Welcome back to the FITFO Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Lucas Mijares, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of Zion Capital, to unpack his journey from humble door-to-door salesman to leading a quarter-billion-dollar financial firm—all while raising six kids and fostering a home built on strong values.

Lucas Mijares gets real about the lessons learned from marrying young, the challenges of balancing fatherhood with entrepreneurship, and the importance of character over legacy. We dive into topics like instilling resilience in kids, the art of being present in a distracted world, and strategic life decisions that shape both family and business.
Whether you’re a parent, a business leader, or just seeking inspiration to pursue your own path, this episode delivers candid advice, hard-earned wisdom, and a whole lot of motivation to figure things out, at home and in the office. Enjoy!

Time stamps:

00:00 Intro Balancing Success and Parenthood

04:42 Starting Over: Reinventing Life Together

06:43 Optimism Drives Sales Success

10:05 Legacy Beyond Business Ownership

15:13 Parenting, Coaching, and Growth

16:06 Building Resilience in Children

21:15 Prioritizing Focus Over Distractions

24:52 His Wealth Management Approach

29:06 creating your own legacy

32:46 Building Success Together

37:59 Teaching Kids to Tithe

41:39 Prioritizing Family Over Career

44:37 "Intentional Fatherhood"

47:40 Resilience and Leadership Lessons

50:12 "Life's Challenges and Growth"

52:56 Fatherhood Conversations Inspire Growth

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Cody Alimondi—author, mental coach, and founder of House of Jester.

They dive deep into the art of role-based hiring, discovering one’s purpose, and how mindset separates high performers. Cody shares the frameworks behind his new book “Dealer’s Choice,” and offers actionable advice on finding fulfillment, building culture, and becoming the kind of leader—and human—your team needs.

Timestamps:

00:54 Cody’s journey from college athlete to author and mental coach.

08:04 The importance of purpose in life

13:17 How cultivating curiosity and interests leads to passion

20:46 Cody’s advice for getting started with writing and publishing a book.

28:00 The keys to fulfilling work: autonomy, self-directed teams, and incentives.

32:56 The difference between motivating versus managing

37:54 How non-monetary incentives—like prioritizing employee health—can transform workplace culture.

44:14 Cody's LINDA hiring framework and its impact on role-based recruiting.

55:36 Why hiring should be a thoughtful, personalized experience—and how to get it right.

58:00 Where to find Cody’s books and follow his new brand, House of Jester.

59:09 Sneak peek: Cody’s upcoming book profiling misfits who became mavericks.

Resources & Mentions:

Follow Cody on LinkedIn

• Books mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Good to Great, Bird by Bird, Work by James Suzman, Outlive.

• Dealer’s Choice – Cody’s new book

Welcome back to another year of FITFO, Figure it the Father Out, where I interview amazing Moms, Dads, and thought leaders to uncover the compelling stories at the intersection of family, entrepreneurship, child development, health, technology and many more arenas we face in life. Today, I'm thrilled to have Joel Beasley, the "Modern CTO," join us for a deep dive into his multifaceted life journey.

His podcast has over 100K listeners and has become known as the place where CTOs hang out. Check out his weekly podcast where he hangs out with interesting Fortune 500 CTOs in Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics + Many more industries.

In this episode, Joel opens up about the profound impact of parental influence, emphasizing how children tend to mimic their parents' behaviors. He shares his personal philosophy on work-life balance, detailing how he organizes his professional life around his family to ensure quality time with his children. Joel discusses his unique hiring insights for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), stressing the need for cultural fit and a deep understanding of delivering customer value.

More from Joel:

ModernCTO Pod: https://moderncto.io/podcast/

Website: https://moderncto.io/

Timestamps:

00:00 His podcast launch and how he gained Microsoft CTO as a listener.

08:22 How to grow a podcast

13:51 Balancing podcasting, entrepreneurship, and parenthood challenges.

18:18 Move to the country

21:50 First Tech Endeavor

27:47 Homeschooling approach

38:25 Started a podcast after finance software success.

42:17 How to Balance work and family life

54:41 Books that transformed his journey

01:08:00 Hiring and different ways to distribute equity

01:14:15 His next venture...

Welcome back to another episode of the “Figure It the Father Out” Podcast! Today, we have the pleasure of having a New York Times Best Selling Author, Jessica Lahey, on the pod with us.

Jess speaks to parents, educators, school administrators, coaches, pastors, and community leaders about the science of learning, motivation, engagement, and substance abuse prevention, all in service to the belief that adults have the power to help kids become more autonomous, competent, connected, and fulfilled. Her first book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed was a New York Times bestseller and has empowered so many to strengthen home-school partnerships, support kids as they learn from their mistakes, and forge stronger, more trusting relationships with children. Her second book, The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence is the culmination of Lahey’s experience as an alcoholic with a decade of recovery, the parent of two kids, and twenty years in the classroom teaching English, Latin, and writing in every grade from six to twelve and five of those years were spent teaching in an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab for adolescents. She recently won the Research Society on Alcohol’s Media Award, “designed to recognize outstanding journalistic efforts of writers who cover empirical research on alcohol.”

Tune in for an insightful and inspiring discussion on how we can better support our children's journey of growth, both academically and personally.

More From Jess: https://www.jessicalahey.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/teacherlahey/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lahey-b815a366/

📚 The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed

📚 The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence

Timstamps:

00:00 Jessica on parenting approaches.

05:56 Students seek grades, not genuine learning experiences.

07:02 How overprotective parenting hinders children's learning and resilience.

11:37 Encouraging kids to make their own college choice.

17:34 Kids mastering practical skills with teamwork.

20:30 Empowering children through independence and responsibility.

26:07 Learning mindset leads to growth and success.

27:43 Highly directive parenting affects children's self-efficacy.

30:53 Loving kids beyond performance

34:24 Standards-based assessment in education

40:54 Modeling love for learning

42:44 Setting family goals

45:15 Support kids in learning, don't seek perfection.

59:10 Jess empowers embracing failure in parenting.

Welcome back to episode #30 of Figure it the Father out (FITFO) podcast! Where I have conversations with inspiring moms, dads and thought leaders of different industries in hopes to help me figure out how to become the father I want to be for my little girls.

Today, I'm sitting down with a friend and mentor, Amy Fong, a super inspiring leader and someone who truly knows what it means to be resilient.

In our chat, Amy opens up about her battle with breast cancer and how she's balanced that with her role as the COO and being a Mom. We'll talk about the power of teamwork, real conversations at work, and why being authentic and inclusive matters so much.

Amy shares her personal ups and downs, how she copes with her illness, dealing with the emotional rollercoaster with her family, and how she's all about accepting help from those around her. We'll also dive into her cool initiatives like the Sprinternship program to help folks break into tech.

Get ready for a conversation that’s sure to help you find motivation and a positive mindset through any adversity.

Amy's Info:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyfong/

Sprinternship Information

00:00 Intro.

03:27 Chief operations officer building data systems, relationships.

07:01 Integrating state data systems for students

13:49 Skills valuable for any career

19:29 Reflecting on career, empathy, and inspiring curiosity.

23:02 Cultivating a love for reading onto daughter.

30:52 In-person collaboration creates organic, empowering environment.

35:59 Living with cancer, treating it as chronic illness

41:31 Her Daughter's support

45:59 Early management experience led to leadership perspective.

48:52 Hiring for values ensures right team surrounds.

55:54 Sprinternship offers real-world tech experience.

Welcome back to episode #29 of the FITFO podcast! Today, we have a fascinating episode featuring AI experts Chris Brousseau and Matthew Sharp. They join us to discuss their new book, "LLMs in Production," which aims to help beginners simplify complex machine learning concepts and guide practitioners in deploying reliable, real-world AI models.

In this episode, we'll explore their transition from data science to engineering, the differences between data scientists and machine learning engineers, and the significance of reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF). Chris and Matthew also delve into critical topics like tokenization, embeddings, and the strategic decision-making involved in building versus buying AI solutions.

They also share insights on hiring the right talent when starting out your own AI/ML team and they drop other nuggets of knowledge for anyone interested in the practical aspects of AI and machine learning. Tune in for an informative discussion that’s set to expand your understanding and skills in the ever-evolving world of AI!

Meet the Guests:

Matt Sharp is an engineer and seasoned technology leader in MLOps. Has led successful initiatives for both startups and top-tier tech companies. Matt specializes in deploying, managing, and scaling machine learning models. ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsharp/⁠ 

Christopher Brousseau is a Principal Machine Learning Engineer with a linguistics and localization background. He specializes in linguistically-informed NLP, especially with an international focus and has led successful ML and Data product initiatives at both startups and Fortune 500s. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brousseau/⁠

Links From Show:

LLMs in Production: https://mng.bz/JZlZ Use Coupon Code FITFO24 for 30% off

Github Repository: https://github.com/IMJONEZZ/LLMs-in-Production

Link to Forge Salt Lake City MeetUp: https://www.meetup.com/pro/forge-utah/

Time Stamps:

00:00 Podcast episode features three dads discussing AI.

09:19 Writing for different platforms requires focused content.

12:12 Demystifying technical content for beginners and beyond.

15:46 About their upcoming Book LLMS in Production

23:57 ML Engineering Interview tip

28:46 Simplifying machine learning through predicting data lines.

34:48 Building reliable, user-friendly products with impactful data.

47:14 Teaching robot to do backflip through feedback.

57:52 Understanding language concepts vital for machine learning.

01:07:33 the significance of the transformer model.

01:11:25 Tokenization strategy affects model performance and significance.

01:18:53 Evaluating AI/ML Talent

01:24:28 Understanding the time taken for model generation.

01:25:40 To process 86,400 things in a day.

Welcome to another episode of the FITFO, Figure It the Father Out, Podcast. Where I have conversations with amazing moms, dads, and thought leaders of all different industries in hopes to help me figure out just how to become the father that I want to be for my two young girls.

On this episode we've been stoked by the insights of special guest Tony Martignetti, a man who's navigated his own flashpoints to light up the path for others. Tony illustrated the power of understanding generational differences, the impact of social media on our connection to nature, and the profound value of creating deeper, intentional relationships. He shared his wisdom on balancing work, family, and self-care, igniting our passion for climbing not just any mountain but the right one for us. His book, podcast, and journey remind us, it's not about the 'what' but the 'who' in our work and lives. For more fuel to guide your climb, connect with Tony at ipurposepartners.com.

Tony Martignetti is a leadership advisor, best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker. He brings together over 30 years of business and leadership experience and extreme curiosity to elevate leaders and equip them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential. Tony hosts The Virtual Campfire podcast and is the author of Climbing the Right Mountain and Campfire Lessons for Leaders. He has been featured in many publications, including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, Life Science Leader, CEOWORLD, and CEO Today.

Show Links: 

Tony’s Website: https://www.ipurposepartners.com/

Tony’s Book - Campfire Lessons for Leaders:  https://a.co/d/cv2MhTY

Tony’s Book - Climbing the Right Mountain” https://a.co/d/5yPXESj

Jerry Colonna's Book - Reboot: https://a.co/d/aTxN96q

00:00 Leaving the corporate world to find his true self.

05:17 Balancing entrepreneurship, family, and success as parents.

06:23 Navigating teen years, create structure for freedom.

09:26 Desire for deep connections and understanding people.

16:08 Parenting success is about raising kind individuals.

19:39 Lead by example, express and control emotions.

21:59 Buddha's lesson: Find balance, be a compassionate leader.

27:09 Recognizing the need for change and awakening.

30:17 Excited to learn, share, and advance society.

33:48 Influence teens, prioritize social connection, outdoor activities.

35:10 Cherish moments, they're gone before you know it.

Welcome to another episode of the FITFO (Figure It the Father Out Podcast), where I have conversations with amazing moms, dads, and thought leaders of all different industries in hopes to help me figure out just how to become the father that I want to be for my two young girls.

In this episode I sit down with the dynamic Chad Carrington. He joined Golden 1 Credit Union in 2008 and now serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer. Chad formerly held the positions of Senior Vice President of Security, Technology Infrastructure, and Facilities and Vice President of Information Technology. In his current role, Chad leads the development and oversight of information security, business continuity, incident response, information technology, and facilities.

Chad has more than 25 years of experience in technology, operations, and security and is frequently invited to share his knowledge and expertise at industry conferences and events. Prior to joining Golden 1, he served as Information Technology Manager at Intel.

Chad earned his M.A. in Instructional Technology from California State University, Chico, and currently serves on the board for 916 Ink, a nonprofit that empowers youth through creative writing.

00:00 Intro to Chad

06:05 High volume production with low error rates, innovation.

08:46 Transitioning from Intel to nonprofit community work.

11:44 Tom joins Golden 1 Credit Union.

16:02 creating alignment between technology and facilities.

19:17 Conscious flow state in business and technology.

20:02 Foster childlike mindset to enter the zone.

23:08 Embracing change and growth in creative work.

28:21 Normalize peaks and valleys for mental balance.

40:14 Prioritize client needs, not just new technology.

43:16 His favorite interview questions

48:13 What would you do if money wasn't an issue?

52:19 An interview question to gauge personality.

57:54 Athletes focus on growth and learning from failure.

Welcome to another episode of the Figure It the Father Out Podcast (FITFO), where I have conversations with amazing moms, dads, and thought leaders of all different industries in hopes to help me figure out just how to become the father that I want to be for my two young girls.

In this episode I sit down with the self-proclaimed "Technology Shaman" Tom Roberto, a seasoned technologist who came of age along with the personal computer revolution, and proudly identifies with the pragmatic Xenial generation.

Growing up in the NY-metro area in the late 80’s means total uniqueness. Neither pure Gen X nor true Millennial - Tom Roberto defies generational stereotypes trailblazing at 100%. As CTO, he wields a rare fusion of technical mastery and imaginative flair to drive innovation for niche MSP’s servicing Fortune 500 tech needs.

Dubbed the “Technology Shaman,” he bridges the gap between legacy systems and emerging tech, seamlessly fusing old and new to transmute complex challenges into strategic opportunity.

Beyond career, Tom is a devoted family man, grounded by communication, passion and intentional living. He finds inspiration in the arts, music, photography and the tranquility of lakeside life. Tom takes pride in personal growth and paying it forward through mentorship. His infectious energy motivates all who have the privilege of knowing him.

Links from the show:

📚 Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less https://a.co/d/8DQpXRV

Mark Rober STEM Kits 🧪🏗️🛠️ https://www.crunchlabs.com

⏱️ Timestamped overview:

00:00 Remembering childhood screen time and technology changes.

05:33 Parental control challenges and technology preparation.

08:51 Open communication with parents key in parenting.

10:54 Warning about online privacy and cybersecurity measures.

16:21 Technology limits job opportunities, overwhelming employers with candidates.

19:37 AI's rapid advancement reshapes daily life.

22:14 Using AI to streamline, simplify and expedite tasks.

26:42 Exploring services for understanding AI challenges.

30:05 Building a culture of honesty and connection.

32:56 Simon Sinek encourages starting with "why".

36:15 Book recommendation for essentialism and prioritizing tasks.

40:04 Minimalist with expensive, quality tech at home.

41:24 Teaching practical skills and avoiding waste intentionally.

44:55 Think through solutions before seeking help.

47:32 Embrace technology, encourage curiosity, and meaningful connections.

Welcome back to another episode of the FITFO podcast where I delve into the journeys of inspiring individuals to try and figure out a number of different topics to help me become a more well-rounded father, husband, leader, entrepreneur, and, in this case, Podcaster. On today's exciting episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with entrepreneur, podcast host, and filmmaker Billy Samoa Saleby.

In this show, Billy shares his remarkable transition from a prestigious position at Tesla to the world of podcasting, bringing insights from his agency Podify, and his experience hosting the successful "Insight Out" podcast. We're going deep into the nuances of podcasting, discussing everything from finding your show's unique voice in a sea of 400,000 podcasts to the technical aspects of sound quality. Billy's hands-on advice will cover the best microphones for every budget, the power of a well-edited episode, and the subtle art of balancing podcasting ambition with family life.

We'll also navigate the landscape of monetization strategies, tapping into advertising, sponsorships, and community building. And for those eager to optimize content strategy, Billy will share tips on leveraging platforms like TikTok and YouTube for organic reach and listener engagement.

It's an episode packed with value, both for seasoned podcasters and those just starting out.

More From Billy Samoa:

Time Stamps:

00:05 How to begin the growth of podcast

09:02 Podcast tips and tricks for new creators

12:38 Focusing on core values and finding a niche

15:17 The value of word of mouth

19:00 Focus on small wins, not unrealistic expectations

21:24 Creating group challenges and engaging with audience

24:55 How to apply others' strategies for increasing reach

26:44 Seeking input on social media

33:29 Incorporating AI into the workflow

35:28 Equipment set up for starting a podcast, start with the mic

43:48 Strive for excellence in sound and editing.

47:01 the power of editing

49:44 Podcast platforms for expanding downloads

53:37 Involving kids in the process