Episode 033: In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Sawyer, a mental strength coach who shares his powerful journey from battling depression to helping others build resilience, clarity, and confidence under pressure. Ryan opens up about how his own struggles shaped his identity—and how that same work can help athletes, families, and organizations grow with intention.

Ryan is a former national champion college football coach who went on to coach at Central Washington University and Eastern Washington University before founding the Heart First Mental Strength Academy. Today, he works with athletes, leaders, and high performers to build mental strength and high‑performance cultures using his Integrated Mindset and Competitive Edge frameworks.

We talk a lot about identity and clarity—why knowing who you are and what you stand for matters more than motivation alone. Ryan also breaks down how shared vision and clear standards can completely change the environment of a team, an organization, or even a household. We dig into the role curiosity, consistency, and longevity play in real transformation, and Ryan shares practical ways to apply mental strength principles in everyday life.

If you’re looking to perform better when it matters most and build environments that actually support growth, this conversation will give you plenty to think about—and put into action.

Episode 032: In this episode, I sit down with behavioral finance author Brian Portnoy to explore what wealth really means beyond numbers on a balance sheet. We talk about the idea of funded contentment and how aligning your money with purpose, priorities, and decisions can lead to a more meaningful life. Brian also breaks down his “geometry of wealth” framework and the four C’s of contentment—connection, control, competence, and context.

We dive into the psychology of money, including how childhood experiences shape our financial beliefs and why we’re wired to constantly want more, even when “enough” might already be within reach. This conversation is a powerful reminder that financial planning isn’t just about returns—it’s about purpose, meaning, and minimizing regret along the way.

Brian Portnoy, PhD, CFA is the Founder and CEO of Shaping Wealth and a global leader on the psychology of money. He is the author of three behavioral finance books published in 15 languages, including the bestseller The Geometry of Wealth. Brian spent more than 20 years in the hedge fund and mutual fund industries and earned his PhD from the University of Chicago.  

Episode 031: In this episode, I sit down with dietitian Julia Chase to unpack what nutrition really looks like for kids—and why it’s so different from the way adults eat. We talk about her path from competitive dancer to sport nutrition, and how that journey shaped the way she thinks about healthy eating, weight management, and the messy, emotional side of food.  

Julia and I explore how children build their relationship with food from such a young age, why carbs matter more than people think, and how to support kids who need to gain or lose weight without creating shame or fear around eating.
 
 We get into snacks, picky eating, desserts, and the reality that joy has to be part of a healthy diet. We also talk about the influence of social media, how to keep communication open at home, and the simple but powerful idea that parents decide what’s for dinner—and kids decide how much they eat.

This conversation is all about helping families build healthy habits, honoring individuality, and remembering that you are not someone else. Your nutrition needs are your own, and the same is true for your kids.

Episode 030: In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Issakainen from First Trust to break down how investment vehicles have evolved—and what that means for all of us trying to build smarter portfolios. Ryan and I talk through mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs, why they were created, and the unique advantages and challenges of each one.

We get into the ongoing debate of active versus passive management, the importance of true diversification, and why understanding what you own matters more now than ever. Ryan also explains the rapid growth of ETFs, how they work behind the scenes, and why they tend to be more tax‑efficient than traditional mutual funds.

We touch on the rise of thematic investing, the democratization of investing tools, and how the right structure may help investors stay disciplined through different market cycles. Whether you’re new to ETFs or just want to sharpen your understanding, this conversation will give you a clearer picture of how today’s investment vehicles fit into a long‑term strategy.

Episode 029: Athletes today have opportunities to earn money that didn’t exist just a few years ago.

From revenue sharing… to collectives… to individual brand deals—NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) has completely changed the game.

But with new opportunity comes new complexity.

In this episode, I sit down with Theresa Gralinski to break down how NIL actually works, where the money is coming from, and what athletes and families need to understand to make the most of it.

We talk about:

• The three primary ways athletes are earning NIL income 
• Real-world examples of deals (including opportunities beyond football and basketball) 
• Why many athletes—especially those playing professionally overseas—may be missing out 
• The importance of building the right team (agent, advisor, CPA, attorney) 
• What athletes need to know about taxes, spending, and long-term planning 

Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or someone advising athletes, this episode will help you better understand one of the biggest shifts in sports today—and how to turn short-term income into long-term impact.

Because NIL isn’t just about making money…

It’s about what you do with it

Episode 028: In this special episode, I get the honor of interviewing my favorite person in the world—my wife, Rhiannon.

If you know Rhiannon, you already know this conversation is going to be fun, real, and full of great stories. We talk about our journey as a family and how we began thinking more intentionally about what we want our wealth to support.

Together, we share the three core values we want our money to serve and the early steps we’ve taken to build a family legacy system around those values.

It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely still a work in progress—but that’s part of the point. Creating a family legacy isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about starting the conversation and building something meaningful over time.

If you’ve ever wondered how to begin aligning your money with your family’s values, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it in our own home.

Episode 027: In part 2 of the trilogy, I share how to intentionally build a Family Legacy System that helps your wealth strengthen your family instead of slowing dividing it.  Drawing from my own family experiences, I walk you through the simple frameworks that can help families align their money with what matters most: Meaningful relationships, meaningful work, and meaningful giving.
 
You’ll learn why money without structure often creates confusion, conflict or entitlement – and how a clear system can turn wealth into a tool that builds connection, opportunity, and purpose across generations. 

If you want your money to do more than just grow… if you want it to strengthen your family and your legacy, this episode will give you a powerful place to start.  

Episode 026: This solo episode digs into the foundational question most people skip past: the true purpose of money.

Reflecting on my own journey— I learned to earn, save, invest, and protect money, yet spent years without clarity on its actual role in my life. That missing piece created a gap: without knowing what money is for, it’s impossible to know how much is enough.

My hope is that you’ll work towards building your own personal blueprint for money—one rooted in values, intentionality, and the life you want to create. When you define the purpose of money, you gain the ability to make aligned decisions about when to spend, when to save, and when to share. 

The episode encourages listeners to see money not as a scoreboard, but as a tool for relationships, meaningful work, and generosity.

Take a listen if you want to discover:

• The purpose of money in a meaningful life — moving beyond accumulation to clarity and intention.
• Values-driven financial planning — how knowing what matters most shapes every money decision.
• Redefining “enough” — why understanding the purpose of money helps you determine sufficiency.
• Timing and intentional use — recognizing when it’s the right moment to spend, invest, or give.
• Money as a tool for connection — using resources to deepen relationships, support meaningful work, and contribute to others.

Episode 025: In this week’s conversation, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Tommy Flick and I dive into the connection between the body and mind and why understanding both is so important for personal growth. We get into how the subconscious shapes what we believe, how we act, and even how we see ourselves—most of the time without realizing it.

Tommy breaks down how tools like hypnotherapy can help us rewrite old patterns and create real change. We also talk about anxiety, why self-reflection matters, and the Trivium—knowledge, understanding, and wisdom—and how those three pieces can help all of us live with more intention and fulfillment

Tommy has over a decade of experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, helping individuals and families navigate anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, and career challenges. He specializes in EMDR and hypnotherapy to help clients experience meaningful improvements quickly. His results‑focused approach helps people move forward with confidence and peace of mind.

It was a powerful conversation, and I’m excited for you to hear it.

Episode 024: In this episode, I interview Jeff Walters from Hines Private Wealth Solutions on 1031 and 721 exchanges. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep more of what you’ve earned while leveling up your real estate strategy, this conversation breaks it all down in a simple, practical way.

We talk through how 1031 exchanges can help you defer taxes when moving from one property to another, and why some investors choose to “retire from being a landlord” by using a 721 exchange to roll into a REIT. We also get into the real differences between private real estate deals and publicly traded REITs—how they work, what kind of control you keep, and how to think about liquidity and diversification.

Finally, we walk through the costs, the timelines, and what investors should understand before jumping into a 721 exchange. Whether you’re just starting to explore these strategies or looking to refine the way you invest, this episode gives you a clear framework to work from.

Key Takeaways

• Why strong financial coaching matters in real estate investing
• How a 1031 exchange can help you defer taxes when switching properties
• What a 721 exchange is—and how it can be a bridge into REITs
• The specific rules investors must follow to complete a 1031 exchange
• The role diversification plays in building a more resilient real estate portfolio
• How a 721 exchange can help investors step out of hands‑on landlord duties
• Why understanding liquidity and control is so important when comparing investments
• A typical four‑year timeline for completing a 721 exchange
• How investors may be able to take their cost basis out tax‑free after a 721 exchange
• The importance of talking with a financial advisor to explore your options