Lisa Jaster is one of the first women in history to graduate from U.S. Army Ranger School, one of the toughest military leadership courses in the world.

In Episode 8 of Backstories & Buy-Ins, Lisa shares the story behind that journey, including how she almost ignored the email asking for volunteers to attempt Ranger School before encouragement from her husband and kids pushed her to go for it.

We talk about what the first few days of Ranger School are really like, where roughly 25% of candidates don’t even make it to Day 2 due to the physical tests, sleep deprivation, and extreme conditions.

Lisa also discusses her decade-long journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, why she loves the sport, and how it brings together people from completely different backgrounds who form strong friendships through the shared experience of training.

Throughout the conversation we dive into leadership, resilience, community impact, and why small actions in our everyday lives can have a much bigger impact than we realize.

Backstories & Buy-Ins explores the moments, decisions, and people that shape our lives and careers.

#LisaJaster #RangerSchool #ArmyRanger #JiuJitsu #Leadership #Podcast #BackstoriesAndBuyIns

In this episode of Backstories & Buy-Ins, I sit down with Dr. Justin Reyna — chiropractor, sports scientist, and founder of Modern Movement — to talk about recovery, performance, and the future of healthcare.

We dive into chiropractic work, rehab, dry needling, and functional medicine, including how Justin uses comprehensive blood work to identify deficiencies, guide nutrition, and optimize long-term health instead of guessing. He shares real patient stories, including chronic pain cases where targeted treatment made an immediate, life-changing difference.

Justin also talks about building his practice before graduating, transitioning from bodybuilding to strongman, redefining what “real strength” means, and why movement quality matters more than just lifting heavy. We also touch on combat sports, longevity, and knowing when certain competitive paths no longer make sense.

This episode is a deep look at modern recovery, smart training, entrepreneurship, and taking a long-term approach to health and performance.

In Episode 6 of Backstories & Buy-Ins, UFC fighter Jared Gordon opens up about the battles most people never see.
Jared talks about how martial arts entered his life, his fight with drug addiction, getting sober, and the moment he finally made it into the UFC. He shares what it was like competing while in active addiction, how opiate withdrawal kept pulling him back, and how sobriety became the biggest fight of his life.

We also discuss his long career in the UFC, the harsh reality of the fan base, what fulfillment really means to him, and how he’s preparing for life after fighting — building a platform, a brand, and a future beyond the Octagon.

Raw, powerful, and real.
This is Jared Gordon’s story.

On this episode of Backstories & Buy-Ins, I’m joined by Alexa Yanes, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who has competed her way across the world. Alexa talks about how she first started jiu jitsu, how she began competing at blue belt, and why she sometimes entered tournaments alone — with no coach, no team, just belief in herself.

She shares the story of getting promoted mid-competition to chase prize money, the differences between team sports and jiu jitsu, and the impact the sport has had on her life after competing on almost every continent.

Now, Alexa is in a position to give back — and her perspective on discipline, travel, community, and growth is one of the most inspiring conversations we’ve had.

Full episode available now.

In this episode of Backstories & Buy-Ins, I sit down with Priest and Phenix Rivera, hosts of Burn Factory Show.
Priest shares how a life-threatening burn accident changed everything — and how he found purpose through pain. Phenix opens up about the moment he got the call that his brother was in critical condition, and how they turned that tragedy into motivation to inspire others.

From the story behind their first guest to their mission of helping people overcome life’s toughest battles, this conversation is raw, emotional, and deeply inspiring.

🔥 Full episode out now — Backstories & Buy-Ins x The Burn Factory Show

Episode 3 | Backstories & Buy-Ins 🎙️

UFC fighter Daniil Donchenko joins me for a powerful conversation about his journey, from growing up in Ukraine to stepping into the UFC cage.

We talk about:

• His martial arts path from judo ➝ Free Fight ➝ MMA

• Fighting 8 times a week as a teenager and stacking 150+ amateur fights

• Training in Thailand and learning the brutal reality of Muay Thai

• How acceptance helps him walk into the octagon with zero pressure

• Why this mindset can help anyone succeed in business and life

Tap in for stories of grit, growth, and the “buy-in moments” that shape champions.

In this episode of Backstories & Buy-Ins, we sit down with Justin Gutierrez — a marketing expert, entrepreneur, and car wash owner — to unpack his journey from creative strategist to full-fledged business owner. Justin shares how he found his voice in marketing, the moment he bought in to building brands, and how owning a car wash fits into his bigger picture.

He also brings direct value to listeners by walking through a real-world example of how he’d approach marketing — completely free. If you’re in business, branding, or just love hearing how entrepreneurs think, this one’s for you.

In this first episode of Backstories & Buy‑Ins, I sit down with John Cervantes, Partner and Senior Investment Advisor at CrossVault Capital Management. We dive into John’s background, how he built his career in wealth management, and the path that led him to his current role. We also explore his passions outside of finance, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and CrossFit, and hear the exact moments he made the decision to buy in — both to his career and to the martial art that continues to challenge him on and off the mats.