Man Up w/ Nick & Tony

Brief Summary:

 

Jimmy Franco is a tax attorney at a Big Four accounting firm. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, and a J.D. and an LLM (Masters of Law) in Taxation from the University of San Diego. He currently resides in the Sacramento area with his wife and three children and volunteers his time on multiple boards of directors, including his fraternity’s national board and a local food bank. In this episode, Nick and Tony share an important yet hilarious conversation with Jimmy about his work as a tax lawyer, dropping out from high school, taking the bar exam, figuring out your own learning process, and how to Man Up for yourself and for your family, both at the same time.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Introducing Jimmy (00:23)

Why Jimmy signed up for the vaccine trial (09:28)

Jimmy’s favorite food spots in LA and his observations on LA’s food landscape (12:39)

Why do people still live in LA despite upward living costs? (18:57)

Dropping out of high school and applying for law school at age 32 (22:13)

Why you should find a partner who not only motivates you but really pushes you to achieve your goals (28:02)

What the experience of taking the bar is like (29:40)

The importance of figuring out your own learning process (31:57)

What Jimmy does for a living - and some of his clients! (36:38)

Why you should not be afraid of taxes...and the first step when doing them (38:35)

Small business necessities: LLC, a good insurance policy, and a lower taxable income goal (40:32)

How to lower your taxable income as a small business (41:25)

What is the pass-through entity tax? (43:23)

Did Trump have good corporate tax policies? (46:03)

Why corporations aren’t paying income taxes (49:16)

Why it’s easier to go after individuals versus corporations when it comes to taxes (52:02)

Jimmy shares why he chose corporate law over other different law practices (55:13)

The reality behind studying law and practicing law (58:35)

How tax law feeds Jimmy’s intellectual curiosity (01:02:28)

What parenting model does Jimmy believe in and apply to his kids? (01:06:35)

What Jimmy wishes he knew when he was younger and his advice to the next generation (01:08:15)

Understanding your weaknesses and being honest with yourself (01:09:31)

Brief Summary:

 

Eli Roriguez Jr. is a born-and-raised San Pedran financial advisor turned business consultant with expertise in sales and marketing. Eli went to the University of California Santa Barbara to get his degree in Political Science and is the current Alumni Advisor for Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Kappa Chapter. In this first episode of Season 2, Nick and Tony have a chat with Eli about his transition from finance to marketing, his experience working at a fast-food chain, finding your skillset, trust, and redefining what it means to Man Up.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Introducing Eli (01:44)

Are there good taco spots in San Pedro? (04:02)

Why it’s important to know your skillset (06:39)

Why customer service is an important yet underrated skill (10:38)

Tony gets real about the only way to find out what you’re good at (13:50)

When did Eli realize that he can go out and just do his own thing? (17:47)

The right way to do crisis management at work (20:25)

How to recognize your own talent and develop them (23:42)

Why Eli pursued finance in college and the problem he’s trying to solve with his choice (26:58)

How to approach and educate people to take ownership of their own money (30:01)

Establishing trust in your relationships (30:57)

When did Eli recognize that being a financial advisor wasn’t for him? (34:38)

Eli shares how writing journals help process his emotions and thoughts better (35:40)

The moment Eli actualized his decision to quit his job (39:09)

Is corporate America just a pyramid scheme? (42:08)

Why making small changes is just as important as big ones (43:26)

The skills and the mentality of a business consultant (44:04)

Why people stay at jobs they aren’t passionate about (45:44)

Doing something out of habit vs doing something that you want to do (49:51)

‘Manning up’ isn’t just about being tough (50:37)

Closing statements (52:48)

We are back. New episode comes out on Friday.

Brief Summary:

 

Jose Mayorquin is an Emmy-award-winning producer for ABC Television Group. He has worked on several programs including Localish, Eyewitness News, and Vista LA, and live specials like the American Music Awards and Academy Awards. In this episode, Tony and Nick share a hilarious yet insightful conversation with Jose about his transition from an economics major from Berkeley to a producer in ABC, why linear paths are not always made to be followed, how to make smart choices, the future of entertainment, and how to Man Up in the pursuit of your passions.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

Jose’s favorite taco, who he is, where he began, and what he went to school for (00:04:29)

Why Jose chose to study in Berkeley, and a little shared history of Madden between the bros (00:08:57)

Making the transition from Boyle Heights to Berkeley, and why Jose decided to major in economics (00:14:40)

How Jose began his career and eventually settled in the entertainment industry (00:20:12)

Where Jose’s passion for producing began and how he got in at ABC (00:23:02)

Jose shares his humble beginnings working at ABC and his journey to becoming a producer (00:27:12)

Nick gets real about career expectations and why figuring out what you want to do is the best way to start living the life you want (00:29:29)

Why being a creative requires knowledge about different things (00:31:06)

Why you don’t always need to follow a linear path in your career (00:35:06)

Being a ‘Swiss army knife’ and pursuing different passions (00:39:28)

Taking risks and confronting uncomfortable situations to learn (00:42:00)

Understanding the human complexity and being smart with your choices (00:44:11)

The importance of having the right person by your side (00:45:57)

Differences between traditional media and new media, and the disadvantages and advantages of both (00:48:39)

Jose shares his insights on the future of entertainment and the current innovations being done to AR tech (00:58:11)

Jose’s piece of advice for people looking into having a career in entertainment (01:03:39)

A little Man Up trivia: the man behind the Man Up theme song (01:06:01)

How the Oscars ended up having an official bleeper (01:07:31)

Closing statements (01:08:55)

Brief Summary:

 

Leo Cortez is the Head of University Recruiting for Airbnb, with several recruitment and career development roles under his belt. He has dedicated 10 years of his life to teaching and school administration before transitioning into the competitive space of corporate America. In this episode, Nick and Tony interview Leo about what it’s like to change careers when you’re 30, the importance of networking and paying attention to people you meet, leaving a legacy for your community, tips to increase your chances at getting hired, and how to Man Up in the career ladder.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Who Leo is, his educational background, his career history, his favorite mariachi song, and his favorite street taco spot (00:04:35)

How Leo knew that he wanted to pursue education and a career in the academe (00:10:51)

How to move up in the education field and the importance of keeping your network alive (00:13:37)

The reason behind Leo’s drastic career change (00:17:04)

The opportunity that led Leo from education to the high-tech space (00:18:58)

Which one is harder, education or corporate? The pandemic answers it clearly, as most parents would know (00:22:08)

Leo’s introductory role and responsibilities in the corporate system, and how networking expanded opportunities for his career (00:24:08)

What are the different networking events that exist in the corporate space? (00:26:39)

Navigating the competitive space of corporate America; the importance of understanding your company (00:29:23)

How to set yourself apart from other job candidates (00:31:31)

How networking and researching increase your chances of getting hired by a company (00:34:20)

Does networking in corporate America differ from small business networking? (00:39:04)

Why networking with 5 people is better than meeting 40 new people (00:42:50)

The advantages and challenges of transitioning your career from education to corporate (00:46:33)

Working on your legacy and prioritizing your family and community over your career (00:49:47)

Leo’s professional tip: use a professional email address when applying for a job (00:57:20)

Personalizing your public information for better business and brand recall (00:58:50)

How to organize your resume for better hiring chances (01:00:53)

Why networking is a big part of the recruitment process (01:05:42)

Leo’s advice for those who want to move up in their corporate careers (01:08:42)

Closing statements (01:10:06)

Brief Summary:

 

With a society that values productivity and job titles, sometimes we can get caught up in having our life centered around our careers. In this episode of Man Up, Nick and Tony get in touch with Ricardo Gomez, a husband, a dad, and a doctor specializing in anesthesiology, to talk about pursuing a career in medicine as a Latino, the role that mentorship plays in our lives, the phenomenon of microwave society, comic book flipping, and more. Hear the grown men discuss why time is always more important than money, and how having that perspective can help you Man Up in your family.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Nick and Tony share their biggest takeaway from this conversation (00:00:36)

Who Dr. Ricardo Gomez is, where he trained to be an anesthesiologist, and his favorite street taco (00:06:12)

What it’s like to be a Latino medical professional and why Ricardo pursued a career in medicine (00:09:36)

How to recognize if a particular career is the right choice for you (00:11:20)

The important role that mentors have in our lives (00:14:29)

What it’s like to grow up as a Latino in a rural town in California (00:16:15)

Ricardo shares the culture of gangs and growing up around gang members (00:19:24)

The right mindset to overcome any obstacle that comes your way (00:22:17)

How having a quality partner, and being a quality partner, can help you through anything (00:25:02)

Why it is important to take time off and reevaluate your decisions in life (00:27:31)

How to choose between equally good choices (00:32:32)

Ricardo shares how staying true to oneself and to one’s heritage can lead to a more positive and engaged career (00:33:58)

How being a Latino anesthesiologist puts more patients at ease and adds more trust to the medical field (00:36:36)

Can you demand more salary based on your bilingual skills? (00:37:44)

How doctor’s residency works and how to transition from residency to a professional licensed career (00:38:36)

How pride can get in the way of your medical career (00:40:44)

Ricardo’s most exciting experience in the operating room (or not!) (00:42:00)

Why you should not let your profession dictate who you are (00:43:53)

Living your life and not letting work and titles become the center of everything (00:47:05)

The benefits of having a ‘fat kid’ personality, according to Ricardo (00:49:45)

Why role models aren’t necessarily positive ones (00:50:19)

Time will always be more valuable than money (00:51:40)

Dabbling in real estate and cryptocurrency, acknowledging you’re bad at finance, and ALWAYS picking the right partner (00:57:30)

Ricardo’s real money advice: invest in comic books and flip them for good money (01:00:50)

Nick, Tony, and Ricardo talk about card flipping and the importance of investing in things you like and are interested in (01:01:56)

Nick shares his golden nugget: get your money right first (01:07:31)

Good things take time: what a microwave society is and why you should aim for delayed gratification (01:08:20)

A little Gamma history for all the listeners and Gammas (01:10:23)

Why Ricardo is grateful for joining a fraternity and the teachings that he took away from his bros (01:12:18)

Closing statements (01:15:01)

COVID has really opened the conversation on mental health, and a part of it is how people deal with their personal traumas. In this episode, Nick and Tony ask help from Georgina, a licensed marriage and family therapist, in understanding trauma better, explaining why anger is usually the only emotion men are allowed to feel, treating women better, and breaking down the questions of how you can be better in processing your emotions.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Introducing Georgina, planning post-COVID life, and discussing the vaccine (00:00:26)

Can young people detect and acknowledge their traumas at a young age? Why is it more challenging to detect traumas in young people? (00:04:17)

Why are men generally more inclined to express anger than any other emotion? (00:08:06)

Breaking down the stereotype of men don’t (and can’t) cry and addressing the need for a safe space within the family (00:12:06)

Tony opens up about his experience with bullying and how his parent taught him how to deal with it (00:14:40)

How talking about things can regulate the aggression that men are taught and raised with (00:16:43)

What are the things that men can change to have a healthy and respectful mindset towards women? (00:22:52)

Rethinking the things parents say to their sons and to their daughters about how they should be as they grow up (00:25:41)

Understanding the pressure society puts on men with regard to sex and how to change that mindset (00:29:32)

Why the continuous oppression of women further drives the narrative of men disrespecting women in the dating scene (00:30:48)

What are some factors that can contribute to men’s harmful behaviors towards their relationships? (00:32:23)

Setting boundaries that are reasonable and are actually good for you (00:37:51)

Georgina shares the reason why she pursued family therapy (00:42:24)

How does a therapist digest trauma and life-changing events that happen to people? (00:46:10)

The effects of COVID on therapy and how mental health took a clearer role in people’s lives (00:48:29)

Nick gets real on how insurance companies treat mental health cases and behavioral therapists, and how there’s been a shift in how people talk about mental health (00:52:28)

Respecting children’s boundaries and becoming better adults by listening more (00:54:54)

Find the right job in the right field can be such a daunting experience, especially when you just graduated from college. With their own struggles and realizations over the years of moving from one job to another and even shifting careers completely, Nick and Tony have all the right advice to help you find out what’s the best career for you. In this episode, the bros talk about what you should be thinking about when looking for a job, student loans, rejecting life-altering job offers, ladies, and how to Man Up in your career search.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

How Nick reframed his thinking about getting a job in line with your college degree vs getting a job that pays the bills (00:06)

Why are internships important when pursuing a particular field? (03:37)

Are four-year college degrees still needed with today’s market demands? Nick weighs in on how niching of skills won’t sustain current college education systems. (06:02)

Nick and Tony discuss the importance of college education despite its big price tag (07:21)

What are ‘big picture skills’? How do they help you with your future career and decision-making? (09:07)

What standards does a degree set for your future employers? (11:12)

How the probability of student loans can help you rethink your choice of field (12:22)

Are there ways to lessen student loan and unemployment anxieties? (13:51)

The trade-off of living a good life with a job that pays the bills vs pursuing your dream job (16:22)

Does having money equate to happiness? (18:09)

Tony shares how the reasons why he decided against a life-changing job offer (19:42)

Nick’s pieces of advice for people who are working less-than-ideal jobs (23:02)

How working different jobs can help you develop your career and figure out what you really want to do with your life (25:24)

Does doing a job part-time lessen the merit of the worker? Nick shares a story where he found an advantage in doing part-time work. (26:33)

The one important thing people have to understand and accept when looking for jobs (30:51)

Why knowing what you want out of your career defines how you move through jobs (33:42)

Changing your mindset about career and job opportunities (38:35)

Nick shares what he thinks young men’s biggest distraction is (40:55)

What kind of jobs ensures that you always have work and control, according to Tony (42:40)

The hard truth about knowing whether or not you’re ready for a job (44:45)

If you’re almost at the end of your college education and you still don’t know what to do, maybe it’s time to sit down and reevaluate (48:19)

How to decide on your future career: use your network, change your mindset, and be flexible (49:30)

Closing statements (50:59)

Brief Summary:

 

Whether you plan to live alone or move in with roommates, renting an apartment can be quite the process, especially if you don’t know the things you should be looking out for. In this episode, Nick and Tony dive deep into the uncomfortable yet important sides of leasing an apartment. From discussing your lease with your manager to controlling your emotions when your roommate leaves out a dish for weeks, this episode will make sure you know how to Man Up when renting an apartment.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Why Man Up is doing an episode on how to rent an apartment (01:06)

Tony shares his personal history with renting an apartment with roommates and the questions you should ask before you move in (03:07)

Apartment renting tip #1: always keep your lease agreement (05:45)

Apartment renting tip #2: go over all the fees in your lease (06:16)

Why being informed and being prepared are essential to renting an apartment (fees can be tricky!) (07:04)

Apartment renting tip #3: find out how long your leasor’s been on the job, but don’t be condescending! (09:29)

Apartment renting tip #4: have everything in writing (11:14)

Apartment renting tip #5: go through corporate lines when corresponding with your managers (13:24)

Apartment renting tip #6: be roommates with RESPONSIBLE people! (14:40)

How to ensure the people you’re moving in with are going to be responsible roommates according to Tony: invite them out to lunch (15:14)

Why you should have the uncomfortable conversations with your roommates prior to moving in (16:52)

You will never find the perfect roommate, but working out differences in living habits is easier than late payments (18:52)

Nick shares how traveling with someone can be a good indicator if they’re good roommates (20:02)

Apartment renting tip #7: moving in with roommates means giving up some of your freedoms, that’s how you cohabitate (21:34)

Apartment renting tip #8: learn how to compromise (24:19)

How do you deal with roommates who eventually slack off with their responsibilities? (28:40)

Apartment renting tip #9: be upfront and address problems that arise immediately (29:36)

Respect, accountability, and maturity as solid foundations of good roommate-ship (32:57)

Closing statements (34:48)

Brief Summary:

 

As a former Sergeant in U.S. Marine Corps, our very own Tony has had significant and insightful leadership roles while in service, and throughout his career. In this episode, Nick interviews Tony on what makes a good leader, leaving toxic environments, building a team, the four different personality colors, and how to Man Up in the workspace.

 

The episode touches on the following key topics and ideas:

 

Why building real relationships is the foundation of good leadership (05:44)

Finding the balance between having a good relationship with your team members and still holding them accountable (09:43)

The three main components of leadership: clarity, trust, and ownership, and how to make use of these three things to achieve your goal (12:27)

Why it’s important to apply clarity, trust, and ownership even to your personal life (16:51)

What makes a strong leader: self-awareness, personality, and emotional intelligence (17:59)

Having mutual respect and self-awareness precedes difference in personalities (20:41)

The importance of knowing your emotional intelligence and regulating your emotions (22:38)

Why managers also need to manage personalities, not just team members as employees (25:15)

Why having emotional intelligence is needed in crisis management (27:04)

Three practical tips for people in leadership positions: document, follow up, and close it out (32:42)

Building a team vs knowing your team (35:57)

Why focusing on your team and what you can do is more important than having the best tools (38:03)

Knowing the industry you move in and imitating the best practices of industry leaders (39:35)

The role that research plays in leadership styles (40:47)

Optimizing individual personalities and skills is a good long-term investment for your company (42:17)

Why making yourself dispensable as a leader is what can make you indispensable to the company (44:24)

The ultimate goal of a leader: remove barriers and build relationships (47:42)

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