Podcasts about GNC

Tom Reilly, president of VMI Sports, brings a perspective from all over the industry, and he’s got a lot of educational things to say. Two decades spent at GNC, then in natural food distribution at UNFI, and eventually as a purchasing director and director at Lone Star Distribution gave him an unusually complete map of how supplements actually move through the market. VMI grew out of that experience, launched as a house brand for Lone Star in 2012 before Tom took it full time in late 2015, and has been grinding ever since — bootstrapped, profitable, and growing every single year. In Episode #205 of the PricePlow Podcast, Mike and Ben sit down with Tom to cover the full arc: how VMI got started, what distribution taught him that brand founders usually learn the hard way, the evolution from specialty sports nutrition into grocery chains, the K-XR pre-workout legacy, the PEZ collaboration strategy, and some genuinely exciting teases for what’s coming in 2026, including two canned beverages that are neither energy drinks nor protein sodas. This is a good one, and Tom’s willingness to mentor others shines through, as we learned a lot in this one – and we guarantee you will too. Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for VMI Sports news alerts before diving in — you won’t want to miss those can reveals when they drop. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/tom-reilly-vmi-sports-205 Video: Tom Reilly of VMI Sports on Distribution, Grocery, PEZ, and What’s Next https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIkHJOngDPk Detailed Show Notes: Tom Reilly and VMI Sports (0:00) – Introductions (0:30) – Tom’s Background: GNC, UNFI, and Lone Star (3:00) – Building VMI from Within Lone Star (7:45) – Going Full Time: The 2015 Pivot (10:30) – Business Wisdom from Distribution (13:00) – Consumer Education and Supply Chain Reality (18:00) – Vision Meets Innovation: The VMI Name (23:15) – K-XR: Origins and the Miami Vice Flavor (25:00) – K-XR: Three Caffeines, Grocery, and the High-Stim Formula That Works (30:15) – Winning on the Grocery Shelf (33:30) – Packaging Evolution and the PEZ Aesthetic (36:00) – More on the PEZ Collaboration (41:15) – Pump & Flow: The Sleeper Hit with Hydronox (44:00) – Protolyte: Ahead of the Hydration Curve (47:30) – Acquisition, Retention, and Brand Philosophy (52:00) – Staying Independent: VMI’s Long Game (54:30) – Two Canned Beverages Coming in 2026 (57:30) – K-XR RTD and the Beverage Category Landscape (1:01:30) – Distribution Realities of Canned Beverage (1:05:00) – Wrap-Up and What’s Next Where to Follow and Learn More Connect with Tom Reilly and VMI Sports LinkedIn: Thomas Reilly LinkedIn: VMI Sports Instagram: @tom_vmisports (Tom Reilly) Instagram: @vmisports (VMI Sports) VMI Sports Website VMI Sports on PricePlo… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

What does it really mean to live with an unstoppable mindset when life keeps changing the rules? In this conversation, I had the privilege of talking with Linda MacKenzie, whose life story spans poverty, reinvention, creativity, faith, and deep personal responsibility. Linda grew up in the Bronx with very little, learned resilience early, and carried those lessons into a life that has included engineering, broadcasting, authorship, and decades of work around positivity, healing, and intuition. As we talked, we explored fear not as something that controls us, but as something that can guide us when we learn how to listen. We also discussed the importance of trusting your inner voice, choosing kindness even when it feels difficult, and staying grounded in truth rather than noise or fear. I believe this conversation offers something meaningful for anyone who wants to better understand themselves, live with greater purpose, and remember that an unstoppable mindset is built one choice at a time. Highlights: 00:47 – Learn how early poverty and cultural diversity shaped a deep respect for people and resilience.03:25 – Understand why looking at a person's heart matters more than labels or background.07:28 – Hear how lifelong learning and creativity fueled constant reinvention.09:56 – Discover why fear can be used as a signal instead of something to avoid.11:22 – Learn how positive thinking became the foundation for long-term impact.13:09 – Understand why truth and responsibility matter more than opinions.17:49 – Learn how intuition and inner voice guide better decisions.22:29 – Discover the two core fears that drive most human behavior.29:11 – Hear how natural healing and mindset work together over time.32:49 – Learn why giving back to the community creates balance and purpose.46:31 – Understand how positivity shapes collective consciousness.58:58 – Learn what it means to live with responsibility, kindness, and self-trust. About the Guest: Linda Mackenzie is the epitome of the multi- hyphenate! A former telecom engineer who designed worldwide communications networks for the airlines and Fortune 1000 companies, Mackenzie is a mainstay in pioneering entrepreneurial spirit. She launched one of the first used PC stores, a datacom consulting firm,a wholesale gift manufacturing company and was the former President of a mind- body supplement manufacturing corporation. Today she heads one of her proudest accomplishments to date, as President of CREATIVE HEALTH & SPIRIT-- a Manhattan Beach based media & publishing company started in 1995 and Founder of HealthyLife. net - All Positive Talk Radio which commenced in October, 2002. Linda Mackenzie is also an author, radio host, lecturer, audio/ TV/ film producer, screenwriter, Doctoral Clinical Hypnotherapist Candidate, a world- renown psychic who has appeared worldwide on hundreds of radio shows, almost all network and cable TV stations and in several award winning documentaries. Ways to connect with Linda**:** Social Media: Twitter: https:// twitter. com/ lindamackenzie; https:// twitter. com/ positiveradio Linked In: https:// www. linkedin. com/ in/ linda- mackenzie- 590649b/ Facebook: https:// www. facebook. com/ linda. mackenzie. 56 Instagram: https:// www. instagram. com/ healthyliferadio/ You Tube: https:// www. youtube. com/@ LindaMackenzie https:// www. youtube. com/@ healthyliferadio Websites: www. lindamackenzie. net, www. healthylife. net, www. hrnradio. com P. O. Box 385, Manhattan Beach, CA 90267 books@ lindamackenzie. net www. LindaMackenzie. net About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson  01:20 Well, hello, everyone, wherever you happen to be, I am Michael Hingson, and you are listening or watching unstoppable mindset. And today, we have a wonderful guest to talk with. She is an innovator by any standard. She's done a lot of different kinds things. She describes herself as a self as a multi hibernate, and I'm gonna let her explain some of that, but I think she's got some interesting and relevant stories to tell, and I'm really glad to have her here. I'd like you to meet Linda. MacKenzie, Linda, welcome to on top of a mindset. Linda MacKenzie  01:58 Well, thank you so much for having me. I'm really happy to be here Michael Hingson  02:02 and you're in Manhattan Beach, right, correct, yeah. So you're not all that far away from me from where I am, up in Victorville. So you know, we could probably open our windows and if we yelled loud enough, we could hear each other. But anyway, tell me about the early, early Linda, growing up and all some of that stuff. Well, that was kind Linda MacKenzie  02:22 of an interesting journey. You know, I was born in the Bronx. My mother was Bostonian, Irish, and my dad was Northern Italian. He had the red hair. My mother had the dark hair, and a typical Italian family, you know, and Irish family, they were constantly fighting, so I delved into books and ran to the church for peace and quiet and and many, many things like that. And we were very poor, you know, we had two dresses. I had two dresses a year. And we, you know, did, had to come home for lunch because we didn't have lunch money and stuff like that. Walked walk that mile to school, too much to school. And we did. I actually lived on the second highest point on the eastern seaboard and so but we grew up really fun. You know, we had when I was growing up in New York, one one street was Italian, the next one was Irish, and the blacks had a street, and the Japanese had a street, and the Koreans had a street, and the Germans had a street. And we all went to school together, and we had one common denominator. We were poor. So when I had sleepovers, I had every kind of person, and we just took each other for who we were and not what we were. And so that was a very nice thing growing up. And because we were poor, we got a lot of advantages. For example, our chorus was in high school, our chorus was taught by Metropolitan Opera singers. So we learned and got many things. And if you were very bright and understood that, we to try and get everything we could do, you know, and use it to improve yourself, it happened so and that's kind of what we did. Michael Hingson  04:14 Well, I think that's really cool, and it's great that you grew up in an environment where everyone understood that we're all part of the same world and and they got along. So you never really had to face a whole lot of or you see other people face a whole lot of that, the kinds of problems that we see in other parts of the world, that everyone worked out pretty well together. Linda MacKenzie  04:35 Yeah, I for us. We did, and I've learned to take people, but I always looked at the heart of a person. You know, I may never have remembered their name, but I would remember everything they said, and I could see their soul. So I I never, ever really saw color of skin or anything like that, and and so it was kind of an enigma for that. I mean, it was. An easy for me growing up. I mean, I had three attempted rapes before I was 11, you know, you had to learn street smarts. You know, you go to church and you got, you're passing the strip club with, you know, all the drunks trying to grab at you at eight years old, trying to pull you away. So, you know, so you learned real quick on what to do and what not to do, and I ended up getting married, put my ex husband through school. He became a biochemist, and went to college for two years, and then quit and put him through school, and then, you know, had a baby at, you know, is married at 19 and had a baby at 21 and, you know, was divorced at 27 and moved to California at well, divorced at 25 I guess, yeah, and then moved to California in 27 and just had a really interesting life. I've been through every strata society, from extremely poor to not so poor to middle class to nouveau riche to old money. I've even jet set. I've done it all so, great experience, no matter what. Did you ever get remarried? Yes, I did. I got I got married to a commodities broker that actually worked at the World Trade Center and in the Mercantile Exchange up there in the comics and the mercantile and, you know, as a matter of fact, there was one day because I was cute when I was, you know, 2728 and my husband was a broker on a floor trader, and he'd say, come in, as it's this particular time, onto the floor, and come meet me on the floor. Well, they didn't really have a lot of women on the floor. Yeah, back in those days. I mean, you know, back in the days where I grew up, my husband had to approve a bank account if I could have a savings account. So you could, you couldn't even, you know, have a credit card if you were a woman, you know. So I went through a lot of stuff. But anyway, I remember walking on the floor, and the whole exchange stopped because he told me wear a mini skirt. And I did. And he went in and did a whole big thing on trading gold, and made a lot of money that day. Walked on the exchange. That's what ended up happening. But Seth, you Michael Hingson  07:17 talked about, you just made me think of something you talked about, you saw people's hearts and so on, but you never remembered their names. I know for six years I worked up at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, which is where I've gotten all of my guide dogs. Because after September 11, one of the things they asked me if I come be their spokesperson. One of the things that we heard, and I never believed in until I saw it in action, is that most of the people at guide dogs know every single dog that goes through the campus bills. They'll never remember your names. They don't remember students names, but they remember the dogs, Linda MacKenzie  07:53 right, right? Well, they have intimate Well, I mean, I remembered my mom's name. Well, that's a start. Michael Hingson  08:04 It's just kind of funny, because, you know, the students and the trainers do get along well, but it's just so funny. How so many people up there would remember the dogs. I could go down the corridor going to the Veterinary Clinic, and people would come up and they go, Hi Rosell, or hi Africa. I can't quite remember your name, but it's so funny. That's great, you know, and can't argue with it. It's nice to be remembered somehow, even if it's for the dog. That's right, that's right. So did you just have two years of college, or did you ever finish? Linda MacKenzie  08:39 Yeah, no, I went back and I got a degree, and then I got grandfathered in, and I have a PhD in clinical hypnotherapy, and I have been recognized as a furthering the profession, and also by the American Board of hypnotherapy, they say that I'm the their most creative, prolific minds, which I said, Oh, good. I can use that in PR for at least 10 minutes? Yeah, at Michael Hingson  09:05 least it's something to say. Linda MacKenzie  09:07 Yeah, no, but I've always I was. My Autobiography is called Life is like Girl Scout badges. I'm kind of writing that so and it's because whenever I finish something or did something, you know, I would go on to something else, because I feel life is just a wonderful thing. So I've done many, many things I've done, you know, when I was 18, I won awards from the Metropolitan Museum of Art for my artwork, and I was offered a contract with Columbia Records to sing, but the promoter, the ME TOO movement was back then too, and I chose not to do it, so I didn't go with them, which is a funny thing, because now I'm 76 this year, and I am producing a children's record and next month, and I've written the songs and done the music, and we've got people from Off Broadway and different kinds of people coming together. For for a wonderful record for children on how to stop negative thought, to stay positive and what and how to transcend fear. So that's my project for this year. You know, so, but I've done so many things. I mean, I don't know where you just start. Michael Hingson  10:18 That's fine. Well, I hope to hear the record someday. Linda MacKenzie  10:22 Oh, you will. It's going to be so much fun. It's so much fun. Michael Hingson  10:26 I you know, you know who Neil sadaka is, yes, and he's got this song, Breaking up is hard to do. Well, it turns out that in 2009 he did a whole album for kids. The title song is waking up is hard to do. It's never it's cute. Somebody told me about it earlier this year, and I went and found it. It is a cute album, and it's the melodies are most all of his other songs, but the words are all kids related, and they're very clever. Linda MacKenzie  10:53 Well, this was a book that I wrote about 20 years ago, and and then I and somebody picked it up, and then they said, you need to write a script. And I said, Well, I don't know how to write a script, so I bought a book and I wrote a script, and they it was picked up while Ron Howard had it, and Hawk Koch, who did sliver, and Deborah Johnson, and it's been in play for 20 years. I mean, the last producers that had it was crazy, Rich Asians, and it was never produced, and every single time they wanted to produce it, so I said, You know what, I'm going to write the book myself. So I rewrote the book. My daughter's doing some education. She's a teacher, so she's doing some educational things so that the people in education can, you know, take the chapters and the characters and learn how to be positive from these things and and it's really kind of a fun thing, so I'm really excited about it. So I just said, I'm not going to wait for them. I'm going to do it because the kids need it now more than ever. They just get away from that social media and to really start connecting and to understand that it's not the witchcraft, it's not the, you know, the social media that, or you know what it is, is your own mind and your own self, and using the quality of your mind and understanding that and moving through it and having a Positive attitude that will get you so far in life, and that's what my goal is, is to just, you know, I've been doing that for almost, I don't know, 40 years. Is my whole goal was truth and positivity. So Well, there Michael Hingson  12:33 you go. By the way, since you have written books, I would appreciate it if you would email me and attach pictures of the book covers, because I'd love to put them out as part of the show notes. Linda MacKenzie  12:45 Okay, great. That would be great. I have four books out. I I had started a positive Talk Radio Network back in 2002 and you know, we're going to a lot of we go. We have 45 hosts. It's live. We do podcasts, and we've been doing podcasts since 2004 if you can believe that, and we were pioneer in internet radio and so and that's because I was an engineer for 18 years, and I was the first woman Datacom engineer in any airline in the world, and designed stuff for Continental Airlines and Western airlines and international airlines and things like that. And, you know, air to ground, radio and right go to the when you go to the airport, if you use computerized tickets, that was kind of my I participated in that with other wonderful people, and I worked with microwave and did all of that as matter of fact, I redesigned a computer center. So every year I've done something, you know, and I've been successful, and then I move on, you know. But the radio network is my longest one. That's 23 years. So we'll be 2024, years this year, which is a lot of years, but we're helping people, because it's all positive talk. So although we do have a news program, I tried to make it positive, but we report the old way, you know, with, you know, checking sources and really having too much opinion. And when you have an opinion, say it's your opinion, you know, not trying to which Michael Hingson  14:21 is fair, which is which is fair. Well, if you ever need a guest on the podcast or on any of the radio shows, just let me know. I'm always looking for opportunities to also be positive and and motivate people. So if Linda MacKenzie  14:33 we can, just have to go to the site, and there's a thing called all shows, and go through all of the hosts, because we have over 45 of them, and, you know, and so, and each one does 14:47 their own. Got it? What's the site? Linda MacKenzie  14:50 Again, it's called Healthy Life. Dot.net. It's or heal thy life.net. So it's healthy life or heal thy life. Same got it? Same thing. Saying different, different way of saying it and and you can listen 24/7, I don't do any apps. We are syndicated on 75 channels of distribution. So if you wanted to get on, tune in, or streama, or some of these other wonderful networks in Europe, you know, we go to 137 countries. So it's a pretty good network. And if you want to be happy and get learn things, you know it's just wonderful. We're starting some new shows that nobody's ever done, and I can do an exclusive here for you, if you want it, our network is going to be doing I've been following a while that there's certain kinds of classical music, right? That when you listen to it can reverse cancer, stop Alzheimer's, stop Parkinson's. And there are certain things at certain frequencies. And I have one of the greatest classical Taurus in the world, in my opinion, and he's going to be doing a show where people can listen to the music and then and help themselves heal right on air, I'm stupid by John Hopkins University. And, I mean, it's not just namby pamby or, you know, La La Land stuff. It's no, I'm saving for certain things. So it's it's really no one's doing that. So it's going to be really fun for me to do. Michael Hingson  16:27 Are you familiar with Joe fatale? No. He is a an individual who has done a lot with with sound to not only help people from a wealth standpoint, but also help them in terms of dealing with health. I've, I've been on a couple of his mailing lists, and he's had some interesting, some interesting things, and a couple of people who've worked with him and so on have been guests on unstoppable mindset. But it's an interesting guy, but definitely parallels a lot of what you're saying, certainly stuff, I have also believed, right? Linda MacKenzie  17:03 We've had Jonathan Goldman, who has written, He's a graduate of Berkeley School of Music, but he's been doing sound healing. It was an interesting story with him, and he's on our network, and he's been doing shows with us for over 20 years. And it was funny, he went to Tibet and he was loved the chants of the Tibetan monks. And he went over there, and he said, can I try that chant? And they said, No, that chant, you know, is like 10 years. You have to do it in 10 years, you know, you have to train for that. He goes, Can I try? And they said, Yes. And he got it perfectly. And so now the Tibetan monks go to train with him in Boulder, Colorado every year around June timeframe. So it's kind of a fun story. So he's been in sound healing for a long time. And there's a lot of different things that are true, but like today, you have to make sure that it resonates with you, because not everything that you're hearing is true, and people are bastardizing things. And the closer you are to the truth, and the closer that you and you can depend on your own truth meter, because everybody's got one, yeah. And if you depend on that and listen to just that, and if it tells you stop, I don't want to do this anymore, then you just go to that point, and then you will get the benefit from everything. Michael Hingson  18:25 One of my favorite things that I've talked about several times on the podcast when I talk to people about inner voices and their thoughts is I ask a number of people, did you used to play or do you play Trivial Pursuit? And when they say, Yes. One of the things I constantly ask people is, how often did somebody ask a question? Immediately you thought of an answer, but you went, Oh, that was just too easy. And so you think again, you come up with a different answer, but the first answer that you thought of was the correct one, which is absolutely all about listening to your inner voice and listening to correct what you're being told. Linda MacKenzie  19:00 That's right. You're 99% right if you listen the first time and don't use your mind to think. You know, the brain is divided into two kinds. You know, the left logical brain. What you need if you're crossing a street. I mean, I would like to know there's a car and step back, but the right side of the brain is where your creativity is, and I call the seat of soul. And what happens is, is that your creative side is the thing that heals you. Your left logical side is just like the monkey mind. And so what happens when you're doing hypnosis? What you're doing is you're getting the left brain to listen to a story, but you before you do it, you have an intention, and the intention is the right brain knows exactly what you need to do, but it's very kind, and it lets the left brain sit there, be in control, except at night, and you'll notice that if you're ill, and when you wake up in the morning, you feel, most times, a lot better. And that's reason is, is because the right side of the mind has. Has actually taken control right and the left side of the brain is sleeping, so your right side of the brain can absolutely heal you. And this is where your your gut feel comes from, too, is from the right side of the brain. And we are much more than we think we are. You know, we're just spiritual beings in a physical body, not a physical being in a you know, we're not just physical beings, you know, right? Michael Hingson  20:28 Well, and it all goes back to the spiritual and to the light. And absolutely is true. I know that I've, we've had on on this podcast, a number of Reiki Masters and other people, and we've had people who bring on singing musical bowls and so on. Linda MacKenzie  20:50 And it's interesting about that, because, you know, here in Japan, Reiki has 12 levels, but they're only taught three here, and they're never taught the level to where you protect yourself, because when you're out there in the universe and you're going into doing some of these things, everything exists, even a thought form exists. So you want to make sure that you're as protected as possible when you're doing these things right and so, but most of the people don't know, because they don't allow you to do that. And Reiki, there is a you're there in it, day in, day out. That's your career. You know, it's not just a pastime. And the Tibetan bowls are great. However, for me, when they do the regular way of doing it, it's like chalk on a chalkboard. For me, when they do it opposite and backwards, I'm in heaven. So it's really interesting how everybody's body is different. Every person is unique. And we have to understand that when we're looking at health or with mind or with body, we want to understand that we are so important. Each one of us is important. Never should be belittled or, you know, and treat everybody with kindness and love and and respect and truth Michael Hingson  22:06 exactly right. And I'd love to see a whole lot more of it than oftentimes we do see, but I know that that it's so important that we focus on doing things to protect ourselves. And one of the things that that I talk about is I wrote a book that was published last year called on stop or excuse me, called Live like a guide dog, true stories from a blind man and his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity and moving forward in faith. And the whole idea behind the book was that at the beginning of the pandemic, I realized that although I had escaped from the World Trade Center, and I had, in fact, known what to do, which was a mindset that clicked in when the emergency happened. I never really worked to teach other people that. So I wrote, live like a guide dog, and used lessons that I learned from all of my guide dogs and my wife's service dog, the lessons from those dogs to, in fact, learn how to deal with the different things that we have to deal with, and learn how to, in reality, control, protect ourselves and move forward in a positive and constructive way. In other words, really learning about the fact that you can control fear. Fear is not something that you you need to allow to overwhelm or, as I put it, blind you or paralyze you. The reality is that fear is a wonderful thing that you can use as a very powerful tool to help you function and succeed even in the most adverse circumstances possible. Linda MacKenzie  23:40 Well, I one of the songs on the record is called fear is fear is my friend, and it's a wonderful song, and it teaches you that fear. I did a big study for 20 years on fear, right? Because the only way that people can control you is through fear. Okay? If you don't have fear, no one can control you. No one, okay, yeah. Michael Hingson  24:08 Well, and just to interrupt for a quick sec, I would say it's not that you don't have fear, but you control it. Linda MacKenzie  24:16 Well, you overcome it. You Michael Hingson  24:17 exactly, right, exactly. You use it. You use it in a powerful, better way. Anyway, go ahead, right? Linda MacKenzie  24:23 Well, fear does, for me is that when fear comes in, it's, it's a wake up call, saying, yeah, look at this. What is it that you're fearful of, and what? Because the only way you can go through exactly right through it. And so when I did this study, it was very interesting, because I found that fear comes from two places. One is a fear of loss, and the other is a fear of death. When you fine tune fear all the way all the way all the way all the way down, it's fear of loss or fear of death. And it's funny, because we come in with nothing, we're leaving with nothing. The only thing we take. With us is the love we give and the love we get. That's it. And I've been on the other side and worked on the other side for the British government and all sorts of stuff, so I know that there's life after death, yeah. And so therefore there's really nothing to fear except to find out what the lesson fear is trying to teach you when you learn it, and you learn it all the way that lesson, you will never have to repeat it in your life again. And so fear is so, so important, and yet not to be feared. Don't fear Michael Hingson  25:35 don't fear it. No, as I said, it's a very powerful tool that can help in so many ways, right, which I think is really important. Well, after college, you started working at various things. What did you do after college? What was kind of your first endeavor? Linda MacKenzie  25:51 Well, I started with the New York telephone company, and I was called when I was selling touch tone telephones. They had just come out. Michael Hingson  26:01 Was it, was it called? Was it called 9x then? Or was it was that? Linda MacKenzie  26:05 Well, in New York, it was no. It was, yeah, that was the trade trade, yes, but it was New York telephone company, yeah. And then I went to work for the National radiology registry, and I designed a prison. When I moved to California, I started to really take off, and I designed a people coming out of prison weren't able to get jobs and and so the X ray they did teach in some prisons in Chino, as a matter of fact, how to become a x ray technician and and so, and an ultrasound wasn't even out back then, back in 77 so I started a prison program to it was a temporary agency so that when a doctor's office or a hospital, their x ray technicians didn't show up, they would call us, and then we would send somebody out, and then they would like the people we would send, and they would give them jobs. So the we so I tried to do that. And then I started working for the airlines and and I they said, Well, do you want to be a reservation person? I said, No. And they said, Well, do you want to be, you know, at the ticket counter agent? Yeah, no, no. He said, Do you want to be a flight attendant? I said, No. And they said, Well, what do you want to do? And I said, Put me in accounting at the mail desk. I want to see where the money goes, and then I'll figure out where I'm going to go. And they said, What? And I said, Just do it, you know. And I had made friends with someone, and so they gave me the job, and I kept moving. And every six months I'd find another error, a million dollar error, and this and this and this. And I finally worked my way up into computers and and then I was the very first woman in any as a data com engineer in any airline in the world. And I started doing a lot of things like that, and then went to work for Western airlines. And then I did worked for CETA, which is Society International Telecommunications aeronautic, which is a largest telecommunications company in the world, based in France and Switzerland. And then I from there, after my daughter graduated from college, I said, enough of this engineering. And so I quit, and I started a metaphysical company, and I got onto a lot of TV. I started my radio show in 1996 I started writing books, and I then from there, I was president of a dietary supplement manufacturing company for a while, and then I manufactured audio tapes and and our company, our vitamin company, was the first company to do mind body medicine. So we would have my partner, was Vice President from GNC, and we started a business in New York and in California. And what we did was we would do an arthritis formula, which she was great at formulation. She was one of the best in the biz. And I would do audio visualization tapes, so that when you were taking the formulas, you would be working on a body level, but the mind would, you would start helping to grow bone with the mind. So we were the first ones to do all these wonderful things for that. And we sold to Trader Joe's and house markets and all sorts of stuff. And then the big farmer came in, and then that was that, you know, they bought up almost all the vitamin companies, and then they started, you know, most of the vitamin companies out there aren't worth their salt, and they're not giving you good vitamins. So and then from there, I went into doing the radio network and which I've been doing, and then I stopped doing books. And then two years ago, I said, you know, I'm getting old, and if I want to get these books out, I better get them out. So I probably. Myself that I was going to do one a year. And for the last two years, I did those two new books, and then I was, I was going to do the children's book this year, but they say that April is the best time to release a children's book is that's when the stores and the education people are looking at it and getting towards summer and all that. Yeah, yeah. So I'm waiting until next year to release that, the album and stuff. But so this year I had to put together a new book, which I'm doing. I just, I'm almost finished with that, so I can release it in September, and that is going to be where it's, I think it's going to be called, help yourself heal with natural remedies or naturally, and it's going to have 40, or about 40 different illnesses, and all the natural medicine with it, plus in the back, it's going to have what is an amino acid, all these terms, so that people can understand. I like to do things that are complete and and I don't do anything if somebody has to get something from a book or a product or a thing that I do. Otherwise I won't do it, yeah, because I want it for everyone, you know. So, so anyways, I'm, I'm working on that as we 31:08 speak. Well, there you go. Well, Michael Hingson  31:11 so it'll be out in like, September or October. Linda MacKenzie  31:14 Yeah, exactly. I'm, I'm doing, I'm just about completed with it, and I just have about three or four chapters to go, but I keep finding new things I want to put in. For example, you know, since there is a censorship on the natural health sites, I'm going to include all of the wonderful health site, health natural health sites, so that people will have a reference so they don't have to worry about things, you know and where to get information. So it's going to be good. Michael Hingson  31:44 Well, when that book gets to the point where you have a book cover, I certainly want to put that in the show notes as well. Speaker 1  31:50 Okay, great. That'd be great. And Michael Hingson  31:53 maybe we can release this about the time the book is is made visible to the world, so that that'll help. Speaker 1  32:01 That'd be great, sure. Well, so what Michael Hingson  32:05 do you consider your profession today? Linda MacKenzie  32:09 Me, I'm my own profession. Me, the I don't have a profession. I have many hats that I'm wearing, right? So I mean tremendous amounts. I'm still running the radio network, and in a radio network, you need 21 individuals to do it, and there we have four, and I'm doing about, I don't know, 10 or 12 of the 21 things to do. So if you want to give me a hat for there, that's that. And then I'm an author and I'm doing the record, so I'm that, and I'm a radio host and, you know, and I give pictures. And the thing is, is that it's like, I'm not busy enough, but I love giving back to the community, because, you know, when you are there's six things you need in your life to be happy and balanced, right? And one of them is giving to the community. So I wasn't really before covid, I was doing a lot, but I wasn't really doing anything for my community. So what I did was I it took me four months. They had to do a homeland security check and a thumbprint and, you know, all sorts of stuff, to do guided meditation for healing for seniors. So we're going to be taking, and that's starting in two weeks, in August 8, and we're, we're going to be doing at the Senior Center in Redondo Beach and and so people will come, and we're going to work on different kinds of anti aging issues, like arthritis and, you know, macular degeneration and bones and diabetes and stuff, and every every two weeks, I'll be doing a guided meditation and helping people heal with that. So, so now I've got the community in and so I've got all my six pieces of my pie, and now I'm stable again. Michael Hingson  34:00 There you go. It's nice to have peace in the world, right? Yeah, it is. It is. So tell me, given all the things you've done, tell me a story or two about things that you've done, something very memorable that comes to mind. Linda MacKenzie  34:15 Oh, there's so many, I'm sure. I mean, because on top of that, you know, I've been a psychic since I'm eight years 34:21 old, right? So how did you discover that? How did Linda MacKenzie  34:25 you I saw God when I was eight? Okay, I'm very God based. I'm not from the planet Altair or the universe. I never took a course. I mean, I listened to God. God said, Jump. I said, Hi. How high and and that's what I do. But I've done I'm very respected in the community. I do a lot of, like, a lot of things for for that, there's, you know, I've done documentaries on it, and there's 17 different distinct psychic abilities. I have them all, and I don't do. Two of them, I don't do prophecy and I don't do trans mediumship, which means that an entity will jump into you and talk through you. And that happens because for a long time, I was on ABC, NBC, BBC, Japan TV. I worked with International Society for paranormal research, and we went over to London to investigate for the British government, you know, some of the Belgrave Hall, whether the ghost things were real or not. And one of the things that was interesting, because there's a lot of stories on those you know that are like, kind of titillating, or saying, Oh, what's going on? I was so basically, I tested my abilities for 37 years before I came out. So what I would do is say I was 16, and I would have pre Cognizant dreams. So I would write the dreams out. And what I would do is I would give them to my girlfriend after I wrote them, and then when one of the dreams would come true, I'd have a witness that was there with me, and I'd go over to her house, and I'd say, hey, Eileen, can you pull the dream with the roller coaster there? And she would pull it out. And then I said, read it. And then that way, I learned to decipher what was coming from God, what was coming from me. Because, you know, there's a lot of, you know, where if you don't know how to manipulate the energy. So it was a long, long time I, you know, by the time I was 15, I had read every metaphysical book in the New York Public Library, everyone, and so I took it very seriously. And I was, you know, busting psychics in New York at 21 and and then finally I just stopped, and I didn't come back out until I was about 37 and so when I went to London, they there was a, we had a Cora Derek. A Cora was the one of the leading psychics in London. And then we had Peter James, who was on sightings. And then we had me, and we three went over. And then we would go into they would take us individually to these different sites. And they would say, Okay, what do you feel, and what do you see? And so I would be taking, you know, they take me to these different things and, and I would see all these different things, and I would say it, and it turned out, I'm saying I'm not very comfortable here. I'm not comfortable here. And then we go to the next site, and I would tell them, Oh, I see a woman with a red hat. And I gave them names and places and dates and and it turned out that they were taking me on the path of Jack the Ripper, and to the point where I gave them new information on Jack the Ripper that they never had before. And so I have an ability that I can stand on a piece of ground, and I can go back to the beginning of time and tell you names and dates and places of who was there all the way back up. So there's a lot of things, and the government has asked me to work for them on many projects. They've been charting me since I'm 15 and so, and I just don't, I don't do and one, and I'm not going to say which, but one of the presidents of the United States, when they were in office, asked me to be their psychic, and I told them, I don't do politics, sports books or lottery tickets, and I turned them down. I mean, I was going to go to dinner with them, because Henry Kissinger was going to be my dinner partner at the Jonathan club, you know. And I thought he was an interesting guy, you know, whether you liked him or you didn't like him, he was an interesting guy. And I like to meet different people, because even if you it's not somebody you like, you need to understand the people so that you know how to handle them in a correct manner, you know. And so even if you don't like someone, you treat them with respect, and you learn you better, you understand, you know. So, so that's those are some stories. Michael Hingson  39:01 So, so let's, let's get to the reality of the world. Did you ever visit the Del Coronado hotel and talk to the ghost down there? Linda MacKenzie  39:08 Yes, oh, good. We did. We were one. We were the group that was doing it, that was filmed. We did the Queen Mary. We did. We were, if you saw that on television. It was probably me there. It wasn't as as haunted as some of the other places. I mean, you know, there was one place in England that was very interesting, so we did a documentary called ghost of England, and there was a one house. I don't remember the name of it, but there was a three generations that had died that were still in the house. The house was in the family for 300 years, and I released a little girl there that was eight, that was a, you know, a spirit there, and I released her to her mom. She had died of consumption. It was really interesting, because. Because they knew of each other, and it was, here's these three different generations, and they can see each other, and they know each other. So that was very interesting, because the Society for paranormal research actually did research into the phenomena of ghosts and the ghost at Belgrave Hall, we found we were very truthful. There was no ghost at Belgrave Hall, okay? I mean, it was explained away by phenomena that, you know, street lights and rain stuff. So we did a lot of that, but we wanted to make sure that everything that we did was in truth. And then another thing that we found was I did another documentary called ghost of New Orleans. And New Orleans is a very, very, very strange place. And I actually went back and they asked me to do a I did a 17 part interactive museum display for a paranormal Museum in New Orleans, and it was all teaching about psychic ability and how not to fear it. And it's not the devil's work. It's, you know, it's just a natural ability that we have. And I wanted people to understand that, but get the truth not from a lot of these people that are just talking that don't know, you know. So anyway, so we did in New Orleans. It was interesting, because the ghosts work together. We were all on different floors, and on each floor, they would give us papers, and they would, you know, newspapers in the morning, and the newspapers would end up in our rooms, in different places all the time, and it was just and we didn't move them. Nobody touched them. The room wasn't able to get in. So there's all sorts of phenomenon there that is just kind of interesting, you know, there. Michael Hingson  41:47 So just, does some of that have to do with voodoo and so on, but just because they're so prevalent down Linda MacKenzie  41:52 if you understand that everything exists, you have to none of that was the voodoo, because, very specific thing, yeah, and it's a specific practice, okay, and so it's not something that I would get into. Or, do you know? I mean, it's not we were, I was attacked several times there. I mean, we went into a we went into a house where there was an entity there that had committed 27 murders, and it was they were all buried in the backyard, and they never even knew until we told them about it, when he came after me on that and so you know, you you have to know what you're doing when you're Doing this, too, you know. So you know, but most ghosts, you just tell them to go away, or if you and sometimes you want to see them, you know, maybe it's your mom or your dad that you're missing. So one of the ways that you can do that is you can say, Hey, before you go to sleep, put a pen and a pencil by your bed, and just say, I would like to see you, dad tonight, and and then you say, I would like to remember that I saw you, yeah. And then when you get up in the morning, you just jot down little words or something, anything that you remember. And then after a while, you'll be able to get a rapport where you'll be able to start to remember, and then able to communicate. Michael Hingson  43:23 Yeah. And the reason I asked about the Dell, just because that's that is a a ghost I've, I've heard so much about, and a friendly ghost, as I understand it. So there's a woman, I guess what? She died in a room there. But it's one of the things that everybody talks about with the Dell all the time, of course. Linda MacKenzie  43:40 Well, one of the funniest things that happened was, well, there was two funny things. One was, you know, we were at the doing the the Comedy Store, the magic and magic club. And the Comedy Store is what that Tootsie shores place, anyway. So we were doing, doing the Comedy Store, and there's a ghost there that puts his hands up people's skirts. Well, that's nice. I went in there, and they didn't tell me, and all of a sudden, I'm going, what the heck. And I look there and I see and I and these, and they said, Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you. I said, Yeah, you didn't forget you wanted to catch that on camera. I said, Well, you did. So it's funny. It's a comedy Michael Hingson  44:28 story. I'm sure the ghost thought it was funny. Linda MacKenzie  44:30 Yeah, he did. I bet. So, yeah. So there's, there's, I have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of stories and and that's my book coming out in 2027 that's going to be called, and then what happened? Paranormal stories, believe it or not, you know. And those are going to have 40 stories in there on things that have happened to me, where people are going to say what? And you can believe it or not, that's coming Michael Hingson  44:58 up too. So do. Well, and that's that's ultimately it. People can decide to believe it or not, and a lot of people will poo, poo it. It doesn't change the reality of the situation, though, Linda MacKenzie  45:12 no, but you know, it's okay. Wherever you are is good, as long as you love one another, or at least try and be kind to one another. I think we can accomplish a lot just by doing that, yeah, and agree to disagree. You know, we we don't have to get upset if the other person has 100% doesn't agree with us. We have to just agree to disagree and not try and get heated. But the Michael Hingson  45:38 other, the other side of that, or the other part of that, not the other side, is that if you really take that, that tact, and you agree to disagree and you continue to converse, you never know what you're going to learn, as opposed to what we see so often now, somebody disagrees, and there's just this complete block wall that comes up. There's no discussion at all, and that's never a good thing to do. Linda MacKenzie  46:03 Well, this morning on my radio show was interesting. I went out with a girlfriend of mine, and she's really into these conspiracy theories, and I'm just not there, you know. So she was trying to put her point through and saying, you know, the collective consciousness has to understand this so we can do something about it. And I said, Yeah. I said, Well look, I said, Here's what I've decided. I said, I'm 76 if somebody else wants to do the activism for this kind of stuff, then at 50, go and do your thing. I said, but I think that when you start getting angry and you start getting heated, what's happening is the collective consciousness is there for everyone. We're all part of everything. We are part of everyone and everything. And so when you get upset, that's not helping the consciousness to make everything right. And if you get a group of people thinking the same thought, you can actually change consciousness and make the world better. So instead of sitting there, do something about it. Donate to something. But don't just sit there and talk about it, you know, actually do something about it and start making sure that you're staying positive about it, and what you can do positively for the situation. And don't get caught in the controversy because you're making more negative energy, yeah, and that never works, no. Positive always overcomes negative. So if you want something to happen, think positive, be buoyant, positive always overcomes negative. So you need to do that. Michael Hingson  47:39 And it is, it is so true, and so many people, you know, we're, we're in a world now where there's so much negativity. It's so unfortunate, because I think people miss out when they do that. And you're right, that's, it's not really part of the good, constructive collective consciousness, either, Linda MacKenzie  48:00 right, right? So we just have to, you know, people think that they can't do anything when things happen. And what I'm saying if you come from the premise that everything is energy, right? And so if you are just loving your spouse or loving your dog or being kind to people that energy is positive, right? And so sure you are doing something, because if we make a lot of positive energy in that collective consciousness, as above so below, right? So if we go ahead and do that, then it will drift down, and we will have a better, happier place, but being negative doesn't help you. Negative makes your immune system depressed. It gives you illness, and it's these are all proven things, so you might as well stay positive. And I don't mean Pollyanna, where you don't things, but you know, understand things and understand that there's a greater force in the back of things too, that, you know, it's not just all about us. You know, there is a for me. I believe that there's a God, and God is in control, and so we have to trust that to some degree. Michael Hingson  49:14 On September 11, and I wrote about this in my book thunder dog, and I've talked about it a few times here, when I was running away from tower two, because I was very close to it when it collapsed. The first thing I thought of as I started to run was, God, I can't believe that you got us out of a building just to have it fall on us. And immediately I heard in my head, as clearly as we're talking right now a voice that said, don't worry about what you can't control. Focus on running with Roselle, who is my guide dog, and the rest will take care of itself. And I immediately had this absolute sense of peace and calm and conviction that if I did that, I'd be fine. And I was so. I'm saying that in part to tell you I understand exactly what you're saying, and that was kind of perhaps one of my experiences. But the bottom line is that we need to learn to listen. And one of the things that I talk about and live like a guide dog is that so many people worry about every little thing that comes along. They are just worried about, how am I going to deal with this? Or the politicians are going to do this to me and that to me and everything else. And the reality is, we don't have control over any of that. What we have control over is how we deal with stuff. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't be aware of what's going on around us. But by the same token, if we worry about every little thing, and we don't really worry about the things over which we have some influence, we're only hurting ourselves. Linda MacKenzie  50:50 And it delays it, and it delays it, and it delays it. So you if you want things to get over quickly, learn to listen. And sometimes, you know, people would say, what is meditation? And I said, Well, it's kind of like prayer. You're listening to God's answers, you know. So I mean, there, I've never been alone, because I've always had a very strong connection with God. And as a matter of fact, it was very interesting. I'll tell you the story about the radio network, and basically, I had just been offered by Sci Fi Channel. They said, We love working with you. So would you take and there was a big 51:31 ghosty, a ghost Linda MacKenzie  51:36 show coming up. It was very big. And I said, No, I won't do that because it wasn't in truth, and you just want to make people cry. You want to feed off those emotions. That's not me. So Mary from sci fi said, You know what, Linda, we like working with you, so just go home and design a show for us, and we will do it. So I got home and I was so excited, because now I was going to make the big money, and I was going to get known and God comes in, and he goes, Linda. And I said, What? And he said, I want you to start a radio network. I said, What? And he says, Well, look. He goes, I gave you all the tools to do it. He goes, You were a data com engineer, you've been in radio. He goes, you're doing positive stuff. He goes, I want you to do a positive network. And I'm going, Wait a minute. I says, you know, I'm just getting this big opportunity, you know? And he goes, Well, listen, he goes, You know, when you're doing a lecture, now you're he goes, you get 1000 people coming to your lecture. He goes, so you're a point of light. He goes, think if you were to get 4045, people to do a radio network, all with positive thought. He goes, then you become a lighthouse. And I said, Okay. And I said, But what about this opportunity? And he goes, Well, you don't have to do it. And I said, well. I said, God is asking me, and I'm going to say, No, I'm not going to do that. I said, No, that's not going to happen. I said, and my Italian came in because I said, Okay, I'll do it. But when I get upstairs, you and I have it a sit down, and he just laughs. He thinks I'm funny so, and he has always been with me 100% of the time. And a lot of times he'll tell me, No, you can do this yourself. You do it, you know. And so I but I've been in a realm where I can go back and forth and I understand, you know. And I talk, you know, you can talk to anybody you want, sure, if you're if you're there, you know, if I need help from Einstein, I'll say, Hey, Uncle L, I need you what? And I go, ask God, Michael Hingson  53:43 yeah, it's it's interesting. It's so many people just belittle so much and but everyone has to make their own choices, and I don't have control over the the choices that people make. I can only talk about my experiences and what I do and so on, and people have to make up their own minds. Which is, which is the way it should be. I think that all of us are individuals that are given the opportunity to make choices, and we can decide how we want to proceed, and the time will come when we will have to defend our positions, or it will have all gone really well. And so the bottom line is that that we make the choices and we have to live by what happens as a result the consequences Linda MacKenzie  54:36 right, and we have to take to learn, to get take responsibility for our actions. You know, the songs on this album address all the major things that we need to do to stay positive and to have a happy life. And so it's not just for kids, it's for parents, and it's for grandparents, and it's for anyone who wants to listen. And it's it's going to be a good. Thing when I get this all done, and I'm it's one of them, my, one of my projects that I wanted to do for a lifetime. And once I get this done, I'll be happy. Michael Hingson  55:09 So well, you do a lot of different stuff. You must have a personal life too. How do you balance the two? Well, and what do you do in your personal life? Linda MacKenzie  55:20 Well, I love to exercise. I do. I love to cook. So once a month I do a psychic soiree, you know, so I do. I've been on a specific diet, you know, no dairy, no salt, no sugar, no effervescence, no since 1992 I don't go to medical doctors. I haven't been to a medical doctor since 1992 and I do everything with just herbs and exercise and getting enough sleep and stuff. So I cook for dinners, and I have a family, and we go out, and I have wonderful friends and bands that I follow in town, so we go out. And I'm actually even going out on a date next this coming Thursday night, which hasn't been for a long time, but so there's and then I do a lot of working with the senior centers and so and then do and I love watching dumb TV that I don't have to think. I like dumb Michael Hingson  56:23 I like dumb TV too. I know exactly what you mean when you say that. I have always been a fan, also, of old radio shows. So I love listening to all the old time radio shows from the 30s, 40s and 50s and so on. And some of them can make you think. But by the same token, the reality is that there's something to be said for just being able to escape, right? Linda MacKenzie  56:46 My latest thing is watching Chinese soap operas. They're 40 episodes long, and I love them. And even though they're subtitles, you get to see how they think and how a different kind of person, you know, culture thinks and does, and it's interesting that you can see how much the same they are as we you know, that they want the same things, they have the same values. You know, because we are all the same, and we have to understand that Michael Hingson  57:19 I know, one of the things that I've said many times, that I know, I'm sure, that a lot of people just think I'm crazy, but I point out that what happened on September 11 was not a religious war. It was a bunch of thugs who wanted to try to bend the world to their will. But that's not the the Islamic religion. The reality is that all of the religions, all the major religions, especially in the world, are always to get to God, and Far be it from me, to judge someone else because they happen to belong to a different religion or subscribe to something different than what I do. Linda MacKenzie  57:54 Well, it's interesting that I did a study on religion. As a matter of fact, on on our radio network we have James Bean, and he's been doing, he was on wisdom radio, so for 40 years, he's been doing spiritual awakenings, where he does comparative religions. And it's interesting that all of the religions have a, you know, a Jesus, you know, or a Mohammed, and they all die, and they all get resurrected in three days. Every single one of the religions has that. And if you and every single one of the religions has a version of the Our Father, Mm, hmm, almost exact words, because Jesus, you know, so, so you know, as far as respecting other religions. I think you have to too. But nothing should be overwhelming, you know, right? Like, oh, absolutely nothing should be overwhelming on because of religion. Like, I don't think that the girls should have to wear burkas because it's religious, right, you know. I think there's some things that you know are not exactly right. Michael Hingson  59:00 Well, you know, Tolstoy once said The biggest problem with Christianity is that people don't practice it. It's the same sort of That's right, concept. I agree with you. I don't think that girls and women should have to wear burkas or not be educated, or not be educated. Well, I wish, I really wish they would be educated, yeah. And so today, actually, yeah, oh, they do and and I think more and more people are beginning to realize it, but not enough yet, in some of these countries where they're willing to stand up and and say, We're not going to tolerate this anymore. Linda MacKenzie  59:32 But I hope about the money, though, unfortunately, so it's power and money, but when they understand that it's the love and kindness that's more important, and that's the only thing that you take with you. Yeah, maybe we can change this world, and I hope we do well. Michael Hingson  59:50 I agree with what you're saying, and I think that people, but people do need to, at some time, recognize that there's something. To be said for principle in the world too. 1:00:02 Yes, I agree. So what Michael Hingson  1:00:08 do you hope that people gain today from listening to your show? Linda MacKenzie  1:00:13 Well, today we did a really, kind of an interesting thing. It was called Linda's world. And once a month, at the end of the month, I don't even know what I'm going to say, and so I come on and I just talk, and we talk a little bit about current events, and then we talked about anti aging, and I do herb of the week, and I give you different kinds of information on that, and we did all these things on anti aging and what vitamins and different things that can help you doing it. And so it's really we do spirit, and we do mind, body, spirit. So you know, you can go to healthy life.net, and click on podcast on demand. There's two buttons at the top. One is Listen Live. You just click on that. We don't have an app. We don't track you. We just allow you to listen for free. And we also have a podcast network with 3200 podcasts from wonderful, wonderful people, some who have passed over, but now, but they're still there, and they have still valuable information called HR and podcasts.com that's 3200 free podcasts there that people can access as well. So you can go to the podcast on demand button, click that, and you'll find my face, or look for Linda McKenzie, and click on that, and there'll be, I think, three months of shows that you can listen to, and you can see all the different kinds of topics. And I'm usually booked six months in advance, because I've been doing radio for so long, there's a lot of people that really like to come in, so I hope that people get one idea, one thought that makes their life positive from the show. And hopefully I'm giving 60 of them, Michael Hingson  1:01:52 yeah, I hear exactly what you're saying. And you know, if I can inspire one person when I speak, if I can get people to think a little bit more about something, then I've done my job right, and I think that's the only way to do it. Well, if people want to reach out to you, what's the best way for them to contact you? Linda MacKenzie  1:02:14 Okay, well, you can reach me if you want to email me. It's Linda at Linda mckenzie.net and that's m, A, C, K, E, N, Z, I, E, all one word, and Linda mckenzie.net that's my website, or they can go through healthy life.net and get me through that way too. And of course, I'm on all of the social media sites as well, right? You know? And on my website is all my appearances. I go up to San Jose and do expos and talks. And, you know, just did, just came and finished a past life regression class. I think I'm going to be doing a gemstone healing class. And, you know, whatever strikes me for the moment is what I do. So you never know. So you go on there, and you know, they want me. I've done a TV show this year, and they want me to do another one and continue. I said, Well, kind of have to pay me, because I'm doing a lot of stuff, you know, you know, you have to give me a little bit more money if you want another one. So I gave them their one, first one, and it's called Live with Linda, and that you can reach on, it's on Roku and Amazon, and that was just last September, and it's live with Linda, and it's also on soul search.tv and you can get it there as well. Michael Hingson  1:03:30 So did the Sci Fi Channel ever come back to you anymore? Linda MacKenzie  1:03:33 No, no, just checking that time, you know, I wasn't young and cute anymore. Now cute. I'm still, Michael Hingson  1:03:40 yeah, you're cute. I believe it'd be cute. You're cute. I'm cute. Yeah. Well, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank you all for listening. I hope that you've learned something that you find there are relevant things that Linda has had to say. I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at Michael H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, I'd love to hear your thoughts about today, wherever you are experiencing the podcast. Podcast, please give us a five star rating. We value it, and we value your thoughts and your comments, and for all of you, and Linda you as well. If you know of anyone else who we ought to have as a guest on unstoppable mindset, please introduce us. We're always looking for more people to visit with and talk with. As I've said many times, I believe everyone has a story to tell and and we a

ASX 200 down 91 points to 8779 (-1.0%) as losses accelerated across Asia. 30-point rally into the close helped somewhat. South Korea was smashed over 4% on AI spending fears and gold and silver fell hard as did oil, as selling spilled over to other assets. Here the banks held up on defensive buying and CBA regained its crown as Number 1. Up 1.4%. The Big Bank Basket higher at $270.11 (0.7%). Other financials under some pressure, MQG falling 0.2% with QBE down 1.0% and SOL falling 2.6%. REITs dipped, GMG down 0.1% and SCG off 1.0%. Healthcare too under pressure, RMD down 1.3% and CSL dropping 2.4%. Tech once again skewered, WTC down 2.7% and TNE falling 0.9%. The All -Tech Index fell 1.2%.Resources bore the brunt of the selling, BHP down 2.3% as copper fell in Asia, RIO off 1.0% and the gold miners under serious pressure, although there were some signs of buying. NST dropped 8.1% and EVN down 5.6% with NEM falling 10.0%. Most arrested declines although failed to bounce. Base metals, copper and lithium stocks also under pressure, LYC down 0.9%, LTR falling 4.0% and MIN dropping 1.5%. Oil and gas stocks under pressure too as crude unravelled on more optimistic Trump tweets on Iran. WDS fell 1.8% and STO down 3.3%. Uranium stocks slid too, as shorts stepped back in.In corporate news, CTD founder and CEO resigned. The stock is still in a trading halt. GNC crashed 14.0% after a guidance update to 30% below consensus on EBITDA. KMD fell 5.2% despite an upbeat sales guidance release.On the economic front, all eyes on the RBA tomorrow. HSBC says it will be the first G10 country to raise rates. Asian markets fell as risk unwound. South Korea fell 4.3% amidst concerns about the sustainability of AI-related spending. US Futures weaker, Nasdaq down 1.3%, Dow down 347. 10-year yields steady at 4.82%.Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you. If you're looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.  Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

Welcome back to Episode #201 of the PricePlow Podcast! We’re thrilled to be joined by Brooks Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Louisville Brands, and Nate Frazier, Founder and CEO of Red Knot Capital and Managing Partner at Gym Snack. Long-time listeners will remember Nate from Episode #098 when he was COO at GNC. Today, he’s back to discuss an exciting new venture that’s filling a massive gap in the protein snack market. Gym Snack: Deliciously Savory High-Protein Snacks Gym Snack is tackling a problem many of us face: protein fatigue. The market is saturated with sweet, chewy bars and gummies, but where are the savory options? Brooks and Nate have created a crunchy, plant-based snack delivering 30 grams of protein per bag with clean ingredients and zero seed oils. Using pea protein as the foundation, they’ve launched three distinct flavors that satisfy both taste and macro goals. The discussion covers everything from manufacturing excellence and vegan certification to the impact of GLP-1 agonists on protein absorption and the critical importance of authenticity in today’s crowded supplement market. Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform, and sign up for Gym Snack news alerts before diving into this exciting conversation! https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/gym-snack-201 Video: Savory Protein Snacks That Actually Deliver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHw8X0eeb5g Detailed Show Notes: Brooks Thomas & Nate Frazier on Gym Snack’s Mission (0:00) – Introductions and Welcome (1:30) – Brooks’ Background and Louisville Brands’ Foundation (2:00) – What Makes Gym Snack Different (4:45) – Nate’s Vision and Industry Perspective (5:00) – The Problem Statement: Where Are the Savory Snacks? (7:00) – Development Journey: From Soy to Pea Protein (9:00) – Three Flavors: Jalapeno Cheddar, Cheddar, and Everything Bagel (9:45) – Manufacturing Excellence and Certifications (10:00) – Nutritional Profile: 30 Grams of Protein, 160-170 Calories Per Serving (12:00) – Clean Ingredient Philosophy: Real Food, Olive Oil, No Seed Oils (18:00) – Protein Fatigue and Market Saturation (25:00) – GLP-1 Agonists and Protein Absorption (35:00) – Authenticity in Branding and Competitive Differentiation (42:00) – Distribution Strategy and Pantry Program (50:00) – Future Flavor Innovation and Collaboration (1:00:00) – The Louisville Manufacturing Advantage (1:09:00) – Where to Sample and Purchase (1:10:00) – Where to Follow and Connect Where to Find Brooks Thomas, Nate Frazier, and Gym Snack Brooks Thomas on LinkedIn Nate Frazier on LinkedIn and Instagram Louisville Brands on LinkedIn Gym Snack on LinkedIn and Instagram Learn more about Gym Snack…… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

Ad Free Episodes: https://bit.ly/3uTxGYw For one night and one night only, Brooke calls an emergency Obsessed episode with Tristan to talk about the magic of Heated Rivalry. They talk about the importance of tension, touching toes at the cottage, and sharing tuna melts together. Barebells Protein Bars are available at retailers like Target, Walmart, Vitamin Shoppe, and GNC or use code OBSESSED for 15% at https://barebells.com! If you listen on Apple Podcasts, go to: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/obsessed-with-brooke-averick/id1697047751 Obsessed IG: https://www.instagram.com/obsessedwithbrooke Obsessed TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@obsessedwithbrooke TMG Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tinymeatgang TMG Studios IG: https://www.instagram.com/realtmgstudios/ TMG Studios Twitter: https://twitter.com/realtmgstudios BROOKE https://www.instagram.com/brookeaverick https://twitter.com/ladyefron https://www.tiktok.com/@ladyefron Hosted by Brooke Averick, Created by TMG Studios and Brooke Averick, and Produced by TMG Studios and Brooke Averick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Bo Royal, a former Fortune 500 marketing executive who successfully transitioned to legal marketing. Bo shares how he quadrupled online case volume at a major Philadelphia injury law firm by implementing data-driven strategies and shifting focus from traditional to digital channels. He discusses the importance of tracking, intake systems, and operational readiness for law firms, and explains how his company, Pareto Legal, helps firms build robust case pipelines. The episode offers practical insights for maximizing marketing efficiency and leveraging digital tools to drive sustainable law firm growth.Bo Royal is a former Fortune 500 agency exec who spent over a decade scaling online revenues for iconic brands like Calvin Klein, GNC, Sallie Mae, and Kate Spade New York. After leaving the corporate grind, he took the helm at a top Philadelphia injury law firm, supercharging its online case volume by fourfold through data-driven decisions and relentless focus. His journey from high-stakes agency work to legal marketing quickly established him as an industry expert with a knack for results.Now, as an advisory board member at that very firm—thriving with eight-figure revenues and 12 office locations across Pennsylvania—Bo drives innovation at Pareto Legal. His team empowers small and medium-sized law firms to secure seven- to eight-figure case pipelines by leveraging real-world experience and smart digital strategies. When he's not optimizing campaigns, Bo shares his marketing insights on podcasts and uses his success to give back to the community.Bo's Transition from Corporate to Legal Marketing (00:02:05) Initial Surprises in Legal Marketing (00:03:59) Diagnosing and Transforming the Law Firm's Marketing (00:05:49) Shifting from Traditional to Digital Marketing (00:08:35)Earned vs. Unearned Case Pipeline (00:10:41) OTT and Modern Advertising Explained (00:12:13) Importance of Data-Driven Decision Making (00:13:19)Implementing a Culture of Data and Change (00:15:45) Pareto Legal's Differentiated Approach (00:18:22) Assessing Firm Readiness for Digital Marketing (00:22:06) Vanity Metrics vs. Real Results (00:25:39) Holistic Marketing Efficiency and Attribution (00:27:52) The Hawthorne Effect and Tracking Benefits (00:32:06) Current Trends and AI in Legal Marketing (00:33:49)You can find The Free Lawyer Assessment here- https://www.garymiles.net/the-free-lawyer-assessmentWould you like to learn what it looks like to become a truly Free Lawyer? You can schedule a complimentary call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-callWould you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

On the final episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming for 2025, GNC writer-in-chief Dave Briggs and Covers gaming industry senior correspondent Geoff Zochodne were our guests for a media roundtable on the year that's been, and what lies ahead for 2026. The conversation included a record revenue monthfor Ontario's legal operators in November with non-adjusted gross gaming revenue surpassing $400 million for the first time since the province's open, regulated market opened its doors in April 2022. Zochodne and Briggs provided their thoughts on Ontario, the province's Court of Appeal decision earlier this year around liquidity and what should be top of mind for iGaming Ontario boss Joseph Hillier and Co. going into 2026. Of course, there's a segment devoted to Alberta and the provincial government's plans to launch its expanded legal gaming marketplace next year. Our two media guests chimed in on the industry's continued efforts around responsible gaming, Ontario Premier Doug Ford's latest plan to turn Niagara Falls into the “Vegas of the North” and a discussion around changes to the Canadian horse racing industry – including Great Canadian Entertainment's decision earlier this month to close historic Hastings Park. Finally, Briggs and Zochodne identified some storylines to follow over the next 12 months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Lunch with Haley,  Brad Bialy sits down to reflect on the biggest lessons, mindset shifts, and industry insights he gained from a transformative year in staffing, recruiting, leadership, and personal growth. About the Guest Brad Bialy is a senior marketing strategist at Haley Marketing and the host of both Take the Stage and InSights. With seven years of podcasting and thousands of conversations with staffing leaders, he brings a rare blend of industry expertise, curiosity, and real-world experience. Key Takeaways “The storm isn't coming — it's already here.” “Systems create repeatable wins.” “Happiness lives in the process, not the milestone.” “Curiosity builds relationships; pressure breaks them.” “Your service must live up to your story.” Timestamps [00:27] Warming up the room and the question that sparks reflection [02:14] Why 2025 was a “hell of a year” for staffing [05:13] Inside the threats creating a perfect storm for staffing [13:23] Competing with Amazon, DoorDash, and Spotify [18:44] The happiness trap and the marathon moment [24:58] Topical authority and why content density wins [28:41] Systems over goals: the Uber ride epiphany [31:37] Why you're not reaching prospects nearly enough [36:29] Personalized automation and the GNC postcard lesson [38:31] Stop selling like the '80s [41:09] Stay curious: winning the relationship, not the deal [55:21] The Gen Z wake-up call and the danger of declining satisfaction About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He's the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry's leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartWhat's up Rock Nation! Today we're joined by Ross McKay, second-time founder, brand architect, and the mind behind Cadence, the $2 sports drink built like a luxury brand.Ross previously built Daring Foods into a nine-figure company, and now he's moving faster, smarter, and with way more edge. In this episode, he shares how to build a brand that people brag about, why speed beats capital, and what it really takes to scale from startup to shelves in Target, Walmart, and GNC.We get into why most founders focus on the wrong metrics, how to stand out in crowded categories, and why Ross thinks distribution doesn't matter, velocity does. You'll also hear how he hires, how he sets boundaries, and why the secret to Cadence's success is obsession-level execution.Check out Ross here:https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@RossMackay1⁩  https://www.instagram.com/rossmackay/https://www.instagram.com/cadence/SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportKostas' Lightroom Presetshttps://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreeceCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKTimestamps: 0:00 – Intro1:14 – What Ross Is Doing Differently This Time2:50 – The Power of Saying No3:54 – Raising $150M and Losing Control4:37 – How He Kept Control at Cadence6:40 – Why He Only Raises From People He Likes7:28 – Branding That Breaks Through the Noise11:00 – Brand or Product: What Comes First?12:20 – 600 Runners Showed Up for Day One14:04 – Personal Brand Kickstart14:29 – How Ross & George Launched With $240K16:42 – Beverage vs Powder: Why They Went Hard Mode18:57 – The Exact Moment They Knew It Was Working21:11 – The Secret to Getting Repeat Customers22:53 – How Cadence Became a Fridge Trophy26:13 – Making Money at $2.50 a Can27:54 – Competing With Gatorade (Not Hipster Brands)28:44 – Why Store Count Is a Vanity Metric30:28 – Ross's Speed Strategy for Beating Big Brands31:37 – Can You Stay Fast While Scaling?34:03 – His First Hires & Who He Looks For35:32 – Where His Relentless Drive Comes From37:43 – Building a Billion-Dollar Brand With Boundaries41:06 – Never Too High, Never Too Low41:56 – How Cadence Is Built to Scale Fast44:30 – The Real Game Behind Shelf Placement46:04 – What Happens When You Flop in Retail47:52 – Using Sales Data to Break Into Big Stores50:05 – His Pitch to Take Over Retail51:49 – Why Cadence Isn't Just a Trendy Brand52:30 – Going Head-to-Head With Beverage Giants54:01 – How He Gets Retailers to Say Yes55:16 – Outselling 50 Brands at GNC56:22 – Why Every Retailer Gets a Unique Offer58:55 – The $2 Luxury Philosophy1:01:55 – What Your Fridge Says About You1:03:29 – How Ross Obsesses Over the Consumer1:07:20 – Why Cadence Doesn't White Label Anything1:08:43 – This Can Is Their Best Marketing Tool1:13:28 – The Truth About Distribution Obsession1:15:51 – The Only KPI That Matters in Retail1:17:57 – You'll Never Beat Big Brands on Capital1:21:41 – How He Makes Million-Dollar Decisions Fast1:23:52 – Speed vs Scale: Keeping the Culture Intact1:26:29 – How He Handles Pressure in High Stakes1:28:24 – Why Ross Is Gunning for a Billion in Revenue1:30:08 – Leading When Everything's on Fire1:32:03 – Real Talk for Founders Building from Scratch1:33:06 – Post Pod DebriefIf you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok:Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

Kenneth Hochhauser is Partner and Head of Data and Analytics at RTL. His background includes roles as a retail executive at Macy's and GNC and as a small business and economic development officer for the City of New York. He has advised both tenants and landlords on site selection, trade area analysis, and retail strategy, including introducing Chipotle to the New York metro market and representing Duxiana nationally. His past assignments span major projects such as Brookfield Place, Trump Place, and Columbia University's Manhattanville and Morningside campuses.(02:39) - Ken's Journey(04:59) - Retail Market Trends(06:05) - Retail vs. Office Innovation(07:53) - Shopping Trends and Retail Insights(08:31) - Retail Challenges in Manhattan(10:05) - Retail's Historical Context and Future(12:14) - Tenant Preferences(17:33) - Experiential Retail & Unique Locations(20:56) - Non-Traditional Retail (23:21) - Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2026: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on September 22nd-24th, 2026. As a friend of Tangent, you can save $300 on your All-Access pass(28:11) - Retail Tech & Data Utilization(34:29) - Location Indicators & Retail Expansion(38:29) - Collaboration Superpower: an economist(40:08) - US Gov. Shutdown Impact

Most of us want to get everything we need from whole foods, exercise, and good sleep… but modern life doesn't make that easy. That's where supplements come in — and who better to talk about it than the  innovators behind GNC? In this exclusive interview, we sit down with GNC's CEO and Head Merchant to explore why the company believes supplements aren't just optional anymore—they're essential for extending your health span. We'll cover what makes GNC's products stand out in a crowded marketplace, their rigorous 150-point safety and efficacy checklist, and how cutting-edge science is shaping the next generation of nutrients for personalized wellness—from creatine and collagen to probiotics and magnesium.Special Guest: Michael Costello, CEO of GNC and Rachel Jones, CSO and HeadMerchant at GNC

Even when everyone (including myself) thought it might be finished…could MusclePharm actually be showing signs of life again? But for those unfamiliar with the up-to-date FitLife Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FTLF) portfolio configuration…due to the acquisition of Irwin Naturals, which officially closed on August 8, 2025, it now sells more than 500 SKUs across 16 supplement brands, each with a slightly different product portfolio and sales channel strategy. But throughout this content, you'll hear me categorize the FitLife Brands portfolio into three segments: Legacy FitLife Brands, MusclePharm, and Irwin Naturals. In the third quarter of 2025, the consolidated FitLife Brands portfolio generated revenue of $23.5 million...which was up 47% YoY. But while the consolidated FitLife Brands portfolio comparative growth rates appear extremely strong, it's important to remember that those reported results were greatly impacted by the Irwin Naturals deal. But in my latest first principles content piece, I'll share a detailed collection of segment-level updates that I believe are important when trying to understand the FitLife Brands story. These include revenue diversification strategies within the legacy FitLife Brands that has dramatically lowered "key customer risk" with the specialty retailer GNC and how even the “oldest” supplement brands can still generate revenue growth along with being the strongest contributor to companywide net profitability. But while there's strategic initiatives going on that involve the legacy FitLife Brands and Mimi's Rock segments, the most intriguing activity within FitLife Brands is also currently its smallest segment (i.e. MusclePharm). In the third quarter of 2025, MusclePharm segment revenue was just under $3.8 million...which increased 55% YoY. But you're probably hearing that…thinking to yourself “incredible results,” right? And trust me…I want nothing more than to give Dayton Judd (and the FitLife Brands leadership team) a huge virtual “pat on the back,” but there's A LOT of devilish things happening in the details! You probably think I'm being overly dramatic, especially when (in the third quarter of 2025) MusclePharm wholesale revenue more than doubled YoY…and I've stated previously “the biggest opportunities will come from B2B activity,” right? However, FitLife Brands wrongfully assuming MusclePharm still had enough distinctiveness in the marketplace to justify its current strategic gameplan (that quickly expanded product formats within the protein category) was a huge miscalculation…and undoubtedly exposed its “above- and below-the-line” weaknesses even more prominently. Though, maybe the newest FitLife Brands acquisition can indirectly help alleviate these MusclePharm challenges? FitLife Brands got a boost in human capital from Irwin Naturals possessing strength in routes-to-market that are beneficial to selling MusclePharm protein bars and RTD protein beverages. And while all of this seems ideal…don't get trapped into a state of exuberance thinking 1+1=3.

What if the key to scaling to $250 million wasn't working harder, but working less? In this episode, George Rivera, founder of multiple 7- and 8-figure businesses and creator of the Buy Back Time Formula™, shares his 30-year entrepreneurial journey from a high school supplement business to a $250 million empire. Through the devastating loss of his father to cancer and the life-changing deathbed wisdom "don't miss Leo's games, I missed too many of yours," George discovered that the path to freedom wasn't grinding 100-hour weeks but systematically buying back his time. His mission? Helping entrepreneurs escape the "job with overhead" trap so they can scale their businesses while being present for the moments that matter most with their families. George reflects on how his father's final words arrived at exactly the right moment to transform his entire approach to business, and why buying back your time isn't just about making more money but about reclaiming your life before it's too late.   [00:04:19] The 30-Year Journey Begins Started first business in 1995 at age 17-18 while still in high school Fell for Don Lapre's late-night infomercial (tiny apartment, classified ads, rags to riches) Bought the course, took action, made zero dollars, but the entrepreneur seed was planted Parents thought it was a scam, but George kept pursuing home-based business opportunities [00:05:22] The First Real Business: Supplements & The Internet Summer 1995: Started supplement business after seeing space ads in small business magazines Connected two trends: GNC's explosive growth + the internet's rising adoption First online business launched, didn't go well initially 2-3 years into college: Making as much as doctors while studying pre-med [00:06:46] The Weight Loss Empire & Early Lessons Dominated the keyword "weight loss" on GoTo.com for just 50 cents per click Built and eventually ran the first business into the ground, couldn't keep up with orders Lesson #1: Take your time, build infrastructure so you can scale appropriately Built Google AdSense business to seven figures by 2005-2006 [00:08:31] The Digital Marketing Agency Started agency helping clients with BSLs and one-click upsells in their infancy He was the bottleneck, quality controlling everything, no proper org chart Built a job with overhead, not a business [00:10:44] The $250 Million Supplement Company 10 years ago: Started supplement company with $5,000 seed money But George was working 100+ hours per week, burning midnight oil constantly Would pass out at his desk or stumble into bed, wake up 3-4 hours later and repeat "I was like a zombie for a good stretch of a couple of years" Money was great, but life was not enjoyable [00:14:21] The Buy Back Time Formula Birth Around 2018-2019: Applied systematic approach to buy back his time Removed himself as the bottleneck Implemented proper SOPs, documentation, training, and later AI Income went UP because he was no longer the bottleneck Bought back dozens of hours per week [00:16:41] Living the Freedom Lifestyle Friends noticed: "You're in Germany driving the Nürburgring, business still running, how?" 6-7 different people asked him to teach this Held workshop at his home to test if the marketplace wanted it Amazing response—decided to package it officially as Buy Back Time Formula [00:18:05] The Father-Son Story That Changed Everything The pivotal relationship that transformed George's entire approach 2015: George's father diagnosed with cancer in February Six months later, he was gone. "That's just how fast cancer can take you" Dad broke the news when George had just adopted his newborn son Leo George spent every day with his dad, driving 1.5 hours each way [00:20:18] The Deathbed Wisdom The million-dollar moment that changed everything Father's last words: "Don't miss Leo's games. I missed too many of yours." Hit George "like a ton of bricks" Brought closure—his dad acknowledged missing George's childhood games George realized: "I'm on pace to replicate the same mistake" [00:22:03] What Really Matters at the End Father never said on his deathbed: "I wish I'd seen one more patient" Never: "I wish I'd closed one more property" (he was in real estate too) Never: "I wish I'd taken that client call or upsold them" Only: "Are the people I love around me? I just need them right now" [00:22:52] Training Your Replacement Need focused attention on him or he'll get influence from somewhere else 2015-2018: George knew he had the problem but didn't have the solution yet It took 3 years for the solution to birth itself into something actionable [00:31:37] The 100-Hour Grind Reality Was working 80-100+ hours per week Weekends meant LESS interruptions, so worked even HARDER Wasn't healthy for mind, wasn't healthy for family Not a sustainable long-term strategy [00:32:33] Life After Buying Back Time Real freedom looks like: Now works 20-30 hours per week when in creation mode Can work as little as 5 hours per week when traveling Can turn phone off and check back tomorrow, nothing falls apart If something breaks, team handles it without him [00:33:08] God's Purpose Realized "I just feel like it's God's purpose of putting me on the planet to help share this" Secondary benefit: Make more money and nice lifestyle Primary benefit: Being with family for the moments that matter Non-negotiable: Not missing games, graduations, or special moments [00:35:42] Northern Michigan & Homeschool Freedom Bought property in Northern Michigan, turned it into successful Airbnb Teaching son how to negotiate real estate deals and assess properties Son is homeschooled, gets to tag along on their adventures Ultimate flexibility: "We're studying the Washington Monument this week. Let's go see it tomorrow" [00:37:20] The Buy Back Time Formula Available at buybacktimeformula.com Everyone's unique—different reasons for wanting to buy back time Some love working but need to cast vision instead of being in the weeds Focus on high-dollar things that move the needle Structure and confidence from someone who's been at it for 30 years KEY QUOTES "I was like a zombie for a good stretch of a couple of years. Money was great, income was great, but life was not enjoyable." - George Rivera "It's never too late to say, 'Hey, this needs to change 'cause I've already missed moments I'll never get back, but at least I did something about it.' The longer you wait, those missed moments rack up. We wanna be the one that experiences those moments. Not miss 'em." - George Rivera "I was inundated and I didn't know how to properly remove myself as being the bottleneck on a lot of things." - George Rivera CONNECT WITH GEORGE RIVERA

In this insightful episode, John Dick and Michael Costello delve into the evolving landscape of health and wellness. They discuss the decline in obesity rates, the rise of strength training, and the impact of vitamins and supplements. Michael shares his journey at GNC and the importance of consumer focus and personalization in retail. The conversation also touches on brand loyalty, the role of science in consumer decisions, and the future of health and wellness.➡️ Answer questions from the end of the show here.Keywords:Health trends, Obesity decline, Strength training, Supplements, GNC, Consumer focus, Personalization, Retail strategy, Brand loyalty, Science skepticismTakeaways:The decline in obesity rates is linked to increased strength training and supplement use.Strength training is crucial for longevity, weight management, and better sleep.The younger generation is more health-conscious and informed about supplements.GNC's strategy focuses on consumer personalization and education.GLP-1s are seen as an opportunity rather than a threat in weight management.Retail has undergone significant changes, requiring adaptability and consumer focus.GNC emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer needs and providing tailored solutions.The role of science and evidence in product selection at GNC.The impact of social media on health trends and consumer behavior.The importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the retail industry.

In this powerful episode of Unstoppable Mindset, I sit down with Raheem Lindsey, a man whose life journey defies the odds. Born three months premature and raised in a challenging environment shaped by his mother's drug addiction, foster care, abuse, and incarceration, Raheem shares how faith and purpose led him to become a minister and founder of Relentless Living Online Ministries.   Raheem walks us through the transformative power of self-reflection, accountability, and a deep commitment to servant leadership. He introduces his "Relentless Living Pyramid"—Consumer, Service, Leadership—as a model for turning personal pain into purpose. His message: don't chase money, chase purpose, because purpose leaves a legacy.   Michael and Raheem explore how faith becomes the anchor in moments of doubt and how seeing past our circumstances can help us step into leadership. Today, Raheem is transitioning from construction to full-time ministry and speaking, using his story to inspire others to lead with empathy and serve where they've been broken and healed.   Listeners are encouraged to connect with Raheem at raheemlindsey81@gmail.com or via his Relentless Living YouTube channel.   Tune in for an unforgettable conversation that proves anyone—no matter their start—can lead an unstoppable life of service and significance.     About the Guest:   Hello, I'm RaHeem Lindsey, which means "merciful one" or "one who establishes a deep connection." I'm 43 years old, born on August 12th. I'm a father of three, husband, entrepreneur, and servant of God. My purpose is to please God and serve His people. I believe life is not about personal gain, but about serving and impacting others. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I strive to make a positive difference in the world. Growing up, I faced significant challenges. My father was murdered when I was 15, and I overcame foster care after experiencing abuse at a young age. Despite these difficulties, I'm grateful for my journey and the lessons I've learned. I come from a humble background, raised by a single mother in government housing. However, I've learned to see these experiences as opportunities for growth and blessing. My story is one of resilience and determination. As an empath, servant, student, and leader, my goal is to impact the world in the name of Christ Jesus. I'm driven to serve others and make a positive difference. I love and bless everyone, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my story.   Ways to connect with RaHeem:   https://youtube.com/@rltalkrelentlesslivingglob7210?si=0Km3z7m7Ie_e2Ul4 https://open.spotify.com/show/5Mr5x2456rf31d7R36bfmv?si=ZUCs8yBaSJG664vFeuHoCQ https://www.instagram.com/relen_tlessliving?igsh=aW53b3RhcXc1ZWFv&utm_source=qr     About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:17 Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. And today, by my standards, we have a guest who really is unstoppable. You know, one of the things that I hear regularly from people who talk to me about my own experiences of being in the World Trade Center is it's amazing what you went through and how you survived, and you're resilient and all that. I don't think tend to think a whole lot about that. I understand what people are saying, but our guest today, RaHeem Lindsay, I think, has a much more resilient and unstoppable story than I do. A lot of people might disagree, but that's okay. We're both we're both unstoppable, and I think most people are more unstoppable than they think they are. It's just that we tend to underrate ourselves. But we're going to hear a great story today, and I know Raheem has got a lot to tell us. So Rahim, let's start by welcoming you to unstoppable mindset.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 02:18 Thank you, Michael, such a pleasure and an honor to be a guest on your podcast. It's really an honor. I couldn't believe that you actually have reached out to me when you did. I was like, Really, I'm just very flattered, because just to have to have accomplished the feats that you have, and yourself you're you're a definition of relentless living, which is the name of my online ministry, relentless living, refusing to take no for an answer. You know, seeing life's obstacles as opportunities, things of that nature, right? That that resilience, that that that grit, that fortitude, that we all have, but we have to be willing to embrace in order to go forward in life,   Michael Hingson ** 03:01 right? I agree. Well, tell me, what? What does Raheem   RaHeem Lindsey ** 03:05 mean? It means merciful.   Michael Hingson ** 03:09 There you go. Yes, sir, you're, you're committed, right from the name,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 03:14 yes, absolutely yes. And it's funny that you asked that, Michael, because in totality, so Raheem, Lamar Lindsay, so in totality, it means Merciful One, one who establishes a deep connection, which very well fits me, defines me to a T cool   Michael Hingson ** 03:31 well, and I'm really looking forward to hearing a lot more about that. Why don't we start by you telling us a little bit about kind of the early Raheem, growing up and and I know that that's an integral part of your story, is you get a little bit older, if you will. But tell us about you growing up and all that.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 03:49 Okay, so Raheem growing up, I like to tell individuals, friends, etc, that I am, I'm I'm well, I'm well, diverse when it comes to my my growing up as a young man into adulthood, I have a mixed upbringing. I was raised with my mother, right? And then I was actually, let's start here. I was born in Houston, Texas. I left there as an infant, okay, and as a infant, I was hospitalized because I was born premature at six months years old. I mean, at six months old, rather, what did you weigh? I weighed, oh, my goodness. Oh, I was about six, so I six pounds or so. Was that   Michael Hingson ** 04:41 I was born premature about two months, and I weighed two pounds, 13 ounces, so I was a little   RaHeem Lindsey ** 04:47 Okay, and it might be less than that, actually, just to be honest with you, Michael, it's been quite some time I would have to ask my mother   Michael Hingson ** 04:54 you don't remember, huh?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 04:57 But, but long story short. Up, though, and that's really amazing that we have, that that's another connection that we have, as well as being, you know, individuals that are resilient, that are relentless, right? And so I was hospitalized in the incubator for the first, I believe, what two months of my life, I had to be fed through an IV in my head, actually. So it was, it was very, was a very tough   Michael Hingson ** 05:24 time for you. Were one of those people who lost eyesight because you were in an incubator.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 05:30 Oh, my goodness. So yours is. Your journey has been from birth, right? Okay, wow, wow. Come on. Wow.   Michael Hingson ** 05:41 You know, the the issue is that medical science, when I was born, wasn't ready to believe although some doctors were starting to recognize it and say it, but most doctors were not ready to admit that even too much oxygen could be a bad thing. And the result was that the retina didn't develop properly. But that didn't happen for everyone, but they also eventually did figure it out. And so a lot of times, children aren't necessarily given an absolute pure oxygen environment nowadays for 24 hours a day, just depends on what they weigh and what's needed, and it can still be that a person could lose eyesight if they're in an incubator with a pure oxygen environment. But medical science understands it a lot more now. So it doesn't happen like it did back in the 1950s where we actually because of the number of premature births, lower the age, the average age of blind people from 67 to 65 years just because of premature birth.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 06:43 Interesting. Okay, wow.   Michael Hingson ** 06:47 So anyway, you were so you were put in an incubator   RaHeem Lindsey ** 06:50 for a while. Yes, no, I was put in incubator for a while. And so I went through that opportunity of resilience. It started at a young age for us both, right? I don't want to say an issue. I don't like to really use that word. I say opportunities for growth and development, right? Because while we might have had an area of concern, let's say that it, it enabled us in other ways, right? It made us more resilient, more more built for the race, right to go forth in the future, right? So that's awesome. So in the incubator, and then raised with my mother, of course, up until the age of seven. Right now, here's my life begins to take a another dramatic turn. My mother, at the time, was battling a crack addiction. God bless her heart, okay, and but much respect to her. I never lost not one ounce of respect for her, because she always remained a mother to me, even over even, you know, facing those odds, right, facing the the adversity of that she still remained a mother, and I appreciate that. And so with my mother, while being a Christian woman, a woman of faith, as I am, a Christian man myself, she was still, she was a believer, but also still in the world, not fully transitioned, as most of us have. We all go through that time in our lives where we're still, you know, trying to make that full transition. And matter of fact, honestly, we will always be in the event, in the race of transition throughout our entire lives, because we'll never have it fully correct, or know everything for that matter, right? So anyhow, my mother, she was following a crack addiction at the moment, and so I had a family member that ended up calling Child Protective Services on my mother, an older cousin, so I ended up going into the foster care system. I was in the foster care system for a round just under a year, I'd say, seven to eight months during this time while in the foster care system, I was beaten and molested, all while staying right next door to a cousin. But at the time, I'm only seven, going into eight years old, right? So for me, as much as I wanted to reach out and I wanted to make this known, I felt, I felt conflicted once again, I'm still an adolescent, right? I'm still a child,   Michael Hingson ** 09:49 yeah, so you don't have the tools yet to really deal with that.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 09:54 Absolutely, yes, exactly, not having the tools yet necessary to deal with that. Certain. Stance. So I was very reclusive, and I never mentioned it to anyone. So about let me see seven, eight months was my stay there, my aunt Andrea, my great aunt, ended up getting custody of me, which is my mother's aunt, my great aunt, etc, end up getting custody of me. Now, once again, mentioning my mother was always in a very deep rooted transition, both battling addiction and just her personal life itself, and also being a woman of faith. So my mother, my upbringing with her was not as structured as, say, it should have been, but I grew up, my mother cared and she was very hands on, but yet and still, she was a single parent, and so I somebody grew up in in the streets a bit, if you will, okay,   Michael Hingson ** 11:06 your father wasn't around at all. No,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 11:08 my father was not around at all. Okay. And funny story mentioning the father, he was in my life up until about four years old, and then my mother and him had separated, and they were, you know, in other relationships, whatever have you. And I went to visit him. One day, my mother took me to visit him, and he asked me, Hey, who's your dad? Now, me not having a normal, typical, constant relationship of seeing him on a regular basis. I say my mother, I mean my wife. I mean, I'm sorry, my mother's boyfriend at the time and so kind of all hell broke loose with that. He wanted nothing else to do with me. Keep in mind, I'm only four at the time, right? So from that point, yes, so from that point forward, he was out of my life. Okay? So now we fast forward back again to getting in custody with my aunt. My aunt has gained custody of me after getting out of the foster home. So with my aunt, my aunt Andrea, my great aunt, with her, the home is very structured. It's just me and her, her only child, which is my older cousin, Todd. He's in the Air Force, whatever have you. He's in his mid 20s at the time. Okay, okay, and so it's just me and my aunt Andre so with her very structured. Sunday church, Sunday evening church, Wednesday, youth night church, if church was open, we were attending. And it wasn't enough to just attend. We had to be operating. We had to be serving in some capacity. So I was involved in, you know, the youth crowd, any and everything that had to do where we could serve in the church we were doing it. And so that helps create kind of a illustration, if you will, a visual of who Rahim is. I am, both one who is street smart, also one of I love to seek Intel. I love to read. I am a avid reader, so forth and so on. That was very much encouraged within the household with my aunt, so she very much stressed those areas. I was made to memorize Scripture and so forth in her household, things of that nature. Got involved in activities outside of school, baseball, things of that nature. So that helps bring you to who I am today, as of relentless living. To kind of give you a a quick synopsis, if you will, because I know we know we like to talk about some other topics and so forth, but that gives you a bit of my background and who I am. So I tell people I'm very textured, for that matter.   Michael Hingson ** 14:07 So what, what did you do, school wise? Then, once you were growing up,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 14:14 school wise. So I, you know, went through, you know, the elementary and so forth, as everyone else does. I ended up dropping out my 11th no my senior year, I dropped out. Reason being, I was working, obtained a full time job, and I was kind of in that time as most of us are exploring the world, getting to know myself as a young man and a young adult, if you will. So there's the girl aspect, right? Then there's, you know, hey, rahims, now I have a job, so I'm bringing in my own finances. So I. Have responsibility of self, and also being back in the presence of my mother, because my mother gained custody of me again after about three to four years with my aunt. So she battled, she overcame her crack addiction and also regained custody of me. So kudos to her. So being back in the presence of my mother, she always instilled responsibility upon me. She's very big on that, so I'll be responsible for, say, a particular bill. Maybe it was the electricity bill. Obviously, not as high as they are now, right? The economy's changed. Their face changed. So not as much, right? Now we're talking, you know, hundreds of dollars, you know, when then it was like, you know, hey, maybe you know, 150 you know, for light bill. No big deal. So, and those things just helped me to learn about responsibility at a early age as a young man, setting me up also for future success, I will say, so school, so I dropped out. Like I said, 12th grade year I was I got in a little bit of trouble. I always had a great head on my shoulder. Always had great values and morale. But as we all know, bad nature or Bad company corrupts good nature, Bad company corrupts good nature. And so it is not enough to simply do well on your own. It was never meant for us to do anything simply on our own, because you can't be great alone. It takes a team. It takes a strategic alliance of a group of individuals. It may be somewhat semi minute. It could be Lacher, depending upon the need and the desire and the the vision itself. But you cannot be great yourself. It takes a team. And so I tended to I would do well for such a period of time, I was always very much into church, but then there's that street side of Raheem, and I have some street friends, so therefore I would find myself regressing, or rather, let's say, digressing, from the progress that I've made because of my choice of friends. Now, not all of them were in the streets, per se. Others were doing well and focused on the future and doing an accomplishing great things on the positive note. But there's that conflict, right? I've got this internal conflict because my homeboys, you know, and so forth from my mother's end of, you know, the spectrum, you know, we're in the streets, we're products of the environment, right? And it's very easy to become a product of your environment, and then also to get to a point where you sever some of those relationships, not because that's so you're too good, because you've outgrown such a thing, and you've been outside of the environment. So if you see better, logically and hopefully, we will then do better. So it was conflicted, so I I got in a bit of trouble, you know, throughout my childhood and and young adulthood, from, I say, at the time of 14 to, oh goodness, mid 20s, maybe about 2627 I would, you know, I do well, and then I would have a issue, you know, with the law. You know, I was, there was times when I was younger, I know, broken into homes, things of that nature, and it would be quite, I wouldn't even say, like, quite unexpected to those who knew me and had relationships with me, because I was, I was a great person. I really was, you know, good morale, good values, things of that nature, but when I got around the wrong company, then there we have it. Now, Rahim is no longer who I know to be, but I'm who I was, or the tainted version of Raheem, and not the more fulfilled, better version of Raheem, for lack of better terms. So I went through, you know, in and out the system for a while. You know, I've been in on the in the county jails. I've did a year in the penitentiary at one point in time. But I saw this to say, for anyone that has battled such things, no matter what it is, Do not despise it, because, because, because of those situations, it has helped make me who I am today. So I'm able to help other individuals who have battled or in the same storms as I face and I stand today before you as a victor, victorious over those. Circumstances, adverse situations and so forth and so what nearly killed me is situations for yourself. Michael, what nearly you know killed you things that you thought were nearly impossible to get out of, challenges that we face, so much adversity, that caused so much pain, that caused us to have to be resilient because we had no other choice. Right, right? What nearly killed us. Now we can reach back and bring life unto others, because we were able to overcome it, but I have to go here because me, being a man of faith, I will say, not by our power nor our strength, but by God's Spirit. Thus saith the Lord, because of that, because ourselves, we're not capable of such things on our own. We're just not it would be insane to think that we could do the things that we have accomplished, and furthermore that we will accomplish going forward without a divine entity, without divine help, because some things are simply limited to the the carnal existence of   Michael Hingson ** 21:05 being, did you ever, did you ever finish high school?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 21:09 I Okay. So, great question. Michael, so when I was in the penitentiary for a year, I actually ended up getting my GED. So I was, I came up. I had the mindset like, you know, what, if I want to be here, I'm going to, I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to use the system against itself. So, okay, I'm going to be here. You will pay for my education. I'm going to better myself while I'm here. I'm not going to, you know, be depressed and be in this, this slump of a mind state and existence of being No, I want to better myself and come out with a vengeance to succeed and be a better version of Rahim. Rahim, 2.0   Michael Hingson ** 21:48 Did you? Did you ever go into college after you got out of the penitentiary and all that?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 21:53 Absolutely, yes, I did. I did not finish, not because I could not, not because I didn't have the intellect, just simply I didn't have the motivation to stay in tune with it, because and now seeing Hindsight is 2020, it wasn't my purpose. Wasn't connected to my purpose, added value to who I am. It helped me to find my purpose, but it wasn't my purpose. So I ended up going to college for Business Administration for a little under a year, Phoenix University, online, okay? And then another time I went for personal training. I've always been a fitness head, so forth and so on. So I love you know, to have, you know, a good overall health, along with, you know, a good mindset, so forth, mind, body, spirit, right,   Michael Hingson ** 22:47 right. So what did you do then, from a job or profession standpoint, to support yourself?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 22:57 Okay? So throughout those times, a lot of times, I delved in sales. I'm very much a people person, so being a store manager at one point in time of GNC, okay, telemarketing, oh, my God, an array of things usually having to do with retail. Because, like I said, once again, I'm very much a people person. I'm an introvert, but I'm a, I mean, I'm an extrovert, but I'm an introvert. When it comes to my issues, I don't share a lot of my issues with   Michael Hingson ** 23:31 individuals. That's fine. Okay, so you did, you did a lot of sales, and yes, and I think that's a very honorable profession, having been in sales for many years in my life as well. Okay, what did sales teach you? What did what did you? How did it help you grow as an individual?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 23:54 Sales taught me how to be a great consumer. Because in order to be a great salesman, you need to consume the needs of others. What's why, who, when, where. I love that I will, I will say in part, I learned from GNC, because when you're trying to sell, I don't sell. I like to build relationships and a rapport. So henceforth, once again, the who, what, who, what, why, when, where. Why are you doing these things? What are you doing this for? When do you plan on achieving the goal that you want? Etc, etc. So being a great consumer helps you to be a great salesman, because then you make it personal when you ask these questions.   Michael Hingson ** 24:48 Well, yeah. And you also learn how to be a good communicator if you're doing a decent job,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 24:55 yes, as well, absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 25:00 I unexpectedly ended up going into sales, but I've learned those same basic tenants and those same basic things. And the reality is, you learn to be a good communicator, and you also learn that ultimately, good sales people really don't sell anything. First of all, the customers really got to want to buy it. And the good sales people guide customers to find what it is they really need. And I know I've had situations where my product wouldn't do what the customer wanted, and the last thing I would want to do would be to and I probably could have done it, convince them to buy my product anyway, even though it might not do everything, because I knew that come back to bite me.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 25:46 Yes, absolutely. Michael, I so concur. Um, touching on that real quick. So exactly the same thing with me, right? I would never sell a individual on something just because it was the item of the week, so to speak, right? We would have conference calls, and so we have, you know, one item, maybe two items, for the week that were the main point of sale, make sure that we're pushing this item to each and every customer, while I would offer that I was more in tune and cared about what they needed and what they wanted. So those questions we spoke about briefly here just a moment ago. And so by doing that, as you said, you develop a rapport and trust. They trust you now because they know that you're just you're just not going to give them any product, sell them any product just for the sake of the monetary gain, but we want you to get what you truly need. We want to make sure that your needs are met, and so they'll come back. And that's how you establish, you know, long term Jeopardy and long term relationships with customers, and then customers become friends clients, and there you have it, and that's how you know, you establish it and build from there. Absolutely what you said.   Michael Hingson ** 27:09 Did you ever have situations where your boss is wanting you to sell a product and you knew that it wasn't going to be what a particular customer wanted? Did you ever have some discussions or conversations with your bosses about that kind of thing.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 27:24 Did I ever have a conversation with them about that indirect, indirectly, that usually it went over well, once again, it's not about what you say, but it's how you say it, right? Michael, so I would say, what ifs what if I have a customer that is not in need of this particular product, but I mentioned it to them, so I'm still doing my job, right? I'm still doing as directed by the superiors. So I'm asking, What do you think about this product? Now, here's the funny thing, though, when we're dealing with, you know, GNC, right? So it's vitamins. There's a lot of things that compliment the other so sometimes, while not really pushing that specifically, I would say, hey, based upon your needs. I recommend this, but just so happens only if it was applicable, this product here will enhance your will enhance the results that you're looking for. And so I would present that to my superiors, my manager, because I was a store manager myself at my own store. So I would present that to them, and they would say, okay, Raheem, Hey, as long as you're, you know, mentioning the product, and you are pushing the product, to some extent, that's fine, okay, so that ended up working out for me, right?   Michael Hingson ** 29:03 So how long did you sell for? GNC?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 29:06 Ah, GNC, I sold for a little over a year. I enjoyed that. That's one of my favorite jobs. One of my most favorite jobs that I've ever had was GNC, just being able to serve. Being able to serve Michael is my thing. I find myself when I'm not able to serve others, I'm not content, right? I'm not I don't feel miserable at times, because I really live to serve. I have the heart of a servant.   Michael Hingson ** 29:41 So what did you do after GNC?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 29:43 After GNC, let's see here, after GNC, I was in restaurant for a minute. Worked at Five Guys Burgers as a store manager there. Also I'm an entrepreneur. I started. In a fried ice cream business? Yes, absolutely. So fried ice cream the first of its kind, right? Ever put into pints and gallons? Okay, so I started that myself back in 2017 the funny way that that even came about was I had lost my job building house trusts. Okay, so I've also done construction, which I'm in now. Currently, I do construction. I do concrete right now, but in this season of time, at the age that I am, I'll be 44 in August, everything is about purpose. Everything is about purpose. And I feel the Lord definitely pulling me more into that direction and being more in tune with that. So henceforth, opportunities like this to be on this podcast, this is in alignment with purpose. But anyhow, so 2017 I started the ice cream. I fried ice cream led me into being into retail for myself. I was in the mall twice. I had a few partnerships with a few local restaurants and so forth and so on. I was supposed to be on food, carnival foods, but I ended up missing that. I had a Oh my God, has some meaning of some sort. I end up missing that. So I fried ice cream was actually supposed to be on Carnival foods on Food Network. So we make quite a bit of feats and accomplishments with that. So there's that. And then I've also, like I said, the construction, telemarketing, my gosh, what else have I done? Probably more sales. And like I said, most recent, I'm in concrete construction. I've been doing that over the last three years, and so that kind of brings you to current but I'm kind of growing quite weary of it, just because I know that I have a story, I have a message. There's some things that God has put on my heart to teach as a minister, as a servant, as an evangelist, so many things that that that wrap up and make up Raheem, I don't put one title on myself, because the Lord has allowed Me and enabled me to be many things due to what I've endured throughout my life, has given me that, you know, variation of existence.   Michael Hingson ** 32:31 So, so tell me more about what you're looking at in terms of being an evangelist and so on, what you're what you're moving toward, and what you think you're   RaHeem Lindsey ** 32:40 going to do. So Well, I'll say, you know, right now, over the last, oh, my god, probably see three, three going, Whoa. No, four years. Let's say four years. Online ministry has been my go to my YouTube channel. Very much, relentless living online ministries where, you know, I do reels, so forth and so on. Really wanting to, I want to do much more than just give a word, but in today's society, you kind of draw them in more with the short term, you know, short term memory is very, very dominant anymore. We're not as much as consumers as we once were. And I think that's just due to the the way of, you know, the AIS and technology and so forth. It's made mankind a bit lazy if you let, if you let. Now, it's also very innovative and creative. And it challenges us to go further in our you know, our mindset, our cerebral capacity and so forth. So it can make you lazy if you allow it. By the same time, it can challenge you and allow you to express yourself in new ways and insight and creativity if you let it, such as myself, yourself, others, etc. So, but just you know, teaching others how to understand the word more, also giving, showing truth and Revelation through the word that applies to your everyday life, that will inspire, that will encourage and edify you, and then also helping you to be able to build business from it, which I've done and and and coaching and things of that nature. It's such a variation of it, but all stemming from what I shared earlier, which is, well, I didn't completely share, but I like to call it my relentless living pyramid. And the base of it is being a consumer. The middle of it servant in the peak is leadership, being a leader, but the most important is being a great consumer, because in order to be a great leader, he was first be a great consumer. Take in the needs, evaluate the. Needs of others. Do an assessment, if you will, right. And then, based upon that, we can better serve who are. Demographic is our tribe is right. And then, as we prove ourselves, we develop a rapport, friendships, so forth and so on. And now there's trust, and when there's trust, people allow you to lead them. And then, in order to remain a great leader, I like to call a servant leader, because the greatest leaders are servant leaders, because a great leader has to be a servant to remain a leader. And so you repeat that process in order to remain relevant, whether it's in marriage, business school, you name it, the relentless living pyramid applies for every facet of life. So in that space alone allows me I see myself speaking engagements, coaching, leadership, development. There's so much that comes from that space and that pyramid, because it applies to everything. And I've been through a lot, if I haven't been through it myself. Personally, I know someone close to me who has so that's the great thing about acknowledging and knowing from what you've come from and not despising it, but instead seeing that as a vehicle of momentum, as long as you have changed and learn from your mistakes, right to become better, that is actually added value, because now you can teach others where you did not fail at because you got through it. So remember that God brings you to it. To bring you through it, the storm that you face today is not to kill you. It's not to stop you, but it's meant to propel you. Because you are eagles. We are eagles. Eagles fly a fly with the storm. They fly towards the storm and use the momentum of the storm to carry them into the next destiny, step, destination for us, purpose. So do not see the storm as a opposition. See it as a opportunity for growth, development, pruning so   Michael Hingson ** 37:26 you you emphasize faith a lot. Yes, tell me. Tell me more about faith and what how you define it. And another question I would ask is, what role do you believe that faith plays in discovering your purpose? Okay? A lot of questions   RaHeem Lindsey ** 37:44 there. Okay, okay, okay, yes, absolutely, okay. I'll start the last one because that because I remember that one best. So okay, what role does faith play in finding purpose? Correct? Michael, yeah, okay, so I'll start with this. I guess maybe I could call it my mantra for relentless living ministries. And this will sum it up. And then I will go into more in depth, live in pursuit of your God given purpose, and then you will find life and life more abundantly. But how do you find your purpose? Okay, so how do you find your purpose? I want to start here. I believe you for myself speaking, I believe you have to incorporate God, because how can you find purpose if you do not include the One who created you with a purpose for himself, I believe is the purpose. So now further going, going even more in depth, finding purpose, going through the obstacles, going through the storms. So me going through being in the system as a adult, a young adult, me going through being in the foster care system as a child. Me going through being beaten and molested. Me going through being the black sheep of the family. Me going through at times, being deserted, okay, sometimes not being liked, not because of who I am, but because of who I am, because of a light that is in me, because of my faith, because of my belief, right? So being facing the facing the trials and the tribulations. Each and everything that you face and that you overcome helps establish you into walking into your divine purpose. I believe that your divine purpose is based upon everything that you have overcome, because most of us, and matter of fact, I can almost guarantee all of us in some way, shape or form, what we have gone through has helped shape our future. It's inevitable what we go through helps to shape our future. That's why decisions are so important. The decisions that we make today will affect our tomorrow. So everything that I've gone through in my past has. Purposed me to be able to help those that are in the same situation that I face, to help them overcome. Like I said, What nearly killed us will nearly kill the individuals that will be watching this podcast that they've endured, the trials, the hardship carrying their own cross, if you will. But yet they survive. Yet they're victorious. It's a reason why you're victorious. So you have to become what you were meant to say. So to speak for those that are you know men and women of faith, everybody knows Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Okay, I'll just go. I'm just going to go here. Scripture says, He who was, I'm sorry, He who knew no sin became sin. You have to become what you want to overcome. You have to go through what you are meant to overcome. Because if you don't endure it, you can't overcome it. There is no testimony without the test going here, being chosen, right? And being chosen, I believe, is part of purpose, because you're chosen for a something we're chosen for a someone you know in marriage, right? There's a someone we're chosen for that we choose, they choose us. So everyone wants to be chosen. Everyone wants to be the one, until they find out how much it cost, because to be chosen, it will cost you something, and it will cost you everything. To be chosen, it's cost you a lot, Michael, to be the man who you are today. It didn't just drop off the sky to you. Wasn't just fed to you. You had to endure some things, some hardships, some struggles, but you turned them into opportunities. Nonetheless. This is why you stand here today as the strong man that you are, because you never gave up. You remained relentless in the face of adversity.   Michael Hingson ** 42:04 So how do people learn to recognize that, and learn to recognize whether they're making the right choices?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 42:12 Okay, great question. So how do people learn to recognize that? I think the recognition is easy when we take ourselves out of the equation, and we look at it from a broader scope. And stop looking at why me, like in the, in the in the in the victim perspective, and think, Why me so the why me. The second why me is, why am I enduring this? There has to be a reason for this. Now, some things are self inflicted, and some things happen. Life happens. But even within that, there's always a lesson to be learned. Always lesson to be learned if we want to evolve now the lessons there, whether we like it or not, but we have to choose to want to see it, or we can be naive and we can neglect the fact that this has happened, and we can play the victim in every world and every role. Or we can choose to see that, hey, I'm victorious. I did overcome this, whether it's self inflicted or just life happened. But the easy way to know about these things are, I think every experience will increase the knowledge of the knowing.   Michael Hingson ** 43:33 But what I'm getting at, I think, is that in reality, until you are willing to stop and analyze and look at what you're doing, look at what's happened, look at why it's happened, and listen to your inner voice, if you will. Yes, that guides you until you're willing to do all of that, it's really very difficult to find out what your purpose ought to be or how you should proceed, and that's the thing that most people don't do, is take the time to be self analytical.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 44:10 Come on, absolutely. Michael, I agree 100% Absolutely. We don't take the time to be self analytical, and that it takes, it takes courage to do that, because sometimes we don't want to look at the reflection that's in the mirror. We brother, you know, cast the, you know, the judgment or the the you know, it's someone else's fault, play someone else at fault, the situation's fault. Oh, you know, I'm always, you know, the innocent one, but yet, at most times, if we're really honest with ourselves, we are our own worst enemy, and it's very unfortunate, and so that's why it's very necessary to confront ourselves on a daily basis and hold ourselves accountable. It so that we can have positive growth and development, because where there's accountability, there's also confrontation, whether it's with yourself or can be with others. Now, confrontation is good. There's good confrontation and bad confrontation, but ultimately, confrontation is good, because confrontation there has to be something confronted, and so something is a dress, then we cannot, we can't cover we can't we can't address it unless it's been spoken of, unless it's been, you know, brung up, right? We have to address it. So with that comes, you know, the accountability, and so accountability requires being uncomfortable   Michael Hingson ** 45:52 Well, or it requires that you recognize that there are lessons to be learned Absolutely, and you go out and recognize that you're going to be your best teacher and that you need to learn them. How do people overcome self doubt when they're when they're going through life and so on? How do you how do you get beyond all the self doubt? I think we've talked about it some, but, you know, I'm curious to see if you want to add   RaHeem Lindsey ** 46:17 to that absolutely, I'd love to Michael, so overcoming self doubt at some point in time in life, and there's been a few times, for every single individual, you have overcame something that you thought was nearly impossible, because if you, if you didn't, each and every one of us wouldn't be where we are today. Now. We could all be, obviously, maybe doing a bit better, but could always be a lot worse. So we discover so I lost print thought, repeat that one more time. I'm so sorry, Michael.   Michael Hingson ** 46:55 I was just asking how people deal with and how do you overcome self doubt to be able to advance and move forward.   RaHeem Lindsey ** 47:01 Okay, so overcome this self doubt. Remember that you know what. I have to go. I have to go here. I have to go here. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world? This is how I help myself, and I hope that it helps all of us. It will help all of us say that once more, Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world? Okay? So you get some people, may, you know, it might be the inner voice for me, it's God, Jesus, you know, he's the wrong. Same thing, okay, same thing, right? What does the inner voice say about you? What does God say about you? You are fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image. See the this thing here, the flesh, the carnality, will always feed you the lies, because you'll always see just what is in front of you. But the inner voice is what gives you vision, right? So when you have vision, when you're looking outside the physical parameter of things, you see the greater, okay? And you want to see yourself by the inside voice. The inside voice says that you're perfectly, wonderfully made the image of God through Christ, Jesus. You can do all things. You are great. You are amazing. You are wonderful. These things, you are the you are the victor, no longer the victim. Okay, you are the head, not the tail. These are the things, the positive things that are truth, that are said about you, said about me, each and every one of us. So when we learn to see beyond the present circumstance and remember this, it's not always what it looks like, especially when it comes to yourself. Anything that is that is opposite of the positive things that have been spoken of you, that you know about yourself, even is a lie of the enemy. So you have to be willing to know the truth, willing to walk by faith and not by sight. I will add this in, for faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So you may have been the drug addict, you may have been the the alcoholic, but I see you as the doctor, as the lawyer, as the nurse, as the store manager, so forth and so on. We have to feed ourselves with the positivity, but the knowing who you are, for me comes from the word. It's times I struggle with myself. I'm like, I don't think I'm the greatest person in the world, but then I have to go back and I reflect. I go back to the world. What does God say about rain? What does God say about you? That's the truth, not the lies that the world may spill upon you and try to demonize your name and slander your reputation, assassinate your character, not those things. Things that might have happened, but you are not that. So seeing the greater in you for me and that will share with anyone that I have the opportunity to encounter you, got to go back to what the inner says about you, the inner self, because the inner you is great, despite what you may go through on the exterior and what is inside will soon come outside. It will reflect   Michael Hingson ** 50:29 you mentioned earlier, the whole concept of being a servant leader. What is a servant leader?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 50:34 A servant leader? A servant leader is one who, obviously, they I see them as being an empath of some extent. I think a great leader has to be empathetic. Because I believe you have to be empathetic in order to want to solve one's needs, to care about their needs. Now it's one thing just to be in business, and this is what separates a servant leader from a leader. A leader may be great and sells the sofa and so on right, and they're leading. But do they care? Are they gathering the Intel of the consumers because of a want and a desire to change lives and to help others. So you have to be a great servant in order to be that great leader. And when you're a great servant leader, you serve based upon the needs of others, and that brings life into you. By giving life unto others by fulfilling their needs. You find your need being met, and you develop that trust and that relationship, and then you leave. But you lead, not only to have that title, forget the title. It's not about the title, but you're led because you're called to lead, because the people trust you and you have been enabled to and you have the insight to based upon being a great consumer, and you want to serve others, you have to be a servant. So consumer servant leadership, once again, the pyramid kind of sums that up and gives you, you know, a synopsis of that. How you know being a great servant leader. They have to be all those things, consumer, servant leader, servant leader, and then repeat, in order to remain relevant, it can never be about you. To be a great leader, it can never be about you. It has to be about the people whom you're serving. Because the moment it becomes about you, it becomes singular. And if you're only there to help self, guess what? At some point in time, you may run out of needs, but when you're serving the capacity of many, there is always a need to be met, and not only that, you're operating in purpose. So I like to share with people this, this, this, this train of thought, if you will. Everyone's always, you know, concerned about financials, right? Money, right? Not me, it's purpose. Because if you chase purpose, the money will follow chase your purpose. Because here's the thing, as scripture says, I'll go here once again, money answereth all things, not something people may say initially and whatnot, oh my god, money, money, money, right for those that are, you know, you know, into the word things like that, right, as myself, sometimes we get it misconstrued and say, Well, money is evil. No, it's not. It depends on whose hands it's in. The word says the love of money is the root of all evil. The love when you love the money over the inner voice over God so forth, then it's the root of all evil, because people will do anything for money. But when you're operating on purpose, you're on divine assignment, it's bigger than you, and so money answers all things, right? But what happens when it's singular? It's just you. There's only so many needs one person can have, so there's no longer a call for the money to answer. And this is kind of a illustration, a parable, if you will. You know, you pick up the phone, it's because someone called Money answers all things. So there has to be a call in order for the money to answer, being a need the call a need for money to answer. But what happens when all your needs are answered as a one individual? It's done, but when you're operating out of purpose, your purpose outlives you. Purpose creates legacy, and purpose helps fulfill others other than yourself, so you're constantly on assignment, so therefore you always stay in motion.   Michael Hingson ** 54:48 So how do you balance personal ambition and serving others?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 54:54 Personal ambition and serving others? Wonderful question. Michael, personal ambition. And serving others, because it's it's why, it's why I'm here. It's my assignment, Michael, it's my purpose in life. As I mentioned earlier, I literally I feel terrible when I'm not able to help others. I'd much rather give than receive any day, because I've been through so much, and I know what it's like to need and others have the wrong perspective of you and not want to help you based upon what somebody else has said. And it's the wrong narrative, it's the wrong story, it's a lie. And then some things may be a bit true. There's some things that, oh, well, yeah, that that is true, but I'm not that. I'm not the individual anymore. That was, that was a mistake that I made, but it does not define me. I know it's like to be misunderstood. I know what it's like to be in need. That's why it's so good that I have went through and endured everything that I have in my life because it's made me appreciative of help when it comes, and it's given me such a capacity with the void that has been left in me because of what I have endured to want to help others, that that's that's my purpose. It may it makes when I, when I, when I have a chance to speak unto other people. I speak life unto them. If I have the opportunity to help somebody financially, it's, it's my pleasure, it's, it's a duty, because I know it's my assignment. Based upon everything that Rahim has went through. I went through and experienced homelessness. I've, I've had a mother that was addicted to hardcore drugs. I've been in the system, both incarceration and as a child, you know, being in the foster care and so forth. I've endured all these things. So it's given me a heart for people that are in the same situations. So it's not too many people you know that themselves or don't know somebody directly close to them, that hasn't been incarcerated, that hasn't been a victim of something in the system as a child, that hasn't had a close loved one, that's battled an addiction, if not yourself, that hasn't went through homelessness, that hasn't been, you know, rejected by the family, you know, a black sheep or whatever have you, that you know all those things and some so I remember what it's like, and some of those things I still endure. And I'm like, all I want to do is to help and to love and to serve. If I do nothing else in life, I'm good with that. I'm fine with that, because I know that's my purpose. Well, oh, go ahead, yes and yeah, go ahead and so just just just knowing that. Like I said, You know what you go through life, ladies and gentlemen, what you go through in life, pay close attention. Hindsight is 2020. That is a part of your purpose, what you overcame. I promise you a lot of people, how do I find purpose? How do I find purpose? It's not as hard as we make it, and I can probably deny and I share this with so many people, and they you're absolutely right, and if it doesn't lead directly, if it doesn't define purpose for you, it helps lead you to your purpose. So don't despise anything that you grow through. But yet, please, learn from it. Learn from it and gain insight.   Michael Hingson ** 58:38 How do you think one can cultivate a let me, yeah, how do you think that one can cultivate a servant leadership mindset in their lives?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 58:52 By I would say by first, you can't it can't be about self. You can't be about self. Now we'll say this, okay, and it's not contradictory, if you, if you take it in the right state of mind, okay, and get what I'm saying, what I'm not saying, you have to be able to help yourself before you can help someone else, because you cannot pour from an empty cup. But knowing that what's in the cup is for you, in the overflow of whatever it may be, your anointing, your finances, your time, your energy, your space, the overflow, once your needs are met, it's for others. So there's a time to think about self initially, because you have to work and develop yourself, you have to fill yourself so that you have something to give. But then once those need once the need is met. So I guess next would be, when is the need met? Well, let's put it in this kind of illustration. Let's say you've got rent, right? Right? It's going to this something everybody can relate to. You got rent, or you got your mortgage. The mortgage is paid, right? The the electrics paid, but you got an exceedingly, you know, amount of of financials left after that. Now you have to be wise. Always exercise wisdom, right? But after that, okay, well, I'm good. My needs met. You know, I've got clothes on my back. You know, there's gas in the car, etc, etc, whatever. Now it is not good for you to hold because God gives seed to the giver. I mean seed to the sower. You see, if you hold what you have in your hand, once again, dealing with singular possessiveness, right? It stays there. It goes no farther than where you set your feet. But the moment you open up your hand, what do you have in your hand? What do you have in your hand? And you spread it and you then it multiplies, right? It multiplies. So it cannot be just about you. We have to get out of the the self mindset? But know that, yes, you have to be able to help yourself before you can help others. Once again, you can't pour from empty cup. But after that, remove self from it and realize that everything that you've gotten, everything that you have obtained, is by the grace of God, that's simply what you've done. Because some things, I'm quite sure, if you look back, how in the world did I do that? And someone helped you, like I said, we cannot be great by ourselves. So it takes a community. It takes individuals. It takes a unit in unity, right? So how to go about that? We move self out the equation and think, How can I serve in a capacity where I have been afflicted in my life, where I overcame, because if you're a decent human being, by my beliefs, you will have a void in your heart, a concern in your heart, and you're drawn towards individuals who are going through what you went through, because you remember what it was like. I wish I had someone who would have understood. I wish I had someone that have spoken a kind word to me, said, I love you when I needed it most, instead of turn their back on me, instead of opposed me, I wish someone would have lended a hand when I was short on the rent, short on the electricity bill, and yes, I was doing everything that I could. So Wow. To reflect back on those things, should give you a heart of gratitude, because obviously you were able, you were able to overcome it by some way. Someone gave you a hand. Somebody, everybody's had somebody help them. And so you may have more rejections than the help. And so the thing   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:00 yes please. And so the thing to do is to pay it forward. Pay it   RaHeem Lindsey ** 1:03:04 forward, simply put, Michael, yes, I'm sorry. I'm long winded at times.   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:10 Well, I hear you and I understand and I appreciate all the things that you've said. If people want to reach out to you, how do they do that?   RaHeem Lindsey ** 1:03:18 You can reach out to me there's I'll start with email. That's Raheem Lindsey, 80 one@gmail.com   1:03:29 spell that for me, if you would. That's K, A,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 1:03:33 H, E, E, M, as in man Lindsey, L I, N, D, S, e, y, 80 one@gmail.com Raheem Lindsey, 80 one@gmail.com Okay, and then, and you can reach out to me for you know, whatever speak, counsel, leadership, whatever it may be. Then also, I have my YouTube channel, relentless living online ministries. It is exactly that relentless living International Ministries on YouTube, you'll see this gorgeous face here.   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:13 Okay, so the name of the channel, again, is relentless living. Relentless living, yes,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 1:04:19 okay, yep. Relentless living ministries on YouTube. And so, yeah, I have those two things there. And, you know, if need further, then, you know, I'm always free, you know, to, you know, give out my contact, you know, which is more than more than more than welcome to utilize. I have no problem with that as well.   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:40 Well, I want to thank you for being here and giving people a lot of insight. I hope people will take it to heart. I've always been a great fan of the whole concept of servant leadership. I think it's extremely important. And I think any good leader is or should be, a servant leader. Otherwise you're. Are missing a lot of the dimensions of what leadership is all about. So I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank everyone who was listening today for being here. Love to hear from you. Love your thoughts. Please email me at Michael H i@accessibe.com accessibe is spelled A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, E, so it's Michael M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, i@accessibe.com, and wherever you're listening, please give us a five star review for the podcast episode. We love it, we appreciate it, and we really do value all that you have to say to us and about us. If you know anyone who ought to be a guest on the podcast, and Rahim as well. For you, if you know anyone else who ought to be a guest, we'd love to hear from you, or please give us an introduction to anyone who you think ought to be a guest. We're always looking for people, because I think everyone has a story to tell. And the reality is, as Rahim is so greatly demonstrated today, we can deal with whatever circumstances come along, but it's our choice to make, to deal with things, and we can choose to do it or not that is up to us. Absolutely. We can listen to God or not, that is up to us. So thank you again, everyone for being here. And Rahim, I want to thank you once more for being here. This has been wonderful,   RaHeem Lindsey ** 1:06:21 absolute pleasure. Michael, I just, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, once again, complete honor. I've enjoyed just your your your intellect, your wisdom and the Great, the great questions that you've asked may for, I think, a great podcast session as many others before me as I've had the privilege of watching, so I just I thank you. God. Bless you, and continue doing what you're doing, being an inspiration, a great servant leader and just innovation to many an inspiration and motivation.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:07:00 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

On Episode #183 of the PricePlow Podcast, Mike and Ben sit down with Raza Bashir, Chief Innovation Officer at MuscleTech and Iovate, for an in-depth conversation about supplement quality control, manufacturing excellence, and the exciting innovation pipeline that has him more energized than ever in his nearly 20-year career. Broadcasting from MuscleTech's laboratory facility, Raza provides unprecedented transparency into the rigorous processes that ensure every product meets the highest standards across 140 countries. This conversation goes far beyond typical brand discussions, diving deep into the nuts and bolts of quality assurance: how MuscleTech manages relationships with 28+ contract manufacturers worldwide, the extensive third-party testing protocols that validate every batch, and the end-to-end oversight that distinguishes legacy brands from newcomers. Raza shares insights from recent Consumer Reports testing that validated MuscleTech's mass gainers as the only products without concerning levels of heavy metals, demonstrating how comprehensive quality systems deliver tangible consumer protection. The discussion then shifts to innovation, with exclusive reveals of breakthrough effervescent technology launching through the EFF'N Series at GNC, new peptide formulations combining cutting-edge ingredients like dileucine with HMB and essential amino acids, and the evolution of stimulant technology through EuphoriQ and the revolutionary Stacked pre-workout featuring Hydronox citrulline hydrochloride. Throughout the conversation, Raza's passion for both scientific rigor and consumer experience shines through, explaining why MuscleTech continues setting industry standards after three decades. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/muscletech-quality-control-183 Video: Raza Bashir Discusses MuscleTech's Quality Control and Innovation Pipeline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-efByKU-cyk Detailed Show Notes: Quality Systems and Innovation at MuscleTech (0:00) – Introductions: Inside MuscleTech's Innovation Lab (0:45) – Raza's Journey: From Passionate User to Innovation Leader (4:00) – The Manufacturing Network: Managing 28+ Global Partners (6:45) – The Qualification Process: Rigorous Audits Before Production (10:30) – Ingredient Qualification: Testing Before Approval (14:00) – The Branded Ingredient Advantage: Established Supply Chains (17:15) – Production Consistency: Managing Multiple Manufacturers Per Product (22:15) – The Multiple Manufacturer Strategy: Service and Supply Chain Resilience (24:15) – Third-Party Testing and Consumer Reports Validation (27:00) – Protein Testing and Nitrogen Analysis Methods (32:00) – The Creatine Conundrum: Testing Above Label Claim (36:30) – The Transparency Advantage: Avoiding Proprietary Blends (39:00) – Innovation Without Over-Engineering (40:15) – Business Resilience and Continued Innovation (43:30) – The Innovation Risk: Pioneering New Ingredients (47:00) – EuphoriQ Evolution: Responding to Consumer Feedback (52:00) – The Leaner Business Philosophy: Focused Excellence (55:00) – The EFF'N Series: Revolutionary Effervescent Technology (59:00) – Theolim: Novel Metabolism Enhancement (1:04:00) – EFF'N Energy: Genius Pure and Yohimbe (1:06:00) – The Effervescent Experience: Dissolutio... Read more on the PricePlow Blog

On Episode #181 of the PricePlow Podcast, we sit down with twin brothers Ryan Gardner (CEO) and Jeff Gardner (CMO) of Bucked Up at their Salt Lake City headquarters. This conversation reveals the remarkable journey from internet marketing pioneers to building a billion dollar million supplement empire, complete with helicopter rides over Utah's mountains and an inside look at their massive manufacturing facility. The Gardner brothers share their incredible origin story that began with exact match domains and affiliate networks in the early 2000s, leading to a deer antler spray windfall thanks to Ray Lewis's Super Bowl controversy in 2013. From those humble beginnings, they built Bucked Up into the #1 pre-workout at GNC and Vitamin Shoppe, pioneered micro-influencer marketing before it was cool, and recently expanded into energy drinks with major partnerships including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles -- all in pursuit of their "billion or bust" vision. Celebrating the Launch of Bucked Up Black Ant This episode also features the exclusive launch details of Black Ant, their revolutionary new pre-workout Mike and Ben helped formulate, featuring industry-first ingredients like RipFACTOR and Creasol SSAT alongside traditional creatine monohydrate (Black Ant is Bucked Up's first creatine-based pre-workout). The conversation explores everything from their innovative protein drinks with light carbonation to their thoughts on peptides, healthspan optimization, and the future of the supplement industry. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/bucked-up-ryan-jeff-gardner-181 Video: Inside Bucked Up HQ with the Gardner Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzGuzuGtuWQ Detailed Show Notes: From Internet Marketing to Supplement Empire (0:00) – Introductions: Meeting the Twin CEOs in Salt Lake City (2:15) – The Internet Marketing Origins: Early 2000s Digital Pioneers (6:30) – The L-Arginine Domain Score: Learning the Power of Exact Match Domains (9:45) – The Ray Lewis Windfall: Deer Antler Spray Goes Viral (14:30) – Entering the Pre-Workout Market: Innovation Through Transparency (20:45) – Micro-Influencer Marketing: Ahead of the Curve (24:45) – Dominating Retail: The Path to #1 at GNC and Vitamin Shoppe (28:00) – The Beverage Evolution: Learning Distribution Networks (31:30) – The Brand Beyond Products: Culture and Community (34:00) – Product Innovation Partnership: The Black Ant Story (38:00) – Revolutionary Strength Ingredients: RipFACTOR and Clinical Research (42:30) – Premium Positioning and Market Strategy (45:30) – Diversified Pre-Workout Portfolio Strategy (48:30) – Ready-to-Drink Pre-Workout Development (54:30) – Protein Innovation: Light Carbonation Revolution (58:45) – Protein Dosing Philosophy and Market Positioning (1:06:30) – Celebrity Partnerships and Brand Building (1:10:30) – Market Expansion and Penetration Strategy (1:12:30) – Peptides and Future Health Optimization (1:17:30) – Healthspan vs Lifespan Philosophy Where to Follow Bucked Up and Connect Ryan Gardner: LinkedIn&... Read more on the PricePlow Blog

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft delays docking with the International Space Station (ISS). PLD Space has been selected by the European Space Research and Technology Centre, part of the European Space Agency (ESA), for its first Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) contract. The Space Data Association (SDA) has selected GMV to develop its next generation safety of flight system, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Torsten Kriening and Yvette Gonzalez from SpaceWatch.Global share the latest from World Space Business Week in Paris. Selected Reading NASA, Northrop Grumman Assessing Cygnus XL Engine Burn Plan PLD Space secures its first GNC contract with ESA to develop a new hybrid navigation system SDA Selects GMV to Deliver Next Generation Safety of Spaceflight System BlackSky Wins NGA Luno A Delivery Order for AI-Enabled Change Detection Anduril and Impulse Space Expand Partnership to Conduct RPO Mission Demonstration in GEO Russia developing Starlink rival at 'rapid pace,' space chief says- Reuters Astro Digital Signs Power Purchase Agreement with Star Catcher to “Plug Into” Space's First Power Grid Maxar Partners with Ecopia AI to Launch Vivid Features, Powering Dynamic Vector Maps of Every Place on Earth IonQ Completes Acquisition of Oxford Ionics, Rapidly Accelerating Its Quantum Computing Roadmap IonQ Announces Intent to Acquire Vector Atomic, Expanding Into Quantum Sensing and Strengthening Its Quantum Technology Portfolio Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode on GNC, Chris, the youngest son of Todd Cochrane, addresses the listeners following the unexpected passing of his father on September 8. Chris shares that the past week has been one of the most challenging times in his life, but gathering with family in Michigan provided some comfort. He expresses the difficulty … Continue reading Remembering Dad and What's Next for GNC #1843 → The post Remembering Dad and What's Next for GNC #1843 appeared first on Geek News Central.

At least to me, it seems everywhere you turn…iron-clad sports nutrition brands of the past are now showing huge cracks in their armor. So then, why does the industry appear shocked by the recent Iovate Health Sciences International news? For those that haven't already read the headlines, (last week) Iovate Health Sciences International filed voluntary petitions for protection under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code. But unlike other chapters that address domestic bankruptcies, Chapter 15 doesn't involve a full liquidation or reorganization of the debtor through the U.S. court system. Instead, Chapter 15 is an administrative process to grant U.S. recognition to a foreign proceeding…designed to facilitate cross-border insolvency cases involving debtors, creditors, and assets in multiple countries. Thus, Iovate Health Sciences International is utilizing the bankruptcy proceedings to stabilize its operations and pursue an orderly cross-border restructuring…because if you didn't realize, the parent company of supplement brands like Hydroxycut and MuscleTech is headquartered in Canada. Founded in 1995, Iovate initially began as MuscleTech Research and Development…launching as a direct-to-consumer mail order business with just three products, one of which was the original Hydroxycut formula. A year later, MuscleTech expanded into physical retailers like GNC…and then soon after launched the infamous Cell-Tech product, along with Nitro-Tech, quickly becoming the first (and probably only) occurrence in supplement industry history that a single brand owned the top-selling fat burner, creatine, and protein powder products simultaneously. But while Iovate continually evolved its family of sports nutrition and wellness brands throughout the 21st century, the current portfolio includes the beforementioned MuscleTech and Hydroxycut (which eventually got spun off into a standalone brand), but also Six Star Pro Nutrition and Purely Inspired. And I can continue being nostalgic and overly positive by sharing numerous commercial highlights, but that wouldn't tell the entire business story. In fact, a central reason for changing the company name to Iovate Health Sciences International resulted from an original MuscleTech bankruptcy filing in June 2005…which got triggered after it faced thousands of lawsuits mostly related to Hydroxycut products containing ephedra. And I can go on and mention many other lawsuit settlements and reputational blunders…but in 2016, Xiwang Foodstuffs acquired Iovate Health Sciences International for reportedly north of a half-billion dollars. So, what caused this bankruptcy? The largest trade payable is the organic nutritional products brand Orgain, which (as of 2022) is now majority owned by Nestle Health Science. While the legal battle wasn't publicized much, Orgain filed a trade dress infringement lawsuit against Iovate…alleging that the Purely Inspired mimicked the Orgain packaging. Then, in April 2024, a U.S. court ordered Iovate to pay Orgain $12.5 million for copying its product labeling. But after Iovate failed to pay, Orgain obtained a writ of garnishment against Walmart, which withheld approximately $8 million in outstanding accounts receivable payments…severely impacting the working capital of Iovate. And as you'd imagine, this liquidity crunch ended up being a central reason why Iovate defaulted on its secured debt with Royal Bank of Canada. But while the protracted legal battle with Orgain might've been the “straw that broke the camel's back,” it hardly explains everything.

While most 26-year-olds are still figuring out their life… Sam Hopkins is flipping 10–20 houses a month.He's already on track to become one of the best flippers in the country.But he didn't start that way.He was working two jobs at AT&T and GNC, making $11 an hour. He scraped together $10K over a year and then bet it all on a vacant house he found driving for dollars.Bought it for $5K. Sold it for $16K.And that one deal lit a fire under him.This is what it really takes to go from a couple of deals a month to hundreds a year.The craziest part?Sam didn't have some rich uncle writing him checks.He just decided to stop watching from the sidelines and go all in.And I know there are a lot of Sams out there right now.Maybe that's you.You've got the drive, but no funding.If that's you, here's your next move…

This is one of our favourite interviews EVER! In this very special LIVE edition of Brand Growth Heroes, recorded at Bread & Jam Fest 2025, Fiona Fitz sits down in front of a live audience with the absolutely brilliant and hilariously honest Juliet Barratt, co-founder of the category-defining sports nutrition brand, Grenade. Juliet shares the fab story of how she and then-partner Al Barrett took Grenade from the back of a big night out in Birmingham to the shelves of Tesco, WHSmith and petrol stations across the UK, and ultimately to a £200M exit to Mondelez - without ever compromising on what made them different.If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, PLEASE could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review, AND share it with a fellow founder - it could help them too!The conversation covers so much - from how branding (and “weirdness!”) can be a superpower, to the moment they realised their “retire-on-a-beach” plan was delusional, to driving a tank into BodyPower Expo (yes, really) to get noticed by GNC. Juliet also opens up about how being “all in” meant no days off for four years, about hiring people who weren't “knobs,” and about what it really felt like when the money landed in her bank account after the deal closed, and interestingly, why it WASN'T the moment of glory people imagine!She also shares her views on today's funding-obsessed food and drink ecosystem, and why she believes too many founders are chasing other people's stories instead of writing their own.Wait for it...Juliet also shares her (perhaps controversial?!) views on the 'female founder' movement - we'd love to know what you think (if you're listening on Spotify, you can comment below!)Juliet's energy is infectious, her insight razor-sharp, and her advice unmissable for any challenger brand founder.And yes, we talk about the Oreo bar. (Don't eat five a day. Just… don't.) PS: Don't miss the audience questions at the end. Golden nuggets tsunami! Enjoy.Useful links:Connect with Juliet Barratt on LinkedInFollow Grenade on LinkedInMore about Bread & Jam FestivalFollow Brand Growth Heroes on LinkedInConnect with BGH host Fiona Fitz on LinkedIn============================================================Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes' podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm=============================================================If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.But don't forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.And that starts with the right legal partner.So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we're delighted to have you on board.If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!==============================================A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.You won't want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Matt Gialich is the Co-Founder and CEO of AstroForge, an asteroid mining company founded in 2022 that aims to extract platinum group metals from near-Earth asteroids to redefine sustainable mining practices. With over a decade of experience leading high-performing engineering teams, Gialich holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  His career began at Toyon Research Corporation as an analyst developing novel navigation algorithms, followed by key roles at Virgin Orbit, where he led the flight software and GNC teams and oversaw avionics development. He later served as Director of Vehicle Software at Bird, where he met co-founder Jose Acain, sparking the idea for AstroForge amid their shared passion for space.  Previously, Gialich was co-founder and CEO of Ex Scientia Technologies. A Y Combinator alumnus, he has guided AstroForge to successful missions, including Mission 1's launch, and advocates for commercial space innovation to address resource scarcity on Earth. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://bruntworkwear.com – USE CODE SRS https://bubsnaturals.com – USE CODE SHAWN https://bunkr.life – USE CODE SRS Go to https://bunkr.life/SRS and use code “SRS” to get your 25% off your family plan https://shawnlikesgold.com https://helixsleep.com/srs https://moinkbox.com/srs https://mypatriotsupply.com/srs https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs https://shopify.com/srs https://simplisafe.com/srs Matt Gialich Links: X - https://x.com/MattGialich LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gialich AstroForge - https://www.astroforge.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The changes, they have arrived! We've got a packed episode for you folks today, like the CZ Shadow 2 Carry from CZ Firearms, the return of Warrior of the Week featuring our late friend; John Benner, SIG SAUER issued a Statement on the Safety of P320 Platform Pistols, and more! So listen up, hippie. Wanna hear the Full Episode? Sign up for the Grad Program! Gas Mask Filters and Shelf Life Jarrad and Professor discussed technical issues with microphones and audio setup, then explored gas mask filters and their shelf lives. They clarified that different filters have varying shelf lives, with some lasting up to 20 years in storage, and explained how gamma radiation dissipates over time due to sunlight and natural processes. They agreed to open future shows with questions to encourage audience participation. Radio Show: Wrestling and Planets The meeting began with a brief delay as Jarrad dealt with technical issues. They discussed wrestling events, including Brock Lesnar's return and the handling of past controversies. The group then prepared to record the radio show, addressing listener questions and discussing the definition of planets, including the historical classification of Pluto. They also touched on the International Astronomical Union's updated criteria for what constitutes a planet. Gas Mask Filters and Historical Verification The hosts discussed gas mask filters, addressing a listener's question about their shelf life. They explained that filter longevity depends on the type and manufacturer, and recommended checking with the manufacturer for specific recommendations. The conversation then shifted to historical perspectives on weapons of mass destruction and the challenges of verifying historical information in the modern age, with Jarrad noting that while people have more access to information now, determining its accuracy remains difficult. Firearms Industry Technology Trends The meeting focused on a tech talk segment discussing recent developments in the firearms industry. The Professor highlighted Eotech's acquisition of VK Systems, which provides technology for situational awareness and team tactics. They also discussed the term "uncommanded discharge" and its relation to the Sig P320, noting its recent coinage due to the gun's unique firing mechanism. Professor further explored the shift in the firearms market, particularly CZ's promotion of a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) pistol, the CZ Shadow 2, as an everyday carry option, which represents a departure from the prevailing trend of striker-fired polymer guns. This move by CZ suggests a potential shift in consumer preferences and industry direction. John Benner: Warrior of the Week The meeting focused on honoring John Benner, the founder of Tactical Defense Institute, as the Warrior of the Week. Paul Markel shared personal anecdotes about Benner's contributions to law enforcement training and his invention of the K-Bar TDI law enforcement knife. The discussion highlighted Benner's emphasis on practical training and the importance of providing trainers for law enforcement equipment. Jarrad and Paul also promoted SOTG University's home study courses and residency programs, emphasizing the availability of training resources for students. Self-Defense in Firebomb Attacks The professor and Jared discussed a recent incident where a Virginia city councilman was allegedly set on fire by a man who threw gasoline on him. They debated whether the councilman could have defended himself with a gun if he had been carrying one, and discussed the increasing number of firebomb attacks in recent months. The professor suggested that carrying guns could be a deterrent against such attacks, and mentioned a video by John Stossel that supports their perspective. Gun Ownership and Media Portrayal The discussion focused on the debate around gun ownership and the media's portrayal of firearms. Professor and Jarrad discussed how Hollywood often depicts armed citizens negatively, contrasting with real-life examples of defensive gun use. They also analyzed a situation where California Governor Gavin Newsom was unable to accept a gifted handgun due to his state's strict gun laws, highlighting the complexity and potential absurdity of such regulations. The conversation concluded with criticism of Newsom's hypocrisy and the need for leaders to practice what they preach. BPC-157: Fitness Supplement Insights The discussion focused on BPC-157, a peptide supplement that has gained popularity in the fitness community. Professor shared his personal experience with the supplement, which was recommended to him by Dr. Dan for muscle recovery. He noted that while it was initially difficult to find, it is now available on GNC's website under different names. The conversation also touched on the growing interest in peptides, citing recent mentions by Joe Rogan and Kevin James. Professor emphasized the importance of listening to experienced individuals in the fitness and health field, and encouraged listeners to check out a recent episode featuring Matt Reynolds and to read Nicholas Orr's book. Sig P320 Safety Concerns The discussion focused on safety concerns with the Sig P320 pistol, particularly regarding incidents where the gun has discharged while in holsters. The professors discussed how Sig Sauer released a formal statement addressing various incidents, but the statement did not satisfy their concerns about the gun's safety. As a result, they decided to ban the P320 from their training classes until Sig Sauer provides clearer guidance about what "ready to use" means in their owner's manual. Super Dave's Chili Legacy The professor shared a humorous story about Dave Harrington, known as "Super Dave," who was a military contractor and roommate. The professor revealed that Dave's favorite chili recipe was created by him in 2007, and Dave would eat all the solid ingredients, leaving only chili soup behind. Despite being angry at the time, the professor later included a note in a cookbook suggesting to double the recipe if Super Dave was coming over, as he would stand in his underwear next to the crock pot to refill his bowl. The professor concluded by remembering Dave, who passed away last Friday, and noted that he would have advised to "relax your brain" in response to any questions. TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical [0:24:10] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com TOPIC: CZ SHADOW 2 CARRY www.czfirearms.com [0:49:11] SOTG Homeroom - SOTG University TOPIC: Virginia city councilman set on fire by maniac who dumped 5-gallon bucket of gas on him nypost.com

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the CEO of DON'T QUIT Sports Nutrition, Mark French. French has created, operated and sold multiple businesses in the consumer goods, sports, media and technology industries. As profiled by Forbes, French is recognized as one of the most successful business disruptors.Previous ventures include MISSION®, The Players' Tribune®, Healthy Together®, as well as entrepreneurial leadership roles with NBC Universal® (Founder of NBC Everywhere). French is the Founder of NLP Ventures, an investor and hands-on operational partner for portfolio companies in the Consumer Goods, Sports, Entertainment, and Technology sectors.Leading consumer PE Firm L Catterton tapped French to join them on the Board of Directors for their portfolio company X2 Performance (a clean, healthy sports energy brand) and take over the CEO role in effort to scale the business. Under French's leadership X2 partnered with Kawhi Leonard, Saquon Barkley and other elite athletes to grow the brands offering and distribution with large retailers including CVS, Subway, AMPM, GNC, etc. Mark recently led the strategic merger of X2 with Keurig Dr Pepper's sports protein brand DON'T QUIT. Under French's leadership DON'T QUIT now features clean / healthy sports beverages for all use occasions and is backed by Keurig Dr Pepper, LA Libations, Madison Square Garden, L Catterton, Sweetwater Private Equity, etc.Over the course of his entrepreneurial career, French has partnered with legendary co-founding athletes and entertainers including Dwyane Wade, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bush, Saquon Barkley, Damar Hamlin, DJ Khaled, Kendall Toole and others. Premiere institutional investors including L Catterton, Madison Square Garden, Live Nation, Endeavor, Roc Nation, Nelson Peltz, etc have backed French and his disruptive ventures.As a philanthropist, French received the Lowell B. Mason Award for his commitment and mentorship to at-risk inner-city youth. He was one of 150 delegates selected by Pope Francis for the Global “Sport at the Service of Humanity” Council. French is an alum of Ithaca College, actively involved in the Athletic Department's Advisory Council. He graduated from Harvard's Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports Executive Program.French's inspiring entrepreneurial story has been featured on CNBC, Forbes, ESPN, Fox Business News, and more. French is often asked to share his entrepreneurial story and teach best practices with corporate giants such as GE, The NFL and more.Mark French:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-french-/

On this Friends Like Us, Marina Franklin talks with Hollie Harper and Von Decarlo about empowering young girls through stand-up comedy.  They take a deep dive into how humor can be a tool for confidence and self-expression.  Von Decarlo is a New York-bred stand-up comedian, producer, writer, and actress who has appeared in worldwide ad campaigns and national commercials for Disney, GNC, Match, and Carnival Cruise lines. She performed in Montreal for Kevin Hart's LOL Network as well as the Lil' Rel and Friends show at the Just For Laughs comedy festival, and most recently in Australia for the Human Kind Festival. Additional appearances include HBO's Pause with Sam Jay, Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks on Tru TV and HBO Max, CNN's year-end wrap-up special, The Jerry O'Connell Show on FOX, BET, BuzzFeed, The Breakfast Club, Angela Yee's Lip Service, Sirius XM's Urban View and NBA channel, In Godfrey We Trust Podcast, and more. Von Decarlo is the Executive Producer of the documentary Killing Is Easy on Comedy Central as well as the producer of three posthumous comedy albums, Mr. P, Unreleased, and The Lost Files. Her debut comedy album, A Draggable Offense, is available on all major platforms, and can be heard on the She So Funny and Laugh Out Loud radio stations on Sirius XM. Look out for Von Decarlo in the RomCom, Switch Up, and in the indie film, Salesman, currently on Amazon Prime. Hollie Harper is a comedy nerd from South Jersey. She is currently the creator and co-exec producer of Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV and a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat “BlerdDating.” Hella Late! with Hollie Harper was recently in the 2021 NYC Web Fest where she was nominated as Best Actress. Hollie was a semi-finalist in the 2019 NBC Standup Competition and has been featured on NY1, and in Black Enterprise Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and Black San Diego Magazine. Her popular sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY has played the Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, BAM Café as well as the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Time Out Chicago named them one of the five groups to watch. Hollie is a regular host for West Side Comedy Club in NYC and works with Gold Comedy and Stand Up Girls, two programs that empower young women by teaching them standup comedy. She was recently the talent coordinator and casting for “Blood Lassi” on Spotify, written by Pratima Mani, and moderated the panel for the Emmy Award winning, WOC editing team of Black Lady Sketch Show for The Black TV and Film Collective. She is also the Creative Consultant for the very successful Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch'.  

This week, we're exposing ourselves by ranking the worst health and fitness trends we've ever fallen for. Some were popular, some were personal, and all of them were either misguided, unnecessary, or straight-up harmful. From raw vegan diets to daily HIIT classes to chewing gum instead of eating, we're breaking down what we tried, what went wrong, and how cringe it really was. We're giving each one a 1 to 10 cringe rating, sharing whether we're still tempted, and deciding once and for all if we'd ever go back. If you've ever gotten caught up in wellness hype or made questionable choices in the name of health, you're not alone. This one's for you.⁠⁠⁠Sign up for Fitness Stuff PREMIUM here!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Access to 10+ complete training programsbonus episodes weeklyJust $5 /month⁠⁠⁠Legion Athletics⁠⁠⁠BOGO 50% off for your first order + 2X points on every order after thatuse code “FSPOD” at checkoutTimestamps:(3:12) GNC(13:32) raw vegan(20:22) macros(27:58) barrys boot camp(33:02) Apple Cider Vinegar (34:13) fasted cardio(35:29) Intermittent Fasting(40:02) Herbalife(41:54) BCAA(43:43) Food Sensitivity Tests(48:24) Green Juice(57:07) Eating disorder

Fitness franchise growth is not just about expanding locations—it's about building brands, innovating experiences, and creating global communities. Few leaders understand this better than Tom Dowd, CEO of FIT House of Brands, who is steering the future of fitness franchising through a bold combination of strategy, technology, and culture. Tom Dowd's career has been defined by growth and transformation. As the former COO of GNC and co-founder of Performance Inspired Nutrition alongside Mark Wahlberg, Dowd knows what it takes to scale health and wellness brands at the highest levels. Now, as the CEO of FIT House of Brands, he leads three powerhouse fitness concepts—F45 Training, FS8 Pilates, and VAURA Pilates—under a unified platform designed for accelerated global expansion. At the core of Dowd's approach to fitness franchise growth is a deep focus on brand experience and operational excellence. Each brand under the FIT umbrella offers a distinct fitness journey: F45 delivers high-intensity functional training, FS8 blends Pilates, yoga, and toning for a complete mind-body workout, and VAURA offers athletic reformer Pilates with a multi-sensory studio environment. Together, these offerings meet the evolving needs of modern fitness consumers, while creating opportunities for franchisees to diversify and scale within the FIT ecosystem. Dowd emphasizes that sustainable fitness franchise growth requires more than just a compelling workout. It demands innovation at every level—from data-driven programming and immersive studio technology to franchisee training and member engagement strategies. FIT House of Brands has built a proprietary platform that combines content libraries, analytics, and member-facing technology to enhance the studio experience and drive deeper brand loyalty. Building a connected wellness ecosystem is a major part of Dowd's vision. By partnering with strategic investors, corporate partners, and technology innovators, FIT House of Brands is expanding beyond the studio walls to support members' holistic wellness journeys. This ecosystem approach not only strengthens member retention but also enhances the value proposition for franchisees looking for robust, future-proof business models. Tom Dowd's leadership philosophy centers on community, scalability, and operational precision. He believes that franchisees are the lifeblood of a fitness brand's success, and the system must be designed to empower owners at every stage of their journey. Through streamlined onboarding, data-supported decision-making, and ongoing education, FIT House of Brands is building a network of owners equipped to thrive in a competitive fitness market. Fitness franchise growth also depends heavily on brand agility. Dowd is keenly aware of shifting consumer demands—more focus on personalization, technology integration, wellness beyond physical fitness, and community connection. His strategy ensures that each FIT brand evolves with the market while maintaining operational simplicity for franchise owners. Another critical factor in Dowd's success has been his ability to create scalable brand architectures. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all models, he and his team have developed adaptable systems that allow each franchise location to maintain consistency while catering to the specific demographics and needs of its local market. This level of flexibility enables brands under FIT House of Brands to thrive across 55 countries and counting. Tom Dowd's approach to fitness franchise growth is a blueprint for how health and wellness brands can move beyond traditional models and build sustainable global platforms. By integrating innovation, community, operational excellence, and strategic expansion, he is redefining what success looks like in the fitness franchising space. As the fitness and wellness industries continue to evolve, leaders like Tom Dowd will shape the future by focusing not only on the product or service, but on the entire ecosystem that supports it. Fitness franchise growth, at its best, creates lasting impact—helping people live better lives while creating meaningful business opportunities around the world. Watch the full episode on YouTube. Don't miss future episodes featuring powerful conversations and actionable insights from today's top business minds. Join Fordify LIVE! Every Wednesday at 11AM Central on your favorite social platforms and catch The Business Growth Show Podcast every Thursday for a weekly dose of business growth wisdom. About Tom Dowd Tom Dowd is the CEO of FIT House of Brands, one of the world's largest fitness and wellness franchisors, home to F45 Training, FS8 Pilates, and VAURA Pilates. With decades of experience scaling global brands, including as COO of GNC and co-founder of Performance Inspired Nutrition with Mark Wahlberg, Tom is a dynamic leader driving innovation, brand evolution, and franchise growth worldwide. Under his leadership, FIT House of Brands operates over 1,500 studios across more than 55 countries, delivering cutting-edge fitness experiences and building a connected wellness ecosystem that meets the diverse needs of today's consumers. To explore more about Tom Dowd and FIT House of Brands, visit FunctionalInspiredTraining.com. About Ford Saeks Ford Saeks is a Business Growth Accelerator who has helped generate over a billion dollars in sales for organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500s. With more than 20 years of experience, he's redefined what it means to drive success—combining strategic marketing, innovation, and real-world business acumen. As the President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., Ford helps businesses attract loyal customers, expand brand visibility, and improve performance at every level. He's founded over ten companies, authored five books, earned three U.S. patents, and received numerous industry accolades for his work in marketing, leadership, and entrepreneurship. A trailblazer in digital innovation, Ford is also an expert in AI prompt engineering, training businesses to use tools like ChatGPT to create high-impact content and elevate customer engagement. He recently shared his expertise at the “Unleash AI for Business Summit,” where he spoke on the role of AI in transforming operations, marketing, and the customer experience. To learn more, visit ProfitRichResults.com and watch his business TV show at Fordify.tv.

On Episode #170 of the PricePlow Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down with GNC CEO Michael Costello at the 2025 GNC Global Conference in Orlando, Florida, for an eye-opening conversation that reveals why this supplement-using industry leader truly is “one of us”. Michael's journey from a volleyball-playing creatine customer in the 1990s to chemical engineer at Clorox to CEO of America's most iconic supplement retailer represents one of the most authentic leadership stories we've encountered. The GNC CEO Who Takes Creatine and Understands GLP-1 This episode, part of our ongoing four-part podcast series that began with Episode #169 featuring Jack Sehgal and Ben Benedict of Nutralabz, showcases how Michael's consumer-first philosophy and science-driven approach are transforming GNC's relationship with both franchisees and customers. From his early days buying “suspect” creatine when people thought it might be “steroids” to his current mission of refocusing GNC on consumer needs, Michael's story demonstrates the power of authentic leadership rooted in genuine industry passion. The conversation explores GNC's unique franchise-corporate hybrid model, the strategic positioning around GLP-1 medications, and Michael's vision for making GNC the trusted destination for personalized supplement guidance. His insights into ingredient trends, consumer education, and the critical importance of knowledgeable staff reveal why GNC remains essential in an increasingly crowded marketplace. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/gnc-ceo-michael-costello-170 Video: GNC CEO Michael Costello Shares His Consumer-First Vision https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU1j_OaTGJ4 Detailed Show Notes: Michael Costello's Mission to Refocus GNC (0:00) – Introduction: Meeting GNC's CEO at Global Conference (1:00) – GNC's Unique Franchise-Corporate Hybrid Model (4:15) – Personal Journey: From Volleyball Courts to Corporate Leadership (8:00) – Professional Evolution: From Clorox to GNC (10:15) – The GNC Turnaround Strategy: Refocusing on Consumers (12:00) – The Power of Personalized Guidance vs. Big Box Retail (13:45) – Strategic Positioning Around GLP-1 Medications (16:45) – Ingredient Trends and Science-Based Decision Making (18:15) – Daily Routine and Leadership Philosophy (19:45) – Healing the Corporate-Franchise Relationship (21:30) – The Global Convention Philosophy (22:00) – Future Vision and Call to Action: Give GNC Another Chance Where to Follow Michael Costello and GNC Michael Costello: LinkedIn GNC: Website Related Episodes: Jack Sehgal & Ben Benedict – Nutralabz Story – Episode #169 Jose Antonio – ISSN & Creatine History – Episode #137 Thank you to Michael for sharing his remarkable journey and vision for GNC's future. His combination of personal supplement ex... Read more on the PricePlow Blog

In Episode #169 of the PricePlow Podcast, Mike and Ben sit down with industry veterans Jack Sehgal and Ben Benedict at the 2025 GNC Global Conference to explore the remarkable journey behind Nutralabz and its two breakthrough brands: Basic Supplements and GR8 Lifestyle. This conversation reveals the strategic thinking, authentic partnerships, and “daily driver” philosophy that have rapidly transformed these concepts into successful retail brands. Jack, CEO of Nutralabz and the manufacturing powerhouse behind both brands, shares his evolution from behind-the-scenes manufacturer to brand storyteller, while Ben Benedict brings his extensive GNC franchise background and sales expertise as the newly appointed Chief Revenue Officer. Together, they've created what they call a “brand house” – a strategic approach to developing multiple brands that serve different consumer needs without competing against each other. The discussion dives deep into the revolutionary “daily driver” concept that sparked Basic Supplements, the premium lifestyle positioning of GR8, and the unique eight-ingredient formula constraint that has become central to their product development philosophy. From the authentic friendship forged over a Ruth's Chris dinner to the community-over-competition mentality that's reshaping industry relationships, this episode offers rare insights into modern supplement brand building and the power of strategic partnerships. https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/jack-sehgal-ben-benedict-nutralabz-gr8-gnc-169 Video: Jack Sehgal & Ben Benedict Share the Nutralabz Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1gmJdhIJsQ Detailed Show Notes: Building the Nutralabz Brand House (0:00) – Introductions: From Buffalo to GNC Global Conference (0:45) – Ben Benedict's Journey: From Sneaker Sales to Supplement Industry Leadership (4:10) – The Jack and Ben Partnership: Two Years from Concept to Reality (5:50) – Jack's Evolution: From Behind-the-Scenes to Brand Storyteller (8:30) – The Daily Driver Revolution: Addressing Market Overcomplexity (10:30) – Basic Supplements Philosophy: Transparency and Simplicity (14:00) – GR8 Lifestyle: Premium Performance for Modern Lifestyles (18:30) – The Eight-Ingredient Constraint: Innovation Through Limitation (22:30) – Community Over Competition: Reshaping Industry Relationships (25:00) – Manufacturing Excellence and Brand Differentiation (29:30) – Real-World Retail Success: Consumer and Retailer Feedback (34:00) – PricePlow's Product Development Partnership (38:00) – International Success and Growth Strategy (40:30) – The Brand House Vision: Future Expansion Plans (43:30) – Lessons Learned and Strategic Focus (47:00) – Industry Evolution and Future Outlook Where to Follow and Learn More Jack Sehgal: LinkedIn Ben Benedict: LinkedIn Basic Supplements: Learn about… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

Lisa Kay Solomon sees design everywhere—not just in products, but in conversations, strategies, systems, and futures. As a futurist and strategist, she has spent her career helping leaders and organizations think long-term, navigate uncertainty, and drive meaningful change through intentional design. In this episode, Lisa and Dart talk about how to lead with imagination in uncertain times, why good strategy needs emotional engagement, and how design can be a form of applied hope. They also explore what leaders can learn from scenario planning, the surprising lessons of an early GNC wellness experiment, and how future-readiness starts with asking better questions.Lisa Kay Solomon is a futures and design educator at Stanford University's d.school, where she teaches classes on long-term thinking, systems leadership, and civic imagination. She is the co-author of Moments of Impact and Design a Better Business.In this episode, Dart and Lisa discuss:- Why the best leaders are also designers of the future- The power of imagination in strategy and systems change- What scenario planning can teach us about agency- How emotional connection drives effective strategy- Lessons from civic design and community-led change- And other topics...Lisa Kay Solomon is a futurist, strategist, and Designer in Residence at the Stanford d.school, where she helps leaders and students develop the skills to navigate uncertainty and shape long-term change. She is the co-author of the bestselling books Moments of Impact and Design a Better Business. Named to the Thinkers50 Radar list and recognized by ixDA as a Woman of Design, Lisa is known for blending design, foresight, and civic imagination to prepare people for the future.Resources Mentioned:Moments of Impact: How to Design Strategic Conversations That Accelerate Change, by Lisa Kay Solomon and Chris Ertel: https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Impact-Strategic-Conversations-Accelerate/dp/1451697627Design a Better Business: New Tools, Skills, and Mindset for Strategy and Innovation, by Patrick Van Der Pijl, Justin Lokitz, and Lisa Kay Solomon: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Better-Business-Strategy-Innovation/dp/1119272114Stanford d.school: https://dschool.stanford.eduThe Long Now Foundation: https://longnow.orgConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.lisakaysolomon.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/Course: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/leading-like-a-futuristWork with Dart:Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what's most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

Sara Caplan (she/her) is a trans woman, comedian, and philosophy student based in Los Angeles, CA. She is a member of the improv teams QT's (UCB's first all-trans-GNC-nonbinary improv team) and Chill Touch. You can check out her thoughts on transness, philosophy, and whatever else is happening on her instagram @sararosecaplan Discussed This week: being trans improvisors, Dandelions, Ginger Bug, eating garbage for the nostaligaic comfort, room temp cans of spaghetti with utensils, NYC friends, long form and short form improv, discovery through games and play in a scene, Los Angeles, Polysemy, Ruderal, Groom of the Stool, the mark of a criminal, edible dandelion greens from an Asian grocery store, dandelion chips, weeds as medicines and a diuretic, the malleability of definitions, kufresh, the Hebrew Alphabet, being named after a horse, eastheitic flexibility, no one taught you the definition of the word chair, the Trechery of Images, words that leave you speachless, Denotation vs. Connotation, South Park fag episode, why a question has rhetorical impact, propaganda, categories being messy, and more!

In this explosive broadcast, the hosts discuss claims of Chinese Communist Party espionage on U.S. college campuses, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump's crackdown on foreign influence, and the judiciary's alleged interference with executive power. They delve into a Stanford study exposing CCP infiltration via student visas, highlight the risk of military base contracts with CCP-linked companies like GNC, and raise concerns over fentanyl's deadly toll. The segment also touches on Elon Musk's alliance with Trump, GOP dysfunction, and the broader fight for America's sovereignty and security.

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole is joined by Ben Azadi - author of Keto Flex, founder of Keto Kamp, and host of The Metabolic Freedom Podcast. After overcoming obesity and suicidal ideation, Ben transformed his life and health through ancient healing tools like fasting and the ketogenic diet. He opens up about the mental and metabolic shifts that changed everything, the dangers of relying solely on GLP-1s like Ozempic, and why understanding insulin resistance is key to preventing disease. Plus, Ben shares what happened to his gut health and labs after 90 days on carnivore, and why gratitude might be the most powerful tool for healing. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcastPlease note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:If you're ready to truly nourish your skin and body from within, Pique is offering 20% off plus a FREE rechargeable frother and glass beaker with my exclusive link: Piquelife.com/WillCole. Go to shopremi.com/WILLCOLE and use code WILLCOLE at checkout for 50% off. Access Orchid's exclusive offer for Art of Being Well Listeners at orchidhealth.com/beingwell to sign up for an intro call with one of their experts and learn more about if Orchid's embryo reports are right for you. Art of Being Well Listeners will get access to pre- and post-test genetic counseling at no cost.Visit fromourplace.com/WILLCOLE and use code WILLCOLE for 10% off sitewide. With a hundred-day risk-free trial, free shipping and returns, you can experience this game-changing cookware with zero risk.Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you. Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole is joined by Tiffany Moon, MD - board-certified anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and former cast member of The Real Housewives of Dallas. They discuss the hidden toll of perfectionism, how burnout affects even the most high-achieving women, and why redefining success is key to true wellness. Dr. Moon opens up about motherhood, cultural pressures, and her new book Joy Prescriptions, which offers a fresh approach to healing. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you.Text ABW to 64000 to get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.Visit toupsandco.com and use code DRWILLCOLE at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.Go to Quince.com/willcole for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order.Pique is offering 20% off plus a FREE rechargeable frother and glass beaker with my exclusive link: Piquelife.com/WillCole.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Resources for the Community:___________________________________________________________________https://linktr.ee/theplussidezpodcast Ro - Telehealth for GLP1 weight management https://ro.co/weight-loss/?utm_source=plussidez&utm_medium=partnership&utm_campaign=comms_yt&utm_content=45497&utm_term=55______________________________________________________________________What Role Should GNC Play in the GLP-1 Movement? CEO Michael Costello and RD Rachel Jones Speak OutThis episode pulls back the curtain on how one of the biggest names in supplements is responding to the rise of GLP-1 medications—and what that means for our community. We sit down with GNC CEO Michael Costello and Registered Dietitian Rachel Kreider to talk about the shifting landscape of health and wellness, especially in the context of obesity care.With GLP-1 medications changing the game, GNC is stepping up with a new line of supplements designed to help people stay on therapy longer by addressing common side effects like nausea and fatigue. But that's just the beginning. We dig into how their backgrounds—one in science, the other in business—are shaping GNC's modern approach to health, including their rigorous product vetting process and commitment to safety.You'll also hear about GNC's coaching model, which offers one-on-one support to those navigating GLP-1s or working on broader wellness goals. From high-protein, low-sugar snack options to supplements designed specifically for women in perimenopause, this episode is full of tips, tools, and insights for making your health journey sustainable.We talk candidly about the supplement industry's reputation, how GNC is working to earn (or re-earn) your trust, and where they see their role in supporting chronic disease care going forward.This is a must-listen for anyone curious about how supplements and pharmaceuticals can work together—and how to make informed choices in a world that's finally starting to take obesity seriously.

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole sits down with Iman Hasan, founder of IHC Agency and host of the Biohack It podcast, to explore the intersection of wellness and womanhood, and what it means to take your health into your own hands. Iman opens up about her global upbringing, the trauma that drove her independence, and the loss of her mother that ultimately inspired her to pivot from luxury PR to functional medicine and biohacking. From reversing ovarian aging and healing naturally after infertility, to her bold take on IVF, vaccine policy, and the future of women's health, Iman brings unfiltered passion, personal stories, and insight that will leave you thinking differently about your body and your choices. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:Reverse hair loss with @iRestorelaser and unlock HUGE savings on the iRestore Elite with the code WILLCOLE at https://www.irestore.com/WILLCOLE ! #irestorepodShop Mother's Day at Quince. Go to Quince.com/willcole for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns. Visit toupsandco.com and use code DRWILLCOLE at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you. Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole talks with Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh, board-certified pediatrician and author of Parenting at Your Child's Pace, for a powerful, nuanced conversation around childhood health, vaccines, and chronic disease. Together, they break down why rates of autism, asthma, and autoimmune conditions are soaring, what's missing from today's vaccine safety data, and why parents deserve informed consent without fear or censorship. Dr. Warsh shares how he blends integrative medicine with conventional care, and why functional pediatrics is more essential than ever. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:Pique is offering 20% off plus a FREE rechargeable frother and glass beaker with my exclusive link: Piquelife.com/WillCole.Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you. Visit SOAAK.com/willcole and use code WILLCOLE at checkout to get your first month free.Head to moshlife.com/WILLCOLE to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on the Best sellers Trial Pack.Find Maui Venison Bone Broth in the Broth aisle, available right now at Whole Foods stores nation wide. Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Luke Montgomery-Smith, co-founder of Plink!, and Tyshawn Bryant, founder of Green Regimen, to unpack their incredible journeys through GNC's Next Big Thing competition. From the initial application process to standing on shelves nationwide, Luke and Tyshawn share what it took to win, what they learned working with a major retailer, and how they've continued to grow post-launch.Hear how Plink! scaled from Vermont startup to national hydration contender, and how Green Regimen broke through with plant-based protein in GNC's evolving wellness space. Whether it's walking into GNC stores to personally connect with staff or mastering the retail pitch, this episode is packed with insights for any CPG founder looking to take their brand to the next level.Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look at how hustle, strategy, and timing can lead to big wins.Thinking of applying to the next GNC Next Big Thing?Apply to GNC x Startup CPG NEXT BIG THING, deadline of 4/30: https://bit.ly/gncnextbigthingListen in as they share about:Luke Montgomery-Smith (Plink!)Applying to GNC's Next Big ThingThe Expo West ConnectionPitching at GNC HQWhat It Takes to Win as a StartupFrom End Cap to Permanent Shelf PlacementBuilding Relationships with GNC Store StaffThe Power of Strategic Retail PartnershipsFundraising Momentum After the WinTyshawn Bryant (Green Regimen)Why he Almost Didn't ApplyUnderstanding the New GNCCreating a Standout Submission VideoThe Surprise Win for All FinalistsHow to Make the Most of a Retail TestIn-Store Demos and Customer EducationAdapting to Different Customer SegmentsEpisode Links:Website: https://greenregimen.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greenregimen/Website: https://drinkplink.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukejms/ Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.Show Links:Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Daniel's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

You don't have to be perfect to find true love! Join host Marina Franklin as she and funny friend Von Decarlo dives in to finding true love with dating coach Francesca Hogi in our latest episode. Learn how self-love and authenticity lead the way to meaningful connections.  Francesca Hogi is a coach, speaker, and writer. She teaches people how to truly love themselves and find true love. She's the founder of The True Love Society membership community and the host of the podcast Dear Franny.  And her first book, How to Find True Love: Unlock Your Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships is available for Preorder by April 7th . Von Decarlo is a New York-bred stand-up comedian, producer, writer, and actress who has appeared in worldwide ad campaigns and national commercials for Disney, GNC, Match, and Carnival Cruise lines. She performed in Montreal for Kevin Hart's LOL Network as well as the Lil' Rel and Friends show at the Just For Laughs comedy festival, and most recently in Australia for the Human Kind Festival. Additional appearances include HBO's Pause with Sam Jay, Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks on Tru TV and HBO Max, CNN's year-end wrap-up special, The Jerry O'Connell Show on FOX, BET, BuzzFeed, The Breakfast Club, Angela Yee's Lip Service, Sirius XM's Urban View and NBA channel, In Godfrey We Trust Podcast, and more. Von Decarlo is the Executive Producer of the documentary Killing Is Easy on Comedy Central as well as the producer of three posthumous comedy albums, Mr. P, Unreleased, and The Lost Files. Her debut comedy album, A Draggable Offense, is available on all major platforms, and can be heard on the She So Funny and Laugh Out Loud radio stations on Sirius XM. Look out for Von Decarlo in the upcoming RomCom, Switch Up, and in the indie film, Salesman, currently on Amazon Prime.   Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf. Writer for HBO's 'Divorce' and the new Tracy Morgan show on Paramount Plus: 'Crutch'. 

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole is joined by Helen Christoni, SVP of Business Development & Partnerships at Ideal Living, the makers of AquaTru and AirDoctor. Helen shares her personal health journey and how it led her to advocate for clean, truly purified water. They break down the shocking truth about what's in U.S. tap water - including forever chemicals, fluoride, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics - and explain why boiling or basic filters aren't enough. Learn how to protect yourself and your family, what to look for in a water filtration system, and why clean water is foundational to detox, gut health, fertility, and longevity. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:Pique is offering 20% off plus a FREE rechargeable frother and glass beaker with my exclusive link: Piquelife.com/WillCole.Free your mouth today and save 20% sitewide, plus a FREE travel case and counter top stand at GETQUIPQUIP.COM/WILLCOLE.Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/WILLCOLE and use promo code WILLCOLE today for 10% off your first order.Right now, you get an amazing 20% off, or if you choose their already discounted subscription, you get almost a third off the price! Only available when you visit my exclusive URL Puori.com/WILLCOLE and use my promo code WILLCOLE. Or save 20% off when you make a one-time purchase – still such great savings. Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you. Receive $150 your order from AquaTru with my exclusive link: http://www.aquatruwater.com/willcole Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole is joined by Light Watkins, a renowned meditation teacher, thought leader, and author of Bliss More and Travel Light. They explore how meditation is often misunderstood, why purpose isn't something you find but something you live, and how to cultivate happiness from the inside out. Light shares insights from his nomadic lifestyle, the power of one-bag living, and why consistency matters more than intensity in mindfulness and personal growth. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code WILLCOLE at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepodTake proactive care of your health and head to OPositiv.com/WILLCOLE or enter WILLCOLE at checkout for 25% off your first purchase.LMNT is offering a free sample pack with any purchase, That's 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT order. This is a great way to try all 8 flavors or share LMNT with a friend. Get yours at DrinkLMNT.com/artofbeingwell.Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you. Head to moshlife.com/WILLCOLE to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on the Best sellers Trial Pack.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the HWMF Podcast, Seth & Bob discuss training, coaching, the businesses, and the upcoming GNC launch.

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole sits down with actress, author, and entrepreneur Jenny McCarthy. They dive into her Hollywood journey, the pivotal moment that led her to speak out about her son's autism diagnosis, and the wellness practices that have shaped her life. Jenny also shares why she launched Formless Beauty, her thoughts on forever chemicals in skincare, and how her viral Larry King interview is more relevant than ever. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories from The View and The Masked Singer. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:SuppCo is currently in beta testing right now and users can get 100% free access as a listener of The Art of Being Well just right now. But you have to go to Supp.co/WillCole. Listeners will also get early access to SuppCo's founding membership when it launches in early 2025. So get in right now. Listeners of The Art of Being Well can claim an exclusive three-month free trial, with no credit card required at www.YNAB.com/willcole.Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you. Visit toupsandco.com and use code DRWILLCOLEE at checkout for 15% off yourfirst purchase.Own your health and join the growing community of women with PCOS reclaiming their health today. Head to Ovii.com/willcole to learn more and start your journey.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Ask Me Anything episode of The Art of Being Well, Dr. Will Cole dives into your biggest health questions—from the hidden dangers of PFAS in everyday products to the best clean swaps. He breaks down the complexities of managing Hashimoto's, SIBO, IBS, and prediabetes, including how to navigate blood sugar spikes, the fiber paradox, and the insulin index. Plus, he shares his take on natural alternatives for erectile dysfunction and Andrea opens up about her personal experience with gut health struggles. For all links mentioned in this episode, visit www.drwillcole.com/podcast. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Sponsors:AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/willcole to get this offer!Go to Quince.com/willcole for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!Go to qualialife.com/WILL for up to $100 OFF Qualia Mind, and as a listener of The Art of Being Well use code WILL at checkout for an additional 15% off any purchase. For your convenience Qualia Mind is also available at select GNC locations near you.Head to moshlife.com/WILLCOLE to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on the Best sellers Trial Pack.Blissy is offering 60-nights risk-free PLUS an additional 30% off when you shop at Blissy.com/WILLCOLE. Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the LadyGang podcast's epic Year-End Review episode, the hosts take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on all the highs and lows that made 2024 unforgettable. It all started with Keltie losing her diamond ring on the fifth day of the year (yes, you read that right!), and from there, the year was filled with plenty of laughs, challenges, and milestones. The gang reminisces about everything from Becca's wild adventures to Jac finally getting the keys to her new house—a dream come true after years of anticipation. As they look back on their personal journeys and the unforgettable moments they've shared with fans, the excitement builds for the milestone that's just around the corner: Year 10 of LadyGang! Packed with heartfelt reflections, hilarious anecdotes, and a little bit of chaos, this episode is the perfect way to wrap up the year and get pumped for what's to come in the next chapter of the LadyGang saga. Check out our holiday deals!! MasterClass: Want to learn from world class experts? Get up to 50% off at MasterClass.com/lady LadyGang is sponsored by BetterHelp! Visit BetterHelp.com/ladygang to get 10% off your first month! Nutrafol: Got thinning hair? Get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping at Nutrafol.com and use code LGPOD Qualia: Resist aging at the cellular level! Go to Qualialife.com/lady for up to 50% off AND use code LADY at checkout for an additional 15% off! PLUS, Qualia Senolytic is available at select GNC locations near you!

In the Thankful episode of the LadyGang podcast, the hosts take a moment to reflect on all the things that bring them gratitude in their lives. Each of the ladies—Keltie, Becca, and Jac—shares three things they're especially thankful for this year, from the big, life-changing moments to the little, everyday blessings that often go unnoticed. With plenty of heartwarming and hilarious stories, the episode is a perfect reminder to pause and appreciate the good stuff, even in the midst of a busy, sometimes chaotic world. Whether it's their personal relationships, career milestones, or moments of joy that come from unexpected places, the hosts open up and encourage listeners to do the same. It's an episode packed with gratitude, humor, and the genuine connection that LadyGang fans know and love. Check out our holiday sponsors!!! Qualia: Resist aging at the cellular level! Go to QualiaLife.com/lady for up to 50% off and use code LADY for an additional 15% off! PLUS: Qualia Senolytic is available at select GNC locations near you! Progressive: Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive! Peloton: Stay motivated! Find your push at OnePeloton.com

Jackie Shimmel takes the spotlight as the guest star on the latest episode of the LadyGang podcast, diving into all the hottest Hollywood gossip and pop culture moments of the week. The conversation kicks off with Jackie's take on Leonardo DiCaprio turning 50—yes, 50—and the ladies discuss how his love life has been a source of endless fascination for fans. The group also weighs in on the much-talked-about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce romance, giving their thoughts on whether it's the real deal or just a PR stunt. Of course, no episode is complete without discussing the latest Sexiest Man Alive, and Jackie shares her opinions on the lucky guy who snagged the title this year. With Jackie's trademark humor and no-holds-barred commentary, this episode is packed with the perfect blend of celebrity news, witty banter, and all the must-know moments from the world of entertainment. Check out our holiday sponsors!!! Qualia: Resist aging at the cellular level! Go to Qualialife.com/lady for up to 50% off and use code LADY at checkout for an additional 15% off. PLUS: Qualia Senolytic is available at select GNC locations near you! Boll & Branch: Gift your loved ones a better night's sleep! Shop the Cyber Event and get 25% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/ladygang Boncharge: Get red light therapy right at home with Boncharge's END OF YEAR SALE! Go to BonCharge.com and use code "LG25" to save 25%. Macys: Get all your holiday essentials at Macy's! Visit Macys.com or in-store!

As we get older, it's clear the things that once thrilled us like clubs, designer handbags and all-nighters, are no longer sparking joy. In this episode, the ladies hilariously share their 2024 guilt-free adult pleasures. We have holiday deals for you!!! Qualia Senolytic: Resist aging at the cellular level! Go to QualiaLife.com/lady for up to 50% off and use code LADY at checkout for an additional 15% off! PLUS, Qualia Senolytic is available at select GNC locations near you! Clearstem: Treat your skin! Visit Clearstem.com/ladygang-podcast and use code LADYGANG at checkout for 20% off your first purchase! KiwiCo: Tinker, Create, and Innovate with KiwiCo! Get up to 50% off your first crate at KiwiCo.com and use code LADY Hiya Health: Hey Mom! Need kids vitamins? Get 50% off your first order at HiyaHealth.com/lady