The GetAlpha Mindset

What separates a good financial deal from one that looks great on paper but quietly becomes a problem six months later?

In this episode of the Get Alpha Podcast, Norman sits down with Michael, cofounder and president of Spark Financial Group and CEO of Fluid Capital, to talk about the side of lending, mortgages, private capital and entrepreneurship most people never see.

Michael has looked at more than $2 billion in deals, and that experience has taught him that the number on the page is only part of the story. The structure of the deal, the person behind it and what you are actually trying to accomplish can matter far more than simply chasing the lowest rate. gamps5e77.docx

They get into what lenders are really looking for, the red flags that can kill a deal, why hiding financial problems almost always makes things worse and how understanding someone’s full story can completely change the way a file is viewed.

Michael also breaks down one of the biggest questions around money: is debt a tool or a trap?

The answer is both.

Used properly, debt can help someone unlock equity, acquire assets and grow a portfolio. Used without a plan, the same leverage can become a serious liability. They also discuss why borrowers should stop asking only “What’s the rate?” and start asking why a particular product actually makes sense for their situation. gamps5e77.docx

Beyond finance, Norman and Michael get into entrepreneurship, leadership, building multiple companies, learning from failure, efficiency, business partnerships and some of the people and ideas that have influenced the way they think.

This is a conversation about understanding the entire deal instead of one number, building businesses for the long term and knowing when taking on debt actually moves you forward.

IN THIS EPISODE

•⁠ ⁠What lenders actually look for before approving a deal

•⁠ ⁠Michael’s experience reviewing more than $2 billion in deals

•⁠ ⁠The financial red flags that can immediately kill an opportunity

•⁠ ⁠Why honesty matters when dealing with lenders

•⁠ ⁠Good debt versus bad debt

•⁠ ⁠Why the lowest interest rate is not always the best deal

•⁠ ⁠Fixed versus variable and mortgages versus lines of credit

•⁠ ⁠Using leverage to build a real estate portfolio

•⁠ ⁠Private lending and alternative financing

•⁠ ⁠Building and operating multiple businesses

•⁠ ⁠Leadership, efficiency and entrepreneurship

•⁠ ⁠Why understanding the entire financial picture matters

GET ALPHA 100TH EPISODE LIVE SHOW

We’re heading toward episode 100, and we’re celebrating it LIVE.

Join the Get Alpha crew and special guests for the 100th episode live show.

https://www.getalphafit.ca/live-show

GUEST

Michael

Cofounder & President, Spark Financial Group

CEO, Fluid Capital

HOST

Host: Norman Burgos

@normanburgos_official

https://www.getalphafit.ca

@getalpha_athletics

DISCOUNTS & PARTNERS

Northern Hydration is 10% off

Use code: GETALPHA10

https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene Blue

https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com

Use code: getalpha15

Other Partners:

https://www.neurodose.ca/

Use Code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFF

https://www.floatvalley.com

CREDITS

Filmed by: Burkstreet Media

www.burkstreet.com

Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

#GetAlpha #Entrepreneurship #Finance #PrivateLending #RealEstateInvesting #Business #Mortgages #Investing #Leadership #Debt

The Retro episodes are back, and this one goes everywhere.

Norman and Stacey sit down for tequila and an unfiltered conversation about travel, celebrity culture, the internet, fitness, mental health, previous Get Alpha guests, and whatever else comes up along the way.

Stacey is fresh back from Florida with a bottle worth talking about. Norman has opinions. From there, things get progressively less structured.

The conversation gets into travel bucket lists, why some people simply cannot relax on vacation, celebrity encounters, Perez Hilton and the complicated relationship between privacy and internet fame, actors versus athletes, and the strange world of modern celebrity culture.

They also look back at previous Get Alpha conversations, including one of the show’s more powerful discussions around depression, isolation, and suicide, and why men being willing to speak openly about what they’re going through still matters.

The crew also revisits Brandon’s conversations around methylene blue and health, and before they wrap, Norman and Stacey give an update on the new Get Alpha apparel and what’s coming next for the brand.

This is less interview and more friends sitting around having the kind of conversation that somehow goes from tequila to travel to celebrities to mental health without anyone quite knowing how they got there.

GET ALPHA 100TH EPISODE LIVE SHOW

We’re getting close to a huge milestone: the 100th episode of the Get Alpha Podcast, and we’re celebrating it LIVE.

Join Norman, the Get Alpha crew, and special guests for the Get Alpha 100th Episode Live Show.

Want to be there? Click here for all the details and to reserve your spot:

https://www.getalphafit.ca/live-show

HOST

Host: Norman Burgos

▶️ @normanburgos_official

▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca

▶️ @getalpha_athletics

DISCOUNTS & PARTNERS

Northern Hydration is 10% off!

Use code: GETALPHA10

https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene Blue

https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com

Use code: getalpha15

Other Partners:

https://www.neurodose.ca/

Use Code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFF

https://www.floatvalley.com

CREDITS

🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media

www.burkstreet.com

🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

Welcome back to the Get Alpha Podcast.

Episode 75 is a little different.

Norman and Stacey sit down for another retro episode to look back at some of the conversations, guests and moments that helped shape the podcast so far. But as usual, staying on topic doesn’t last very long.

What starts as a look back quickly turns into a conversation about old guests, where they are now, personal growth, relationships, movies, TV shows and some very strong opinions about 2000s pop culture.

From Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill to The OC, Arrow and everything in between, this episode is less of an interview and more like sitting down with friends and seeing where the conversation goes.

Norman and Stacey also revisit past guests including Jordan, Andrew and Christina, reflecting on how much has changed since their original appearances and what they’re building today.

75 episodes in, the road to 100 continues.

If you’ve been following Get Alpha for a while, this one’s for you. And if you’re new here, you’re about to get a pretty good idea of what happens when Norman and Stacey are left alone with microphones.

HOST

Norman Burgos
▶️ @normanburgos_official
▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca
▶️ @getalpha_athletics

DISCOUNTS & PARTNERS

Northern hydration is 10% off ! GETALPHA10
Northern Hydration
https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene blue
https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com
Use code getalpha15

Other Partners:
https://www.neurodose.ca/ ➡️ Use Code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFF
https://www.floatvalley.com

CREDITS

🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media www.burkstreet.com
🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

This week’s Retro is one of those conversations that goes everywhere, and somehow all connects.Norman, Stacey, and the crew dive into a real parenting dilemma after witnessing a tense moment at daycare, leading to an honest discussion about discipline, child safety, and the impossible balance parents face every day.From there, the conversation shifts into childhood memories, poverty, school experiences, and what teachers see behind the scenes that most people never notice. They also unpack the realities of reporting child abuse, why those decisions are never simple, and the emotional weight educators carry.As always, the conversation takes a few unexpected turns. The crew shares stories about true crime, controversial podcast moments, Bravo drama, health, fasting, gut health, methylene blue, books they’re reading, and the podcasts currently on their playlists.No script. No agenda. Just honest conversations, plenty of laughs, and a few topics that might make you see the world a little differently.Let us know in the comments:What would you have done in the daycare situation?GuestThis is a Get Alpha Retro episode featuring Norman and Stacey.HostHost: Norman Burgos▶️ @normanburgos_official▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca▶️ @getalpha_athleticsDiscounts & PartnersNorthern Hydration is 10% off! Use code: GETALPHA10https://drinknorthern.comGet 15% off Methylene Bluehttps://www.thenutritionalparadigm.comUse code: GETALPHA15Other Partners:https://www.neurodose.ca/Use code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFFhttps://www.floatvalley.comCredits🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Mediawww.burkstreet.com🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.Thanks

What happens when two beauty industry veterans decide that shampoo needs to be completely reinvented?In this episode of the Get Alpha Podcast, Norman sits down with Jayme Jenkins, co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of Everist, to discuss how she helped create an entirely new category of concentrated hair, scalp, and body care products.After building her career with companies including P&G, L’Oréal, YSL, Armani, and The Body Shop, Jayme left the corporate beauty world to pursue a bigger idea. Instead of shipping traditional shampoo made primarily from water in disposable plastic bottles, Jayme and her co-founder Jessica Stevenson spent years developing a patent-pending, waterless cream concentrate.Jayme explains how Everist evolved from a sustainability-focused concept into an award-winning performance brand designed to support healthier hair, skin, and scalp.The conversation also explores the realities of entrepreneurship, including finding the right co-founder, raising capital, dealing with copycats, learning performance marketing, building a growing team, balancing motherhood and business, and developing the resilience required to stay committed for the long haul.Jayme and Norman discuss why creativity is one of a founder’s greatest problem-solving tools, why successful partnerships require complementary strengths, and why building something meaningful often demands more than traditional ideas of work-life balance allow.In this episode:How Everist created a new category of waterless beauty productsWhy traditional shampoo can contain 70 to 90 percent waterThe connection between scalp health and healthier-looking hairWhy many beauty products are variations of existing formulasHow Jayme’s experience at L’Oréal and The Body Shop shaped EveristThe difference between brand marketing and performance marketingHow founders can protect an innovative product from copycatsWhy the right co-founder relationship resembles a marriageThe mental hurdles that appear as a company growsWhy entrepreneurship requires creativity, flexibility, and obsessionHow Jayme balances building a company with raising a familyWhy founders need relationships with other entrepreneurs at similar stagesWhether you are building a company, developing a new product, working with a business partner, or trying to create meaningful change in an established industry, this conversation offers an honest look at the creativity, resilience, and personal growth required to bring a bold idea to life.GUESTJayme JenkinsCo-Founder and Chief Brand Officer, Everist▶️ https://helloeverist.com▶️ https://www.instagram.com/helloeverist▶️ https://www.instagram.com/jayme.everistHOSTHost: Norman Burgos▶️ @normanburgos_official▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca▶️ @getalpha_athleticsDISCOUNTS & PARTNERSNorthern Hydration is 10% off! Use code GETALPHA10Northern Hydrationhttps://drinknorthern.comGet 15% off Methylene Bluehttps://www.thenutritionalparadigm.comUse code getalpha15Other Partners:https://www.neurodose.ca/➡️ Use Code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFFhttps://www.floatvalley.comCREDITS🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Mediawww.burkstreet.com🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

Nicole Servinis returns to the Get Alpha Podcast for an unfiltered conversation filled with espresso martinis, awkward dating stories, Hollywood controversy, reality television and the realities of building a successful podcast.

Nicole joins Norman and Stacey to discuss the strange situations people experience while working with clients, including uncomfortable advances, unusual invitations and the challenges of maintaining professional boundaries.

They also share their experiences with modern dating, making the first move, workplace personalities and the fine line between confidently expressing interest and making someone uncomfortable.

The conversation explores perfectionism, insecurity and the pressure to succeed in competitive industries. Nicole explains how she has remained optimistic and authentic while working in an environment often driven by egos, competition and limited opportunities.

Nicole, Norman and Stacey also break down the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni controversy, including the competing accusations, media campaigns, celebrity friendships and the possible long-term consequences for both careers.

They discuss Hollywood chemistry, intimacy coordinators and how actors separate real emotions from their performances while working closely with attractive costars.

The episode also dives into Love Island, Off Campus, Euphoria, The Bear, Interview with the Vampire and the movies and shows everyone is currently watching.

Later, Nicole shares what she has learned from hosting the Miss Matched Podcast, how she finds guests and her vision for developing the show into a larger international brand.

The conversation closes with lessons on communication, responding to rude comments, managing confrontation, developing willpower and continuing to pursue personal and professional growth.

Topics include:

• Wild dating and personal training stories
• Professional boundaries with clients
• Modern dating and making the first move
• Workplace competition and difficult personalities
• Perfectionism, insecurity and optimism
• Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
• Celebrity friendships and Hollywood controversies
• Acting chemistry and intimacy coordinators
• Love Island, Euphoria and The Bear
• Building and growing a podcast
• Communicating during uncomfortable situations
• Willpower, discipline and personal development
• The upcoming 100th episode of the Get Alpha Podcast

GUEST

Nicole Servinis

▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleservinis/
▶️ Miss Matched Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmatchedpod/
▶️ Miss Matched YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@missmatchedpodcast
▶️ Miss Matched Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major streaming platforms

HOST

Host: Norman Burgos

▶️ @normanburgos_official
▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca
▶️ @getalpha_athletics

DISCOUNTS AND PARTNERS

Northern hydration is 10% off! Use code GETALPHA10

Northern Hydration
https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene Blue

https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com

Use code GETALPHA15

Other Partners:

https://www.neurodose.ca/

Use code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFF

https://www.floatvalley.com

CREDITS

🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media
www.burkstreet.com

🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

What is actually inside the supplements you take, and are they helping you or simply benefiting the company selling them?

In this episode of Get Amped, Norman sits down with Luke Bernardi, founder of Amped Nutrition in Bolton, Ontario. Luke opened his supplement store at only 20 years old, despite being told that independent retail could not survive against major chains and online competitors.

More than a decade later, Amped Nutrition has built a loyal customer base by following a different philosophy: educate first and sell second.

Luke explains why he personally vets the products carried in his store, why he refuses to recommend something simply because it has a higher profit margin, and why he will sometimes tell a customer not to buy anything at all.

They discuss:

•⁠ ⁠How Luke built Amped Nutrition from the ground up

•⁠ ⁠Why competing solely on price destroys independent businesses

•⁠ ⁠The truth about supplement fillers and amino spiking

•⁠ ⁠How to evaluate protein powders and pre-workout formulas

•⁠ ⁠Why creatine gummies may not deliver what consumers expect

•⁠ ⁠Creatine, BCAAs, EAAs, fat burners, test boosters and greens powders

•⁠ ⁠The four basic supplements Luke believes most people should consider

•⁠ ⁠Why nutrition, sleep and training must come before supplementation

•⁠ ⁠Caffeine timing, stimulant tolerance and disrupted sleep

•⁠ ⁠The growing popularity of peptides and testosterone replacement therapy

•⁠ ⁠How social media marketing influences supplement purchases

•⁠ ⁠Health Canada regulations and their effect on Canadian supplement companies

•⁠ ⁠Why customer trust is more valuable than making a quick sale

•⁠ ⁠What it takes to survive more than a decade in a difficult retail industry

•⁠ ⁠Luke’s personal supplement and nootropic routine

•⁠ ⁠What being “alpha” actually means

This episode offers an unfiltered look at the supplement industry from someone who has spent years studying ingredients, testing products, educating customers and challenging questionable industry practices.

The information discussed in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional before beginning or changing any supplement, medication or hormone protocol.

GUEST

Luke Bernardi

Founder of Amped Nutrition

▶️ Website: https://ampednutrition.ca

▶️ Amped Nutrition Instagram: @amped_nutrition

▶️ Luke’s Instagram: @lukev.bernardi

HOST

Host: Norman Burgos

▶️ @normanburgos_official

▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca

▶️ @getalpha_athletics

DISCOUNTS & PARTNERS

Northern Hydration is 10% off

Use code: GETALPHA10

https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene Blue

Use code: getalpha15

https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com

Other Partners:

https://www.neurodose.ca/

Use code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFF

https://www.floatvalley.com

CREDITS

🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media

www.burkstreet.com

🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

In this retro episode, Norman, Stacey, Aaron, and Jordan sit down for a wild conversation that starts with a viral cherry espresso drink test and turns into one of the biggest announcements yet.The team officially talks about their new business venture: building what they believe could become Canada’s first true productivity drink. They break down the difference between an energy drink and a productivity drink, why calm focus matters, what they’ve learned about Health Canada regulations, caffeine limits, product design, flavour testing, warning labels, and the reality of building something from scratch with friends.They also revisit past podcast moments, including conversations around flexible dieting, meal plans, Ozempic, food noise, meal prep, discipline, and why health habits need to be built around real life instead of perfection.This episode also gets into celebrity culture, billionaires, Taylor Swift, MrBeast, energy drink lawsuits, fitness culture, and the social side of food, training, and community.In this episode:The viral cherry espresso drink testJordan’s return for another retro episodeThe 100th episode live show plansThe announcement of the productivity drinkEnergy drinks vs productivity drinksCaffeine, focus, and no-jitter energyHealth Canada regulations and drink labellingBuilding a business with friendsOzempic, food noise, and weight loss cultureMeal plans vs flexible dietingWhy discipline is more about systems than willpowerCelebrity wealth, billionaires, and public perceptionThe social side of food, fitness, and communityGuest – JordanBacon and BarbellsHost – Norman Burgos▶️ @normanburgos_official▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca▶️ @getalpha_athleticsNorthern hydration is 10% off ! GETALPHA10Northern Hydration https://drinknorthern.comGet 15% off Methylene bluehttps://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com Use code getalpha15Other Partners:https://www.neurodose.ca/ ➡️ Use Code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFFhttps://www.floatvalley.com🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media www.burkstreet.com🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.

In this episode, Norman sits down with Geoff Hunter, the founder of Smash N Grab Burger Co., for a conversation that goes far beyond burgers.

Geoff shares how he went from graphic design and animation, to bartending at Jack Astor’s, to commission-based sales, to finally taking the leap and building one of the most loved food trucks in the Aurora, Newmarket, and East Gwillimbury area.

This conversation is about resilience, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, grief, customer service, and what it really means to show up for the people around you.

Geoff opens up about being raised by a single mom in Scarborough, losing her, reconnecting with his dad later in life, adopting his daughter, and building a business that has become about much more than food. From Smash N Grab Burger Co. to Smash N Grab Tacos, Geoff’s story is a reminder that sometimes the hard route is what builds the thing you were meant to create.

In this episode, we talk about:

Geoff’s journey from design school to food truck owner

How Jack Astor’s taught him customer service and people skills

Why he left a six-figure sales career to start Smash N Grab

The real stress behind owning a food truck

Building a business as a single dad

Why food brings people together

The story behind Timbo Smash

Launching Smash N Grab Tacos

His relationship with his mom, his dad, and his daughter

What it means to take the leap before life passes you by

Guest:

Geoff Hunter

Smash N Grab Burger Co.

• Instagram: @smashngrabburgerco

Host:

Host -- Norman Burgos

▶️ @normanburgos_official

▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca

▶️ @getalpha_athletics

Discounts & Partners:

Northern hydration is 10% off ! GETALPHA10

Northern Hydration https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene blue

https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com Use code getalpha15

Other Partners:

https://www.neurodose.ca/ ➡️ Use Code "Getalpha25" for 25% OFF

https://www.floatvalley.com

Credits:

🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media www.burkstreet.com

🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

🔔 Don’t forget to **like**, **subscribe**, and **share** with someone who needs this message today.

In this retro episode, Norman, Stacey, and the crew sit down after a full day of Sweat for Southlake to talk about community, charity, health, food, media, parenting, cancel culture, combat sports, documentaries, and some unforgettable past podcast moments.

The episode starts with a look back at the Sweat for Southlake charity workout and why giving back to local causes matters. From there, the conversation opens up into a bigger discussion about prevention versus cure, the food system, the rising cost of eating well, lifestyle, stress, and the small choices people can make to take better care of themselves.

They also get into a wide range of current topics, including viral stories, AI and misinformation, parenting in public spaces, cancel culture, Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, UFC versus WWE, true crime documentaries, and the kind of stories that make you stop and think.

To close things out, the team revisits past episodes, including Alexandria’s powerful story of survival, Ricky from Prep Shop, and Zach from Northern Raised Meats. It is a mix of laughs, hard conversations, strong opinions, and the kind of broad-strokes discussion that makes the retro episodes what they are.

Topics in this episode include:

Sweat for Southlake and community fundraising
Prevention versus cure in health and disease
Food quality, farming, and eating cleaner
Lifestyle differences between North America and Europe
AI, media, conspiracy theories, and misinformation
Parenting, public bathrooms, and common sense
Cancel culture and public backlash
Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, UFC, and WWE
True crime documentaries and wild real-life stories
Looking back at past Get Alpha Podcast episodes

Host – Norman Burgos
▶️ @normanburgos_official
▶️ https://www.getalphafit.ca
▶️ @getalpha_athletics

Discounts & Partners

Northern hydration is 10% off ! GETALPHA10
Northern Hydration  https://drinknorthern.com

Get 15% off Methylene blue
https://www.thenutritionalparadigm.com  Use code getalpha15

Other Partners:
https://www.neurodose.ca/ ➡️ Use Code “Getalpha25” for 25% OFF
https://www.floatvalley.com

Credits

🎬 Filmed by: Burkstreet Media www.burkstreet.com
🎼 Intro Song: There Must Be Discipline by Akira The Don x Jocko Willink

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this message today.