Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush

Send us Fan Mail

CURRENT × BUCKLE UP PODCAST UNIVERSE WITH BRANDON RUSH & MAMA RUSH

The Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush is excited to share Current, a financial platform built to help everyday people get more out of their paycheck, savings, and financial future.

Current offers a simple, modern banking experience with tools designed to help you save more, build credit, access your money faster, and better manage your everyday finances.

With Current, eligible members can take advantage of:

• Earn up to 4.00% APY on savings
• Get paid up to 2 days faster with qualifying direct deposit
• Paycheck Advance of up to $750 for those who qualify
• Credit building with no annual fee, no interest, and no credit check
• Current materials state eligible users may see credit-score improvements of up to 81 points within six months; individual results can vary
• Fee-free overdraft of up to $200 for qualifying members
• No minimum balance
• Free in-network ATMs
• Cash back and rewards for everyday spending
• Free credit-score monitoring
• A simple mobile banking experience with support available through the app

You can DM me for information on how to sign up and get started with Current.

The goal is simple: give people access to financial tools that can help them save, build credit, get their paycheck sooner, and create a stronger financial future.

Banking for a brighter you.

For more information:

🎙️ Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and other major platforms.

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

@buckleuppodcast @chime 🚨 CHIME PROMOTION — EARN $150 | 🚨with my QR Code | FREE ACCOUNT | DM Me for my QR PROMO CODE.

Partnering with, one of my current clients is Chime, and we’re currently helping hardworking employees take advantage of a special promotion.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with Chime, We’re the Number 1 Neo-Bank in the U.S.  company offering accounts with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, No Overdraft Fees up to $200

Right now, eligible employees receive a $150 bonus when they open a free account and meet the promotion requirements. Get paid through direct deposit. In New York it is ADP or Workday 

Some of the benefits include:

💰 $150 promotional bonus for eligible participants
💵 Get paid up to 2 days early with qualifying direct deposit
📈 Credit Builder not a Credit Card
💰 High-yield savings Account with a 3.5% APY, subject to eligibility and current terms

💳 No minimum balance
🔄 No transfer fees on eligible transfers
🏦 Eligible overdraft coverage up to $200 without overdraft fees

If you receive your paycheck through direct deposit and use a payroll service such as ADP or Workday, or you’re paid weekly or biweekly, reach out to me and I can check whether you qualify for the promotion.

It’s quick and easy to set up. If you’re interested, DM me and I’ll walk you through it. 

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

Our guest today has built businesses that, on the surface, may appear to have very little in common—from landscaping and direct sales to Wall Street, real estate, snow removal, and marketing.

But when you look more closely, one powerful thread connects every chapter: Claudio Iodice has trained himself to recognize a need, create a solution, and build an opportunity around the value that solution provides.

That creative instinct extends well beyond business. Whether he is studying the energy of the New York Stock Exchange, spending more than 35 hours creating a river-rock table, or transforming part of his home into a tropical grotto, Claudio brings imagination, patience, and purpose to what he builds.

He calls this ‘Opportunity Engineering.’

Claudio, welcome to the Buckle Up Podcast Universe. We are looking forward to going beyond the résumé today and discovering how an Opportunity Engineer sees possibilities that other people may overlook.

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of the Buckle Up Podcast Universe, Brandon Rush and Mama Rush sit down with Eric Lee Gabrielson, a San Diego-born and raised husband, father, entrepreneur, and barber with more than 15 years behind the chair.

Growing up as one of three children in a military family, Eric’s childhood took him from San Diego all the way to Yokosuka, Japan, where his father was stationed. While living in Japan, Eric began studying karate, and after returning to the United States, he transitioned into Tae Kwon Do—eventually earning his black belt. That discipline carried over into sports, where Eric became a three-year varsity basketball player in high school.

But Eric would ultimately discover another gift.

After attending Associated Barber College, he realized that barbering wasn’t simply something he was good at—it was something he truly believed he was meant to do. Once he received his barber license, Eric wasted no time pursuing his dream. Just seven months later, he and his wife, Reixa, a talented stylist originally from Fairfield, California, opened their first shop together.

Today, Eric and Reixa are the team behind He Fades She Colors Barbershop & Salon and have spent the last nine years building their business in Downtown San Diego.

Eric joins us to talk about discovering his purpose, becoming an entrepreneur, building a business alongside his wife, fatherhood, discipline, and what more than 15 years in the barbering industry has taught him about people, perseverance, and believing in your gift.

This is a conversation about recognizing what you were put here to do—and having the courage to build a life around it.

Buckle Up.

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Buckle Up Podcast Universe, we sit down with Arri of Cookie Crumz to talk about his life, his journey, and the passion behind a cookie shop that is bringing happiness to people around the world.

Arri shares how his Greek upbringing and family helped shape the person he is today. He grew up around his family’s deli, where hard work, food, family, and serving others were part of everyday life. He later built a career in healthcare, but eventually realized that his true passion was calling him in another direction.

That passion led him to take a chance on himself and create Cookie Crumz.

Arri talks about his love for cooking, creating something that makes people happy, building a business from the ground up, and what it takes to leave a secure career behind in order to pursue something you genuinely believe in.

Most importantly, this episode is for every dreamer out there who has ever wondered, “What if I actually went for it?”

Arri’s story is a reminder that your first career does not have to be your final destination. Sometimes the dream that keeps calling you is the one worth chasing.

Buckle up. This episode is about passion, purpose, family, food, entrepreneurship, and having the courage to follow your dream.

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

This was one of the most powerful, honest, and heartfelt conversations we’ve had on the Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush.

Bella came on and held nothing back. She opened up about her life, the obstacles she’s had to overcome, and how experiences from childhood can stay with you long into adulthood.

As a child of divorce, Bella speaks candidly about what it feels like to be the child caught in the middle when parents are going through conflict. She takes us inside the perspective of a child navigating divorce, the legal system, and the emotional toll that can come with it.

We also talked about guardian ad litems — what they are, the role they can play in family court, and why the voice and well-being of the child should never get lost in the process.

Bella opens up about struggles involving her health, her relationship with food and exercise, getting sober at just 21 years old, and the deep emotional work it has taken to understand how the things we experience growing up can continue affecting us years later.

What makes this conversation so important is Bella’s willingness to speak from lived experience. She gives parents a chance to hear what divorce and conflict can feel like through the mind of the child experiencing it.

This is an episode we believe every parent should hear — especially parents going through divorce, custody battles, or conflict involving their children. And for anyone who grew up in the middle of those circumstances, Bella’s story may remind you just how deeply those experiences can shape who we become.

We cannot thank Bella enough for being so open, vulnerable, and honest with us.

🎙️ Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush

Sometimes the most important thing we can do for a child is stop fighting long enough to truly listen to what they’re experiencing.

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

We had an incredible conversation with Neb Chupin, whose journey is a reminder that the road to your purpose is rarely a straight line.

From growing up in Croatia, to competing on the rowing team, serving in the military, and eventually chasing a lifelong dream of coming to the United States, Neb’s story is built on discipline, resilience, and the willingness to keep betting on himself.

We talked about his career in film, the projects that helped shape him, Storm Rider, his evolution as both a producer and actor, and what it took to turn a dream that once felt far away into a life he is now actually living.

This conversation is about more than movies. It’s about following the pull toward something bigger, taking the risks that come with starting over, and refusing to let where you started determine where you can go.

 Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

Brandon Rush was honored to be a special guest on the Hip Hop Podcast, where he had the opportunity to share his journey through the entertainment industry. During the interview, Brandon discussed how he first got into the movie business, some of the career highlights that have shaped his path, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

From his early beginnings to appearing in more than 80 television and film productions, Brandon opened up about the perseverance, challenges, and opportunities that have defined his career. He also shared insights into the importance of consistency, building relationships, and staying committed to your goals, while encouraging the next generation of entertainers and creatives to keep pursuing their dreams.

A huge thank you to the Hip Hop Podcast for the invitation and the opportunity to have such a great conversation. Be sure to check out the full interview to hear more about Brandon’s story, career, and what’s next. 🎙️🎬 #BrandonRush #HipHopPodcast #Actor #Entertainment #Podcast #Storytelling #Film #Television #CareerJourney

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

We had the pleasure of welcoming Sabrina, founder and executive producer of Frisco Fashion Week and the designer behind the Praxis Human clothing brand, to the Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sabrina’s journey began with a dream of becoming the confident, independent, fashionable woman she saw walking through downtown Chicago. From riding the Blue Line from Logan Square to working near the iconic Marshall Field’s, she was inspired by the city, its people, its music, and the elegant women she admired from the windows of the music store where she worked as a teenager.

Although Sabrina’s passion for fashion, modeling, and sewing began early, life took her in a different direction. When her mother became ill and her family faced financial hardship, she placed her creative dreams on hold to pursue her education and build a stable career. She spent years working in hospitals, nursing homes, overnight shifts, and eventually became a mental health provider.

During the pandemic, life finally slowed down enough for Sabrina to reconnect with the dream she had carried since she was young. After more than a decade of living in Texas, she began rediscovering her creativity, femininity, and purpose through fashion.

Today, Sabrina is building experiences that celebrate individuality, culture, confidence, resilience, and meaningful human connection. Her journey is not about competing with anyone else or rushing toward success. It is about moving at her own pace, embracing the woman she always dreamed of becoming, and encouraging others to become the best versions of themselves.

For Sabrina, being a model means more than posing for a camera. It means taking care of yourself, living with purpose, and becoming someone whose life inspires others.

Fashion has become her way of bringing people together, celebrating authenticity, and reminding people that it is never too late to return to the dreams placed inside of you.

Thank you, Sabrina, for joining us, sharing your story, and surprising us with a special moment at the end of the episode.

Buckle up—because every obstacle is part of the journey.

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”

Send us Fan Mail

Happy Birthday, Karen! 🎉🎂

From all of us here in the Buckle Up Podcast Universe with Brandon Rush & Mama Rush, we want to wish you the happiest of birthdays!

Karen, thank you for being such an incredible person and for all the love, kindness, and support you’ve shown our family over the years. Mom especially wanted me to let you know how much she appreciates your friendship and everything you’ve meant to her through the years. Your encouragement, generosity, and unwavering support have never gone unnoticed.

On behalf of both Mama Rush and me, we hope this next year brings you an abundance of joy, good health, laughter, and countless blessings. You deserve every bit of happiness that comes your way.

Thank you for being such an important part of our lives and for always cheering us on. We appreciate you more than words can say.

Happy Birthday, Karen! We hope you have an amazing day celebrating with the people you love, and here’s to another wonderful year ahead.

With love and appreciation,

Brandon Rush & Mama Rush
Buckle Up Podcast Universe ❤️🎉

Support the show

“We didn’t know it all— we learned with love, led with kindness, and earned our way to the top.”