What does it take to leave a skyrocketing career at a billion-dollar defense startup to serve your country?

Matt Weiss made that exact choice, and it shaped everything about how he leads today.

In this episode, Matt shares his unconventional journey from rejecting Goldman Sachs and joining Anduril as one of their earliest employees, to walking away from it all to become a Marine Corps Intelligence Officer. Now, he's co-founding Circuit, an AI company bringing cutting-edge technology to manufacturing companies across America's heartland.

This conversation dives deep into what the military teaches about leadership, why decision-making must live close to the problem, and how real innovation is born from discipline, humility, and relentless feedback. From Gen Z leadership and the military recruiting crisis to AI, manufacturing, and building companies in the heartland, this episode is a masterclass in long-term thinking.

If you want to understand what leadership really looks like under pressure and how greatness is built when no one is watching, this episode delivers.

Key Takeaways

🟦 Leadership is learned through responsibility

🟦 Discipline compounds over time

🟦 Innovation breaks regression to the mean

🟦 Service builds resilience

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Matt's Background and Career

(03:50) Joining Anduril

(05:39) Transition to Military Service

(08:52) Writing the Book on Military Recruitment

(15:18) Leadership Lessons from the Military

(19:36) Business Ventures and Mentorship

(23:35) Connecting Legacy Systems with AI

(27:52) Targeting Large Enterprises

(28:43) Military Leadership Lessons

(35:38) What is Greatness

(40:31) Where to Find Matt

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great—real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being.

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Greatness isn’t luck. It’s built through discipline, obsession, and long-term execution.

In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick sit down with Michael Brandt, founder of Ketone-IQ, to explore what it takes to build elite performance — in business, athletics, and life.

Michael shares lessons from Shark Tank, building military-grade performance products, marathon training, and scaling a billion-dollar brand.

This episode explores obsession, focus, energy management, and why real success is earned through consistency when pressure is highest.

Key Takeaways

🟦 Obsession fuels greatness when disciplined

🟦 Performance is built daily

🟦 Focus outperforms balance in critical moments

🟦 Long-term vision wins

00:00 Intro

01:24 Michael's Shark Tank Experience

04:10 The Birth of Ketone-IQ

07:33 Military Contracts and Performance

18:28 Understanding Ketones and Their Benefits

19:48 Mindset and Entrepreneurial Advice

22:20 Balancing Priorities: The Key to Success

23:02 The Power of Obsession

28:15 Training for Marathons

33:15 Building a Billion Dollar Business

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being.

Greatness isn’t talent. It’s standards, habits, and discipline.

Justin and Nick sit down with elite strength coach Lewis Caralla to break down what it really takes to build winners — on the field and in life.

This episode explores discipline, accountability, unfair workouts, mentorship, mental toughness, and why winning is built through daily habits, not highlights.

Coach Lew shares lessons from his journey, coaching philosophy, and why embracing discomfort is the price of becoming great.

Key Takeaways

🟦 Toughness and accountability still matter

🟦 Winning is built daily

🟦 Little wins compound

🟦 Mental resilience beats talent

00:00 - Introduction

01:50 - Lew’s Journey and Career Beginnings

03:33 - Evolution of Training Methods

04:17 - Life Lessons Through Training

06:24 - Challenges Athletes Face Post-College

08:53 - Impact of Modern College Football Dynamics

10:09 - Mentorship and Accountability

11:52 - Hunger For More

13:57 - Winning Philosophy and Daily Victories

16:29 - The Winning Mindset

19:35 - The Impact of Social Media

20:16 - Longevity of the Game

25:07 - Goal Setting and Personal Growth

27:05 - Moment of Realization

28:42 - Admitting Your Potential

30:02 - Exercise For Potential

32:03 - The Importance of Intangibles

36:26 - Conquering Doubt and Achieving Greatness

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being.

You don’t build generational success by accident. You build it through relationships, resilience, and long-term thinking.

Nick turns the mic on Justin for a deep dive into his family’s five-generation business legacy, the realities of building and selling a national food company twice, and the mindset required to survive pressure, failure, and uncertainty at scale.

This episode explores co-packing, commercialization, customer relationships, leadership during crisis, and why psychology matters more than skillset in business.

Justin also shares lessons from high-performance coaching, investing, AI, and legacy, offering a real-world look at what it takes to win long term.

Key Takeaways

🟦 Building generational businesses requires patience and adaptability

🟦 Relationships matter more than transactions

🟦 Speed and execution create competitive advantage

🟦 Psychological resilience outweighs technical skill

🟦 Crisis reveals leadership

🟦 Legacy is about people, not just profit

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Justin's Family Business History

04:33 Co-Packing and Commercialization

09:11 Customer Relationships and Business Growth

12:44 Challenges and Resilience During the Pandemic

14:23 AI And The Future of Food Industry

17:11 The Importance of Speed and AI Adoption

18:33 High Performance Coaching Insights

22:27 Investment Strategies and Family Office

26:56 Legacy and Life Philosophy

28:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being.

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You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your standards.

In the first episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick kick off 2026 by breaking down what actually creates winning. Not motivation, not hype, but standards, preparation, and consistency over time.

Using a powerful coaching clip as the foundation, this episode dives deep into why average is the enemy, how elite performers stack great days, why compartmentalizing wins and losses matters, and what it really takes to win when pressure hits.

From football to business to life, this conversation draws on decades of real-world experience to show why greatness isn’t flashy — it’s built in the boring, disciplined moments most people avoid.

If you’re starting a new year and want to raise your standards instead of just setting new goals, this episode sets the tone.

Key Takeaways

🟦 You don’t always get your goals, you always get your standards

🟦 Average is the enemy of greatness

🟦 Small, disciplined actions compound over time

🟦 Stacking great days creates momentum

🟦 Preparation determines performance under pressure

🟦 Winning the close moments comes from daily discipline

00:00 - Introduction.

01:05 - Curt Cignetti Clip

03:08 - The Importance of High Standards

07:40 - Average is The Enemy

12:07 - Stacking Great Days

16:43 - The Importance of Compartmentalizing

20:50 - Winning the Close Ones

23:50 - The Fun in Winning

27:57 - Raising Your Standards

30:09 - Final Thoughts and Motivation

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being.

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In this episode, we break down the real lessons 2025 taught - what worked, what didn’t, and what most people are too honest with themselves to admit. Not in theory. In execution. We talk about the mistakes that quietly cost time, energy, and momentum... and how to actually apply those lessons instead of repeating them with a new calendar year.

If you listen to this episode and apply what you learn - your 2026 will be great!

This episode is about the season where winners quietly pull ahead.

While most people slow down, coast, or get comfortable, this is your chance to create real distance. I break down why this window matters, how to take advantage of it, and what separates the people who talk about greatness from the ones who actually build it.

On this episode of Born to Be Great, we dive into the journey of Mac Hereford—from walk-on at Alabama to breakout content creator and entrepreneur. Mac shares the championship principles he learned from Coach Nick Saban, how he applies them to storytelling, and why the best businesses are built the same way great teams are built. Get ready for practical wisdom, behind-the-scenes stories, and a powerful reminder that creating like a champion starts with how you think.

In this inspiring episode of Born to Be Great, we sit down with Chris Malleo, author of The Chair Leader, for a deep and empowering conversation on what it truly means to lead without limits.

Chris shares his journey of transforming adversity into opportunity — and how belief, courage, and silent connection can move people more powerfully than words ever could. Together, we explore how to lead from the heart, find purpose in every challenge, and unlock the greatness that’s already within you.

💡 You’ll discover:

If you’re ready to challenge your limits, strengthen your mindset, and lead with authenticity, this episode will change the way you think about greatness forever.

🔥 Tune in. Get inspired. Remember—you were Born to Be Great.

What if the next conversation you have could change your life?
In this episode of Born to Be Great, we dive deep into intentional networking — not just shaking hands or swapping contacts, but growing into the kind of person who naturally attracts opportunities, because you lead with value, purpose, and heart.

This is about becoming so valuable that when you show up for others, it always comes back — sometimes in ways you never expected.
It’s not luck. It’s not coincidence.
It’s alignment.

Because greatness isn’t something you chase.
It’s something you build, connection by connection.

Tap in. This one might just change how you see yourself — and the people around you.