In this episode, David sits down with marketing expert and author Ben Guttmann to unpack the real reason most communication fails: complexity. Ben shares his 5 principles of message simplicity, the science behind fluency, and tactical tips leaders can use to clarify their message—whether they’re on a stage, writing emails, or building a brand. If you’ve ever wondered why your message isn’t landing, this episode is your wake-up call. Topics Covered: The fluency model of communication Why most leaders overcomplicate their message The 5 principles of simple messaging How to write like a human (and not a press release) Storytelling, branding, and the shift from “authenticity” to “vibes” Why personal brands outperform mid-tier legacy brands Practical branding advice for young professionals Timestamps: 2:15 – Why clarity beats complexity 10:30 – The fluency gap: sender vs. receiver 18:45 – The 5 principles of simple messaging 30:50 – Taylor Swift and the audience-of-one strategy 38:10 – How to write emails that get opened 46:20 – Brand-building in the attention economy 55:45 – Kitch and Ben on storytelling frameworks Guest Bio: Ben Guttmann is a marketing and communication expert and the author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win and How to Design Them. He’s the former managing partner of Digital Natives Group and currently teaches digital marketing at Baruch College. His mission: help brands and leaders simplify their message to cut through the noise and connect more effectively. 📍 benguttmann.com
🎧 Episode Summary: In this episode, David sits down with Ashton Leverak—21-year special operations veteran turned real estate entrepreneur and mindset coach. Ashton shares how he transitioned from 15 combat deployments to building a $90M real estate portfolio, and how the real battlefield wasn’t overseas—it was internal. The two dive deep into emotional regulation, identity beyond the uniform, and what it really means to lead yourself and others. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: Emotional regulation as a performance tool Identity shifts post-military and post-career Why clarity is a prerequisite for commitment The hidden cost of misaligned ambition Masculinity, legacy, and redefining success Breathwork, meditation, and nervous system mastery How to build a new life without losing your edge ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome + Ashton’s background in special ops 08:30 – Early life, rebellion, and the call to serve 17:42 – Identity, self-worth, and proving value 25:50 – Imposter syndrome vs. internal certainty 33:05 – Combat, clarity, and the power of priorities 41:20 – Real estate, entrepreneurship, and flipping the internal switch 48:10 – Meditation, breathwork, and nervous system control 55:36 – Legacy, family, and what makes a man 1:04:12 – The mindset behind “Built Not Born” 1:09:45 – Lightning Round: Legacy, identity, and advice for the next chapter 👤 Guest Bio: Ashton Leverak is a 21-year U.S. Special Operations veteran with 15 combat deployments, now turned real estate investor, fund manager, and performance coach. He is the founder of Valkere Investment Group, where he helps everyday investors build generational wealth through real estate. Ashton also runs a coaching community focused on mindset, purpose, and post-career reinvention. His mission is to help high performers build lives of clarity, strength, and service. 🔗 Guest Links: Website: www.valkeregroup.com LinkedIn: Ashton Leverak Instagram: @ashtonleverak
In this episode of the Built Not Born Podcast, I sat down with Drew Beech, co-founder of Few Will Hunt, to unpack the truth about entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and building a mission-first brand that actually means something. From filling orders in his basement to leading a 7-figure apparel empire, Drew shares the mindset shifts and lessons that fueled the rise. If you’ve ever felt like the lone wolf in your circle… this one’s for you. 🔥 Topics Covered: What it takes to build a brand that stands for something The truth about the “dark years” of entrepreneurship Why consistency beats talent Balancing business with family and fatherhood Building a brand around community and culture Real talk on co-founder dynamics ⏱ Major Timestamps: (3:50) — The origin of “Few Will Hunt” and what it really means (13:10) — The dark years: working in silence before success (21:30) — Why most people can’t handle burnout (32:15) — Building with a co-founder: zones of genius and ego management (45:05) — Work-life integration vs. balance (53:40) — The mindset required to last 7+ years in business (1:04:50) — The power of community, accountability, and “the few” 👤 Guest Bio: Drew Beech is the co-founder of Few Will Hunt, an American-made lifestyle and apparel brand focused on restoring the dignity of hard work. What began as a blog turned into a movement, growing into a multi-7-figure brand known for its mantra “Most people want to eat. Few are willing to hunt.” Drew is also a father, jiujitsu practitioner, and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs through Few Will Hunt’s private community, Rise. 🔗 Follow Drew: IG: @drewbyo Brand: fewwillhunt.com | @fewwillhunt
From $75 million in sales to building a billion-dollar brand—Mike Shill is not just talking about success, he’s documenting the whole thing in real time. In this high-energy episode of the Built Not Born Podcast, Coach Kitch sits down with Mike Shill—entrepreneur, former D1 football player, executive producer, and founder of Full Circle Agency—for a conversation that hits harder than a kickoff return. They dive deep into: What it really takes to close $75M in sales The systems and daily discipline that separate good from great Building a personal brand that prints leverage Behind the scenes of Lanier—Mike’s hit movie on Amazon Prime How to train like an athlete, sell like a killer, and build like a billionaire The mindset you need to stay present when you're chasing the future Whether you're in sales, building your first brand, or trying to level up in life—this episode is full of gold. Get your notepad. This one’s a masterclass in intensity, intentionality, and playing the long game. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS: “Confidence comes from preparation. If you’re not training, you’re not ready.” You don’t need a perfect business plan—you need a product, proof, and relentless follow-up. Brand is the new leverage. People buy people. Discipline isn’t a one-liner—it’s a system. You don’t get what you want. You get what you’re willing to pay for. 📚 RESOURCES & LINKS: 🔗 Connect with Mike Shill Instagram: @mike_shill_ TikTok: @themikeshill LinkedIn: Michael Shill Website: fullcircleagency.co Watch Lanier on Amazon Prime: Lanier Movie 🎥 Mentioned in the episode: Lanier, now streaming on Amazon Prime Full Circle Agency – retention marketing for e-commerce giants Grant Cardone and the sales machine that built a juggernaut ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro: Blood on the knuckles, fire in the eyes 3:10 – From athlete to executive producer: Mike’s origin story 8:25 – First exposure to next-level discipline 14:47 – Lessons from Florida State and elite performance environments 19:02 – Building confidence through preparation 23:56 – $75M in sales: the systems, structure, and chaos 31:20 – How to train your team like D1 athletes 36:40 – Why brand is the #1 cheat code in business 43:22 – The “price tag” moments most people run from 48:11 – The mindset gap between $1M and $1B 54:55 – Documenting the journey: building brand in real time 1:01:14 – Inside “Lanier” and the future of Shill Studios 1:08:32 – Advice for young entrepreneurs 1:13:10 – Wild Card Questions + Final word from Mike 💥 CONNECT WITH COACH KITCH: Instagram: @coachkitch LinkedIn: David Kitchen Website: edgeleadershipacademy.com Newsletter: Finish Friday Newsletter 🎙️ Listen + Subscribe to the Built Not Born Podcast Spotify | Apple | YouTube | Amazon | Audible | iHeart
On this episode of Built Not Born, David Kitchen sits down with Dr. Amber Selking, mental performance coach for LSU Football and founder of Selking Performance Group. Dr. Selking works with top athletes, business leaders, and high performers to leverage mindset and leadership for peak performance. If you're serious about winning in any arena, this episode is for you. 00:00 Introduction and Season Kickoff 00:43 Guest Introduction: Dr. Amber Selking 01:57 Key Takeaways from 'Winning the Mental Game' 03:34 Understanding and Training the Mind 08:17 Traits of High Performers 15:45 Embracing Failure and Building Resilience 20:45 Analyzing Performance: Well, Better, Learned 21:45 Emotional Stability in Sports and Business 24:01 Building Identity Beyond the Game 25:06 Vision, Mission, and Core Values 27:33 Personality Assessments and Leadership 30:46 Stated vs. Experienced Culture 34:17 Leadership and Accountability 38:39 Quickfire Questions and Legacy 🔗 Follow Dr. Amber Selking: Website: selkingperformance.com Podcast: Building Championship Mindsets Book: Winning the Mental Game (Available on Amazon) LinkedIn: Dr. Amber Selking 👊 If you found this valuable, drop us a review & share it with a high performer in your life! 🔥 As always, this is your weekly reminder: Leaders are built, not born.
In this episode of the 'Built, Not Born' podcast, host David Kitchen welcomes Wayne Barringer, CEO of Jaro Group, to discuss his transformative experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and how it reshaped his approach to leadership. They explore key principles such as owning your calendar, understanding your superpowers, and defining your vision. Through engaging stories and actionable insights, Behringer illustrates the importance of leadership vulnerability, the value of guided mentorship, and the impact of creating a growth mindset in teams. This conversation is packed with practical advice and wisdom for leaders and entrepreneurs striving for excellence. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:34 Wayne's Journey to Climbing Kilimanjaro 03:59 Lessons from the Climb 06:32 Applying Climbing Lessons to Leadership 10:05 The Importance of Mentorship and Coaching 14:35 Evaluating and Developing Teams 19:36 Time Management Strategies 30:20 Exploring Detail Orientation and Self-Judgment 31:08 Harnessing Competitiveness and Pain Tolerance 32:34 Understanding Superpowers and Team Dynamics 33:24 Living in HD: Awareness and Consistency 35:18 The Power of Non-Judgment and Neutrality 35:57 Embracing Your Superpowers 38:35 Vision, Mission, and Values in Leadership 45:56 KPIs and Employee Satisfaction 47:09 Building Trust and Shared Goals 51:34 Addressing Conflict and Collaboration 56:38 Final Thoughts and Conclusion 🎧 Enjoying the show? Drop us a 5-star review and share this episode with someone who needs it! 👉 Connect with Wayne Barringer: 🔹 Website: Jaro Group 🔹 LinkedIn: Wayne Barringer 🔹 Company LinkedIn: Jaro Group 👉 Connect with David Kitchen & Edge Leadership Academy: 🔹 Website: Edge Leadership Academy 🔹 LinkedIn: David Kitchen 🔹 Instagram & Twitter: @CoachKitch 🔹 Join The Arena: The Arena Community
In this episode of the 'Built, Not Born' podcast, host David Kitchen sits down with Michael Unbroken, an entrepreneur, award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and advocate for adult survivors of childhood trauma. Michael shares his harrowing personal journey from a traumatic childhood, including abuse and homelessness, to becoming a successful coach and public speaker. He emphasizes the importance of honesty, self-discipline, and aligning with one's values. This powerful and inspiring conversation provides deep insights into overcoming adversity and the path to personal and professional transformation. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:37 Michael's Early Life and Childhood Trauma 06:05 Turning Point and Pursuit of Success 07:29 Self-Sabotage and Rock Bottom 14:43 Journey to Healing and Transformation 21:50 The Power of Truth and Authenticity 27:58 The Power of Truth and Authenticity 29:04 Journey to Self-Love and Confidence 30:24 Self-Preservation and Personal Growth 32:23 Building Confidence Through Action 38:51 The Importance of Values and Boundaries 45:19 Business Journey and Authenticity 51:37 Final Thoughts and Wildcard Questions 🎧 Enjoying the show? Drop us a 5-star review and share this episode with someone who needs it! 👉 Connect with Michael Unbroken: 🔹 Website: ThinkUnbroken.com 🔹 LinkedIn: Michael Unbroken 🔹 Instagram: @MichaelUnbroken 🔹 Podcast: Think Unbroken Podcast 🔹 Book: Think Unbroken (Available on Amazon) 👉 Connect with David Kitchen & Edge Leadership Academy: 🔹 Website: Edge Leadership Academy 🔹 LinkedIn: David Kitchen 🔹 Instagram & Twitter: @CoachDKitch 🔹 Join The Arena: The Arena Community
In this episode of the 'Built, Not Born' podcast, host David Kitchen welcomes Damon Lembi two-time bestselling author, host of the Learn It All podcast, and CEO of Learn It. Damon shares his journey from a high school baseball All-American drafted by the Atlanta Braves to leading a company that has upskilled over 2 million people and the hard lessons he learned along the way. They delve into the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs, the significance of empathy in leadership, and the power of building a strong team. The conversation also covers valuable lessons from Damon's sports career, the challenges of leadership, and how to foster a positive organizational culture. This insightful discussion provides practical advice for aspiring leaders and anyone aiming to achieve high performance in their field. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:17 Damon's Early Baseball Career 02:52 College Baseball Challenges and Lessons 06:59 Transition from Baseball to Business 12:43 Building a Career at LearnIt 18:48 Leadership and Team Building 27:11 Hiring for Potential: Joe's Story 29:04 The Importance of Company Culture 29:46 Character Over Credentials 32:24 Tough Decisions in Leadership 36:11 Coaching and Letting Go 38:05 Empathy and Competitiveness in Leadership 46:29 Final Thoughts and Wildcard Questions 🎧 Enjoying the show? Drop us a 5-star review and share this episode with a friend! 👉 Connect with Damon Lembi: 🔹 LinkedIn: Damon Lembi 🔹 Website: LearnIt 🔹 Podcast: The Learn-It-All Podcast 🔹 Book: The Learn-It-All Leader (Available on Amazon) 👉 Connect with David Kitchen & Edge Leadership Academy: 🔹 Website: Edge Leadership Academy 🔹 LinkedIn: David Kitchen 🔹 Instagram & Twitter: @CoachDKitch 🔹 Join The Arena: The Arena Community
In this episode of the 'Built, Not Born' podcast, host David Kitchen welcomes Jeremiah Brown, a former NFL player turned motivational speaker, author, and leadership coach. They discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and relational building in leadership, the concept of transferable skills from athletics to business, and the critical role of preparation, awareness, trust, and heart work in developing confidence. Brown shares insights into his 'training camp' period as an entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of off-season preparation. This inspiring conversation is packed with practical advice for athletes, leaders, and anyone looking to succeed in their endeavors.
Kelsey Gannett is an educator and the founder of The Retired Athlete Coach, a company that seeks to hold space for all retired athletes after they leave their athletic organizations. We dive deep into: - Navigating the identity of an athlete - Making room for your identity after athletics - Changing your relationship with competition - Finding your new tribe - Transferring skills from athletics to life
In his 20th year as the Assistant Athletic Director and Coordinator of Sports Performance at Salisbury University, Matt oversees the training programs of 21 varsity teams During his tenure, Matt has had the opportunity to work with 14 National Championship teams, eight individual National Championship athletes, and over 340 All-Americans. In 2018, Matt was named the NSCA's Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year after being a finalist in 2016 & 2017. This conversation is an absolute masterclass on: - Culture building in action - Player led teams - Good vs. Elite - The power of consistency when optimizing for performance - Creating leadership opportunities
Ryan Nosak has lived a life that is anything but ordinary. After finding his passion for strength training, he spent 10 years in collegiate strength and conditioning at the highest levels including Penn State, Vanderbilt, Robert Morris University, UNC-Charlotte, Tennessee State, and DePaul. During his career he’s coached professional athletes, and spent time being mentored by legends of coaching. Ryan stepped away from college athletics in 2020 to build his own company, RyNo Strength, based in Chicago. He’s expanded from a personal training business to a top online coaching brand focused on helping ex-athletes lose weight and boost energy without giving up pizza, alcohol, or their social life. This conversation centers around: - Overcoming adversity using Stoic Philosophy - Building a career in college athletics - The realities of starting your own business - What most people get wrong about health and fitness - How to balance life, fitness, and business
John Tarnoff is an executive and career transition coach, Tedx speaker, and best-selling author who helps mid-career professionals land better jobs and build more meaningful and sustainable careers. He’s worked with clients like Bank of America, Levi-Strauss, Softbank, and TD Ameritrade. After reinventing his own career at 50, John earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology to share his career lessons with others going through similar challenges. He has also led career workshops for MBA alumni in career transition, including for UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and Cornell's SC Johnson College of Business. This conversation is full of leadership, career building, and brand building lessons such as: - Utilizing brand building as a career path - Identifying your own super powers - Leveraging network to beat the line when it comes to hiring - Understanding how to stand out from the crowd online
Coleen is a compassionate, empathetic and boldly authentic human being but she wasn’t always this way. Like many, she’s been plagued by her own self defeating thoughts - some of them she’s carried for over four decades! Through her own journey of self discovery, spiritual exploration and personal crisis she managed to transform her life into the most unimaginable source of joy. Today, Coleen is a Joyologist. She provides mindset and nutrition coaching as well as personal training to people who feel stuck and want to reclaim joy in their life. As a motivational speaker, she works with individuals and corporations around the globe teaching folks how to reclaim their joy using the SNAP Method™. Coleen gives us insights into: - Becoming the architect of your life - Retiring limiting beliefs - Fueling your life for success -How mindset is the keystone to joy
Jamel “King” Cooper is a super bowl champion and a seasoned strength and conditioning expert. With a decade of experience in D1 and the NFL, he has left his mark at institutions like Middle Tennessee State University, Wake Forest, and Louisville. Most recently, he was part of the coaching staff for the Los Angeles Rams' win in Super Bowl 56. We dive deep into - The sacrifices to get to the top - The power of relationships in building a career - Discipline vs. Motivation - What separates the great from the elite - Managing mental health as a high performer
John Petrelli has been a professional fitness coach for over 30 years, having worked alongside some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, from Grammy-Award-winning recording artists to A-list Hollywood actors. He and his work have been featured in Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, GQ, and Vogue, and shown on national television networks including NBC, CBS, The USA Network, and FOX TV. In 2021, John's life took an unexpected turn when he became paralyzed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disease that landed him in the ICU. With a lifestyle so heavily dependent on physical health and wellbeing, John needed to rely on his mental strength to overcome this disease. Through this experience the book "Confessions of a Hollywood Trainer" was born. An instant Amazon #1 New release followed by the release of a Teen Edition in 2024. John has dedicated his new lease on life to helping others find their inner strength to overcome the obstacles they are facing. We discuss: - How thoughts become actions - The importance of your peer group - Learning to move on from mistakes - Becoming the person you want to be - Why mistakes are the magic for success
Dave Nordel is a retired United States Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant with over 30 years of service; Dave is the recipient of a Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit, our nation’s 6th highest military decoration. After leaving home at 19 to join the Air Force and ascended through the enlisted ranks to culminate as the senior enlisted leader for all nuclear missile forces in the United States. He is the author of the international best-selling books Giving Back – Life and Leadership from the Farm to the Combat Zone and Beyond and When the Cows Lie Down – Why people quit you – their Leader Now, Dave is the founder of Max Fab Consulting providing keynote leadership, organizational growth, and strategic guidance, and he is actively involved in using his journey with PTSD and moral injury to help transitioning veterans and other victims of trauma deal with the condition in a healthy manner. Dave and I discuss: - Leadership lessons on the farm - Learning to navigate high performance environments - The value of introverts in leadership - Why empathy is a superpower for leaders
Michelle Hoffmann is a Relationship Coach and International Bestselling Author of three books “Life Worth Living,” “New Management Blueprint,” and the soon to be released “Find Love Now,” the Founder and program producer of “The Art of Relationshipping.”. Her work on management strategies has been widely recognized in the corporate world across industries. Michelle has proven expertise in organizational development and change management which has set the stage for her success as a Keynote Speaker. We dive into: - What makes a good relationship - What mistakes are people making in relationships - Understanding the relationship cycle - How we can leverage relationships in business - The formula to hard conversations To learn more about Michelle: Website: TheArtofRelationshipping.com Relationshipping101.com - Download “Essential Tips to Develop an Online Profile that Really Works” at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Relationshipping101 Instagram: The_Art_Of_Relationshipping LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellebroslerhoffmann/
Aside from having a PhD in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Benjamin Ritter is the founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, is an international leadership and career coach, Sr. Talent Management Consultant, and host of two podcasts; The Executive Podcast, and The Live for Yourself Revolution Podcast. With over twenty years of executive-level professional experience in Leadership and Talent Development, Ben has worked with and coached clients at some of the most well-known global organizations such as, Amazon, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Coursera, Doordash, Google, Fiserv, MayoClinic, Northwestern University, PayPal, Pinterest, and Yelp. In this episode we dive into: Self leadership and accountability Leadership job satisfaction - what does it mean? Being proactive in building your career Accepting the unpredictability of your career path The danger of identifying as your career - how to detach
Autumn Lockwood is a performance coach with the Philadelphia Eagles and was the first black woman to coach in a super bowl. Prior to the Eagles, she climbed the ranks in the strength and conditioning world including stops at the Atlanta Falcons, and in the college world as as the director of sports performance at the University of Houston and as the assistant director of basketball sports performance at East Tennessee State as well as stops at UNLV and the University of Arizona. During this episode we get a chance to discuss: -Following your passion -Leveraging your strengths into superpowers -Establishing boundaries -Taking advantage of opportunity -Overcoming imposter syndrome -Navigating fame and social media pressures -Building an authentic brand