In this episode of the Average Sucks Podcast, Michael sits down with financial expert, entrepreneur, and creator of Wealth Factory, Garrett Gunderson, for a conversation that will shift the way you think about money, value, and freedom.

Most people follow the traditional path with money and still feel stressed, limited, or stuck. Garrett explains why this happens and why doing “all the right things” can still lead to average results. He breaks down how your financial identity is formed, how it affects every decision you make, and what it takes to create a relationship with money that actually supports the life you want.

You’ll hear Garrett and Michael dig into cash flow, wealth habits, decision making, and the emotional patterns around money that people rarely talk about. They cover the difference between working hard and working smart, why most people underprice their value, and how to gain real clarity on your financial future.

If you want more control, more confidence, and more peace around money, this episode gives you the mindset and strategies to get there. This is not theory. This is practical thinking you can use immediately.



Listen with intention. Take notes. Share it with someone who is ready to raise their average.

What if your brand matters more than your bank account?

In this episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael Bernoff sits down with entrepreneur, identity coach, and branding expert Travis Brady for a conversation that will challenge everything you think you know about marketing and business growth.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your business... if the strategies aren’t working... or if you're tired of playing small—this is the wake-up call.

Travis breaks down why your identity is the foundation of your brand—and how most entrepreneurs are sabotaging their results by ignoring it. This episode dives deep into branding, influence, mindset, and the psychology of standing out in a crowded market.

You’ll learn:

• How to create a brand that actually attracts clients
• The real reason your marketing isn’t converting
• Why framing your identity is the key to breakthrough results
• How to stop hiding and start leading with confidence

Whether you're a business owner, coach, or creator... this episode will push you to think differently, show up bigger, and finally build a brand that reflects who you really are.

This one might just be the most important shift you make this year.

He Built a 7-Figure Brand Without Ads: Adam Bensman on Marketing That Actually Works

What if your business isn’t stuck because you’re not working hard enough… but because you’re focusing on the wrong things?

In this raw and eye-opening episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael Bernoff sits down with Adam Bensman—founder of The Roof Strategist—who went from scraping by on $4.20/day to building a multimillion-dollar brand without a single paid ad.

No funnels. No hacks. Just timeless strategy, real metrics, and a mindset built for growth.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

• Why ONE offer beats 17 every time
• The 4 numbers that drive exponential growth
• How to stop trading time for money—for good
• Why protecting the wrong leads is costing you more than you think
• And how YouTube + a whiteboard built an empire (without tech overwhelm)

This isn’t about working harder.

It’s about working smarter—and building a business that runs without burning you out.

If you’re scaling your first six figures, rebuilding after burnout, or ready to become the GC “General Contractor” of your marketing… this episode is your blueprint.

Listen now. Take notes. Watch it again.

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Subscribe for more real-talk conversations that challenge the norm and help you grow with intention.

In this episode of The Average Sucks Show, Michael Bernoff sits down with Mike Arce, founder of Loud Rumor, to discuss his transformation from a fitness studio owner to the head of a seven-figure marketing agency. Mike shares powerful insights on overcoming challenges, the importance of mindset, and the strategies that helped him break through barriers to reach success.

Mike also introduces his new book, “The Standard is You,” a playbook for team members who want to lead, grow, and raise the standard. This step-by-step guide will help you live above average, set higher personal and professional standards, and unleash your full potential.

Learn more and get your copy at

Have you ever watched a young athlete perform at a high level and thought, Where does that kind of drive come from?

In this electrifying episode of Average Sucks, we uncover the answer. Some kids discover a passion so strong that it fuels them to excel—transforming their love for an activity into a relentless competitive fire. And in the pursuit of excellence, they develop an extraordinary set of life skills that set them apart.

Our guest? My daughter, Maya Bernoff. From the moment she stepped onto the ice as a little girl, she felt something powerful—like she had found her place. Skating isn’t just a sport to her; it’s where she feels most alive. And that passion? It’s what keeps her pushing, competing, and winning.

Her results speak for themselves. Maya competes in over 50 events annually, traveling across the U.S., and more often than not, she leaves with a medal around her neck. At just 12 years old, she’s already earned five national gold medals at the 2023 and 2024 National Showcase competitions hosted by U.S. Figure Skating.

In this episode, we dive into the mindset, habits, and strategies that fuel her success, including:

Belief in Yourself: Maya’s philosophy? Love yourself first—because you’re the one person you spend your entire life with.

Entrepreneurial Spirit: At just 10, she created a fundraiser for a local dog rescue with only $40 in startup money, turning that into a great win for the rescue.

Passion for Figure Skating: The ice isn’t just where she competes—it’s where she thrives, setting goals and pushing herself to new levels.

Mental Toughness: The mindset work that helps her power through challenges, setbacks, and the dreaded brain rot.

The Power of Visualization: A mental exercise Maya swears by to break through negative thoughts.

And that’s just the beginning!

This conversation is inspiring, insightful, and packed with wisdom—straight from a 12-year-old powerhouse. You won’t want to miss it. Tune in now!

How differently do you define success today compared to two, five, or even ten years ago?

For most of us, life’s ups and downs have a tendency to reshape what truly matters.

That’s why our latest guest on the Average Sucks Podcast brings a unique and powerful perspective. Vince DelMonte, founder of the 7 Figure Mastermind for Fit Pros, hit his biggest goals and then faced the question: Now what?

In this candid conversation, Vince dives deep into redefining success for your life today and in the future.

He doesn’t sugarcoat the journey, yet instead asks the hard questions and shares the reflections that shaped his “lifestyle first” approach. It’s a must-listen for anyone navigating the challenges of success and striving to align their life with what matters most.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Vince built his fitness empire with thousands of videos and 80+ hour workweeks—crushing his financial goals.
• The “true cost” of that success on himself and his loved ones.
• Why work-life balance is easier said than done—and how Vince tackled it head-on.
• The pivotal self-reflection that shifted his approach and transformed his business and life.
• His “lifestyle first” philosophy, which helps him balance success while knowing when to hit the gas.

This thought-provoking conversation is packed with insights to help you redefine and elevate your own success.

It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Vince. Don’t miss this compelling episode of the Average Sucks Podcast!

You’ve got a life plan. 

It goes great. Until it doesn’t.

Ever catch sight of yourself in a mirror and are surprised by what you see? 

What you do when life hands you lemons will either bury you or strengthen you beyond measure.

Our special guest in our Average Sucks Podcast has been through the fire and came back to help others. Natalie Jill is a former medical device sales professional who had risen to national sales director. She got married, bought a house, and had a daughter along the way. 

Life was awesome!

It should have been…and yet still…her marriage fell apart while she was pregnant. She fell into a depression, watched her finances dwindle and threaten her home, and gained more than 60 pounds. Worse, she felt hopeless.

Then, she had a series of epiphanies that triggered her comeback:

• She caught her reflection in a mirror and saw she was not who she wanted to be – overweight, depressed, overwhelmed and alone.
• She watched a television show where she was reminded of the importance of focusing on the possibility instead of the problem.
• She chose to focus on where she wanted to go and who she wanted to be, instead of “what was” at that moment.

Her story continues to inspire from there. 

She turned it all around and now is a renowned fitness and fat loss expert at Natalie Jill Fitness. She transforms people’s lives as they navigate their midlife challenges. Her clients in midlife don’t feel alone, stuck, and overwhelmed. 

You don’t want to miss this extraordinary conversation with an extraordinary entrepreneur and leader! Head over now to hear her moving story in our Average Sucks Podcast. It was a pleasure and an honor to speak with her – and you’ll see why.

Warning: This Average Sucks Podcast starts out in a dark place. 

Drug addiction, drug dealing, and even worse. Our guest at 15 found himself outrunning the police. For a while, he descended deeper and deeper into a dark world. 

You wouldn’t expect a life that starts out that way to head into a sunlit place of serving others and making a powerful difference in their lives. 

But that’s where Dan Martell, a successful SaaS entrepreneur coach, did and that’s the life he lives now. Dan helps grateful SaaS CEOs scale their business and remove the “time assassins” that wreck their lives. He helps them be successful and get their time (and life!) back. 

Listen this special episode of the Average Sucks Podcast to hear how Dan:

• Overcame addiction and illicit business enterprises
• Learned the hard way the entrepreneurial skills that kept him going 
• Worked too hard and had too little to show for it
• Leveraged skills ranging from coping with uncertainty to finding the right people
• Scaled his business with a reproducible process that can help others. 

Listen this entire powerful conversation. You don’t want to miss Dan’s story and apply the key lessons to your life (and boost your average). 

It was an honor and privilege speaking with my friend Dan. No matter where you are today on your journey, you’ll find real value in hearing his story. 

How can you create value for your customers and clients?

Our guest this week says this: Be curious, caring, and giving. 

Authentic curiosity starts with meaningful conversations. You get those through real caring – because only then will people open up and be vulnerable with you. They’ll share what they want and don’t want with you. And that puts your giving on target. 

Mastering that process gives you a superpower in your business, says our latest Average Sucks Podcast guest Kevin Kauffman. 

Kevin is a one-of-a-kind real estate entrepreneur, coach, and podcaster. 

Join us and discover:

• The importance of expanding one's sphere of influence and maintaining meaningful relationships in business. Kevin provides a step-by-step approach to building and activating this sphere.
• How to cultivate and activate your sphere by finding ways to add value to these connections. Value can take various forms, such as phone calls, notes, or gestures that show you care. Always look for opportunities to expand and grow your sphere.
• How to nurture your sphere of influence as a long-term strategy. It may not lead to immediate results, but over time, it can become a powerful source of business. 

He also acknowledges that while this approach is essential, there may still be a need for other activities, like prospecting and actively seeking immediate business opportunities. However, your sphere should remain a core focus for long-term success.

I loved sitting down with Kevin and hearing his insights and I know you’ll love it, too. I will also be speaking at his upcoming event NLA Live on December 5th. Check it out at NLALive.com and use code BERNOFF at checkout for a discount! 

How to bring a new community into your life (and your soul) is the focus of this month’s incredible podcast. 

You’ll be thrilled to meet Tori Totlis, a powerful entrepreneur and athlete who founded Compete Confidence Golf, Phoenix. Tori created a way for women to connect more deeply in their lives through the game of golf – showing women how to go from the beginner stage all the way to expert-level. And doing so with a supportive community where they’ll make new friends, share laughter and make memories.  

From beginner-friendly courses that kick-start your journey, to carefully curated practice programs that sharpen your short game, and comprehensive six-week practice plans – Tori offers options to improve your game no matter how well you can put and swing. She hosts action packed women's tournaments, including her signature event The Desert Classic in Phoenix. And if that's not enough, she hosts luxurious golf retreats set against the backdrop of world-class courses across the globe. Tori's world of golf is nothing short of extraordinary.

Tori is also the 2022 Arizona Golf Association Women’s Golfer of the Year. And she produces "T-Time with Tori", her podcast that shows strategies, inspiration and motivation on women’s golf – with weekly guests who share their wins, losses and challenges. 

She’s a woman that knows how to make things happen.

Come join us in the inspiring podcast conversation with Tori. She’ll share:

• Why making new friends as a grown-up can be quite a challenge, and some great ways to connect with others, build some awesome relationships with people who are positive and supportive.
• The highly effective practice plan her coach gave her as a teen golfer that inspired her career. It’s the same plan she uses as a model for her courses, which brings great results.
• 4 essential keys to elevate your golf game. Whether you're aiming for immediate improvements or long-term mastery, Tori knows what game-changing strategies to focus on - from the right equipment to navigating a course and most importantly…taking a swing well past your comfort zone.

Tee up and hold on to your visors as you level up your golf journey! You won’t be hearing routine golf tips from this lady - there’s a lot more to this great conversation and you definitely will want to hear it.

It was a joy and privilege to sit down with Tori and hear her insights into raising your average through community, soul work, and the game of golf. To become ABOVE AVERAGE (and lower your handicap), take Tori’s words to heart.