Marked

Vin Infante

The Marked Podcast, hosted by Vin Infante, features entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and influential leaders sharing the stories behind their growth, challenges, and impact. Each week, Vin explores the marks their journeys have left on them and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Episodes offer real lessons, self-development tips, and leadership insights for builders in business and life. Vin is a mental performance coach, licensed psychotherapist, former FDNY firefighter, and has supported founders from pre-seed startups to billion-dollar companies. Learn more: [www.vincentinfante.life](

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S4 · E157
Monday · 49 min
Someone Robbed a Bank With His Car. Now He Runs 1,000s of Them | Ep 157
In college, Rei Vardi tried renting out his car to cover the payments. Within weeks it had been scratched, dented, smoked in, and used in a bank robbery. Eight years later he's the founder and CEO of Eon, an automated car-sharing platform with several thousand cars nationwide, a 15-person team, and no ad spend, ever. Rei and Vin talk about building slowly on purpose, why ads can become a black hole, the $5-a-day way to test them, and why businesses built on physical assets may outlast software in the AI era. Takeaways: Sharing a car without a system makes you "the world's tiniest car rental company," with all the problems and none of the resources. An asset that sits idle 95% of the time can be turned from a liability into an income stream, if the process is safe and hands-off. Ship early. If you're happy with your first release, you waited too long. But don't chase growth with negative unit economics. Unhealthy growth is as dangerous as no growth. Ads aren't the enemy, but without your numbers dialed in, they're a black hole. Test with as little as five dollars a day. As code gets cheaper, businesses built on physical assets and human relationships become harder to replace. Go to the gym, for your business. Pushing through physically builds mental clarity and an identity of someone who pushes through. Quotes: "By week three, someone robbed a bank with the car." (4:02) "If you're waiting until you're happy with your first release, you waited too long." (21:48) "Unhealthy growth is just as dangerous for your company as no growth." (24:19) Links: eonrides.com · Rei Vardi on LinkedIn MARKED with Vin Infante: weekly conversations with the builders of society. What the journey left on them, and the mark they're leaving on the world. Hosted by Vin Infante.
S4 · E157
September 30 · 46 min
Built for 5 Million Users at 14. Now His AI Runs Your Ads | Ep 156
At 14, with no money and no team, Miguel Guerrero built a game server to 5 million users. Now he's the founder and CEO of Otis AI, which runs paid advertising end to end for small and medium businesses, and a 30 Under 30 honoree in marketing and advertising. Miguel and Vin break down the myth that ads only work at $20K a month, the foundation every small business needs before spending a dollar, and what he learned building with no advisors and no playbook. Takeaways: Big budgets aren't the barrier they used to be. With AI optimization, you can start generating results on a much smaller budget. For small businesses, the bigger cost is often the service layer, not the ads: retainers and management fees that can dwarf a $1,000 budget. Before you spend, build the foundation: understand your product-market fit and set up tracking so every dollar points at an outcome. Know your cost per qualified lead. Many businesses don't, and it's the starting point for everything else. Grow organically first, then use advertising once something has momentum. That's how his teenage project reached millions. Learning the hard way works, but finding the right advisors early is the more efficient path. Health and relationships are the foundation. Without them, you won't have the endurance a startup demands. Quotes: "It requires a much smaller budget to start generating results and conversions." (6:19) "If your budget is only $1,000, you know, many agencies might charge you a 3000 a month retainer, a 5000 a month retainer, plus percentage of ad spend fees." (28:43) "If you're not healthy, then, there's not much to build for." (43:22) Links: meetotis.com · Instagram @otis.ai MARKED with Vin Infante: weekly conversations with the builders of society. What the journey left on them, and the mark they're leaving on the world. Hosted by Vin Infante.
S4 · E162
September 25 · 49 min
He Landed Big Fitness Brands in 6 Weeks by Taking Their Classes | Ep 155
Chris Kong spent a decade building sales and partnerships teams at venture-backed startups, taking companies from seed to Series D. Now he's the founder of WEL, a New York-made daily hydration brand. In his first six weeks he landed partnerships with major boutique fitness brands, and he did it by showing up in person, not by sending cold emails. Chris and Vin cover founder-led sales, sampling without being salesy, how to collect feedback customers actually answer, and the three times of day your body needs hydration most. Takeaways: Don't spend your first big check on sales and marketing hires before you have product-market fit. No amount of spend fixes a product that doesn't work. If nobody knows your brand, borrow trust. Partner with brands your customers already use. Show up in person. Chris takes the class, earns the instructor's shout-out, and pitches afterward. It doesn't scale, but it builds real relationships. Turn sampling into a challenge. A post-class giveaway (most jump squats in 60 seconds wins a tub) made people want to engage. The second feedback email, sent personally from the founder, gets far more replies than the automated first one. Ask for feedback within a week. After that, customers forget what the first use felt like. There's no such thing as a perfect plan. Tell everyone what you're building and start. Quotes: "Invest into your product. Invest in your product. Get super close to who you're selling to." (6:00) "Do not wait for more than a week for feedback." (29:03) "Don't wait till you have the perfect business plan, the perfect business partner, the right financials. Just execute." (46:33) Links: https://hydratewel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/welhydration/ MARKED with Vin Infante: Bi-Weekly conversations with the builders of society. What the journey left on them, and the mark they're leaving on the world. Hosted by Vin Infante.
S4 · E154
August 24 · 48 min
This Country Pays 45% Interest On Your Money | Ep 154
Takeaways: - Even industry insiders get quietly overcharged by their own banks. Doug found out the hard way as a retail client at his own institution. - A tokenized commodity only works if the value is computer-determined, not a person's subjective opinion. That's the actual innovation behind Diamond Standard. - Growing too fast without enough runway is its own kind of failure. Doug's company went from 40 people to 12 after an event nobody saw coming. - "Come home the same person" is a trading-desk survival skill that works just as well for founders. Doug credits it with 18 years at one of the highest-pressure trading desks in the world. - Banks aren't the enemy of platforms like Yield FX. They're a customer, because new deposits without acquisition cost is something every bank wants. - The biggest adoption curve in finance took over 30 years, voice brokers to algorithmic to AI. Doug doesn't think full tokenization takes that long, but he doesn't think it's five years either.
S4 · E153
August 8 · 55 min
He Was SUICIDAL. Then he RAN ACROSS CANADA| Ep 153
Sachin Latti spent two decades in law enforcement looking, from the outside, like a guy who had it together. On the inside, he was going through a divorce, suicidal, and standing in an empty customs hall at the Vancouver airport when the thought hit him: he didn't want to die without trying more. He'd never run more than a 5K. Five years later, he'd run over 21,000km, raised over $300,000 for veterans and first responders, and became the first South Asian person to run across Canada, 100km a day for 81 days. Takeaways: - Discipline transfers. Sachin used the same self-control he'd built in bodybuilding to rebuild his mental health from zero. - The right mentor doesn't tell you what to do. Sachin's first mentor, a retired special-forces operator, only ever told him what he himself had done. - Chasing a record and chasing your actual mission can be two different things. Sachin gave up a shot at the fastest crossing of Canada to talk to more people instead. - 5,000 roadside conversations did more for his mission than the finish line did. - Ego doesn't disappear when you get healthy. It just stops being in charge. - The hardest part of an 81-day run wasn't his body. It was five years of training with the pressure of the goal sitting on every single one of them. - You don't need a "big enough" reason to start. Sachin started with a few 5Ks a week.
S4 · E152
July 27 · 59 min
The 7-Minute Pitch: What You Need To Know Before Investing | Ep 152
Jamie Weeks built and sold a national fitness franchise, then built and sold a national cold plunge brand, then hit the lowest point of his life. Sixty days later, he started climbing out, and nine months after that, he was speaking at Harvard Business School. This episode is about what actually happens between the exit and the next chapter, and why he now invests in founders the way a music producer works with an artist who already has the songs. **Takeaways** - The seven-minute rule: he decided to invest in a founder before knowing the raise amount, based on the founder's vision alone - "There's no replacement for a founder's vision" — the single thing he says separates founders who get funded from those who don't - Mistakes aren't the risk, hiding them is — his stated goal is sharing his own mistakes so other founders don't repeat them - Give your top people real ownership, not just the instruction to "act like an owner" - Scaling one location well isn't scaling; scaling means proving the model across 5+ markets before it's real - Private equity that's never operated a business can't understand what it's like to be a founder — that gap is where Founders Row's model comes from **Quotes** - "There's no replacement for a founder's vision." (8:08) - "It is a very, very lonely mountain when you are climbing that mountain and every decision is on you." (28:52) - "For 60 days, I was the most depressed I've ever been. I could not find my journey." (56:05) **Links:** https://www.instagram.com/foundersrow.co/https://www.instagram.com/jamieweeksatl/ Weekly conversations with the builders of society: entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders. What the journey left on them, and the mark they're leaving on the world. Hosted by Vin Infante.
S4 · E151
July 8 · 55 min
60% of Founders Who Hit Big Exits End Up Depressed. Here's the Psychology Behind It.
Tom is a clinical hypnotherapist with 25 years in psychology, specializing in self-sabotage, imposter syndrome and crippling self-doubt. His own life flipped in a single moment at a rave in Goa. He's walking evidence that change happens in an instant.60% of founders are depressed within six months of a seven- eight- or nine-figure exit. Tom Fortis Mayor has spent 25 years figuring out why: a part of you doesn't want to feel good, and it's been running the show since childhood.In this episode:- The one-question test that reveals whether you self-sabotage (it involves compliments)- Why self-sabotage is not a self-esteem issue, and why that difference changes the entire fix- The step traditional therapy skips, and the exact order real change has to happen in- The 17-hour dance that ended with a holy man, a cup of tea, and a completely different life- Why the 5 AM ice-bath routine might be a symptom, not a solutionChapters0:00 The part of you that wants to fail1:02 Welcome to MARKED1:43 25 years, one obsession4:19 Lost at 278:48 The holy man at sunrise10:59 "I was there to pay for his tea"14:34 Therapists never study contentment20:48 Why we really self-sabotage23:44 The compliment test26:10 Perfect parents, marked kids30:38 The millionaire's hidden habit31:53 Why founders crash after the exit33:20 The step therapy skips44:24 Is therapy doing more harm?49:44 The two marksTom's book: Don't F*ck Up Your Life https://thefreedom.co/bookTom's site: https://thefreedom.co/Vin Infante is a mental performance coach for entrepreneurs and founders. 16 years in mental health. Licensed psychotherapist. Former FDNY firefighter.https://www.vincentinfante.lifeNew episodes weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.#MarkedPodcast #VinInfante #Entrepreneurship #FounderStories #MentalPerformance #Mindset #BusinessPodcast #SelfSabotage #Hypnotherapy
S3 · E150
June 25 · 1 hr 5 min
BANK LOAN Denied? Here’s How to Get FUNDING Instead | Ep 150
Meet William Stern — a founder who sold a townhome at 22, took the proceeds, and built Cardiff into America's largest privately held small business lender — co-owned and operated by four childhood friends for 22 years. Cardiff has deployed over $12 billion in capital to Main Street businesses across the country, was voted America's favorite small business lender two years in a row, and is now using AI to give any small business owner instant access to funding that banks have always denied them. Four childhood friends. 22 years. $12 billion deployed. And they're just getting started. He breaks down: 1. Why four co-founders with egos can actually work — if you get this one thing right 2. Why he would never take money or advice from someone he wouldn't put on his board 3. How Cardiff is using AI to democratize small business lending before banks even wake up 4. Why time is the only currency that matters — and how success finally taught him that 5.The real reason most businesses rot from the inside — and the book that changed everything Follow Will: 🌐 cardiff.co 🌐 williamstern.me 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/williamstern Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Cardiff — America's Favorite Small Business Lender 02:45 Four Childhood Friends, One Company, 22 Years 05:00 The Entourage Model of Business 07:00 How to Eliminate Ego in a Partnership 10:00 Why Cardiff Hired a Business Coach — and What Changed 14:00 The Trillion Dollar Coach Story — Apple vs Google 18:00 Cardiff's Mission — Democratizing Capital for Main Street 21:00 Why Will Never Takes Money From People He Wouldn't Put on His Board 24:00 $2.5 Billion Last Year — Where Cardiff Is Headed 26:00 Why AI Is Changing Business Lending Before Banks React 29:00 The Don Quixote Lesson Every Entrepreneur Needs to Hear 32:00 Leadership & Self-Deception — The Book That Changed His Business 36:00 From Chasing Materialism to Buying Back Time 40:00 Why Time Is the Most Valuable Currency You Have 44:00 The Stakeholder Philosophy That Powers Cardiff 48:00 What Being 1% Means to Will 52:00 How to Get Funded Through Cardiff 01:04:00 How to Connect With Will STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E149
June 15 · 34 min
She Was a Cowboys Cheerleader Finalist. Then She Lost Everything Overnight. | Episode 149
Meet Amanda Soukoulis — a former CPA and private equity professional turned functional medicine and nutrition practitioner, who went from being a Penn State dancer and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader finalist at peak performance, to a sudden and unexplained health crash that left her with brain fog, fatigue, and answers that Western medicine couldn't provide. She rebuilt herself from the inside out, became certified under some of the top doctors and dietitians in functional medicine, and now runs Souk Systems — a practice dedicated to helping high performers uncover the root cause of what's holding their body back and unleashing their highest potential.Doctors told her she was fine. She wasn't. She became the CEO of her own health — and now she helps others do the same.She breaks down:1. Why your symptoms are signals — not the actual problem — and what to do about it2. How she went from 8-hour productive days to less than 2 hours after a mystery health crash3. Why peptides won't work until your body is actually ready to receive them4. The 4 types of stress silently destroying your performance without you knowingWhy the first step to healing isn't a supplement — it's becoming the CEO of your healthFollow Amanda:📸 Instagram: @amandasouks → https://www.instagram.com/amandasouks/🌐 souksystems.comTimecodes:00:00 Intro01:30 What Is Functional Medicine?03:30 Why Western Medicine Gets It Wrong05:30 Root Cause vs. Treating Symptoms09:00 Peptides — The Truth Nobody Tells You11:30 Amanda's Personal Health Crash Story14:00 Dallas Cowboys Finalist to Bedridden — Overnight17:00 Doctors Dismissed Her. She Dug Deeper.19:00 How She Found the Root Cause & Healed21:00 Who Functional Medicine Actually Works For23:00 The Client Who Lost 10lbs on Day 7726:00 Parasites, Mold & Hashimoto's — The Real Story29:00 The 4 Types of Stress Killing Your Performance31:00 How Long Does Healing Actually Take?33:00 Become the CEO of Your Own HealthSTAY CONNECTED:https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcastWANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST?Vin:Email: Vincentinfante.lifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/Shane:Email: Shane@thevagroup.comLISTEN ON OTHER SITESSpotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10CApple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E148
May 27 · 42 min
She Moved From Germany To The US At 19 To Build A Business | Ep 148
Meet Julia Kappler — a fourth-generation entrepreneur from Germany who moved to the United States at 19 with no job, no network, and one mission: to expand her family's 70-year-old medical design legacy into the US market. She is now the founder and leader of Kappler North America — a global architecture and interior design firm that transforms medical and dental practices from the ground up — and the co-founder of Anti-Fashion Week, a movement challenging overconsumption in the design industry. She moved to a new country at 19, never had a 9-to-5, and built a global company from scratch. The space you walk into is changing your brain — and she knows exactly how. She breaks down: 1. Why the design of your space is directly affecting your revenue and patient retention 2. How to scale a business across multiple countries without losing your mind or your culture 3. The difference between delegating and letting go — and why most entrepreneurs get it wrong 4. Why a 12,000 sq ft dental park in Dallas is about to change healthcare design forever 5. What four generations of entrepreneurship taught her about building something that lasts Follow Julia: 📸 Instagram: @juliakappler → https://www.instagram.com/juliakappler/ 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julia-kappler-1b21ab141 🌐 juliavkappler.com 🏢 Kappler Group: kapplergroup.com Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:55 Fourth Generation — Julia's Origin Story 03:50 Why Medical Design? The Niche That Changed Everything 05:55 Inside the 12,000 Sq Ft Dental Park in Dallas 09:00 Why Your Space Is Your Best Marketing Tool 11:00 Design Is Not Just Pretty — It Has to Work 13:00 How Your Senses Shape Every Patient Experience 15:00 Why AI Can't Replace What She Does 17:00 Daring to Challenge the Status Quo 19:00 Co-Founding Anti-Fashion Week 21:30 Running a Global Company Across 5 Locations 22:30 The Difference Between Delegating and Letting Go 25:00 The Military Approach to Building Teams 27:00 What's Her Why — The Real Reason She Builds 29:00 Moving to the US at 19 With No Friends, No Job 32:00 Never Having a 9-to-5 — The Mindset Behind It 35:00 Teaching Your Kids Entrepreneurship Early 38:00 The Family Legacy That Fuels Her Drive 40:00 What Being 1% Means to Julia 41:30 How to Connect With Julia & Kappler Group STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E147
May 8 · 49 min
He Had $600, a Baby on the Way, and Bet It All on a Stranger. Here's What Happened | EP 147
Meet Joe Zapiain — a self-taught automation expert who went from living in his car working as a McLaren technician in Miami, to getting laid off two weeks before his daughter was born, to building SmartClick Systems — an AI automation and Clickup implementation company that has generated tens of millions of dollars in new revenue for clients across industries. He held over 32 jobs across 9 states, became an official Clickup partner through a cold DM and a $200 bet on himself, and now builds custom automation systems and full-stack applications for businesses ready to scale. He got laid off with $600 in his account and a baby on the way. He bet $200 on a stranger. It changed everything. He breaks down: 1. Why 99% of AI automation courses online are just Shopify dropshipping in disguise 2. The difference between agentic AI and programmatic logic — and when to use each 3. Why businesses running $10M on Google Sheets are more common than you think 4. How he went from $400/month to $20-30K/month by doing free work first Why the future of business isn't AI vs. humans — it's a customer service renaissance Follow Joe: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joezapiain 📅 Book a call: smartclick.systems/bookjoe 🌐 smartclick.systems 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartclicksystems/videos Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:41 32 Jobs, 9 States — Joe's Origin Story 06:00 Living in His Car Working at McLaren 08:00 Laid Off Two Weeks Before His Daughter Was Born 09:00 The $200 Bet That Changed His Life 11:00 How a Cold DM Led to the Clickup Partnership 13:00 From $400/Month to $20-30K/Month 16:00 What Smart Click Actually Does 19:00 Why Businesses Are Still Running on Google Sheets in 2025 21:00 The Truth About AI Automation Courses Online 24:00 Agentic AI vs. Programmatic Logic — Know the Difference 26:00 Why Joe Only Hires 100% US-Based Engineers 28:00 The Customer Service Renaissance Is Coming 30:00 McDonald's vs. Chick-fil-A — The AI Parable 32:00 Will Robots Replace Workers? The Political Reality 37:00 The Automation Wizard YouTube Channel 40:00 Stop Using AI for Things Logic Can Handle 44:00 What Being 1% Means to Joe 46:00 The Best Advice Joe Ever Received 48:00 How ChatGPT Recommended Joe to a Client — The New SEO STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E146
April 23 · 46 min
He Built a Premium Bag Brand With Zero Investors — Athletes Carry It for Free | Ep 146
Meet Ryan Lane — a New York City-based entrepreneur who spent 8 years in corporate real estate before quitting his job to go all-in on FTL Bags, a bootstrapped premium bag brand he co-founded with his childhood best friend Zander. Built from scratch with zero outside funding, FTL has grown into one of the most exciting up-and-coming bag brands in the market — carried organically by professional athletes, and now available on Amazon. He quit his corporate job, kept 50/50 ownership, took on 145% tariffs, and never compromised on quality once. That's what building for the love looks like. He breaks down: How two friends solved a real problem and built a premium brand with zero investors Why organic athlete endorsements beat paid influencer deals every time How FTL survived Covid, supply chain chaos, and the tariff crisis without lowering quality Why bootstrapping forces better decisions — and builds a more authentic brand story The one rule that will never change no matter what: quality is non-negotiable Follow Ryan: 📸 Instagram: @ftlbags 🌐 ftlbags.com 🛒 Also available on Amazon Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Meet Ryan — From Real Estate to Bag Brand 03:50 What Makes the FTL Bag Different 06:30 Shoe Compartment, Garment Bag & Packing Cube Walkthrough 12:30 95% Male Demographic & How They Market 14:00 Why Athletes Carry FTL for Free — Zero Paid Endorsements 17:00 Meta, Google & Bootstrapped Marketing Strategy 19:00 Expanding the Product Line — FTL Light, Max & What's Next 21:00 Working ON the Business vs. Working IN It 23:00 How FTL Is Structured — Freelancers Over W2s 25:00 How to Source a Product From Scratch — The Playbook 28:00 Two Steps Forward One Step Back — The Manufacturing Reality 29:00 Tariffs, Sleepless Nights & Supply Chain Survival 34:00 Quality Is the Non-Negotiable — Never Compromise the Brand 36:00 The Zipper Story — What One Bad Batch Taught Them 39:00 Never Lower Quality to Save Margin 41:00 What the 1% Life Means to Ryan 42:00 The Best Advice Ryan Ever Received 45:00 How to Connect With Ryan & Shop FTL Bags STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E145
April 10 · 1 hr 18 min
He's Been Building the Same Business for 17 Years — Here's Why That's Genius | EP 145
Meet Austin Boyd — a Las Vegas-based entrepreneur who started making and selling custom t-shirts in 10th grade and, 17 years later, has built a 40-person live print shop operation serving Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and major brands across the nation. He also recently launched a laser med spa and hosts a recurring in-person networking event called Grow & Connect. Stop waiting for perfect. The best businesses are built by people who push the car down the hill and figure out the engine on the way. He breaks down: Why cheap merch is silently destroying your brand — and what to do instead The one form of advertising where people actually pay YOU to promote your brand Why AI won't replace his industry and what that means for entrepreneurs How Jim Rohn at 16 rewired the way he thinks about success Why the shift from "I want to achieve" to "I want to help others win" is the real unlock Follow Austin: 📸 Instagram: @austinboydlasvegas https://www.instagram.com/aliveprintshop/ https://www.instagram.com/laserskinlounge/ Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 01:55 17 Years Building His First Business 03:30 How a Matching T-Shirt in Class Started It All 08:00 Doubling Down — No Exit, No Sellout 09:50 Why Tariffs Were Actually a Scam for His Industry 13:50 Why Cheap Merch Kills Your Brand 17:00 Merch Is the Only Marketing People Pay For 14:00 Will AI & Robots Replace His Business? 19:30 The Most Important Leadership Skill He Developed 22:00 Jim Rohn at 16 — The CD That Changed Everything 23:00 What Got You Here Won't Get You There 25:00 From Achieving Goals to Helping Others Win 28:00 Why Success Makes People Pull You Down 30:00 Money Doesn't Buy Happiness — It Just Enhances It 33:00 Why Entrepreneurship Is Lonely at the Top 35:00 The DMV Story That Revealed Everything 38:00 Why Short Memory Is a Superpower in Business 41:00 Best Advice for Anyone Starting a Business 43:00 Push the Car Down the Hill — Figure It Out on the Way 45:00 Stop Asking How — Start Asking What 47:00 The Pre-Launch Strategy That Built Day-One Revenue 01:16:49 The Laser Med Spa & Tattoo Removal Business 01:17:00 Grow & Connect — His Las Vegas Entrepreneur Events STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E144
March 30 · 55 min
The Man Who Went Inside the Darkest Evil on Earth — And What He Found | Ep 144
Meet Paul Hutchinson — a serial entrepreneur who sold his first company at 29 for $20 million, co-founded Bridge Investment Group which grew to over $50 billion in assets under management, led more than 70 undercover child rescue missions across 15 countries, and is the executive producer and primary investor behind Sound of Freedom — the #1 independent film in the world that went head-to-head with Hollywood and won. He put $14 million into a movie the industry tried to kill. It made $300 million at the box office. That's just the beginning of this story. He breaks down: 1. How he built and exited a company in his 20s that 0.01% of people ever achieve 2. Why he walked away from billions to go undercover rescuing children 3. The truth behind Epstein, Diddy, and how deep the swamp really goes 4. Why psilocybin therapy could replace 20 years of traditional therapy in 2-3 sessions 5. How looking in the mirror changed everything — and why it will for you too Timescode: 00:00 Intro 05:00 The Mindset That Started at 14 07:30 From $6M to $72M — The Marketing Play 09:00 Building Bridge Investment Group 13:00 Hiring People Smarter Than You 17:00 How He Predicted the 2008 Crash 19:00 Scarcity Mindset Is Killing Your Wealth 22:00 From Billionaire Lifestyle to Rock Bottom 23:00 His First Undercover Child Rescue Mission 25:00 Why Green Berets Broke But He Didn't 28:30 Sound of Freedom — The Real Story 30:00 Epstein, Diddy & How Deep It Goes 33:00 What Traffickers Actually Look Like 35:00 The Man in the Mirror Moment 39:00 The Healing Retreat That Changed Everything 41:00 Psilocybin & the Future of Trauma Therapy 49:00 What a 1% Life Means to Paul 51:20 How to Connect With Paul STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E143
March 27 · 40 min
The Invite-Only Network of 420 Million Followers — Here's How | Ep 143
Meet Levi Lomey fashion model and the face of Syndicate11, top creator and model community, a South African-born model who walked runways for Dior and Kenzo at Paris Fashion Week, built a growth marketing agency, gave a TED Talk, and is now the Face of Syndicate 11, an invite-only private network connecting the world's top creative talent, models, musicians, athletes, and creators, to each other and to life-changing opportunities. Creators are building empires on rented land,and most don't even know it. He breaks down: 1. Why most creators are one algorithm update away from losing everything 2. The 1,000 True Fans theory that quietly generates $100K/month 3. How he built a community of 317 members with 420 million combined followers 4. Why authentic connection will always outlast paid masterminds 5. What AI is really doing to the creator economy — and who survives it Timescode: 00:00 Intro 01:32 From Nerdy Kid to Dior 05:10 How to Stand Out in Any Room 07:10 The Township Hustle at Age 12 10:30 Modeling's Golden Handcuffs Explained 13:00 Inside Syndicate 11 16:30 The No A**holes Policy 18:20 How Syndicate 11 Funds Itself 22:30 317 Members. 420 Million Followers. 25:30 Curated Community Is What's Next 26:00 Why Creators Are on Rented Land 28:30 The 1,000 True Fans Theory 31:00 Turning Your Audience Into a Company 33:00 Will AI Replace Influencers? 35:00 What Being 1% Really Means 38:15 The Best Advice Levi Ever Received 39:00 How to Connect With Levi Follow Levi: 📸 Instagram: @levilomey → https://www.instagram.com/levilomey/ 🌐 Syndicate 11 → https://www.syndicate11.co STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E142
February 18 · 53 min
You’re Doing It Wrong: Why Living 'Outside In' is the Trajectory to Failure | Ep 142
What happens when Dr. John A. King loses his career, his first marriage, and his reputation all at once? In this episode, Shane and Vin sit down with Dr. John A. King, a survivor of extreme childhood trauma and a global leader , to discuss the brutal reality of rebuilding a life from the ground up when the world as you know it collapses. We break down: 1. The Identity Trap: Why building your self-worth on external success is a dangerous foundation. 2. The Phoenix Concept: How to navigate the "burn" of a life transition and use it to reinvent yourself. 3. Redefining Masculinity: A raw look at the hidden statistics of why men are struggling today and how to fix it. 4. Inside-Out Leadership: Why the most successful people focus on what is irreplaceable rather than what is material. 5. Trauma as Fuel: How to take the "poop" of your past and turn it into the "fertilizer" for your future fruit. This episode is for you if: 1. You feel like your current path is crumbling and you're afraid of what's next. 2. You’ve achieved success but still feel an "identity hole" inside. 3. You want to understand the true resilience required to lead in the modern world. Stick around—this conversation with Dr. King is the blueprint for anyone needing to start over and win. Connect with Dr. John A. King: Website: drjohnaking.com Instagram: @drjohnaking X (Twitter): @drjohnaking ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 How to handle a total life collapse 01:44 Introducing Dr. John A. King 05:40 Uncovering a hidden heritage: The "Breeding Out" policy 08:20 When the world falls apart: Losing a marriage and career 11:45 The Phoenix Concept: Why you must burn to rebuild 15:30 Why men are struggling with identity in today's society 24:10 Building success from the inside out 38:50 Dealing with childhood trauma as an adult 52:40 Final takeaway: How to live an amazing life STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E141
February 11 · 1 hr 4 min
I’m Starting Over at Zero: This Is How I’d Build Wealth in 2026 | Ep 141
In this episode, T-Drew reveals why he’d burn the "Founder" title to the ground if he had to start over from zero today. We sit down with the designer and creative strategist to discuss why the 2026 wealth-building blueprint isn't about owning a startup—it’s about reforming your identity to become a high-level contributor with massive leverage. He explains: ⁃ The "Founder Trap" that kills your creativity and keeps you broke ⁃ Why a high-level career is actually the best venture capital for your life ⁃ The "3-Step Reform" to kill your ego and accelerate your income ⁃ How to build "Internal Equity" so you never have to worry about a paycheck again This episode is for you if: ⁃ You’re burnt out from the "solopreneur" grind ⁃ You feel like a failure because you don’t have a viral business ⁃ You’re ready to build actual wealth without the 24/7 CEO stress 00:00 Intro 02:25 Why the "Founder" title is a trap in 2026 07:15 The "Start Over at Zero" mindset: T-Drew’s tactical shift 12:40 How to kill your ego to save your career 18:50 The Bridge Method: Moving from "Boss" to "Elite Contributor" 26:15 Using your 9-to-5 as the ultimate venture capital 33:10 Reforming the self: Escaping the "Comparison Trap" 41:45 Building wealth through internal equity 52:10 Mental health and the pressure of the "Modern Hustle" 1:04:00 The final step to starting over Follow T-Drew: https://www.instagram.com/itstdrew/ https://www.tiktok.com/ ⁨@itstdrew⁩ https://www.facebook.com/iamtdrew https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdrew1and1 www.1and1life.com STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C TIMESCODES:
S3 · E140
February 4 · 47 min
Why the Rich Love Debt (And You’re Taught to Fear It) | Ep 140
If credit feels stressful, confusing, or risky, James Jiang breaks down exactly why — and how to flip it. In this episode, I sit down with James Jiang, a credit expert who explains how credit actually works behind the scenes — and how people quietly sabotage themselves without realizing it. No hype, no gimmicks. Just real clarity. In this episode, you’ll learn: 1. Why “playing it safe” with credit can actually hurt you 2. How to use credit to increase leverage instead of stress 3. The biggest credit myths keeping people stuck 4. What really impacts your credit score (and what doesn’t) 5. How to think about credit like high-level investors do 6. Simple moves to clean up and optimize your credit strategy This episode is for you if: 1. Credit feels intimidating or overwhelming 2. You’ve made mistakes and want a smarter reset 3. You want to build wealth without financial anxiety 4. You’ve been told “debt is bad” but feel like there’s more to it Watch with an open mind — this one might change how you see money altogether. CATCH JAMES HERE: www.instagram.com/james_jiang__/ www.lfscredit.com www.debt2dollars.co/inner-circle STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C 0:00 Intro 1:29 Meet James 3:22 What Credit Really Is 5:28 Skills That Create Financial Freedom 7:18 How Wealthy People View Credit 9:04 Using Bank Credit to Scale a Business (Lamborghini Example) 11:37 Bankruptcy, Credit, and Business Moves 13:03 Real Results and Investment Proof 14:23 Diversifying Deals and Opportunities 15:18 Mentors, Community, and Support 16:37 Access to Powerful Networks 18:23 Why Networking Matters 20:04 Trust, Growth, and Building Something Bigger 22:04 Giving First, Hustle, and Taking Action 23:02 Hard Work and Lifestyle Goals 23:37 Mindset, Emotions, and Staying Stuck 24:40 Rich Fast vs Rich Forever 25:31 Playing the Long Game 26:10 Risk, Decisions, and What-If Thinking 26:49 Using Credit Without Stress 28:08 Embarrassing Moments That Drive Growth 29:08 Using Credit the Right Way (Vince Story) 30:11 Using Credit the Right Way (Continued) 32:47 Failing Forward as an Entrepreneur 34:31 Pressure to Succeed Fast 35:27 Bad Partners and Hard Lessons 38:13 The “1% Life” Explained 44:14 Outro
S3 · E139
January 27 · 43 min
Why Most People Are Terrible at Gift Giving
Most people think gift giving is about being nice. Sara Hardwick Grintz shows why it’s actually a business skill—and why getting it wrong quietly kills ROI. In this episode, we sit down with Sara Hardwick Grintz, President of the RuhlinGroup, to break down what it really means to be a phenomenal gift giver—and how intentional gifting can strengthen relationships, land clients, and create long-term returns. This isn’t about swag or spending more money. It’s about understanding why gifts work—or don’t. In this episode, you’ll learn: 1. Why most people unintentionally give forgettable or damaging gifts 2.The real difference between transactional gifts and relationship-building ones 3. How thoughtful gifting directly impacts trust, loyalty, and ROI 4. Common corporate gifting “do’s and don’ts” most businesses ignore 5. Why emotional relevance matters more than price 6. How entrepreneurs can use gifting as a long-term growth strategy This episode is for you if: 1. You’re an entrepreneur, leader, or sales professional 2. You want clients to remember you after the deal 3. You’ve tried gifting but didn’t see real results 4.You want stronger relationships without forcing more touchpoints Stick around—this episode will completely change how you think about gift giving in business. CATCH SARA HERE Ruhlin Group: https://www.ruhlingroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahardwick/ https://giftologygroup.com/beyondgiftology/ Timescode: 00:00 Why Gift Giving Fails 01:15 Meet Sara Hardwick Grintz 02:55 Why Most Gifts Miss 05:30 Gifts vs. Buying Stuff 08:00 Emotion Beats Price 11:40 The Generic Gift Problem 14:20 The Self-Centered Mistake 17:00 Corporate Gifting Fails 20:30 Gifts That Hurt ROI 23:10 What Makes Gifts Stick 26:00 Gifting Done Right 29:20 Long-Term Gifting 32:40 Systemizing Gifts 36:10 Gifting for Relationships 39:00 Final Advice 41:00 One Rule That Matters STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C
S3 · E138
January 22 · 45 min
Hollywood to the countryside: vision + action to make Sparta, NJ Sussex’s first film town | EP 138
Trying to break into film but everything feels pay-to-play? Kevan Ali explains how to win with strategy (even without the “in”). In this episode of the 1% Podcast, we sit down with Kevan Ali — filmmaker + creative ambassador for the New Jersey Film Readiness Program — to talk about what actually gets projects made: relationships, leverage, and building an ecosystem that attracts real productions. You’ll get a clear playbook for: 1. Building industry momentum when you’re not in LA 2. Networking like a pro (without feeling fake or “needy”) 3. Treating film like a business so your creativity actually travels further 4. Using incentives (like NJ’s 40% tax rebate) to pull productions in 5. Making a project that looks like $250K… for under $10K 6. Creating your “Billie Jean moment” — the project that changes how people see you This is for you if: 1. You’re a filmmaker who’s tired of being “almost there” 2. You’re building with limited money but big vision 3.You want the real behind-the-scenes strategy—not just motivation Hit play and steal the blueprint for your next move 👇 ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:23 Welcome to the 1% Podcast 02:39 Meet Kevan Ali + what he’s building in NJ 03:31 Why Kevan’s edge is his network 05:07 Leveraging relationships to level up fast 10:19 Why productions are leaving big cities 12:29 Sussex County advantage: space + privacy 12:55 What the NJ Film Readiness Program is 13:22 The 40% tax rebate and why it changes everything 14:02 Studios, Fort Modest, and NJ’s “golden age” 18:24 How he pulls real talent/crew into local projects 20:36 The project that “should’ve cost $250K” — made under $10K 21:18 Your “Billie Jean moment” (career-defining project) 24:55 Creating momentum with “no budget” 31:40 Using incentives + strategy to attract productions 39:01 The networking lesson most people miss 45:33 Outr #filmmaking #podcast #indiefilm #networking #entrepreneurship FIND KEVAN HERE: https://www.instagram.com/kevanali/ STAY CONNECTED: https://www.instagram.com/the1percent_podcast/ https://www.facebook.com/the1percentpodcast/ http://tiktok.com/@the1percent_podcastPodcast WANT TO CONNECT TO OUR HOST? Vin: Email: Vincentinfante.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin.infante/ Shane: Email: Shane@thevagroup.com LISTEN ON OTHER SITES Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3HtT10C

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