Money Stories
Every entrepreneur has invisible scripts about money that shape their success. Join host Mike Brown, former F-18 pilot and 8-figure founder, as he guides successful entrepreneurs through raw, unfiltered conversations about wealth. Discover the childhood experiences that formed their money mindset, the catastrophic mistakes that nearly cost them everything, and the transformational shifts that unlocked their potential. Beyond tactics, this podcast explores the emotional dimensions of wealth and what makes a truly rich life.
Episodes
Hunter Terpenny: Being Poor is a Calling - Money Stories Ep. 47
Most entrepreneurs track every dollar in and out. Very few stop to ask what the money is actually for.
Hunter Terpenny grew up on 40 acres in rural Virginia, watching his dad quietly save for years to pay for college, in a household where you earned what you got and nobody handed you anything. 2008 wiped it out almost overnight. That moment stuck with him and shaped the path that followed, includ
Keith Roberts: Never Build a Business Until You Understand This - Money Stories Ep. 46
Most entrepreneurs are good at making money. Far fewer are good at keeping it, or knowing what it's actually for. Keith Roberts spent 24 years building Zen Man, a creative agency that grew into a machine that nearly broke him. He traded his time for money, weathered lawsuits, hid foreclosure notices from his employees, and hit rock bottom before finding his way out.
In this conversation, Keith sh
Niraj Shah: The Mindset That Turns Success Into Freedom - Money Stories Ep. 45
Many entrepreneurs achieve success only to realize they are further away from freedom than when they started.
Niraj Shah has spent his career building businesses and working closely with entrepreneurs navigating success. Over time, he began to see a common pattern: the pursuit of achievement can quietly pull people away from the life they hoped success would create. In this conversation, Niraj sh
Chris Girbés: Why Financial Growth Alone Is Never Enough - Money Stories Ep. 44
Chris Girbés has built a life rooted in intention, family, and meaningful work, yet his journey with money has been anything but simple. In this episode, Chris and I reflect on how success and fulfillment are shaped not just by what we build, but by how we relate to it. We explore why financial growth does not create a sense of enough and how old money stories continue to drive high performers. Ch
Special Episode: Confronting the Painful Truth - The Inner Circle Ep. 5
Step inside The Inner Circle, where Kevin Dahlstrom and I speak freely and honestly without judgment, challenging each other in pursuit of truth.
A single question frames this conversation: What’s the most painful truth you’ve had to accept about yourself?
Drawing from different stages of life, Kevin and I share the kinds of realizations that only come with time and self examination. The discus
Jon Bowerman: Finding Fulfillment Beyond Achievement - Money Stories Ep. 43
Jon Bowerman built and sold a multimillion-dollar agency before realizing that success on paper doesn’t guarantee fulfillment. His story is about rediscovering the artist within and finding that true wealth comes from alignment, not accumulation.
Jon shares how growing up with scarcity shaped his drive for success and what it took to walk away from security for a life of greater authenticity and
Nathan Barry: Redefining Wealth Through the Success of Others - Money Stories Ep. 42
Nathan Barry built ConvertKit (now Kit) into a nine-figure company helping creators earn a living online. His journey reveals how early experiences with money can ignite ambition and how the pursuit of mastery can evolve into a deeper sense of purpose.
In this conversation, Nathan shares how a childhood moment of scarcity became the spark for a lifelong pursuit of understanding wealth. He reflect
Special Episode: Failure Is the Best Teacher - The Inner Circle Ep. 1
Step inside The Inner Circle, where Kevin Dahlstrom and Mike Brown speak freely and honestly without judgment, challenging each other in pursuit of truth.
In this first episode, we unpack one of Mike's most controversial statements: “I wish upon everyone a failure that brings you to your knees.” We’re not talking about pain for pain’s sake, but about what failure can teach us that success never w
Artur Meyster: Don't Assume Success Will Fix Your Inner Pressure - Money Stories Ep. 41
At age eleven, Artur Meyster watched his mom pay with food stamps in a New York grocery store. That moment lit a fire that carried him from Wall Street to leading one of tech’s fastest growing education startups.
In this episode, Artur shares the truth behind building and leaving Career Karma. What began as an escape from corporate life became a mission to free others, but after the exit came som
Nick Eubanks: A Heart Attack at 40 Was His Wake Up Call - Money Stories Ep. 40
Nick Eubanks was living the dream. He had built and sold multiple companies, scaled an unsexy business to eight figures, and exited two ventures in the same year. On the outside, it looked like he had it all. Behind the scenes, everything was falling apart.
In this conversation, Nick shares what it felt like to reach the peak and realize he didn’t like the view. Beneath the money and momentum was
Aaron Houghton: $169M Founder Reveals the Cost of Ignoring Your Limit - Money Stories Ep. 39
Aaron Houghton built and sold a tech company for $169 million before his 30th birthday. At its peak, his business was generating $50 million in recurring revenue and employing over 350 people. But behind the scenes, he was unraveling. Chronic stress and panic attacks revealed a hard truth he could no longer outrun. The version of success he was chasing was costing him his health and his peace.
In
What is Wealth? A Conversation with Pete Adeney and Kevin Dahlstrom - Money Stories Ep. 38
We’ve been taught to chase success, but what if real wealth has nothing to do with money?
Recorded live at the BaseCamp Boulder event, this conversation with Kevin Dahlstrom and Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) dives into what it truly means to live rich right now.
We talk about freedom, purpose, and the five dimensions of wealth that go far beyond your bank account.
If you’ve ever wondered wh
Marshall Hayes: The Founder Who Found Peace After the Fall - Money Stories Ep. 37
Marshall Hayes grew up in rural Oregon learning about money from a handwritten ledger his dad kept on a yellow pad. Those early lessons sparked a fascination with investing and entrepreneurship that led him from cleaning bathrooms to building and selling a multimillion dollar marketing agency.
For years, he chased success at all costs. The business grew fast, but behind the scenes, he was burning
Keith Latson: Walking Away from the Career That No Longer Fit to Reclaim What Matters Most - Money Stories Ep. 36
Keith Latson was living the dream he had built since childhood. He was operating on Kentucky Derby champions, making seven figures, and working with the most elite horses and trainers in the world. But despite the money and accolades, something was missing.
In this conversation, Keith shares what it felt like to stand at the pinnacle of his profession and realize he no longer recognized the man h
Dr. Vass: The Inner Work Behind a Longer, Fuller Life - Money Stories Ep. 35
Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos (Dr. Vass) spent more than a decade working in emergency rooms, treating people in moments that stripped away everything nonessential. Again and again, he sat beside patients who were facing the end and spoke the kind of truth that only becomes possible when there is no time left to pretend.
Those moments became his teacher.
In this conversation, Vass shares the quiet less
Taylor Frame: How Finding the Right Community Changes How You Carry Success - Money Stories Ep. 34
Taylor Frame learned to sell on a Mormon mission in North Carolina. For two years, he knocked on doors, faced rejection, and refined his pitch one conversation at a time. This taught him how to connect, adapt, and keep pushing.
That mindset carried him into tech sales and eventually entrepreneurship. He built a seven-figure agency, moved his family to the beach, and created what looked like the p
Melanie Balke: The 7-Figure CEO Who Turned Burnout into Balance - Money Stories Ep. 33
Melanie Balke has built a life most entrepreneurs chase for years. Her business is thriving, her team is energized, and her days move with clarity and intention. She surfs, leads with presence, and shapes her calendar around the rhythm that brings out her best work.
Her path reflects more than strategy. It is an identity shift rooted in emotional wealth, sustainable leadership, and the freedom to
Delroy Gill: The Mindset Shift That Turned Hustle Into Legacy - Money Stories Ep 32
Delroy Gill grew up flipping candy in the playgrounds of South London, finding creative ways to make money at a young age. When he moved to America, saw the game from a different angle, and started building something far beyond himself.
Early on a broken promise taught him that if he wanted something, he had to get it himself. That mindset carried him through the 2008 crash, into real estate, and
Jack Swift: How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Leadership - Money Stories Ep 31
Jack Swift followed the path to success with precision.
He graduated from West Point, served as an Army Ranger, and grew to CEO of TIFIN, a category-defining AI fintech platform valued at $842M.
Jack spent years building a successful life. He had the titles, the income, and the momentum.
Over time, the long hours and constant pressure wore him down, until even the wins stopped feeling meaningf
Rob Sirstins: Why Success Alone Will Never Be Enough - Money Stories Ep 30
Early life wasn’t easy for Rob Sirstins. He was born into poverty, adopted young, and raised in a world where he never felt like he belonged. Then he rose to success as a Division 1 football star with a career path in sales. From the outside, everything looked perfect.
Then injury, betrayal, and loneliness stripped it all away and Rob found himself in a Salt Lake parking lot, finger on the trigge
Anthony Vicino: Losing 40 Million Changed How I See Success - Money Stories Ep 29
Anthony Vicino once believed financial wins meant freedom. He went from living in a van and scaling cliffs to building million-dollar businesses - only to see it all collapse when betrayal and bankruptcy left him in serious debt.
In this raw episode, Anthony shares how losing millions didn’t just reset his bank account - it reshaped his definition of wealth, purpose, and what a rich life truly l
Derek Coburn: How to Retire Later and Be Happier Now - Money Stories Ep 28
For years, Derek Coburn watched high achievers sacrifice health and joy in pursuit of a “magic number” they believed would bring freedom - only to feel empty when they reached it.
In this powerful episode, Derek flips the script on traditional financial wisdom and reveals a truth most advisors won’t say out loud.
We dive into:
•How to design a life so aligned and fulfilling you’d never want
Elliot Roe: The Hypnotherapist Who Helped Create Poker’s #1 Player in the World - Money Stories Ep. 27
What does it take to unlock your full potential, and why do so many high achievers sabotage themselves before they reach the top? In this conversation, I sit down with world-renowned hypnotherapist and mindset coach Elliot Roe, whose clients include world champion poker players, UFC fighters, Wall Street traders, and entrepreneurs.
We dive into:
How childhood experiences quietly program your “we
Dave Inglis: My Self-worth was my Net Worth - Money Stories Ep 26
It started with a joke from his childhood. Dave’s mom told him they could afford a new bra for her or hockey gear for him. Then something snapped.
That moment became more than a memory, it became a mission - he would never let money limit the life he wanted to live.
And so he chased that life - financial freedom, independence and success on paper.
But the higher he climbed, the more disconnecte
Shane Fuhrman: He Quit His M&A Job to Ski - Money Stories Ep 25
What happens when you climb all the ladders you were told to, only to realize they may be leaning on the wrong wall?
Shane Fuhrman has worn many hats: attorney, entrepreneur, public servant, and now founder of a hospitality brand redefining the art of atmosphere. His journey has spanned courtrooms, boutique hotels, and community leadership, but the deeper thread has been the same: how do you purs
Jeff Burningham: $2B Investor Explains Why Happiness Can’t Be Bought - Money Stories Ep 24
Jeff Burningham has lived many lives. At 13 he was scrubbing carpets just to afford basketball shoes. Fast forward to today, he has built billion-dollar firms, traveled to more than 60 countries, run for Governor of Utah, and served as a Bishop in his church.
From the outside, it looked like he had it all. But on a family trip to Mexico, Jeff realized he had missed the first 11 months of his daug
Colin O’Farrell: He Was On the Verge of Private Island Money - Then Lost it All - Money Stories Ep 23
For years, Colin O’Farrell worked in the oil and gas industry, learning firsthand how deals are structured and value is created.
He went on to co-found a private equity-backed company that delivered three times the investors’ money in less than two years. But when the deal closed, the personal toll was undeniable. On his last day of employment, he underwent major lower back surgery after a crushe
Lyle Divinsky: The Brutal Truth About Chasing a Dream - Money Stories Ep 22
For five years, he played in the NYC subways just to pay his bills.
Then he got the call, and within a year, he was headlining Red Rocks.
But his real transformation didn't start on stage. It began backstage, watching his 72-year-old musical hero admit he was still grinding just because he "needed the money."
In this episode, Lyle Divinsky unpacks the beautiful, brutal reality of life as a tour
Ret Taylor: Your Childhood Taught You Money is Pain - Money Stories Ep 21
At 10 years old, he stood in a cold bus station and vowed to do whatever it took to escape scarcity.
He succeeded, founding, scaling, and exiting a natural remedies company.
But Ret Taylor’s real transformation began on a frozen mountainside on Denali, when he finally admitted the truth: he was idolizing the wrong thing.
In this episode, Ret unpacks the invisible script that drives so many entr
Philip McKernan: He Lost Everything and Found His Gift - Money Stories Ep 20
Philip McKernan was $200 from broke, drowning in debt, and silently unraveling in the shadows of a failed real estate venture. But in the silence of that low point, he finally said the words that would change everything: “I’m gonna f-ing do this coaching thing.”
In this raw and unflinching conversation, Philip shares the untold story behind his reinvention. He takes us through the emotional reck
Ryan Larson: What Happens After You Get Everything You Think You Want - Money Stories Ep 19
He grew up skipping school to clean houses, so his mom wouldn’t drown in debt.
Now he runs one of the top U.S. tax firms in Europe.
But Ryan Larson’s real transformation didn’t start with money. It started the night he stood in his dream home, holding his wife, and finally admitted the truth: he was miserable.
In this episode, Ryan unpacks the invisible weight entrepreneurs carry: the grind, th
Artie Sandstone: Biotech CEO Unleashes The Artist Within - Money Stories Ep 18
Fourteen years building a publicly traded biotech company, then one fall, thirty feet, and everything changed.
This is the story of how Artie Sandstone walked away from the grind of IPOs, lawsuits, and never-ending capital raises to rediscover the artist he buried under a CEO title. In this episode, we trace the arc from rebellious teen in a reform school to a driven founder leading a clinical-
Eric Spett: Why Achieving Everything Doesn't Fix Anything - Money Stories Ep 17
The day after his multi-nine-figure exit, Eric Spett flew to Costa Rica and told himself he was fine. He wasn't.
In this episode, Eric opens up about the silent costs of success, the kind that don’t show up in earnings reports or exit headlines. We go deeper than business tactics and market timing. We talk about what happens when the engine that drove your ambition also drove you into the ground.
Preston Brown: I was a Hustle Addict - Money Stories Ep 16
Preston Brown was the classic success story - until a call in 2019 shattered the illusion. His father was gone. And so was the meaning he'd tied to the empire he'd built.
This isn’t a story about getting rich. It’s a story about what happens after. Preston built and sold multiple businesses and built a 9-figure net worth. But it took losing his father to realize he’d traded presence for performan
Derek Haswell: Why Founders Feel Lost After Success - Money Stories Ep 15
When Derek Haswell co-founded Ten Percent Happier, he wasn’t chasing profit, he was chasing peace. What he didn’t realize was that the drive powering his every move wasn’t purpose… it was unworthiness.
In this conversation, Derek opens the hood on his journey; from growing up in a home where money was never discussed, to building a mission-driven company that served millions, to quietly unravelin
Carm Huntress: He Sacrificed Health, Marriage, and Identity to ‘Make It’ - Money Stories Ep 14
At 15, Carm Huntress lost both his parents to cancer. By 45, he had founded two nine-figure companies. But the path between those moments wasn’t paved with strategy—it was survival, trauma, and a hunger to feel like he was enough.
In this raw conversation, Carm opens up about what it cost to build a company from darkness—and what it took to finally lead from light. We explore the invisible forces
David Staley: When Winning Doesn’t Mean You’re Safe - Money Stories Ep 13
Popcorn in hot dog buns. Running to Oklahoma. Living on one salary while building a business worth tens of millions.
David Staley didn’t just bootstrap a nine-figure agency—he did it with grit forged in scarcity, loyalty, and a relentless willingness to do hard things. In this episode, we unpack the untold layers behind the Digible co-founder’s journey: the emotional cost of building a rocket shi
Kelly and Juliet Starrett: Health is the First Wealth - Money Stories Ep 12
Juliet and Kelly Starrett have trained Olympians, coached Navy SEALs, and built a global health & fitness empire.
But what happens when your body becomes your brand—and the pressure to keep performing starts to erode the very health you’re trying to protect?
In this episode of Money Stories, we explore the Starretts' evolution—from world-class competitors and clinicians to guides for sustainable
Seth Conger: Escaping the Hustle Trap - Money Stories Ep 11
At age 14, Seth Conger made $225 in tips on his third day working at a golf course—and unknowingly walked into a trap that would define the next two decades of his life.
His boss told him, “If I don’t see you sprinting, I assume you’re not working.” That offhand comment became his operating system. And like a lot of high-achievers, Seth built an identity on speed, sacrifice, and showing his val
Mike Mathweg: From Fired to $50M in Deals - Money Stories Ep 10
Most founders chase the exit.
Mike Mathweg got his. Then came the 12-word call that stripped him of his identity, his status, and the illusion of safety he’d built his life around.
In this conversation, Mike reveals how that moment became the line in the sand—forcing him to confront the version of success he had been sold, and step into the leader he actually wanted to be.
We unpack:
Why the c
Beau Turner: $50M Founder: The Next Level Requires a Different Me - Money Stories Ep 9
What if the path to financial freedom isn't just about investing—it's about mining your own opportunities?
In this episode of Money Stories, Beau Turner reveals how Bitcoin mining is transforming passive income strategies for everyday investors. We explore his journey from real estate success to founding Abundant Mines and how he's helping clients build wealth through transparent, sustainable cry
Kristen Brown: Brand Is Who You Are—Not What You Sell - Money Stories Ep 8
What if your brand isn’t what you build—but who you are?
In this episode of Money Stories, Kristen Brown pulls back the curtain on what most founders get wrong about branding—and why true alignment starts inside the walls of your company, not on its website.
You’ll hear:
• The gut-wrenching day Kristen lost 40% of her revenue—and why it set her free
• How branding became the gateway to rebuil
Kevin Dahlstrom: The Price of Building a Life You Don't Want - Money Stories Ep 7
What if the life you’re building... isn’t yours?
In this episode of Money Stories, Kevin Dahlstrom unpacks what it takes to walk away from a “perfect” life—and why true wealth starts where societal success ends.
You’ll hear:
The boardroom epiphany that changed everything
Why so many high-achievers feel trapped by the very lives they built
The surprising role rock climbing played in Kevin’s pa
Hollis Carter: Scaling Without Selling Your Soul - Money Stories Ep 6
What if the biggest ceiling in your business isn’t tactical—it’s relational?
In this episode of Money Stories, Hollis Carter unpacks how real breakthroughs happen: not in spreadsheets or strategy decks, but in spaces designed for trust, truth, and the occasional hot tub conversation. We explore the journey behind Baby Bathwater Institute and how he’s helped hundreds of top founders grow without l
Michael Litt: $100M CEO on AI and the Future of Tech - Money Stories Ep 5
What does it take to spot the next billion-dollar startup? Michael Litt knows—and he’s sharing the secret.
In this episode of Money Stories, you’ll discover:
- How AI is unlocking a golden era of technology—and why startups ignoring it will fail
- The asymmetric opportunities top investors chase (and how to find them)
- Why companies now hit $100M in revenue with just 20-30 employees
Cathryn Lavery: 8-Figure E-commerce Empire - Money Stories Ep 4
Imagine selling your company for millions - and then buying it back for pennies on the dollar.
That's precisely what Cathryn Lavery did.
In this episode of Money Stories, you'll learn:
How our superpowers eventually become our limitations
The importance of setting boundaries as a founder
Why so many entrepreneurs outsource their confidence
and more!
Blake Eastman: Hard Work Won't Fix Your Money Problems - Money Stories Ep 3
Think hard work alone can solve your money woes? Behavioral scientist Blake Eastman says think again. In this eye-opening episode of Money Stories, Blake—founder of The Nonverbal Group and a former psych professor—reveals why our patterns, not our efforts, shape our financial reality. From childhood money stories to the psychology of risk, discover why grinding harder might be killing your finance
Matthew Barnes: How to Think Like the 1% - Money Stories Ep 2
In this episode, I sit down with one of my favorite people, Matthew Barnes, founder of Proteus Digital Lab (https://proteusdigitallab.com) and a genius at conversion rate optimization. Together, we dive into how to think like the 1%—and how you can too. Matthew shares mind-blowing wisdom on redefining wealth beyond just money, mastering delegation, and aligning incentives to skyrocket growth in bu
Dan Martell: The $100M Mindset - Money Stories Ep 1
In this powerful conversation, Mike Brown sits down with Dan Martell, entrepreneur, investor, and author, to discuss how you can shift your money mindset from lack to abundance and unlock the wealth you deserve. They dive into the strategies that have helped Dan Martell build a $100M empire and the mindset shifts that can lead to true financial freedom.
In this podcast, you'll learn:
- How to ide
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