Dropping Bombs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff, Prosperitas Financial & Jerry Citarella Presents

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode gets brutally honest about money with Jerry Citarella — 35-year top-percentile financial advisor, bestselling author, and founder of Prosperitas Financial.

Jerry breaks down the pay-yourself-first system most advisors skip, why emotional investing destroys portfolios, the needs-vs.-wants reality check that actually changes behavior, and how to start building wealth even if you're starting late. He also unveils LetsTalk.money — an AI platform built to help people have the hard financial conversations they've been avoiding.

Doesn't matter if you have $500 or $5 million, the principles in this conversation will change how you think about money for the rest of your life.

🔗 Connect with Jerry

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerrycitarella

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JerryCitarellaPresents

Website: https://www.prosperitasfin.com

AI Financial Platform: https://www.LetsTalk.money

Email: [email protected]

📚Books Mentioned

• The Truth Hurts Help Series by Jerry Citarella — Currently available as signed hard copies directly from Jerry. Reach out via his socials or website to request one.

• The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

• The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Ryan Alexander, a credit educator who rebuilt from a 500 score to 800+ credit and now teaches everyday people how to do the same.

Ryan exposes why credit repair companies are largely a scam and the real difference between bad credit and no credit. He breaks down how to get a teenager an 800 score within 30 days of turning 18, the credit card trifecta strategy most business owners are completely missing, and the story of a man who sold his company for $220 million and still got denied for a mortgage.

Credit isn't just a number. It's leverage, and most people are leaving a fortune on the table because nobody taught them the rules.This is the conversation that changes how you see money forever.

🔗 Connect with Ryan

Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexanderprime11

Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/iteachcredit.llc

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iteachcredit

✅ Additional Resources

Website: https://www.iteachcredit.com

Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/i-teach-credit-4427/about

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/iteachcredit

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff & Empire Ink

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Steve Santacruz — the street-raised New Yorker who opened a tattoo shop before he could tattoo, and built it into a multi-location empire with 200,000+ clients and over 7,000 five-star reviews.

Steve reveals the one responsibility shift that ended gang life and started empire building, the counterintuitive advantage of knowing nothing when he opened, and why his philosophy — "Empire is the Way" — starts from the inside out, not the bank account.

Most people are one decision away from an entirely different life. Watch this before you waste another year avoiding yours.

🔗 Connect with Steve

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevesantacruz

Empire Ink IG: https://www.instagram.com/empireinkstudios | https://www.instagram.com/empireinkstars

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empireinkstudios | https://www.tiktok.com/@empireistheway

Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@stevesantacruz

Websites: https://stevesantacruz.com | https://empireink.com | https://empireinkstars.com

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff, Meritage Partners & Inevitable Exit

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Brian Franco — M&A advisor who's closed over $2 billion in business sales and spent 23 years turning founder-owned companies into transferable, sellable machines.

Brian breaks down why most business owners are unknowingly building a job, not a business — and the seven value drivers that separate a 4–6x exit from a 10–15x payday. He gets into deal structure, earnouts, the boomer wealth trap, and why waiting too long to exit is the most expensive mistake a founder can make.

If you've built something real, this episode is the conversation you didn't know you needed. Your business is either an asset or a liability — this episode tells you exactly how to tell the difference.

🔗 Connect with Brian

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brian_t_franco/

Podcast: The M&A Guy Podcast

✅ Additional Resources

Meritage Partners: http://meritage.partners

Inevitable Exit: http://inevitableexit.com

Inevitable Exit Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/02TFLonb

Apple Bites AI: https://applebites.ai/

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff & Hayden Garlock

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Hayden Garlock — the 27-year-old who built California's largest bird control company from a single door-knock observation, installed pigeon deterrent systems in 7,500 homes, and sold the whole thing for seven figures before most people figure out what they want to do with their lives.

Hayden exposes why dirty, unglamorous service businesses are the fastest path to millionaire status right now, why "burn the boats" is dangerous advice for most entrepreneurs, and why the online gurus selling success have never actually built anything outside the internet.

The trend chasers are losing, and those doing what nobody else wants to do are winning. This episode shows exactly why — and how to be one of them.

🔗 Connect with Hayden

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haydengarlock/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haydengarlock

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff, Last Rep, & Reach Peak

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Stephen Samson, a self-made entrepreneur who went from the military to the boardroom without a degree, built a multi-million dollar company from nothing, and walked away with a life-changing exit in six years.

Stephen gets into what it really takes to survive a bootstrapped startup, why most growing companies are being held back by their own technology, and how he's now building a THC recovery beverage targeting the millions of people ditching alcohol for something better.

Whatever you're building right now, this episode is the push you didn't know you needed.

🔗 Connect with Stephen

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stsamson

Last Rep: https://lastreparc.com (Use Promo Code: BRAD for 20% off)

Reach Peak: https://reachpeak.co

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Last Rep contains Delta-9 THC derived from hemp. Must be 21+ to purchase.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff & MocToe Wine Co.

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Andrew Schultz, an Army veteran turned winemaker who spent over a decade farming some of Washington State's most elite vineyards before buying the one where his career first began.

Andrew gets into what actually makes a great wine (it starts in the field, not the cellar), why Washington is quietly producing some of the most underrated bottles in the world, and how he built a business that takes care of the people doing the real work.

From combat tours to owning some of the most sought-after land in American wine country, this is a story about what obsession and integrity build over time. This episode is proof that patience, integrity, and doing things right still wins.

🔗 Connect with Andrew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewleeschultz/

Website: https://www.moctoewines.com

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff & Travis Larsen Construction

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Travis and Kaidden Larsen, a father and son who built a construction and development company from the ground up, survived the 2008 housing crash, and are now sitting on one of the most overlooked investment opportunities in the country.

Travis breaks down why most licensed contractors don't actually know what they're doing, how to vet one before you spend a dime, and why the region they're building in is quietly becoming a commercial goldmine before most people even know it exists.

Whether you're looking to invest, already in the trades, or have never picked up a hammer in your life, this episode will change how you think about building real wealth from the ground up.

🔗 Connect with Travis & Kaidden

IG: https://www.instagram.com/travislarsenconstructionllc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravisLarsenConstruction

Website: https://www.travislarsenconstruction.com

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff & thejasonmitchellgroup.com

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Jason Mitchell, the CEO who started from nothing, lost everything, and then built the #1 real estate group in the country with $200M in annual revenue.

Jason breaks down the referral machine distributing 13,000 qualified leads a month, why America's housing market is trapped in purgatory, how Wall Street quietly cornered the first-time homebuyer market, and what it actually takes to create generational wealth on a normal income.

He also tells the story of wiring away his last $3 million the night before filing bankruptcy and how that one decision changed the entire trajectory of his life.

If you're a realtor, an aspiring homeowner, or an entrepreneur just trying to build real wealth, this episode is your blueprint.

🔗 Connect with Jason

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonmitchell_jmg/

Website: https://thejasonmitchellgroup.com/

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode features Aaron "Sgt. Q" Quinonez, a Marine combat veteran turned entrepreneur and mental health advocate who went from homelessness to building a thriving company and coaching leaders across the country.

Sergeant Q breaks down the neuroscience of unhealed trauma, how it silently destroys relationships and success, and the simple daily habits that actually rewire your brain for resilience. He also gets into the raw personal story that changed everything for him.

If you've ever felt stuck, reactive, or like you're running on empty — this one's for you. The tools are simpler than you think, and someone in your life needs this conversation as much as you do.

🔗 Connect with Aaron/Sgt Q

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgt.q_/

Website: https://www.evolvepathway.com

✅ Additional Resources

Healing Thru Service (SgtQ's book): https://a.co/d/0dJUDkmO

The Body Keeps the Score (Bessel van der Kolk): https://a.co/d/0hVet8ZJ

QActual App: https://www.qactual.com

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 anytime.

This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs