The Code To Winning

In this episode, we sit down with Amber, co-founder of MOKIPOPS, to talk about how a simple homeschool project with her three children, ages 3, 5, and 7 at the time, turned into a thriving frozen fruit bar company. What started as a fun way to teach her kids about food, creativity, and hard work quickly became something much bigger when her then 7 year old son asked a question that changed everything: "How can we make more money and not be at every single event?" That one question sparked a serious commitment to building a real, sustainable business for the sake of their children and their family.

We dive deep into what it really looks like to raise entrepreneurs from an early age, how Amber and her family taught their kids about business, money, and responsibility while still keeping things rooted in creativity and fun. From humble beginnings in a home kitchen in 2016 to hand molding every single popsicle themselves, MOKIPOPS grew through grit, community connection, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Amber shares how understanding her children's strengths, curiosity, and ideas played a central role in shaping the direction of the business, proving that kids are capable of far more than we often give them credit for.

Today, MOKIPOPS has sold hundreds of thousands of natural frozen fruit bars and has grown from a shared facility into their own dedicated factory, now using automated machines that produce thousands of pops per hour. Along the way, the brand has caught the attention of major names like GoDaddy, the Atlanta Hawks, Entrepreneur Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, Southern Living, VOXAtl, and the Atlanta Small Business Network. This conversation is a powerful look into what it takes to build a family business from the ground up, the importance of listening to your children, and how raising young entrepreneurs can change the entire trajectory of a family's future.

Chapters

INTENNSE Tennis: Inside the League with Marcelo Ferreira and Oliver Bell

In this interview, I sit down with two leaders behind INTENNSE, the fast-growing professional tennis league redefining how the sport is played and watched.

Marcelo Ferreira is the Head Coach of Team Atlanta and the Director of the High-Performance Tennis Academy at Windy Hill Athletic Club.

Oliver Bell is the Chief Financial Officer of INTENNSE, overseeing the league's finance, legal, HR and operations.

What is INTENNSE?
INTENNSE is a co-ed, team-based pro tennis league built for speed. Matches are played in 10-minute "BOLTs" with a running clock, simple point-based scoring, and live substitutions. A full team matchup (an "ARC") combines men's, women's and mixed singles and doubles.

In this interview, we cover:

• How INTENNSE started and the vision behind it
• Where the league stands today
• The direction it's heading and what's next
• Why Atlanta's tennis community made it the ideal home for the league
• How the player draft works
• How the game is played, including the format and rules

Chapters
00:00 The Problem with Professional Tennis
02:19 How Intense Tennis Started
08:36 The Fast-Paced Match Format
10:53 Expanding Beyond Atlanta
13:26 The Business of a 90-Minute Match
16:11 Vetting Players for Personality
19:07 Player Salaries and Contracts
26:13 Building a Grassroots Movement
29:57 The Revenue Model and Sponsors
33:40 Equal Pay Across Genders
39:19 Choosing New Cities for Expansion
44:40 Recruiting and NCAA Rules
48:54 The Role of Pulse Partners
51:25 What Could Kill the League?
57:17 What Winning Means to Us

In this episode, we sit down with Donald Luxama, one of the biggest names in the vending machine industry, with over 700,000 followers and more than 1 billion views across social media teaching people how to start and scale a real vending business. What began as a simple side hustle, buying used vending machines for around $500 that generate over $1,000 in profit a month, has grown into a full-fledged movement inspiring thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs to take control of their financial future.

Donald breaks down the exact blueprint he used to get started, from finding locations to sourcing machines. He explains that the first step is going around your local town and asking family, friends, and local businesses if you can place a vending machine in their establishment, often pitching it as a free vending machine for their location. From there, he shows how to search Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist to find machines typically ranging from $300 to $700, and the importance of testing every machine before buying it to make sure it is fully functional.

We also dig into the numbers behind the business, because vending is as much about margins as it is about hustle. Donald shares real examples of how he prices his products for maximum profit, revealing gains that range from over 100 percent to as high as 700 percent on certain snacks. Beyond the numbers, Donald opens up about his world tour, where he traveled to meet some of the top vending machine operators across the globe, learning firsthand how different markets, cultures, and business models are pushing the industry forward in ways most people never see.

The conversation also dives into where vending is headed next, including Donald's move into Pokemon and trading card vending machines, a fast growing niche built for collectors that operates on cashless, remotely managed technology, as well as the rise of AI powered vending machines that are changing how operators track inventory, manage restocks, and maximize profit with far less manual work. Whether you are just getting started with your first machine or looking to scale into new verticals, this episode is packed with real, actionable insight into building and future proofing a vending machine empire

Chapters
00:00 Vending Machine Idea
03:09 First Vending Machine
09:48 Pitching to Owners
16:11 Bad Location Strategy
23:06 Pokemon Machine
30:15 AI in Vending
33:31 Permits & Licenses
40:48 Lowest Performer
47:24 School for Vending Pros
53:31 Product Sourcing

Simi Arora is a personal brand strategist, mindset and growth mentor, and the host of True Power with Simi. As the founder of Brand Scale, she has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and professionals build premium personal brands that command attention, trust, and revenue.

An immigrant who built her platform from the ground up in New York City, Simi has grown a LinkedIn following of over 115,000 people and become a go to voice for those looking to turn their expertise into influence and income. Her work sits at the intersection of branding, mindset, and business strategy, teaching people not just how to grow an audience, but how to build something that lasts.

In this episode, Simi breaks down exactly how to make $10,000 a month using LinkedIn, sharing the strategies, mindset shifts, and content systems that took her from just starting out to building a thriving personal brand and business.

Chapters
00:00 LinkedIn Importance
03:07 Immigrant Story Begin
06:41 Corporate Ladder Climb
09:47 Immigrant Experience
12:39 Cultural Nuances ️
15:46 LinkedIn Authenticity
18:52 LinkedIn Game Changer
22:56 LinkedIn Algorithm
26:21 Identity Activation
29:21 Identity Activation 5-Step
32:46 Destroying Trust
35:42 Authenticity Trends
38:51 Client Success Story
42:51 Consistency Challenge
45:56 Podcast Intention
49:37 Podcast Agency
52:54 Connect with Simi
 

Sitting down with us today is Michael J. MacDonald, visionary entrepreneur, architect of impact, and co founder of Earn Your Leisure (EYL), the movement redefining financial education and culture for an entire generation.

Michael doesn't just talk about branding. He builds legacies. As a coach, strategist, and entrepreneur, he has spent his career pushing people to think bigger, act bolder, and build brands that command attention and stand the test of time.

In this episode, we go deep into Michael's journey as co founder of both Earn Your Leisure and Invest Fest, the powerhouse financial literacy conference that has become a movement in its own right. We uncover the untold story behind their very first conference, where they took a bold $1.3 million investment with absolutely no sponsors locked in, a high stakes gamble that could have gone either way. We break down exactly how that risk paid off and set the foundation for everything that followed.

We also explore the game changing partnership with Steve Harvey, a strategic move that opened doors, elevated credibility, and helped propel Invest Fest into the global phenomenon it is today. From humble beginnings to tens of thousands of attendees, this is the real story of how vision, risk, and relentless execution built one of the most influential platforms in financial education.

Chapters
00:00 EYL Origin Story
03:45 Entrepreneur Journey ️
07:17 Freedom Mindset
10:21 Community Info Gap
14:10 Real Estate Boom
17:16 Investfest Profitability
20:23 Diddy's Impact
24:20 AI Investing Ease
27:27 Generational Wealth Gap
31:28 Podcast Impact Goal ️
34:45 System for Fulfillment ️
38:59 Business Relationships
41:58 Time is Now ⏰
45:49 Dream Big
49:56 Community Building ️
53:06 Obsession Drives Success
56:06 Winning Definition

Ryan Gardner founded Bucked Up in 2016 and has been the managing partner and CEO ever since. Under his supervision, Bucked Up has gone from a local supplement brand to the #1 best-selling pre-workout, available in over 100,000 stores worldwide.

Back in 2001, Ryan and his twin brother Jeff built a successful internet marketing company, promoting everything from supplements to biz opp to lead generation. By 2010, their affiliate network (with only 3 other employees) was earning over $25M+ annually in revenue. In 2015, they saw that social media was the future and decided to start their own social media agency. After over a decade of promoting other people's products, Ryan and Jeff realized it was finally time to put their talents to work promoting their own.

Ryan purchased the domain name DeerAntlerSpray.com in 2013. Not long after, Ray Lewis made headline news when he was accused of taking the spray before the Super Bowl. Sales exploded overnight. Sure, he was in the "Right Time...Right Place," but without Ryan's smart, hard work, he would've missed out on all that success. Shortly after the Super Bowl, he managed to get Deer Antler Spray into GNC and sold thousands of bottles a week for the next two years. Ryan, with the help of a GNC franchise owner, came up with the idea to launch a pre-workout. Despite some skepticism from family, he purchased BUCKEDUP.com for $1500 and named the first pre-workout "Bucked Up." With a great logo, flavor profile, the right ingredients, and a non-proprietary blend, the company started making waves in the supplement industry and never looked back.

This episode Ryan talks about his journey and the start of Bucked Up how the business structure works, affiliates and partners and the vision for the next 10 years.

Catherine Bennett, Executive Editor of Utah Business, joins us for a deep dive into what truly makes Utah one of the best places for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive. With a background in print journalism, she began her career in marketing as a global communications leader, managing a team of 10 translators before stepping into entrepreneurship and launching Backpack Marketing, an agency focused on helping small businesses grow. She later moved into an executive marketing role working across industries including manufacturing, aerospace, and health sciences.

In this episode, we explore why Utah stands out from other states when it comes to business culture. We break down how collaboration, accessibility, and a strong community mindset create the perfect environment for solopreneurs, startups, and growing companies. Catherine also shares insights into networking, events, and key resources available in Utah—and how Utah Business serves as a powerful platform to celebrate, connect, and elevate everyday entrepreneurs.

If you’re building a business or looking to tap into a thriving ecosystem, this conversation is packed with valuable perspective and practical takeaways.

Chapters

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. James E. Dixon, widely known as SupermanIs4Real, for a deeply moving and powerful conversation on resilience, faith, and purpose.

After experiencing a life-altering tragedy that resulted in the loss of his leg, Dr. Dixon made a decision that would define the rest of his life—he refused to be defined by what he lost. Instead, he chose to step fully into his purpose. What many would see as a setback, he transformed into a calling.

Recorded around his impactful message at the Little Lambs Fundraiser, Dr. Dixon shares how his journey as an amputee became a platform to inspire, serve, and uplift others. His story is not about limitation—it’s about identity, belief, and the power of perspective. He speaks on how physical loss does not cancel divine purpose, and how mindset can override circumstances.

At the core of this conversation is a powerful belief: he never saw himself as broken—he saw himself as Superman.

“You may not walk the same—but you still have somewhere to go.”

We dive into the lessons that shaped him, the faith that carried him, and the responsibility he feels to impact others through his story. This episode will challenge you to rise above your circumstances, to serve with intention, and to move forward with conviction—no matter what you’re facing.

If you’re looking for a reminder of what true strength, purpose, and transformation look like, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

00:00 Early Life Challenges

In this episode, I sit down with Azure Calder, a seasoned mortgage expert with over 20 years of experience in the real estate and lending industry. From processing and management to ownership, Azure has built a career defined by consistency, leadership, and results—personally contributing to over $1 billion in real estate transactions and earning recognition as a top producer and President’s Club winner.

But this conversation goes far beyond traditional real estate.

Azure breaks down how he helps clients build true generational wealth, whether it’s guiding first-time homebuyers into their first property or helping seasoned investors scale through residential loans, portfolio lending, bridge financing, and commercial deals. His approach is rooted in strategy, mentorship, and understanding how to structure deals that actually work in today’s market.

We also dive into topics most people aren’t talking about—aviation ownership, trusts, and business funding strategies that can open doors to entirely new levels of opportunity. Azure shares insights on how entrepreneurs are securing $500K to $750K in funding in as little as four months, along with the systems, positioning, and mindset required to make it happen.

This episode is packed with practical game from both a lending and business perspective, including:

If you’re serious about real estate, funding, and scaling your financial future, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

00:00 Introduction 

Kylie Brenning has been active in the real estate industry since 2018, starting her career in commercial real estate development before transitioning into lending in 2022. That foundation gives her a unique, well-rounded perspective on both the building and financing side of real estate.

As a Mortgage Broker, Kylie works across both residential and commercial lending, leveraging strong relationships with a wide network of banks and lending institutions. Her approach is solution-focused—no matter how niche the deal or complex the situation, she believes there is always a loan product or strategy that can make it work.

Beyond her work in lending, Kylie serves as the President of E.P.I.C.C. (Empowering Professionals In Clark County), a nonprofit dedicated to giving back through meaningful networking, community-driven events, and supporting local charities and small businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest.

In this episode, we break down the realities of lending in today’s market—from creative financing strategies to how AI is shaping the future of mortgage brokering. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, investor, or entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with practical insights on navigating credit, income, and opportunity in real estate.

🎙️ Episode Timestamps 

0:00 Introduction