LEVEL UP with Matt Rogers

When you think of the greatest evangelists of all time it is impossible to not hear the name Swaggart mentioned in the discussion. Gabe Swaggart is an associate pastor of Family Worship Center, the home church and headquarters of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (JSM) - an epicenter of world evangelism established by his grandparents, Evangelist Jimmy and Frances Swaggart, more than 60 years ago.

Pastor Gabe has been in full-time ministry since 2002. His sermons air 24 hours a day and seven days a week to an audience of about 280 million viewers. That being said, when you are in the room with him, he makes you feel like the most important person God ever created. I had the pleasure of being on his show “Generation of the Cross” last week. I was once again reminded how much Gabe loves people, which is what I always admired about him before I knew him personally.

I met Gabe through Instagram about six years ago. I have developed a relationship with him that I am proud to say is a friendship that I do not take lightly. Some of my favorite conversations with Gabe are spent laughing over jokes and bragging to each other about our wives and kids. I treasure our deep conversations of how we have turned failure into success and how, even at our worst, God still has victory at our finish line.

In this interview with Gabe, I share this friendship with you! Pastor Gabe opens up and holds nothing back as we talk about REAL LIFE situations that we have been through and how God has brought us through it all. This time with my friend Gabe is exactly like our conversations on the phone. They are real, vulnerable, truthful and inspiring.

Pastor Gabe and his wife Jill live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with their four daughters: Samantha, Abby, Caroline and new baby girl Mackenzie Lee.

Every time I am with my friend Gabe Swaggart, I LEVEL UP... and now, I share my friend with you!

Enjoy!

“All I know is The Hustle”. This is something that Defines my friend Calvin Becerra.

When I first met Calvin in 2009 he was 27 years old and had more wisdom than most men in their 60’s. Since then, Calvin has built an organization that spans across more than 130 countries. He credits his success to a work ethic he developed starting at 8 years old and the adversity that constantly challenged him throughout his life. His story of how he worked himself out of poverty is beyond inspiring…especially in today's world!

Calvin is one of the greatest Millennial leaders of our time and he dedicates a large part of his career today traveling to motivate and mentor his teams with his story. His dream is to one day look back and see an organization of people around the world who have paid the price of sacrifice and service to their team, so they too can have freedom of time and finances.

No matter what stage of life you are in, Calvin’s story will inspire you to Hustle, Stay Humble and LEVEL UP!

EVERYone has dreams… but only those with guts take risks to actually see them become a reality!

Gina (Gigi) Butler is a mom, entrepreneur and founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes. 

Gigi opened her first location off Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008. Gigi’s Cupcakes is now the largest cupcake franchise in the world. She is honestly one of my favorite people I have met since moving to Tennessee five years ago and I am proud to call her my friend!

Picture this…. Gigi went from being a house keeper to becoming one of the largest female entrepreneurs on the planet! And her journey has been a very similar path that many of you are facing right now. 

In this interview, Gigi gets REAL about her journey in a male-dominated business world, but never taking on the title of a “feminist". She shows us how the struggle is real and that overcoming obstacles, instead of simply ignoring them, has a MUCH greater payoff … which is something our culture is trying hard to do. 

If you are a man, this will encourage you.

If you are a woman, this will inspire you.

And if you are a person with a dream, this will LEVEL YOU UP!

Today I am thrilled to interview one of my best friends Matt Iseman.

Matt is best known for hosting the four time Emmy nominated show "American Ninja Warrior". He was also the winner of Celebrity Apprentice with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Along with his long list of Television shows, I had the honor of meeting and working with Matt on Hallmark Channels “Home and Family”.

In this episode Matt opens up about his ongoing battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It shows the listeners how he has gone from pain to prosperity all the while finding success throughout his journey.

Matt is one of the most joyful people I know. When he walks in the room, things GET BETTER! His humor, transparency and overall positive outlook are the pillars of why I am proud to call him “My Friend”.

I know this episode will inspire you, encourage you and mostly cause you to LEVEL UP no matter where you currently are in your life’s journey. 

Rex Crain is an acclaimed speaker, author, and catalyst for change to Fortune Five Hundred companies, professional athletes, entertainers and people from all walks of life.

As a young man, Rex walked away from a baseball career with the Boston Red Sox to pursue his passion to help people. Rex has devoted the last eighteen years of his life to helping people discover and develop their own unique qualities of greatness. His gift to inspire has taken him around the world to bring strategies and insights to elevate human achievement and performance.

Personally I have been blessed to call Rex one of my closest friends. Weather it was finding out my kids had a terrible doctor report or finding out I got a new TV show, Rex has ALWAYS been one of my first phone calls. He is the one person that builds me up when I am in shambles or the one to celebrate with me when I crush a goal or earn and achievement. Rex has an anointing on his life to encourage people more than anyone I have ever seen. He is truly a gift from God.

Rex’s passion is to make the world a better place to live by assisting individuals to live their best life. Throughout the years he has unselfishly given his energy and resources to those in need. Rex is considered one of the nations top leaders in peak performance coaching.

Rex, his wife Katrina and daughter Kira live in Los Angeles, Ca but graced us on this podcast from Canada as he was traveling. I truly believe that listening to this episode will change the way you are currently dealing with any situation you are going through. Regardless of your current state in life, an hour with Rex Crain will LEVEL YOU UP!

When I started this podcast, one of the first guests I had hoped for was KC Mitchell. I have followed KC for years on his iconic Instagram @That1LegMonster. KC Mitchell is a retired Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Airborne Infantry. As an American powerlifter and former soldier, he is the first amputee to compete for a national powerlifting title. KC was stationed in Ft. Bragg and deployed to Baghdad in 2005. After being overseas 13 months, he would return home to earn his promotion. As KC continued to serve his county, he was sent to Afghanistan in Kandahar province. On April 3, 2010, he was on a mounted night patrol, when the vehicle he was in struck an explosive device. He sustained extensive injuries that required his left leg to be amputated. He has endured over 50 surgeries and spent 3 years in the hospital for recovery. As a result of his injuries, KC opens up about how he suffered with painkiller addiction, alcoholism and depression. Sadly, this is much too relatable to many of us! Listen to hear his powerful story of how a trip to Disneyland for his daughters birthday, ended up being the turning point for his life to LEVEL UP! KC decided to put down the drugs and pick up the weights. Now he is one of the top powerlifters in the world! KC’s story is one that will inspire you to push through life no matter how tough it may be. This is the story of a true American Hero. Thank you KC!

And God said, "My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." These are the famous words written by Carolyn Joyce Carty in her masterpiece titled "Footprints". 

Kym Douglas knows these words all too well as they became her reality. Known to millions as "The Hollywood Beauty Expert", Kym shares her journey from an anchorwoman in Detroit, Michigan to her destiny in Hollywood. Meeting her future husband Jerry Douglas on a press tour, Kym tells us how a last minute interview blossomed into a 36 year marriage. Even through infertility, Kym continued to pursue her dream of having a child. After many setbacks, she would ultimately get her greatest blessing... her son, "Hunter". 

From having a recurring role on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Hallmark's Home and Family and several commercials, Kym's life was a story book... until her Stage 3 cancer diagnosis. It was then God would show himself true to Kym in her darkest time. 

This is an interview we can all relate to and be inspired by. Everyone faces trials that we did not order off life's menu. However, it is our decisions not our conditions that determine our destiny. I know you will enjoy this episode as Kym is one of my favorite people on this planet. She will inspire you to not only trust God on the mountain top but in the valley as well. 

Abandoned by his mother at birth, Jeff Ginn is now the CEO of the largest philanthropic company that partners with professional athletes. Matt dives deep into Jeff's story of how his 15 year old mother gave him up at birth. Raised in the 1970's when being adopted was frowned upon, Jeff shares his struggles, failures and victories of how he went from Given Up to Level Up!

Dr. Matt Hubbard's vision for wellness extends well beyond the confines of his San Diego practice. On this episode Matt and Dr. Matt dig into the complexities of family, business, and the power of personal declarations.

An intro to Level Up with Matt Rogers.