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Influenced

Blake Sokoloff & Robert Dean

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A podcast where we explore what makes great music influential ~ New Episodes the first Wednesday of every month. Recorded in Chicago, Illinois at Abbey Cat Recordings. Follow us Here: https://www.instagram.com/influenced.podcast/
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Long Shot Leaders with Michael Stein

Michael Stein: Entrepreneur, actor, filmmaker, comedian & self help expert

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Long Shot Leaders tell the stories and secrets of leaders, Innovators, entrepreneurs, and various high achievers. We interview people of all walks of life and explore their struggles, shortcomings, challenges, and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. Hard-hitting and fast-moving, connecting people from all walks of life to learn about entrepreneurship, leadership, relationships, cruise ships, and any other kind of damn ship you can think of. We talk to leaders in culture, ...
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Mitchell Osmond is a leadership coach, speaker, and host of The Dad Nation Podcast (34K monthly listeners), helping high-performing men win at home, in health, and in mindset—without sacrificing career success. ⁣ With over 15 years in senior leadership, he equips executives and entrepreneurs with the tools to lead powerfully in both business and fa…
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Jason Norris is the founder of YCAA, a boutique talent agency known for its hands-on, mentorship-driven approach to actor representation. Originally from Montreal and now based in Toronto, Jason began his career in advertising, crafting TV commercials for major brands. ⁣ Inspired by his daughter’s brief foray into acting and disillusioned by the im…
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Al Kushner is a LinkedIn strategist and AI enthusiast with a background in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Originally from Coney Island, Brooklyn, he studied at the High School of Art and Design and NYU before starting his career in telephone sales. ⁣ Al has been an early adopter of digital tools, leveraging LinkedIn since 2005 to build mea…
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Chris Mirabile’s journey into health and longevity began with a preteen’s desire to impress girls during school fitness tests—but quickly evolved into something deeper. By age 12, Chris was reading Men’s Health, refining his diet, and obsessing over performance, though he later realized much of his early approach to health was misguided. At 16, his…
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G. Michael Hopf is a USA Today bestselling author and Marine Corps veteran whose diverse life experiences—ranging from combat service to work as a bodyguard and commercial diver—fuel his gripping post-apocalyptic and Western fiction. ⁣ Best known for The New World series, Hopf draws on themes of survival, resilience, and human nature, crafting stor…
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Joseph Steinberg is a leading cybersecurity expert who has worked in the field since its early days, tracing his journey back to the pre-commercial internet of the 1980s and 90s. With a strong technical foundation and a master’s degree from NYU, he began his career in the mid-1990s, integrating security systems for financial institutions before mov…
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Bert Terhart is an adventurer, sailor, and lifelong explorer who currently resides on a smaller island off Vancouver Island, Canada, a place with a surprisingly large population of 750,000. Originally from the prairies of Canada near Fargo, North Dakota, Bert grew up in a small, hardworking oil town, shaped by cold landscapes and a strong sense of …
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Matt Leta is a Polish-born entrepreneur, digital artist, and AI innovator. A gifted but rebellious student, he discovered his passion for coding at age 10 and later explored architecture and music. At 19, he founded Dropper, a mobile-first platform for artists, which grew to 250,000 users before securing seven-figure funding and moving to Californi…
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Robert Jordan, raised in a small village in Upstate New York, grew up in a hardworking, blue-collar family with strong community ties. After high school, he farmed cattle for nine years before earning a degree from SUNY Albany. Inspired by the 1993 World Trade Center attack, he joined the Navy at age 34, intending to serve briefly before law school…
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Amanda Pichardo is a beauty entrepreneur and inspiring storyteller who has transformed adversity into success. Overcoming a childhood marked by severe abuse in New York, she was removed from her home at age eight and later emancipated at 18, forcing her to navigate adulthood on her own. ⁣ Determined to build a better future, she worked various jobs…
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Jay Conner is a real estate investor, speaker, and author specializing in private money lending. Raised in Eastern North Carolina, he grew up in the mobile home industry, working alongside his father, who was once the largest mobile home retailer in the U.S. After the market collapsed in the early 2000s, Jay pivoted to flipping single-family homes,…
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David Anderson is a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership strategist with a dynamic career spanning public relations, behavioral marketing, and executive coaching. Growing up in New Jersey, he developed an early passion for business while working at a country club surrounded by successful entrepreneurs. ⁣ After earning his degree from Arizona State …
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Keith Kong is a world-class mentalist who blends psychology, influence, and showmanship to create mind-bending experiences. Initially aspiring to be a hostage negotiator, he became fascinated with magic at age 10 and later discovered mentalism through his studies in psychology and criminal profiling. ⁣ After years of performing in Orlando’s enterta…
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Emily Schneider is a creatively curious branding and presentation designer who helps businesses communicate with clarity and impact. Growing up in the Midwest, she was always fascinated by how things work and how people connect—an interest that led her to study visual communications at the University of Kansas. ⁣ After starting her career in market…
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Lior Weinstein is an entrepreneur and fractional CTO/CRO based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born and raised in Israel in an entrepreneurial family, Lior developed an early passion for business and finance, launching his first company at 14 and trading stocks as a child. After serving in the Israeli special forces and intelligence, he transitioned into affi…
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Dave Behar is a visionary entrepreneur with a passion for branding, technology, and business development. Growing up in Southern California, he was inspired by his father’s entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to create and sell successful ventures like Team Greek, a fraternity/sorority merchandising brand, and IDIG, a beach volleyball lifestyle com…
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Matt Drago is a Los Angeles-based actor known for standout roles like Fabian in Somewhere in Montana and appearances in Disney's Counting Scars, What Would Jesus Do: The Journey Continues, and the podcast No Other Way. A versatile performer, 4th-degree black belt, and creative entrepreneur, Matt balances acting, producing, and an active lifestyle. …
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Zach Tidwell is a Marine Corps veteran and suicide survivor who, after a self-inflicted gunshot wound left him blind and deaf in one ear, found a renewed perspective on life. Now 28, he uses his story of resilience to inspire others, proving that even the darkest moments can lead to incredible growth. In addition to sharing his journey, Zach founde…
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Bruce Whitfield empowers leaders to cut through the noise of the news cycle and focus on what truly drives long-term growth and sustainability. With a knack for delivering impactful, memorable narratives, he transforms the way audiences consume and engage with information. Over two decades, Whitfield has analyzed ambitious companies and their leade…
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Cody Hofhine, founder of Real Estate Freedom Formula and co-founder of Utah Sell Now, is a successful real estate investor, mentor, and high-performance coach recognized as a multiple Inc. 5000 business owner. Using his sales expertise, he built a 7-figure real estate business rooted in clarity, energy, and productivity. Cody has coached many to su…
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David Griffiths uses music and media to share the Gospel, inspiring his online community to transform their lives for the better. A talented gospel recording artist, minister, and coach, David uplifts others through prayer, song, strategy, and inspiration. With over 1.4 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, David is a leading voice in fait…
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Building Success. Journey from Dreams to Construction Mastery. Brad Leavitt knows what it takes to deliver excellence. Under his guidance, AFT Construction earned a spot on the Inc 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies—a testament to Brad’s vision and relentless drive. Their projects shine in top publications like Fine Homebuilding and L…
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Jonathan Labman was born in Trenton, New Jersey in the United States in 1955. He grew up in Pennsylvania, in Trenton suburbs. At 16, he won a scholarship to an international high school called the United World College of the Atlantic, in South Wales, UK, where he completed an International Baccalaureate degree. Jonathan has been fundamentally inter…
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Laureen Lipsky is the CEO and Founder of Taking Back the Narrative, a Zionist education initiative. Her unique background includes a 20-year period of being anti-Israel, influenced by media and certain Jewish organizations using antisemitic language. In 2014, her views shifted after she was shocked by anti-Israel narratives on CNN during the first …
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Christian Espinosa is a cybersecurity expert, bestselling author, and founder of Blue Goat Cyber. With a background in the U.S. Air Force, he combines his technical skills with emotional intelligence to offer human-centered cybersecurity solutions that help organizations stay protected. Early in his career, Christian focused on being "the smartest …
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Patrick Hardy is a disaster preparedness expert from Mission Viejo, California, whose career began as a lifeguard and EMT. After witnessing the chaos of Hurricane Katrina, he became dedicated to emergency planning, even writing to Louisiana's governor, which led to a position with the state’s Homeland Security team. This experience highlighted the …
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Jessica Cox, born without arms, has turned her life into a testament to adaptability, resilience, and the power of possibility. Growing up in Arizona, she faced unique challenges but developed remarkable strength and dexterity in her legs, allowing her to live independently and accomplish tasks typically done with hands. ⁣ Despite physical obstacle…
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Pat Broe is a speaker and author who candidly shares his journey through the complexities of mental health, identity, and resilience. Growing up as a military child, Pat moved frequently across the United States, which shaped his understanding of family dynamics and personal struggles. His mother, a special education teacher, dedicated herself to s…
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Jolie Downs is a dynamic recruiter, coach, and author known for her compelling insights into personal growth and resilience. Her experiences during the pandemic inspired her to write Thriving After 40, a transformative book that explores universal principles for leading a fulfilling life. Originally focused on addressing ageism, Jolie shifted her p…
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Jason Khalipa is a renowned CrossFit champion, successful gym owner, and passionate fitness entrepreneur, hailing from San Jose, California. His athletic journey began in childhood, engaging in various sports, including BMX racing and football, before working at a gym as a teenager. After winning the CrossFit Games, Khalipa transitioned into the wo…
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Barry Labov is a former rock musician turned successful business owner and marketing expert. Originally from Philadelphia, Barry started his career producing jingles before transitioning into the business world following his father's passing. He founded a small jingle company that grew into a renowned full-service marketing agency, working with hig…
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Jodi Magness is a prominent archaeologist known for her extensive research in the Holy Land. Growing up in Philadelphia without a background in archaeology, Jodi discovered her passion for the field at the age of 12, inspired by a history teacher and her childhood interests in fossils and dinosaurs. After moving to Miami, she participated in a tran…
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Anthony Trucks is a dynamic speaker, author, and personal development coach known for his remarkable journey from foster care to success. Abandoned at the age of three and moving between six homes before being adopted at 14, Anthony faced significant challenges, including feeling out of place as the only Black child in his adoptive family. Despite …
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Ann Wilson is a South African who leads a unique lifestyle immersed in the wild, sharing her experiences through engaging videos. Her home features an eight-foot-high outdoor tub where giraffes and elephants occasionally come to drink, providing a glimpse into her extraordinary surroundings. As winter settles in, she humorously recounts the mischie…
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Michael Stein is a dynamic entrepreneur, actor, writer, director, producer, stand-up comedian, and personal development expert, currently serving as the CEO of Abadak. He began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 19 as the top nightclub promoter in Los Angeles, rapidly expanding his company from the ground up to achieve over $100 million in r…
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Roni Robbins is a Jewish writer originally from Long Island and Queens, whose journey led her to author her debut book, Hands of Gold. Growing up in a creatively gifted family—her father a blacksmith and her mother a silversmith—Roni initially pursued a career in music before discovering her passion for writing. She earned a scholarship to the Univ…
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Jeremy Parker is a dynamic entrepreneur whose career journey has been defined by creativity, adaptability, and a relentless drive to solve problems. Raised in Angola, New Jersey, by an artist mother and a business-savvy father, Jeremy initially pursued filmmaking, winning an award for a feature-length documentary at the Vale Film Festival. However,…
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Kute Blackson is a transformative speaker, author, and personal development coach born in Ghana to a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother. His unique multicultural background shaped his early life, leading to feelings of disconnection as he moved from Ghana to London and later to the United States. Influenced by his father, a prominent church lead…
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Alex Quin, a Miami native, transformed his early passion for marketing into a thriving entrepreneurial career. He began his journey in high school, engaging in digital marketing by selling various items, from tickets to cars. After graduating, he honed his leadership and business skills as a Pizza Hut manager, which paved the way for his future end…
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Tessa White is a career strategist, author, and influencer who founded "The Job Doctor" to help individuals navigate their professional paths. Raised as the eldest of eight in a Mormon family in Utah, Tessa faced cultural norms that discouraged women from pursuing careers. After divorcing and raising three children, she transitioned from being a se…
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Micah Siegel is a 13-year-old wildlife conservation enthusiast with a remarkable passion for animals and environmental issues. His journey began with a childhood curiosity about species like giraffes and lions, which evolved into a commitment to conservation after learning about the detrimental impact of rhino horn poaching. ⁣ Inspired by innovativ…
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Chris Smith, originally from Lakeland, Florida, is an accomplished entrepreneur and thought leader known for his innovative approach to business and technology. Raised in modest circumstances, Chris's early experiences in trailer parks and his parents' police work fueled his drive to succeed. He earned a sociology degree from Florida State Universi…
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John Miles is a seasoned professional with a rich background in military and intelligence services. Raised with a curiosity for science and a family legacy of military service, John pursued his interests at the Naval Academy but had to pivot from his SEAL aspirations due to injuries. ⁣ He then contributed to the NSA, where he played a pivotal role …
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Anna Rahe is a dynamic ADHD entrepreneur and leading expert in fascia and body health. Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, Anna grew up in a highly educated family with a background that spans from academia to real estate. Her early entrepreneurial ventures and health struggles, particularly those affecting her dancing career, led her to explore the in…
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Ken Coleman is a dynamic broadcaster and coach who specializes in reducing stress and fostering effective leadership in the business environment. Raised in southeastern Virginia with a background in ministry and business, Ken's early career in politics—working on U.S. ⁣ Senate campaigns and for the governor of Virginia—shaped his values and aspirat…
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Mark and John Cronin, a father-son team, launched John's Crazy Socks in 2016 to combine John's love of colorful socks with their entrepreneurial drive. John, who has Down syndrome, struggled to find a job after school, so they created one together. Starting small on Shopify, their sock business quickly grew into a global success, now offering over …
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Jamar Jones is the founder of Forever Media, a leading media and branding agency specializing in personal branding for executives and entrepreneurs. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Jamar grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended four different high schools across three states during his formative years. ⁣ With a background influenced by his father…
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Melissa Urban is a bestselling author and the founder of the Whole 30 nutrition program, known for her transformative journey from an unhealthy lifestyle to becoming a leader in health and wellness. Born in New Hampshire and raised in a close-knit Portuguese Catholic family, Melissa struggled with a five-year drug addiction in her early 20s. After …
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Dr. Pete Economou is a distinguished psychologist with a diverse background and career, blending academia, clinical practice, and sports psychology. Growing up in New Jersey, Dr. Economou competed as a swimmer at the international level. His interest in psychology was sparked during college, where experiences in modeling and bartending led a friend…
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Neal and Jeff Harmon are entrepreneurial brothers from rural Idaho who have achieved remarkable success through their business ventures. Raised on a farm with limited resources, their upbringing instilled in them a strong sense of resourcefulness and resilience. ⁣ Neal and Jeff's early entrepreneurial spirit led them to innovative projects like Vid…
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