On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Dr. Forbes Riley: the woman called the Queen of Pitch, host of over 197 national infomercials, two-time TEDx speaker, and the inventor behind the Spin Gym who has personally sold over 2.5 billion dollars worth of products on television. Before becoming one of the most coached pitch experts in the world with over 100,000 entrepreneurs in her playbook, Forbes was a goofy little girl from Long Island with frizzy hair, eight years of braces, a ...
May 26, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 234
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with David Royce: founder of Aptiv, EY National Entrepreneur of the Year, and the man who turned a college summer job spraying for bugs into a nine figure exit to private equity. Before selling Aptiv for a number that made hundreds of his employees six and seven figure earners, David was a broke BYU finance student who sold zero pest control contracts in his first five days on the job. He went to a bookstore, bought half a dozen sales classics f...
May 19, 2026•53 min•Ep. 233
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Scott Martin: cybersecurity advisor to Fortune 500 companies, founder of golf apparel brand Scooter Martini, and a guy currently in the middle of building something from scratch in real time. Most podcast guests come on after they've crossed the finish line. Scott is still in the race. About 18 months ago he and his wife sketched out a golf brand at the kitchen table, dropped six figures on a first run before they had a single customer, and...
May 12, 2026•42 min•Ep. 232
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Kevin Trudeau: legendary infomercial pioneer, bestselling author of Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About, and the man behind over $480 million in Mega Memory sales and 50 million books sold worldwide. Before becoming the most recognized infomercial figure in television history, Kevin built one of the most successful direct response empires ever, with more impressions on TV than Oprah at his peak. But after exposing what he believ...
May 05, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 231
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Tamara Thompson: entrepreneur, founder of Broadcast Your Authority, and a powerful voice on transformation and resilience. Before building a business that helps top entrepreneurs scale their influence, Tamara faced a deeply personal battle. After a traumatic accident and a painful breakup, she found herself spiraling into alcoholism, hiding her identity, and losing control of her life. In this episode, Tamara opens up about the moment every...
Apr 28, 2026•50 min•Ep. 230
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Suzy Batiz: founder of Pourri and Supernatural, who turned multiple bankruptcies, personal trauma, and years of chaotic hustling into a $150M+ brand built on intuition, authenticity, and relentless execution. Suzy opens up about her early life—filing for bankruptcy by 20, raising three kids while bouncing between hustles, and chasing success as a way to prove her worth. But everything shifted after a spiritual awakening that changed how she...
Apr 21, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 229
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Linda Kim: entrepreneur and Airbnb arbitrage expert who turned a bold $35,000 investment into a thriving seven-figure business. After walking away from an unfulfilling relationship and a traditional 9-to-5 career in tech, Linda shares how she rebuilt her life from the ground up: taking massive action, trusting her instincts, and going all-in on a business model many claimed was “dead.” Today, she operates multiple high-performing Airbnb pro...
Apr 14, 2026•33 min•Ep. 226
On this episode of Escaping the Drift, we sit down with Shane Seo—real estate investor, fund manager, and entrepreneur behind multi-million-dollar portfolios spanning hundreds of single-family homes, apartment units, and commercial assets. As the founder of Elite Capital Management and Seo Capital Management, Shane shares the strategies, discipline, and vision that helped him scale in a competitive market. We dive into real estate trends, building wealth through smart investments, and what it re...
Apr 07, 2026•45 min•Ep. 225
In this episode, John Gafford sits down with Leo Climaco to discuss the mindset, discipline, and leadership principles required to build success in business and in life. Leo shares his journey, the lessons he’s learned through entrepreneurship, and the standards he holds himself to when it comes to growth, leadership, and personal accountability. From developing a strong work ethic to navigating challenges and setbacks, this conversation highlights what it really takes to build something meaning...
Mar 31, 2026•45 min•Ep. 224
In this episode, we dive into the mindset, discipline, and strategy required to build a high-performance life and business. Paul Larache shares powerful insights on leadership, personal development, and the habits that separate average performers from those who operate at an elite level. From lessons learned through years of coaching, business building, and pushing personal limits, Paul breaks down the importance of mental toughness, clarity of purpose, and consistent execution. This conversatio...
Mar 24, 2026•50 min•Ep. 223
In this episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to build a business that gives you freedom, income, and control over your time. Ryan Lee shares powerful insights on entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the mindset shifts required to succeed in today’s digital world. From lessons learned through years of experience to practical strategies you can start applying today, this conversation uncovers the habits, decisions, and systems that separate struggling entrepreneurs from those who thri...
Mar 17, 2026•48 min•Ep. 222
Shawn Antonio is a life coach, author, and former nightlife impresario who built one of the top events companies in Los Angeles before a life-altering accident forced him to rebuild everything from the ground up. After spending over a hundred days in jail following a tragic motorcycle collision, Shawn faced depression, public scrutiny, and the collapse of the identity he had spent decades creating. Instead of letting the moment define him, he used it as the catalyst to rediscover his purpose. In...
Mar 10, 2026•54 min•Ep. 221
Harry Massey is an inventor, systems thinker, and health futurist. After a series of traumatic accidents left him bedridden for nearly a decade, he dedicated his life to understanding the physics of health. This led to his pioneering work in bioenergetics and the founding of NES Health. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks to Harry about the intersection of physics and biology. Harry explains how the body functions like a battery, the critical role of the thymus in reversing...
Mar 03, 2026•49 min•Ep. 220
Evan Marks was a successful Wall Street trader and portfolio manager for 25 years. Despite his financial success, the constant pressure led to a major mental health crisis at age 46, which he initially mistook for a heart attack. This event became the catalyst for his professional pivot and the founding of the M1 Performance Group. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks to Evan about coaching high-level athletes, traders, and C-level executives. Evan explains his "certainty in...
Feb 24, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 219
David Grau Sr. spent years as a securities regulator and attorney before founding a successful consulting firm for financial advisors. In this interview, he breaks down the "Founders Treadmill"—the trap where an entrepreneur becomes the bottleneck of their own company, making it impossible to scale or exit. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford and David discuss the psychological shift needed to move from a solopreneur mindset to a CEO mindset. David explains why most small busines...
Feb 19, 2026•51 min•Ep. 218
Sean Callagy went from being a Division 1 athlete to losing his sight entirely by age 40 due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. Rather than letting his blindness define him, he used it as a catalyst to build a massive law firm and now, a revolutionary AI company, Act I, which aims to be the "integrity operating system" for the future. In this episode, John Gafford sits down with Sean to discuss the emotional resilience required to navigate life-altering challenges, the "integrity-based human influence" fo...
Feb 10, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 216
Aaron Day transitioned from a high-level role at Canva to becoming the CEO of Amaze, a company valued at several million dollars that is fundamentally changing how creators sell online. By embedding e-commerce directly into platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, he is helping creators bypass the "SEO hell" of traditional retail. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks to Aaron about the "strategic evolution" of the creator economy, why traditional storefronts are becomi...
Feb 03, 2026•47 min•Ep. 215
Cody Ash grew up in a tiny town in Kentucky where the most exciting thing to do was play baseball or get into trouble. Today, he travels the world on private jets playing sold-out stadiums as the drummer for country-rap superstar Jelly Roll. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford sits down with Cody to hear the wild story of his rise to the top. From driving 14 hours to New York City for a single unpaid show just to get his foot in the door, to the hilariously rumored reason he actu...
Jan 28, 2026•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 214
Mike Feazel built one of the largest roof replacement companies in America, scaling it to $60 million in revenue before selling it 13 years ago. But instead of retiring to an island, he saw a massive problem in the industry and decided to disrupt it all over again with Roof Maxx. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks with Mike about the journey from a small farm in Ohio to becoming a roofing mogul. Mike shares the exact "dealership model" he used to scale his new company to 3...
Jan 20, 2026•46 min•Ep. 213
Dr. Cali Estes was an aspiring FBI agent until a meltdown involving cake on the floor led her down a path of addiction to diet pills, speed, and chaos. Today, she is known as "The Female Dr. Drew," helping celebrities, executives, and high-performers break free from addiction without hitting rock bottom. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford sits down with Dr. Cali to discuss the hidden addictions of the wealthy, why traditional rehab fails high achievers, and the shocking reality ...
Jan 13, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 212
Brant Pinvidic has sold over 100 TV shows and movie projects to every major network in Hollywood. But one day, while standing in the lobby of MTV, he realized he hated the industry he had conquered. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford talks with the legendary producer and author of The 3-Minute Rule about exactly how to simplify your message to close any deal. Brant shares the terrifying story of pitching between Mark Burnett and Simon Cowell, why he took his family to 52 countri...
Jan 06, 2026•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 211
At just 7 years old, Hannah Hammond was told her family couldn't afford a McFlurry. That single moment of scarcity sparked a fire that would lead her to become a millionaire by age 25. In this episode of Escaping the Drift, John Gafford sits down with Hannah to break down exactly how she went from an insecure "ugly duckling" to a powerhouse entrepreneur with her own national finance and real estate companies. She shares the surreal experience of being mentored by Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert ...
Dec 30, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 210
Alex Smereczniak is a serial entrepreneur and the co founder and CEO of Franzy, a platform reshaping how entrepreneurs discover and acquire franchise businesses. Franzy was built to remove the opacity and friction that traditionally plague franchising, giving founders real clarity, tools, and support to make smarter decisions. Alex’s work centers on enabling ownership and helping people bet on themselves with better information. Before Franzy, Alex co founded and served as CEO of 2ULaundry and L...
Dec 23, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 209
Brian Galke, known as The Decoding Detective, is a master of interpersonal communication and a tactical keynote speaker who helps people see what others miss. His path to success was not linear. After battling social anxiety early in life, Brian transformed that challenge into a competitive advantage, rising through demanding retail and service environments to ultimately manage a forty million dollar portfolio as a Regional Vice President of Sales. This episode dives into the mindset shift that ...
Dec 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 208
Rory McShane is one of the most influential corporate and public relations strategists in America, bringing a sharp, unfiltered understanding of persuasion, crisis navigation, and high stakes communication. He has advised campaigns, corporations, and public initiatives in forty five states and multiple countries, shaping narratives that move public opinion and drive real outcomes. His work sits at the intersection of strategy, policy, and messaging, and this conversation pulls back the curtain o...
Dec 09, 2025•45 min•Ep. 207
Cyrus Mohseni is a rare blend of real estate executive, award winning entrepreneur, life coach, speaker, and philanthropist, and this conversation digs into the mindset and momentum behind his success. Known for his relentless drive, unwavering integrity, and commitment to personal growth, Cyrus has become one of the most respected voices in modern leadership. His work spans industries with impact and intention, and his story sets the tone for a powerful episode. His achievements speak for thems...
Dec 02, 2025•55 min•Ep. 206
Harvard-educated entrepreneur Eric Hughes joins us to share his riveting journey from the corporate retail world to founding Rental Income Advisors. Starting with a summer job selling Cutco Knives, Eric honed skills that would serve him throughout his career, while also recognizing the invaluable network forged during his time at Harvard. We laugh over early podcast mishaps and muse about the shifting role of college education, especially as it relates to our children's aspirations and the conne...
Nov 25, 2025•51 min•Ep. 205
Unlock the secrets to mastering your financial future with our latest episode, where we promise you'll discover innovative solutions to financial burdens and career challenges alike. Join us as we chat with Peter Maher, a visionary FinTech executive leading the charge against outdated payday loan systems. We'll share insights from my new book, "Escaping the Drift," while Peter offers a candid look into his journey of overcoming credit pitfalls. Together, we explore Float's mission to bring finan...
Nov 18, 2025•52 min•Ep. 204
Philadelphia's own Cory Jacobson, a real estate investor and co-host of the Wealth Juice podcast, takes us on a fascinating journey from the basketball courts at the Philadelphia 76ers to the complex world of real estate investment. Cory talks candidly about the financial challenges he faced despite the glamour of working in the NBA. His leap into real estate began with a simple but strategic move: buying a multi-bedroom house and renting out rooms to cover the mortgage. This episode is packed w...
Nov 11, 2025•59 min•Ep. 203
Kevin Davis, the mastermind behind Maxed Out Man, joins us to unpack the intricacies of masculinity and mentorship. Through the lens of his personal journey, Kevin reveals how a tumultuous childhood sparked his passion for guiding young men under 35. With cars as his conduit, he discovered essential life skills and now dedicates his life to helping others navigate the terrain of marriage, fitness, and entrepreneurship. At a lively car show in Southern California, Kevin found himself stepping int...
Nov 04, 2025•48 min•Ep. 202
