The T.R.O.N. Podcast

Our guest today is a former professional basketball player turned elite wealth strategist who is completely redefining what it means to be truly wealthy. After experiencing childhood financial hardship, he mastered the world of finance, earned a Doctorate in Business Administration, and went on to build a premier wealth advisory firm. But he’s not just about numbers—he famously walked away from an $8.1 million corporate offer early in his career just to protect his ethics and personal values.He is an Amazon bestselling author, the founder of Michels Family Financial, and the architect behind the global 'Rich by Choice' movement. Please welcome the 2026 Fort Worth 'Man of Impact' award winner, author of Rich by Choice, Dr. Nicholas E. MichelsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What does it take to completely reinvent your career after nearly 40 years? In this episode, we sit down with W. Kenneth Tyler, Jr., a semi-retired CPA who spent decades writing "persuasive prose" to the IRS before pivoting to his true passion: storytelling.Kenny joins us to pull back the curtain on his journey from corporate accounting to becoming an award-shortlisted indie author. We dive deep into his debut historical fiction espionage caper, Hunting the Red Fox—a thrilling tale that weaves together World War II military spying, old Hollywood glamour, and the professional golf circuit.In this episode, we discuss:The Spark: How a chance conversation with a former Major League Baseball player set off a decade-long writing journey.The Reinvention: Turning 38 years of business ownership and a marketing MBA into a toolkit for launching a book.The Process: What it’s really like to transition from rigid tax compliance to creative fiction.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Amy Meislin Pollack is an American children's author and retired educator best known for creating the Jelly Bean middle-grade fiction series. Her debut series, published by Austin Macauley Publishers, includes The Adventures of Jelly Bean, The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, and The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean. [Literary CareerThe inspiration for Pollack’s coming-of-age series dates back to her fourth-grade classroom in the 1960s, where her teacher frequently called her to the front of the room to share impromptu stories about a character named "Jelly Bean". Though she began drafting the stories later in life, she formally completed and published the series during the COVID-19 pandemic.Geared toward readers aged 7 to 13, her books follow the nostalgic, real-world complexities of adolescence in the 1960s. Her writing has earned critical recognition from outlets such as Kirkus Reviews and The US Review of Books for tackling sensitive, relatable youth themes, including bullying, mixed-race identity, poverty, and family dynamics. [1,Professional BackgroundBefore launching her publishing career, Pollack spent more than 40 years in education. She taught a diverse range of subjects and grade levels, working as a high school English teacher, reading specialist, and special education teacher. Additionally, she served for six years as a writing professor and tutor center advisor at Montclair State University. In the early 1970s, prior to entering education, she worked briefly in the New York City advertising industryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Sieglinde Othmer is an author, style and wellness advocate, and octogenarian powerhouse on a mission to redefine how we view the aging process. Born in Germany, Dr. Othmer survived a daring childhood escape from behind the Iron Curtain before immigrating to the United States, where she established herself as a social scientist, researcher, and academic.Following the loss of her husband, she channeled her personal resilience into creating Joyous Longevity, an educational movement and field guide exploring mindfulness, socialization, and cognitive activity. Her empowering message that "joy is a conscious decision" has made her a highly sought-after guest on programs like Kansas Public Radio and various wellness podcasts. When she isn't writing or speaking, Dr. Othmer is an avid gardener, global traveler who has visited over 40 countries, and the proud mother of three children.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Brian Beck helps mid-sized organizations move beyond the hype around AI and cybersecurity and turn emerging technology into practical business results.While much of the conversation around AI focuses on what the technology can do, Brian focuses on a more important question: Why are so many companies struggling to actually implement it?His work centers on helping leadership teams identify where AI can create meaningful impact within their existing operations, align teams around execution, and implement solutions that improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support better decision-making.Brian brings a practical perspective shaped by real-world experience—including seeing initiatives stall, budgets get wasted, and expectations fall short of reality. Rather than focusing on the latest tools or buzzwords, he breaks down what actually works, where organizations commonly go wrong, and what leaders should consider before making their next technology investment.On the podcast, Brian offers a straightforward, no-hype perspective on AI, cybersecurity, leadership, and implementation—giving business leaders actionable insights they can take back to their organizations and put to work immediately.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy