Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higherupwellness/?hl=en 

Michael Smoak - The Purpose Progression: Understanding Your "Why" OFFICIAL TOUR SITE: https://laylo.com/laylo-higheruptour/m/wpPOi3?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnvYFrJC1yMGEZLSVgGCRot1IlFVlHwo912nG-1QFhTllUFsaRIE8tXE83kjw_aem_BNfeNYu6wQRTWiTVjyZzSw&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3

Rich sits down with Michael Smoak, entrepreneur, content creator, and host of the Higher Up Podcast, for a powerful conversation about resilience, consistency, and building an extraordinary life. Michael shares how he went from a full-time career in cybersecurity sales to generating over 60 million organic views per month, explaining why success isn't about secret strategies but about showing up every day, staying consistent through difficult seasons, and refusing to quit. He opens up about the lessons learned from growing a personal brand, overcoming self-doubt, and why mastering the "boring" fundamentals is what separates those who succeed from those who give up.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Michael reflects on the devastating loss of his father and how that experience completely reshaped his perspective on life, ambition, and time. Together, Rich and Michael discuss the urgency of pursuing your goals, the dangers of living for other people's opinions, and why embracing life's finite nature can become your greatest source of motivation. This episode is packed with practical wisdom and mindset shifts for anyone looking to take bigger risks, build lasting success, and make the most of the time they have.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Rich sits down with Arian Nazari, better known as the "Smog King," to uncover how he turned one of California's most overlooked industries into a thriving business with 17 smog check locations. Arian breaks down how the smog check industry works, why it's a recession-resistant business, and the opportunities hiding in plain sight for entrepreneurs willing to master an unglamorous niche. He also shares how staying laser-focused on one business instead of chasing every new opportunity has been a key driver of his success.

Throughout the conversation, Arian dives into the future of California's vehicle inspection industry, the impact of electric vehicles, government regulations, scaling multi-location operations, and the mindset required to build a long-term business empire. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for your next opportunity or simply curious about the business behind an everyday service, this episode is packed with practical insights, business strategy, and lessons on building wealth by dominating a niche.

Follow Arian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smogking/ 

DM him “SMOG” to Work With Him 1-1

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Rich sits down with Patrick Henson, CEO and founder of Henson Services, for one of the most honest and eye-opening conversations yet. Patrick opens up about building a thriving towing, trucking, and service business while battling personal demons behind the scenes. From scaling a company in one of the toughest industries to confronting the mental and emotional challenges that nearly cost him everything, he shares the raw lessons that completely changed the way he approaches life, leadership, and business.

Patrick also reveals his transformative experience with ibogaine therapy, discussing how it helped him overcome destructive patterns, sharpen his decision-making, and become a better husband, father, and entrepreneur. Whether you're a business owner navigating pressure, someone searching for personal growth, or simply looking for an inspiring story of resilience and redemption, this episode delivers powerful insights you won't want to miss.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Rich sits down with Jay Roberts, CEO of Prosper Group, a Miami-based developer currently overseeing more than $3 billion in active real estate projects. Jay breaks down how high-end waterfront condo development really works, walking through the process from acquiring land all the way to selling out the building.

They talk about why billionaires, founders, and major tech players are leaving California and relocating to South Florida, how Jay analyzes a $345 million project to target a 30% profit margin, and how pre-sale deposits allow developers to use buyer capital to help fund construction. They also get into why waterfront real estate continues to be one of the most resilient and appreciating asset classes in the world. If you want to see how serious capital actually moves through real estate, this episode is for you. Let’s get into it.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Follow Ismael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ismaelnuveceo/ 

Find his other links here: https://linktr.ee/ismaelvaldez23?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGntECSwYu12HuY5UAAgmGN5qqO8jicsJmpxE2tkra-8yo6VfN5Qr17Rl7vwCY_aem_8jcKEZQWBHTFA4YEkCwpGA

Rich Somers sits down with Ismael Valdez to talk about building, scaling, and exiting home service companies at a massive level. After a $20M exit, a $100M exit, and now building another company valued well into the nine figures, Ismael breaks down what most contractors never get taught about growth.

In this episode, they cover why most home service businesses stay stuck under $2M, how to build a team of A-players, why mastering one trade matters before expanding, and the importance of marketing, sales, operations, pay plans, and leadership when scaling a real company.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Accredited Investors: Catalina Island deal closes soon. 
Join waitlist: somerscapital.com/invest

In this episode, Rich sits down with Nico Molino to break down how high-income earners can use short-term rentals to dramatically reduce taxes while still building long-term wealth. Nico explains why Airbnb investing can outperform traditional real estate when done correctly, how bonus depreciation and cost segregation create massive tax savings, and the key differences between buying a property for tax benefits versus buying a property that is actually a great investment.

The conversation also covers how Nico's team has analyzed hundreds of markets to identify the best Airbnb opportunities, what makes a market attractive, the importance of regulations, and the three drivers of Airbnb returns: cash flow, appreciation, and tax benefits. One of the biggest takeaways is that investors should never buy a short-term rental solely for the tax write-off. The best deals are properties that generate strong cash flow, appreciate over time, and provide significant tax advantages.


Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Interested in investing with Somers Capital? Visit www.somerscapital.com/invest to learn more.

Interested in joining The 7 Figure Creator Mastermind? Visit www.the7figurecreator.com to book a free intro call.

Interested in joining our Boutique Hotel Mastermind? Visit www.somerscapital.com/mastermind to book a free call.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Interested in joining The 7 Figure Creator Mastermind? Visit www.the7figurecreator.com to book a free intro call.

Interested in joining our Boutique Hotel Mastermind? Visit www.somerscapital.com/mastermind to book a free call.

In this special yacht workshop Rich breaks down how to scale your business without becoming the bottleneck. He explains why so many entrepreneurs stay trapped in their inbox, stuck in constant meetings, and buried in small tasks that keep them away from the highest-value work only they can do. Rich walks through how to audit your time, identify the work that actually moves the business forward, and start removing yourself from repetitive admin, follow-ups, invoices, permitting, scheduling, and day-to-day communication.

He also shares practical ways to protect your calendar, batch communication, build simple systems, document processes with Loom, and delegate more effectively so your business can grow without needing your attention on every detail. If you’re trying to scale, get your time back, and operate more like a true business owner instead of an overworked operator, this workshop gives you a clear framework for creating more leverage, more freedom, and more focus.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Connect with Curt on Instagram: @thecaptaincurt


Private jets aren’t just for billionaires—they’re for anyone who knows how to play the game.

In this episode, Rich sits down with private jet captain and aviation broker Captain Curt Marker to unpack what it really costs to own, charter, and operate a private jet. From $3M pre-owned Gulfstreams to $100M G700s, fuel costs, maintenance nightmares, and the wild tax benefits that come with bonus depreciation—this episode takes you inside the cockpit of the aviation business.

They cover:

How 100% bonus depreciation is making jet ownership explode again
The real costs of fuel, maintenance, and hangar fees (and what to budget for)
Why Q4 is the best time to buy a jet for tax write-offs
How to fly private for up to 80% off using “empty legs”
The best aircrafts that hold their value—and which ones to avoid
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to fly private, own a jet, or just want to understand the business behind aviation, this is your insider’s guide.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Make sure you go check out and follow Mana over on IG and his own podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mana_k33

PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-door-to-door-to-multimillion-dollar-ceo-cody-veivell/id1877761688?i=1000768614448

From pro athlete to solar industry leader, Mana Kobe is playing a different kind of game now and he is just getting started. On this episode of the Podcast, recorded live at the Yacht Workshop in San Diego, Mana breaks down his journey from playing basketball overseas to building one of the top solar organizations in the country. He gets real about what it cost him to figure out the game, from failing at his first business to humbling himself and going back to learn before he led.

The lessons Mana drops in this conversation are ones every entrepreneur needs to hear. Before you run the business, you have to learn the business. Stop trying to do everything yourself. And if you want to make high-value money, you have to be willing to spend high-value money on yourself first. His goal is a billion-dollar company, and the way he talks about it, it sounds less like a dream and more like a deadline. Tune in.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers

Accredited Investors: Catalina Island deal closes soon. Join waitlist: somerscapital.com/invest

From sleeping in a car to running a $60M brand in just two years—Alejandro Vela’s story doesn’t even sound real.

In this episode, Rich sits down with Alejandro (El Barbas Hats) to break down how he went from failed restaurants, tow trucks, and street food hustles to building one of the fastest-scaling hat brands in the world. From selling at swap meets to collabs with Mexico’s biggest artists and $1.3M drops in minutes—this is the blueprint for turning nothing into everything.

They cover:

How eight failed businesses became the foundation for a $60M empire
The exact moment he went from homeless to unstoppable
Why hats became the ultimate scalable fashion product
How he used TikTok to test, market, and blow up his brand
The mindset shift that turned every failure into fuel
If you’ve ever felt like you were too far behind, this episode proves you’re one decision away from a whole new life.

Let’s get it.

Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somers