We're three months into 2026, and a lot has happened. This episode is a complete highlight reel of everything since January 1st.

Whether you've been here the whole time or you're new, this episode is for you.

We realized we've never really sat down and shown you the complete YTD picture in one place. You might know one part of our journey. But you don't necessarily know everything we've done. Why we're doing it. Where we're going.

This episode is the answer to all of that.

For long-time followers: You're gonna see our entire journey reflected. You're gonna remember why you connected with this in the first place.

For new people: This is your introduction to exactly what we've built and where we stand right now.

For anyone catching up: This is your complete guide to what you might have missed.

2026 has been a year of growth, challenges, lessons, and momentum. This highlight reel shows all of it. The wins. The struggles. The moments that shaped where we are now.

It's a chance to reflect on where we started on January 1st and see exactly how far we've come in ninety days.

This is more than just a recap. It's a reminder of what we've built together.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Jason Marburger's visit to Confident Risks was incredible. This recap episode breaks down the key lessons from his Fireball Tools startup story. Learn why his dad's refusal to fund him changed everything, how social media became the new sales force, why negative comments are valuable, and the biggest secret to success. The core message: You don't need it all figured out. You need passion, knowledge, and the willingness to be uncomfortable. If something makes you uncomfortable, it probably means you should do it. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

If you're an entrepreneur, fabricator, tradesperson, or small business owner, this episode is for you. Jason Marburger shares lessons in: building a brand on authenticity, competing with cheaper alternatives, the cost of quality manufacturing, hiring and training your team, validating product ideas before investing, protecting intellectual property, and maintaining your values while scaling. Discover how one Spokane-based company is proving that blue-collar entrepreneurs can compete with anyone.

In this episode of Confident Risks, we dive into the critical difference between confidence and competence and why confusing the two can limit your growth, credibility, and long-term success.

It is easy to look at business owners, athletes, leaders, or creators and assume success is simple. You see the highlight moments. You see the surface level results. What you do not see is the work underneath. The repetition. The skill development. The discipline. The failures. The grind that builds real competence.

We break down why confidence without competence can become dangerous, how overconfidence often masks insecurity, and why character is what ultimately keeps you at the top once competence gets you there.

From entrepreneurship to leadership to personal development, the message is clear. If you want the title, you have to accept the burden. Build the skills. Respect the wait. Earn the calm.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it and follow the show for weekly conversations on leadership, mindset, discipline, and resilience.

Stay sharp. Stay resilient.

After our powerful conversation with retired FDNY firefighter Kevin Shea, I knew we needed to reflect on what that episode truly meant.

In this follow-up, I break down the biggest lessons I took away from Kevin’s story, from his rope rescue on a 12-story building to surviving a four-and-a-half-story fall during the World Trade Center bombing. Beyond the dramatic moments, what stood out most was his humility, preparation, and quiet confidence.

We discuss what real training looks like, and the difference between saying you would take a risk and actually doing it when the moment arrives.

This episode is about gratitude, perspective, and respect for firefighters, EMS, police officers, military personnel, and all first responders who step into uncertainty as part of their calling.

If you want to better understand the connection between preparation and confidence, this conversation will challenge you.

Thank you to Kevin and to all who serve.

Stay sharp. Stay resilient.

Why do some days feel like a 10 out of 10… and others feel like a complete failure?

In this episode of Confident Risks, we break down the concept of raising your floor instead of constantly chasing your ceiling. Most people focus on their best days, trying to maximize peak performance. But real personal growth, confidence, and long-term success come from improving your worst days.

We explore:

• Why consistency beats intensity

• How small daily wins raise your “accumulative average”

• Turning bad days into productive ones

• Avoiding the social media comparison trap

• Building discipline when motivation isn’t there

Instead of letting a rough morning spiral into a zero-out-of-ten day, we discuss practical strategies to reset, secure small victories, and build momentum. When you raise your baseline, your overall happiness, productivity, and resilience improve naturally.

This episode is for anyone looking to strengthen their mindset, build consistency, and create sustainable growth in business, fitness, leadership, or everyday life.

If you found value in this conversation, follow Confident Risks and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay sharp. Stay resilient.

In this powerful first episode of Confident Risks, we sit down with Kevin Shea, retired firefighter from the Fire Department of the City of New York, for a real and unfiltered conversation about courage, leadership, and making high-stakes decisions under pressure.

Kevin shares firsthand experiences from his years serving in the FDNY, the mindset required to run toward danger, and the mental resilience it takes to lead when the pressure is on. From handling life-or-death situations to navigating personal and professional challenges, this episode dives deep into what it truly means to stop playing small and step into responsibility.

We discuss:
• Leadership in high-pressure environments
• Building mental toughness and resilience
• The discipline behind confidence
• Lessons learned from the fire service
• Turning adversity into growth

If you're interested in personal development, leadership, first responder stories, entrepreneurship mindset, or high-performance habits, this episode delivers practical insight and real-world experience.

Subscribe to Confident Risks for weekly conversations with individuals who take bold action, embrace discomfort, and bet on themselves.

Most people are not stuck because they lack talent. They are stuck because they are playing scared.

In this episode, we dive into the fear that shows up before big decisions and why waiting to feel “ready” is often the very thing holding you back. From tough conversations to career moves and major life changes, growth requires courage long before confidence arrives.

You will walk away with a powerful framework for making decisions, trusting yourself, and focusing on solutions instead of worst-case scenarios. Because at the end of the day, the biggest risk is staying exactly where you are.

Stop overthinking. Stop hesitating. Bet on yourself and make the move.

Failure is unavoidable, but burning bridges does not have to be.

In this episode, we dive deep into how knee-jerk reactions, emotional responses, and impulsive decisions can permanently damage relationships and future opportunities. Drawing from experiences in sports, business, leadership, and everyday life, we explore why successful people pause before reacting and how the 24-hour rule can completely change the outcome of difficult situations.

This conversation covers:

• Why reacting emotionally often backfires

• How burning bridges can quietly limit your future

• The difference between internal boundaries and public reactions

• How to refocus energy on building new opportunities instead of dwelling on the past

If you want to become more resilient, more professional, and more successful in the long run, this episode will challenge how you think about conflict, failure, and growth.