MIKE'D UP!

Welcome to Mike'D Up!, I'm your host, Mike DiCioccio, and I created this podcast back in 2019 with a mission to inspire other early-stage entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, level up in every way possible, personally and professionally, and to give them real, applicable advice and wisdom from experts who have actually done it before. No empty rah rah from people who haven't walked the walk. And since launching, I have interviewed over 275 experts, award-winning authors, business leaders, high-performance athletes, talented performers, and people who have never given up on themselves despite facing adversity in many rock-bottom moments. They have experienced many losses. Many heartbreaks. Personal setbacks. But they all have one thing in common: they never gave up.

One of the many reasons that I get amped up to record this podcast every week, is because I'd love that one of stories told, one piece of advice given, or maybe something I cover in a solo episode…one thought sparks you to take action…and that action leads you closer to being the best version of yourself and somebody who you are proud of and you are making your dreams come true. Living in your greatness. That is the heartbeat of this show. So if that sounds like something you'd enjoy…then YOU are in the right place. Enjoy the show, share it with your friends or business connections that you feel it will resonate with. And always remember to BE GREAT and BE GRATEFUL in all that you do. Much love!

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORED BY:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

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Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio

This week on Mike'D Up!, Russ Hedge returns with a story of resilience, faith, and redemption.

After facing stage four melanoma and the brutal realities of treatment, Russ shares how his strong faith helped him navigate through uncertainty and battle fear. He recently received the incredible news that he is cancer-free. But this is not only a story about surviving cancer. It's about choosing perspective when everything feels out of control.

Rooted in the message of his book Life Happens…Then You Choose, Russ reveals how adversity can become fuel, how mindset shapes meaning, and why hope is a decision we make daily. When we are weak, God is our strength.

Beyond the diagnosis, this conversation dives into leadership, business, and relationships. It pinpoints why community always supercedes audience. An audience tunes in…a real community participates. It unpacks how service builds trust, and how authentic connections always outlast forced transactional selling.

Life will happen. The question is: what will you choose to do next?

If you're facing a battle, building something meaningful, or searching for clarity in the middle of uncertainty, this episode will remind you that your perspective, along with strong faith, is your ultimate power.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Life Happens…Then You Choose

The Experience with Russ & Scott Podcast

The Go-Giver

How to Win Friends and Influence People

The Divine Equation

My first interview with Russ

Connect with Russ:

Website

Book

Podcasts

LinkedIn

Facebook

YouTube

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in leadership and business.

It is also one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode of Mike'D Up!, Mike sits down with Bill Blankschaen, founder and Chief Story Architect of Story Builders, for a practical and eye-opening conversation about how to tell stories that actually connect, influence, and move people to action.

Drawing on principles popularized by John Maxwell and refined through years of coaching leaders, Bill explains why effective communication requires flipping the focus from me to THEM. Great storytelling is not about showcasing your experience. It is about making your message accessible, relevant, and transformational for the audience.

Bill also shares his personal journey. After helping build and lead a Christian academy for 12 years, he stepped away in obedience to a deeper calling to write and tell stories. With six kids at home and no income for a year, he faced fear, uncertainty, and the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship. That season forced him to fully own his story, and that commitment became the breakthrough that shaped his business and impact.

If you are an entrepreneur, leader, speaker, or creator who knows you are carrying something meaningful but struggles to articulate it in a way that truly resonates, this episode will give you a practical roadmap.

Because the right story, told the right way, builds trust, creates movement, and unlocks opportunity.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ STORY OVER SELF: The shift from performing for an audience to serving them

➡️ THE 5-STEP FRAMEWORK: Attention. Tension. Connection. Solution. Action. A simple structure that turns ideas into impact

➡️ OWNING YOUR LEAP: What happens when you fully commit to your calling, even when the outcome is uncertain

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

You don't scale by doing more. You scale by aligning with the right people.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

For those ready to build influence, deepen relationships, and inspire real action.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Your Story Advantage

Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington

John MaxwellLewis HowesDean GraziosiRory Vaden

Connect with Bill and Story Builders:

Website

LinkedIn

Books

YouTube

Instagram

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

In this solo episode, I reveal the truth most people completely miss about podcasting. The real ROI isn't downloads. It isn't sponsorships. It isn't vanity metrics.

It's access. It's trust. It's relationships.

It's the ability to sit down with people you admire, build genuine connections, and create opportunities that would have been impossible otherwise. And over time, those relationships compound into something far greater than any single episode.

During one of the most challenging financial periods of my life, I felt a tug from God to launch this podcast. It became a way to create meaningful, inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs, and later became something far more powerful. Without intending to, I built a relationship engine that introduced me to clients, strategic partners, great friends, and ultimately helped transform Social Chameleon into the podcast agency it is today.

In this episode, I share how long-form conversations accelerate trust faster than any other medium, how podcasting creates proximity to incredible people, and how a single conversation can open doors that alter your trajectory. Drawing from my own journey and the success of influential shows like The Tim Ferriss Show, My First Million, and The Diary of a CEO, I explain how podcasting has quietly become one of the most effective and underutilized business development tools in the world.

I also deliver an honest look at why most podcasts never reach their full potential. While starting a podcast has never been easier, sustaining one that creates meaningful impact requires consistency, systems, and the right operational support behind the scenes.

Podcasting didn't only grow my business.

It rebuilt it.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ Why the true ROI of podcasting has nothing to do with vanity metrics ➡️ How podcasting creates direct access to relationships that lead to new opportunities ➡️ Why long-form conversations build trust faster than any other form of content ➡️ How one conversation can open doors that change the trajectory of a business ➡️ Real-world examples of podcasts that became powerful business and relationship engines ➡️ Why consistency, systems, and a team are the infrastructure of successful podcasts

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

➡️ Entrepreneurs who want to grow their business through meaningful relationships ➡️ Business owners considering launching a podcast ➡️ Agency owners exploring podcasting as a service offering for their clients ➡️ Podcast hosts who want to turn their show into a true business engine

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

In this episode, Mike welcomes Kevin Anderson, New York Times bestselling editor and founder of Kevin Anderson & Associates, the world's largest and most prestigious book-writing firm, for a candid conversation about growth, delegation, and the hidden power of publishing. Kevin brings decades of experience working behind the scenes with top entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders to help them scale their impact through books.

Kevin breaks down the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make, including trying to do everything themselves and waiting too long to bring in professional support. He explains why delegation isn't optional for scaling and how letting go of control is often the pivotal shift that unlocks real growth.

The conversation then turns to Kevin's unexpected path into ghostwriting, which evolved into a firm that now collaborates on nearly 500 books each year. He pulls back the curtain on how high-level ghostwriting actually works, how collaborative teams preserve an author's voice and credibility, and why books remain unmatched as authority and marketing assets. Mike and Kevin also tackle the role of AI in publishing, exploring why technology hasn't replaced human storytelling, and the risks authors face when they rely on it too heavily.

Smart, sharp, and packed with real-world insight, this episode is essential for entrepreneurs, authors, and anyone ready to scale their business with intention.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ THE AUTHORITY ADVANTAGE: How publishing a book transforms credibility into long-term influence and opportunity

➡️ HUMAN OVER HYPE: How AI hasn't replaced authentic storytelling or strategic thinking

➡️ BUILT TO LAST: Creating teams, systems, and leadership structures that support expansion without burnout

➡️ SCALING WITH INTENTION: Why delegation—not hustle—is the true catalyst for sustainable business growth

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

The sooner you take action, whether publishing a book or hiring the right experts, the sooner your work compounds, builds authority, and opens doors that you won't access by waiting.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Entrepreneurs, business owners, thought leaders, and aspiring authors who want their book to build real authority.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Thesis Editor

Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World's Greatest Mentalist

Brené Brown's Books

Simon Sinek's Books

Connect with Kevin:

Kevin Anderson & Associates

UK Office

LinkedIn

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

What if confidence isn't something you're born with, but something you build?

This week, Mike welcomes Fred Joyal, bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and co-founder of 1-800-DENTIST, the nation's leading dentist referral service, which generated more than $1 billion in revenue under his leadership. Once deeply introverted, Fred transformed his life through one powerful realization: bold action creates confidence, not the other way around. Now the author of Superbold: From Under Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days, Fred reveals how boldness is not a personality trait; it's a learnable life skill.

Through personal stories and practical strategies, Fred shows how small, intentional acts of courage can create massive momentum in both life and business. Listeners are taken behind the scenes of the rise of 1-800-DENTIST, from early risk-taking to national expansion, including the leadership pivots, economic challenges, and cultural foundations that fueled its success. He explains how transparency, adaptability, and trust became the pillars of long-term growth.

One of the episode's most unexpected insights comes from Fred's experience with improv comedy, which reshaped his communication style and elevated his public-speaking confidence, proving that growth often begins far outside your comfort zone. From lessons learned through his mother's bold parenting to actionable techniques for strengthening your own "boldness muscle," this episode delivers inspiration you can immediately put into action.

If you've ever hesitated to speak up, take the leap, or trust yourself, this conversation is your invitation to stop waiting and start moving.

Because confidence isn't discovered. It's built.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives, and anyone who feels that they are called to do more but are held back by fear or self-doubt.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

1-800-DENTIST

Lonesome Dove

Man's Search for Meaning

Connect with Fred:

Website

Book

Podcast

LinkedIn

Instagram

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

What if everything you've been taught about success is wrong?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Mike sits down with Yun Rhee—a visionary leader, community builder, human potential catalyst, and founder of The Elevated Oracle—for a conversation that bridges ancient spiritual wisdom with cutting-edge science. Yun brings a rare perspective on personal transformation, blending deep intuition with modern research to challenge conventional definitions of achievement and fulfillment.

From her early journey as a Korean immigrant shaped by discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance, Yun reveals how the traditional model of "work harder to get ahead" left many disconnected from their true gifts. What followed was a profound awakening that led her into the worlds of energy work, paradigm shifting, quantum sound therapy, and conscious creation, reshaping how she approaches purpose, leadership, and human potential.

Together, Mike and Yun explore energy alignment, subconscious reprogramming, and the science of quantum thinking, including the role of gamma brainwaves in creativity and peak performance. Yun explains how meditation, breathwork, nervous-system regulation, and quantum sound therapy can unlock hidden potential and restore energetic flow. Insightful, inspiring, and deeply empowering, this episode invites listeners to step beyond conditioning, reconnect with their higher self, and design a life guided by purpose, alignment, and possibility.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ QUANTUM AWAKENING: Breaking free from subconscious programming to activate untapped potential

➡️ ENERGY ALIGNED CREATION: How frequency, intention, and breath shape your reality

➡️ NERVES OF GREATNESS: Mastering the nervous system to unlock clarity, calm, and peak performance

➡️ COMMUNITY BY DESIGN: Building environments where technology, connection, and purpose converge

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

Personal growth accelerates when inner alignment meets practical application. By combining self-awareness, intentional daily practices, and supportive environments, lasting change becomes not only possible but repeatable across every area of life.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Entrepreneurs, changemakers, and high-achievers seeking to unlock their full potential. It's also perfect for anyone ready to move beyond outdated "work harder" mindsets, embrace authenticity, align their energy, and create a life of purpose, impact, and meaningful growth.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Bob Proctor

Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East

The Hidden Messages in Water

Connect with Yun & The Elevated Oracle:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

When the wins keep coming, but fulfillment fades, what's really missing?

In this unforgettable episode, Mike welcomes Derek Strokon, CEO of Soul Summit Ventures, three-time international bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and philanthropic force, for a raw, inspiring conversation about redefining success and living with intention.

Derek opens up about his journey from the high-pressure world of corporate finance and material excess to a life grounded in gratitude, service, and authentic connection. After downsizing from a 5,100-square-foot home, he discovered that less can truly become more…more impact, more meaning, and more fulfillment.

At the heart of the conversation is Derek's powerful philosophy of "Hero Culture," sparked by a simple yet profound Halloween moment with his son. He also introduces the concept of "tipping time," a mindset shift that allows future goals to be accessed in the present, transforming how we think about success, time, and purpose.

Woven throughout the episode are personal stories about family, fatherhood, and the role Derek's wife and children have played in keeping him grounded and aligned. His message is equal parts heart, wisdom, and action. This episode is a powerful reminder that true success isn't measured by what you accumulate, but by the lives you impact along the way.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️SUCCESS REDEFINED: Trading material excess for purpose, gratitude, and meaningful impact

➡️HERO CULTURE IN ACTION: How everyday moments create leaders who give first

➡️THE TIPPING TIME MINDSET: Accessing future goals by serving others in the present

➡️PHILANTHROPY THAT SCALES: Building community funds that create real, local change

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

True wealth isn't defined by accumulation, but by intention. This episode reminds us that abundance already exists; it's a choice rooted in how we share our time, resources, and influence. When success is redirected toward lifting others, it creates deeper fulfillment and a ripple effect of impact that lasts far beyond material gain.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Purpose-driven entrepreneurs, executives, and high performers who are questioning traditional definitions of success and craving deeper meaning. It's also ideal for anyone interested in personal growth, philanthropy, leadership with heart, and using financial or professional success to create real-world impact, especially those seeking alignment between ambition, authenticity, and service.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Derek's Books

Derek's TEDx Talk

Sacred Line Consulting

The Kindness Cure Foundation

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It

Connect with Derek and Soul Summit Ventures:

Website

Soul Summit Ventures

LinkedIn

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

What if the platform you've been using casually is actually your most powerful growth engine?

In this episode, Mike sits down with Eli Igra Serfaty, co-founder and CEO of MAIA Digital, one of the world's leading LinkedIn growth agencies. MAIA helps B2B founders and executives turn visibility into real trust, relationships, and revenue. With a background in venture capital and deep roots in Israel's startup ecosystem, Eli brings a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on how influence is actually built in today's professional world.

Eli walks through his journey from venture capital at iAngels to founding MAIA Digital after spotting a critical gap: brilliant founders and executives were on LinkedIn, but they weren't truly using it. What began as a job-hunting platform has quietly evolved into one of the most powerful tools for credibility, connection, and long-term business growth, especially following Microsoft's acquisition, which fundamentally reshaped the ecosystem.

This conversation goes far beyond tactics. Eli breaks down why visibility matters, why most people overthink posting, and how consistent, authentic engagement turns cold audiences into warm conversations. He explains what actually works on LinkedIn today, from content formats and storytelling to outreach strategies that build trust rather than burn bridges.

You'll also hear practical guidance on using LinkedIn without letting it consume your life: what to do daily, weekly, and monthly to generate real returns. Eli shares why authenticity beats automation, why vulnerability builds stronger communities, and why playing the long game on LinkedIn pays off in ways most people underestimate.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️LINKEDIN REIMAGINED: How the platform evolved from job board to trust-building growth engine

➡️VISIBILITY WITHOUT PERFECTION: Why consistency beats overthinking and polished personas

➡️OUTREACH THAT ACTUALLY WORKS: Turning cold connections into warm, human conversations

➡️AUTHENTICITY THAT COMPOUNDS: Building long-term influence through real engagement and community

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

LinkedIn success isn't about hacking the algorithm or posting more than everyone else; it's about showing up as a real human, consistently. When you stop treating LinkedIn like a sales tool and start using it as a relationship-building platform, trust compounds quietly, opportunities find you faster, and growth becomes a byproduct rather than the goal.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Founders, executives, or professionals who know that LinkedIn works but aren't fully utilizing it yet. This episode offers a clear and grounded roadmap for building influence that actually lasts.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

Connect with Eli & MAIA Digital:

Eli's LinkedIn

MAIA Digital

MAIA LinkedIn

MAIA YouTube

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

In this powerful episode, Mike welcomes Katya Karlova, former corporate VP, resilience alchemist, author, and endometriosis advocate, for a conversation centered on transforming pain into purpose. Originally from Moldova and educated at UCLA and University College London, Katya spent 15 years in global talent management before a life-altering health journey redirected her calling.

During the pandemic, Katya confronted chronic pain, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, eventually receiving a long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide yet still widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. She shares the emotional and physical toll of navigating a medical system that often dismisses women's pain, and the resilience required to continue advocating for answers.

That experience became the catalyst for her debut book, Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power, and for her growing advocacy work supporting those living with trauma, chronic illness, and unseen suffering. Katya also opens up about body positivity, self-love, and reclaiming confidence, including her journey into boudoir modeling as a powerful form of healing and self-expression.

With more than 500,000 social media followers, Katya discusses authenticity, censorship, bias against curvy women, and the challenge of balancing vulnerability with empowerment online. Recognized as one of Womenpreneur Magazine's Top 20 Empowering Women, her story is a compelling testament to resilience, leadership through empathy, and the transformative power of gratitude.

IN THIS EPISODE:

➡️ THE DIAGNOSIS FIGHT: Katya's years-long battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis

➡️ MEDICAL GASLIGHTING EXPOSED: How women's pain is dismissed inside the healthcare system

➡️ PAIN INTO POWER: The personal crisis that sparked Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power

➡️ THE POWER OF POSITIVE BODY IMAGE: Katya's journey into the world of boudoir modeling

➡️ IMPACT THROUGH AUTHENTICITY: Building a global community by leading with truth and vulnerability

📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:

True healing often begins the moment you stop questioning your pain and start trusting your voice. Katya's story reminds listeners that self-advocacy is not confrontation; it's self-respect, and it can be the turning point that changes everything.

🚀 PERFECT FOR:

Those living with chronic pain or searching for answers to unexplained health symptoms, as well as anyone who has felt dismissed or unheard within the healthcare system. Katya's story is also perfect for leaders and professionals seeking to transform personal adversity into purpose-driven impact. Ultimately, this conversation is for anyone looking for hope, resilience, and meaning in the midst of life's most difficult seasons.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Womenpreneur

The Endometriosis Association

Endometriosis Foundation of America

Connect with Katya:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

X

Connect with Mike:

Linktree

SPONSORS:

Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast

AFFILIATES:

Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT

Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside

Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected]

Copyright © 2025 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]