The Authority Company

This episode features Jordan Belfort, the infamous former stockbroker and author of the memoir "The Wolf of Wall Street." Joe delves into Belfort's rags-to-riches rise and fall on Wall Street, his subsequent imprisonment for fraud, and his current efforts at redemption as a motivational speaker and entrepreneur. Jordan candidly discusses his past mistakes and the lessons he has learned, offering insights into the dark side of ambition and the power of personal transformation. He also shares his thoughts on the current state of the financial markets and his predictions for the future. Plus, they get into Jordan's latest book, The Wolf of Investing, which teaches readers when to buy, sell, hold, and cash out; how to make smarter (and safer) investments; and how to build significant wealth over both the short- and long-term. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in business, finance, or the power of personal transformation.

About Jordan Belfort: In the 1990s, Jordan built one of the most dynamic and successful sales organizations in Wall Street history. To this day, his proprietary sales training techniques and daily motivational speeches are the stuff of legend – earning him a reputation as a 'motivator without peer.’ His life story has been turned into the blockbuster feature film: The Wolf of Wall Street, with Leonardo DiCaprio playing the role of Belfort and directed by Martin Scorsese.His Straight Line Sales & Persuasion System has been tested and proven to transform virtually any individual (regardless of age, sex, educational background, or social status) into a world-class closer and top producer in their field.Today, his life represents the ultimate redemption story. After surviving his rise and fall as an American entrepreneurial icon, he is now a world-renowned motivational speaker and sales trainer who assists both people and organizations in breaking through barriers on the path to achieving measurable, lasting success. And as a top business consultant, Belfort has worked with over 50 public companies and multiple Fortune 500 brands, including IBM, Virgin Airways, & the John Maxwell Team.He is the subject of a Billboard-charting hit song: Jordan Belfort and his social media presence is robust, with over 3.7 million TikTok followers, and millions more across his other channels. Jordan is also the host of the fastest-growing business podcast on Apple (The Wolf's Den).His three bestselling books have been published in 22 countries and translated into 18 different languages. And he is a frequent guest commentator on CNN, CNBC, and the BBC. At home, Jordan is a beloved and dedicated family man. He adores his lovely wife Cristina and is the proud father of three wonderful children: Chandler, Carter, and Bowen.

In the latest episode of the Forbes Books Podcast, Joe engages in a candid conversation with Craig Wieland, a genuine cowboy and seasoned family business specialist. Craig recounts his journey from humble beginnings as a laborer to ascending to the presidency of his family's small construction firm in Michigan. Over his illustrious 40+ year tenure, he spearheaded the growth of the company into one of the state's largest enterprises with a nationwide footprint, ultimately retiring as a respected industry figure. Joe and Craig reflect on the invaluable lessons passed down from their respective fathers, dissect the contemporary landscape of the construction sector, analyze prevailing economic trends, and even delve into the enduring mystique of cowboys.

Joe sits down with Rajul Kadakia and Jaclynn Brennan, co-founders of the ayana Foundation. ayana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering and uplifting women founders worldwide through education, mentorship, and enhanced access to funding. Rajul Kadakia is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with a passion for promoting gender equality and empowering diverse founders. Jaclynn Brennan is the co-founder & executive director of ayana. She is a seasoned executive with expertise in brand development, community building, marketing, and strategic partnerships. Rajul and Jax discuss the inspiring journeys that led them to co-found ayana. They share insights on women founders' challenges in accessing resources and funding and how ayana aims to bridge those gaps. The conversation also covers ayana's upcoming initiatives at the South by Southwest festival to empower and uplift women in entrepreneurship. Joe dives deep with these two powerhouse founders to understand their vision for creating a more inclusive and diverse startup ecosystem worldwide.

About Rajul Kadakia: Rajul is an esteemed serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with an unwavering dedication to promoting gender equality and empowering diverse founders. As the former Co-Founder & Chairwoman of ayana- she takes an innovative approach to empowering female entrepreneurs from ideation to funding, continually pushing boundaries and embracing innovation. She recognized the challenges faced by first-time female founders in accessing support and early-stage funding, and through TechGirl and ayana, she aims to expand the pool of female entrepreneurs and drive tangible change in the tech world. Rajul's expertise as an angel investor is focused on nurturing promising startups, particularly those led by women. Her career started in investment banking and evolved into successful ventures like PixyKids and Craze, which were integrated into TechGirl to leverage their analytics, social features, and community capabilities. Beyond her professional achievements, Rajul serves on prestigious boards and actively engages in nonprofits and charities focused on uplifting women, fostering entrepreneurship, and celebrating diversity. Her remarkable achievements and visionary leadership

About Jaclynn Brennan: Jax is a seasoned and forward-thinking executive, with a proven track record of success in brand development, community building, marketing, event production, and strategic partnerships. Recognized as a leader in propelling growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing overall team engagement, Jaclynn is dedicated to shaping compelling narratives and impactful strategies.

With a passion for personal branding, Jaclynn has been instrumental in assisting prominent leaders and CEOs in uncovering their core values and defining their purpose. Her unique methodology prioritizes the establishment of a robust foundation and positioning, followed by meticulous design and aesthetic considerations. This is seamlessly translated into comprehensive content and digital strategies, elevating visibility and thought leadership.

Beyond her role in brand building with Creative Duality, Jaclynn spearheads the production of the Creator Collective, a community engagement series forYouTube. This initiative is designed to foster growth and connectivity within the creator economy.

In her previous roles, Jaclynn showcased her expertise in creative direction, brand development, and global production management across diverse industries, including fashion, tech, and the social impact sector. As the Co-Founder of Fyli Tribe, a private membership community, she played a pivotal role in empowering early-stage female founders by providing essential resources, education, and support. The community grew to over 10,000 female founders, while establishing key brand partnerships with institutions like Soho House, Bumble, and UBS.

Jaclynn's commitment to supporting first-time founders has evolved into her role as a founding team member & Executive Director of ayana, a 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to bridging the gap for women founders. ayana provides essential tools, resources, and support, envisioning a future where entrepreneurship is accessible to all, regardless of gender or background.

With over a decade of experience as a Creative Director for luxury fashion brands, coupled with her expertise as a personal brand builder, strategic partnerships connector, and event host/producer, Jaclynn Brennan stands as an authority in propelling brands, organizations, and entrepreneurs to new heights of success.

Kyle Malady, Executive Vice President and CEO of Verizon Business Group, joins Joe on the Forbes Books Podcast. With over 20 years of experience at Verizon and its predecessor companies, Kyle has a unique perspective on the evolution of technology and the inner workings of leading a global telecommunications provider. As head of Verizon Business, Malady oversees service for nearly every Fortune 500 company across 120 countries. In the podcast, he traces his career from his early days as a cell site technician to his current executive role. Kyle explores the exponentially increasing speed of technological advancement, bringing 5G to life across Verizon's network. Additionally, the discussion delves into major differences between running B2B versus B2C businesses. Kyle explains his broad range of previous operational experience, from planning to engineering, that equipped him to ascend to CEO. With insights into the future of 5G infrastructure and private sector networks, the conversation provides a revealing look into the executive mindset of a telecom leader.

About Kyle Malady: Kyle is Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Verizon Business, a leading global technology company serving 99% of Fortune 500 companies in over 120 countries. Kyle and his team are responsible for delivering the next generation of technology-driven innovation to their customers around the world. Kyle is a seasoned industry expert who has extensive experience in developing and implementing networks and applications for both the public and private sectors, and is a leader in the development of global 5G-related infrastructure.Previously, Kyle served as Executive Vice President and President of Verizon’s Global Networks and Technology (GN&T) team. This group is responsible for Verizon's technology and product development, and building, maintaining and securing America’s leading wireless network and largest residential fiber broadband service in Fios, in addition to a vast IP network serving global customers.Kyle began his career as a cell site technician for NYNEX Mobile Communications, which became Bell Atlantic Mobile and ultimately, through a series of transactions, became Verizon Wireless. During his long tenure, he has held a variety of positions in operations, planning, technology, engineering, and finance. He has also served as Verizon’s vice president of New Product Development.

The latest episode of the Forbes Books Podcast finds Joe Pardavila chatting with guest James Swanwick, an Australian-American entrepreneur and former ESPN anchor. James now runs companies dedicated to health and wellness, including Alcohol-Free Lifestyle and Swanwick Sleep. Through these companies, James provides tools to help business leaders optimize performance by rethinking their relationship with alcohol and prioritizing sleep. In this wide-ranging conversation, Joe and James reminisce about partying together with Heath Ledger at the Sundance Film Festival. James explains why he didn't need alcohol to have fun, even during his days mingling at the Playboy Mansion. He traces the origins of his alcohol-free lifestyle philosophy and laughs about the time he inadvertently angered legions of Taylor Swift fans. Whether you want to hear James’ tips for improving sleep, boosting productivity, or just enjoy tales from his time as a sports broadcaster and globetrotter, this episode of Forbes Books has something for everyone looking to enhance their well-being and performance.

About James Swanwick: James is an Australian-American investor, entrepreneur, speaker, and former SportsCenter anchor on ESPN. He is the CEO and founder of Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, which helps business owners and executives change their relationship with alcohol; the host of the podcast “Alcohol Free Lifestyle”; and the founder of the sleep company Swanwick Sleep.

In this episode of the Forbes Books Podcast, Joe welcomes Ryan Serhant, a top real estate broker, entrepreneur, and author of the new book "Brand it Like Serhant: Stand Out from the Crowd, Build Your Following, and Earn More Money." Ryan discusses his expertise in branding and entrepreneurship, as well as his experience as a star on Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing." He also shares his insights on how to build a successful brand and make your mark in the world. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning from a successful entrepreneur and branding expert.

About Ryan Serhant: Ryan is one of the most successful and well-known real estate brokers in the world and SERHANT. is the most-followed brand in the world with 6M+ followers across all social platforms. Ryan is the founder and CEO of SERHANT., a multidimensional real estate brokerage that sits at the intersection of media, entertainment, education, and technology and it sells the most expensive homes in the world. Central to his vision of revolutionizing the real estate industry is education and giving back. He created Sell it Like Serhant, a digital education platform that has 20,000 members teaching the next generation of professionals across 120 countries how to sell and brand themselves. Ryan is an innovator, entrepreneur, producer, best-selling author, podcast host, public speaker, educator, content creator, and star of multiple Bravo TV shows, including the two-time Emmy-nominated Million Dollar Listing New York.Over the course of his career, Ryan has closed more than $8 billion USD in sales. He is on a mission to revolutionize and modernize the real estate industry, give back, and share his formula for success to enable and motivate others.

In this episode of the Forbes Books Podcast, Joe has a conversation with Giovanna "Gigi" Gonzalez, the TikTok star, financial educator, and author of the new book "Cultura & Cash." Gigi quit her 10-year corporate career during the Great Resignation to pursue her passion for teaching financial literacy to young adults, especially first-generation Latinas. In their chat, she discusses the unique cultural and familial dynamics that influence how Latinas manage money, which most traditional personal finance advice fails to address. Gigi explains how she is empowering young Latinas to take control of their financial futures through relatable, tailored advice offered on TikTok and now through her groundbreaking new book. Together, Joe and Gigi explore the financial coming-of-age journey for many first-generation daughters and the cultural expectations around supporting family versus individual goals.

About Giovanna "Gigi" Gonzalez: Gigi is a TikTok influencer, financial educator, and author of Cultura and Cash. During The Great Resignation, she quit her 10 year corporate career to pursue her true passion: teaching financial literacy to young adults. Gigi teaches personal finance and career navigation for First Gen at various organizations and on her TikTok account @thefirstgenmentor. She was named 40 under 40 by the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, "Latinx to Watch" by Hispanic Executive Magazine and Top 25 Creator by Fast Company.

This week on the Forbes Books podcast, Joe welcomes Scott Freidheim, author of the new book "Code of Conduct: Tales of the Roller Coaster of Life." Freidheim takes listeners through extreme highs and lows in his career, from working in lower Manhattan during 9/11 to navigating the 2008 financial crisis as a senior leader at Lehman Brothers. Now the managing partner at Freidheim Capital, the family-focused, community-minded, and adventurous businessman shares first-hand accounts of these pivotal historical events and extracts uplifting principles to live by that have earned praise from renowned athletes and leaders like Jack Nicklaus, Monica Seles, and Jerry Greenwald. With experience as a CEO, in private equity, on non-profit boards like the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, and running multi-billion-dollar businesses, Freidheim has invaluable perspectives on seeing the best and worst in people, including himself. Tune in to this week’s episode for an inside look at weathering life's rollercoasters.

About Scott Freidheim: Scott is a family-focused, community-minded, risk-taking adventurer and businessman. He is the managing partner at Freidheim Capital. With experience as the CEO of an NYSE traded company and in private equity, a board member of numerous for- and not-for-profit institutions, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation board of trustees, and in running businesses with revenues spanning from $1 billion to $45 billion, Freidheim has seen the best and worst in people—including in himself.

This week, host Joe welcomes Anna Papalia, a career influencer with over 1.5 million followers across social media platforms. Anna is the author of the new book "Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing," in which she reveals a revolutionary approach to mastering interview skills based on understanding one's unique interview style. In the book, Anna introduces her groundbreaking framework of four interview styles - Charmer, Challenger, Examiner, and Harmonizer. Knowing which style you tend toward allows both job seekers and hiring managers to identify their priorities and natural tendencies in an interview. This self-awareness helps mitigate bias and ensures candidates can present their authentic selves. Joe and Anna discuss the specifics of each style and how her interview style discovery has transformed conventional wisdom on interview preparation.

About Anna Papalia: Anna is the author of Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing and a career influencer with over 1.5 million followers across social media platforms. She has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, taught at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and coached over 10,000 clients to interview better. Her groundbreaking discovery of Interview Styles revolutionized the way we teach and understand interviewing. She is also a public speaker at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and DisruptHR. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Joe’s guest this week on the Forbes Books Podcast is Brian Johnson, founder of HEROIC, a social training platform that Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey has called "the best self-development platform in the world." Brian is also the author of the new book "ARETE: Activate Your Heroic Potential," where he tackles the struggle many people face in navigating life's complexities and challenges, often feeling stuck or unfulfilled. In this timely and empowering conversation, Joe is eager to unpack Brian's message on how to transcend difficulties and realize our full heroic potential. Brian offers practical insights and tools, integrating ancient wisdom and modern science into a protocol that leading well-being labs have scientifically shown can change lives. His approach is both holistic and grounded in science, providing listeners with a comprehensive roadmap to living a more heroic, fulfilled life even amidst the chaos of today's fast-paced world.

About Brian Johnson: Brian is an accomplished entrepreneur and philosopher with over 25 years of experience. As the Founder and CEO of Heroic , he has successfully raised over $20 million, building and selling two leading social platforms. His Heroic membership and coaching program have impacted tens of thousands globally and are research-backed to be transformative. A digital influencer, Brian's YouTube channel has 225,000+ subscribers and 20 million views, and his podcast has 16 million downloads. He was also featured in the documentary "Finding Joe" alongside Deepak Chopra and Tony Hawk. In 2021, Heroic made history by closing a $5M Reg CF equity crowdfunding as part of an $11M Seed round backed by 2,500+ Founding Investors from 75+ countries. Brian's academic work includes a self-awarded Ph.D. in Optimal Living, 600+ PhilosophersNotes, and 50+ Optimal Living 101 masterclasses. His latest venture, Heroic, launched its MVP Training Platform in April 2022. He lives in the country outside Austin, Texas, with his wife, Alexandra, and their two kids, Emerson and Eleanor.