The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas
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Why You Keep Attracting the Wrong Person (Eric Thomas) | S2S 565
29 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 16 min
What if the person you keep picking is not the problem? What if it is the version of you doing the picking? Lees meer
With CJ and Jemal out this week, Moose takes the host chair next to Eric Thomas and Karl and drives the whole conversation around one idea from ET and CJ's new book, We Is Greater Than Me.
Moose grew up an only child, born in Egypt and raised in New York after 9/11, and learned early that the only way to get ahead was to look out for yourself. So he asks ET straight up: how does we benefit me? ET flips the question. Me is not real. He has never eaten, played, gambled or made it through a day without somebody else making it possible, and he walks you through his grandmother's projects in Detroit to prove it.
Then it gets uncomfortable. ET says there is no enemy. Nobody outside your marriage is running your marriage, so whatever is tearing it down, you are holding the hammer. And if you leave one bad situation just to find the next one, you will tear that one down too. You might not be in the wrong we. You might be the wrong me.
Karl shares the commandment he wrote this week, and it sounds backwards until it clicks: the most selfish thing you can do is give. Moose opens up about his grandmother's final moments in Egypt. ET explains how CJ and Karl turned an hour of raw ET into the three minutes the world saw, and why he never once did it on a solo.
And a random comment someone sent about his kids, Jalin and Jayda, made ET realize he had been raising them in the zoo. It closes with a text Candis sent about Dede, and ET says no sermon can top what Dede did that day.
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New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings and Q&A with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120CHAPTERS
Chapters00:00:00 Cold Open: They Grow From Chasing It Down
00:01:34 Welcome: Moose Takes the Host Chair
00:03:22 Karl's Birthday Shift: Think and Train, Don't Just Do
00:04:59 FOMO Is the Negative Side of We
00:09:12 New York, … -
How to Let Go of People Who Only Take From You (Eric Thomas) | S2S 564
23 oktober 2026 · 51 min
How many times are you going to let somebody overdraft your life before you close the account?
Eric Thomas and CJ go deep on relationships, boundaries and building the right team. E says it plain: God never told you to stay in a relationship that only takes. If people keep withdrawing more than they deposit, at some point you have to be strong enough to say, I have to let you go.
It starts with CJ asking E how you know you are building on bedrock and not in vain. E gives three rules. Repeat the behaviors that get your best results, the same way a 24 hour fast finally moved his scale. Reproduce your best, even if it is the in your face voice Dede is tired of hearing. And select people who share your values, because access is not the same thing as love.
Then CJ asks if there is ever a "me season." E tells the story of Dede asking the family for 18 months so she could get her master's, and why that was me for the sake of we. He explains why so many people quit on we after a bad partnership: they never prayed about it, they came for the money.
The back half is a live Q&A with the S2S Patreon fam. E answers when the we is worth the sacrifice of me, why some of your me is sick and only spends in your own house, how to get volunteers to join what you are building, and why you can win a lot by yourself but you cannot win the big one alone. He also tells the story of how God gave him the title We Is Greater Than Me in prayer.
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PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME
The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Help us hit the New York Times Best Seller list.
https://www.weisgreater.com
EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION
Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year.
https://www.extremeexecution.com
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Cold Open: I Need You to Produce Something
00:01:28 Welcome: We Costs More Up Front
00:02:43 NBA Coache… Lees meer -
You're Not People-Pleasing If the People Aren't Pleased (Eric Thomas) | S2S 563
16 oktober 2026 · 51 min
Eric Thomas thought he was a people pleaser. Then he looked around his own company and noticed something. Nobody was pleased. Lees meer
Payroll was astronomical. Every month was a prayer just to cover it. Morale was low. And every time the money ran short, ET had the same answer: get back on the road and go make more.
This conversation starts with one sentence. CJ told someone who wanted in, "I don't trust you in the we right now." Not with his wallet. With the mission. Because CJ had already watched a people pleasing spirit up close. He watched E people please his way into that payroll.
So CJ turns to E and asks him to talk to the people pleasers. What comes next is ET at his most honest: "I lied to you about what we was."
He tells you why he did it, and it goes all the way back to being a kid watching Roots. He tells you what one conversation with TJ about the NFL finally made him see. And he gives you the one question that exposes whether you are really people pleasing or just worried about what people think.
Then it gets personal. ET grew up in the Serengeti, but he raised his kids in the safari, where the meat gets thrown out to you right on schedule. So he made a decision about his son Jalin that most parents will not make. Then Jalin got COVID, missed four days of work, and opened his check. What he said to his dad after that is the whole point of this episode.
Also in this one: why ET says workers don't get paid in this country, what a fourth and inches call has to do with your life, what being "half and half" gave CJ that E never had, and the phone call ET made to the father who raised him to apologize for something that made him mad as a kid.
So be honest. The people you keep taking care of. Are they actually pleased?
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Cold Open: You Can't Say It's Bad When You're Part of What's Making It…
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You Can't Build It Alone (Eric Thomas) | S2S 562
9 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 18 min
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 saying he has never felt this good. The reason is not a new win. It is something he removed. E explains how the Flight Assessment showed him he was the opinionated flight attendant in his own house, and why the biggest thing he did for his family this season was stay out their business. His kids Jalin and Jayda left the “family we”, landed at the same company, and took off.
From there the two get into money. E breaks down why money cannot buy happiness but it can buy options, the number he chased so Dede could retire, and why he stopped trying to fund everything on me income after a handful of kids came back from Dubai changed.
Then CJ pushes E on the hard question. How do you know you are in the right we, and when do you leave one? E talks about God telling him to leave Huntsville, the day CJ told him he was a brand and made him keep the hat on, and why he picks people on character. CJ closes with the line that carries the episode. He and E did not find a finished table. They built one with a hammer and a nail, and you can build yours with the people already around you.
So be honest. Are you building your own table, or waiting on a seat at somebody else's? Drop it in the comments.
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Cold Open: CJ Almost Got Fired in His First Month
00:01:39 Welcome: Just CJ and E This Week
00:02:54 Pre-Order We Is Greater Than Me
00:04:22 Why E Has Never Felt This Good
00:05:42 Jalin and Jayda Outgrew the Family We
00:10:30 What E Had to Change on the Inside
00:12:44 The Flight Assessment and the Opinionated Flight Attendant
00:15:36 "Stay Out Their Business"
00:17:33 Sometime… Lees meer -
You Don't Need to Be the Star to Win (Eric Thomas) | S2S 561
2 oktober 2026 · 56 min
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.
From Raider Nation to the Lakers, Dennis Rodman to Draymond Green, the conversation keeps landing on the same truth. It matters who drafts you. It matters who coaches you. And it matters whether you know your role.
CJ tells the story of giving up his speaking slot so ET could take the whole stage, and what he said when someone told him to stop dimming his light. ET goes back to the Michigan State cubicle where he, CJ and Karl figured out who was the brain, the hands and the mouth. Then he drops a rule for your house and your business. If you are not the best at it, stop doing it just because you can. That is your ego in the we.
Plus, Jemal on why your life is really a series of pivots, Karl on the funeral video that got a standing ovation, a fair or foul on a grown man with his own face on his phone screensaver, and the 45 dollar heart test everybody listening needs to ask their doctor about.
So what is your role in your we? Are you playing it, or are you still trying to do everything yourself? Drop it in the comments.
CHAPTERS
Chapters Lees meer00:00:00 Cold Open: The Third String QB and a Powerful We
00:01:32 Welcome: Blessed, Highly Favored, and the Calcium Score Test
00:04:13 God Put ET's Kids at the Same Company
00:08:48 Fair or Foul: A Grown Man With Himself on His Screensaver
00:10:56 Donuts, Breakfast Tacos, and When to Lock Back In
00:14:47 Jemal's Keynote: Your Life Is a Series of Pivots
00:18:34 You Don't Get What You Experience, You Get What You Focus On
00:19:37 Karl's Funeral Video That Got a Standing Ovation
00:22:29 NFC North: The Third String QB Who Won
00:24:19 Wh… -
You Want Me To Go Easier On You, But Will The World? | S2S 560
25 september 2026 · 58 min
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. Lees meer
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 brunch etiquette to Allen Iverson, from Navy SEAL hell week to the Mr. Miyagi principle to the exact moment you stop being valuable to a team.
ET explains why he walked away from being a democratic coach. Giving everyone an equal voice sounded fair, until it produced a room full of preferences and no results. But does that mean every coach should run it that way?
The Allen Iverson and Coach Larry Brown story becomes the test case, the only coach in history to win championships in both college and the pros, paired with one of the most talented players ever who never fully bought into the system. Was that on Iverson, or on the system?
Jemal argues that if the coach is proven, the player adjusts, not the other way around. You don't get to skip wax on, wax off. ET goes further, crediting his hardest seasons of being coached, not coddled, for getting him from homeless to number one in the world.
But where's the line between discipline and being broken down? The crew pushes into the screaming baby at brunch, why some kids need the paw paw, whether hell week coaching actually prepares you for real life, and why blessed kids might need a little manufactured hunger to grow.
So which side are you on? Does the coach adjust to the player, or does the player adjust to the coach? Where's your line between hard coaching and harsh coaching? Drop your answer in the comments, the crew wants to hear it.
CHAPTERS
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Stay Inside the Margins or You're Not You Anymore
00:01:35 Welcome and Fair or Foul: The Screaming Baby at Brunch
00:07:08 The Pow Pow Philosophy: When Ki… -
You Want the Results But You Won't Get on the Scale | S2S 559
18 september 2026 · 48 min
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 about the scale. Not just weight, but every area of life where you're avoiding the truth. Jemal breaks down why he kept the scale in the kitchen, not the bathroom. Because the enemy isn't the number. The enemy is the cheeseburger. The cookies. The late night fries. The scale is just telling you what you already know. And when you run from it, you're saying you don't want to be successful.
ET opens up about why he stopped getting on the scale after going out of town for Dede's birthday. How he told himself a story that if he got on and it wasn't where he wanted to be, all the work he did would feel like it was in vain. But the scale doesn't tell stories. It tells facts. And the story you tell yourself when you avoid it is the one keeping you stuck.
Dr. King breaks down how he measures Camille's happiness. Low stress. Making sure everything is taken care of. The kids, the house, the business, the car. He knows her level of joy is directly connected to her peace. And the one thing he could do better? Travel more. Not five star Dubai trips. Just getting away. Because wherever they are together, that's home.
Karl gets real about what he needs to work on with Tamisha. Cooking. She does 99 percent of it. And even though that's become their family dynamic, he knows taking one meal a day off her plate would relieve stress. Because the scale in your marriage isn't just communication. It's the small daily decisions that show you're paying attention.
ET unpacks why he shifted his relationship with food. He used to be a taste bud junkie. Never thinking about vitamin D or vitamin C. Just… Lees meer -
You Think You're Using the Perks But Really You're Losing the Circle | S2S 558
11 september 2026 · 54 min
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 after two years. Not because he stopped flying. But because he started using too many of the benefits. The upgrades, the miles, the Sky Club access, the Porsche pickups. He was taking more from the circle than he was putting back in. And Delta kicked him out.
ET breaks down why the same thing happens in relationships, marriages, and friendships. You can't keep pulling from the circle without adding to it. Because the moment you become a liability, the moment you start draining more than you're contributing, people start distancing themselves. Not because they don't love you. But because you're using all your credit.
The crew unpacks why most people come into circles looking for what they can get instead of what they can give. Why generosity is a war, not a transaction. And why the healthiest people in the circle are the ones who never need anything. Shout out to Rondell, shout out to Will, shout out to Maul. They came in healthy. They came in ready to serve. And because of that, they're still here.
ET gets real about teaching his son Jalin the difference between being fed and knowing how to hunt. Why wealth doesn't start with money, it starts with a mindset. And why you can tell the difference between a lion and a giraffe just by looking at their bodies. One hunts. One grazes. And your physique, your character, your future depends on which one you are.
They also talk about why ET's daughter Jada called and asked what God said about her. How he told her everything she needs is about to come because she's finally in the Serengeti. And why being a COO at her brother's company… Lees meer -
You're Trapped By The Very Thing That Made You Successful | S2S 557
4 september 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
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. Lees meer
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. ET breaks down why he's always been a two man, never a one. Even when everyone assumed he was the leader, he was always the second. From elementary school track meets to McDonald's, he knew his high capacity came with smoke. He knew the thing that made him great could also destroy him. So he spent his whole life looking for the right ones to connect with.
Mal opens up about why he joined the team in the first place. He had the real estate, the daycares, the security company, the money, the family. He wasn't looking for business. He was praying for brotherhood. He was praying for a circle of influence that was on the same level. Not financially, but spiritually. And when he connected with the crew, it wasn't about coaching or business deals. It was about friendship. It was about having an out. It was about being able to cook dinner with the wives and the kids without it always being mastermind time.
Karl shares what it's like being the introvert on a team of extroverts. How he showed up to the office 20 years ago not knowing if he even fit in. How he was overthinking everything, trying not to mess it up. But deep down, he knew connecting with the right people would have an impact bigger than he could imagine. And now, two decades later, he's living down the street from E in a neighborhood he never dreamed of. Because together everyone accomplishes more.
CJ unpacks the shift from being a lifelong one to becoming a two. How he was always the captain, always the leader, always the one. Until he met E. And for the first time in his life, he had to learn what it meant to be s…
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You Know Better, You Can Do Better, But You Haven't Done Better Yet | S2S 556
28 augustus 2026 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
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. And when your character is on the line, you can't promote a health supplement at 242 pounds or talk about transformation while avoiding the area you know needs to change. Not because of vanity, but integrity.
CJ gets real about being a true two man. Not a one in waiting looking for his moment, but someone whose light is connected to yours. He shares how he stepped aside at a speaking engagement so ET could go first. Someone accused him of dimming his light, but they couldn't understand that CJ and ET's destinies are tied together. Winning means doing whatever it takes, not whatever makes you look good.
The crew unpacks why consistency without quality is rehearsed failure, why people want to win their way instead of simply winning, and why real accountability goes beyond someone saying you're getting big. It's someone asking for your blood pressure every day. The 52-day challenge isn't about weight loss. It's about the area where you know better, can do better, but haven't done better yet.
ET also breaks down his home game versus away game strategy, how the Peloton app keeps him accountable on the road, and how CJ pushed him back to intermittent fasting. Nobody said a word when he was eating honey buns and Cheetos, but now that he's fasting, everybody's worried about his electrolytes.
This episode will challenge how you think about accountability, partnership, and being a two man. Because you don't want to be a two man. You're a one in waiting. Until you deal with that, you'll keep doing 52 days alone. Stop trying to win your way. Do what it takes to win. Your 242 is w…
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A moment for Forever
25 augustus 2026 · 25 min
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! Lees meer
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 it. And that's exactly what Forever Forward is for. October 29th in Cancun, the crew is inviting less than 50 couples to a marriage bliss retreat. Not a conference. Not counseling. A celebration. This week CJ and Candis, Jemal and Camille get real about why this retreat isn't for the struggle marriage. It's for the couples who are already in love, already healthy, already doing the work. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: the healthy couples always end up being the source of strength for all the weak couples. And where do they go to get filled back up?
Candis confesses she used to say no to vacationing with other couples. She wanted quality time with CJ, not group hangouts. But exposure changed everything. Not because they sat around doing marriage counseling, but because they observed. They watched how Jemal and Camille showed affection, how they communicated, how they celebrated anniversaries. And it challenged them to level up without anyone saying a word. The crew breaks down why iron sharpens iron applies to marriages too. Why being around other couples in bliss rejuvenates you. Why you need community, not just for business or faith, but for your marriage. And why this retreat is about building a tribe of couples who actually enjoy being together. Jemal drops the unk word about the attack on marriage nobody talks about. The quiet period. The phase after the baby showers and birthday parties where nobody invests in their marriage anymore. Life becomes about the kids, the job, the ladder. And years later, the divorce phase hits. Not by chance, but…
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You're Winning in Some Areas But Losing in 1 (And It's Costing You Everything) | S2S 555
21 augustus 2026 · 56 min
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 was preaching. The moment he realized he was about to be the weakest link. Because when CJ told him the supplement was finally ready, ET knew he couldn't come out with a health product at 242 pounds. Not because of vanity. Because of integrity.
ET breaks down why he avoided the scale for years. Why he justified being strong in four out of five pillars. Why he told himself his blood work was good enough. And why God had to step in and say, you're not industry standard in this area, son. You're about to destroy what you said you wanted to build.
The crew unpacks why most people resist the one area they need to fix the most. Why we justify being great in four areas while ignoring the fifth. Why embarrassment isn't about what other people see, it's about knowing you're better than this. And why the first step isn't exercise or diet, it's changing your heart.
ET shares how he lost 17 pounds in 52 days without obsessing over food or workouts. How he put on the black suit jacket from 2012 that used to have tension and now fits perfectly. And how God said pre won't stay pre. Your body is a temple. And if you don't treat it like one, you won't be around to celebrate the legacy you're trying to build.
This episode will challenge everything you think about success. Because you can be number one in four areas and still be losing. Stop justifying the one thing you know needs to change. What's your 242? The area you've been ignoring? The thing you know you're better than? It's time to fix it. And it starts with your heart.
CHAPTERS
Chapters Lees meer00:00:00 Opening: You're Winning in Four, Lo…
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You Want the Reward Without the Relationship (And That's Why You're Stuck) | S2S 554
14 augustus 2026 · 56 min
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. Lees meer
ET explains why motivation still matters, even if discipline is the goal. Most people need something to get them moving before discipline can take over. The crew also unpacks what it means to have a contrite spirit, become truly coachable, stop defending your way, and become a student again.
ET reads his Day 50 journal entry from the 52-Day Challenge and shares how discipline helped him improve his fitness while staying present with his faith and family. The guys break down the five pillars: faith, family, finance, fitness, and freedom, and how to work on all five without giving each one equal time.
They also revisit Nehemiah rebuilding in 52 days what had been broken for 140 years, why what bothers you may be pointing toward your calling, and why belief matters when there is still no visible evidence. The bottom line: stop chasing the reward. Build the relationship. Get coachable. Stay connected. The fruit will follow.
CHAPTERS
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: You Want the Reward But Not the Relationship
00:01:21 Welcome and The Motivation vs Discipline Debate
00:05:08 The Contrite Spirit: Broken and Humiliated
00:05:35 Give Up Everything and Become a Student
00:06:17 The Real Estate Lesson: When You Ignore the Coach
00:06:55 Carl's Smile and The Community Person Revelation
00:08:09 Being Coachable: The Film Room Mentality
00:09:37 The Five Pillars: Faith Family Finance Fitness Freedom
00:10:38 Nehemiah's 52 Days: What 140 Years Couldn't Do
00:12:03 What's Bothering You: The First Sign of Your Calling
00:19:45 Working All Five Pillars Daily Without Equal Time
00:21:30 ET's Fitness Journey: Combining P… -
You Don't Want the Advice, You Want the Reward | S2S 553
7 augustus 2026 · 47 min
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 between motivation and discipline. Why the dude who studied discipline and went through the military has the right to say motivation is whack. But most people aren't there yet. Most people need something to get them going. That's why he asks, what's your why? Because that part works. It worked for the Denver Nuggets when they won the championship. It worked for Texas A&M when they went undefeated. The first level is motivation. But you can't stay there.
They also get into the LeBron versus Jordan debate. Not the stats, not the rings, just the question: who's better? And why that conversation never gets old. Plus, ET tells the story of breaking the law, getting caught on video, and still trying to argue it was racism. Spoiler: he lost in court. But the videotape don't lie.
CJ shares why he went through the 10 items or less line with 17 items and had a full stare down with the grocery store clerk. Was he fair or foul? The crew weighs in. And ET admits he's a lawbreaker when it comes to waiting. Because the hip hop preacher ain't got time for lines.
This episode is about the gap between wanting success and doing what it takes to get it. Because everybody wants the reward. But most people don't want the advice. They don't want the discipline. They don't want the process. And that's why they stay stuck. Stop asking for shortcuts. Start doing the work.
CHAPTERS
Chapters Lees meer00:00:00 Opening: Discipline vs Motivation - The First Level You Need
00:01:16 Welcome and Team Introductions: Clark Atlanta Bound
00:02:57 LeBron vs Jordan: The Debate That Never Gets Old
00:03:22 Fair or Foul: T… -
LeBron or Jordan? The Argument That Got Heated (S2S 552)
31 juli 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
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 untouchable?
The guys break down the stats, the rings, the eras, the dynasties, and the longevity. They argue about whether LeBron's four championships in 23 seasons stack up against Jordan's six in 15. They debate whether losing in the finals is worse than losing in the first round. They unpack whether the COVID championship counts the same. And they go back and forth on who had better help, who faced tougher competition, and whether switching teams makes you less of a legend or just smart.
They also break down why the NBA has become the portal. Why player movement is out of control. Why LeBron might get a statue in Cleveland but probably not in LA or Miami. And why even Michael Jordan said it's disrespectful to call anyone the GOAT when there are legends who came before him.
This episode is not about personal development. It's about passion. It's about what happens when four friends who love sports sit down and argue like they're on First Take. And it's hilarious, it's heated, and it's exactly they needed after three straight days of mastermind intensity.
Plus, CJ shares the story of meeting Magic Johnson at 13 years old and riding around with Bill Russell for an entire day. ET opens up about why he thinks LeBron winning in Philly would be incredible for the culture. And they announce the big news: Forever Forward Marriage Retreat is officially happening in Cancun. Less than 50 couples. No breakout rooms. Just a celebration of love.
CHAPTERS
Chapters Lees meer00:00:00 Opening: The LeBron vs Jordan Debate Heats Up Immediately
00:01:43 Welcome and Catching Up: Fresh Off the Master… -
Prayed About It But Still Stuck? Here's Why | S2S 551
24 juli 2026 · 42 min
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. Lees meer
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. His directions are clear. The problem is your filters are messed up. You're so stuck in your own way of doing things, so locked into what you know, that you can't hear what God is trying to tell you. And even when you do hear it, you come back the next day asking the same question like y'all didn't just have that conversation yesterday.
ET opens up about why he told people to stop praying. Not because prayer doesn't work, but because some people use prayer as a crutch. They pray for Peter to be released from jail while Peter is at the door knocking. They're so busy praying they can't see the answer is already here. He breaks down the formula of prayer, the one he learned when he was homeless. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us as we forgive others. With thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. It's not just about asking. It's about listening. It's about doing what God tells you to do.
What do you do when you feel like you didn't hear God clearly? What do you do when your mind is so cluttered with anxiety, stress, and worry that you can't process what God is saying? You can't get directions when you're moving. You have to stop. And once God gives you the directions, don't come back asking for the same directions again. Move.
They also unpack why most people only see God as a provider instead of a relationship. Why your prayer life should be you and God just kicking it, reminiscing on the good old days, talking about what you're grateful for. Not just showing up with a list of demands. And why the people who get closest to God, like Enoch and Moses, are the o…
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You're Working Hard for the Wrong Reason, and It's Breaking You | S2S 550
17 juli 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
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 conversations about faith, work, and what it really means to let go and let God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: you can have the title Christian, but the devil can still be driving you.
Candis opens up about working herself into the ground at GE. Senior management, six figures, the whole dream. But she was miserable, burnt out, crying in the closet. When CJ told her to quit, she was ready to walk. But ET stepped in with something that changed everything: your job isn't to influence her, it's to get her to talk to God. So Candis went to a hotel for two days. Just her and God. And God told her three things: be still, have peace, be humble. Everything shifted. Not because she quit, but because she stopped letting fear drive her.
Dede gets real about thinking she had the backup plan. The insurance, the retirement, all of it figured out. Until God started breaking the stuff off of her that was keeping her from trusting him. Because brokenness isn't God trying to destroy you. It's God breaking the trauma, the pride, the self reliance off of you so he can multiply you. And the multiplication only comes after the breaking.
They also unpack the AI love letter. A man sent his wife a heartfelt message using ChatGPT. She loved it, until he admitted he used AI. Now she's upset because it wasn't really from him. Dede's response is priceless.
This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and trust. Because faith without works is dead. But works without faith is empty. Stop letting your backup plan replace God. Stop letting your job be your secur… Lees meer -
You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth | S2S 549
10 juli 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
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. Lees meer
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 go work under someone else. Not because he didn't want them around, but because he refused to insulate them from the growth they needed. Karl gets transparent about working out with a trainer who pushed him 14 more reps than he thought he had left, just by watching his muscle instead of listening to his excuses. Jemal brings the NBA Finals breakdown and why the Spurs lost a 29 point lead in the second half. Not because they weren't talented, but because they didn't have sustainable systems. And CJ delivers the truth about Kobe and Mike: 11 championships between them, zero without Phil Jackson.
They also unpack why people follow relationships instead of truth. Why your grandma's way of doing things might not be God's way. Why Diddy told ET at 16 that she wasn't trying to win mother of the year, and how that one conversation set him free from trying to be everything to everybody. And why some of you are 60 years old still struggling with the same issues you had at 30 because you never submitted to coaching.
The crew gets real about marriage, parenting, and why CJ and Candace went to Australia when their daughter was five months old. Not because they're bad parents, but because coaching taught them that a strong marriage creates the foundation for strong kids. They break down why ET got two kids in 14 years with zero accidents, and why that's not luck, it's coaching. And why Jemal told people in his circle they can't be around him without owning real estate.
This episode will challenge everything you think about accountability, growth, and what it really takes to win. Becau…
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You're Doing the Work But Still Stuck, Here's Why | S2S 548
3 juli 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
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 is saying stop. Not because you're not capable. But because the work you're doing is getting in the way of what he's trying to do.
ET opens up about why he's been telling people to stop praying. Not because prayer doesn't work, but because some people use prayer as a crutch. They pray for Peter to be released from jail while Peter is at the door knocking. They're so busy praying they can't see the answer is already here. Karl gets transparent about 3 weeks of waking up at 5:09 every morning and making one commitment: don't ask God for anything. Just be in his presence. And how in those 3 weeks, every area of his business got uncomfortable. Every direction he thought was the answer, God closed. Because the answer wasn't more work. The answer was stop.
Jemal brings the 100 year plan. What are you building that your great great grandkids will benefit from? What seed are you planting that you'll never taste the fruit of? Because the person who plants the seed doesn't get to taste the fruit. But they're satisfied knowing what's coming. And CJ breaks down why most people quit right when the breakthrough is about to happen. Because they're measuring in their own strength instead of letting God be the structural engineer.
They also unpack why your problems aren't problems, they're preparation. Because if you can't handle one rental property stressing you out, you can't handle 10. If you can't handle one difficult conversation, you can't handle the next level. God isn't punishing you. He's preparing you.
This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and what i… Lees meer -
You Think They Had Something You Don't. You're Wrong | S2S 547
26 juni 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
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 breaks down why the only real difference between where you are and where you want to be is not talent or background, and why most people stay stuck holding onto an excuse that was never true.
Jemal shares walking into the Obama Library opening, surrounded by billionaires and legends, and the question that hit him in that room about what he is actually building. CJ pushes on how you do the work and still get out of your own way.
This one is a confrontation. The kind you need.
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Watch the video version on YouTube.
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RATE AND REVIEW
If this one hit you, leave us a rating and review. It helps more people find the show.
CHAPTERS
PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME
The new book from ET and CJ.
https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D
APOC VIRTUAL CHURCH
Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, to help you believe in your own potential and build a life that matters. Lees meer -
He Chased Guys Like Him. Now They're Face to Face. (S2S 546)
19 juni 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
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 wealth.
Trap explains how the streets prepared him for capitalism. Jemal breaks down the seven streams of income and why you don't chase all seven at once. And the whole room gets honest about buffer room, the equity that decides whether one bad week wrecks you or barely moves you.
This one is raw, it is real, and it might change how you look at every dollar you spend.
LISTEN, FOLLOW, AND SHARE
If this episode hit, do three things. Follow the show so you never miss a drop. Rate and review us, it is the single biggest thing you can do to help more people find S2S. And share this one with someone who needs to hear it.
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MORE FROM THE FAM
Pre-order "We Is Greater Than Me" by Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5D
Join us for APOC Virtual Church, Saturdays at 11am EST: www.apocministry.org
CHAPTERS
Chapters Lees meer00:00:00 Opening: Behind the Scenes Post-Stage Energy
00:03:05 The Five Pillars: Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Freedom
00:03:58 The Seven Streams of Income: Your Financial Blueprint
00:08:41 Why Black Men Stay Behind Financially Despite Wanting Success
00:0… -
You Can't Build the New You Without Tearing the Old One Down | S2S 545
12 juni 2026 · 57 min
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 about surface level change. They're talking about gutting out the old wiring, the old walls, the old mindset that's been holding you back for years. ET breaks down why God doesn't design you where He has to come back and rewire you later. You're already wired for everything you're supposed to do. The problem is you've only been using one hand your whole life. Jemal opens up about becoming a millionaire by mistake, and the question that changed everything: if I could become a millionaire by mistake, what could I become on purpose? Karl gets transparent about being in the demo phase right now, crying in bed, asking God for clarity, and realizing that the discomfort is the process. And CJ brings the perspective on why you can't skip demo and go straight to the finished product.
They also unpack why most people quit right when they start seeing results. Why you can't do demo alone. Why your marriage, your parenting, your career all need to be renovated, not just maintained. And why the people who knew you before your transformation are the ones most likely to keep you stuck. Because they're still measuring you by titles, not outcomes. They're still seeing the shell of who you used to be, not the person you're becoming.
This episode will challenge everything you think about change. Because transformation isn't about adding more to your life. It's about tearing down what's no longer working and building something new from the foundation up. And if you're waiting for it to feel comfortable, you'll be waiting forever. The new you doesn't come without demolition. And the demolitio… Lees meer -
They Won't Recognize the New You (And That's the Point) | S2S 544
5 juni 2026 · 47 min
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. Lees meer
In Episode 544, the crew dives into one of the most uncomfortable truths about transformation. The people who knew you before your change are often the ones who resist it the most. Not because they don't love you. But because your growth exposes where they're still stuck. And instead of celebrating your elevation, they start acting awkward, distant, or downright hostile. ET breaks down the Harriet Tubman principle: she didn't carry a gun for her enemies. She carried it for the people she was trying to free. Because the ones closest to you are the ones most likely to snitch, sabotage, or talk you out of your destiny.
Jemal opens up about how people who saw him build from the ground up didn't treat him differently until the world validated what he was doing. CJ shares how his wife is now experiencing what it's like to step into the light and have people who were once close suddenly act funny. Karl brings the perspective on why you can't stay around people who aren't building. And ET delivers the hard truth: you are supposed to change. People are not supposed to recognize you. That's not the problem. That's the proof.
This episode will challenge everything you think about loyalty, relationships, and what it really means to transform. Because the higher you go, the more you expose where others are stuck. And if you're waiting for the people from your past to celebrate the person you're becoming, you'll be waiting forever. Stop dimming your light to make others comfortable. The new you is not for everyone. And that's exactly the point.
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: Vision Beyond the Demolition - Seeing What Others Can't…
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Most People Wait Years for What Takes 52 Days | S2S 543
29 mei 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
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. Lees meer
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. This is where the real conversations keep going.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.
https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DENJOYING THE SHOW?
If this episode hit you, take ten seconds to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find us.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15CHAPTERS
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: 140 Years vs 52 Days - The Wall That Changed Everything
00:02:33 Welcome and Team Introductions: Fresh Off the Plane Energy
00:05:01 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: Your 52-Day Moment
00:11:33 Fair or Foul: The Elderly Server Dilemma
00:14:54 The Tipping Epidemic: From Drive-Throughs to 35 Percent Suggestions
00:09:14 The Knicks Talk and Sports Banter: When Franchises Finally Break Through
00:20:49 The Sermon Breakdown: Self-Accountability and the 52-Day Principle
00:26:21 The Math That Will Blow Your Mind: 983 Opportunities Wasted
00:28:41 ET's Bathroom Story: When Vision Meets Self-Accountability
00:28:25 The Broken Comb Philosophy: Why DeDeThrows Things Away Immediately
00:38:03 Vision, Urgency, and Miracle Territory: The Three Keys to 52 Days
00:40:27 The Michael Jackson Warning: If You Don't Move, God Gives It to Prince
00:44:19 Rachel's Transformation: From Basement to 1.3 Million in Softball
00:45:47 The Hot Seat Moment: How 5,000 Dollars Changed Rachel's Life Forever
00:48:03 Rachel Creates the Ne… -
She Said No: What To Do When Your Feelings Lie To You | S2S 542
22 mei 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
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? Lees meer
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 to his girlfriend of several years, only to hear her say she's not ready. He's confused, hurt, and stuck between staying or walking away. ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal break down why feelings will lie to you every single time, and why the data never does.
ET gets raw about the moment Dede told him she didn't feel safe, not physically, but emotionally and mentally. How his ego wanted to defend what he'd built, but the data told him something else entirely. He shares how he got off the road for four months, gave her predictability, and watched their marriage transform because he stopped going with his feelings and started going with the facts. Karl brings the "what by when" accountability framework that keeps you honest. Jemal drops the vision about getting in front of your future, how he started his daughters' 529 plans when they were toddlers, and why Yani just graduated from Michigan State debt free.
CJ tells the Slim Thug story, the moment he reached out to a Houston legend to help an artist he was mentoring, got ghosted, and realized the most important lesson of his career: stop asking people to do for you what you need to learn how to do yourself. They also break down why Joe Jackson energy isn't just for parenting, it's for every area of life where you're trying to build something real. From book covers to corporate stages to marriage, this episode will challenge you to stop letting your feelings run your life and start letting the data lead.
If you've ever been rejected, corrected, or redirected and didn't know what to do next, this conversation is for you. Because your…
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You're Looking for Validation, Not the Truth (Here's Why It's Killing You) | S2S 541
15 mei 2026 · 1 uur 9 min
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. Lees meer
DISCLAIMER: Our focus in this episode is not the Jackson family, and we are not endorsing or excusing abuse of any kind. Our focus is what happens when people push us because they see we are capable of more, and get demonized for it. The Jackson story is a starting point, not the subject.The guys dig into why visionaries always get villainized, why our relationship with trauma is broken, and the difference between feedback and validation. Karl shares the "Carlos" moment that changed how he receives criticism. ET tells the Mr. Gene swim instructor story that put this entire philosophy to the test with his own son.
If you've ever fired the person trying to save you, this one is for you.
In this episode: Why every visionary, from Moses to Joe Jackson, gets demonized during the process Why you can't receive help unless it comes wrapped exactly the way you want it The difference between looking for feedback and looking for validation How ET almost fired the swim instructor who taught his entire family to swim How to narrate your own story without playing the victim
CHAPTERS:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Karl OS - The New Operating System
00:01:39 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Michael Jackson Movie Discussion
00:03:24 Did Michael Jackson Play the Victim His Whole Life?
00:04:15 Joe Jackson: Visionary or Villain?
00:23:06 The Gary, Indiana Reality Check
00:25:01 Feelings vs. Goals: Why Most People Stay Stuck
00:28:35 The Mr. Jean Swimming Lesson Story
00:37:12 Stop Looking for Validation, Start Looking for Feedback
00:44:20 Karl's Transformation: From Soft to Strategic
00:43:17 Next Level Speakers … -
We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology (Eric Thomas Goes Off) | S2S 540
8 mei 2026 · 49 min
Your soft coaching is killing their future. And you think you're being kind. Lees meer
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 Jackson-ing them. And why the people closest to greatness are usually the ones being held back by feelings, comfort, and lies we call love.
CJ gets cavity searched while ET watches in the distance…
Then the crew dives into the Michael Jackson movie and what most people missed. Joe Jackson got them out of Gary, Indiana. From the steel mill to the charts. Six kids. Multiple number ones. And we've been dogging him out for decades without asking the hard question: would there even be a Michael Jackson without Joe Jackson?
ET breaks down why he's been doing it wrong as a leader. Why caring about people's feelings has actually been holding them back. Why his mom kicked him out at 16 and it was the greatest gift she ever gave him.
This episode will make you rethink every soft conversation you've had. Every time you coddled someone instead of challenging them. Every time you let someone stay comfortable when you knew they were capable of more. Because real love isn't making people feel good. Real love is helping them become who God called them to be.
Timestamps:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: The Airport Security Story - When ET Left CJ Behind
00:01:25 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Pastor's License
00:02:25 Fair or Foul: ET Goes Through Security While CJ Gets Searched
00:10:58 The Michael Jackson Movie: We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology
00:12:28 From Gary Indiana to Greatness: Joe Jackson's Vision
00:18:00 The Catherine vs Joe Jackson Debate: Love or Lies?
00:21:34 Stop Catherine-ing People: Why Feelings Are Holding You Back
00:19:37 The Candy Seller Revelation: When Compassion… -
You Had Everything and Still Cried in the Closet (Here's Why) | S2S 539
1 mei 2026 · 52 min
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. Lees meer
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 worked hard for, and still broke down. The house was there. The marriage was there. The kids were there. The pool was there. And none of it was enough. That moment did not break her. It built a movement. Candis is done watching women settle for a version of life that looks good from the outside and feels hollow on the inside, and she is calling everyone to a higher standard.
ET picks up where Episode 538 left off, going deeper into what it actually felt like to release the need for control and what changed in his life and his marriage when he finally did. He also brings one of the most tender moments in recent S2S history, talking about going back to heal his mother and realizing she went through everything he blamed her for carrying.
Karl's Kalm Down segment delivers one of the most practical frameworks this show has produced. Access and alignment are not the same thing. Just because something good comes to you does not mean it is yours. Make your decisions on alignment, not access.
With Jemal away, CJ steps in with a sanctified session and does not hold back. God wants more for you than you want for yourself. Everything you do not have is because you are still operating below the level God designed for you. Stop shrinking.
The episode also includes the announcement of ET and CJ's debut book "We Is Greater Than Me," now available for preorder on Amazon, and ET pulls out his GED on camera for the first time, earned February 9th, 1989, out of Lansing, Michigan. The certificate that started everything.
If you are a woman who has ever smiled through something that was breakin…
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Most People Are Trapped Waiting for an Apology That's Never Coming | S2S 538
24 april 2026 · 53 min
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. Lees meer
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 immediately changes the energy in the room. Candis is not here as a plus one. She is building something, a movement for women who are done performing, done pretending, and done settling for a version of life that looks good on the outside and feels hollow on the inside. Her story, including a moment of sitting in a closet with everything she was supposed to want and still breaking down, is the kind of honesty that most people spend their whole lives avoiding. It is also exactly why we named this episode what we named it.
Before the episode even gets rolling, Karl opens with a reframe that sets the tone for everything that follows: God does not always allow the pain. Sometimes it is just our decisions. What is remarkable is that He works through it anyway.
ET's conference debrief becomes one of the most honest moments in recent S2S memory. He traces his lifelong anger back to its real source, being uprooted from Chicago as a kid, losing his cousin-brothers, resenting a stepfather he never asked for, and spending decades needing to control everything because nobody was ever in control for him. The breakthrough comes when he finally connects the dots and realizes the plan he spent years fighting against was actually the plan that made him who he is.
The episode also goes deep on DeDe's gift, her ability to see what no one else sees, illustrated through the story of Donovan, a child in their church navigating an impossible situation while his younger brother fights kidney failure. It is a quiet masterclass in what it looks like to show up for people with your actual gifts, n…
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The Public Was Never Supposed to See This | S2S 537
17 april 2026 · 46 min
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. Lees meer
This is the crew unfiltered. No script. No agenda. Just ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal being exactly who they are.
From 80s hip-hop debates to the first game they ever ran, to ET getting real about why he stopped giving his expertise away for free — this episode has everything the highlight reel never shows you. And then Pops pulls up and drops the origin story of how ET and CJ found each other — the moment that started all of this.
If you've ever wondered what S2S looks like behind closed doors — this is it.
In This Episode:
The 80s hip-hop playlist that shaped who they became — LL Cool J, Eric B & Rakim, Babyface and more
The first piece of game they ever ran (ET's Babyface line on Dede is legendary)
Why ET stopped giving his time and expertise away for free — and why you should too
The "selfish vs. self-focused" conversation that will change how you think about your time and money
A special visit from the Cooking with the Cooks family
Pops pulls up and tells the untold origin story of how ET and CJ connected
Timestamps:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: The Public Was Never Supposed to See This
00:03:39 Throwback Music Session: LL Cool J and the Golden Era of Hip-Hop
00:09:58 Baby Face and Early Game: The First Piece of Wisdom
00:15:00 The Football Team Get Naked Story: When Confidence Was King
00:17:18 The Michael Jordan Clip: Being Selfish Is How You Win
00:18:05 The Shift: How ET Stopped Giving Everything Away for Free
00:22:02 The Mastermind Testimony: When People Pay, They Apply
00:24:16 Valuing Your Time and Expertise: The CJ Partnership Model
00:32:59 The ETA Records Story: Giving What's Earned, Not What's Expected
00:37:35 Pops Enters t… -
Most People Were Talked Out of Their Dream Before It Started | S2S 536
10 april 2026 · 1 uur 13 min
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. Lees meer
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 fear to his son. Fear of something he'd never even tried.
ET traces his version, leaving comfort in Huntsville to chase something bigger when everyone said he already had enough. Jemal gives a raw testimony — real estate, the daycare, the businesses — every significant venture required blind, childlike faith. The one that didn't? Becoming a police officer. His whole family was already there. Everything else? Trust God with nothing upfront. And Karl brings the financial lens: your side hustle doesn't just need to make money. It needs to make sense.
This one will make you think about who you've been taking advice from. And whether they've ever actually been on the skateboard.
📌 TIMESTAMPS
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Karl's Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Deal and the Five Pillars
00:01:44 Welcome and Team Introductions: One Week Until the Chicago Conference
00:05:47 The Skateboard Story: How Trey's Childlike Faith Teaches Us to Get Back Up
00:08:45 Most People Were Talked Out of Their Dream Before It Started
00:12:33 Who Is Your Skateboard Instructor? The Importance of the Right Mentors
00:35:59 Unless You Become Like Little Children: The Scripture That Changes Everything
00:40:15 Show Up to the Conference as a Child, Not as an Adult
00:44:03 ET's Stone Mountain Story: Choosing to Be a Shepherd, Not a Competitor
00:51:15 For I Know the Plans I Have for You: God's Spiritual 529 Plan
00:56:45 Why This Conference Is Different: Three-Exing for God's Work
01:02:33 Jamal's Testimony: From Audience Member to Keynote Speaker at His Own High School
01:07:17 Make Your Side Hustle… -
Most People Have No Idea What They're Actually Capable Of | S2S Ep. 535
3 april 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
What if everything you've built so far — your career, your
income, your wins — happened without you even really trying? Lees meerThat'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 down his full story — from building without a coach
to discovering the value of community, to realizing most people
quit the moment they start seeing results. ET closes with his
challenge: stay 365 days. Then three years. Then five. Because
the levels you haven't seen yet only unlock after the time is paid.Karl brings Kalm Down with Karl and Mal drops the Millionaire
Moment — the rebar that holds everything together, and why your
degrees and hustle aren't working without it.Most people have no idea what they're actually capable of. This
episode is the proof. It's not about talent or luck. It's about
going on purpose.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
- Jemal's millionaire by mistake story — daycare centers, real estate, and the moment everything clicked
- Why most people quit right when they start seeing results
- Grinding alone vs. grinding with the right community
- Kalm Down with Karl — Do you see what I see?
- Mal's Millionaire Moment — you've been building without the rebar━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📍 CHAPTERS
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Character Chasing Over Clout Chasing
00:01:45 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Real Cost of Proximity
00:02:45 Most People Don't Want the Smoke: The Accountability Circle
00:04:44 The Five Pillars Aren't Easy: Why Character Beats Entertainment
00:06:13 Twenty Years Together: The Power of Longevity and Consistency
00:08:01 Managing Power: When You Were Little in Your Own Sight
00:14:29 The Tobe Story: When Accountability Feels Like Warfare
00:17:09 Tom Izzo and the … -
You Can See Exactly What You Want. So Why Don't You Have It? | S2S Ep. 534
26 maart 2026 · 56 min
You can see exactly what you want. You probably always could. So what's actually stopping you? Lees meer
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 this crew has had about why people stay far from the rooms that could actually change them. Not because they don't have access. But because they know exactly what comes with it.
The crew gets real about the price of true accountability — what it costs to be in this circle, what it felt like when ET was going in on CJ, and why that fire is exactly what separates the ones who last from the ones who fall off. ET closes Part 1 with a warning from the life of King Saul — when you forget where you came from, the power you worked so hard to get becomes the very thing that destroys you. You can see exactly what you want. The question this episode answers is why you still don't have it.
Part 2 drops next week — Jemal reveals how he accidentally became a millionaire, Karl brings Kalm Down with Karl, and Ma drops the rebar moment.
If you can see it but you still don't have it — this episode is your answer.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE
- CJ's wild TSA story — and the stranger with no badge who changed everything
- Why the people closest to greatness are usually the first ones to walk away from it
- "You want the perks, not the accountability" — the hard truth about circles
- Character chasing vs. cloud chasing — ET's 20 year philosophy
- The Saul Warning — what the Bible says about power outgrowing character
- Why the next level won't unlock no matter how hard you work
- ET's surgical analogy — why God has to separate you from
everyone you love first📍 CHAPTERS
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Become the Savage Before You Attract the Savage
00:01:30 Welcome and Team Introductions: The TSA Mirac… -
You’re Focused on the Result, That’s Why You’re Still Losing
19 maart 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
You’re not losing because you lack talent.
You’re losing because you’re focused on the wrong thing. Lees meerMost 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 everything.
If you’ve been:
• Starting strong but falling off
• Setting goals but not seeing progress
• Working hard but not moving forward
• Believing… but still stuck at the 6-yard lineThis conversation is for you.
We dive into:
• The difference between victim thinking and architect thinking
• Why belief determines your level of commitment
• How focusing on solutions restores power over your life
• Why consistency without the right system is rehearsed failure
• The mental shift that separates dreamers from disciplined winnersYou don’t rise to your goals.
You rise to your systems.If you’re tired of chasing results and ready to start designing them, this episode will shift your focus.
Chapters:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Evict the Thoughts That Aren't Paying Rent
00:01:27 Welcome and Team Introductions: Five Pillars Fitness Challenge
00:07:00 Fair or Foul: The Airplane Snoring Incident
00:20:52 The Conference Difference: Solutions Over Information
00:25:20 The Three Types of People: Which One Are You?
00:24:41 From Victim to Architect: The Power of Solutions
00:33:32 The Intentionality Factor: Accidentally Broke vs Intentionally Wealthy
00:37:49 The Middle Part: Why Commitment Is Everything
00:39:49 Chemistry Class: The Solution Formula
00:41:24 Focused on the Answer Instead of the Solution: The Math Lesson
00:52:22 Belief Comes Before Action: Do You Really Believe?
01:01:55 Leverage: Knowing Who You Are Opens Every Door
01:04:49 The 1% Conference: Invest in Yourself🎟️ TAKE ACTION
🚨 Get your ticket to the 1% Conference:
👉 https://etonepercent.comJoin us live …
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Your Gift Already Opened The Door - You Got Lazy And Let It Close #532
12 maart 2026 · 57 min
Your gift already opened the door. The question is: did you get lazy and let it close? Lees meer
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 between using your gift for yourself vs. God's purpose
✅ How Karl discovered his gift of SUPPORT
✅ Why Mal's gift of VISION has made him successful in real estate and every other area of his life
✅ The "Get a Backbone" morning routine that sets up your day for successKEY MOMENTS:
- E reveals his superpower: calling people back within 24 hours and showing love
- Karl explains why he finally embraced being a "supporter"
- Mal shares how VISION allows him to see 20-100 years into the future
- The fig tree parable: Why God curses gifts that don't produce fruit
- Why trying to use someone else's gift will never work for you
- The Meridian Mall story: How one vendor outlasted Dick's, Barnes & Noble, and SbarroBOTTOM LINE: Your gift will make room for you, but only if you keep using it. Stop comparing. Stop getting lazy. Stop trying to be someone else. This is YOUR year to go all in on what God gave YOU.
KALM DOWN WITH KARL - "Get a Backbone": Karl breaks down how to build your life on non-negotiables. Your backbone isn't rigid—it's the structure that supports everything. He shares his morning routine: personal worship, family worship, hydration, and workout. When your backbone is together, you don't slump halfway through the day.
Mal's Millionaire Moment:
Stop letting your money sleep! If you're still using a basic savings account earning 0.001% interest, you're getting bamboozled. Mal breaks down high-yield savings accounts paying 3.5-4.9% that you can set up TODAY.🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZGbbU9wctEV8z6-0SL7FQ?sub_confirmation=1
💎 JOIN TH…
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Is That What YOU Want? (Or What They Want For You?) #531
6 maart 2026 · 50 min
What do you REALLY want? Not what society tells you to want. Not what you think you should want. Lees meer
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, Jamal breaks down why your next promotion might be in your next property, and the crew discusses why the "unseen" matters more than what you can see.
Plus: The story behind Jamal's viral house tour (millions of views), why ET doesn't want what you think he wants, and a challenge that'll make you rethink everything you're chasing.🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZGbbU9wctEV8z6-0SL7FQ?sub_confirmation=1
💎 JOIN THE S2S PATREON COMMUNITY
Get behind-the-scenes access, live recordings, Q&A sessions, random pop-up dialogues, and exclusive content with ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal. Plus access to Eric's speeches as we go live.
👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120🎟️ THE 1% CONFERENCE - CHICAGO | APRIL 16-18, 2026
Don't just attend. Ascend. Eric Thomas & world-class speakers including Jameis Winston, Inky Johnson, Wallstreet Trapper, Earn Your Leisure, and more. 3 days. 12,000 people. Total transformation.
- Day 1: Women's Day
- Day 2: Men's Day
- Day 3: VIP Family Day
Tickets on sale now: https://etonepercent.com📱 FOLLOW S2S ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/s2spodcast
🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: What Do You REALLY Want?
00:01:14 Welcome and Team Introductions: The House That God Built
00:04:50 The Viral House Tour: Why Mal Finally Decided to Show the World
00:08:20 What's Your Next Big Goal?
00:11:38 Mal's Vision: A House in Another Country and Stretching Belief
00:23:00 The Rolls-Royce Story: How ET Honors His Wife and Sets an Example
00:… -
Being Almost Successful Is the Most Dangerous Place You Can Be | S2S Ep. 530
27 februari 2026 · 43 min
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 everything. Lees meer
They break down why getting to the top and staying at the top are two completely different skill sets, the whispers of self-doubt that are quietly killing people's dreams, and why proximity to the right people matters more than talent ever will.
🔑 IN THIS EPISODE:
Why the "almost zone" is more frustrating than starting from nothing
The formula ET used to go from unknown to #1 motivational speaker in the world
Getting to the top vs. staying at the top — why most people fail at both
The whispers of self-doubt nobody talks about (and how to silence them)
Why you can't build your dream with imaginary people — use your family
The 1% Event: April 16–18 in Chicago | etonepercent.com
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: There's a Formula to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
00:00:57 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Varsity Game Is Back
00:01:56 The Crown Jewel: Doing It Together for 20 Years
00:05:07 Why ET Came Back Outside: The 10% Who Are Almost There
00:07:02 The Almost Zone: Why the Red Zone Is Harder Than Being Homeless
00:10:40 It's Not More Talent, It's Proximity: The New York Times Bestseller Formula
00:16:15 Nobody Cares: The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Write Down
00:22:32 Becoming Before Attracting: Why You Met ET at the Right Time
00:23:48 The 1% Conference Lineup: Wall Street Trapper, Inky Johnson, Earn Your Leisure and More
00:32:09 How Wall Street Trapper Walked Through the Valley: From Solitary Confinement to Success
00:35:34 Field Goals Get You Beat: The Mental Battle of the Red Zone
00:36:42 Rashad and Troy from Earn Your Leisure: Ho… -
Don't Start a Business Until You Watch This - Wrong Partners Will Destroy You | S2S Ep. 529
19 februari 2026 · 55 min
The wrong business partner will cost you everything. Here's how to know who to trust. Lees meer
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 raw conversation, Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal King break down the brutal truth about business partnerships
- what destroys them,
- what makes them work,
- Why starting small is the only path to building big,
- And real proof this approach works (six-figure real estate checks, zero student debt, generational wealth from $50/paycheck).This is Part 2 of our two-part series. If you missed Part 1 (Episode 528), go watch the wife haircut debate now!
CHAPTERS:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Be Faithful Over the Small Stuff - That's How God Knows You're Serious
00:01:20 Stop Looking for Permission - The CJ Partnership Model
00:02:28 Why Most People Want Savages But Won't Become One
00:12:00 The 115 Years of Committed Relationships at This Table
00:13:38 The Book Reveal: What We're Uniquely Qualified to Talk About
00:14:56 Building Your Table With Family vs Strangers - The Dinner Table Analogy
00:39:41 The Contract Story: When CJ Put ET First Without Being Asked
00:17:46 Leverage: The Tire Iron Principle and Why You Need Different Strengths
00:00:27 Stop Focusing on the Big Stuff - The Cam Newton Lesson
00:22:41 Warren Buffett at 94: Why Most Wealth Comes After 40
00:53:52 Yanni Graduates Debt-Free: How a 529 Plan Paid for Michigan State
00:35:53 The pizza story: Why Your People Won't Steal From You
00:47:29 The 1% Conference Announcement: April 16-17 in Chicago🔴 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE:
💎 JOIN THE S2S PATREON COMMUNITY
Get behind-the-scenes access, live recordings, Q&A sessions, random pop-up dialogues, and exclusive content with ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal. Plus acc… -
She Cut Her Hair Without Asking - We Called The WIVES In | Fair or Foul? #528
13 februari 2026 · 55 min
💇♀️ She cut her hair SHORT without warning. He feels blindsided. Who's wrong? Lees meer
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 we've had in a while - and we didn't just debate it ourselves. We called THE WIVES in live on the podcast. Dede, Camile, Candis, and Tamesha weigh in with perspectives that might surprise you. Plus: Jemal & Camile's Bobby Brown and New Edition concert experience, why "becoming a savage" matters more than wanting one, Karl's six-figure real estate confidence shift, and a powerful conversation about God wanting more for you than you want for yourself.
This is Part 1 of 2 - Part 2 (Episode 530) drops the most powerful generational wealth story we've ever shared. You don't want to miss it.
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- "Fair for her own personal womanhood, but foul for the marriage"
- marriage requires consideration beyond individual rights
- After years of marriage, you should know what matters to your spouse
- it's not about permission, it's about partnership
- In order to attract a savage, you gotta become a savage
- stop waiting for someone to blow you up
- Iron sharpens iron - your growth elevates everyone around you
- God has already blessed you with jobs, relationships, opportunities - you lost them because you didn't become
- You can't be done with Michael Jordan - become irreplaceable in every area of your life
- The 1% Conference: One day for men, one day for women to build yourselves up, then one day together to build each other upCHAPTERS:
Chapters00:00:00 Opening: When Your Circle Is Killing at the Highest Level
00:00:59 Welcome and Team Introductions: Dr. King and the Barefoot Bruce Lee
00:03:00 The New Edition Concert Experience: Front Row With Your Bride
00:08:45 Co… -
👉 Most People Fail Because They Follow the Rules (That Weren’t Made for Them) #527
6 februari 2026 · 55 min
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. Lees meerIn 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 you
Generic advice ignores context, timing, and personal tendencies
High performers don’t just work hard — they study patterns
Rules, stats, and analytics are useful… but dangerous when followed blindly
Real growth requires a personal “scouting report” for your life, marriage, money, and leadership
Through stories from sports, business, relationships, and real life, this episode shows why winners don’t just follow instructions — they observe, adjust, and execute based on their specific situation.
If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but still feel stuck, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do differently.
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: Stop Negotiating With Fear
00:00:52 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Q1 Focus Energy
00:01:28 Back in My Day: From Arcade Games to Roblox
00:08:31 Analytics vs The Scouting Report: Why One Size Doesn't Fit All
00:09:58 The Dan Campbell Effect: When to Go For It on Fourth Down
00:12:38 The Gazelle Mentality: How ET Learned to Observe and Survive
00:33:03 Brian Cox and the Film Room: The Cheat Code to Success
00:48:11 ET's Two-Home Challenge: Creating Unity in Unique Circumstances
00:50:20 The Mother-in-Law Revelation: Understanding What Really Matters
00:53:45 Millionaire Moments with Karl: Your Side Hustle Becomes Your Main Hustle
00:55:55 Closing: Hit Fear in the Mouth and Do Your Scouting Report👇 Next steps:
Subscribe for weekly conversations on mindset, leadership, and performance
Share this episode with someone who keeps following the rules but isn’t getting results
Stop copying success. Start studying w…
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Every Result Has a Belief Behind It #525
23 januari 2026 · 55 min
Most people think belief is a feeling.
This episode makes a different case. Lees meerYour 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 believe is possible, allowed, or worth fully committing to.
This episode explores how partial belief leads to partial commitment — and how that shows up everywhere: finances, relationships, faith, confidence, leadership, and decision-making.
We talk about:
Why belief always leaves evidence
How effort without full belief creates cycles, not progress
The difference between participating and fully stepping in
Why your environment reinforces what you believe
How results quietly reveal where commitment stops
This isn’t motivation.
It’s a mirror.If you’ve been doing the right things but still seeing the same results, this episode may explain why.
EPISODE CHAPTERS:
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: The Practice Squad Mentality - You Don't Have to Be Perfect
00:01:50 Caleb Williams and the Ben Johnson Effect: Learning to See the Field
00:02:38 Stop Sleeping With the Enemy: Why Your Circle Is Keeping You Broke
00:03:09 It Burns My Heart: The Real Reason We Talk About Money
00:04:37 Let It Burn: When Your Credit Score Controls Your Destiny
00:07:42 God Said You Should Lend, Not Borrow: The Biblical Case for Wealth
00:09:46 Vengeance Is Mine: When People Owe You and God Is Teaching You
00:10:51 The Conference Invitation: Why You Need to Be in the Room
00:13:43 The $15 Million House Story: How Carl Made It With $30K and Good Credit
00:14:47 They Don't Want You in That Neighborhood: The Truth About Real Estate Gatekeeping
00:19:02 The Wizard of Oz Revelation: Everything You Need Is Already Inside You
00:21:27 Karl's Six-Figure Check Moment: When Belief Became Reality
00:23:51 The Dynas… -
Why Everyone’s Talking About the Chicago Bears Right Now — And What It Shows About Turnarounds #524
16 januari 2026 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
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 results followed.
Using the Bears as a real-world case study, this conversation explores why so many people stay stuck year after year. Not because they lack ability or effort, but because they keep trying to do more instead of learning to see differently.
This isn’t about starting over.
It’s about building on what’s already there.🎯 In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Why turnarounds don’t require new talent, just clearer perspective
How guidance and coaching change what you notice and how you move
The difference between repeating a year and actually creating a new one
What happens when you stop chasing more and start maximizing what you already have
Whether it’s your life, your career, your finances, or your faith — this message applies far beyond football.
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: Can You See Me Now? The Chicago Bears Energy
00:01:26 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Helmet Comes Out
00:05:16 Bears Fever: From Last Place to First in the Division
00:08:45 The Ben Johnson Effect: Why Coaching Changes Everything
00:20:17 New Year or Another Year? The Choice Is Yours
00:26:56 Don't Start Over—Keep Building: The Skyscraper Mentality
00:32:00 The Coaching Conversation: Carl's Real Estate Transformation Begins
00:33:45 From Crisis to Clarity: Carl's COVID Real Estate Story
00:36:34 The Equity Revelation: Money in the Bricks
00:43:05 The Six-Figure Check: Carl's First Major Real Estate Win
00:46:00 Why We Talk About Money: ET's Passionate Defense
00:50:04 Stop Listening to Broke People: Reading the Coverage of Wealth
00:51:26 Outro and Call to Action👉 Register …
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Why Most People Fail After They Start Winning #523
9 januari 2026 · 56 min
Most people don’t fail because they lack talent, intelligence, or opportunity.
They fail because no one around them tells the truth. Lees meerIn 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 fails
How “yes-men” quietly sabotage your future
The role appetite plays in self-destruction
Why unchecked power and money expose character
How to build a circle that protects your purpose, not your ego
This isn’t about cutting people off out of pride.
It’s about protecting your life, your family, and your future.If no one in your life can correct you, challenge you, or stop you when you’re wrong—you’re not free. You’re exposed.
🎯 Takeaway
You don’t need more motivation.
You need one person who won’t let you lie to yourself.Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: The Power of Accountability and Appetite Control
00:02:14 Welcome and Team Introductions
00:05:42 Building Legacy Through Systems, Not Just Hard Work
00:08:52 The Chick-fil-A Lesson: Identity Over Everything
00:12:00 Technology Went Too Far: The Amazon Christmas Story
00:16:28 The First Directive: Stop Having Sex
00:20:34 Why Most Successful Men Crash and Burn
00:24:18 Accountability Is Not Discipline - It's Your Circle
00:34:23 The Diddy Documentary and Complicit Silence
00:45:49 Second-Hand Smoke: Why Your Circle Determines Your Future
00:47:38 Praying for Your Tribe and Leaving to Level Up
00:52:44 Be, Do, Have: Getting the Order Right
00:53:27 Your 9-to-5 Should Fund Your Exit, Not Trap Your Future
00:52:01 Closing: Join Us at the 1% Solution Experience
00:55:28 Outro and Subscribe🔗 Important Links & CTAs
🎟️ The One Percent Experience
An immersive 3-day experience for leaders, families, and teams
📍 Chicago | April 16–18, 2026
👉 https://etonepercent.com🎧 Subscribe to the Secret to Success Podcast
New episodes every… -
This Is What They’re Not Telling You About Winning This Year #522
2 januari 2026 · 55 min
This year doesn’t need more motivation.
It needs clarity, discipline, and intention. Lees meerIn 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 failure
How choosing what’s good beats choosing what feels good
Why boredom is a requirement for mastery
How to become unreplaceable in any environment
The difference between playing defense and playing offense
Why responsibility beats loyalty
How to decide the meaning of whatever this year brings
No hype.
No shortcuts.
Just truth you can build on.Happy New Year. Let’s work.
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: This Is What They're Not Telling You
00:00:52 Rule 1: Get Out of Delusion and Into Reality
00:08:05 Rule 2: Choose What's Good, Not What Feels Good
00:16:05 Rule 3: Boredom Builds Champions
00:24:45 Rule 4: Become Unreplaceable Through Diversification
00:30:44 Rule 5: Stop Playing Defense and Learn to Play Offense
00:39:32 Rule 6: Responsibility Beats Loyalty
00:48:06 Rule 7: Do Dark Different
00:54:01 Closing: Decisions Define You, Not the New Year
00:55:07 Outro and Call to ActionIf this episode challenged you,
make sure you subscribe and share it with someone who needs clarity this year.👉 Subscribe to S2S:
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1👉 Join the S2S Patreon for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access:
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120 -
Laughs, Lessons & Real Talk | Our 2025 S2S Recap
26 december 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to look back. Lees meer
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…
these clips capture the heart of what S2S has always been about: growth through real talk.Whether a moment makes you laugh, reflect, or pause for a second longer than expected, our hope is that it reminds you how powerful honest conversations can be.
Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of the journey with us in 2025.
We’re grateful for you — and excited for what’s ahead. -
You’re Doing the Work But Still Stuck — Here's the Problem
19 december 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
“Be honest — what’s something you’ve been consistent at… but haven’t seen results from yet?” Lees meer
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 motivational episode. It’s an examination.
The team breaks down why effort alone doesn’t produce growth, how consistency without measurement becomes rehearsed failure, and why isolation — not laziness — is often the real reason progress stalls.
You’ll hear why pain is often proof of progress, why feedback is essential (even when it hurts), and how following the wrong formula can keep smart, hardworking people stuck for years.If you’ve been doing the work but questioning the results, this episode will help you identify what needs to change — without throwing away everything you’ve built.
This conversation is about alignment, correction, and building with intention — not just grinding harder.Chapters
00:00:00 Opening: Consistency Isn't Enough
00:01:26 Welcome and Team Introductions
00:06:55 How Do You Know When God Is Telling You to Move?
00:11:33 The Power of Making Decisions Over Waiting
00:13:23 Patterns Over Decisions: Learning God's Ways
00:15:57 Excellence Is God: Moving in the Spirit of Excellence
00:16:46 Consistency Without Quality Is Rehearsed Failure
00:21:37 The Sandpaper People: Why You Need Correction
00:24:18 Stop Working in Isolation: The Cage Mentality
00:34:39 Measuring Progress: Pain Equals Progress
00:38:04 Quick Evaluation: The Secret to Accelerated Growth
00:40:15 Being Coachable: ET's Jordan Brand Adjustment
00:43:09 Real Numbers, Real Accountability
00:57:52 Breaking Free from Your Cage: Changing Your Circle
01:02:07 Closing: Merry Christmas and Final EncouragementSubscribe
If you’re serious about growth — not just motivation — subscribe to th… -
Feeling Stuck in a Dark Place? This Is Why Your Life Isn’t Changing | S2S 519
12 december 2025 · 57 min
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. Lees meerIn 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 version of success he’s had was formed in moments nobody saw. Jamal talks about the darkness that exposed the real picture of his life and pushed him toward real estate. Karl breaks down how creativity, identity, and resilience are all born in the dark—never in comfort.
This conversation will change how you interpret struggle, setbacks, disappointment, and pressure. Because the truth is simple:
You don’t grow in the light. You grow in the hard stuff. And once you know how to face it, everything changes.🔥 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Why God prepares your table in the presence of your enemies—and why you keep praying them away
How darkness is not Satan's domain—it's where God forms everything
The difference between light (what's already formed) and dark (where you're being formed)
Why the Buffalo runs into the storm while everyone else gets stuck in it longer
Jamal's real story: sitting in that squad car at midnight, feeling like a failure—and how that darkness exposed the picture God was developing
How to do dark different: prepare before it comes, embrace it when it's here, and let it form you instead of break you
Why your prayers in the light are different than your prayers in the dark—and how that's costing you your breakthrough
🚀 JOIN THE 1% CHALLENGE
Surround yourself with people who won’t let you settle.
👉 ETOnePercent.com🎥 JOIN THE PATREON FAMILY (LIVE RECORDINGS + EXCLUSIVE CONTENT)
Don’t just watch the podcast—experience it with us.
👉 Patreon.com/S2SPodcast120📘 READ KARL’S BOOK — “Moving Past Potential”
A blueprint for breaking through fear, hesitation,…
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How Your Ego Is Killing Your Success | S2S 518
5 december 2025 · 59 min
Most people don’t fail because they lack talent—
they fail because their ego keeps putting them in positions they’re not built for. Lees meerThis 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 mastering your assignment.
If you’ve ever walked away from the people who built you…
If you keep trying to lead when you’re meant to support…
If you think you want the spotlight but can’t handle the responsibility…
If you’re losing while insisting on being in charge……this conversation is going to sting, but it will straighten out your whole approach to success.
It’s time to tell the truth:
You can’t win the game when your ego won’t let you play your position.And for the first time ever, we’re introducing two new segments designed to shift your mindset daily:
🔥 Kalm Down with Karl
🔥 Mal’s Millionaire MomentPowerful clarity. Tactical mindset shifts. Zero excuses.
🚨 FREE 8-DAY ENCORE WITH ET — STARTS DECEMBER 8TH
Daily sessions. Real accountability. Serious breakthroughs.
If you’re stuck, drifting, or overwhelmed, don’t miss this.👉 Sign up free: https://www.et1percent.com
🔒 JOIN THE S2S PATREON FAMILY
Watch the episodes LIVE, get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, bonus content, and connect with the community that grows WITH you.
👉 https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120
📌 CONNECT WITH US
Instagram: @s2spodcast
YouTube: S2S Podcast Channel
Website: s2spodcast.com -
Exploited: The Real Price of Staying a Consumer
28 november 2025 · 50 min
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. Lees meer
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.
By your imagination (or lack of it).
By the systems built to turn you into a full-time consumer.Inside the episode, you’ll learn:
• Why the picture in your head is more important than the reality in front of you
• How to stop giving your power away to fear, bills, people, and your own patterns
• Why consumers get exploited, and why producers win every single time
• How social media turns you into a victim without you noticing
• How intentionality separates the bullied from the unstoppable
• Why your gift — not your job — is the real source of your freedom
• How to bully the bully in your finances, marriage, career, and internal dialogue
• Why one property, one skill, or one shift can flip your entire life trajectoryThis is one of those episodes you replay when you feel stuck.
It’s raw. It’s practical. It’s uncomfortable.
And it’s exactly what you need.CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Show Intro
01:25 - ET on Bullying Awareness
05:09 - Bully the Bully Strategy
07:32 - Discovering Your Gifts
11:55 - Overcoming Inner Criticism
17:19 - The Reality of Fear
19:14 - Understanding Menopause
22:15 - The Nature of Bullying
25:29 - Utilizing Your Gifts
27:18 - Embrace Assertiveness
30:25 - Valuing Your Worth
33:25 - Work for Your Demands
35:55 - Embracing Change
38:30 - Be the Solution
44:10 - Next Level Conference Overview
46:16 - Future of EYL University
47:40 - Inside The Lab
49:45 - Join the BU Community
50:01 - Support This Podcast👇 JOIN THE S2S PATREON (Exclusive content + BTS + Early access)
https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120👇 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL
Weekly episodes, clips, a… -
Bully the Bully: Why You Keep Getting Pushed Around in Life | S2S 516
21 november 2025 · 51 min
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. Lees meer
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 voices guide you is the fastest way back to the bottom.
ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal unpack:
Why unqualified opinions keep you broke and stuck
The mentality difference between survivors and winners
Why you MUST protect what you’ve built
How the world “bullies” you financially if you’re not intentional
The exact mindset shift needed to take control of your life
This one is raw, hilarious, and heavy with truth—perfect for anyone tired of being pushed around by people who haven’t done the work.
Video Chapters
00:00 Opening: Don't Let Bullies Give You Advice
01:21 Welcome and Team Introductions
09:48 New York Trip and Expensive Breakfast Revelation
13:45 The $69 Breakfast: They're Bullying You
14:19 Introducing Bully the Bully Mentality
22:10 Mike Tyson and the Mental Game
28:29 Recognizing Opinion Boys vs. Authorities
43:15 Black Men and the Bully Dynamic
45:02 Stop Being a Consumer, Become a Producer
52:31 Your Gifts Shall Make Room for You
58:58 Closing: Concentrate on Your Opportunity👇 JOIN THE S2S PATREON (BEHIND THE SCENES, EARLY ACCESS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT)
➡️ https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120👇 SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Weekly episodes, clips, and exclusive drops:
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1👇 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@S2SPodcastIf this hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember:
Stop letting people who can’t do what you do tell you how to do it.
Bully the bully. Take back your power.