The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas
The Secret To Success Podcast is a weekly show hosted by Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King. It covers topics like mindset, money, relationships, leadership, faith, health, and execution with straight talk and practical advice. The podcast aims to help listeners adopt a success-oriented mindset and provides accountability and real stories from high performers.
Episodes
You Can't Build It Alone (Eric Thomas) | S2S 562
Eric Thomas and CJ break down leadership, team building and why you can't build it alone. The greatest wins in your life will never come from solo effort, and the thing that made you successful as an individual might be the very thing destroying your team. CJ said it at the 1% event. Your vision only has enough room for you.
It is just CJ and Eric Thomas at the table this week, and E opens by sayi
You Don't Need to Be the Star to Win (Eric Thomas) | S2S 561
Why do talented people keep losing? Eric Thomas says sometimes it is not the talent. It is the team.
This week the crew breaks down the power of we. The Bears walk into Monday Night Football with their third string quarterback and still get the win. ET explains why that was not luck. It was the right me inside the right we, and it is the whole reason the new book is called We Is Greater Than Me.
F
You Want Me To Go Easier On You, But Will The World? | S2S 560
Should the coach change to fit the player, or should the player change to fit the coach? This week the crew opens up one of the oldest arguments in coaching, leadership, and life, and nobody fully agrees.
CJ starts it off by admitting someone once told him his coaching style was too harsh, not wrong, not ineffective, just uncomfortable. That one comment turns into a debate that swings from brunc
You Want the Results But You Won't Get on the Scale | S2S 559
You're avoiding the scale. Not just the one in your bathroom, but the one in your marriage, your finances, your health, your life. You don't want to see the number because then you'd have to deal with it. You'd have to admit where you really are. And until you get back on the scale, you'll keep telling yourself stories that never get you back in alignment.
This week the crew gets brutally honest a
You Think You're Using the Perks But Really You're Losing the Circle | S2S 558
You want to be in the circle, but you're coming in needy. You want the access, the connections, the benefits. But you're not bringing health. You're not bringing value. You're coming in taking from the circle instead of adding to it. And until you fix that, you'll never stay.
This week the crew gets raw about what it really means to be part of a team. CJ opens up about losing his Delta 360 status
You're Trapped By The Very Thing That Made You Successful | S2S 557
You're trapped by the very thing that made you successful. You've got the talent, the work ethic, the drive. You've built something. But the same high capacity leadership that got you here is now your Achilles heel. And until you deal with that, you'll never get to the next level.
This week the crew gets raw about what it really means to be part of a team when you've been successful on your own.
You Know Better, You Can Do Better, But You Haven't Done Better Yet | S2S 556
You know better. You can do better. But you haven't done better yet. And that's your 242: the place where you know what needs to change but haven't produced better yet. This week, the crew breaks down accountability that actually works.
ET explores the difference between reputation and character. Reputation is a shadow. It's who you want people to think you are. Character is who you actually are.
A moment for Forever
Want to learn more about Forever Forward? Join us live this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST for a Forever First Look - a special event preview. Register using the link below!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HIHEuTfrRGqd05VzP8FR1A
You want to travel the world with your spouse. You want to be around other couples who actually like each other. You want to celebrate your marriage instead of fixing
You're Winning in Some Areas But Losing in 1 (And It's Costing You Everything) | S2S 555
You're winning in some areas but losing in one. And you know it. Your marriage is strong. Your kids are thriving. Your career is on fire. Your faith is solid. But that one area? The one you keep avoiding? That's the one that's about to cost you everything.
This week ET gets brutally honest about the conversation that changed everything on June 1st. The moment God rebuked him on the pulpit while he
You Want the Reward Without the Relationship (And That's Why You're Stuck) | S2S 554
You want the reward without the relationship. You want the breakthrough without the process. You want the book without knowing the author. And that may be exactly why you're stuck. This week, the S2S crew breaks down why so many people chase information, access, and outcomes without building the relationships, discipline, humility, and belief required to sustain them.
ET explains why motivation
You Don't Want the Advice, You Want the Reward | S2S 553
You don't want the advice. You want the reward. You want the championship without the discipline. You want the breakthrough without the breaking. You want the results without the process. And that's why you're stuck. Because the advice is free. The reward costs everything.
This week the crew breaks down why most people reject the very thing that could save them. ET opens up about the difference be
LeBron or Jordan? The Argument That Got Heated (S2S 552)
LeBron or Jordan? It's the debate that never dies. And this week, the crew dove headfirst into it. Fresh off the mastermind weekend, they came in ready to talk personal development. Instead, they ended up in the most heated sports argument they've ever had on this podcast. Because LeBron just signed with the Sixers. And now the conversation is back on the table. Is he the GOAT? Or is Jordan still
Prayed About It But Still Stuck? Here's Why | S2S 551
You prayed about it. You asked God for direction. You're waiting. You're believing. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't because God didn't answer. It's because you're not listening. Or worse, you're listening but you're not moving.
This week ET and CJ break down why prayer without action is just noise. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: God's voice is clear. H
You're Working Hard for the Wrong Reason, and It's Breaking You | S2S 550
You're working hard for the wrong reason, and it's breaking you. Not because you're lazy. Not because you're not talented. But because what's driving you isn't God. It's trauma. It's fear. It's pride. And until you deal with that, all the work in the world won't save you.
This week the crew brings their wives to the table. Candis and Dede join CJ, ET, and Karl for one of the most transparent conve
You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth | S2S 549
You're getting paid exactly what you're worth. Not what you think you deserve. Not based on your degrees, your loyalty, or how hard you work. You're getting paid exactly what you believe about yourself. And until you deal with that, nothing changes.
This week the crew breaks down why most people resist coaching even when they're losing. ET opens up about why he had his kids leave his company to g
You're Doing the Work But Still Stuck, Here's Why | S2S 548
You're doing the work. You're showing up. You're praying. You're trying. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't what you think it is.
This week the crew breaks down the difference between working hard and working with God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: your faith is in your hands, not in God. You've been doing so much that you've made yourself an idol. And God
You Think They Had Something You Don't. You're Wrong | S2S 547
You look at people who made it and you assume they started with something you didn't. A better childhood. More talent. Some edge you never got. ET spent his whole life proving that is a lie, and in this episode he takes the excuse away from you.
The fellas get into what ET means when he says "I'm you." Not the polished version on the stage, the same flesh, the same doubts, the same fight. He break
He Chased Guys Like Him. Now They're Face to Face. (S2S 546)
CJ and David sat down with Jemal King and Wall Street Trapper right after the One Percent stage, and what came out was bigger than money. Jemal spent his early years as a cop, putting on a vest every day. Trap came up on the corner. Two men who once lived on opposite sides of the law, now face to face, breaking down how they ended up with the exact same mindset about risk, discipline, and building
You Can't Build the New You Without Tearing the Old One Down | S2S 545
You can't build the new you without tearing the old one down. That's the truth most people don't want to hear. Because demolition is uncomfortable. It's messy. It's loud. And it doesn't look like progress when you're standing in the middle of it. But here's what you need to understand: demo is the first sign of progress.
The crew goes deep on transformation in this episode, and they're not talking
They Won't Recognize the New You (And That's the Point) | S2S 544
You're changing. You're growing. You're stepping into who you were always meant to be. And the people closest to you don't recognize you anymore. They look at you funny. They treat you different. They make you feel like you're doing something wrong. But here's the truth: if they don't recognize the new you, you're doing it right.
In Episode 544, the crew dives into one of the most uncomfortable t
Most People Wait Years for What Takes 52 Days | S2S 543
Most people stay stuck for years on something that could be done in weeks. This week the crew breaks down the story of one man who rebuilt what a whole city left broken for 140 years, and finished it in 52 days. The difference was ownership and urgency, not money or talent.
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New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. This is wher
She Said No: What To Do When Your Feelings Lie To You | S2S 542
She said no. You got down on one knee, opened the box, asked the question, and she said no. Not "I need time." Not "maybe later." She said no. So now what?
In Episode 542, the crew tackles one of the most vulnerable questions a man can face: what do you do when your feelings are telling you one thing, but the data is telling you something completely different? A brother writes in after proposing
You're Looking for Validation, Not the Truth (Here's Why It's Killing You) | S2S 541
Most people say they want the truth, but the moment it shows up, they call the messenger a villain. This episode picks up where the Joe Jackson conversation left off and turns the mirror around. The real question isn't whether Joe was too hard on Michael. It's why we keep demonizing every coach, mentor, and visionary with the gift to push us toward what we say we want.
DISCLAIMER: Our focus in th
We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology (Eric Thomas Goes Off) | S2S 540
Your soft coaching is killing their future. And you think you're being kind.
In Episode 540, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal pull up to the table after watching the Michael Jackson movie and what follows is one of the most honest, uncomfortable, and necessary conversations this crew has ever had. About Joe Jackson. About tough love. About why we've been Catherine-ing people when we should have been Joe J
You Had Everything and Still Cried in the Closet (Here's Why) | S2S 539
Most people spend their whole lives chasing a version of success that looks right on paper and still leaves them empty. That is the conversation at the center of Episode 539, and it is one of the most honest hours this table has produced.
Candis Quinney is back and she brings the moment that started everything. She was in her closet, stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out, with everything she had worke
Most People Are Trapped Waiting for an Apology That's Never Coming | S2S 538
Most people who feel stuck, angry, or burned out are not dealing with what they think they are dealing with. That is the throughline of Episode 538, a conversation that starts with the aftermath of the 1% Conference in Chicago and goes somewhere much deeper.
CJ's wife Candis Quinney walks in fresh off one of the most powerful 1% Conferences the S2S family has ever put together, and her presence i
The Public Was Never Supposed to See This | S2S 537
This episode was never meant for the public. It was recorded exclusively for our Patreon community — the people who are already in the inner circle. But we're pulling the curtain back and letting you see what S2S really looks like when the pressure is off, the cameras are still rolling, and nobody is performing for anybody.
This is the crew unfiltered. No script. No agenda. Just ET, Karl, CJ, and
Most People Were Talked Out of Their Dream Before It Started | S2S 536
Somebody talked you out of your dream before it ever had a chance. Maybe it was a parent. Maybe a friend. Maybe someone you trusted. And the worst part? They didn't even know they were doing it.
CJ takes his son Trey to a skateboard store and watches a 6-year-old fall twice in front of a crowd, get back up, and look at his dad like it was nothing — because CJ realized he was about to pass his own
Most People Have No Idea What They're Actually Capable Of | S2S Ep. 535
What if everything you've built so far — your career, your
income, your wins — happened without you even really trying?
That's exactly what Jemal King discovered in 2006. Four daycare
centers. Real estate. A millionaire — completely by mistake. And
the question that hit him harder than the money itself: if I
could become a millionaire by mistake, what could I become on
purpose?
Jemal breaks
You Can See Exactly What You Want. So Why Don't You Have It? | S2S Ep. 534
You can see exactly what you want. You probably always could. So what's actually stopping you?
This episode opens with a story CJ wasn't sure he should tell. A 4-hour TSA line. Atlanta airport in complete chaos. And a woman with no badge, no uniform — just the nerve to say: get out of that line. What followed wasn't just a funny airport story. It cracked open one of the most honest conversations
You’re Focused on the Result, That’s Why You’re Still Losing
You’re not losing because you lack talent.
You’re losing because you’re focused on the wrong thing.
Most people obsess over results — the money, the body, the relationship, the success.
But winners don’t worship outcomes.
They build systems.
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, we break down why focusing on the result keeps you stuck — and how shifting to solution thinking changes e
Your Gift Already Opened The Door - You Got Lazy And Let It Close #532
Your gift already opened the door. The question is: did you get lazy and let it close?
In this episode, ET ( The Hip Hop Preacher), and the guys break down the truth about God-given gifts and why most people never reach their potential. They reveal:
✅ How to identify YOUR specific superpower (it's not what you think)
✅ Why people get complacent once their gift produces results
✅ The difference be
Is That What YOU Want? (Or What They Want For You?) #531
What do you REALLY want? Not what society tells you to want. Not what you think you should want.
What does YOUR heart actually desire?
In this raw conversation, Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips and Jemal King get real about goals, dreams, and the difference between chasing material things vs. living with purpose. ET shares a powerful parenting moment that changed how he sees his son, Jama
Being Almost Successful Is the Most Dangerous Place You Can Be | S2S Ep. 530
Being close isn't the same as being there — and ET knows exactly what that feels like. In this episode, CJ and ET get raw about the "almost zone": why being talented, dedicated, and almost at the top might actually be harder than starting from zero. ET shares the real story of having the greatest motivational speech in the world and still not being able to get booked — and what finally changed eve
Don't Start a Business Until You Watch This - Wrong Partners Will Destroy You | S2S Ep. 529
The wrong business partner will cost you everything. Here's how to know who to trust.
Most businesses fail not because of a bad idea, bad product, or bad timing. They fail because of bad PARTNERS. People who don't share your values. People who steal. People who see you as a paycheck instead of a partner. People who make "doggy bags" to take home instead of building the table with you.
In this r
She Cut Her Hair Without Asking - We Called The WIVES In | Fair or Foul? #528
💇♀️ She cut her hair SHORT without warning. He feels blindsided. Who's wrong?
When does a "personal decision" stop being personal in a marriage? A husband writes in after 13 years together: his wife cut her hair really short without mentioning it, and when he brought it up, she said it was a personal decision that didn't require his input. Fair or foul?
This question sparked the BIGGEST debate
👉 Most People Fail Because They Follow the Rules (That Weren’t Made for Them) #527
Most people don’t fail because they lack effort.
They fail because they follow rules and advice that were never designed for their real life.
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation challenges one of the most common traps in personal growth: living by general advice instead of personal strategy.
This episode breaks down why:
What works for others often fails for y
Every Result Has a Belief Behind It #525
Most people think belief is a feeling.
This episode makes a different case.
Your beliefs are visible — not in what you say, but in the results you keep producing.
In this continuation of last week’s conversation, we break down why people can have information, opportunity, and effort — yet still see the same outcomes year after year. The issue isn’t hustle or knowledge. It’s what you truly believ
Why Everyone’s Talking About the Chicago Bears Right Now — And What It Shows About Turnarounds #524
Everyone’s talking about the Chicago Bears right now (or at least Jemal thinks so), and while a new coach matters, the real shift runs deeper.
This episode breaks down a powerful truth about real turnarounds: the players didn’t change — the perspective did.
Same roster.
Same city.
Same pressure.
What changed was how the game was being seen, understood, and approached. And once that shifted, the
Why Most People Fail After They Start Winning #523
Most people don’t fail because they lack talent, intelligence, or opportunity.
They fail because no one around them tells the truth.
In this episode of the Secret to Success, Eric Thomas, CJ, and Karl break down why success becomes dangerous when accountability disappears—and why many people collapse after they start winning.
This conversation hits hard:
Why discipline alone eventually fail
This Is What They’re Not Telling You About Winning This Year #522
This year doesn’t need more motivation.
It needs clarity, discipline, and intention.
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, Eric Thomas breaks down 7 rules that actually matter if you want to win this year — not just stay busy, not just feel inspired, but make real progress.
These aren’t trends.
They’re principles.
You’ll learn:
Why delusion keeps people stuck longer than failur
Laughs, Lessons & Real Talk | Our 2025 S2S Recap
As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back.
This episode is a collection of some of our favorite moments from the Secret to Success Podcast this year — real conversations, honest questions, unexpected laughs, and truth-filled discussions that stayed with us long after the microphones were off.
From relationships and communication…
to mindset, reality, and self-awareness…
t
You’re Doing the Work But Still Stuck — Here's the Problem
“Be honest — what’s something you’ve been consistent at… but haven’t seen results from yet?”
You can do the right things and still be headed in the wrong direction.
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation goes straight at a frustration many disciplined people quietly carry:
“I followed the rules. I showed up. I stayed consistent… so why isn’t it working?”
This isn’t a
Feeling Stuck in a Dark Place? This Is Why Your Life Isn’t Changing | S2S 519
If life feels heavy, confusing, or just stuck… you’re not broken. You’re not cursed. You’re not “falling behind.”
You’re in a phase nobody teaches you how to navigate: the dark season.
In today’s episode, the guys break down why your hardest moments keep repeating, why running from discomfort actually makes it worse, and the one shift that finally moves you forward. ET explains how every versio
How Your Ego Is Killing Your Success | S2S 518
Most people don’t fail because they lack talent—
they fail because their ego keeps putting them in positions they’re not built for.
This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who keeps blowing opportunities, breaking alliances, sabotaging good teams, or confusing “control” with “calling.” We’re talking identity, roles, loyalty, humility, and the dangerous trend of chasing titles instead of masteri
Exploited: The Real Price of Staying a Consumer
Life keeps bullying you because you keep handing over the power. Your habits, your phone, your job, your fears, your past — all of it is pushing you around while you stand there acting like you don’t have a choice.
This episode breaks that cycle wide open.
ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal dive into the truth nobody wants to admit:
you’re either the bully… or you’re getting bullied.
By your circumstances.
Bully the Bully: Why You Keep Getting Pushed Around in Life | S2S 516
You’re letting people with zero track record tell you how to run your life. And the wild part? Half of them couldn’t survive doing what YOU do for 24 hours.
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the “Bully the Bully” mindset—why the world pushes you around if you don’t push back, why people in survival mode try to hijack what you’ve built, and why letting the wrong
Stop Being Emotional—It’s Why You Keep Losing Money | 515
If your feelings keep driving your finances, you’re paying an invisible tax. In this episode we break down how to regulate emotions, demand receipts (real due diligence), and replace motivation with rules so you stop bleeding time and money. Action over anxiety. Rules over mood. Results over excuses.
You’ll learn
How to stop emotional decision-making before it costs you
What real due dili
What ET Told the Baltimore Ravens that Could Change Your Life | S2S 513
The week the Ravens were 1–5 and about to face Chicago, ET walked into Baltimore’s locker room with a message—not hype, a standard.
Jemal, a lifelong Bears fan, wants to know why ET had to deliver that talk right before they played his team.
That friendly smoke sets the tone as we unpack the exact principles ET shared: why contracts beat feelings, how identity sets standards, standards drive b
From Supporter to Slayer—Become the One Who Hunts
Stop helping. Own the kill.
For years, helping felt noble—but that was Level 1. In this episode, Karl opens up about his shift from approval-seeking supporter to hunter: taking ownership, moving first, and letting execution—not permission—set the pace. We break down how that mindset change is transforming his leadership, family life, business, and even real estate strategy.
What you’ll get
K
You Didn’t Play Big & Lose—You Played Small & Won | S2S 511
Drop your North Star in one sentence below. If you can’t say it in a line, you can’t live it in a year!
Are you doing everything and going nowhere? This episode is your wake-up call. We break down why scattered hustle kills credibility, how a single North Star changed our entire operation, and the exact mindset shift to align actions with the goals you keep talking about.
The guys get surgical:
510 - You can't win like this!
Most people don’t lose because they’re not talented—they lose because they’re scattered. In this episode, the guys break down why doing nine things halfway will never beat doing one thing with ruthless focus. ET unpacks how people-pleasing drains your energy, CJ shows how a single North Star changed their whole brand, and Maul & Karl dive into legacy, parenting, and building skills that outlive yo
509 - The Comparison That’s Destroying You
In this powerful continuation of last week’s conversation, the S2S crew dives deep into the truth about circles, ego, and why so many people stay stuck.
💡ET, CJ, Karl, Jemal and Pastor TJ break down:
- Why your circle can be the biggest ceiling on your future 🚫
- How comparison keeps you frustrated, broke, and unfulfilled
- The hidden difference between a real anchor and a pseudo-anchor (ego)
- W
508 - The #1 Thing Your Kids Need More Than Money
Parents think the best gift they can give their kids is money. But the truth? Money alone isn’t enough.
In this powerful episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl & TJ unpack the story of Vontrell — a star athlete whose NFL dream collapsed after repeated injuries. Lost and struggling, he fell into security jobs and uncertainty… until Marlon & Camille stepped in.
Instead of letting him
507 - 👉 Why Stress Is Killing You (And How to Eliminate It)
Chronic stress is silently killing your energy, focus, and health. In this episode, learn how to eliminate stress, gain mental clarity, and thrive.
Stress isn’t about your job, marriage, or circumstances—it’s about your perception of them. In this powerful episode, the S2S crew sits down with Lisa Angel Smith to break down the difference between acute stress and chronic stress, why managing stre
506 - The Real Reason You’re Still Broke: Stop Listening to the Wrong People
This week on the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go deep on why most people stay stuck financially and personally. From Cracker Barrel’s branding mistakes to the truth about passive income, standards, and self-sabotage—this episode will challenge you to stop listening to the wrong voices and finally become the right person.
🚨 Topics covered:
- Why Cracker Barrel got punked and what it teache
505 - Stop Drifting: The 70/30 Rule That Keeps You From Going Broke
If you’re not intentional with money, marriage, or business, you’ll accidentally end up broke. 💥
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the 70/30 rule and why discipline beats feelings every time. They show how anchors—non-negotiable principles—keep you from drifting into bad deals, broken marriages, or wasted years.
👉 Why the 70/30 rule protects your finances
👉 Ho
504 - F* the Anchor? Why Most People Drift Through Life...
F* the Anchor. Yeah, we said it. But it’s not what you think. In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal break down why so many people are drifting in life—financially, relationally, and spiritually—because they don’t have anchors holding them steady.
The guys talk about:
Why margin for error matters in your money, marriage, and health
How real estate formulas apply
503 - Praying Won’t Fix Stupid Habits (Here’s What Will)
You keep praying for a better life — more money, a better marriage, peace of mind — but nothing changes. Why? Because prayer won’t fix stupid habits.
You can pray all day, but if you’re still eating like trash, still blaming everybody else, still out of order… don’t expect different results.
In this episode, CJ, ET, and Pastor TJ break down why your sequence matters more than your intentions — a
502 - Stop Holding It In - You’re Destroying Your Relationships
You think staying quiet is keeping the peace — but it’s killing your marriage, your friendships, and your opportunities. In this raw conversation from the S2S Podcast, the guys get brutally honest about the damage caused by holding things in for years, avoiding hard conversations, and expecting others to “just know” how you feel.
Learn why unspoken frustrations become resentment, how your silence
501 - 😳 The Real Reason People Cut You Off (Even If You’ve Been Loyal)
Why do people cut you off even after years of loyalty? In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jamal break down a truth most people don’t want to face: being loyal isn’t enough if you’re no longer an asset.
From Dede’s emotional revelation about feeling unprotected, to the raw talk about marriages, business partnerships, and friendships—this episode will challenge how
499 - The Rich Get Richer Because of THIS Mentality
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys go all in on the mindset shift required to break out of survival mode. They challenge the traditional W2 mentality and expose why playing defense in life keeps you stuck.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not getting ahead—this episode is for you.
Topics Discussed:
Why the W2 mindset is keeping you bro
498 - It’s Not What They Teach. It’s How They Think.
You’ve got more access to information than any generation in history — so why are most people still stuck?
In this powerful episode, the guys break down the real reason proximity to greatness doesn’t automatically lead to results: you’re learning the moves but not adopting the mindset. From million-dollar real estate lessons to spiritual growth, relationships, and health — this one covers what it
497 - This Is Why She Doesn’t Talk to You Anymore
Dede is back — and she’s not holding back.
In one of the rawest episodes we’ve ever recorded, Dede and Candis join CJ and Eric for an unfiltered conversation about walls, wounds, and the real reason trust is so hard to build — especially in marriage and sisterhood.
Whether you're dating, married, or simply trying to grow in emotional maturity, this episode is your mirror. From communication brea
495 - You Don’t Need Talent ... You Need Habits
Most people want the rewards of success, but aren’t willing to do what it takes.
In this episode, CJ drops a powerful analogy: the habits of the greats are like broccoli—hard to swallow but life-giving. He shares how adopting “broccoli habits” in fitness, finances, relationships, and business transformed his life from average to avenger-level.
ET jumps in with a challenge: stop chasing Krispy
494 - The Hidden Strength In Your DNA: Lessons From Ghana
This week, the fellas take you straight to the Motherland — recording live from Ghana!
From the emotional walk through Cape Coast Castle to the powerful reality check about your DNA’s hidden strength, CJ, Jemal break down what it means to truly know your history.They unpack raw lessons about endurance, perspective, and how your ancestors’ survival story is coded in your blood.
This episode will
493 - You Think You're Ready? You Can’t Even Take Feedback
Are your feelings stopping your future?
In this episode, the guys break down why so many people stay stuck — not because of a lack of skill or opportunity, but because they refuse to take feedback. From relationships to real estate, work to worship, it’s time to stop letting your emotions drive the car and start asking the right questions.
If you're tired of being in the same place and ready for
492 - We Almost Lost My Dad… But a Decision Made 30 Years Ago Saved Him
What happens when you're forced to make the hardest decision of your life… and you only have minutes to decide?
In this deeply emotional episode, Jemal shares how his father's life was hanging in the balance — and how a choice made decades earlier saved everything. The guys unpack the difference between planning and true preparation, and why waiting until a crisis hits is too late.
You’ll learn:
491 - Be Careful Who You Interlock With 😅
What starts as a quick story about turbulence on a flight turns into a hilarious debate:When a random stranger reaches for your hand… What do you do? 👀
In this episode, the guys break down the now infamous “interlock moment” — but it’s deeper than just laughs.
They explore how too many people try to “perform” success without ever preparing for it. Whether it’s your marriage, your business, your mi
490 - Your Vision Might Be a Lie: Here’s How to Know
This might be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.
What if the vision you're chasing isn't even real? What if you're frustrated, not because you're behind… but because you're living in delusion?
In this episode, the guys go all the way in — breaking down the dangerous difference between perception and reality, and how most people sabotage their future by refusing to expose themselves to t
489 - Delusion Is Costing You Everything
You’re not stuck because of your job, your past, or your partner…
You’re stuck because of the lies you believe about yourself.
In this episode, the S2S crew unpacks the real reason most people never elevate: self-deception. You’re grinding, praying, and planning—but you’re out of alignment with the truth.
We’re calling it out—and giving you the mindset shift to finally move forward.
No more delusi
488 - 💥 The Awkward Talk Every Couple MUST Have (Before It’s Too Late!)
This week on the Secret to Success Podcast, the crew dives into a raw, awkward, but absolutely necessary conversation: what happens when your partner stops trying? One listener asks, “Do I tell my wife she never dresses up anymore… or stay quiet to keep the peace?”
CJ, ET, Karl, and Jemal open up the uncomfortable truth about relationship expectations, unmet needs, and why most couples are too sc
487 - Secondhand Divorce: How Other People's Marriages Are Wrecking Yours
You ever wonder why your healthy marriage still feels heavy?
In this episode, the guys get real about the weight of being the “strong couple” in your circle — the ones everyone runs to when their relationship is falling apart. But what if constantly being surrounded by broken marriages is secretly impacting your own?
From secondhand smoke to secondhand divorce, CJ, ET, Karl, and Jemal unpack why
486 - Stop Saving People Who Don’t Want to Be Saved
🔊 Episode Description:
This week on the Secret to Success Podcast, Eric Thomas and CJ go all the way in. If you’ve ever been the person holding it all together while everyone around you falls apart, this episode is your wake-up call.
ET opens up about what it really means to be fully responsible—and the emotional, financial, and physical toll it takes when you constantly pour into people who don’t
485 - Dreaming Big? You’re Still Missing One Thing
You’ve got big dreams. You’ve got ambition. So why does your life still feel off?
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, ET, CJ, Jemal, and Karl break down a truth most people avoid: you’re not certified for the life you keep asking for.
We don’t mean a degree or a license — we’re talking about the inner work, the healing, the consistency, and the mastery that separates dreamers from do
484 - One Check Away from Broke: Why You’re Not Ready for What’s Coming
Most people don’t realize their real stress isn’t the layoff, the diagnosis, or the bad news — it’s the fact that everything in their life is depending on one source. One income. One plan. One backup. And when that one thing fails? Everything starts crashing.
In this episode, the guys break down why relying on one stream of income is the fastest route to burnout — and what it looks like to actual
483 - He Made Me President… of Nothing?! 😂 The Story That Started It All! | S2S483
CJ shares the hilarious and inspiring moment Eric Thomas made him “President” of a company that didn’t even exist yet — with nothing but a vintage t-shirt and a vision. From that Embassy Suites meeting to global impact, the guys break down what it means to believe before you see results. Plus: Maul’s indoor pool story, food temperature debates, retro checks, and why controlling your environment is
482 - You’re Not Broke… You’re Just Not in Control
🚨 Your life is out of control… but it doesn’t have to be! 🚨
Most people let outside forces—the economy, their job, even the government—determine their future. But the truth is, YOU control the climate of your life! 🌡️💨
In this eye-opening episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the hosts break down how successful people create home-field advantage, no matter the circumstances. Jemal King deliv
481 - Stop Being Soft – Turn Your Pain Into Power
In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Secret to Success podcast, we’re diving deep into the mindset shift that separates the weak from the unstoppable. If you’ve ever felt stuck, angry, or held back by your past, this is the episode that will force you to take a hard look in the mirror and make a choice: keep making excuses or use your pain as fuel.
ET shares powerful, real-life stories—includ
480 - How to Thrive When Life Gets Hard
In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Secret to Success podcast, CJ, Dr. King, and Douglas hold nothing back as they challenge you to face adversity head-on. Learn why running from tough situations is the fastest way to fail—and how the right mindset can transform obstacles into opportunities.
The hosts dive deep into what separates those who thrive under pressure from those who crumble. Disco
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