Most people think belief is a feeling. This episode makes a different case. Your beliefs are visible — not in what you say, but in the results you keep producing. In this continuation of last week’s conversation, we break down why people can have information, opportunity, and effort — yet still see the same outcomes year after year. The issue isn’t hustle or knowledge. It’s what you truly believe is possible, allowed, or worth fully committing to. This episode explores how partial belief leads t...
Jan 22, 2026•55 min•Ep. 525
Everyone’s talking about the Chicago Bears right now (or at least Jemal thinks so), and while a new coach matters, the real shift runs deeper. This episode breaks down a powerful truth about real turnarounds: the players didn’t change — the perspective did . Same roster. Same city. Same pressure. What changed was how the game was being seen, understood, and approached. And once that shifted, the results followed. Using the Bears as a real-world case study, this conversation explores why so many ...
Jan 15, 2026•54 min•Ep. 524
Most people don’t fail because they lack talent, intelligence, or opportunity. They fail because no one around them tells the truth . In this episode of the Secret to Success , Eric Thomas, CJ, and Karl break down why success becomes dangerous when accountability disappears—and why many people collapse after they start winning. This conversation hits hard: Why discipline alone eventually fails How “yes-men” quietly sabotage your future The role appetite plays in self-destruction Why unchecked po...
Jan 08, 2026•56 min•Ep. 523
This year doesn’t need more motivation. It needs clarity, discipline, and intention . In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast , Eric Thomas breaks down 7 rules that actually matter if you want to win this year — not just stay busy, not just feel inspired, but make real progress. These aren’t trends. They’re principles. You’ll learn: Why delusion keeps people stuck longer than failure How choosing what’s good beats choosing what feels good Why boredom is a requirement for mastery How to ...
Jan 01, 2026•55 min•Ep. 522
As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back. This episode is a collection of some of our favorite moments from the Secret to Success Podcast this year — real conversations, honest questions, unexpected laughs, and truth-filled discussions that stayed with us long after the microphones were off. From relationships and communication… to mindset, reality, and self-awareness… these clips capture the heart of what S2S has always been about: growth through real talk. Whether a mo...
Dec 26, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 521
“Be honest — what’s something you’ve been consistent at… but haven’t seen results from yet?” You can do the right things and still be headed in the wrong direction. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation goes straight at a frustration many disciplined people quietly carry: “I followed the rules. I showed up. I stayed consistent… so why isn’t it working?” This isn’t a motivational episode. It’s an examination. The team breaks down why effort alone doesn’t produce growt...
Dec 18, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 520
If life feels heavy, confusing, or just stuck… you’re not broken. You’re not cursed. You’re not “falling behind.” You’re in a phase nobody teaches you how to navigate: the dark season. In today’s episode, the guys break down why your hardest moments keep repeating, why running from discomfort actually makes it worse, and the one shift that finally moves you forward. ET explains how every version of success he’s had was formed in moments nobody saw. Jamal talks about the darkness that exposed the...
Dec 11, 2025•Ep. 519
Most people don’t fail because they lack talent— they fail because their ego keeps putting them in positions they’re not built for. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who keeps blowing opportunities, breaking alliances, sabotaging good teams, or confusing “control” with “calling.” We’re talking identity, roles, loyalty, humility, and the dangerous trend of chasing titles instead of mastering your assignment. If you’ve ever walked away from the people who built you… If you keep trying to l...
Dec 04, 2025•Ep. 518
Life keeps bullying you because you keep handing over the power. Your habits, your phone, your job, your fears, your past — all of it is pushing you around while you stand there acting like you don’t have a choice. This episode breaks that cycle wide open. ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal dive into the truth nobody wants to admit: you’re either the bully… or you’re getting bullied. By your circumstances. By your imagination (or lack of it). By the systems built to turn you into a full-time consumer. Insi...
Nov 27, 2025•Ep. 517
You’re letting people with zero track record tell you how to run your life. And the wild part? Half of them couldn’t survive doing what YOU do for 24 hours. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the “Bully the Bully” mindset —why the world pushes you around if you don’t push back, why people in survival mode try to hijack what you’ve built, and why letting the wrong voices guide you is the fastest way back to the bottom. ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal unpack: Why unquali...
Nov 20, 2025•Ep. 516
If your feelings keep driving your finances, you’re paying an invisible tax. In this episode we break down how to regulate emotions , demand receipts (real due diligence) , and replace motivation with rules so you stop bleeding time and money. Action over anxiety. Rules over mood. Results over excuses. You’ll learn How to stop emotional decision-making before it costs you What real due diligence looks like (records over “trust me”) The mindset shift from motivation to non-negotiable rules Why KP...
Nov 13, 2025•Ep. 515
Whether your team is 1–5 or your home feels out of rhythm, this episode gives you the playbook: peace over moods, standards over scoreboard, purpose over procrastination . ET breaks down the same locker-room mentality he brings to pro teams—then we translate it to your marriage, money, and mindset. (And yes, we clown Jemal about the Bears some more 😅). In this episode you’ll learn: Serenity beats Happiness: why chasing “happy” keeps you stuck, and how to build steady peace you can stand on. Sta...
Nov 06, 2025•Ep. 514
The week the Ravens were 1–5 and about to face Chicago, ET walked into Baltimore’s locker room with a message—not hype, a standard. Jemal, a lifelong Bears fan, wants to know why ET had to deliver that talk right before they played his team. That friendly smoke sets the tone as we unpack the exact principles ET shared: why contracts beat feelings , how identity sets standards , standards drive behavior , and behavior produces results —on the field and in your life. We trace the arc from a losing...
Oct 30, 2025•Ep. 513
Stop helping. Own the kill. For years, helping felt noble—but that was Level 1 . In this episode, Karl opens up about his shift from approval-seeking supporter to hunter : taking ownership, moving first, and letting execution—not permission—set the pace. We break down how that mindset change is transforming his leadership, family life, business, and even real estate strategy. What you’ll get Karl’s real transition: supporter → slayer (ownership over approval) “Move first, figure it out later” — ...
Oct 23, 2025•Ep. 512
Drop your North Star in one sentence below. If you can’t say it in a line, you can’t live it in a year! Are you doing everything and going nowhere? This episode is your wake-up call. We break down why scattered hustle kills credibility, how a single North Star changed our entire operation, and the exact mindset shift to align actions with the goals you keep talking about. The guys get surgical: give up the stage for the mission, put businesses on autopilot (one at a time), value mastery over opi...
Oct 16, 2025•Ep. 511
Most people don’t lose because they’re not talented—they lose because they’re scattered. In this episode, the guys break down why doing nine things halfway will never beat doing one thing with ruthless focus. ET unpacks how people-pleasing drains your energy, CJ shows how a single North Star changed their whole brand, and Maul & Karl dive into legacy, parenting, and building skills that outlive you. You’ll learn: Why your focus decides your future How “too many options” quietly kills results...
Oct 09, 2025•1 hr 6 min
In this powerful continuation of last week’s conversation, the S2S crew dives deep into the truth about circles, ego, and why so many people stay stuck. 💡ET, CJ, Karl, Jemal and Pastor TJ break down: - Why your circle can be the biggest ceiling on your future 🚫 - How comparison keeps you frustrated, broke, and unfulfilled - The hidden difference between a real anchor and a pseudo-anchor (ego) - Why honesty about where you are is the first step to growth - How exposure to the right people can t...
Oct 02, 2025•50 min
Parents think the best gift they can give their kids is money. But the truth? Money alone isn’t enough. In this powerful episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl & TJ unpack the story of Vontrell — a star athlete whose NFL dream collapsed after repeated injuries. Lost and struggling, he fell into security jobs and uncertainty… until Marlon & Camille stepped in. Instead of letting him sink, they gave him something far greater than money: A car to drive. A place to live. His ...
Sep 25, 2025•48 min
Chronic stress is silently killing your energy, focus, and health. In this episode, learn how to eliminate stress, gain mental clarity, and thrive. Stress isn’t about your job, marriage, or circumstances—it’s about your perception of them. In this powerful episode, the S2S crew sits down with Lisa Angel Smith to break down the difference between acute stress and chronic stress, why managing stress isn’t enough, and how to actually eliminate it from your life. Lisa shares her journey, how diet an...
Sep 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min
This week on the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go deep on why most people stay stuck financially and personally. From Cracker Barrel’s branding mistakes to the truth about passive income, standards, and self-sabotage—this episode will challenge you to stop listening to the wrong voices and finally become the right person. 🚨 Topics covered: - Why Cracker Barrel got punked and what it teaches us about chasing approval. - “One Property Away”: how to shift from active to true passive income. ...
Sep 11, 2025•1 hr 2 min
If you’re not intentional with money, marriage, or business , you’ll accidentally end up broke. 💥 In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast , the guys break down the 70/30 rule and why discipline beats feelings every time. They show how anchors—non-negotiable principles—keep you from drifting into bad deals, broken marriages, or wasted years. 👉 Why the 70/30 rule protects your finances 👉 How to choose anchors that prevent drifting 👉 Why emotions kill wealth, but discipline builds it T...
Sep 04, 2025•52 min
F* the Anchor. Yeah, we said it. But it’s not what you think. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal break down why so many people are drifting in life—financially, relationally, and spiritually—because they don’t have anchors holding them steady. The guys talk about: Why margin for error matters in your money, marriage, and health How real estate formulas apply to every area of life Lessons from Little League World Series to building legacy The difference betw...
Aug 28, 2025•58 min
You keep praying for a better life — more money, a better marriage, peace of mind — but nothing changes. Why? Because prayer won’t fix stupid habits. You can pray all day, but if you’re still eating like trash, still blaming everybody else, still out of order… don’t expect different results. In this episode, CJ, ET, and Pastor TJ break down why your sequence matters more than your intentions — and why God’s blessings aren’t missing, you’re just out of alignment. 👊 What you’ll get from this epis...
Aug 21, 2025•43 min
You think staying quiet is keeping the peace — but it’s killing your marriage, your friendships, and your opportunities. In this raw conversation from the S2S Podcast, the guys get brutally honest about the damage caused by holding things in for years, avoiding hard conversations, and expecting others to “just know” how you feel. Learn why unspoken frustrations become resentment, how your silence might be teaching your kids unhealthy patterns, and why the same energy you use to make excuses coul...
Aug 14, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Why do people cut you off even after years of loyalty? In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jamal break down a truth most people don’t want to face: being loyal isn’t enough if you’re no longer an asset. From Dede’s emotional revelation about feeling unprotected, to the raw talk about marriages, business partnerships, and friendships—this episode will challenge how you see your own relationships and the value you bring. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why loyalty...
Aug 07, 2025•1 hr 4 min
🔥 500 EPISODES! 🔥 Join Eric Thomas (ET), CJ, Karl, and Jemal for a LIVE celebration of 500 episodes of the Secret to Success Podcast! This isn’t just another episode – it’s a moment in history. Expect laughs, surprises, special guests and the raw motivation that’s kept us going for nearly a decade. 🚨 What to Expect: Behind-the-scenes stories we’ve NEVER shared before LIVE Q&A with the S2S crew Special shoutouts to our day-ones and Patreon family Big announcements you don’t want to miss! �...
Aug 01, 2025•1 hr 56 min
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast , the guys go all in on the mindset shift required to break out of survival mode. They challenge the traditional W2 mentality and expose why playing defense in life keeps you stuck. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting ahead—this episode is for you. Topics Discussed: Why the W2 mindset is keeping you broke How real wealth starts with real exposure The power of playing offense in your life How Jamal's early m...
Jul 24, 2025•57 min
You’ve got more access to information than any generation in history — so why are most people still stuck? In this powerful episode, the guys break down the real reason proximity to greatness doesn’t automatically lead to results: you’re learning the moves but not adopting the mindset. From million-dollar real estate lessons to spiritual growth, relationships, and health — this one covers what it really takes to win in life. 🎯 What we cover: Why you can sit front row and still miss the lesson T...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Dede is back — and she’s not holding back. In one of the rawest episodes we’ve ever recorded, Dede and Candis join CJ and Eric for an unfiltered conversation about walls, wounds, and the real reason trust is so hard to build — especially in marriage and sisterhood. Whether you're dating, married, or simply trying to grow in emotional maturity, this episode is your mirror. From communication breakdowns to spiritual breakthroughs, you'll hear real strategies, vulnerable confessions, and a challeng...
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Karl returns from a life-changing mission trip to Kenya — but what started as a service project turned into a soul reset. In this episode, the guys unpack what it really means to live with less, why simplicity brings peace, and how one week of building a school in the mountains revealed what America often distracts us from. From 400 kids with no phones and no complaints, to laying bricks alongside his kids and a 75-year-old volunteer — Karl shares how being on one accord with strangers unlocked ...
Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 9 min
