In this solo episode, I walk through four rabbit holes I went down this week: the Mitch Rompola world-record buck controversy, the behind-the-scenes world of the Masters from my own time there, the St. Joe Company and the Northwest Florida land empire built by a descendant of George Washington, and the theory that the Great Pyramid may have been built from the inside out.

None of these really connect, and that is kind of the point. They are just four rabbit holes I spent entirely too much time watching YouTube videos on this week. If you like episodes that mix sports, business history, the outdoors, and old-world theories, this one should be a fun listen.

00:00 Intro and the four topics
01:19 Mitch Rompola buck controversy
05:11 The Masters and Augusta’s behind-the-scenes rules
11:01 The St. Joe Company and the Green Empire
15:21 The Great Pyramid inside-out theory
19:21 Recap and outro

In this solo episode, I walk through four topics I’ve been thinking about lately: AI-generated Star Wars videos on YouTube, the Blue Zones documentary on longevity, a farm and community business model that really caught my attention, and an old parable about aging parents.

I get into where AI fan content might be heading, what the Blue Zones get right about health, why Sweet Honey Farm feels like such a smart product, and the reminder to stay humble and grateful for the people who dropped branches on the trail before us.

00:00 Intro and the four topics
01:56 AI Star Wars on YouTube and how fast it’s improving
06:12 Blue Zones and why environment matters more than biohacks
09:19 Sweet Honey Farm and the business of selling an environment
11:16 Why people would actually pay for a place like this
14:02 The aged mother parable
16:02 The branches someone else dropped before you
17:12 Recap and closing takeaways

Subscribe if you enjoy solo episodes like this alongside the longer conversations on Pieces of Impact. If you want 2-3 minute recaps of my episodes in a weekly email, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@steveseger?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Truitt to talk about his path from inside sales to business ownership, what it looked like to buy Disney McLane with his business partner, Craig, in 2007, and how they grew and eventually sold the company.

We also get into what the business actually does, how they expanded across multiple states, and what it means to lead a company through a recession.

Mike shares lessons on choosing the right business partner, retaining employees, reinvesting in people, and planning an exit years before you take it. We also talk about the discipline he took from his military family, what real pressure looks like, and the advice from his dad that still guides him today: sharpen your pencil.

Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact.

00:01 Intro and why Mike’s story matters
01:42 Early jobs and how he got into Disney McLane
03:41 Buying the business in 2007 and selling in 2020
04:34 What Disney McLane actually does
08:12 Taking over right before the 2008 recession
10:55 Growing territory, lines, and offices
13:47 Choosing the right business partner
17:09 Retention, rewards, and taking care of employees
23:06 What he would and wouldn’t do differently
24:35 Exit strategy and grooming the next owners
29:22 Reinvesting in the business and standing out
33:00 Investing, side ventures, and the gas station
37:23 Military background and lessons on discipline
40:47 What real pressure looks like
44:45 Family history and tracing the Truitt tree
51:12 Rapid fire round
56:05 Final wisdom

In this episode, I sit down with Justin Inacio, a Team Canada silver medalist, 3x All American at Ohio State, and current professional lacrosse player, to talk about the growth of lacrosse, what life actually looks like in the pro game, and the path that took him from Canada to Columbus.

Justin opens up about nearly quitting on a full ride, turning down the med school path to bet on lacrosse, building camps and training businesses around the sport, and the lesson he keeps giving young athletes: everyone practices, but the extra work after practice is what separates people.

Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact.

00:01 Intro and why this conversation matters
01:13 The state of lacrosse, the pro leagues, and the 2028 Olympics
06:30 Growing up in Canada and playing multiple sports
08:19 The recruiting process, Harvard, and choosing Ohio State
14:15 Freshman struggles and nearly quitting on a full ride
20:18 Draft process, med school, and deciding to go pro
25:49 How pro lacrosse actually works, travel, jobs, and league economics
31:22 Building a life around lacrosse through camps, coaching, and training
49:07 Westside Barbell and how he trains
55:46 Five to ten year vision and the dream of pro teams in Columbus
58:47 Coaching kids and realizing words can change lives
01:01:25 Wrap up round
01:07:14 Final wisdom and closing thoughts

Follow Justin on Social:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@justininacio30?si=eJO-n0jIRybnDHlv

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justininacio30

Check out his business here:

https://ovrpwrsports.com/

This is a solo episode where I walk through four topics I’ve been digging into lately: Parkinson’s Law, why sinks are placed outside bathrooms, a black belt coaching Ohio State’s defensive line, and whether an R-rated Darth Vader movie could actually work.

No big theme here. Just four ideas I found interesting, useful, or fun to discuss. If you like picking up a few different insights in one sitting, this one’s for you.

Chapters

00:00 Intro to Four Topics (Click this to Decide if this is worth your time)

01:20 Understanding Parkinson's Law

06:39 The Psychology of Public Sinks

09:20 Innovative Coaching: Joe Kim's Journey

12:12 The Dark Side of Darth Vader

In this episode, I sit down with independent country artist Willie Austing to talk about his path into music, his new EP Outgrown, and what it actually takes to build a craft over time. We get into songwriting, recording, early live shows, and the reality of developing skills across multiple areas at once.

Willie shares the behind-the-scenes side of the process, including burnout, self-teaching instruments, and what it feels like to get completely locked into your work for hours at a time. We also talk about balancing a full-time job, relationships, and creative work, and what separates people who stick with it from those who don’t.

00:18 Intro to Willie Austing
01:31 Willie's background, sports, and how music started
02:27 New EP Outgrown, burnout, and why sometimes less is more
06:37 Songwriting process, melody vs. words, and the story behind “Two Birds”
10:24 Why smooth wording matters, plus the Game of Thrones coffee cup analogy
13:00 Learning guitar, sound, recording, and becoming self-sufficient
21:16 First open mics, first paid gig, and learning live performance
30:54 Wedding performances, nerves, and opening for Rodney Atkins
37:07 Worst gig story and what rough reps teach you
42:30 Musical influences and what shaped his sound
45:29 Social media, posting music, and trying to reach new people
49:18 Balancing a full-time job, relationships, health, and music
57:14 The long-term dream, AI, and protecting the human side of art
01:02:15 College football, Texas fandom, and fall Saturdays
01:14:31 Rapid fire round
01:22:54 Final wisdom and where to find Willie

Find Willie Austing Here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willie_austing/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@willie_music_
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wpW51yR2aENy8QINandGP?si=RsKNYIBKSrCb6PZDK7OXuA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/willie-austing/1739712915

Michael Alberse joins Pieces of Impact to talk about his path from building out a cargo van in college to living in it while working at Google, all while stacking capital and learning how to invest with more intention. We get into how that season shaped his habits, why he focuses on cash-flowing and alternative investments today, and how he’s building a brand around teaching personal finance in a more practical, honest way.

We also talk through the difference between chasing flashy deals and building a real financial foundation, the role of CPAs and good operators, his best and worst investments so far, and why he believes money should be used as a tool rather than something to worship. This was a thoughtful conversation on risk, freedom, and building a life that actually fits.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michael Alberse

02:37 From Van Life to Financial Freedom

06:35 The Journey of Cash Flow Goals

10:59 Building a Social Media Presence

17:32 Micro Investing as a Business

23:05 Creating Value Through Education

27:53 The Importance of Humility and Feedback

28:14 The Value of Hiring a CPA

29:04 Understanding Taxes and Income Types

31:44 Starting a Business: Lessons Learned

34:34 Organizing Investments for Growth

36:47 Aligning Financial Goals in Relationships

39:34 Best and Worst Investment Deals

44:17 Lessons from Investment Failures

45:56 Balancing Cash Flow and Equity Growth

47:55 Future Goals and Vision

49:52 The Role of Money in Life

52:06 Rapid Fire Questions

Steele Chambers joins Pieces of Impact to talk about his path from growing up in Georgia to Ohio State, his stops in the NFL, and what life looks like in the UFL. We get into a typical day in camp and how he’s started building a voice in media through his Tape Talk breakdowns and the Bobby Carpenter show.

We also cover the position change that reshaped his career, the cookie jar mindset that helped him through fall camp, and his take on NIL and the transfer portal. Subscribe for more conversations focusing on business, fitness, sports, and the outdoors.

• 00:00 Intro + Steele’s background
• 01:32 A day in UFL camp
• 02:34 Tape Talk, group chat prep, and the Bobby Carpenter show
• 07:11 NFL vs UFL differences
• 08:26 Choosing Ohio State
• 11:00 First workouts and adjusting to the level of speed
• 15:56 Cookie jar, calluses, and mat drills
• 16:40 Switching from running back to linebacker
• 30:22 NIL + transfer portal thoughts
• 38:09 Handling the grind early in college
• 41:11 NFL camp pressure
• 47:18 Media path and Big Ten Network boot camp
• 52:30 Rapid fire
• 58:01 Wrap up wisdom
• 59:11 Where to find Steele

In this solo episode, I hit four topics I’ve been thinking about lately: the surprisingly interesting history of the spoon fishing lure, the new Harry Potter HBO series, why I’m all-in on the Red Rising books, and how I’m trying to stand out with authentic outreach in an AI-heavy world.

Pieces of Impact is where I document conversations (and occasional solo episodes) about business, fitness, sports, and the outdoors, among other things. If you enjoy this one, share it with a friend and subscribe.

00:00 Intro

01:24 Exploring Spoon Fishing Lures

05:38 The New Harry Potter HBO Series

08:41 Diving into Red Rising

11:33 Standing Out in an AI-Driven World

18:04 Conclusion

Jakob James joins Pieces of Impact to talk about his journey from Cincinnati to Ohio State and Toledo, and what big-time college football really teaches you about discipline, adversity, and long-term growth. We go behind the scenes on game week preparation, locker room dynamics, NIL, the transfer portal, and what it takes to earn trust inside a top program.

We also discuss life after football, how to handle setbacks, and why Jakob believes instant gratification is the biggest trap. If you’re building something in your own life, this episode is a reminder that real progress comes from doing the small things right, over and over again.

00:00 Introduction and Background of Jakob James

02:47 Transitioning from High School to College Football

05:58 Recruitment Journey to Ohio State

08:42 Adjusting to College Life and Training

11:54 Experiences with Coaches and Training Staff

14:55 Strength and Conditioning at Ohio State

18:00 Navigating Coaching Changes and Team Dynamics

20:57 The Impact of NIL and Transfer Portal on College Football

24:06 Game Week Structure and Expectations

26:45 Conclusion and Future Outlook

33:09 Weekly Practice Breakdown

39:03 Game Day Rituals

45:35 Navigating the Transfer Portal

52:02 The Future of College Football

01:03:15 Adversity and Development in Sports

01:10:51 Roster Restructuring in College Football

01:15:58 The Importance of Off-Field Environment

01:17:02 Transitioning from Ohio State to Toledo

01:21:20 The Coaching Path and Its Challenges

01:23:59 Lessons from Adversity

01:25:30 Exploring Future Career Paths

01:27:24 Rapid Fire Round: Toughest Opponents

01:30:43 Memorable Game Environments

01:33:13 Proposed Changes to College Football

01:36:09 A Day of Freedom and Reflection

01:37:20 Final Wisdom and Takeaways