Ernie Hudson is a Hollywood legend whose career has spanned over five decades, commanding screens in iconic roles from Ghostbusters to The Crow, and powerful television appearances in Oz and The Family Business. Beyond being a celebrated actor, Ernie is a storyteller, mentor, and survivor who has deeply impacted his community and the culture at large. Raised by his grandmother after losing his mother early in life, Ernie’s journey from Michigan theater stages to Hollywood is marked by unwavering faith, resilience, and a commitment to being an example of what’s possible—especially for the African American community. Through his work and his personal life as a father and husband, Ernie embodies integrity, purpose, and the belief in always showing up and giving his best.

Takeaways

Purposeful Living: Ernie Hudson attributes his career and life’s successes to living with purpose and honoring the gifts given to him, always striving to be a role model and example of possibility.

Integrity in Roles: Throughout his career, Ernie has been selective with the roles he accepts, consistently ensuring his characters reflect principle and authenticity—even when it meant turning down lucrative opportunities that didn’t align with his values.

Family First: Ernie’s journey as a single father and later as the patriarch in The Family Business highlights his dedication to family, how personal responsibility drove his perseverance, and how being a dad mattered more to him than professional acclaim.

Sound Bytes

"Because I can. Because I'm still able to. For reasons some of my own, some just God-given, I'm blessed to do what I do."

"You have to own up to it. I've tried to maintain a certain integrity in the work that I do."

"My job was always to be ready for that opportunity… I just have to show up and be prepared."

Connect & Discover Ernie:

Instagram: @erniehudsonofficial

X: @Ernie_Hudson

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Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

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Ilana Golan is a transformative powerhouse with a career spanning elite engineering in the Air Force, founding and selling companies in Silicon Valley, and now empowering high achievers through Leap Academy. As an investor, TEDx speaker, and acclaimed podcast host, Ilana is dedicated to helping leaders and entrepreneurs reinvent themselves, discover their zone of genius, and leap forward with clarity and impact. Her mission is driven by a deep desire to help others avoid regret, build fulfilling careers, and continuously adapt in today's rapidly changing world.

Takeaways:

Reinvention is Essential: In today’s fast-paced environment, staying adaptable and reinventing yourself is vital—not only for professional relevance but for true fulfillment.

Clarity Drives Opportunity: Knowing your direction and crafting your story and brand around it opens the doors to hidden, meaningful opportunities beyond traditional career paths.

Grit Meets Purpose: Setbacks aren’t just obstacles—they can become teaching moments that fuel your mission and propel you toward greater impact.

Sound Bytes:

“If you’re not moving forward at the pace of change, you will fall behind, and lose relevance faster than you think.”

“Your brand is your currency, especially now in the lack of trust economy. It’s the only insurance policy you have.”

“Success leaves clues—look for what people are already drawn to you for, and lean into your unique zone of genius.”

Connect & Discover Ilana:

Linkedin: @ilanagolan

Website: ilanagolan.com

Leap Academy: leapacademy.com

Facebook: @ilanagolan2010 

YouTube: @ilanagolan-leap-academy 

Podcast: leapacademy.com

Instagram: @ilanagolanleap

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FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast 

LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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Joe McCarthy is a powerhouse branding strategist and entrepreneur renowned for his relentless approach and trailblazing results in the digital business world. As the brain behind rapidly scaling brands like Gem Social and Grow With Us Agency, Joe specializes in lead generation, crafting magnetic personal brands, and helping influencers and entrepreneurs scale their businesses. Known for his servant mindset and transparency, he takes pride in guiding others to find their voice, optimize their offers, and achieve profitable, sustainable growth online. With a proven track record and a client roster filled with success stories, Joe brings a no-nonsense, value-first approach to building brands that convert.

Takeaways:

Build a Strong Foundation: Success in personal branding starts with foundational work—clarifying your target audience, your own voice, values, and what unique value you offer. Skipping these steps can leave you struggling to create real impact or connect with the right people.

Brand and Lead Gen Go Hand-in-Hand: Building a great brand and effective lead generation aren’t separate pursuits; they’re deeply interconnected. An optimized brand attracts the right audience, while strategic lead gen processes convert interest into tangible results.

Value First, Sales Second: Leading with service, not sales, is the key to authentic business growth. When you provide overwhelming value and genuinely care about serving your audience, selling becomes a natural, trust-based outcome.

Sound Bytes:

“Your brand is your business card and your resume—it shows people upfront your values, beliefs, and skills.”

“People don’t share or save content unless they truly resonate with your message. Nail the messaging and the rest will follow.”

“If you know your service is great, it’s almost selfish not to get it in front of the people who need it.”

Connect & Discover Joe:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mccarthy-7b691518a/

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

X: https://x.com/realjoe_mac

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Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

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LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

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Jordan Mendoza is a globally recognized expert in branding and business growth, celebrated for his resilience and trailblazing approach to overcoming adversity. Born to a diverse heritage, Jordan grew up learning lessons in perseverance from his mother, who was born with only one lung. Despite being voted "least likely to succeed" in high school, Jordan defied the odds and built a powerful personal brand, becoming a sought-after keynote speaker and LinkedIn powerhouse. He is the author of "The Life-Changing Power of Adversity," a book focused on turning struggles into opportunities and helping others blaze their own trail to success. Today, Jordan is also the host of the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast and is committed to empowering others to find their voice, share their story, and unlock their greatest potential.

 Key Takeaways:

Adversity is a Gift: Jordan emphasizes that adversity, when faced head-on and unpacked, offers valuable life lessons and growth opportunities. He encourages listeners to view challenges as gifts to be unwrapped, not just obstacles to be endured.

Your Story Has Power: Sharing your personal story, especially your struggles and how you overcame them, is essential—not just for personal healing, but for helping others realize they’re not alone and inspiring them to overcome their own challenges.

Start Before You’re Ready: Whether launching a podcast, building a brand, or publishing a book, Jordan urges people to take action even if they feel unqualified or nervous. Progress and confidence come from putting in the reps and learning along the way.

Sound Bytes:

"Adversity is a gift as long as we're willing to open it, to unwrap it, and to dive into all that it has to offer." 

"Everyone has a story. Most people haven't mustered up the courage yet to share it." 

"If you just start showing up, posting short videos, sharing tips and stories, you'll find your people." 

Connect & Discover Jordan:

Website: jordanjmendoza.com

LinkedIn: @jordanjmendoza

Instagram: @therealjordanjmendoza

TikTok: @jordanjmendoza

Podcast: Blaze Your Own Trail

Book: The Life-Changing Power of Adversity

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Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

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LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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Jennifer Ledwith, founder of ScholarReady, is a renowned educator and mentor based in Houston, Texas, celebrated for her relentless commitment to empowering students both academically and personally. With over 20 years of experience, Jennifer specializes in helping students build confidence, attain educational freedom, and achieve college admission success—without the crushing burden of student debt. Through her innovative College Ready program, she works with students and families from as early as seventh grade, focusing on literacy, foundational skills, and practical strategies for long-term academic and financial success. Her approach combines deep care, respect for each student’s unique motivations, and proven methods to help young people unlock opportunities and dreams.

Takeaways

Educational Freedom Starts Early: Jennifer stresses that the path to real educational opportunity and freedom from student loan debt begins well before the 11th or 12th grade. Building strong reading and comprehension skills from an early age is the foundation for test success and scholarship opportunities.

Individualized, Respectful Guidance: Jennifer’s unique approach involves learning each student’s “why” and working collaboratively with them—respecting their knowledge and allowing them to try their own methods while gently guiding them towards proven strategies when needed.

Parents as Key Partners: Parents should take an active role in their child’s educational journey, administering practice tests early, understanding their child’s strengths and challenges, and making consistent literacy and academic engagement a family affair, much like youth sports.

Sound Bytes

“All kinds of technology can be used for good and used for bad—we just have to figure out how to help students learn how to use technology positively.” – Jennifer Ledwith

“Education is supposed to give you freedom. When you’re educated, you have choices.” –Jennifer Ledwith

“We’ve got to bring that same energy to literacy that we bring to sports. Start early, build a pipeline, and make academic readiness a family priority.” – Jennifer Ledwith

Connect & Discover Jennifer:

Website: Scholaready.com

LinkedIn: @JenniferLedwith

YouTube: @scholaready

🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥

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👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million 

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast 

LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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Shawn French is a speaker, coach, and podcast host whose life and brand are built on resilience, discipline, and unyielding determination. Drawing from overcoming personal adversity and healing childhood wounds, he has transformed his journey into a mission to inspire and push others to stop negotiating with their greatness. Through his work, including the acclaimed "Determined Society" podcast and community, Shawn French empowers leaders and individuals to harness their pain, elevate their standards, and pursue their purpose with intention, discipline, and grit.

Takeaways:

Standards Over Goals: Success is rooted in maintaining personal standards, not just chasing goals. Standards become your minimum expectation and shape who you are during the journey.

Discipline is Freedom: The daily commitment to mundane, consistent habits grants true freedom and peace of mind, allowing individuals to move forward with zero regrets.

Embrace the Mundane: Lasting impact and achievement come from relentlessly executing the unglamorous, everyday tasks—even when motivation is low.

Sound Bytes:

"If it feeds the mission, then eat it, then go for it. But if it moves you further away from your goal, retreat. Don't do it."

"You have to be able to drop the walls and take that ego... I have to be vulnerable in this moment and admit that I didn't perform because of me."

"Discipline is freedom. Because when you act on that, there's nothing anyone can say... You have earned that moment no matter what."

Connect & Discover Shawn:

Instagram: @theshawnfrench

Podcast: The Determined Society

Website: thedeterminedsociety.com

X: @theshawnmfrench

Facebook: @thewronghouse

YouTube: @thedeterminedsociety

🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥 

Mick Hunt’s BEST SELLING book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers. 

👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million 

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast 

LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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John Assaraf is a renowned entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, neuroscience expert, and founder of NeuroGym. With a career spanning over four decades, John has built multiple multi-million-dollar companies and dedicated his life to helping millions break through self-imposed limits. He is recognized for translating complex neuroscience into practical strategies for personal and professional growth, focusing on the power of identity, mindset, and the mechanics of the brain. John’s mission is to empower others to engineer success from the inside out and unlock their full potential.

Takeaways:

Identity Drives Change: John emphasizes that true, lasting change begins with transforming your identity—how you see yourself—since you will never outperform your own self-image.

The Brain is Wired for Safety, Not Success: Our brains are naturally designed to keep us safe and avoid pain, not to achieve success. Recognizing and consciously working with this wiring is critical to overcoming self-sabotage and achieving new levels.

Upgrade Your Inner Software: Just like technology, your beliefs, habits, and identity are ‘software’ that can be intentionally upgraded through practice, self-awareness, and emotional regulation—leading to greater achievement in all areas of life.

Sound Bytes:

“We will never, ever, ever outperform our hidden self-image of ourselves.”

“Our brain is wired to keep us safe, not successful.”

“You can practice a new identity the same way a basketball player practices free throws—until it becomes automatic.”

Connect & Discover John:

Website: johnassaraf.com

Facebook: @johnassarafpage

Instagram: @johnassaraf

X: @johnassaraf

LinkedIn: @johnassaraf

YouTube: @JohnAssaraf

Website: myneurogym.com

🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥

 Mick Hunt’s BEST SELLING book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers. 

👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million 

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

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LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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Dara Ladjevardian is the innovative founder behind Delphi, the human-centric AI platform that's transforming how mentorship and knowledge are shared in the digital age. Growing up as the child of Iranian immigrants in Houston, Dara was deeply influenced by the resilience and work ethic of his family, particularly his grandfather—a prominent business leader who rebuilt his life from scratch in the US. After creating and selling his first AI startup in eight months, Dara was inspired by the desire to preserve and access his grandfather’s wisdom, ultimately leading him to build Delphi. Today, Dara is on a mission to empower individuals and businesses to scale their influence and legacy through personalized, ethical AI that puts people first.

Takeaways

 Sound Bytes

“We’re not automating humans; we’re putting AI and power in the hands of humans.”

“As AI continues to improve, that authenticity, that realness of a human is going to be that much more attractive.”

“You should not be afraid to put yourself out there... it’s okay to start putting yourself out there.”

Connect & Discover Dara:

Website: delphi.ai/dara 

LinkedIn: @dara-ladjevardian

Instagram: @daraladje

X: @daraladje 

🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥

 Mick Hunt’s BEST SELLING book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers. 

👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast 

LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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Raheel Siddiqui is a dynamic speaker, coach, and podcast host who embodies resilience and the power of personal transformation. Having lost over 200 pounds on his journey from being overweight and bullied to becoming a beacon of inspiration, Raheel uses his story to empower others to break through barriers—whether those walls are physical, mental, or emotional. Fueled by the memory and lessons of his late father and driven by a passion to help others rise from rock bottom, Raheel now shares his insights via his own Wall Breaker 200 podcast, TEDx stages, and coaching sessions. He brings unmatched energy to every room and is dedicated to helping people discover strength they never knew they had.

Takeaways:

Admitting You Have a Problem Is the First Step: Transformation begins with accountability and the willingness to recognize and confront your struggles head-on.

The Journey Is Just as Important as the Results: Progress requires focusing on the process—commit to the work and trust that the results will follow, in any area of life.

Ask for Help and Build Your Support System: Whether it’s joining a team or reaching out for guidance, surrounding yourself with people who care can be the catalyst for real change.

Sound Bytes:

“Any wall in your life is truly meant to be broken, man. You can get off of the mat. You can be heavyweight champion of the world.”

“The old Raheel didn’t have the Raheel right now, and the old Raheel needed the guy that I am now.”

“There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to see your parents crying over you, feeling that pain over you. So I said, okay, sure, I promise. So we drove off, we drove home, and the journey begun.”

Connect & Discover Raheel:

Instagram: @raheelwallbreaker200

Facebook: @raheel.twopointzero

🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥 

Mick Hunt’s BEST SELLING book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers. 

👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast 

LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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Jesse Cole, famously known as the man in the yellow tux, is a master of reinvention, joy, and building unforgettable fan experiences. As the owner of the Savannah Bananas, Jesse has transformed a struggling baseball club into a global phenomenon by shattering norms and prioritizing fun above all else. Driven by a deep belief in bringing people together and creating moments of joy, he’s become a leading business thinker, author, and inspiring mentor dedicated to showing leaders how to turn customers into raving fans. With innovation at his core, Jesse's contagious energy and commitment to doing the remarkable make him a blueprint for entrepreneurs and changemakers everywhere.

Takeaways:

Normal gets normal results — Jesse preaches that following industry standards only yields average outcomes; it's bold, memorable actions that set you apart and drive remarkable success.

Micro-reinvention matters — You don’t need to overhaul everything at once; continuous, small innovations across touchpoints can reshape experiences and build superfans.

Lead with gratitude and values — Companies that embody gratitude and consistently put their “fans” (internally and externally) first, even at a cost, build stronger, more loyal communities.

Sound Bytes:

“No one gets excited about normal. They get excited about memorable.”

“The only way you can be great is if you’re willing to get through the messy to get to the great.”

“If you do what everyone else is going to do, you’re going to get the same results as everyone else.”

Connect & Discover with Jesse:

Website: Find Your Yellow Tux

Website: thesavannahbananas

LinkedIn: YellowTuxJesse

Instagram: @YellowTuxJesse

X: @YellowTuxJesse

YouTube: @yellowtuxjesse

Book: Find Your Yellow Tux

          Fans First

          Banana Ball

🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥

 Mick Hunt’s BEST SELLING book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers. 

👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million

FOLLOW MICK ON:

Spotify: MickUnplugged

Instagram: @mickunplugged 

Facebook: @mickunplugged

YouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast 

LinkedIn: @mickhunt 

Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com

Apple: MickUnplugged

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