Dan "Jungleman" Cates

I sat down with Cary Katz, the man who quietly built the modern stage of poker. He’s the founder of PokerGO, the one who brought us the Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, US Poker Open, and yes, even the Big Blind Ante. What fascinates me isn’t just his $40M+ in tournament winnings, but his mindset: the shift from frustration to gratitude, from creating a prison with losses to celebrating them. Cary opens up about business risks, how passion projects cost more than you expect, and why he thinks integrity is the only real strategy in life.

We also got into health, longevity, and some personal truths: how it took him 55 years to quit sugar, why lifting weights is a cheat code against the “four horsemen,” and how he views the next 30 years of his life as a freeroll. From billion-dollar loans to billions of minutes of poker watched, Cary’s story isn’t just about poker, it’s about building, adapting, and finding perspective through the swings. He also finally lays out who he thinks are poker's true icons... You're not going to want to miss this stunning conversation!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Cary Katz on being a “copycat” in poker & business

00:37 Dan introduces Cary Katz’s impact on poker

01:02 Building PokerGO, Super High Roller Bowl & majors

02:05 Why Cary prefers tournaments over cash games

02:34 Staking, friendships, and instincts in high rollers

04:14 Copying great ideas to grow poker brands

06:03 Making poker a true spectator sport

07:07 Challenges with live broadcasting & delays

07:33 Transition from Poker Central → PokerGO

08:48 Expanding PokerGO globally (Brazil, Japan, Spanish markets)

09:41 Cary’s mindset shift: embracing losses & positivity

12:16 Winning his first bracelet with a new mindset

13:30 Dan & Cary on gratitude, history, and perspective

19:00 Health & lifestyle: fasting, quitting sugar, longevity

22:17 Fitness, weightlifting, yoga, and cryotherapy

27:01 Fitness vs. business focus – finding balance

27:25 Cary’s sales background and path to building College Loan Corp

29:04 Scaling from $20M to $3B in student loans

33:26 Starting PokerGO as a passion project

34:53 The cost of poker productions & why paywalls exist

40:17 Online poker challenges vs. live poker instincts

43:22 Why Cary supports poker: passion & competition

45:16 The invention of the Big Blind Ante

48:18 Difficulties of the media business & PokerGO growth

50:59 Life balance, gratitude, and slowing down time

55:00 Business lessons: revenue, hiring, and integrity

58:51 Poker players transitioning into business

01:03:40 Cary’s goals: family, longevity, and staying present

01:04:09 What’s next for Cary Katz and PokerGO

01:04:45 Titles, bracelets, and long-term poker goals

01:05:22 Embracing swings & “the wave” in poker and life

01:06:12 Closing banter: Negreanu’s influence & poker icons

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Who are your top 5 poker icons? Drop em below...

You're about to meet a poker player who might have the strangest pre-game routine I've ever heard of. Global Kenny (@globalkennypoker on Instagram) has some absolutely wild theories about nutrition, energy, and cognitive performance that honestly sound crazy until you see his results. This guy went from complete unknown to playing some of the biggest pots on the West Coast, and his approach to preparation is... let's just say it involves some unconventional choices that most poker pros would never consider. I was skeptical going into this conversation, but his logic actually started making sense by the end.

What really caught my attention wasn't just Kenny's rapid rise through the stakes, but how he's navigating the modern poker landscape where everyone's trying to be both a player and a content creator. He's got some strong opinions about the "nit epidemic" in poker and has actually built a movement around it, but more importantly, he's figured out something that most poker influencers haven't: how to actually keep improving at poker while building a brand. We get into some fascinating territory about game selection, the West Coast scene, and why he thinks the path to higher stakes is more accessible than people realize. Plus, he drops some insights about international poker that might surprise you.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Introduction and Global Kenny's poker background

00:03:20 - The anti-knit campaign and converting poker players

00:07:00 - Fasting and caffeine preparation routines

00:12:00 - Meditation vs morning routine philosophy

00:18:00 - Sleep tracking and optimization strategies

00:22:00 - Daily poker schedule and session structure

00:27:00 - Moving up stakes and bankroll building journey

00:32:00 - Building a social media brand in poker

00:38:00 - Biggest pots won and lost; the 50k hands

00:43:00 - Biggest bluffs and table presence discussion

00:47:00 - Future tournament and streaming plans

00:52:00 - Education background and investment interests

00:56:00 - Content creation challenges and balancing poker

01:00:25 - Closing thoughts and social media shoutouts

PINNED COMMENT

What's your Monster Energy drink of choice?

Xuan Liu just detonated one of poker’s longest-standing glass ceilings—busting a 200-event streak with the first female title in Triton history, taking down the $25 000 WPT Global Slam in Montenegro (155 entries, $860 000 up top). I had to know how she did it, so we sat down to trade war stories: her Yukon bankroll challenge that started with two grand total (flights included), the cliquey staking webs that freeze most women out of 25 Ks, and why she thinks “marketing yourself” is the truest edge in high-rollers.

From double-board bomb-pots in the Arctic to four-bet battles on Poker Night in America, we unpack the mind-game, the money game, and the human game... plus a few leaks we’re still plugging.

If you’re chasing freedom through cards... or just wondering how a calm Canadian-Chinese grinder became the “Queen of Triton”, hit play, drop a comment, and let’s keep pushing the ceiling higher!

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction & Xuan’s breakthrough Triton win

01:45 – Are there other female high-roller champs?

03:30 – Where Xuan ranks among the game’s top women

05:35 – The real barriers keeping women out of high-stakes poker

08:55 – Selling action online as a launchpad to live events

11:45 – Why community (and clean staking deals) matter

14:30 – Cash-game cred vs. tournament glory

18:50 – Stream games, thumbnails & the “female click-factor”

22:00 – The $2k cross-Canada bankroll challenge

28:15 – Yukon bomb-pots and soft PLO edges

33:40 – Wild travel poker tales from Newfoundland to Nunavut

38:45 – Couch-surfing, poverty roots & those early $5k shots

40:45 – Cutting costs: practical tips for the tour-grind lifestyle

43:50 – Re-igniting passion, building brand & fresh content goals

46:30 – WSOP plans, mixed-game temptations and China tour

50:15 – Dating on pause: focus, independence & life balance

52:45 – Growing the women’s game: golf analogy & untapped markets

55:40 – Final reflections, bracelet dreams & sign-off

PINNED COMMENT

Who should I have next on the podcast?

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DESCRIPTION

Alright, so I sat down with French OG for this episode of Winning The Game Of Life. This guy's got a wild background – went from grinding poker tables, understanding odds and variance, to coaching guys through the even more complex and sometimes brutal game of modern dating. We didn't waste time on fluff; we jumped straight into the deep end, applying strategic thinking and probability to figure out what actually works with women, relationships, and frankly, just navigating human psychology when the stakes feel high.

Expect some takes that might make you uncomfortable. French OG dropped some bombs, like comparing personality to makeup and arguing why chasing commitment can kill attraction. We went back and forth on whether optimizing for 'lays' is a fundamental mistake (a point where I think the Red Pill logic often breaks down), debated the real source of confidence, and even touched on whether my blue hair stunt was a calculated 'polarizing' move. It's raw, unfiltered, and definitely not your standard dating advice.

If you're tired of simplistic answers and want to explore the messy variables, the actual 'game theory' behind attraction and connection, then you need to check this out. We dissect common assumptions, challenge popular narratives, and try to find a real edge in understanding this crucial part of life. Hit play, listen close, and then tell me in the comments where you think we got it right or wrong – figuring this stuff out is part of winning the game.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro: Meet French OG

01:35 – Twitter Truths & Trolls

04:45 – French OG: Poker Player to Dating Coach

09:15 – Poker Strategy Applied to Dating

13:47 – Confidence, Uncertainty & Poker Mindset

16:10 – Coaching Smart Guys (INTJs)

18:20 – Boundaries vs. Ultimatums in Dating

20:30 – Dealing with Randomness (Poker & Life)

23:34 – Culture Clash: Agency vs. Environment

25:05 – Poker Analogy: Know Your Value & Spot

27:38 – Jungleman's Blue Hair: Polarizing Works

31:39 – Don't Be Average

32:10 – Niche Strategy: Poker Tables & Dating Apps

34:27 – Red Pill Critique: Optimize LIFE, Not Lays

36:16 – Lust vs. Love: Who Secures the Relationship?

37:03 – Debate: Leading with Relationship Intent

40:05 – Filtering for Partner vs. Max Quantity

44:45 – Why Men Shouldn't Chase Relationships

45:50 – Red Pill Flaw: Metrics Aren't Everything

48:05 – Defining Male Personality

48:39 – Coaching Different Men, Different Goals

53:40 – Advice for the "Average" Guy

58:24 – Looks, Fitness & Self-Care Matter

01:00:30 – Ripped vs. Money vs. Confidence Debate

01:04:40 – Personality is Male "Makeup"

01:07:20 – The "Good Woman" Debate

01:12:15 – Compatibility vs. Pedestals

01:14:05 – Predictable vs. Exciting Relationships

01:20:15 – Control Dynamics & Dealing with Damage

01:21:05 – Final Thoughts & Outro

PINNED COMMENT

French OG says that "Personality is makeup for men". Is 'game' the ultimate equalizer, or do looks/status still dominate? Weigh in!

GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO!

Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/p/jungleman

This week I'm with Wayne Yap, who literally dominated the Asian poker scene as the former #1 in Singapore, stacking up over $1.3M in tournaments and $3M+ in cash games before making a hard left into business. Seriously, why would someone leave crushing it at the tables? We dug into applying hardcore poker thinking – the EV, the polarization – to the business world, and turns out, most business folks are missing this crucial stuff. He breaks down why you actually need to repel some people to attract the right ones, a wild concept that makes a lot of sense once you hear it.

Beyond the strategy, we touched on some deep and unexpected territory: intense spiritual journeys, what it's really like buying and running businesses without prior experience, and the brutal lessons about who to trust along the way. If you've ever wondered if poker brains are wasted just playing cards, or how to find leverage and value in unconventional places, this is the conversation.

Check out Wayne's X linked below for more unfiltered thoughts.

https://x.com/wayneyap

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Wayne Yap: Poker Pro to Business Guru & Spiritual Explorer

01:00 - The Spiritual Rabbit Hole: Meditation & Transcendent Experiences

02:26 - Crushing Poker: Singapore's #1 and Big Wins

03:08 - Why Leave Poker at the Peak? Climbing a Higher Mountain

04:40 - Lessons from Life: Bowling, World of Warcraft & Obsession

06:05 - Poker Skills for Business: EV & Polarization

08:45 - Why You Need People to Like & Hate You

11:24 - First Business Acquisition & Fighting Industry Norms

15:19 - Finding & Exploiting Opportunities (Business vs. Poker)

19:05 - Bouncing Back: Overcoming Poker & Business Setbacks

20:49 - The Leap into Buying Businesses

23:16 - Solving Problems & Motivating Teams Without Experience

26:48 - Different Types of "Genius" in Life & Work

28:29 - The Inner Game: Motivation & Self-Talk

29:39 - The "Star Principle": Finding a Winning Market Niche

32:42 - If I Started Over: Poker as a Hobby?

34:40 - Business vs. Poker: Risk, Rewards & Finding Your Path

38:08 - Getting into Business Without Money: Apprenticeship & Acquisitions

44:16 - The Dangers of Partnering with the Wrong People

45:40 - Is Business for Everyone? Finding Your Archetype

50:00 - Deep Dive into Spiritual Experiences & Joe Dispenza

55:09 - Experiencing Energy & Questioning Miracles

57:25 - Samadhi, Unity, and Out-of-Body States

1:01:42 - Integrating Spiritual Insights into Business & Life

1:05:35 - Evaluating Tony Robbins: Value, Manipulation, and Ethics

1:09:38 - Connecting & Collaborating: Wayne's Community & Future Vision

1:12:21 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Wayne

PINNED COMMENT

What do you think of Wayne Yap's decision? Smart? Crazy? Drop your thoughts below...

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Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/jungleman/

What is justice if we let cheats slide? John Dorsey and I architect the poker justice system... a council sworn to expose fraudsters and hold everyone (including us) accountable. We debate membership criteria, Supreme Court-style verdict drops, and specialized squads to tackle every flavor of wrongdoing

But we’re not all capes and gavels...we also talk Shuffle & Shred, the 60-day, $300 challenge that marries gym gains with poker stakes. Log your workouts, meals, and steps to earn tournament points, then battle your friends at the table for a chance to win cash or lose chips. Sign up now at shuffleandshred.com.

As always, don't forget to sign up for the JUNGLEVERSE, your one-stop shop for justice-tracking tools, rake-back insights, and game-finding maps to help you crush it on and off the felt.

Drop your Justice League superpower in the comments, smash that subscribe button, and let’s get to work!

Join The JungleVerse and sharpen your skills in a community built for winners: https://enterthejungleverse.com/

CHAPTERS

00:48 - Introducing Shuffle & Shred: poker × fitness challenge

01:29 - How Shuffle & Shred works: incentives & program details

04:09 - Jungleverse community launch announcement

05:29 - Calling out scumbags & proposing a “Justice League”

07:12 - Preventing mistakes with collective judgment

09:00 - Quick-fix anecdotes: texting to resolve disputes

11:29 - Building the Justice League: membership & transparency

13:53 - Defining superpowers & roles within the League

17:05 - Formalizing the League: invites, council structure & tools

23:02 - Flaking on a tournament

26:07 - Fun staking incentives: refining the “cuckoo koochoo” challenge

28:46 - Wrap-up & next steps for your own challenges

PINNED COMMENT

Have you been wronged by someone in the poker world... Let's bring them to justice! My weaponized autism is ready

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Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/jungleman/

What if the game isn’t solved? What if the best player alive right now… is a 25-year-old Brit who just soul-read me on the river with ace-queen high?

In this episode I sit down with Owen “Pr0digy” Messere—aka possibly the #1 heads-up no limit player in the world—and dig deep into the real layers of high-stakes poker. We talk population exploits, psychological warfare, the art of range betting vs chaos, and what actually separates the elite from the elite-elite.

Also… we go off-script. Spiritual scripts. Life as a game. EV as a compass for living. The war between safe strategy and liberating aggression—on and off the felt.

There’s a lot in here. The poker world may never be the same. But maybe that’s the point. Let the real games begin.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: Meet Owen 'Pr0digy' Messere & His Dominant Win

02:00 - Owen's Edge: Exploiting Players & Why Tricks Have Long Shelf Lives

03:22 - Legendary Hand: Owen's Ace-High Soul Read on Jungleman

08:14 - Deep Diving on Opponents: Studying Stefan, Solti & Berri Sweet

15:06 - Battling the Aggro Kings: Davy Jones & Flushy

19:21 - Playing Linus: A More "Sensible" (Boring?) Game

21:30 - The Meta Game: Playing Spicy, Getting Action & Private Games

24:01 - Poker Mindset: Long-Term Thinking, Calculated Risks & Life Parallels

28:40 - Is the Poker Dream Alive? Finding Edges Beyond Solvers

33:20 - Exploiting Off-Script Mistakes & Flawed Range Construction

41:57 - Strategy Talk: Range Betting vs Polarized & NLHE vs PLO

49:10 - Poker Skills in Life & Owen's Coaching for Profit (CFP)

55:10 - Sharing Strategy vs Protecting High-Stakes Edges

01:00:50 - Dan's Goal: Using Poker for Something Greater

01:02:00 - Who is the Best NLHE Player? Owen Names His Rivals

01:05:06 - The Spirituality Deep Dive: Logic, Game Theory & Ancient Wisdom

01:21:40 - Final Thoughts & The Jungleman vs Pr0digy Challenge!

01:22:26 - Outro

PINNED COMMENT

Owen might be the best in the world right now. What do you think?

GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO!

Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/p/jungleman

Alright, so I sat down with French OG for this episode of Winning The Game Of Life. This guy's got a wild background – went from grinding poker tables, understanding odds and variance, to coaching guys through the even more complex and sometimes brutal game of modern dating. We didn't waste time on fluff; we jumped straight into the deep end, applying strategic thinking and probability to figure out what actually works with women, relationships, and frankly, just navigating human psychology when the stakes feel high.

Expect some takes that might make you uncomfortable. French OG dropped some bombs, like comparing personality to makeup and arguing why chasing commitment can kill attraction. We went back and forth on whether optimizing for 'lays' is a fundamental mistake (a point where I think the Red Pill logic often breaks down), debated the real source of confidence, and even touched on whether my blue hair stunt was a calculated 'polarizing' move. It's raw, unfiltered, and definitely not your standard dating advice.

If you're tired of simplistic answers and want to explore the messy variables, the actual 'game theory' behind attraction and connection, then you need to check this out. We dissect common assumptions, challenge popular narratives, and try to find a real edge in understanding this crucial part of life. Hit play, listen close, and then tell me in the comments where you think we got it right or wrong – figuring this stuff out is part of winning the game.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro: Meet French OG

01:35 – Twitter Truths & Trolls

04:45 – French OG: Poker Player to Dating Coach

09:15 – Poker Strategy Applied to Dating

13:47 – Confidence, Uncertainty & Poker Mindset

16:10 – Coaching Smart Guys (INTJs)

18:20 – Boundaries vs. Ultimatums in Dating

20:30 – Dealing with Randomness (Poker & Life)

23:34 – Culture Clash: Agency vs. Environment

25:05 – Poker Analogy: Know Your Value & Spot

27:38 – Jungleman's Blue Hair: Polarizing Works

31:39 – Don't Be Average

32:10 – Niche Strategy: Poker Tables & Dating Apps

34:27 – Red Pill Critique: Optimize LIFE, Not Lays

36:16 – Lust vs. Love: Who Secures the Relationship?

37:03 – Debate: Leading with Relationship Intent

40:05 – Filtering for Partner vs. Max Quantity

44:45 – Why Men Shouldn't Chase Relationships

45:50 – Red Pill Flaw: Metrics Aren't Everything

48:05 – Defining Male Personality

48:39 – Coaching Different Men, Different Goals

53:40 – Advice for the "Average" Guy

58:24 – Looks, Fitness & Self-Care Matter

01:00:30 – Ripped vs. Money vs. Confidence Debate

01:04:40 – Personality is Male "Makeup"

01:07:20 – The "Good Woman" Debate

01:12:15 – Compatibility vs. Pedestals

01:14:05 – Predictable vs. Exciting Relationships

01:20:15 – Control Dynamics & Dealing with Damage

01:21:05 – Final Thoughts & Outro

Join The JungleVerse and sharpen your skills in a community built for winners: https://enterthejungleverse.com/

PINNED COMMENT

French OG says that "Personality is makeup for men". Is 'game' the ultimate equalizer, or do looks/status still dominate? Weigh in!

GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO!

Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/jungleman/

Ever wondered what it takes to crush the toughest poker games on the planet? Dive deep into the mind of Alexander Kostritsyn, a legend who's banked over $10 MILLION playing online poker! Alexander pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, revealing:Unorthodox study methods that CRUSH solvers.

Why he QUIT No-Limit Hold'em (and what you should do).

How to exploit *human* weaknesses, not just GTO.

The dark side of high stakes & the ethics of the game.

Practical philosophy for a better poker & life strategy. This isn't just about cards – it's about thinking differently & achieving peak performance. Unlock Alexander Kostritsyn's secrets now...

Join The JungleVerse and sharpen your skills in a community built for winners: https://enterthejungleverse.com/

Here is what you can expect to here on this video:

0:00:00 - Intro: Power, Greed & the Poker Mindset

0:00:42 - Meet Alexander Kostritsyn: $10M Winner

0:01:16 - High Stakes: Battles & Strategies

0:02:17 - Mastering Poker: Unique Study Methods

0:05:10 - Reverse Engineering: Analyzing & Exploiting Hands

0:05:54 - Why He Quit NLH: The Solver Debate

0:07:18 - Advanced Strategy: Deviations & Ranges

0:08:38 - Bobby's Room: Inside the Legendary Games

0:13:51 - "Stupid Solver People" & the Future of Poker

0:15:03 - River Strategy: Bet Sizing & Exploitation

0:20:50 - Reading People: Identifying Thought Patterns

0:22:37 - Kairos: Perfect Timing & Imperfection

0:24:55 - Ethics & Perspective in Poker

0:28:59 - Self-Awareness & Emotional Control

0:37:17 - The Grand Theory: Combining Philosophy & Poker

0:38:29 - Understanding Players and Cooperation

0:44:53 - Responsibility & Continuous Improvement

0:53:41 - Philosophies & Making Judgements

0:57:35 - Alexander's Current Practical Philisophies: Goal Driven Mindset

1:02:54 - How He Improves Others Minds

1:08:26 - Using Tools and What To Prioritze

1:11:01 - The Goals: The Mindset

1:12:27 - Multi Agent and How it Works: How Systematic Approach

1:17:18 - Summary: Last Words & Takeaways

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Ever wonder what poker's iconic voice, Norman Chad, really thinks about the biggest controversies shaking the game? Well, I sat down with the legend himself to unravel exactly that. Norman, famed for his razor-sharp wit and signature humor, opens up about the shadowy corners of poker, including his brutally honest take on online poker scandals, the fine line between justice and vengeance, and why integrity in the game is not just crucial—it's absolutely necessary.

Norman shares some deeply personal stories and reveals his own struggles with morality at the poker table, including a confession he's carried for years: "Taking justice into my own hands—I've regretted it ever since." We dive into ghosting, Full Tilt, and edge-sorting—discussing how easy it is to flirt with ethical lines, and why the poker community urgently needs its own "untouchables" to uphold integrity.

But it's not all doom and gloom. We also explore how poker can become more than just winning or losing—how the game, at its core, has the power to shape character, teach critical life lessons, and potentially even serve a greater good. Norman's insights and brutal honesty are not just entertaining—they're vital. Tune in, and let's shine a little light into poker’s murky depths.