Where pressure, leadership, and character collide. In today’s episode, Marcus Arredondo talks with John Pierson about operating at the highest levels when mistakes are costly and standards are unforgiving. From elite finance to mission-critical roles, John brings a rare perspective shaped by environments where trust, discipline, and judgment matter every day. This conversation offers a grounded look at what separates those who last from those who fade when the pressure is real.

John Pierson is the founder of P2 Investments, a boutique talent advisory firm working with top hedge fund investment and technology professionals worldwide. With decades of experience across military service, presidential air traffic control, and global finance, John is known for a relationship-driven approach built on trust, integrity, and long-term thinking. He advises both individuals and firms operating in high-stakes environments where performance and character must align.

Get in touch with John Pierson:
Website: https://www.p2investments.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/p2agents/ 

Episode highlights:
(2:34) What a hedge fund talent pod really is
(4:59) Hedge funds Vs. Traditional investing explained
(7:58) Serving both talent and firms ethically
(12:58) Telling a person’s story, not sending resumes
(17:12) Integrity over transactions
(20:46) Ego, PTSD, and personal cost of success
(27:57) Faith as a turning point
(31:10) Teamwork lessons from the Marines
(38:37) Discipline defined
(41:08) Major trends shaping hedge funds and vetting
(49:25) Air traffic controller for the President
(52:09) Returning to Vietnam with his father
(54:40) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

In this episode of Scales Of Success Podcast, host Marcus Arredondo connects with Precious L. Williams for a raw, grounded conversation about ambition, resilience, and what success really asks of you. This is not a highlight reel or a victory lap. It is an honest look at rebuilding after loss, redefining achievement, and choosing a path that still feels whole. If you are chasing big goals and quietly wondering about the cost, this episode will stay with you.

Precious L. Williams is the Founder and CEO of The Perfect Pitch Group, a Shark Tank alum, and a 13-time National Elevator Pitch Champion. She is a 5x #1 bestselling author and internationally recognized speaker who trains entrepreneurs, leaders, and Fortune 100 teams to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. Precious has worked with global brands including Verizon, BMW, Blackstone, HubSpot, Harvard University, and Columbia University, and is known worldwide for helping people turn powerful ideas into results.

Learn more about Precious L. Williams:
Website: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectpitchgroup/?hl=en
Newsletter: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/subscribe
Book Links: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/books/
Work 1 on 1 with her: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/experienceprecious/

FREE Gifts (first chapter of Rainmaking 101 and “Making it Rain in Your Business” PDF: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/free-gifts/ 

Episode highlights:
(2:26) Losing everything after Shark Tank
(6:56) Why losing law created freedom
(8:05) Choosing identity over tragedy
(12:24) Turning pain into confidence
(15:11) Performing under emotional pressure
(20:19) The power of reading books
(26:24) The most successful pitches
(33:19) Why being bold beats being liked
(38:50) Through the open door and partnerships
(48:24) How the pitching started
(53:23) Writing poetry
(59:54) Building purpose after addiction
(1:02:29) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

What do you do when the goal that drove you is gone?

In today’s episode, Marcus welcomes Justin Wills, founder, executive, advisor, and investor with a deep focus on community, technology, and art, and a driving force behind the revival of Luna Luna. Justin shares the rarely discussed side of building, exiting, and starting again, including burnout, identity shifts, creative instinct, and learning to trust what feels right when the noise gets loud.

This conversation is for founders, creatives, and leaders navigating ambition, purpose, and longevity. It is not about hacks or hype. It is about endurance, energy, and choosing work that can sustain you long after the win.

About Justin Wills:
Website: https://justinwills.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwills/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justincwills/ 

Episode highlights:
(2:22) How Society6 was born
(7:56) Why the founding team worked and took risks with family
(15:18) Hunger and trust
(25:06) The shock after a big exit
(30:58) When money replaces meaning and why people and teams matter
(35:30) Luna Luna and lost art revived
(41:21) Buying Luna Luna sight unseen
(46:26) From big vision to reality
(51:28) Building and advising new ventures
(55:54) Burnout, balance, and recovery
(1:02:46) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

Stories that cut through borders, fear, and silence. In this episode, Marcus sits down with Jason De León to explore the human realities behind migration, smuggling, and survival. Through raw honesty and years of fieldwork, Jason brings forward the voices and moments most people never witness, revealing how hope, courage, and impossible decisions shape every journey north. This conversation pulls you beyond the headlines and into the lives that hold the true weight of our global migration crisis.

Jason De León is a MacArthur Fellow, award-winning author, and Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. He leads the Undocumented Migration Project, a research and arts collective bringing visibility to the human cost of global migration. His book Soldiers and Kings won the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and he is also a professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o and Central American Studies.

Get in touch with Jason De León:
🌐 Website: https://www.jasonpatrickdeleon.com/ 

Learn more about:
The Undocumented Migration Project - Where migrant stories become visible.
https://www.undocumentedmigrationproject.org/ 

Episode highlights:
(2:14) Creating work from love, not awards
(8:48) Facing danger and learning who to trust
(13:19) What true access to someone’s story requires
(15:44) The emotional cost of carrying others’ lives
(20:31) What people misunderstand most about smugglers
(25:16) How the U.S. relies on migrant labor every day
(31:16) Why simple policy “fixes” don’t solve anything
(42:02) The Undocumented Migration Project
(44:12) How work and fatherhood helped him heal his own trauma
(50:25) Jason's writing process and what teaches his kids about purpose
(56:24) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

In today’s episode of Scales Of Success Podcast, host Marcus Arredondo connects with neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay to reveal the real science behind identity, agency, and how the brain changes across life stages. You’ll learn why “baby brain” is misunderstood, how neuroplasticity fuels confidence, and what actually helps the brain create clarity, resilience, and long-term wellbeing. If you want a simple, smart way to understand your mind and upgrade your life, this conversation gives you the science and the strategy to start now.

Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, Oxford-trained researcher, author, and founder of Think Brain and The Neuroscience Academy. She specializes in neuroplasticity, women’s brain health, pregnancy, and cognitive wellbeing. She is the bestselling author of The Women’s Brain Book, Baby Brain, and Brain Health for Dummies, and is known for turning complex neuroscience into practical insights for everyday life.

Learn more about Dr. Sarah McKay:
🌐 Website: https://drsarahmckay.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmmckay/?originalSubdomain=au

Check out her books:
https://drsarahmckay.com/books/

Episode highlights:
(3:25) How the brain gathers information
(7:05) Thoughts, body signals, and meaning
(10:50) What gray matter changes really mean
(13:15) Pregnancy, pruning, and efficient brain wiring
(17:04) The father’s brain and parenting changes
(19:54) Why “baby brain” is misunderstood
(26:19) Culture, confidence, and kids’ self-belief
(31:23) Belonging, self-belief, and opportunity
(48:32) The path to clear science communication
(56:12) Real habits that support brain health
(57:28) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

What if one idea could shift the world’s climate future? In this eye-opening episode, Marcus sits down with Dr. Daniele Visioni to uncover the surprising science shaping the planet’s temperature and the cutting-edge climate tools most people have never heard of. Clear, bold, and packed with powerful insight, this conversation opens the door to possibilities that could change how we think about risk, responsibility, and the future we’re building.

Dr. Daniele Visioni is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University and a leading climate scientist specializing in climate intervention research. With a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics from Italy, he has collaborated with more than 300 scientists and contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed papers. He also serves as Head of Data at Reflective, a nonprofit accelerating global research on climate solutions.

Connect with Daniele Visioni:
📞 Phone: +1 607-280-0525
🌐 Website: https://cals.cornell.edu/people/daniele-visioni
📸 IG: https://www.instagram.com/danvisioni/

Episode highlights:
(2:29) CO₂ as planetary debt
(5:04) What solar reflection can do
(9:14) Who caused the climate debt
(14:20) Volcanoes as natural experiments
(18:48) How stratospheric injection works
(21:30) AI tools in climate modeling
(22:08) Great Barrier Reef protection
(27:46) Risk, caution, and trust
(30:45) The fast Vs. Slow debate
(37:53) Why people struggle with global thinking
(41:00) Working with scientists worldwide
(52:52) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

The quiet power of eating to outlive yourself. In this episode, host Marcus Arredondo welcomes Jason Antoun, Chairman and CEO, L-Nutra Inc., to drop truth bombs on how the way you eat, sleep, and stress is either building longevity or burning it. From the power of fasting to the science of cellular renewal, this episode strips the fluff and gives you the blueprint for aging backward without losing your sanity (or your snacks). It’s part biology, part rebellion, and all fire. Press play, reset your clock, and make time work for you.

Reach out to Dr. Jason Antoun:
🌐 Website: https://drjosephantoun.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjosephantoun/
📸 IG: https://www.instagram.com/drjosephantoun/

Episode highlights:
(2:10) The five pillars of longevity
(9:46) Self-advocacy Vs. The broken healthcare system
(14:58) The rise of wearables and tech-driven health
(18:37) Why every time you eat, you age
(26:07) The science of fasting and cellular repair
(32:57) How fasting mimicking works
(44:39) The next frontier: Reversing biological age
(50:09) The importance of awareness
(52:11) Dr. Antoun’s daily longevity routine
(55:23) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

In today’s gripping episode of Scales Of Success, host Marcus Arredondo dialogues with Rich Diviney, a founder, retired Navy SEAL officer, author, keynote speaker, and workshop facilitator, to uncover how elite performers stay calm when chaos hits. From mastering uncertainty to turning pressure into power, Rich reveals the tools that build unshakable focus, humility, and drive. Tune in and learn how to think, lead, and win like a SEAL, no matter what battlefield you’re on.

Rich Diviney is a retired Navy SEAL CDR who spent over 21 years as an Officer, serving in several leadership positions and conducting over 13 combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Since retirement, he has become a bestselling author of The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance and Masters of Uncertainty: The Navy SEAL Way to Turn Stress into Success For You and Your Team. He and his wife, Kristen, co-founded The Attributes Inc., where they train and consult thousands of businesses and teams on how to build and sustain the highest-performing teams on the planet.

Find out more about Rich Diviney:
🌐 Website: https://learn.theattributes.com/mastering-uncertainty
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richdiviney/
📸 IG: https://www.instagram.com/rich_diviney/

Episode highlights:
(4:12) How SEALs adapt in chaos
(8:59) Skills Vs. Attributes: What really matters
(14:53) Perseverance and resilience
(17:43) Adaptability, task switching, and learnability
(22:18) The meaning of discipline and faith
(27:05) The Moving Horizons process
(34:27) Developing attributes and inner strength
(39:05) Courage, fear, and doing hard things
(44:22) Dynamic subordination: How elite teams flow
(51:35) Identity, “I Am” statements, and growth
(56:13) Why stepping into uncertainty changes everything
(57:04) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

What if the path to spiritual strength began with a barbell? In this episode, Marcus connects with Sister Pat Farrell, who turned faith into physical power, proving it’s never too late to redefine what strength means. From corporate life to convent life to competitive powerlifting, she reveals how discipline, purpose, and belief can transform both body and soul. Press play and witness what happens when grace meets grit and strength becomes a form of prayer.

Sister Pat Farrell, O.P., is a Dominican Sister of San Rafael and a 72-year-old powerlifting champion redefining faith and strength. Once a finance professional in Santa Monica, she followed her calling to a life of faith and leadership. Today, she inspires thousands through her ministry and her message: transformation never stops. Whether in prayer or at the gym, Sister Pat lives with discipline, gratitude, and purpose in motion.

Learn more about Sister Pat Farrell:
🌐 Website: https://sanrafaelop.org/2025/08/08/sr-pat-farrell-lifting-more-than-spirits/

Episode highlights:
(3:25) Life before the convent & turning vegan
(5:38) Discipline over motivation: The real secret
(11:27) Starting strength training at 72  
(18:22) Facing fear and finding empowerment  
(25:54) How lifting healed her body and spirit  
(33:13) Faith, purpose, and the power of community  
(41:46) The pillars of the Dominican Sisters
(49:30) Merging Buddhism and Catholic wisdom  
(54:57) Forgiveness, faith, and letting go  
(1:00:55) Choosing strength and purpose every day
(1:02:32) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

Where data meets destiny. In today’s mind-bending episode, host Marcus Arredondo is joined by Richard Sprague to reveal how personal data, AI, and curiosity are rewriting the rules of longevity. From microbiome tracking to AI eye scans, Richard proves that the future of science isn’t in labs, it’s in your hands. If you’re tired of guessing what works for your body and want to see real proof, this episode will flip the way you think about health forever.

Richard Sprague is a technologist, entrepreneur, and “personal scientist” who turns data into self-discovery. A former Apple and Microsoft exec, he now runs OptiCare AI and writes the Personal Science Substack, helping people use data, AI, and curiosity to live longer and think sharper.

Connect with Richard Sprague:
Substack: https://www.personalscience.com/
X: https://x.com/sprague
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sprague/

Episode highlights:
(4:41) How accidents lead to discoveries
(10:18) Lessons from living in Japan and China
(17:46) Handling conflicting information
(27:10) The Kefir experiment that changed everything
(39:16) Can your microbiome predict dementia?
(41:40) Continuous glucose monitoring insights
(44:04) How Vagus nerve stimulation may calm the brain
(46:39) EMF testing and the migraine mystery
(51:34) Eye-based AI health scans with OptiCare
(59:47) How AI is reshaping personal health tracking
(1:12:45) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

—--

Leave a Review

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140

Get in Touch

You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.