Being nice at all costs will do nothing but leave you with resentment at the end of the day, which is why today’s guest advocates for practical optimism and kind candor instead. In this inspiring episode of Betting on Yourself, we are joined by the inimitable Gary Vaynerchuk, a born entrepreneur, chairman of VaynerX, and CEO of VaynerMedia. Gary fills us in on his entrepreneurship journey, starting at the ripe age of six, and explains how betting on himself from a young age has continued to pay ...
Sep 05, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Betting on yourself takes courage and you might not always win, but if you take the losses and try to persevere, the wins will be so much sweeter. Today’s guest has truly gone through it all regarding founding startups and is refreshingly honest about the challenges, making it his mission to help other founders navigate the tricky and mysterious terrain of startups, with a focus on self-care and cumulative success. Wil Schroter is an entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Startups.com. He has f...
Aug 29, 2022•45 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Today is a very special episode as we welcome to the podcast NBA legend and friend of the host, Cuttino Mobley. Cuttino mentored our host during their playing days, and after giving us his definition of ‘betting on yourself,’ he talks about the responsibility of blessing others when you’ve been blessed with unique gifts and talents. He explains how the talent-filled city of Philadelphia influenced his extraordinary career and what it was like being groomed by the likes of Scottie Pippen, Hakeem ...
Aug 22, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 18
You can't control what happens to you in life, but you can control how you choose to respond. Today, we are joined by a true American hero who knows this all too well: former US Navy SEAL Commander Dan Cnossen. Thanks to his sheer mental resilience, Dan overcame the monumental setback of losing both of his legs in combat in Afghanistan in 2009, going on to become a seven-time Paralympic medalist, a three-time Paralympian, and the Best Male Athlete of the 2018 Paralympic Games. During our convers...
Jul 25, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 17
"If you don't believe in yourself, who else will?" Inspired by his hardworking single mom, Corey Avinger has been betting on himself since day one, whether in school, sports, or business. After constantly being in the minority before college, the impact that attending an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) had on Corey drove him to found an apparel company called Support Black Colleges. The company's mission is to uplift, support, and encourage others to attend HBCUs, and in the ...
Jul 18, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Welcome back to Betting on Yourself! Today’s guest, Doug Ulman, who has survived cancer, not once, but three times, has used his unique experience to make a profoundly positive impact on the world by making a career out of fighting cancer. Doug is the former CEO of Livestrong, a founder of the Ulman Foundation, and the current CEO of Pelotonia. During today’s conversation, he tells his own story, inspiring listeners to believe that anything is possible. We hear about his work as a leader within ...
Jul 11, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Our guest today is none other than Don Yaeger, the multiple New York Times bestselling author, inspirational keynote speaker, executive coach, and so much more! In this episode, Don shares his journey of accidentally falling into journalism and going on to work his dream job as the Associate Editor of Sports Illustrated , before making a risky career pivot at age 45. You’ll learn about the challenges of his transition, the importance of being coachable, and what makes consistency the hallmark of...
Jul 04, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Nick Potts was financially stable and working in a job that he loved when he got the itch to start his own thing. Armed with valuable experience from working in the healthcare sector and driven by his desire to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives, Nick emptied out his savings, moved into a trailer in his parent's backyard, and founded his first company, ScriptDrop. Taking the lessons that he learned from starting his first company two years ago, Nick went on to found a second startup, Gif...
Jun 27, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Joining us in conversation today is Lacey Picazo, award-winning creative and Founder of ZoCo Design. In this episode, Lacey fills us in on why we need to set our own table and approach entrepreneurship with humility. We discuss the implications of planning too far ahead and touch on how to manage fear when building a business. Lacey also guides us through the practical aspects of hiring and prioritizing culture, while balancing work life with home life. Lacey is someone who truly understands the...
Jun 20, 2022•45 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Traditional capitalism forgets an important variable: happiness. Today's guest believes that the true purpose of business is to uplift the experience of existing, not to make owners wealthier or produce ever-cheaper goods and services, but to elevate others to elevate himself. Tuning in, you'll hear from entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author, David Meltzer about his life's mission to empower over one billion people to be happy! David is the co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing and formerly s...
Jun 13, 2022•39 min•Season 3Ep. 11
The road to success in the world of entrepreneurship is not easy, and it is definitely not clear. It takes a strong determination and commitment to your goals to navigate the unknown territories we will encounter along the way. Today, our guest is such a great example of this kind of bravery and self-belief. David Shands is an author, speaker, community builder, and the man behind the incredibly popular Social Proof podcast! We had a great conversation today, unpacking David's attitude towards b...
Jun 06, 2022•25 min•Season 3Ep. 10
It can be tricky knowing when to bet on yourself, especially if you're at the start of a successful career and feel an inner calling to change course drastically. No one knows this better than today's guest Jason Y. Lee. Jason is the founder of Jubilee Media, a company that creates original videos about meaningful human experiences and strives to create a movement of young changemakers through radical empathy. When Jason decided to pursue content creation full-time, he worked at a prestigious co...
May 30, 2022•39 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Today's episode is all about how coming together can create a rising tide for everyone, and building bonds that can support us all as we move forward through the uncertainties of life and business. Joining Michael on the show today is Tom Krouse, the CEO of Donatos, and Ron Jordan, the CEO and Chairman of Jordan Hospitality Group! We get to talk about the special partnership between today's panel, and why it goes beyond the simple definition, to something more like family. The conversation cover...
May 23, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Title: Coach Scoonie Penn: How to Walk Into the Unknown (and Win) Artist: Michael Redd Scoonie Penn, former college and professional basketball player, Director of Player Development at the Ohio State University, and Assistant Coach for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, joins Michael on the podcast today. “People will tell you that you’re not capable, or that it’s not going to work, but you need to believe in your own strengths and abilities. I love betting on myself.” - Coach Scoonie Penn They discu...
May 16, 2022•39 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Title: Thaddeus Young: Doing Whatever it Takes Artist: Michael Redd Thaddeus Young is a legendary Georgia Tech Alum, Power Forward for the San Antonio Spurs, accomplished entrepreneur, and founder of the Young for Youth foundation, joins Michael on the podcast today. “There’s no running, there’s no hiding, I’m doing whatever it takes.” - Thaddeus Young They discussed Thad’s career as a professional athlete in the NBA, his tough childhood growing up in Memphis, the influence of his extraordinary ...
May 09, 2022•47 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Title: T.J. Ford: The Willingness to Risk Everything Artist: Michael Redd T.J. Ford, former NBA point guard, founder of the T.J. Ford Academy, and -- most importantly -- my former Bucks teammate, joins Michael on the podcast today. “You need to be willing to risk everything if you want to be the best in the world.” - T.J. Ford They discussed T.J.’s career and mindset as a professional athlete, his origins playing 3-on-3 in the early years, his first “break” as a player, his incredible high schoo...
May 02, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Title: Tzvi Twersky: If You Don’t Bet On Yourself, Who Will? Artist: Michael Redd Tzvi Twersky, legendary marketer in the sports world and now sports marketing lead at Tik Tok, joins Michael on the podcast today. “If you don’t bet on yourself, who will?” - Tzvi Twersky They discussed Tzvi’s incredible career as a writer, editor, publisher and world class marketer, how he started from nothing, his close working and personal relationship with Kobe Bryant, our take on winning an NBA championship vs...
Apr 25, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Title: Iyin Aboyeji: The Challenges are Always The Opportunities Artist: Michael Redd Iyin Aboyeji, named one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine, and co-founder of Andela, Flutterwave, and Future Africa, joins Michael on the podcast today. “The challenges are always and forever the opportunities.” - Iyin Aboyeji They discussed Iyin’s decision to commit his talents and career to the future of Africa instead of Silicon Valley, honing his professional goals, his incred...
Apr 18, 2022•42 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Title: Coach Chris Holtmann: Choose to Challenge Yourself Artist: Michael Redd Chris Holtmann, Head men’s Basketball coach at The Ohio State University and former All-American basketball player at Taylor University, joins Michael on the podcast today. “I have not been afraid to take risks.” - Coach Chris Holtmann They discussed Coach Holtmann’s lifetime decision to always challenge himself and avoid comfort, the importance of great mentors, the unbelievable faith and grit of his wife, and his un...
Apr 11, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Title: Kevin Poston: Don’t Cheat Yourself Artist: Michael Redd Kevin Poston, legendary sports agent for over 30 years, sports marketing expert, named by Sports Illustrated as one of the most influential minorities in sports, and Michael’s beloved agent during his time in the NBA, joins Michael on the podcast today. “ My father was the greatest man I’ve ever met. Nobody else even comes close. And my mother? My mother was my heart.” - Kevin Poston They discussed Kevin’s extraordinary professional ...
Apr 04, 2022•39 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Jim Tressel, President of Youngstown State University and formerly head football coach of the Youngstown State Penguins and the Ohio State Buckeyes, joins Michael on the podcast today. “It’s important to study others, but to become yourself.” - Jim Tressel They discussed Jim’s life growing up poor, the incredible examples of his mother and father, his entrance into a lifelong and legendary career in teaching, sports, and leadership, and his deep, deep faith in Jesus Christ. Jim is the very defin...
May 17, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Maverick Carter, founder of SpringHill Company, where he creates some of the most culturally-inspired brands, entertainment, and products, joins Michael on the podcast today. “It’s not about being able to do whatever we want to do, it’s about intention . If you have good intentions, the right intentions, rational intentions with the feeling of “the sky’s the limit” … then you absolutely have a shot at achieving everything you’ve ever dreamed of.” - Maverick Carter They discussed Mav’s life growi...
May 10, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 19
David Lee joins Michael on the podcast today. David is Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, Head of Samsung Next, an accomplished startup investor, and formerly a corporate attorney at Google. “Growing up, my dad was an entrepreneur and he is an inspiration in many of my career and life choices. He invented the first fully automated fortune cookie machine. I decided to take a different path, and that’s when I realized what betting on yourself means.” - David Lee David is a hyper-inte...
May 03, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Alex Bente, former competitive tennis player, co-founder of leAD Sports (the world’s leading sports tech investment platform), and Principle of ADvantage Sports Tech Fund joins Michael on the podcast today. “My great-grandfather was the founder of adidas. He was mostly just super-focused on innovation in sports and that looked very much different 100 years ago than it does today.” - Alex Bente They discussed Alex’s life growing up in Switzerland, life and business lessons from the game of tennis...
Apr 26, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Today, Michael welcomes Dionte’ Johnson on the podcast. He’s a former fullback for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and The Ohio State University Buckeyes, entrepreneur, founder of the Columbus, OH sneaker boutique Sole Classics and the brand development agency Canvaas. “What I had to do was go back to the drawing board.” - Dionte’ Johnson In this episode, they talk about Dionte’s childhood years, his college and professional football career, his love of Columbus, and his remarkably creative entrepre...
Apr 19, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Coss Marte, fitness trainer, author, and founder of ConBody, the prison style fitness bootcamp joins Michael on the podcast today. “Betting on myself ... I feel like what I’ve done is born out of desperation. I think maybe my DNA is built a certain way, my mom is a hustler too. I saw her coming up from nothing and coming to America and giving us an opportunity here, you know, my brothers and my sister, to explore a better life. And we really took advantage of that, seeing that great role model i...
Apr 12, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Erik Hersman, co-founder and CEO of BRCK (a 'backup generator for the internet'), technologist, investor, writer, Marine, and advocate of technological and entrepreneurial innovation in Africa, joins Michael on the podcast today. “I like solving big problems, and there’s big problems to solve.” - Erik Hersman They discussed Erik’s amazing life growing up in South Sudan and Kenya, the surprisingly difficult cultural transition he faced when moving back to the United States for college, and his sp...
Apr 05, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Ryan Day, Head Coach of The Ohio State University Football program, joins Michael on the podcast today. They discussed Coach Day’s incredible career as a coach in the NFL and at The Ohio State University, a former college football player, his incredible spirit, and how to operate in a high-stakes world. Coach Day is an inspiring, tough, and loving guy. Around him, you get the feeling that “everything’s going to be OK.” And that’s part of the reason why he’s been such a legendary and successful c...
Mar 29, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Peter Feigin, President of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and formerly Vice President of Marketing for the New York Knicks and Director of Marketing at Six Flags, joins Michael on the podcast today. They discussed his incredible career accomplishments at major brands, his rise from recruiter to President, handing out parking tickets in the Bucks lot, working for social justice in the epicenter of the global movement, and his unique leadership style. When asked about what betting on yourself means to ...
Mar 22, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Former Israeli Defense Forces Soldier, political analyst, and current Director of Value Creation and Venture Capital Lead at Empower Africa, Caleb Zipperstein, joined host Michael Redd to talk about the power of small improvements, the unexpected twists and turns in his life, and what Betting on Yourself means to him. “What does it mean to bet on yourself. I feel that a lot of the success I may have had in life is really a by-product of the people I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with, whe...
Mar 15, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 11
