The Worst Advice I Ever Got

This week, Michael Brody-Waite shares how that well-meaning message failed him—leading to homelessness, addiction, and hopelessness by age 23. But what happened next is extraordinary. Through a 12-step program, Michael not only recovered—he built a new life from the ground up.

He went from sleeping on floors to building a company that grew 20,000%, making the Inc. 500 list, and delivering one of the most-watched TEDx talks of all time.

In this episode, he opens up about:

Why telling addicts to “just stop” isn’t enough

The 3 principles that saved his life—and made him a better leader

How addiction and executive burnout have more in common than you think

What families should do when someone they love is struggling

It’s one of the most powerful stories we’ve shared—raw, honest, and packed with insight for anyone facing discomfort, fear, or change.

When Tom Rebers was told to "charge the going rate," it sounded safe and reasonable. But playing it safe nearly cost him his business. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Tom shares how he learned to set his own value, stop following industry norms, and build a business that actually works for him.

If you’ve ever underpriced yourself or felt stuck following “what everyone else does,” this one’s for you.

Zahra is a licensed therapist who now works with psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly ibogaine, a plant medicine with powerful anti-addiction effects. In this episode, she shares her journey from traditional treatment centers to becoming an advocate for spiritual, mental, and emotional healing through plant medicine.

We talk about outdated recovery models, the stigma surrounding psychedelics, the role of spirituality in therapy, and why systems built on fear often fail the people who need help most.

This one isn’t about promoting psychedelics—it’s about listening to a story that challenges assumptions and opens up a bigger conversation.

If you’ve ever questioned the rules you were taught to follow, this episode is for you.

That’s the worst advice Jeremy Schneider ever got — and it’s everywhere. From the headlines to social media, we’re taught investing means timing markets, chasing trends, and hoping for quick wins. Jeremy says that’s exactly why most people stay broke.

Jeremy is the founder of Personal Finance Club, a former tech entrepreneur who retired at 36, and now teaches simple, proven ways to build wealth. In this episode, he breaks down:
✅ Why ‘boring’ index funds beat the hype
✅ The two rules that actually make you rich
✅ Why most millionaires just… set it and forget it
✅ How to avoid the “speculation trap” that derails so many people

If you’ve ever felt investing is too complicated or too risky — this episode is for you.

Listen now and see why the most effective path to wealth is the least flashy.

In this episode, Joe Van Hoose talks about the messy reality of modern journalism: we need it more than ever, but the world we’ve built makes it harder than ever to do it well. Good reporting takes time, curiosity, and integrity — but today’s incentives scream: click fast, publish faster, aim later.

It’s fire, ready, aim — and real journalists get burned in the process.

If you care about how stories shape our world (and who gets to tell them), this conversation might frustrate you… and wake you up.

Sean and JB breakdown the episodes we've heard so far in this mini episode of the show during our week off celebrating our home nations independence!

Alison Bladh was told, like many of us growing up, that what you eat has nothing to do with your hormones. Turns out, that advice wasn't just wrong. It was harmful.

In this episode, the nutritional therapist and hormone health expert breaks down how endocrine disruptors in ultra-processed foods affect everything from your energy and mood to your skin and metabolism. She shares her personal story of struggling with acne, misinformation, and eventually finding healing through food.

Kevin Palmieri was told, “Why don’t you think less?”—a dismissive response to his deep self-reflection during a personal crisis. In this episode, he shares how that moment collided with suicidal thoughts, external success, and a drive for meaning. Instead of shutting off his mind, Kevin leaned into self-awareness, using it to build a purpose-driven business and a healthier life.

In this episode, Allan shares how embracing, and eventually outgrowing,that advice led him to become one of the most influential voices in the accounting world. It’s a story about finding your lane, then building a whole new highway.

In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Kelly opens up about the damaging pursuit of perfection. From early praise that reinforced unrealistic standards to the hidden toll it took on her mental health, she shares how striving to be flawless actually helped her succeed... and why that made it even harder to let go.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt like their worth depends on never messing up.