Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win! In this episode, we sit down with a two-time NCAA national champion, former international drug kingpin, and current federal inmate. He shares his remarkable journey, from his humble beginnings as a surfer kid in Redondo Beach to his rise as a successful entrepreneur in the world of sports betting and drug trafficking. However, his ambition and risk-taking ultimately led him down a dangerous path, culminating in his arrest and incarceration. His story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the fine line between entrepreneurial success and criminal downfall.

Highlights:

"I'm that kid that came from that blue collar family in Redondo Beach, and I'm looking at myself going, how am I going to survive here?"

"I'm an entrepreneur. Man, I could take $15 an item and get $100 and get 100 winning. That's almost a 1000% markup."

"I'm not gonna lie, Brian, you know, I stopped as soon as I graduated college. You know, it served its purpose, and made this money to be able to afford to live in college because my parents weren't able to help me."

"Once you go down that illegal rabbit hole, there's that rabbit hole, and it's illegal activity down that rabbit hole, it's hard to get out, because once you cross that line, yeah, of being on the fence, of maybe I could just do a little, just a little, let me just Yeah, it's that once you start making that cash, that fast cash, you can't go back. It's just too hard."

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction 

00:40 - Upbringing and Volleyball Journey

03:07 - The Transition to USC and Initial Drug Dealing

07:35 - Expansion into Sports Betting

13:38 - Mastery of Business Retention and Acquisition

20:46 - Involvement with the Cartel and Increasing Risks

27:58 - Losing the Cartel's Money and the Heat Intensifying

32:40 - Working for the Cartel to Pay Back the $4 Million

34:48 - The Arrest and Reflection on His Entrepreneurial Journey

37:37 - Appreciation for the Simple Pleasures of Life Outside Prison

Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win! In this episode, we have the pleasure of introducing Aaron Bolden, a digital marketing and brand integration expert. Aaron shares his inspiring journey from growing up in the gang-affected Crenshaw district of Los Angeles to finding his passion for music and entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of mentorship, personal growth, and how he overcame adversity to achieve his dreams.

Highlights:

"I had a thirst for knowledge."

"I was born in the bloodline of a king."

"Music became my therapy."

"You have to have capital behind you to push in relationships."

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Early Life and Family Background

0:06:22 - Gang Involvement and Early Struggles 

0:11:27 - Transition to Music and Early Success

0:15:27 - Education and Early Career

0:20:18 - Breakthrough and Industry Experience

0:33:22 - Challenges and Personal Growth

0:37:11 - Professional Development and Business Acumen

0:45:33 - Mentorship and Personal Philosophy

0:51:42 - Importance of Mental Health

0:59:23 - Future Aspirations and Legacy

Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win! Today, we're joined by Larry Lewis, a former professional basketball player, NBA and NCAA college development coach, and what many would consider a human development coach. In this episode, Larry shares his inspiring journey from the courts of Los Angeles to playing and coaching basketball across the globe. We'll delve into the trials, triumphs, and the profound lessons he's learned along the way.

Highlights:

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

"What got you there may not keep you there."

"Always play like you're making up for a mistake."

"God has a plan for all."

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Larry Lewis, Human Development Coach

03:39 - Beginnings in Dominican Republic and CBA

07:20 - Cultural Growth and Maturity in Japan

10:06 - Advancement to Spain's Top Leagues

13:03 - A Decade in Spain and Transitioning to Coaching

17:00 - Learning from Kobe Bryant

20:16 - Coaching with the Lakers and Kings

23:07 - From Playing to Coaching: Transferring Wisdom

27:20 - Transitioning Beyond the Court

31:26 - Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win. In this episode, we’re joined by Debbie Matenopolous. She’s one of the youngest hosts of a major daytime talk show. Discover the journey from a small town in Virginia to the buzzing streets of New York, where dreams of working at MTV became a reality. Filled with heart, hustle, and a touch of humor, Debbie shares insights into making it in the media world against all odds. 

Highlights: 

"I had one goal in mind, and my goal was I was going to stay here. And I was either going to work at MTV or something in the entertainment business. I just didn't know what yet."

"The bigger the problem you solve, the more money will follow. So don't worry about money, just worry about where the problem is and how can I fix it."

"What we go through today is not nearly an iota of what they had to go through. It's almost laughable when people say, 'Well, how did you do it?' It's like, I got up every day, I worked really hard. I did not accept no for an answer."

Timestamps:

00:21 - Dreaming Big from a Young Age

01:00 - A Happy Accident in Virginia

09:31 - The Unexpected Call from MTV

17:41 - Breaking into Daytime TV

19:44 - A Decade at E!

22:15 - A Behind-the-Scenes Look

26:37 - Drawing Strength from Immigrant Roots

30:17 - Solving Problems and Adding Value

34:25 - From MTV to Hosting on Hallmark

39:10 - Promoting Positivity and Self-Care on TV

Highlights:
"Find your passion and make it your purpose. Find something to live for, find something to die for."

"I just want people to know that I'm just about peace and positivity."

"We are all built to win."

Timestamps:
00:05 - Introduction to Chuck Walton
10:15 - Overcoming the Pandemic
20:30 - The Legacy of the Waltons
27:45 - Turning Passion into Purpose
31:13 - Breakthrough Moment with the Warriors
36:50 - The Power of Authentic Relationships
41:04 - Navigating the Entertainment Industry
44:52 - Mentorship and Influences
47:15 - Advice for Dark Times
49:33 - Where to Find Chuck Walton

Highlights
"Great people in the long run always succeed in a way they can lose in the short term, but in the long run, they'll always win."

"Every positive interaction is a door to open 1,000 doors, and every negative interaction is a door that closes 1,000 doors."

"To enter the kingdom of heaven, you have to be like a child. Children play naturally, and as adults, we must remember how to play."

Timestamps
00:11 - Welcome to the Built To Win Podcast with Thomas Vu.
01:04 - Thomas shares his childhood experiences and the challenges his family faced after the Vietnam War.
03:25 - The journey by boat to the US and settling in Houston and Los Angeles.
04:39 - Growing up in garages and the influence of a forward-thinking parent.
05:26 - From UC San Diego to working at NASA and landing a job at Electronic Arts.
12:01 - Joining Riot Games and contributing to the success of League of Legends.
14:39 - Vietnam, launching League of Legends and the growth of esports.
21:12 - Thomas discusses his journey of self-awareness and spiritual growth.
33:19 - The role of religion and programming in shaping beliefs and behaviors.
45:30 - Creating an Emmy-winning show “Arcane” and transitioning from gaming to TV.

Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win. In this episode, we are joined by Richard Greene, a former attorney turned civics professor and acclaimed public speaking coach, who shares his journey from law to empowering voices globally. We get into the world of public speaking and its impact on personal and societal transformation. Join us as we dive deep into the world of public speaking, exploring how it can transform you, from boosting your confidence to becoming a champion for change.

Highlights:

"I immediately recognized him to be one of the greatest communicators ever... I had no doubt that he was going to make a huge contribution to the world."

"With one piece of legislation, you could change the world."

"We are inherently spiritual beings who, for a short time, are having a human experience to learn, grow, and contribute to others' growth."

Timestamps:

00:00- Meeting Richard Greene
01:05 - From Dreams of Baseball to Political Aspirations
03:21 - How Meeting Tony Robbins Changed Everything
06:52 - Embracing the Teachings of Public Speaking
08:11 - From UCSB to USC Law School
09:53 - Political Passions: Why Aiming for Congress?
17:11 - Exploring the Depths of Existence and Purpose
20:25 - Political Engagement: Encouraging Participation in Democracy
28:47 - The Importance of Issue-Based Voting
32:26 - The Necessity of Common Sense in Politics

Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win! Ever wonder how to bounce back from business blunders and build an e-commerce empire? In this episode, David Rivero tells us all about his journey from early stumbles to massive success. David Rivero's journey wasn't a straight shot to success. After a rough start with a DUI and a firing, he used those setbacks as fuel to build his dream. Starting with affiliate marketing, David relentlessly educated himself and built a multi-million dollar portfolio of e-commerce brands. Today, he uses his hard-won experience to help others achieve their entrepreneurial goals. This episode is packed with lessons in resilience, the power of family, and the strategic smarts you need to dominate the competitive world of online sales.

Highlights:

"Corporate America is not for me. I'm the hardest working guy there. I get fired for trying to be aggressive." 

"It's not about being the first one to speak, it's about making sure when you do, it adds value to the conversation. It's about turning transactions into relationships."

"When I was at rock bottom, it was my wake-up call. I knew I needed to start a business, though I had no clue which one at the time." 

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to David Rivero.

01:33 - Early Beginnings

05:11 - The Salsa Venture

07:19 - Learning from Failures

15:00 - Breakthrough with Affiliate Marketing

17:14 - Decision to Start Own Product

20:21 - Achieving Financial Success

27:29 - Building a Legacy

31:46 - The Mastermind Networking Event

34:21 - Importance of Discipline

Welcome to a Built to Win. In today’s episode, I joined Brian Goldstein on his podcast to share my journey from taking apart radios as a child to becoming a tech enthusiast and entrepreneur. Discover how my curious nature and a chance introduction to technology shaped my career path. These stories reflect a deep passion for problem-solving and a commitment to personal growth and community building.

Highlights:

"I really enjoy problems and solutions to problems." 

"The universe connects me with a lot of different people from a lot of different places, and I believe that's what we're put here for." 

"I've always figured out as you can learn anything." 

Timestamps:

00:31 - Early Interests in Technology

01:25 - Transition from Retail to Tech

02:19 - Background and Motivation

03:50 - Shift from Tech to Music

05:00 - The Importance of Community and Connection

08:33 - Choosing Sobriety and Clarity

10:00 - Balancing Work and Family Life

12:07 - The Role of Entrepreneurship and Vision

15:22 - Predictions on Technology's Impact on Society