The Brian Green Show

Braden Brown is a former BYU football player who went on to earn his PhD and now serves as the Director of Mental Health for BYU Athletics.

In this episode, Braden shares the incredible story of surviving a house fire at four years old after his dad ran back into the burning home to save him—and how that experience impacted him for years afterward.

We talk about his journey from BYU football to mental health, what he learned playing for Bronco Mendenhall, and what he sees today working with college athletes facing pressure, anxiety, expectations, relationships, and the changing world of NIL.

Braden also shares practical lessons that go far beyond sports: how to perform when the pressure is on, why doing hard things builds resilience, how faith and mental health can work together, and why you don't always have to believe in yourself to keep moving forward.

Key Takeaways:

• The only way to learn you can do hard things is to go through hard things.
• Pressure can shift us from playing to win to simply trying not to screw up.
• Braden's framework for pressure: Notice. Accept. Commit.
• Faith doesn't make us immune to mental and emotional struggles.
• Parents should make sure their kids know their value isn't tied to athletic performance.
• Sometimes you have to rely on someone else's belief in you until you can see it yourself.
• Purpose and intentionality help us get off autopilot and focus on what matters most.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Brian Green Show, I sit down with Ryan Erickson, an entrepreneur, CEO coach, and founder of Fulcrum, to talk about what it really takes to build a successful business without sacrificing the things that matter most in life.

Ryan has spent more than 20 years working with CEOs and businesses of all sizes, helping leaders navigate growth, leadership, and difficult business challenges. We talk about his journey from working at EMC to starting his own consulting company—and how taking action before he had everything figured out ultimately led to his first major client.

But this conversation goes far beyond business. Ryan shares his perspective on faith, family, leadership, personal growth, and finding success in all areas of life. He explains why he believes confidence should come from your intentions rather than your results, why great leaders need to become masterful listeners, and why surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you can accelerate your growth.

We also talk about Ryan's faith and how his belief in God influences the way he leads, works with CEOs, raises his family, and thinks about success. His philosophy is simple: success isn't just about building a great business—it's about becoming a better person while you're doing it.

Key Takeaways

• Take action before you have all the answers. Ryan's first company started before he had a perfect business plan or even a first customer. Taking the leap created the opportunity to figure things out along the way. 
• Confidence shouldn't depend on your results. Ryan believes confidence based on success and failure will constantly fluctuate. Instead, build confidence around your intentions—who you are and why you're doing what you're doing. 
• Learn to become a masterful listener. Great leaders aren't simply waiting for their turn to speak. They listen without judgment, ask better follow-up questions, and genuinely try to understand another person's perspective. 
• Challenge your own perspective. Ryan explains that leaders become better when they're willing to listen to different viewpoints. Sometimes you change your mind; other times, your original perspective becomes stronger. Either way, you learn. 
• Success requires more than business. Ryan believes people need to invest in four areas of life: physical health, relationships and family, finances/business, and spirituality. 
• Get comfortable being uncomfortable. One of Ryan's core leadership principles is learning to operate effectively when things aren't easy or certain. 
• Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. Ryan believes great leaders continually work on themselves and intentionally put themselves around people who have knowledge and experience they don't have. 
• Your team is your leadership “game film.” One of the best ways for a leader to evaluate themselves is to look at the people around them. Are the people who report to you thriving, growing, and becoming better? 
• Faith can create a powerful foundation for leadership. Ryan shares how his belief in God shapes his confidence, his vision for the future, and the way he approaches both business and life. 
• Don't just listen to yourself—talk to yourself. Ryan's closing lesson is about replacing fear and doubt with intentional encouragement and positive self-talk.

In this episode of The Brian Green Show, Jordan Harbertson, co-founder of MTN OPS and serial entrepreneur, joins the podcast for a deeply personal conversation about faith, family, and business that goes far beyond the typical "how I built my company" story. Jordan opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Farmington, Utah, the lessons his father (former Farmington mayor Scott Harbertson) taught him through childhood businesses like lemonade stands and basketball card machines, and the lifelong struggle with depression and self-worth that shaped his drive to succeed. He breaks down the philosophy behind MTN OPS's explosive growth, why he ignored spreadsheets and CAC metrics in favor of building genuine human connection, and how that approach turned customers into "crusaders" loyal enough to tattoo the brand on their skin. The conversation closes with hard-won advice on work-life balance, prioritizing family as a father and entrepreneur, and the one question every founder needs to answer before building a brand.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. People over metrics: the real secret to brand loyalty. Jordan reveals that in MTN OPS's first six years, he never looked at a spreadsheet or tracked CAC, AOV, or CPA. Instead, he obsessed over human connection, a strategy that turned everyday customers into brand "crusaders" loyal enough to get MTN OPS tattoos.
2. Find your "why" before you build a business or brand. Jordan argues that any brand built without a strong, human-rooted "why" is meaningless. A business survives adversity only when its founder's purpose is bigger than profit or looking cool to peers.
3. Entrepreneurial roots run in families, and so do the lessons. Jordan traces his business instincts back through four generations of Harbertsons, sharing how his father turned a childhood lemonade-stand idea into a real-world lesson on profit, competition, and innovation.
4. Mental health and entrepreneurship: the hidden struggle behind the success. Despite his high-energy public persona, Jordan opens up about a lifelong battle with depression and self-worth, and how his father's mantra, "your attitude will always determine your altitude," became a foundational tool for resilience.
5. Redefining work-life balance as a founder and father. Jordan shares how he shifted his time allocation to 60% family and 40% business after recognizing that early sacrifices for career growth can pay off later, when kids need a present father most.

Episode Summary

Michael McKnight is one of ultra running's most decorated athletes — a two-time Triple Crown winner, Cocodona 250 champion, and former Colorado Trail FKT holder who once completed a 100-mile race with zero calorie intake. But this episode isn't just about race results.

Brian sits down with Michael to talk about what happened when everything stopped: a severe herniated disc that left Michael unable to get out of bed without his wife's help, a surgery date on the calendar, and a sport he wasn't sure he wanted anymore. What followed was a remarkable comeback — winning a 300-mile race two months after his surgery was supposed to happen, then a top-10 finish at Cocodona weeks later.

Michael shares the full story of his legendary 2023 Cocodona win — how he woke up 33 miles behind the leaders at mile 75 and, with nothing but belief and his wife's four-word reset ("just go have fun"), came back to win the race and break the course record by three hours. He also opens up about burnout in elite sport, the divine intervention he believes healed his back, the mantras on his bedroom whiteboard, and why he believes God ordained him to inspire average people to chase extraordinary dreams.

Whether you run ultras or just want to understand what it takes to fight through your lowest moments in business, faith, or family — this one's for you.

Key Takeaways

1. Burnout can be a gift in disguise. Michael's herniated disc — as painful and shattering as it was — became the reset he didn't know he needed. It forced him to decide whether ultra running was still his life. The moment he committed, things started turning around.

2. Belief before evidence is what separates finishers. Down 33 miles and 10+ hours at mile 75 of a 250-mile race, Michael told his crew he was still going to win — and set a course record. Not after he had proof. Before. That level of conviction, not talent, is what he coaches people toward.

3. The right crew changes everything. Michael's wife didn't give him a pep talk. She told him to stop whining and go have fun. Sometimes the most powerful thing your people can do is cut through the spiral and hand you back your own joy.

4. Resilience requires failure as a prerequisite. Michael's coaching philosophy is built on this: you can't bounce back if you never went down. He reframes failure not as something to fear, but as the raw material resilience is made of.

5. Less pressure, better performance. His best races consistently come when he removes the weight of expectation. It's not a fluke — it's a pattern he's learned to deploy intentionally.

6. His ways are greater than your plan. Michael ties faith directly to the sport — acknowledging that his most meaningful wins didn't unfold the way he imagined, and being grateful for that. Patience through adversity isn't passive. It's the actual work.

7. The back of the pack is stronger than the front. Michael and Rachel Antrigan (the Cocodona women's winner) both showed up at the finish line to cheer in a finisher who was bent nearly 90 degrees from "the lean" — and had been out there over five days. In ultra running, mutual respect runs deep because suffering is universal.

8. Average people don't try because they fear failure, not because they lack ability. Michael believes almost anyone can finish an ultra if they have desire. The real obstacle is the fear of looking like they can't.

In this episode Brian Green sits down with Pernell Agdeppa, Executive Director of Real Estate Legal at Panda Restaurant Group, for a conversation that covers far more than restaurant deals. Pernell shares the origin story of Panda Express from a family-run Pasadena restaurant in 1973 to 2,600 locations nationwide and how he found his own way in, not through a recruiter, but through a wake-up call that literally happened on a freeway near Panda's headquarters. The two dig into what it means to negotiate from a place of integrity, how servant leadership plays out in a high-growth real estate legal department, and the football coach whose lessons still echo decades later. If you've ever felt burned out, wondered if working smarter beats working harder, or wanted to lead in a way that actually earns loyalty  this one's for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. You can't fax a handshake. In a world of email and Slack, picking up the phone to build rapport before the negotiation starts is a competitive advantage most people leave on the table.
2. Work hard — but zoom out. Hard work misapplied is still wasted. Ask not just "am I working hard?" but "am I channeling it in the right direction?"
3. Win-win or no deal isn't just a nice idea — it's a growth strategy. When you're opening 100 stores a year, burning bridges with sellers and landlords is a business problem.
4. Success is the stories people tell about you when you're not in the room. Reputation compounds quietly over a career.
5. Servant leadership starts with what you wish you'd had. Think back to when you needed direction and didn't get it. Now give that to someone else.
6. Buy in. Conviction is contagious. You can't lead people into something you haven't bought into yourself.
7. Forgive yourself. Do the best with what you've got — and as you learn better, do better.

In this episode of The Brian Green Show, Brian sits down with entrepreneurs Blake Kohler and Remington Rainey, co-founders of Pulse for Good, to talk about entrepreneurship, startup growth, leadership, faith, family, and building a successful business without sacrificing what matters most.

Blake and Remington share how they built a mission-driven SaaS company serving homeless shelters, behavioral health organizations, nonprofits, and human service providers across the country through real-time feedback and psychological safety systems.

The conversation dives into:

•  Startup lessons from building a SaaS company 
•  Why they rejected venture capital and hyper-growth culture 
•  Entrepreneurship and family balance 
•  Leadership, feedback loops, and company culture 
•  Building psychological safety inside organizations 
•  Faith in business and overcoming adversity 
•  How hardship creates gratitude and resilience 
•  The reality behind “hustle culture” and burnout 

This episode is packed with insights for:

•  Entrepreneurs 
•  Founders 
•  Small business owners 
•  SaaS leaders 
•  Family business operators 
•  Sales professionals 
•  Faith-driven business leaders

If you enjoy conversations around entrepreneurship, startups, leadership, personal development, faith, family, sales, company culture, and business growth, this episode of The Brian Green Show is packed with practical wisdom and real-life perspective.

In this episode, Brian sits down with Joe Rinderknecht, founder of Cowboy Capital, to unpack what it really takes to build a multifamily portfolio from the ground up.

From his rodeo roots to raising millions in real estate, Joe shares how “pleasant persistence” and playing the long game helped him turn years of relationship-building into million-dollar investments. He opens up about a deal that nearly broke him financially, emotionally, and within his family and the hard lessons that reshaped how he operates today.

Joe also shares the deeply personal story behind Tiny’s Tribe, a nonprofit inspired by tragedy, and how faith, identity, and mindset have guided his journey through both business and life.

This episode is about resilience, trust, and becoming the kind of person others want to invest in not just financially, but personally.

Key Takeaways:

Pleasant Persistence Wins Big: The best investor relationships aren’t built in weeks, they’re built over years. Consistent, value-driven follow-up turned into million-dollar opportunities.

Think in Decades, Not Deals: Playing the long game removes desperation and builds trust. The biggest wins come from staying committed over time.

Reputation, Relationships, Results: Long-term success in business comes down to who you are, how you treat people, and your ability to execute.

Your Hardest Deal Will Teach You the Most: The deal that nearly broke him became the foundation for how he operates today—especially around risk, construction, and communication.

Transparency Builds Lifelong Investors: Communicating early and often—especially when things go wrong—creates trust that leads to repeat investors and referrals.

Action Beats Education: Learning is important, but nothing replaces taking action and getting real experience.

Your Environment Shapes Your Ceiling: Surrounding yourself with the right mentors and community can accelerate your growth and open doors you can’t access alone.

Identity Drives Everything: When life hits hard, growth comes from choosing who you become next—not from staying stuck in what happened.

Give Me the Ball Mentality: Pressure is a privilege. The best operators lean into hard moments instead of avoiding them.

You Don’t Have to Rush Entrepreneurship: There’s value in learning within organizations first—your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. 

In this episode of The Brian Green Show, Brian sits down with Jentz Painter, former Utah State football player turned fitness coach for busy dads—to talk about what it really takes to stay strong, present, and purpose-driven in the middle of a full life.

Jentz shares his journey from undersized walk-on to earning a scholarship through grit and consistency, and how those same principles now fuel his business helping fathers get fit without sacrificing family time.

They dive into the real challenges dads face today's lack of structure, burnout, and competing priorities and how to overcome them with simple, sustainable habits. Jentz also opens up about the role faith plays in his life, how he balances being a husband, father of three, and entrepreneur, and why small daily wins are the key to long-term transformation.

If you’re a dad trying to juggle career, family, and your health this episode will hit home.

Takeaways

1. It’s not a knowledge problem—it’s a structure problem
Most dads know what to do. The real issue is lacking systems and accountability to actually follow through.

2. Start small and stack wins
You don’t need a perfect plan—you need momentum. One small win (like hitting protein or doing pushups) can shift your entire mindset.

3. Intensity > time when it comes to fitness
You don’t need hours in the gym. Focused, intentional effort in short windows can drive real results.

4. Your health impacts everything else
When you’re physically dialed in, your energy, clarity, and presence at home and work all improve.

5. You can’t pour from an empty cup
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s what allows you to show up better as a husband and father.

6. Faith creates grounding and perspective
For Jentz, starting the day with gratitude and connection to God sets the tone for everything else.

7. Burn the ships when it’s time to commit
Sometimes growth requires full commitment. When Jentz went all-in on his business, everything changed.

8. Be yourself—your story is your edge
In a crowded world, authenticity is what separates you. Your lived experience is your unique advantage.

In this episode of The Brian Green Show, I sit down with entrepreneur and TerraSlate founder Kyle Ewing for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

Kyle shares his journey from leaving a stable corporate career to navigating the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship facing financial stress, failed ideas, and moments where everything was on the line. From iterating through multiple product failures to eventually finding product-market fit, his story highlights the grit required to survive and succeed. Beyond business, we dive into how he structures his life, prioritizes health, and defines success through people, purpose, and growth, not just revenue.

Key Takeaways

Grit is everything – Success isn’t about being the smartest; it’s about your ability to keep going when things break, fail, and fall apart.
Entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous – The highs are high, but the lows are real—financial stress, uncertainty, and constant pressure.
Start before you quit – Build and validate your idea on the side before making the full leap.
Sales is a non-negotiable skill – If you can’t clearly explain and sell what you do, it’s going to be hard to win.
Clarity wins – Being able to describe your business in one sentence is a massive advantage.
Product-market fit comes through pivots – Most successful businesses don’t start with the winning idea—they find it through iteration.
Control your day or it controls you – Prioritize your health first, then focus on your top 3 priorities each day.
Urgency builds capability – When your back is against the wall, you develop skills (especially sales) faster than ever.
Culture is a competitive advantage – Great teams and strong culture can outperform even the biggest competitors.
Success is about people – The most meaningful part of the journey is the relationships you build and the people you grow with.

In this episode of The Brian Green Show, I sit down with entrepreneur and founder of Mark’s Snacks, Mark Samuel, for a real conversation about life beyond business.

Mark shares his journey through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, reflecting on the failures, challenges, and defining moments that shaped who he is today. While he’s built brands in the CPG space and continues to push forward as a founder, what stands out most is his perspective on what truly matters.

We dive into faith, gratitude, family, and the importance of staying grounded—especially when life gets hard. Mark opens up about personal loss, difficult seasons in business, and how those experiences deepened his belief in God and shifted his definition of success.

This isn’t just a conversation about building companies—it’s about building a life.

 Key Takeaways

• Health is everything – Mark believes waking up healthy is the greatest gift, far above money or business success. 
• Gratitude is a daily practice – Shifting your focus to what you have (not what you lack) can completely change your mindset. 
• Failure builds perspective – Some of Mark’s hardest business losses and personal struggles shaped his outlook on life the most. 
• Success is personal – For Mark, success means health, family, and happiness—not external validation or wealth. 
• Faith provides foundation – His relationship with God has grown stronger over time and plays a key role in how he lives and leads. 
• Family > Work – Mark prioritizes his health first, then family, and then business—an uncommon but intentional framework. 
• Keep going—but know when to pivot – Persistence matters, but so does recognizing when it’s time to move on and start something new. 
• Be unapologetically yourself – Building a personal brand allows Mark to speak freely and attract the right people, even if it turns some away.