The Big W with Matt & Zack

Building your brand and garnering attention is a challenge of its own. Add in the elements of digitization and ever-changing technology into the mix, and it leaves many of us wondering what to do next. Our next guest, Mitch Joel, is the go-to individual to address this challenge. He's an expert in consumer behavior, community, and technology. Today, he shares his perspective on creating content, connecting with an audience, and the future of digital currency.

Mitch's background includes growing a marketing agency, launching one of the world's first search engines, and advising companies in the AI and blockchain industries. He's an author, speaker, investor, and decoder of the future. Mitch Joel is someone you should know, and if you love music analogies, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Mitch Joel's work here: https://www.mitchjoel.com/

As a physical therapist and founder of Move Strong Physical Therapy, Andrew Millett helps people live their best lives by overcoming their pain. He shares how he keeps clients engaged, what he's learned about human behavior working as a physical therapist, and why it's so important to have an abundance mindset for your business. Beyond the world of physical therapy, Andrew is focusing on strengthening his company's culture and shares a clever tip on how to get your team to provide their honest feedback.

Follow Move Strong Physical Therapy on Instagram @movestrongphysicaltherapy

Check out their website here: https://movestrongphysicaltherapy.com/

Maneesh Sethi is on a mission to help people meet their goals in life, one zap at a time. He's the inventor of Pavlok, a behavior training device that helps you stick with good habits and discourage bad ones with an electric stimulus. You'll learn what inspired Pavlok, how he's improved the product over the years, and what he envisions for the company's future. Maneesh also discusses what he has learned working with Tim Ferris and pitching the product on Shark Tank.

Learn more about Pavlok here: https://pavlok.com/

Arjan Erkel’s story of finding inner freedom and taking ownership of his life manifests in a way that none of us could ever imagine for ourselves. In 2002, he was violently kidnapped by gun-toting rebels and held hostage for 607 days in Dagestan, Russia. Arjan shares his journey in great detail, from the moment he was kidnapped to what life after the 607 days looked like. He utilized the strongest force possible to get through and overcome this experience: his mind. Arjan is now a writer and motivational speaker inspiring others to find their own inner freedom. He’s the Co-Founder of Free a Girl, a foundation that frees young girls from sex trafficking. Though he was a victim of kidnapping, Arjan isn’t letting this incident define him. Listen and learn how the power of your mind will influence your future.

Held Hostage by Arjan Erkel: https://www.amazon.com/Held-Hostage-Trials-Triumph-Dagestan-ebook/dp/B08PPW55WW

Free a Girl Foundation: https://www.freeagirl.com/

More about Arjan: https://arjanerkel.nl/

Imagine buying only one pair of shoes for your child until they turn 18.

Like shoes and clothes, children that are amputees grow out of their prostheses quickly. Too many families have trouble affording prostheses their children need to pursue their goals and dreams.

Having lost his legs in a boating accident at the age of 16, Jordan Thomas received support in all kinds of ways as he was recovering in the hospital. He recognized that not all kids receive the same kind of support, which inspired him to create the Jordan Thomas Foundation.

Now, Jordan and his foundation are on a mission to provide resources and a community for kids around the world in this situation. His story is incredible, and his passion for making a difference will inspire you.

Check out the Jordan Thomas Foundation here: https://jordanthomasfoundation.org/

Meet Scott Monty – our next guest on The Big W Podcast and the only classics major who’s been the global head of digital communication for a Fortune 10 brand. Scott advises corporate executives on modernizing their culture to meet the changing needs of customers, but does it with examples of history, literature, philosophy and poetry. During the podcast, Scott takes us through his time at Ford and shares why he decided to leave to start his own company. Listen to the end for Scott’s best advice on grabbing attention amidst all of the noise on social media and making a true impact as a brand.

Read more about Scott here: https://www.scottmonty.com/

Shaun Maslyk hosts a podcast called The Most Hated F-Word. And of course, that F-Word is… finances! Many of us have a love/hate relationship with money. Shaun joins us to discuss this paradox and share his expertise on financial wellness from a psychological perspective. He introduces the concept of your money script: Your hard-wired beliefs that influence how you think, feel, and act around money. You'll learn how to identify your money script so you can achieve financial independence and avoid placing too much self-worth towards money. Bonus topic: Shaun shares tips on how you can talk to your kids about money towards the end of the episode.

James "Mac" McPartland's passion for inspiring personal development and professional growth stems from his diverse life experiences. Mac was previously a CEO of a successful fitness equipment manufacturer and completed 9 Ironman events and 40 marathons, but the success was never enough. In 2004, he dedicated his life to authoring, speaking, and coaching individuals from all walks of life – everyone from athletes to executive teams at Bank of America, IBM, and Nespresso. Our talk with Mac had several "aha" moments, including the story we tell ourselves, how we measure personal success, and the willingness to want. Listen and learn a new perspective to the question, "who am I?"

Check out jamesmcpartland.com for more information on Mac and his company.

Jon Feinman was making six figures as a personal trainer at the age of 23 but quickly reached growth ceilings in that role. An entrepreneur at heart, he took his love for weightlifting and passion for social justice to create InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW). ICW amplifies the voices of individuals that Jon was previously told to avoid – those in gangs, in and out of jail, and susceptible to violence. These individuals become personal trainers at ICW, bridging social capital and gaining economic mobility along the way. At first, Jon had no clue what he was doing, but simply listened and learned. In this interview, you’ll learn how he set out to influence change but ended up being changed himself.

Want to make an impact? Book a personal training session at https://www.innercityweightlifting.org/. Mention this podcast to receive a discount on your first two sessions.

One year and 26 episodes into this journey, we’re celebrating the anniversary of The Big W and all of our inspiring guests so far. Hear some of our favorite clips from the show featuring entrepreneurs, community leaders, athletes, thought leaders…you name it! We hope you learn as much as we have from this accomplished and diverse group of individuals.