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Mick Unplugged

Mick Unplugged

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Everybody talks about your WHY. Mick Hunt goes deeper. Mick Unplugged is the leadership and personal growth podcast built on one idea: your BECAUSE is the purpose underneath your purpose, and it is the most powerful force you own. Hosted by Mick Hunt, USA Today bestselling author and the voice of Modern Leadership, every episode sits across from a high performer, founder, athlete, or culture-shaper and asks the one question they cannot fake an answer to. What is your BECAUSE? Past guests include Shark Tank stars Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, motivational legend Les Brown, Chef Robert Irvine, comedians Rickey Smiley and Earthquake, NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, hospitality mogul David Grutman, and World Series champion Jeremy Guthrie. No scripts. No surface-level fluff. Just the real fire behind why they refused to quit. If you are a leader, an entrepreneur, or someone who is done coasting on motivational quotes, this is your show. You will walk away every week with mindset shifts, leadership strategy, and the kind of straight talk that actually moves you forward. New episodes drop weekly. Follow Mick Unplugged on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss one. Your BECAUSE is your Superpower. Go Unleash It.

414 - Jesse Cole: Normal Gets Normal Results | The Fans First Playbook
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  • 414 - Jesse Cole: Normal Gets Normal Results | The Fans First Playbook

    Normal gets normal results. What would happen if you stopped copying your industry and started creating an experience people could not stop talking about? In this Mick Unplugged re-release, Mick Hunt sits down with Jesse Cole for a practical conversation about building a fans-first business. Jesse shares how joy, memorable moments, and a willingness to try what others will not can change the way customers and employees experience your brand. The conversation goes beyond the show on the field. Jesse explains how his team looks for customer friction, why values matter most when they cost you something, and how storytelling keeps a growing organization aligned. He recounts a ticket-email mistake and the decision to make it right, even at what he describes as a $6 million cost to the company. You will also hear why failure can be treated as discovery, how gratitude helps create fans, and why great leaders keep teaching, repeating, and getting their reps in. If you lead a team, serve customers, or are building something of your own, this conversation will challenge you to stop settling for ordinary. This is a re-release of an archival conversation. References to team counts, tours, ticket demand, and projects reflect the time of recording. The big idea Being different is not the goal by itself. Creating an experience people remember, talk about, and want to share is the goal. Jesse Cole explains how he uses that distinction to lead, generate ideas, and build a fans-first culture.  In this episode - Jesse's deeper purpose: bringing people together through joy. - Why copying the normal practices of an industry tends to produce normal results. - How to identify friction in everyday customer interactions, from invoices to the live experience. - The "you wouldn't believe" test for a memorable moment. - Why a company's values need to show up in decisions, not just on the wall. - Jesse's account of an email mistake and a costly ticket commitment. - How repeated stories and team recognition reinforce culture. - Why watching customer behavior can reveal more than asking for opinions. - The setbacks behind ambitious ideas and the discipline of continuing to improve. - Gratitude as a daily practice for leaders, employees, and customers. - Why great leaders teach, repeat, and practice communicating. Put it into practice Choose one ordinary interaction in your business. Find the friction. Write down three ways to make the experience more useful, surprising, or memorable. Then thank one person who has helped you build what you have. Chapters 00:00 Why this conversation is a business masterclass 00:40 Welcome to Mick Unplugged 01:39 Jesse's because: bringing people together with joy 03:38 Bring the energy and make moments matter 04:23 Why normal gets normal results 07:51 Find the friction and create memorable experiences 09:50 Making fans-first values real 10:13 The ticket mistake and the cost of doing right 13:13 Storytelling and a culture that scales 15:26 Reinvention without losing your direction 16:19 Build the best experience and watch your fans 18:53 The setbacks behind the show 21:17 Inspiration, energy, and doing hard things 22:41 Gratitude and creating fans 24:28 Great leaders teach and get their reps in 26:53 Creativity, speaking, and sharing the journey 29:36 Quick questions: yellow tuxes, big moments, and lessons 31:21 The daily creativity routine 31:51 Jesse's message about legacy 33:13 Your because is your superpower Connect & Discover Jesse Cole: Instagram: @yellowtuxjesse LinkedIn: @yellowtuxjesse Facebook: @jesse.cole.129 TikTok: @yellowtuxjesse YouTube: @yellowtuxjesse Website: findyouryellowtux.com Savannah Bananas: thesavannahbananas.com Non-Profit: bananasfoster.org Books: Fans First              Banana Ball              Find Your Yellow Tux FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged  Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  LinkedIn: @mickhunt  Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com Website: howtobeagoodleader.com Website: Leadloudseries.com Apple: MickUnplugged #mickunplugged #jessecole #thesavannahbananas #fansfirst #leadership

    Mon, 21 Sep 2026
  • 413 - Justin Brown: I Do Not Have Followers, I Have My People

    In this episode of Mick Unplugged, Justin, The Real Food Stalker, sits down with Mick Hunt and unpacks the unglamorous work behind a following that grew without a single negative review. He started Food Stalker in 2010 with nothing but photos and a habit of asking waiters what the next table ordered. He did not eat on camera until 2021, when his kids told him he made food look too good not to. He paid for every meal himself long before a brand ever called. Mick opens up about his own start, too. When he was still a LinkedIn-only guy two and a half years ago, Justin was the first account he followed on Instagram, and watching Justin be unapologetically himself is what convinced Mick he did not have to perform to show up online. The conversation runs from microwave burgers to a lost footrace to a sister who brought home teriyaki wings and accidentally created a food critic. But the through line is simple and it applies far past food: you do not have to be the most talented person in the room. You have to be the one who keeps showing up. IN THIS EPISODE Why Justin never posts food he does not like How Food Stalker started in 2010 and became a camera habit in 2021 Why consistency beats talent in every arena The phone-and-CapCut workflow behind every video The three thousand dollar camera he never used How the AJC writing opportunity changed the way he describes food Why honesty and negativity are not the same thing The sister whose leftovers built his palate What brands get wrong when they buy three videos instead of a partner Why he says he has people, not fans or followers CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:55 How Justin got Mick on Instagram 03:10 The Because 03:50 Why he only shows food he likes 05:20 From 2010 photos to eating on camera 06:49 The Unplugged Truth 07:21 Consistency is everything 09:48 Fans, followers, or your people 09:51 The gear: phones, CapCut and one take 13:07 Writing for the AJC 17:40 Hot Takes 17:57 The microwave burger debate 21:42 The race he lost to his nephew 27:02 The Room 27:26 The sister who changed his taste buds 29:55 Vegan mac and cheese 33:03 How Mick Unplugged started 36:48 The Unplugged Five 43:29 What Justin wants the world to know 46:36 Where to follow Justin 48:05 Closing Connect & Discover Justin Brown: Instagram: @therealfoodstalker Facebook: @The-Real-Food-Stalker TikTok: @therealfoodstalker YouTube: @therealfoodstalker LinkedIn: @justintherealfoodstalker FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged  Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  LinkedIn: @mickhunt  Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com Website: howtobeagoodleader.com Website: Leadloudseries.com Apple: MickUnplugged

    Thu, 17 Sep 2026
  • 412 - Gary Vee: The Inconvenient Truth About Winning in the Interest Media Era

    What if the problem is not your content, your reach, or the algorithm? What if the real problem is that you are trying to be social instead of becoming unmistakably yourself? In this Mick Unplugged re-release, Mick Hunt sits down with Gary Vaynerchuk, known worldwide as Gary Vee, for a direct conversation about interest media, authentic personal branding, accountability, gratitude, and the discipline required to build something that lasts. Gary explains why intent matters more than tactics, why audiences can sense when a creator is only trying to sell, and why the only niche no one else can copy is you. He also shares how staying close to culture helps him see shifts before they become obvious, why blaming other people keeps us stuck, and why winning should make us more compassionate, not more bitter. This is not a conversation about shortcuts. It is a reminder to get back in the trenches, live within your values, protect your energy, and take responsibility for the life and work you want to build. Note: This episode contains explicit language. In this episode, you will learn: - Why social platforms are increasingly organized around interests instead of existing social connections - Why genuine intent can matter more than a perfect content strategy - How staying close to culture helps Gary form original points of view - Why the only truly defensible personal-brand niche is being fully yourself - How accountability changes your relationship with money, work, and opportunity - Why limiting negative inputs can help you rebuild your energy - How to respond when people close to you struggle with your success - Why Gary believes collecting and live social shopping will keep growing Chapters 00:00 Interest media and the conversation ahead 00:30 Gary Vee joins Mick 02:52 Gary's deeper purpose and the power of gratitude 05:36 Consistency through cultural and political change 08:32 Why intent matters more than the transaction 10:56 Measuring 45 times before cutting once 14:29 The more you become yourself, the more you win 16:19 Personal brand, garage sales, and serving people at every level 18:21 From social media to interest media 23:05 Remote work, entitlement, and changing expectations 27:09 Money choices, humility, and personal accountability 28:56 When you need to move your feet 29:19 Protecting your energy from negative inputs 33:07 Compassion for the people who boo your success 34:46 Gary's vision for VeeFriends and collectibles 38:16 The VeeFriends quiz and closing challenge Connect & Discover Gary Vee: Instagram: @garyvee YouTube: @GaryVee TikTok: @garyvee Facebook: @gary X: @garyvee LinkedIn: @garyvaynerchuk Website: garyvaynerchul.com FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged  Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  LinkedIn: @mickhunt  Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com Website: howtobeagoodleader.com Website: Leadloudseries.com Apple: MickUnplugged

    Mon, 14 Sep 2026
  • 411 - Darryl Strawberry: Another Life

    Darryl Strawberry's story is bigger than baseball. In this deeply personal episode of Mick Unplugged, Darryl opens up about the mother who raised five children alone, the pain of an absent and abusive father, the cost of success without healing, and the freedom he found through forgiveness. Darryl shares why talent and fame could not repair what was broken inside him. He reflects on addiction, consequences, discipline, ministry, marriage, and the moment he finally forgave his father at his bedside. Mick also shares how Darryl's book, Another Life, helped him process his own relationship with his late father and begin thinking differently about forgiveness and self-forgiveness. The conversation moves from baseball to faith, but the central lesson is universal: your past does not disqualify your purpose, and the way you start does not have to determine the way you finish. IN THIS EPISODE • Why Darryl's mother became the foundation of his resilience • How proving his father wrong fueled his early ambition • Why success exposes who you are • The consequences Darryl could not outrun • How forgiving his father gave him freedom • Why Tracy's boundaries helped redirect his life • The difference between talent, identity, and purpose • What Another Life reveals about healing and faith • Why Darryl believes it is not how you start, but how you finish • The legacy he wants to leave for his children MICK'S BOOK OFFER Mick is purchasing 50 copies of Darryl Strawberry's new book, Another Life, for members of the Mick Unplugged community. To request a copy, message Mick the words "another life" on LinkedIn or Instagram. The offer is limited to the first 50 eligible responses and is available while supplies last. BOOK Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher Darryl Strawberry https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Another-Life/Darryl-Strawberry/9781637748848 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 02:16 The Because 02:54 Darryl's purpose and the mother who never quit 07:15 Success exposes who you are 10:07 The Unplugged Truth 11:39 Forgiving his father 17:38 Hot Takes 21:11 Discipline, faith, and ministry 24:23 The Room 27:15 Another Life 29:54 Mick's 50-book giveaway 31:34 The Unplugged Five 32:46 The legacy Darryl wants to leave 33:17 Closing Connect & Discover Darryl: Instagram: @darrylstrawberry18 Website: darrylstrawberry18.com Facebook: @therealdarrystrawberry Threads: @darrylstrawberry18 Book: Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher Strawberry Ministries: @livingrestored FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged  Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  LinkedIn: @mickhunt  Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com Website: howtobeagoodleader.com Website: Leadloudseries.com Apple: MickUnplugged #MickUnplugged #Leadership #Podcast #darrylstrawberry

    Thu, 10 Sep 2026
  • 410 - Daymond John: Why the Best Deals Are the Ones You Walk Away From

    The most powerful move in business is not always saying yes. Sometimes it is knowing when to walk away. Daymond John joins Mick Hunt for a candid conversation about the decisions that shape a business and a life. The FUBU founder and Shark Tank investor explains why his deeper purpose is “because I should,” how mentors can save us from painful mistakes and why growing too quickly can quietly destroy what an entrepreneur worked to build. Daymond also opens up about his health journey after cancer and the discipline of making gradual, sustainable change. He shares how he thinks about investing through his “My Money, Homie” framework, why he supports artists without asking for anything in return and how a five-to-seven-person filter helps him decide what belongs on social media. This episode is a sharp, funny and personal masterclass in protecting your time, choosing the right people and refusing opportunities that no longer respect your value. Daymond’s message is clear: get narrow, go deep and keep the power to walk away. IN THIS EPISODE • Why Daymond’s deeper purpose is “because I should” • How dyslexia, business and cancer shaped his perspective • Why mentors and mistakes are the two great teachers • How scaling too fast can weaken a business • The difference between purpose-driven and return-driven investments • Why Daymond supports artists without asking for anything back • The five-to-seven-person filter behind his social media decisions • Why too many opportunities can become a liability • How walking away protects your value • Why a small, trusted inner circle can outperform a massive network CHAPTERS 00:00 Mentors or mistakes 01:38 Meet Daymond John 03:38 “Because I should” 06:04 What Daymond had to overcome 08:13 Fasting, discipline and gradual change 12:09 Cancer and the decision to study health 16:44 Why mentors matter 20:15 Don’t scale too fast 23:50 “My Money, Homie” and smarter investing 28:47 Supporting artists with no strings attached 33:16 The two-year-old turkey leg debate 35:29 Daymond’s five-to-seven-person filter 39:34 Drowning in opportunity 41:15 The power to walk away 41:30 Quick Five 43:39 Go narrow and deep 43:53 Leadership and what Daymond is building 46:22 Closing Connect with Daymond John: Website: daymondjohn.com Instagram: @thesharkdaymond LinkedIn: @daymondjohn YouTube: @TheSharkDaymond Facebook: @TheSharkDaymond FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged  Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  LinkedIn: @mickhunt  Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com Website: howtobeagoodleader.com Website: Leadloudseries.com Apple: MickUnplugged #MickUnplugged #Leadership #Podcast #daymondjohn

    Mon, 07 Sep 2026
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