The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas
- Episodes
- 581
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 13, 2026
About the podcast
The Secret To Success Podcast is your weekly jolt of truth, strategy, and conviction from Eric Thomas (ET)—the world’s #1 motivational speaker—alongside CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal “9-to-5 Millionaire” King. No fluffy theory here. We talk mindset, money, relationships, leadership, faith, health, and execution—and we do it with straight talk, real stories, and proven playbooks you can run today. From locker rooms and boardrooms to classrooms and living rooms, we break down how high performers actually win consistently—and how you can too. Expect hot seats, uncomfortable truths, practical frameworks, wild behind-the-scenes moments, and the accountability you didn’t know you needed. If you’re ready to stop collecting information and start adopting the mindset that changes your life, you’re in the right room. Tap in, take notes, and let’s execute.
Contributors
Episodes 581
You're the Reason Your Team Fails (Eric Thomas) | S2S 567
Is your team really the problem, or are you?This is the last S2S before We Is Greater Than Me drops, and CJ opens with a line ET preached the day before: if the we ain't strong, it's the me's fault.CJ reads the …
Show notes
Is your team really the problem, or are you?
This is the last S2S before We Is Greater Than Me drops, and CJ opens with a line ET preached the day before: if the we ain't strong, it's the me's fault.
CJ reads the Nick Saban story from page 97 of the book. Down late in a game, young Saban asked his head coach what play to call and got told: don't think of plays, think of players. CJ explains why he stopped caring about being a famous speaker and started building himself for the we instead, down to dropping 120 pounds, because a right hand man has to look like the message.
ET takes it back to Adam. God said it was not good for man to be alone, but only after Adam spent real time alone with Him. Jesus did not start his ministry until 30. Everybody wants to jump into a we before the me is straight. ET also shares the conversation with his daughter Jada that changed how he leads: stop being outcome driven and start trusting the process.
Then the playbook. Chick-fil-A has one and Taco Bell does not. Jesus had a tax man, a doctor and a fisherman, not twelve carpenters. And the big one from the book: the lion has a 20 percent kill rate, the African wild dog hits 80 to 90 percent, because the dogs run a system together.
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
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CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Cold Open: The Lion vs the African Wild Dog
00:01:41 Welcome: The Last Episode Before the Book
00:03:21 If the We Ain't Strong, It's the Me's Fault
00:04:16 The Nick Saban Lesson on Page 97
00:05:51 There's No Such Thing as a Good Idea
00:06:47 Why CJ Built Himself for the We
00:10:03 You Blame the We When the Me Is Broken
00:11:18 Why God Let Adam Be Alone First
00:13:46 You Can Hide on a Great Team
00:14:47 Jesus Developed for 18 More Years
00:16:24 How to Spot Potential Before It's Ready
00:18:37 Jada's Lesson: Process Over Outcome
00:20:50 First, Get a Playbook
00:22:47 Figure Out Who You're Not
00:25:30 We Is Greater Summit, November 16 to 18
00:26:52 Why This Book Feels Different
00:30:08 Faith Without a Framework
00:32:40 Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
00:34:20 The Lion vs the African Wild Dog
00:37:03 Talent to Win, No System to Scale
00:39:35 Recognize, Release, Reorganize
00:41:16 Baylor, the Family and the Incredibles
00:43:16 Get the Book, Join the Summit
00:44:36 Outro
PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME
The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Pre-order now and get $346 in free bonuses. Get one for you and one for your team.
https://www.weisgreater.com
WE IS GREATER SUMMIT
Three nights, live and virtual, with Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney, November 16, 17 and 18. Yourself, your home and your teams, plus the book launch party.
https://www.weisgreater.com/summit
WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel
RATE AND REVIEW
If this one hit home, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the show.
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
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Instagram: @s2spodcastWhy You Keep Quitting When It Gets Hard (Eric Thomas) | S2S 566
What do you do when the dream is real, but the rent is due?Fresh off the Forever Forward weekend, with a couple of weeks left before their new book We Is Greater Than Me drops, CJ and Eric Thomas go back to the …
Show notes
What do you do when the dream is real, but the rent is due?
Fresh off the Forever Forward weekend, with a couple of weeks left before their new book We Is Greater Than Me drops, CJ and Eric Thomas go back to the one season CJ almost folded.
Money was so tight that CJ, the first in his family to get a degree, master's in hand, was calling his blue collar parents to borrow five hundred dollars. So he started substitute teaching on the side. By the end of his first day he had a struggling classroom singing, the principal asked him to come back every day, and the district wanted to offer him a role worth close to six figures. Then ET found out, and told him to quit.
ET explains why. CJ had already turned down Western Michigan. ET had already watched people from Detroit make enough to survive but never enough to thrive. And the calls coming into their office at Michigan State, from Reggie Bush to Puff, told him the needle was moving. You can't half do this. Then the real reason CJ took the job comes out, and it involves the Cheesecake Factory.
They go back even further. ET had one rule for the team, no dating, and Candis of Detroit broke right through it. CJ remembers ET calling with his wife Dede in the background, asking how long this was going to last, and the Michigan State staff meetings where ET stared out a tiny window like he was in prison. ET shares what God told him to do with Dede's need for stability.
It all lands on the story ET preached this weekend: why God let David lose everything right after he beat Goliath. You can't stay a champion off the last battle you won.
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings and Q&A with the S2S fam.
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CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Cold Open: You Can't Stay Champion Off One Win
- 00:01:34 Welcome: Fresh Off Forever Forward
- 00:02:58 Countdown to We Is Greater Than Me
- 00:04:50 Why CJ Struggles to Promote Himself
- 00:06:02 Why Now Was the Time for This Book
- 00:11:55 Was There Ever a Time You Doubted?
- 00:13:39 The Substitute Teaching Story
- 00:17:58 Why ET Told CJ to Quit
- 00:20:01 The Evidence: When Reggie Bush and Puff Called
- 00:22:04 You Can't Be Here One Week and Gone the Next
- 00:24:18 Western Michigan or the Cheesecake Factory
- 00:26:53 Candis of Detroit Broke the Rule Book
- 00:30:53 Five Grand a Speech and Dede's Big Question
- 00:33:12 Suffocating in the Staff Meeting
- 00:35:30 Turn Your Dream Into a Job
- 00:37:05 Want It as Bad as You Want to Breathe
- 00:39:21 We Is Greater Summit, November 16 to 18
- 00:40:27 Get the Book, Bring Your Team
PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME
The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Pre-order now and get $346 in free bonuses. Get one for you and one for your team.
https://www.weisgreater.com
WE IS GREATER SUMMIT
Three nights, live and virtual, with Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney, November 16, 17 and 18. Self, family and teams, plus the book launch party.
https://www.weisgreater.com/summit
WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel
RATE AND REVIEW
If this one hit home, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the show.
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
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Instagram: @s2spodcastWhy You Keep Attracting the Wrong Person (Eric Thomas) | S2S 565
What if the person you keep picking is not the problem? What if it is the version of you doing the picking?With CJ and Jemal out this week, Moose takes the host chair next to Eric Thomas and Karl and drives the …
Show notes
What if the person you keep picking is not the problem? What if it is the version of you doing the picking?
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.
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings and Q&A with the S2S fam.
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CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 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, Boston and Vancouver in 72 Hours
- 00:11:43 Let Us Create: Why Nothing Gets Built Alone
- 00:17:29 Moose: Raised to Look Out for Me
- 00:18:54 Me Is Not Real
- 00:24:26 What Have You Done for Me Lately
- 00:25:39 How to Undo It: Stop Group Thinking
- 00:28:12 When You Worship the Group
- 00:29:45 There Is No Enemy
- 00:31:04 The Most Selfish Thing You Can Do Is Give
- 00:35:04 Coach Scott Drew on Healthy Teams
- 00:40:11 Study How You're Wired
- 00:44:09 Moose's Grandmother's Final Words
- 00:46:13 Roots: No One Greater Than Thee
- 00:48:26 Wrong We or Wrong Me?
- 00:49:48 Don't Cut It, Reset It
- 00:56:33 Out of the Zoo: ET's Kids Go to Work
- 01:00:41 Distributed Leadership: How ET Really Blew Up
- 01:06:54 You Can't Make Money Without a Tribe
- 01:09:02 What Dede Did When Nobody Was Watching
- 01:13:27 Get the Book, Bring Your We
PRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN ME
The new book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Pre-order now and get $346 in free bonuses. Get one for you and two for your we.
https://www.weisgreater.com
WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel
RATE AND REVIEW
If this one hit home, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the show.
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
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Instagram: @s2spodcastHow to Let Go of People Who Only Take From You (Eric Thomas) | S2S 564
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 …
Show notes
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.
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
Hear every episode first and ask your questions live. New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
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 Coaches, Receipts and the Power of We
00:05:28 Who This Podcast Is Really For
00:07:46 How Do You Know You're Building on Bedrock?
00:08:31 Rule 1: Repeat What Gets You Results
00:13:21 Rule 2: Reproduce Your Best
00:15:46 Rule 3: Pick People Who Share Your Values
00:18:40 Is There Ever a Me Season?
00:19:05 Dede's 18 Months
00:21:32 Why Your Last We Failed
00:25:48 Why We Need You at WeIsGreater.com
00:27:12 Patreon Live Q&A: What E Is Most Excited About
00:30:06 When Is the We Worth the Sacrifice of Me?
00:31:17 Deposits, Withdrawals and Overdrafts
00:35:00 Why the Book Is Called We Is Greater Than Me
00:37:33 Does We Cost You Part of Me? Your Me Might Be Sick
00:41:45 How to Get People to Join Your We
00:43:07 You Can't Win the Big One Alone
00:46:16 How God Gave E the Title
00:47:34 Do You Stay With People Who Won't Grow?
00:49:53 Closing
WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION
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RATE AND REVIEW
If this episode hit home, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share it with somebody in your circle. It helps more people find the show.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
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Instagram: @s2spodcastYou're Not People-Pleasing If the People Aren't Pleased (Eric Thomas) | S2S 563
Eric Thomas thought he was a people pleaser. Then he looked around his own company and noticed something. Nobody was pleased.Payroll was astronomical. Every month was a prayer just to cover it. Morale was low …
Show notes
Eric Thomas thought he was a people pleaser. Then he looked around his own company and noticed something. Nobody was pleased.
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.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Cold Open: You Can't Say It's Bad When You're Part of What's Making It Bad
00:02:08 Welcome: AI, Water, and the End of the World
00:04:42 Chat GPT Turned E Into a Handyman
00:12:36 The AI Water Crisis: Chat vs Coca-Cola
00:18:06 Pre-Order We Is Greater Than Me
00:19:15 The People Pleasing Problem: When You're Really Self-Pleasing
00:22:08 The Payroll Crisis: When E Created a False World
00:23:39 Fourth and Inches: The Dan Campbell Philosophy
00:25:05 You're Not People Pleasing If They're Not Pleased
00:29:31 TJ and the NFL Reality Check
00:31:49 Workers Don't Get Paid: The Real World vs The Safari
00:34:07 If You Made Me, Make Another One: The Hov Principle
00:40:02 CJ's Half and Half Advantage: The Power of We
00:41:59 The Safari vs The Serengeti: Raising Kids in Reality
00:45:19 The Hidden Coke Story: Why Parents Hide Their Stuff
00:47:07 Jalin's COVID Check: When Reality Hits
00:48:32 Real People Pleasing: Standards That Set People Free
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. Buy one for you and one for your squad.
WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
RATE AND REVIEW
If this episode helped you, leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the show.
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
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You Can't Build It Alone (Eric Thomas) | S2S 562
Eric Thomas and CJ break down leadership, team building and why you can't build it alone. The greatest wins in your life will never come from solo effort, and the thing that made you successful as an individual …
Show notes
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 Sometimes Growth Is Removing Something
00:20:29 Coaching Grown Kids Without Controlling Them
00:25:22 Money Can't Buy Happiness, But It Buys Options
00:29:31 The Number That Let Dede Retire
00:31:09 Tithing, Giving and Who Really Carries the Church
00:34:18 Sending Kids to Dubai: When Me Income Runs Out
00:38:00 "Your Vision Only Has Enough Room for You"
00:42:19 A Vision Big Enough for a Thousand People
00:43:18 Dallas, the Hospital and the Van
00:48:45 How Do You Know You're in the Right We?
00:53:19 God Said Go: Why E Left Huntsville
00:54:30 From Anointed Speaker to a Brand: The Hat Story
00:57:14 Leave the We or Grow the We?
00:59:45 E Chooses People on Character
01:02:56 We Built Our Table
01:04:19 You Can Build It With Your People
01:06:35 Build Where Your Feet Are
01:09:10 Why CJ Only Wants His Own Table
01:10:37 What a 12 Year Old Taught the Pastor
01:14:15 Closing: Go to WeIsGreater.com
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. Buy one for you and one for your squad.
EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION
Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year.
https://www.extremeexecution.com
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
SUBSCRIBE
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
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You Don't Need to Be the Star to Win (Eric Thomas) | S2S 561
Why do talented people keep losing? Eric Thomas says sometimes it is not the talent. It is the team.This week the crew breaks down the power of we. The Bears walk into Monday Night Football with their third …
Show notes
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
- 00:00:00 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 Why the Book Is Called We Is Greater Than Me
- 00:29:45 Extreme Execution Certification, October 24 and 25
- 00:31:21 Raider Nation: Why We Gives You an Identity
- 00:33:51 The Brain, the Hands and the Mouth: How ET, CJ and Karl Found Their We
- 00:40:03 Rodman Never Wanted to Shoot
- 00:41:14 CJ Gave Up His Turn: "Stop Dimming Your Light"
- 00:43:30 Draymond Green and Finding Your Role
- 00:45:56 Your Ego Is in Your We: Roles in Marriage
- 00:49:37 I Only Do What I Do: Jordan and the Baseball Bat
- 00:53:21 Power Washers, Lasers and a Magnifying Glass
- 00:54:26 Closing: Go to WeIsGreater.com
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. Buy one for you and one for your squad.
EXTREME EXECUTION CERTIFICATION
Live, October 24 and 25. Only happens once a year.
http://www.ExtremeExecution.com
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
SUBSCRIBE
https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-success-with-cj-karl-jemal-eric-thomas/id844102142
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX
FOLLOW
Instagram: @s2spodcast
ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and drive.
You Want Me To Go Easier On You, But Will The World? | S2S 560
Should the coach change to fit the player, or should the player change to fit the coach? This week the crew opens up one of the oldest arguments in coaching, leadership, and life, and nobody fully agrees.CJ …
Show notes
Should the coach change to fit the player, or should the player change to fit the coach? This week the crew opens up one of the oldest arguments in coaching, leadership, and life, and nobody fully agrees.
CJ starts it off by admitting someone once told him his coaching style was too harsh, not wrong, not ineffective, just uncomfortable. That one comment turns into a debate that swings from 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
Chapters- 00:00:00 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 Kids Need Boundaries in Public
- 00:09:04 The Coaching Dilemma: Should the Coach Change or the Player?
- 00:12:16 The Mr. Miyagi Principle: You Don't Change the Winning Formula
- 00:14:29 The Allen Iverson and Coach Brown Story: When Talent Meets Discipline
- 00:17:43 Different Learning Styles vs. Taking Ownership: The Real Debate
- 00:21:55 From Homeless to Number One: Why ET Coaches the Way He Does
- 00:23:06 The Expectation Problem: Why ET Stopped Being Democratic
- 00:28:02 The 252 Moment: When You're Not Valuable Anymore
- 00:39:37 The Levels of Coaching: From Peewee to the Pros
- 00:45:11 The Letter With No You In It: Taking Responsibility for Your Story
- 00:46:58 Hell Week Coaching: Why We Came Up Different
- 00:53:04 Teaching Sons Not to Touch Women: The Non-Negotiable Standard
- 00:55:15 The Virtual Jungle: Creating Hunger in Blessed Kids
- 00:55:58 Closing: We Is Greater - Go Get the Book
PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now.
https://www.weisgreater.com
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New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and drive.You Want the Results But You Won't Get on the Scale | S2S 559
You're avoiding the scale. Not just the one in your bathroom, but the one in your marriage, your finances, your health, your life. You don't want to see the number because then you'd have to deal with it. You'd …
Show notes
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 grits and eggs with cheddar cheese. But God told him to shrink the goal. Stop treating fitness like faith. This is your Achilles heel. You can't go big here. You have to measure daily. Kale, supplements, resistance before cardio. There's an order to it.
The crew also talks about why most people use prayer as a crutch. Praying for Peter to be released while Peter's at the door knocking. Why your bank account dashboard isn't your enemy. Why date night isn't your enemy. The enemy is not doing the things you know you're supposed to do. Get on the scale. Stop running. The truth is your friend.
This episode will challenge how you measure success. Because you can't manage what you don't measure. And if you're avoiding the scale in any area of your life, you're saying you don't want to win. Get back on it. Face the number. Make the adjustment. We is greater than me.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: The Scale Tells You the Truth You're Running From
- 00:01:58 Welcome and The Margin Metaphor: Staying Inside the Lines
- 00:05:46 ET's Scale Confession: When You Make Truth Your Enemy
- 00:09:43 The Story You Tell Yourself Is the Problem
- 00:12:22 The Two-Year Investment Principle: What You Do Now Shows Up Later
- 00:14:49 Jamal and Camille's Cassette Tape Vision: Speaking Your Future Into Existence
- 00:22:15 Carl's Kitchen Scale Strategy: Put Your Help Where Your Enemy Lives
- 00:26:50 The 52-Day Journey: Shrinking the Goal and Changing Your God
- 00:32:01 The Order Matters: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally in Marriage
- 00:37:00 The Visa Victory: How Tamisha's Mom Finally Got to Come to America
- 00:40:32 Carl's No-Stress Marriage Philosophy: When Everything Is Taken Care Of
- 00:41:55 Carl's Biggest Area for Growth: Taking the Cooking Load Off Tamisha
- 00:43:58 Jamal's Travel Revelation: When You Stop Creating Experiences
- 00:45:33 Closing: We Is Greater Than Me - Pre-Order Available Now
PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now.
https://www.weisgreater.com
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.You Think You're Using the Perks But Really You're Losing the Circle | S2S 558
You want to be in the circle, but you're coming in needy. You want the access, the connections, the benefits. But you're not bringing health. You're not bringing value. You're coming in taking from the circle …
Show notes
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 is putting her in position to attract everything she's been praying for.
This episode will challenge how you show up in your circle. Because if you're needy, people can feel it. If you're draining, people will distance themselves. Stop taking advantage of the advantage. Start adding to the circle. We is greater than me.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: When You Get Needy, You Get Cut From the Circle
- 00:01:29 Welcome and The Delta 360 Wake-Up Call
- 00:03:22 The Secret to Staying in the Circle: Come With Health
- 00:05:27 Cultural Programming: The Give Me Mentality vs The Creator Mindset
- 00:05:57 The Delta Story Breakdown: Using All Your Global Upgrades
- 00:12:00 The Porsche Pickup and When Advantages Become Expected
- 00:24:57 Shout Out to Rondell Black: The Art of Knowing How to Be
- 00:25:46 Equal Sacrifice, Not Equal Giving: The Real Secret to We
- 00:29:17 Teaching Your Kids to Hunt: The Giraffe vs Lion Lesson
- 00:35:21 The Jada Story: Leading Your Wife to Houston
- 00:38:15 The Five Pillars and Building Your Own Dynasty
- 00:39:48 We Is Greater Than Me: The Book and the Mission
- 00:40:32 Football Season Talk: Bears Moving to Indiana and Lions Hype
- 00:48:48 Forever Forward Marriage Retreat: Photo Shoots and White Party
- 00:50:55 Closing: 9 to 5 Millionaire Network and Real Estate Results
PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available now.
https://www.weisgreater.com
FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT
October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives.
https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.You're Trapped By The Very Thing That Made You Successful | S2S 557
You're trapped by the very thing that made you successful. You've got the talent, the work ethic, the drive. You've built something. But the same high capacity leadership that got you here is now your Achilles …
Show notes
You're trapped by the very thing that made you successful. You've got the talent, the work ethic, the drive. You've built something. But the same high capacity leadership that got you here is now your Achilles heel. And until you deal with that, you'll never get to the next level.
This week the crew gets raw about what it really means to be part of a team when you've been successful on your own. 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 second. Not inferior. Not weaker. But connected. Because the one and the two together is the secret sauce.
They also break down arranged marriages, why Avery and Jamal Jr. are already locked in, and why the divorce rate in arranged marriages is 94 to 96 percent success. Plus, ET's kids are both working at the same company in Houston with offices down the hall from each other, and God keeps his word.
This episode will challenge everything you think about success, leadership, and what it means to be part of a team. Because you can be high capacity and still be trapped. Stop trying to do it alone. We is greater than me.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: Kyrie Was a Banging Two - Understanding Your Role on the Team
- 00:01:35 Welcome and Happy Birthday to ET - Celebrating 56 Years Around the Sun
- 00:05:32 Jada's Office and Jalen's Success - When Your Kids Make You Proud
- 00:10:18 The Birthday Gift: We Is Greater Than Me Book Pre-Order Goes Live
- 00:14:28 Fair or Foul: The Arranged Marriage Conversation for Avery and Jamal Jr
- 00:36:12 Carl's Story: From Substitute Teacher to Essential Team Member
- 00:45:35 Maul's Brotherhood Prayer: Finding Your Circle of Influence
- 00:53:07 ET Was Always the Two: The Lifelong Journey of a High-Capacity Leader
- 00:56:18 The Secret Sauce: When a Lifelong One Meets a Lifelong Two
- 00:56:44 Trapped By What Made You Successful: The High-Capacity Leader's Dilemma
PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available November 3rd.
https://www.weisgreater.com
FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT
October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives.
https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
SUBSCRIBE
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LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789
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FOLLOW
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.You Know Better, You Can Do Better, But You Haven't Done Better Yet | S2S 556
You know better. You can do better. But you haven't done better yet. And that's your 242: the place where you know what needs to change but haven't produced better yet. This week, the crew breaks down …
Show notes
You know better. You can do better. But you haven't done better yet. And that's your 242: the place where you know what needs to change but haven't produced better yet. This week, the crew breaks down accountability that actually works.
ET explores the difference between reputation and character. Reputation is a shadow. It's who you want people to think you are. Character is who you actually are. 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 waiting, and it starts with your heart.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: Reputation is a Shadow, Character is Who You Are
- 00:01:38 Welcome and Airport Lotion Drama - The TSA Struggle is Real
- 00:04:11 The Sprinkler System Scam and Mr. Perfect's Lawn
- 00:07:09 Pool Equipment: The Money Pit That Never Stops Breaking
- 00:09:23 17 Years and 21 Years: Celebrating Partnership Milestones
- 00:10:37 The Speaking Engagement Story: When Your Light is Attached to Someone Else's
- 00:13:43 Consistency Without Quality is Rehearsed Failure
- 00:16:49 I Just Want to Win: The Philosophy That Built an Empire
- 00:17:18 You're Not a Two-Man, You're a One in Waiting
- 00:19:11 The Secret to Success Mission: Bringing Souls to Christ
- 00:20:23 White Men Can't Jump: Would You Rather Look Good and Lose?
- 00:24:44 Being a Two-Man in the 52-Day Challenge: What Accountability Really Looks Like
- 00:26:45 The Blood Pressure Metric: Why Accountability Needs to Be Tangible
- 00:27:56 The Jerk Chicken Confession: When You Eat Wrong and Your Numbers Show It
- 00:31:51 Reputation vs Character: The Connection That Changes Everything
- 00:41:53 The Dentist Analogy: Imagine If You Had to Go 52 Days Straight
- 00:45:12 You Know Better, Can Do Better, But Haven't Done Better Yet
- 00:46:27 Home Game vs Away Game: The Peloton App Solution for Travel
- 00:47:17 The 24-Hour Fast: When Accountability Pushes You Beyond Your Limits
- 00:49:15 Introducing the Build 52 Challenge: Your 52-Day Transformation Starts Now
- 00:49:57 Live Staff Meeting with Moose: Registration Deadlines and Pricing
- 00:53:07 Closing: Transformation Not Just Information
JOIN THE BUILD 52 CHALLENGE
Free registration ends soon. Transform the area you've been ignoring in 52 days.
https://www.build52challenge.comJOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney. Available November 3rd.
https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DSUBSCRIBE
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789
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Instagram: @s2spodcastABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.A moment for Forever
Want to learn more about Forever Forward? Join us live this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST for a Forever First Look - a special event preview. Register using the link …
Show notes
Want to learn more about Forever Forward? Join us live this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST for a Forever First Look - a special event preview. Register using the link below!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HIHEuTfrRGqd05VzP8FR1A
You want to travel the world with your spouse. You want to be around other couples who actually like each other. You want to celebrate your marriage instead of fixing 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 by neglect. Because divorce doesn't happen overnight. It's years of not working out, not investing, not putting anything back into the marriage. This episode is about the small foxes that destroy the vine and the small steps that build marriages. If you want to succeed in your marriage as bad as you want to breathe, this is your moment. Forever Forward. October 29th. Cancun. Let's celebrate love.
CHAPTERS
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Opening: Traveling the World Together as Couples
- 00:01:29 Welcome and Forever Forward Announcement - October 29th in Cancun
- 00:04:29 This Ain't For the Struggle Marriage - Who Forever Forward Is Really For
- 00:05:32 Why Iron Sharpens Iron Applies to Marriages Too
- 00:08:26 The Exposure That Changes Everything - Why Community Matters for Couples
- 00:14:07 Candace's Confession: I Didn't Want to Vacation With Other Couples
- 00:15:49 It's Never Turned Into Marriage Counseling - The Power of Observation
- 00:17:13 The Forever Forward Experience - What to Expect in Cancun
- 00:18:44 Unk Jamal's Word: The Attack on Marriage Nobody Talks About
- 00:22:13 The Small Foxes That Destroy the Vine - Why Small Steps Build Marriages
FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT October 29th in Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of marriage with the S2S crew and their wives. https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.com
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
PRE-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/B0GPGXXD5D
SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
LISTEN ANYWHERE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15
FOLLOW Instagram: @s2spodcast
ABOUT THE PODCAST The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming your best self.
You're Winning in Some Areas But Losing in 1 (And It's Costing You Everything) | S2S 555
You're winning in some areas but losing in one. And you know it. Your marriage is strong. Your kids are thriving. Your career is on fire. Your faith is solid. But that one area? The one you keep avoiding? …
Show notes
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- 00:00:00 Opening: You're Winning in Four, Losing in One - And You Know It
- 00:01:32 Welcome and Happy 17th Anniversary - The Milestone Moment
- 00:04:46 June 1st: The Conversation That Changed Everything
- 00:05:47 The Scale You're Avoiding: Why We Don't Face Reality
- 00:07:53 God's Rebuke on the Pulpit: When Your Calling Exposes Your Weakness
- 00:10:07 Four Out of Five Strong: The Dangerous Justification
- 00:22:15 The Embarrassment of Needing Someone Else to Tell You
- 00:24:17 The Supplement Revelation: You Can't Be the Weakest Link
- 00:37:43 Changing Your Heart First: Why Exercise and Diet Come Second
- 00:42:01 Your Body Is a Temple: The Principle You Know But Don't Live
- 00:44:42 Pre Won't Stay Pre: The Wake-Up Call About Your Future
- 00:47:16 Introducing Build52Challenge.com: Your Free Transformation Starts Now
- 00:51:36 The Black Suit Jacket: From Tension to Triumph
- 00:53:50 17 Pounds Down, 52 Days to Build: The Quick Work God Promised
- 00:55:14 Closing: What's Your 242? The Area You've Been Ignoring
JOIN THE BUILD 52 CHALLENGE
Completely free. 52 days to transform the area you've been ignoring.
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PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, and becoming the best version of yourself.You Want the Reward Without the Relationship (And That's Why You're Stuck) | S2S 554
You want the reward without the relationship. You want the breakthrough without the process. You want the book without knowing the author. And that may be exactly why you're stuck. This week, the S2S crew …
Show notes
You want the reward without the relationship. You want the breakthrough without the process. You want the book without knowing the author. And that may be exactly why you're stuck. This week, the S2S crew breaks down why so many people chase information, access, and outcomes without building the relationships, discipline, humility, and belief required to sustain them.
ET explains why motivation 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
Chapters- 00:00:00 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 Pillars While Running
- 00:22:31 The Imbalance Confession: When Marriage Affected Fitness
- 00:24:03 Day 50 Journal Entry: ET Reads His Transformation
- 00:29:30 Blood Pressure Results and The AARP Podcast Joke
- 00:30:18 The Pace Pillar: Why ET Started Journaling
- 00:32:16 Carl's Walking Commitment: No Alarm Clock Needed
- 00:43:25 Belief Over Feelings: The Real Application
- 00:36:58 Relationship Over Reward: The Book and The Author
- 00:47:47 The Vision Keeper: Seeing It When There's No Evidence
- 00:52:38 Designed to Win: The Final Word
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
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PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission. Real conversations on faith, family, business, discipline, relationships, and becoming the best version of yourself.You Don't Want the Advice, You Want the Reward | S2S 553
You don't want the advice. You want the reward. You want the championship without the discipline. You want the breakthrough without the breaking. You want the results without the process. And that's why you're …
Show notes
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- 00:00:00 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: The 10 Items or Less Grocery Store Standoff
- 00:03:48 The Grocery Shopping Philosophy: Why Delivery Isn't an Option
- 00:07:43 Breaking the Law When It Makes Sense: The Practical Approach
- 00:08:06 The Stop Sign Story: When ET Fought the Law and the Law Won
- 00:09:30 The California Stop Defense: Why Context Matters in Rule Breaking
- 00:09:56 Marriage Talk: The 30-Minute Conversation That Revealed Society's Problem
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.
https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DSUBSCRIBE
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Instagram: @s2spodcastABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.LeBron or Jordan? The Argument That Got Heated (S2S 552)
LeBron or Jordan? It's the debate that never dies. And this week, the crew dove headfirst into it. Fresh off the mastermind weekend, they came in ready to talk personal development. Instead, they ended up in …
Show notes
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- 00:00:00 Opening: The LeBron vs Jordan Debate Heats Up Immediately
- 00:01:43 Welcome and Catching Up: Fresh Off the Mastermind Weekend
- 00:04:55 LeBron to the Sixers: Why This Move Changes Everything
- 00:07:38 The NBA Portal Problem: Why Player Movement Is Out of Control
- 00:11:21 The Statue Debate: Where Does LeBron Belong?
- 00:13:54 Is LeBron the Best Player We've Ever Seen?
- 00:16:32 Breaking Down the Stats: Scoring, Defense, and Longevity
- 00:19:27 The COVID Championship: Does It Count the Same?
- 00:21:10 Six for Six vs Four for Twenty-Three: The Finals Record Argument
- 00:23:28 Jordan Fan Logic: Why Only Talk About the Championship Years?
- 00:27:37 The Dynasty Question: Who Did They Beat and Who Beat Them?
- 00:31:03 Longevity vs Peak Dominance: What Matters More?
- 00:34:32 The Scottie Pippen Factor: Who Had Better Help?
- 00:41:40 The Generational Argument: Bill Russell, Magic, and Kareem Enter the Chat
- 00:45:52 The Final Verdict: Can They Agree on Anything?
- 00:50:00 Jordan's Answer: The Most Respectful Take on the GOAT Debate
- 00:53:50 Magic Johnson Stories: When ET Met a Legend at 13 Years Old
- 00:56:02 Can They Do a Sports Show? Testing the Chemistry
- 00:56:29 Detroit Lions Window: Is It Already Closing?
- 00:59:57 Forever Forward Marriage Retreat: Big Announcement
- 01:04:02 Behind the Scenes: Photo Shoot Prep and Patreon Love
- 01:06:06 Closing: LeBron the GOAT with Love - See You Next Week
FOREVER FORWARD MARRIAGE RETREAT
Cancun, Mexico. Less than 50 couples. A celebration of love with the podcast crew and their wives
https://www.foreverforwardmarriage.comJOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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/B0GPGXXD5DSUBSCRIBE
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The Secret to Success Podcast, hosted by Dr. Eric Thomas (ET), CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips and Jemal King, is one of the most impactful personal development podcasts in the world. Each week the team breaks down real conversations around success, discipline, wealth, leadership, relationships, and entrepreneurship. If you want to succeed as bad as you want to
breathe, this is the podcast for you.Prayed About It But Still Stuck? Here's Why | S2S 551
You prayed about it. You asked God for direction. You're waiting. You're believing. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't because God didn't answer. It's because you're not listening. Or worse …
Show notes
You prayed about it. You asked God for direction. You're waiting. You're believing. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't because God didn't answer. It's because you're not listening. Or worse, you're listening but you're not moving.
This week ET and CJ break down why prayer without action is just noise. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: God's voice is clear. 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 ones who walked and talked with God until they literally glowed with his presence.
This episode will challenge everything you think about prayer. Because prayer is not just talking. It's listening. It's doing. Stop asking God to bless the mess. Start doing what he told you to do. The pit stop only works if you stay in the car and let God do what only he can do. But you still got to drive.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: God's Got a Thousand Ways You Know Nothing About
- 00:01:45 Welcome and the Prayer Controversy: Did ET Really Say Stop Praying?
- 00:03:52 Prayer Is Not Your Only Tool: The Hammer and Wrench Analogy
- 00:05:42 The Cell Phone Confession: Why Being Homeless Made ET's Prayer Life Stronger
- 00:06:43 Prayer Is a GPS System: You Can't Get Directions While Moving
- 00:07:53 Stop Coming Back to God Without Doing What He Told You
- 00:09:48 You Know God's Voice Because You Talk Every Day
- 00:11:24 It's Not That God Isn't Clear, Your Filters Are Messed Up
- 00:13:19 The 3 AM Walk: Why ET Changed His Prayer Time to Avoid Distractions
- 00:16:39 Reminisce With God: Talk About the Good Old Days
- 00:19:42 Stop Putting God on Hold: Let Him Talk Back to You
- 00:21:27 The Formula of Prayer: What ET Learned While Homeless
- 00:23:47 Give Thanks Before You Get What You Want
- 00:25:03 Moses, Jonah, and Ruth: Listen and Follow the Instructions
- 00:25:48 Some Things You Have to Change, Not God
- 00:26:31 Tithes and Offerings: The Windows of Heaven Principle
- 00:28:02 Walking and Talking With God Is Not Just Religious Tradition
- 00:29:25 Moses Spent 30 Days With God and Came Back Glowing
- 00:31:47 I Never Came to Michigan to Stay: The Master's Degree Plan
- 00:34:43 Prayer Is Your GPS System: You Have No Clue Where You're Going
- 00:35:12 The NASCAR Pit Stop Revelation: Don't Wait Till the Wheels Fall Off
- 00:37:12 God Tells You When to Pull Over Before You Even Know You Need It
- 00:38:20 You Don't Have to Get Out the Car: Stay in and Let God Handle It
- 00:38:42 Moses Died at 120 at Peak, Enoch Left Earth at Peak
- 00:39:10 How a Small Group From Lansing Changed the World
- 00:40:05 Closing: Going at Peak Is 52 Days, Not 52 Years
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.
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Instagram: @s2spodcastABOUT THE PODCAST
S2S is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.You're Working Hard for the Wrong Reason, and It's Breaking You | S2S 550
You're working hard for the wrong reason, and it's breaking you. Not because you're lazy. Not because you're not talented. But because what's driving you isn't God. It's trauma. It's fear. It's pride. And until …
Show notes
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 security. And stop thinking brokenness means you're broken. God isn't breaking you. He's breaking that stuff off of you.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: Which One Do You Want Sir - AI or the Real Thing
- 00:01:20 Welcome and Introducing the Queens: Candis and Dede Join the Pod
- 00:09:09 Fair or Foul: The ChatGPT Love Letter Debate
- 00:11:45 Computer Love: When Your Heart Message Comes From a Machine
- 00:17:29 The Real Question: Faith Without Works or Let Go and Let God
- 00:19:33 Before You Work With God You Got to Know God
- 00:22:26 Candis Revelation: The Only Work God Wants Is Belief
- 00:25:16 Be Still Doesn't Mean Stand Still: Redefining Stillness
- 00:29:03 How to Hear From God When You Don't Hear Audibly
- 00:32:11 The Cheat Code Confession: When Your Spouse Has a Deeper Walk
- 00:33:43 Don't Compare Storms: Your Hurricane Versus Someone Else's Rain
- 00:34:55 Candis GE Breakdown: Working Crazy Hours and Missing Peace
- 00:43:35 The Two-Day Hotel Revelation: When God Said Be Still, Be Humble, Have Peace
- 00:46:46 CJ's Obedience Test: When Quitting Would Have Been Easier
- 00:49:20 The Financial Security Idol: When Insurance Becomes Your God
- 00:50:35 Dede's Confession: I Will Burn the Bridge to Prove I Can Swim
- 00:54:01 The Mental Weight That's Breaking You: It's Not the Work, It's What's Driving It
- 00:54:20 What's Driving You: When Trauma Becomes Your God
- 00:55:27 The 3am Question: What's So Evil About You That You'd Rather Suffer
- 01:04:24 Does God Get Glory From What You Do: The Jealousy of God
- 01:06:00 Didi's MS Story: When God Has to Stop You From Your Disobedience
- 00:58:31 Brokenness Isn't Breaking You: It's Breaking Stuff Off of You
- 01:01:04 The Multiplication Comes After the Broken: Stop Running From It
- 01:08:21 Closing: Join A Place to Change Ministry and Get Community
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"
The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.
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Instagram: @s2spodcastA PLACE OF CHANGE MINISTRY
Join the women's ministry with Candace and Dede. Follow @apocministry on Instagram or visit www.aplacetochangeministry.orgABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth | S2S 549
You're getting paid exactly what you're worth. Not what you think you deserve. Not based on your degrees, your loyalty, or how hard you work. You're getting paid exactly what you believe about yourself. And …
Show notes
You're getting paid exactly what you're worth. Not what you think you deserve. Not based on your degrees, your loyalty, or how hard you work. You're getting paid exactly what you believe about yourself. And until you deal with that, nothing changes.
This week the crew breaks down why most people resist coaching even when they're losing. ET opens up about why he had his kids leave his company to 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. Because you can have all the talent in the world, but without the right coach, you're the Spurs blowing a 29 point lead. You're Kobe and Mike with zero rings. Stop resisting the coaching that's trying to save your life. You don't need more information. You need to apply what you already know. And if you're getting paid what you're worth right now and you don't like it, the problem isn't the market. The problem is you.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: Who Not How - The Tyranny of Trying to Figure Everything Out
- 00:00:59 Welcome and the Age Realization: When You're Older Than Everyone
- 00:06:37 The NBA Finals Lesson: How the Spurs Lost a 29-Point Lead
- 00:13:50 Zero Championships Without Phil Jackson: Why You Need Elite Coaching
- 00:15:04 Marriage Coaching Saved My Life: Chuck, Moni, Ian and Dede's Impact
- 00:22:53 The Coaching Tree: How Great Coaches Create Great Coaches
- 00:23:33 Australia at Five Months: Why We Left Our Baby for Two Weeks
- 00:19:17 God, Marriage, Kids: The Order That Saves Your Family
- 00:19:57 Separate the Piano From the Person: Stop Taking Feedback Personally
- 00:20:53 F Them Kids: Dede's Line That Changed ET's Parenting
- 00:22:11 Mike Brown vs Phil Jackson: Why Experience and Coaching Matters
- 00:36:06 Two Kids in 14 Years: The Power of Intentional Family Planning
- 00:27:28 Relationship Over Truth: Why You Follow Your Grandma Instead of God
- 00:27:58 Pastor Willis Spoke My Vision Before I Had One
- 00:46:07 Character Development Boot Camp: Why ET Made Us Pray All Day
- 00:55:45 You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth Right Now
- 00:53:59 The Muscle Twitch Story: How Tommy Got 14 More Reps Out of CJ
- 00:56:37 Maul the Builder: He Doesn't Just Build Houses, He Builds People
- 00:51:52 The 12-Year Overnight Success: Maul's House Goes Viral Now
- 00:59:31 Closing: Get in the Mastermind and Stop Making Excuses
JOIN US LIVE ON PATREON
New audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.
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The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.
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Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.orgABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.You're Doing the Work But Still Stuck, Here's Why | S2S 548
You're doing the work. You're showing up. You're praying. You're trying. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't what you think it is.This week the crew breaks down the difference between working hard …
Show notes
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 it really means to let go. Because you can't build the next level version of yourself in your own strength. You've tried that. It didn't work. The 52 days don't start when you work harder. They start when you stop.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: Get a Scale and Stop Wearing Jogging Pants
- 00:01:27 Before You Work With God, You Got to Know God
- 00:02:05 The Rodent Story: Calling the Right People to Fix Your Problems
- 00:04:52 Carl's Breakthrough: Stop Working, Start Walking With God
- 00:07:37 Your Problems Are Your Preparation
- 00:10:41 The Jesse Room Story: 52-Day Reframe in Action
- 00:12:55 There's No Limits in God: The Sky Analogy
- 00:14:11 The Tokyo Trip That Didn't Happen: When God Protects Your Plans
- 00:16:49 ET's Transformation: From Flight Attendant to All Four Quadrants
- 00:18:42 The Pace Ministry: Slowing Down to Reach More People
- 00:19:22 Christ Put Me Around Better People
- 00:20:44 Stop Praying Like Peter's at the Door
- 00:21:23 Jamal's Testimony: God Already Said Yes to Little J
- 00:25:31 Your Faith Is in Your Hands, Not in God
- 00:26:15 Prayer Can Be an Idol: Get Up and Open the Door
- 00:26:46 The Stress of Lying: Why Truth Sets You Free Immediately
- 00:27:29 I'd Rather Fight the Bear Right Now
- 00:29:40 The Pilot Wasn't in the Pilot Seat
- 00:31:23 Dede Goes Public: When Your Partner Activates Your Calling
- 00:33:38 Don't Bow Out, Level Up
- 00:36:26 Stop Treating Life Like a Hobby
- 00:39:20 The Economy Shift: Seven Streams of Income Aren't Optional
- 00:41:11 Get on the Scale Every Day: The One Thing That Changes Everything
- 00:43:07 Stop Wearing Jogging Pants in Your Real Life
- 00:44:17 What Changed at 46: Carl's Shift Wasn't New Information
- 00:47:25 It's Not God That Changed, It's Your Belief Level
- 00:50:15 Do You Believe? The Question Before Every Miracle
- 00:52:42 Write the Vision, Make It Plain: No More Emotional Conversations
- 01:02:14 The 100-Year Plan: Mall's Millionaire Moment at 49
- 01:04:31 Closing: Patreon, Bliss Conference, and Next Week
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Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.orgABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.You Think They Had Something You Don't. You're Wrong | S2S 547
You look at people who made it and you assume they started with something you didn't. A better childhood. More talent. Some edge you never got. ET spent his whole life proving that is a lie, and in this episode …
Show notes
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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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.He Chased Guys Like Him. Now They're Face to Face. (S2S 546)
CJ and David sat down with Jemal King and Wall Street Trapper right after the One Percent stage, and what came out was bigger than money. Jemal spent his early years as a cop, putting on a vest every day. Trap …
Show notes
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.
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CHAPTERS
Chapters
- 00:00:00 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
- 00:09:45 Stop Eating, Start Walking: The Simple Truth About Losing Weight
- 00:11:59 The Streets Prepared Me for Capitalism
- 00:19:59 The Runaway Slave Mentality: Hustlers Are Chasing Freedom
- 00:24:18 Control Risk vs Uncontrolled Risk: The Real Estate Formula
- 00:44:20 The Police Mindset: Always Prepare for Worst Case Scenario
- 00:45:56 Control Paper vs Uncontrolled Paper: The Passive Income Revelation
- 00:48:27 Non-Negotiables: How to Make Discipline Automatic
- 00:51:22 Simple Not Easy: Why Most People Can't Do What They Know They Should
- 00:52:18 Buffer Room: The Real Secret to Handling Life's Curveballs
- 00:58:21 When Your Father Has a Stroke: The Power of Being Prepared
- 01:00:29 Closing: You Don't Look Like What You've Been Through
ABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips (the Bajan Sensation), CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, to help you discover the secret to YOUR success. Real conversations on marriage, business, wealth-building, and personal development, with the radical transparency that built this show. New episodes every week.
You Can't Build the New You Without Tearing the Old One Down | S2S 545
You can't build the new you without tearing the old one down. That's the truth most people don't want to hear. Because demolition is uncomfortable. It's messy. It's loud. And it doesn't look like progress when …
Show notes
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 demolition doesn't stop. You're supposed to keep renewing, keep renovating, keep transforming. That's not the problem. That's the process.
CHAPTERS
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: You're Already Wired for Greatness
- 00:01:20 Stop Being Around People Who Won't Transform
- 00:03:24 The 20,000 Square Foot Reality: When Success Changes Everything
- 00:04:27 Jesus Said Who Is My Mother: Choosing Transformation Over Tradition
- 00:04:56 You Help More People By Leaving Them Alone
- 00:06:01 The Squad Car Story: When Your Partner Chooses Promotion Over Progress
- 00:07:52 Title vs Outcome: Why Most People Stay Stuck at Good
- 00:13:02 Demo Is the First Sign of Progress
- 00:15:21 Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed By Renewing Your Mind
- 00:19:49 The Uncomfortable Truth: You Will Be Unrecognizable
- 00:22:38 Success Is Sequential Not Simultaneous
- 00:41:10 You Don't Have to Demo Alone
- 00:49:07 You're Already Wired - Stop Focusing on What You're Not
- 00:54:45 Closing: God Is Willing and Able to Transform You
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.They Won't Recognize the New You (And That's the Point) | S2S 544
You're changing. You're growing. You're stepping into who you were always meant to be. And the people closest to you don't recognize you anymore. They look at you funny. They treat you different. They make you …
Show notes
You're changing. You're growing. You're stepping into who you were always meant to be. And the people closest to you don't recognize you anymore. They look at you funny. They treat you different. They make you feel like you're doing something wrong. But here's the truth: if they don't recognize the new you, you're doing it right.
In Episode 544, the crew dives into one of the most uncomfortable 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 / TIMESTAMPSChapters
- 00:00:00 Opening: Vision Beyond the Demolition - Seeing What Others Can't
- 00:01:27 Welcome and Team Introductions
- 00:03:20 Fair or Foul: The Airplane Seat Swap Dilemma
- 00:08:15 The Tip Jar Philosophy: Making Sure They See You Bless Them
- 00:10:17 Harriet Tubman's Gun: Why She Carried It for Her Friends, Not Her Enemies
- 00:12:47 They Won't Recognize You Anymore: When Transformation Makes You Unfamiliar
- 00:14:40 The Proximity Problem: When Your Light Exposes Where Others Are At
- 00:17:20 The Prophet Is Not Recognized in His Hometown: Jesus, ET, and the Title World
- 00:21:30 The Four Stages People Go Through When You Change
- 00:26:48 Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind
- 00:42:21 The X-Men Analogy: Stop Trying to Be Understood by Regular People
- 00:46:00 Closing: Concentrate on This Opportunity with All Your Might
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, the Hip Hop Preacher, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.Most People Wait Years for What Takes 52 Days | S2S 543
Most people stay stuck for years on something that could be done in weeks. This week the crew breaks down the story of one man who rebuilt what a whole city left broken for 140 years, and finished it in 52 …
Show notes
Most people stay stuck for years on something that could be done in weeks. This week the crew breaks down the story of one man who rebuilt what a whole city left broken for 140 years, and finished it in 52 days. The difference was ownership and urgency, not money or talent.
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If this episode hit you, take ten seconds to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find us.
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Chapters- 00:00:00 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 Next Mastermind: When Students Become Teachers
- 00:46:39 The Tithing Conversation: When Your Wife Gives 40 Percent
- 01:06:14 Toby and Fat's 8,000 Square Foot Mansion: Real Estate Without the Degree
- 01:06:14 Exposure Changes Everything: Why Most People Stay Broke
- 01:04:41 The Callus Principle: Why the First Brick Hurts the Most
- 01:10:15 Final Challenge: 140 Years or 52 Days - You Choose
KALM DOWN WITH KARL
Karl on why the callus comes before the breakthrough. The first brick hurts, but there is a point where you stop feeling it and start building faster than everyone still waiting to begin.MAL'S MILLIONAIRE MOMENT FEATURING JEMAL KING
Jemal on why most people are not broke because they are lazy. They are broke because they have not been exposed to more. Your level of exposure determines your level of success.NEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCE
June 5 to 7, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Learn to start, grow, and monetize your speaking brand.
nextlevelspeakersconference.comAPOC VIRTUAL CHURCH
Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.orgFOLLOW
Instagram: @s2spodcast
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1ABOUT THE PODCAST
The Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, the Hip Hop Preacher, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.She Said No: What To Do When Your Feelings Lie To You | S2S 542
She said no. You got down on one knee, opened the box, asked the question, and she said no. Not "I need time." Not "maybe later." She said no. So now what?In Episode 542, the crew tackles one of the most …
Show notes
She said no. You got down on one knee, opened the box, asked the question, and she said no. Not "I need time." Not "maybe later." She said no. So now what?
In Episode 542, the crew tackles one of the most vulnerable questions a man can face: what do you do when your feelings are telling you one thing, but the data is telling you something completely different? A brother writes in after proposing 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 feelings will tell you to quit. The data will tell you to adjust. And the difference between the two is the difference between staying stuck and leveling up.
Timestamps:
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https://nextlevelspeakersconference.comAbout the Secret to Success Podcast
The Secret to Success (S2S) Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development — not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results.
Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there.
Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.
You're Looking for Validation, Not the Truth (Here's Why It's Killing You) | S2S 541
Most people say they want the truth, but the moment it shows up, they call the messenger a villain. This episode picks up where the Joe Jackson conversation left off and turns the mirror around. The real …
Show notes
Most people say they want the truth, but the moment it shows up, they call the messenger a villain. This episode picks up where the Joe Jackson conversation left off and turns the mirror around. The real question isn't whether Joe was too hard on Michael. It's why we keep demonizing every coach, mentor, and visionary with the gift to push us toward what we say we want.
DISCLAIMER: Our focus in 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:
Chapters- 00:00:00 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 Conference Announcement
- 01:01:02 Kalm Down with Karl: Stop Living Your Life Like a Question
- 01:01:50 Mal's Millionaire Moment: Your Pension is Dead
- 01:04:02 The Secret Project Reveal: What Karl and Mal Are Building
KALM DOWN WITH KARL: Stop living your life like a question and live like the answer that you are. God saw a problem on the planet and created you as the solution. Stop walking around uncertain. You are the answer.
MAL'S MILLIONAIRE MOMENT: One pension is too close to no pension. Jemal breaks down how the average career span matches the average mortgage span, meaning you can have a property fully paid off by the time you retire from your day job. That's your second pension. He also shares how he turned his daughter's graduation gift into a down payment on her first property at 22.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST: The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Jemal King, and Karl "The Bajan Sensation" Phillips. The mission: show the authentic side of four men building businesses, marriages, wealth, and legacies in real time. No hype, no filters, just real conversations to help you believe in your own potential.
We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology (Eric Thomas Goes Off) | S2S 540
Your soft coaching is killing their future. And you think you're being kind.In Episode 540, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal pull up to the table after watching the Michael Jackson movie and what follows is one of the …
Show notes
Your soft coaching is killing their future. And you think you're being kind.
In Episode 540, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal pull up to the table after watching the Michael Jackson movie and what follows is one of the most honest, uncomfortable, and necessary conversations this crew has ever had. About Joe Jackson. About tough love. About why we've been Catherine-ing people when we should have been Joe 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:
Chapters- 00:00:00 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 Becomes a Lie
- 00:25:25 Real Leadership Requires Losing People: The Mom Story
- 00:34:00 Joe Jackson Them: Holding People Accountable to Their Genius
- 00:40:12 The Real Estate Lesson: When Mom Made ET Buy the Right House
- 00:29:16 The Jalen and Jada Story: Taking Ownership of Your Part
- 00:37:45 I Don't Have Any More Care Left: The Superpower of Not Caring
- 00:28:30 The Trauma of Being Broke vs The Trauma of Success
- 00:44:52 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: June 5-7 Atlanta
- 00:45:58 Why AI Can't Replace Joe Jackson: You Still Need Humans
- 00:46:50 Closing: Patreon Meetup and Final Thoughts on Tough Love
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https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120🎤 Next Level Speakers Conference | June 5-7, Atlanta
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789About the Secret to Success Podcast
The S2S Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development, not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results.
Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there.
You Had Everything and Still Cried in the Closet (Here's Why) | S2S 539
Most people spend their whole lives chasing a version of success that looks right on paper and still leaves them empty. That is the conversation at the center of Episode 539, and it is one of the most honest …
Show notes
Most people spend their whole lives chasing a version of success that looks right on paper and still leaves them empty. That is the conversation at the center of Episode 539, and it is one of the most honest hours this table has produced.
Candis Quinney is back and she brings the moment that started everything. She was in her closet, stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out, with everything she had 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 breaking you, Candis is building something for you. If you have ever felt like your life looks right but something is still off, this table sees you.
In this Episode:
Chapters- 00:00:00 Opening: Access Is Not the Same as Alignment
- 00:00:57 The Shift: Letting Go of Control and Trusting God's Plan
- 00:05:22 Breaking Generational Cycles: Understanding Your Parents' Pain
- 00:07:54 The Yoke Up Revelation: What It Really Means to Partner with Christ
- 00:12:33 Your Best Self Is for Hard Times, Not Good Times
- 00:10:27 Letting Go of Titles and Traditions That Kill Us
- 00:28:07 The Jada Story: When DD's Leadership Changed Everything
- 00:19:55 From the East Side to Bliss: Candace's Transformation Journey
- 00:21:47 Parenting Without Living Through Your Kids
- 00:33:12 Book Reveal: We Is Greater Than Me
- 00:43:17 Candace's Movement: From Crying in the Closet to Leading Women
- 00:48:32 Closing Word: Grow Up and Open Your Packages
Connect with Candis: @justcandisquinney on Instagram APOC Ministry virtual church, Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET on YouTubeSubscribe so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@SecretToSuccess?sub_confirmation=1
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Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.
About the Secret to Success PodcastThe Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over two decades ET has been one of the most recognizable voices in personal development, motivation, and leadership. The Secret to Success podcast goes beyond the highlight reel to show the real conversations happening behind the work, covering marriage, business, wealth building, faith, and what it actually takes to build a life worth living. New episodes every Thursday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
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