated market.Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a barber looking to level up, or someone searching for the blueprint to differentiate your business, Jorrell’s story offers a masterclass in intentional growth.Tune in to hear how Jorrell is cutting a new path in the industry—one tier at a time.

Step inside the ropes with Sachery Sam (3-0, 2 KOs), a dynamic young professional boxing prospect hailing from Stockton, California. Go beyond the fight stats as Sachery shares the personal story behind his undefeated record. Hear about his upbringing, the strength he draws from his faith, his dedicated amateur career, the invaluable guidance of being trained by his father, and his vision for conquering the professional boxing landscape.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Ali Benjamin, the driving force behind Benjamin's Boxing in San Ramon, California. Ali's journey is one of resilience and transformation. He shares his story of how boxing kept pulling him back, a constant thread in his life. We dive deep into his past, including a year spent in prison, and how that experience became a catalyst for change. Hear how he channeled his newfound motivation into building his own boxing gym, navigating the challenges and rewards of business ownership. We explore his unique coaching philosophy, the ins and outs of running a boxing gym, and his exciting new venture as a boxing matchmaker. This is a story of second chances, the power of boxing, and the unwavering spirit of one man determined to build a better future.

How does a Sacramento boxer go from local sensation to training with Freddy Roach? We sit down with "Sugar" Cain Sandoval (15-0, 13 KOs) to find out. Hear how this undefeated knockout artist earned his spot at the Wild Card Boxing Club. Cain details his upbringing, his powerful amateur career, and the pivotal moments that led him to Roach's gym. We explore the impact of training with a legend and what it means for Cain's future in the professional boxing world. Tune in for an exclusive look inside the journey of a rising star.

This week, we sit down with Jack Firenze, a real estate agent whose life story takes an unexpected turn. Jack grew up in an upper-middle-class environment, enjoying comforts and opportunities many only dream of. By his own admission, adversity was a stranger. Yet, beneath the surface of a seemingly charmed life, Jack struggled with a lack of confidence that held him back both personally and professionally. In this candid conversation, Jack reveals how he discovered the transformative power of boxing.He takes us on a journey from his initial trepidation and the daunting process of finding the right gym, to the grueling early days of training. Jack vividly describes the nerve-wracking first sparring sessions, the butterflies before his first competition, and the lessons learned in competitions. Far from the stereotypical image of a fighter with a troubled past, Jack's story is a testament to boxing's ability to build character, discipline, and resilience in anyone, regardless of background.He shares how the mental fortitude and self-assurance he gained in the ring translated into success in the competitive world of real estate. Jack's story is an inspiring reminder that true strength isn't about where you come from, but what you're willing to fight for. Join us as Jack Firenze reveals how boxing transformed him from a man lacking confidence to the driven and successful individual he is today.

This week, we're joined by Coach Abe, the driving force behind Roseville Boxing Academy. Abe sits down with Jose to share his inspiring story, from his own experiences in the ring to his journey of building and running a successful boxing gym. They delve into the gritty realities of competitive boxing, discussing the highs and lows, the dedication required, and the lessons learned. Abe offers invaluable insights into the world of coaching, exploring the challenges and rewards of shaping the next generation of fighters. They also discuss the pros and cons of coaching versus competing, offering a unique perspective for anyone considering a career in combat sports. This episode is packed with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a shared passion for the sweet science. Whether you're a seasoned boxer, a curious beginner, or just a fan of the sport, you won't want to miss this conversation with Coach Abe.

This week, we sit down with Mustafa Meekins, a powerful voice from Atlanta, Georgia, whose life story is a testament to the transformative power of boxing. Mustafa candidly shares his experiences with incarceration and how, during that time, he discovered the discipline and focus that boxing provided. He opens up about his journey from inmate to coach, detailing his commitment to giving back to his community. Mustafa discusses the importance of his inner-city gym and his passion for providing a safe haven for kids, steering them away from the streets and offering them a positive path forward. He also talks about the organic growth of his social media following, which has amplified his message and connected him with a wider audience. We delve into his recent appointment as head coach for the Atlanta Attack of Team Combat League and explore his vision for the future. Join us for an inspiring conversation about redemption, resilience, and the profound impact of boxing.

We're thrilled to kick off Season 5, and this season, we're taking a direct hit to the sweet science – boxing! For the past four seasons, we've explored a wide range of topics, but now, we're lacing up our gloves and stepping into the ring.  This season, Jose is making a 100% pivot, dedicating every episode to the world of boxing. Get ready for powerful conversations with boxing coaches, seasoned fighters, influential promoters, and individuals whose lives have been dramatically shaped by this incredible sport. Our goal? To illuminate every facet of boxing, from the grit and discipline to the triumphs and transformations. We're pulling back the curtain to show the world what boxing is truly about. So, whether you're a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, get ready to rumble because Season 5 of the Jose Morales Podcast is about to deliver a knockout!

In this episode Madeline “Grizzly” Days joins the show to share her story and how boxing has transformed her physically and mentally. What started as something her dad made her do turned her into a Nationally ranked boxer currently ranked #3 in the country along with being in the best shape of her life.

Matt Higgins businessman, investor, author and guest shark on Shark Tank joins The show to share his story from a little boy scrapping gum off tables at McDonalds to rebuilding the World Trade Center site, running NFL teams and Co Founder of a private investment firm. Matt shares his secrets to over coming adversity. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this episode Keren Atalor joins the show to share her story growing up in foster homes, staying positive through everything to working towards creating the life she dreamed of. Keren shares a lot of great insight with traveling. She has been to 25 countries, she talks about on how she did it and her favorite places she has been too.

In this episode Xavier Martinez (18-2)and Andy Vences (23-5-1) two boxers who had excellent professional careers share with us their journeys through the amateurs, to the professional ranks where both got deals with the biggest promotion companies in the business. They also talk about what they would have done different and what they plan to do in the future.

In this episode Pharmacist Phillip Nguyen joins the show. He shares his family journey, His upbringing and what brought him to start boxing. He talks about what boxing has done for him and what his future holds after boxing. 

In this episode assistant coach Raymond Romero - Stafford joins the show to share his upbringing and how boxing changed the trajectory of his life. He then shares how he ended up as a coach at Jose Morales Boxing Academy.

In this solo episode Jose talks about sports in America. The cost for them. Are they too expensive ? Should they be free or what is a solution for this problem ? Jose talks about him being the kid who couldn’t afford organized sports as a kid and now him being a business owner charging. Jose being on both sides of the spectrum has really good insights on this topic.

In this solo episode Jose talks about passing down our knowledge to the next person.

Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Bobby Jackson joins the show for his second time to talk about coaching. He has coached at every level in basketball from kids to the NBA. Jose and Bobby talk about what they have learned about coaching, what makes a good coach and what to look for in a coach. So many similarities in coaching and parenting that goes to show you how important sports are for children.

Ruben Torres a professional boxer fighting out of Jose Morales Boxing Academy joins the show to share his story of how boxing saved his life.

In this solo episode Jose shares what he has learned about communication. Tips on how to handle upset customers and how these same tips transfer over to other relationships. Jose also talks about his son’s Alonso Business fair experience.  

Taro Arai joins the show to share his families story the began in Japan. Through his families faith in god they were able to discover their purpose, this is where Mikuni was born. Taro shares Mikunis early struggles and how they were able to persevere through them.

After not recording in over six months Jose returns to talk about what happen that kept him away from podcasting. In this episode Jose shares what he learned about the adversities he faced in 2023.

In this solo episode Jose talks about why having momentum or creating momentum is such an important thing that can make a huge difference. Jose also gives updates on recent competitions. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this episode we are joined by Joel Muadimanga aka ATM. Joel Shares his story that began in Africa and continued through Europe, to the East Coast and eventually to Northern California. He talks about his career in the IT world and his experience in Jose Morales Boxing Academy in the past six years.  ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this weeks episode Jose’s high school friend David Hernandez joins the show to share how he found his passion in media to then create his own media company. David also talks about his upbringing being undocumented and how becoming more  spiritual has helped him become a better father and husband. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Auston Oliver CEO of Pain Killers Pub shares his inspiring story with us. He went from constantly moving around as a kid, to homeless, to completely changing his life around with a sixth grade level education. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Jose has gym member Harmen Sarai Join the show to talk about his experience in the gym. Harmen is a live testimony of the previous episode where Jose talks about not giving up and facing your personal doubts. Harmen explains how boxing has changed him in the short time he has done it. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Jose gives us updates on the teams previous competitions he goes into detail on the difference he sees in his athletes when the parents are supportive vs when they are not. He also talks about how he handles taking losses and what he preaches to his boxers about losing. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Jose has Gabe Lemon on the show. Gabe is the owner of G6 Athletics. He shares his story as a football player at San Diego State to becoming the leader he is today. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Jose shares his experience as the keynote speaker at the first annual CIF Sac-Joaquin Section section athletic administration summit. Jose also talks about committing to a goal full throttle versus just doing it lukewarm. He explains how luke warm commitment is self torture.----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this solo episode Jose gives update about his webinar, the day in the park and being booked to be a keynote speaker. The subject for this podcast is you wanting to do something because it is coming from you not because your being told to do it. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this solo episode Jose talks about setting goals that you have to work towards before quitting. He mentions how something this small can create a lifelong bad habit. 

In this solo episode Jose talks about where he has been since he has not released an episode in a few weeks. He talks about his son's first boxing match and how he was his coach and father, something that is tough to do. Jose also gives insight on his personal goals and where the origin of these goals came from.  ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

CEO of Kaleo fitness, Season 1 guest and Jose Morales Boxing Academy gym member returns to the show to share her process and growth she made since she was last on. She goes into detail about how she left her career job to follow her calling. She explains the process and transitions and what was the most difficult step to go from a 9 to 5 to running her own business. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

David Pena aka DP another badass Jose Morales Boxing Academy gym member joins the show to talk about how we all deserve peace regardless of our financial, relationship, or personal status. He explains what he did to find peace and become this happy husband and father. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Bobby Omoto joins the show. He was voted to be on by gym members. Bobby is a Stand Up comedian. He shares his story of how he got into comedy and how he was brought up. He mentions how after graduating from college he landed a great job where he didn't see himself spending his life. He felt like he could do more. Great story from a hilarious guy. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this week's episode Jose is solo to talk about looking at things in a positive way. He shares stories of how in his personal life he applied things thoughts because of boxing. He learned in boxing you can never go into a fight with doubt, he explains that we need to apply that with life. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

Ruben Ambriz is making his second appearance on the podcast to share his story on how learning about his family traumas and energies helped him overcome depression and anxiety. Both Jose and Ruben talk about things that were passed down from generations before. Ruben explains how we are energy and how we can better control our energies. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

Emma Schwartz joins Jose on this week's podcast to share her story on how boxing helped her heal and grow. She talks about her experiences in the gym, people she met. Also how focusing on her helped her clear the smoke and do things she has always wanted to do, like write her book Unsupervised Dilemma.----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this episode Chip Leroy joins the show to give us his story and what makes him want to give back to the community through coaching. He talks about his upbringing and about joining the military when he was older. He is now an assistant coach on Jose's coaching staff at the boxing academy. Get familiar with how all that evolved from a conversation. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

Antonio Reynoso joins the show to share his story of how his boxing journey began. He takes a dive into his roots and shares where his pride comes from. His parents' grit to never give up both immigrants from two different countries to meet in the US is Antonio's why. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this episode Jose talks about his trip in Cleveland for National qualifiers where Levi Knox was crowned a National Champion. Levi Shares how his first time competing at Nationals he lost because of his mindset and doubts in his head. They both talk about what they did to overcome the negative doubts and what he gained in his personal life after the tournament.  ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

Season 3 Episode 21 Guide or a Teacher In this solo episode Jose talks about his son's recent school change and the reasoning behind changing schools. Jose talks about becoming better guides not teachers. He explains the difference in the two and how one trains people to get used to taking orders and the other trains people to learn to figure things out. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this solo episode Jose gives an update about his son's Alonso's Ty Dye shirt fundraiser to buy himself an electric scooter. He mentioned why it was important to him for his son to learn this. Jose also brings up the importance of being confident in who you are. He mentions how not many people live who they truly are not because they can't but because of the lack of confidence. He mentions how being you can create a brand and also help your business more than you think. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this episode Free Lance Makeup Artist Erendira Aranzazu joins the show to share her journey of all the obstacles that were thrown at her. Beginning wit being bought to the US undocumented, growing up fast having to raise her younger siblings, dealing with a lost of a parent as a teen and to now recently having her daughter be diagnosed with cancer. Through everything she still maintains a smile on her face with a positive attitude. ---Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

In this solo episode Jose talks about a past student of his that he had the opportunity to meet and coach for two weeks before heading back to prison. He explains through his experiences and coaching relationships how he has witnessed first hand minds taking over people's actions. He explains how nothing can be done unless the person wants it done.

The encouragement expert Dwight Taylor SR joins the show to share his knowledge in communication and encouragement. He is #1 Amazon best selling Arthur, TED talker and award winning professional communicator. The Sacramento Kings named Dwight their Jr. NBA coach of the year. As a Student Success Coach for students throughout the country, he has the amazing opportunity to coach student-leaders each and every day. For his dedication to improving the lives of others and being a force for GOOD, Walmart honored him with their “Community Playmaker” award. This Bishop O’Dowd alum earned his Bachelors of Science Degree from California State University, Fresno.

In this solo episode Jose talks about the recent shooting in downtown Sacramento. He shares his condolences to all the families affected in this horrific incident. He takes the time to share his philosophy on how we can start communicating and listening more to understand each other. Jose talks about the world being so segregated now than ever before. He shares personal stories of how he put to test his philosophy of killing the negative energies with kindness. ----Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below!

New team addition Daniel Thomas joins the show. DT is currently working with Amy, Alex, Antonio and Angel on their strength and conditioning. DT has been a certified personal trainer since 2013 and the Head Speed and Conditioning coach for the Del Oro High School football program since 2016. He is certified as a Speed & Agility coach through National Sports Performance Association. 

In this episode Jose covers how school is not an nececity to be successful in life but how this is being misinterpreted by young teens now days to be lazy and not put effort in school. Jose mentions how he was a high school drop out but he was not just at home playing video games all day. He gives pointers to parents on what to do and look for. He also talks straight to our young teens and lets them now how to get your parents off your back.