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When was the last time you had a conversation that made you think deeper than you planned to?

In this episode, I sit down with my frat brother, Saif Madar — a man I’ve known for over two decades. Same yard. Different eras. Real brotherhood.

Saif was born in Guyana and raised in the Bronx. Engineer by training. MBA in finance. A numbers guy. Analytical. Measured. Strategic.

And if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s not the type to sit around opening up or getting lost in deep reflection.

But here’s the thing — many of us raised in households where strength was non-negotiable weren’t taught to process out loud. We were taught to handle it. To perform. To push through. To keep emotion tight and responsibility high.

In many of our communities, vulnerability wasn’t modeled, so it wasn’t the first language we learned. Carrying it without complaint was the expectation. Reflection wasn’t always encouraged. Providing was. Producing was. Protecting was.

So slowing down to reflect? To unpack? To say what’s really going on inside?

That’s something most of us learn later — if we learn it at all.

What makes this conversation different is the space. The trust. The shared fraternal bond that allows two men — raised in different homes but shaped by parallel expectations, similar pressures expressed through slightly different cultural tones — to slow down and speak more openly than we were taught to growing up.

And he did.

This episode moves through identity, responsibility, growth, brotherhood, leadership, and fatherhood — with humor, honesty, and moments that even caught him off guard.

There’s laughter.
There’s reflection.
There’s proof that when trust is present, depth isn’t forced — it shows up on its own. And for men who’ve spent much of their lives carrying responsibility quietly, that kind of space is rare.

If you’ve ever been taught to “just handle it”…
If you’ve ever carried quiet pressure without calling it pressure…
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when strong men talk differently…

Tap in.

This one’s layered.

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
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Some relationships don’t fade with time—they just pause.
And when they resume, they remind you who you were and who you’re becoming.

 In this episode, I sit down with Cedric Nelson, a brother I’ve known for over four decades. We became friends and teammates in high school, went on to play college ball in different places, and somehow stayed connected through the noise of life—a friendship that always picked up right where it left off, even after years without talking. 

 This isn’t a story about dramatic moments or viral highlights. It’s about something rarer: consistency. Character. This is a conversation about growth, integrity, fatherhood, and the quiet work of building something that lasts. We talk about choosing character over convenience, building systems instead of chasing quick wins, and what it means to still be standing, still growing, and still accountable after time has done its work—especially when you’re thinking beyond yourself and the legacy you’re building. 

It’s a conversation about time—how it shapes us, tests our relationships, and clarifies what actually matters. It’s for anyone who’s lived long enough to know the real test isn’t how you start, but how you sustain. 

No hype.
No shortcuts.
Just perspective, brotherhood, and the long game.

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
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This episode launches Legacy Blueprint, a new panel series within Leave the Pile Higher, Grow Your Legacy. Legacy Blueprint brings brothers together for honest, reflective conversations around leadership, healing, and legacy. Each Blueprint centers on a specific theme and may unfold as a single episode or a multi-part conversation, depending on how deep we chop it up.

In Part One: The Weight We Carry, I vibe with three brothers for an unfiltered dialog about manhood, mental health, fatherhood, leadership, and the emotional weight we've learned to carry in silence.

 Though they’re meeting each other for the first time, I know each of them — and the conversation quickly becomes deep and uplifting. We laugh, we cry, and we’re vulnerable, sharing lessons learned, the growth we’ve experienced, and the road we’re still walking together as we handle the real business of being our brother’s keeper. 

This episode ain't about having all the answers. But naming the weight, breaking the silence, and reminding ourselves that we don’t have to carry everything alone.

Part Two — The Work We Do continues this LB conversation, shifting the focus from naming the weight to how we do what we do.

Panel Participants

James Worthy — Fatherhood advocate, coach, speaker & business consultant. 

Khalid B. Scott — Psychotherapist, author, life coach & speaker. 

Ferris Dean — Financial planner and insurance professional.

Topics Covered

• Generational legacy and emotional inheritance
• The pressure to “keep it together” as Black men
• Mental health, therapy, and resistance to vulnerability
• Identity, code-switching, and leadership under pressure
• Fatherhood, marriage, and showing up while carrying weight
• Depression, burnout, and suicide awareness
• Brotherhood, healing, and learning how to refill your cup

Music Credit

Music featured in this episode by —  Robbie Cunningham.

Support & Resources

If this conversation brings something up for you, please know you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Immediate Support (U.S.):
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741

Finding a Therapist or Counselor:
• Psychology Today
• Black Men's Health
• Black Men Heal

If you’re outside the U.S., visit https://findahelpline.com
to locate resources in your country.

Listener Note

This episode is for conversation, reflection, and awareness. Nothing shared here is medical, legal, or financial advice. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or one of

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

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What does it mean to grow as a man when the blueprint wasn’t handed to you?

Today is December 4th — the day my father was born, my fraternity’s Founders Day, and the day this podcast turns three years old. In this special reflection I speak  about the weight men carry, the healing I’m walking through as a father, and the stretching that marriage continues to bring. I open up about a moment that shaped me, the lessons I’m still learning, and the lifelong work of becoming the man God is calling me to be.

This podcast has always been about honoring my father and building legacy — but it’s also a space for us to grow out loud, especially for men of color who didn’t grow up with the language, the room, or the safety to feel, talk, or process. So part of my work here is opening the door for all men — but especially my brothers — to listen, lean in, and know you’re not walking this journey alone.

 This episode also sets the stage for the upcoming Legacy Blueprint series — real, candid conversations with men who are navigating the same tension of becoming. Today is the reflection. Blueprint is the continuation. Stay locked in. 

This isn’t a typical episode — it’s personal. It’s honest. It’s a moment to honor my father's life, acknowledge my growth, and remind every man listening: wherever you are on the journey, don’t stop. Someone’s counting on the man you’re becoming.

 If this speaks to you, share it with your circle — you never know who might need a moment like this to get the strength or boost to keep going. 

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

Send us a text

Growth doesn’t happen when life is easy — it happens when you face fears and step out of your comfort zone.   Legacy doesn’t start with money — it starts with mindset.  So what does it really take to unlearn what’s been passed down, heal what’s been ignored, and build something that actually lasts?

That’s where Financial Advisor Ferris Dean comes in.
In this episode, we talk about what real growth looks like — not the picture-perfect kind, but the kind that stretches you. The kind that forces you to slow down, look in the mirror, and deal with what’s real.

We dig into therapy, self-care, and the things many of us never heard growing up — like how to talk about money, how to teach our kids to manage it, and why building wealth isn’t about the bag… it’s about building freedom.

Ferris also opens up about life after loss, fatherhood, and how those moments shaped the man he’s becoming. And somewhere in this conversation, you’ll hear the story that made him look at money differently — and for both the gem of wisdom and the laugh it brings, trust me, it’s one you’ll want to lean in for.

This is real talk about growth, mindset, and legacy — the kind that reminds you that purpose starts on the inside.

Listen now — and when it hits, don’t keep it to yourself.
 Share it with a brother or sister who’s doing the work.
 Subscribe so you never miss what’s next.
 Follow the movement at @leavethepilehigher.
 Rate and review the show to help more people find these conversations.

BUILD IT. LIVE IT. LEAVE IT.
Because legacy isn’t optional.

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

Send us a text

Am I the only one? Have you ever said “yes” when you really meant “maybe” — or agreed to something you knew wasn’t yours to carry?

Oh, so it’s not just me.

Yeah, saying yes out of habit, out of guilt, or just wanting to be the one people can count on — until those yeses started costing me peace, purpose, and alignment. I found myself overextended, overcommitted, and wondering how I got there.

What I’m sharing today isn’t about time management — it’s about truth management. Because every time we say yes to the wrong thing, we say no to the thing that actually matters.

I talk about a pattern that kept showing up in my life and the moment I had to stop pretending it was harmless. Saying yes to things God never co-signed or called me to do wasn’t service — it was self-made stress. In fact, it was also a quiet form of dishonesty.

There was a moment that made me stop and really look in the mirror — a moment that reminded me that integrity starts when your no stays no, your yes stays yes, and both come from the right place.

This one’s for the people-pleasers, the over-doers, the “I got it” folks carrying more than they were ever meant to. Because legacy isn’t built on convenience — it’s built on consistency, obedience, and integrity.

Listen now — and when it hits, don’t keep it to yourself.
Share it with someone who’s learning to honor their yes and protect their peace.
Subscribe so you never miss what’s next.
Follow the movement at @leavethepilehigher.
Rate and review the show to help more people find these conversations.

BUILD IT. LIVE IT. LEAVE IT.
Because legacy isn’t optional.

Coming soon: grab the free “Let Your Yes Be Yes: Legacy Check Worksheet” to help you get clear on your own alignment.

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

Send us a text

Ever been in a season where everything went quiet—your confidence, your creativity, even your peace?

It’s been six months since I dropped a new episode, and this one isn’t just about being back—it’s about what happens when the vision goes quiet but doesn’t die.

In this episode, I talk about the silence between seasons—how life, responsibility, and doubt can cloud your confidence—and how God used that stillness to reset my focus.
 I share the truths that brought me back, what I’ve learned through the pause, and why legacy is still mine (and yours) to build.

If you’ve ever stepped away from your purpose, questioned your voice, or wondered if it’s too late to start again, this one’s for you.

Key themes: Legacy • Faith • Comeback • Obedience • Purpose

“Because legacy? It ain’t always loud. Sometimes it gets interrupted. Sometimes it gets paused. But it never gets canceled.”

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

Send a text

What if everything you thought was success… still left you empty?

King Solomon—richer and wiser than anyone alive—looked at everything he built and said: “Meaningless… all of it.”

That line hits even harder today—because this episode goes live on my birthday, and I’ve been thinking deeply about what really matters. Not just what we grind for—but what we build that will actually last.

In a world chasing fast wins and constant validation, I’m reflecting on two stories that brought it all home for me: 

>  My son’s indoor track season—where doubt met determination

>  A real-time journey with three of my newest business partners—where we’re grinding, growing, and finally stepping into the breakthrough we believed in from day one

We’re unpacking:

• Progress over placement
• Why real success takes foundation—not just speed
• And how legacy is built in the quiet work, not the loud wins

This isn’t just another motivational episode. It’s a reflection. A reminder.
 And a charge to build something that will outlast the hype.

We talk mindset, consistency, confidence—and what legacy really looks like when you’re building it brick by brick.

Whether you’re deep in the grind, stuck in the middle, or just starting something new—this one’s for you.

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

Send a text

What happens when life forces you to rewrite your financial story?

For Shakira "Sam the Agent" Moran, financial empowerment wasn’t just a career choice—it was survival. As a young single mom, she found herself drowning in overdraft fees after an unexpected auto-pay mishap. A tearful call to the bank resulted in a rare moment of mercy, but it also sparked a vow: never again. That moment set her on a path to learn everything she could about money, wealth-building, and breaking the cycle of financial instability—especially for single moms like her.

Her journey didn’t stop there. Diagnosed with MS in her mid-20s, Sam suddenly faced an even harsher reality: she had no life insurance. The fear of what would happen to her daughter if something happened to her ignited her mission to educate others in the Black and Brown community about financial planning, wealth-building, and the security that life insurance can provide.

But her story isn’t just about overcoming—it’s about paying it forward.

Sam is dedicated to empowering underserved communities in the NY metro area and beyond, through free financial workshops, school-based programs, and community initiatives. She believes that financial literacy isn’t just about numbers—it’s about shifting mindsets, breaking cycles, and creating opportunities for future generations.

Because legacy isn’t just what you leave—it’s how you lead.

In this episode, we dive into:

•  Truths about life insurance—debunking myths in our community 
•  The power of starting where you are—why doing a little of something is           always better than doing a lot of nothing
• Breaking financial barriers—the mindset shift from survival mode to wealth-building and financial security
• Lessons from her own journey—how a moment of financial hardship and an attempt to discourage her from investing only fueled her determination to self-educate and take control
• How Sam is paying it forward—offering free financial workshops, school-based programs, and real-world tools to help families build a legacy 

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt financially stuck, doubted their ability to build wealth, or believed the misconception that money moves are only for the rich. The key? Start where you are, use what you have, and stay consistent.

Listen now and take control of your financial future - start building, breaking barriers, and leaving the pile higher! 

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.

Send a text

Seven years. That’s how long it’s been since my world shifted—since my father took his last breath in his sleep, leaving behind a legacy that still speaks to me every single day. Some days, I laugh. Other days, I feel the weight of his absence. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in death, there are things that come to life.

In this episode, I take you back to that weekend—the last call I didn’t return, the Sunday morning news that changed everything, and the way my father’s words, lessons, and presence have echoed through my life ever since. More than just a reflection on loss, this is a conversation about mindset, faith, and legacy-building in the world we live in today.

We’re in a time where distractions and negativity are everywhere, but our responsibility remains the same: to protect our peace, lead with purpose, and build something greater than ourselves. Whether you’re a father, a son, a leader in your community, or a brother walking your own path, this episode is for you.

Let’s talk about what it means to rise above, to stay rooted in faith, and to commit to a future that honors those who came before us while creating space for those who will come after.

Listen in. Reflect. And then ask yourself—what legacy are you building?

#Legacy #Faith #Mindset #ProtectYourPeace #LeadWithPurpose #LeaveThePileHigher #GrowYourLegacy

Ready to grow your legacy and make a lasting impact? Let’s connect.

Schedule a 15-minute Legacy Snapshot—a quick session to explore how Savage Family Office can help you protect, build, and expand what you’re creating.
Together, we’ll make sure what you build today stands strong for future generations.
Book your Legacy Snapshot today and take the first step toward leaving the pile higher.

Are you or someone you know doing the work of legacy-building?
We’re always looking for guests with stories that inspire growth, faith, and perseverance.

To be considered—or to ask a question about an episode—email [email protected]
.