Episodi

  • Tu Lam: Escaping Vietnam at 3, Becoming a Green Beret & The Journey That Led Him to Christ

    Tu Lam: Escaping Vietnam at 3, Becoming a Green Beret & The Journey That Led Him to Christ
    Oct 20 2026
    What happens when a three year old boy escapes Vietnam on a wooden fishing boat, drifts for 30 days left for dead in the South China Sea, survives refugee camps in Indonesia, lands in Fayetteville, North Carolina surrounded by Green Berets, and grows up to become a Special Forces warrior who fights for the oppressed before finding Christ and walking away from everything to share his story? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Tu Lam, the former Green Beret, author of The Way Ronin, and the man whose journey from genocide to grace is packed with raw emotion, brutal honesty, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from dying to your ego and surrendering to God. Tu opens up about escaping Vietnam at three years old when his family paid a fishing boat to smuggle them out after the fall of South Vietnam in 1974, the 30 days drifting in the South China Sea when their ship broke down, the tropical storm that washed them further out into the ocean, and the Russian supply boat that picked them up and dropped them off at refugee camps in Southern Indonesia. He shares the story of living in a grass hut in the jungle, sleeping on a dirt floor, witnessing murders and survival at four years old, and his uncle who was an American Special Forces Green Beret sponsoring their paperwork to get to the United States after a year and a half. Tu walks AJ through landing in Fayetteville, North Carolina at five years old, growing up surrounded by Green Berets and Vietnam era warriors, getting picked on and spit on in a predominantly black school, and the moment at 10 years old when he saw a samurai documentary that changed everything. He talks about the power of Bushido, the way of the warrior, Miyamoto Musashi and the Book of Five Rings, and why a broken refugee boy needed that image of discipline and strength. Tu reflects on turning his eyes toward his stepfather at 13 years old and realizing this is the warrior's path, the Special Forces motto de oppresso liber meaning to free the oppressed, and why God put him in a family of Green Berets to understand the mission and give him the tools to go back and fight for the oppressed. 00:00 Intro: Escaping Vietnam at 3 on a Wooden Fishing Boat 00:46 Meeting Tu Lam: From Refugee to Green Beret Warrior 05:35 The Three Minds: Understanding Thought, Heart & Gut 06:48 The Ripple Effect: Life Is Here & Expands Outward 09:04 Letting Go of Thought: The Nine Year Journey 16:25 Childhood Trauma: Refugee Camps & The Subconscious Mind 26:07 From Oppressed to Free: The Special Forces Mission 27:16 Fayetteville & The Samurai: Finding the Warrior's Path at 13 37:32 PTSD & The Enemy's Greatest Weapon: Shame 39:06 God Wakes His Warriors First: The Spiritual Battle 48:53 Psychedelics & Plant Medicine: The Four Year Journey 53:55 Accepting Death: The Light & The Tunnel 57:05 Reincarnation vs. Christ: The Dalai Lama & The Warrior's Death 59:04 The Nine Year Death: Confronting the Shadow 1:08:19 Surrender & The Morning Routine: Feeding Spirit vs. Flesh 1:12:41 Breath Is Reality: Yahweh & The Wisdom in Stillness 1:33:02 The Vessel: Let Your Will Be Done, Father 1:33:57 Your North Star: Wife, Family & Walking with Christ 1:47:08 Emotional Regulation: Conscious of the Subconscious 1:50:40 The Warriors Are Coming: God's Army & AJ's Journey Follow Tu Lam Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tulam047/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ronintactics/?hl=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/p/Ronin-Tactics-100064816893518/) Ronin Tactics Inc - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGbWCJCruG_3HlRlMaIq6xA) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora e 52 min
  • Josh Peck: From Child Star to Sobriety at 21 & Finding Peace in Fatherhood

    Josh Peck: From Child Star to Sobriety at 21 & Finding Peace in Fatherhood
    Oct 18 2026
    What happens when a child star who grew up in front of the world opens up about the real growth that happened when no one was watching? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Josh Peck, the actor, father, YouTuber, entrepreneur, and author whose journey from Drake and Josh to sobriety at 21 and finding peace in fatherhood is packed with raw honesty, brutal wisdom, and the kind of vulnerability that only comes from surviving Hollywood and coming out the other side as a better man. AJ and Josh dive deep into the reality of being a lifer in this business, the salmon run of surviving 30 years in Hollywood, and why the only true touchstone of who someone is comes from time in the game. Josh reflects on the chaos of show business, the constant struggle of never being comfortable, and why he loves the unpredictability of a career that never makes sense. He talks about the importance of saying no to protect family, the power of no involved with every yes, and why turning down a 12 hour day for a four hour gig was one of the most important decisions he's ever made as a father. Josh also opens up about his addiction, getting sober at 21, and the principle that changed his life: esteemable acts build self esteem. He shares the wisdom he learned in recovery about being self centered whether you think you're the greatest or the worst, the importance of doing things for other people, and why he spent his entire 20s trying to be a good man. Josh talks about the difference between being defined by your work and being defined by your character, the virtue of storytelling as a way to distract people from their hard lives, and why he's still sitting in acting class at 38 getting notes on his forward energy. Josh also reflects on his time on Turner and Hooch, shooting for eight months in Vancouver at the height of COVID, and the responsibility of being the lead who sets the tone for the entire set. He talks about showing up prepared, showing up relaxed, making the mistakes his and the wins everyone else's, and why if the lead knows their lines, everyone else will too. Josh shares the story of getting cast in Oppenheimer, sending in a two page monologue audition in November, getting the text that Nolan liked his tape, and surviving three months of callbacks before finally getting the role. He opens up about spending two months in New Mexico for 90 seconds of screen time, working with Killian Murphy who was the sweetest guy on set, and watching Christopher Nolan care about everything from the number 30 on the call sheet to shooting on 70 millimeter IMAX film. Josh also opens up about life after being the peak, the danger of thinking you've arrived, and why he auditioned the same way at 18 after Drake and Josh as he did at 38 after Oppenheimer won the Academy Award. He talks about the importance of being a worker amongst workers, going to acting class, and staying humble even after 25 years in the game. Josh reflects on the hardest thing emotionally he had to deal with growing up in the spotlight, the need to be honored as a human being instead of just for his achievements, and why he tells his son Max that the thing that makes him the happiest is when a teacher says he's kind, sweet, and listens. Follow Josh Peck Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shuapeck/?hl=en Facebook https://www.facebook.com/joshpeckofficial/ Josh Peck (@joshpeck) | TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@joshpeck?lang=en Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora e 7 min
  • Zachary Bell Veteran with a Sign: The Call That Changed Everything & Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

    Zachary Bell Veteran with a Sign: The Call That Changed Everything & Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
    Oct 13 2026
    What happens when a kid from a trailer park in Memphis who grew up in the cycle of poverty enlists in the Marines two days after his first daughter is born, deploys to Afghanistan without calling home for 90 days, loses his first friend to suicide in 2011, and turns a piece of cardboard into one of the most powerful veteran advocacy platforms in the world? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Zachary Bell, the creator of Veteran with a Sign, whose journey from combat Marine to viral content creator is packed with raw emotion, brutal honesty, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from breaking generational curses and refusing to let another veteran die alone. Then comes the story that will break you. Zach opens up about getting out in 2011, working night shift at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital while going to school during the day, sleeping in his car, and getting the call that his first friend had taken his life. He talks about going back through old text messages, realizing they were both struggling but too scared to have a real conversation, and the moment he decided this shit stops with me. Zach reflects on the three years he spent stacking little wins, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, magnets on his head, men's groups, whatever he could find to help himself and his friends, and why he open sourced everything so no one would have to figure it out alone. Zach also shares the origin story of Veteran with a Sign, the moment during COVID when he thought what if I was a veteran holding up a piece of cardboard, the first 90 days of brutal comments about his tattoos and why he wears the same thing every day, and the Captain Crozier post that changed everything. He talks about walking off his ship to a standing ovation after getting relieved of command for trying to help his sick sailors, the moment Zach's post went viral with 10,000 followers in a week, and why he realized the creative had finally found him again. Zach opens up about meeting the Unsub guys, Fat Electrician, Brandon Herrera, and finding his creative community, the podcast journey from After Action to Underwhelming, and why doing it alone is impossible. 00:00 Intro 00:55 Meeting Veteran with a Sign: From Trailer Parks to Movie Premieres 04:28 The Fat Electrician, Unsub & Finding Your Creative Community 05:54 The Podcast Journey: After Action to Underwhelming 09:39 Jimmy Grimes: The Coolest Thing I've Done & The Power of Community 14:28 Veteran with a Sign Origin: Captain Crozier & The Post That Changed Everything 19:16 September 11th & Enlisting: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty 22:07 The Cycle of Poverty: No One Gives a Shit About Poor White People 30:03 Boot Camp: The Double Rations Kid Who Gained 30 Pounds 35:37 First Deployment: Two Days After Daughter's Birth to Afghanistan 45:23 The French Reporter Story: Finding Out Your Daughter Was Born 50:46 Fatherhood: Dad Stuff & Being Present for Every Moment 56:25 Getting Out in 2011: When Your First Friend Takes His Life 1:11:35 Depression, Faith & Finding God Again After 12 Years 1:14:32 Community Over Everything: Why You Can't Do This Alone 1:15:46 Brandon Herrera: The Man Running for Governor & Why He's Different 1:17:47 North Star: My Wife Saw Something in Me I Didn't Know Existed 1:21:44 Legacy: It Stopped With Me & Shoot for the Moon 1:23:40 Final Words: Just Do It & Stop Chasing the School of Fish Follow Zachary Bell - Veteran With A Sign Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/veteranwithasign/?hl=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/veteranwithasign/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web#) @veteranwithasign | Free Dental Care for Veterans Aspen | Beacons (https://veteranwithasign.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaeMw23hgkW6VTXKxGR1lx5tiU3fnI5HoA6yuZJKvUVp8vjK3vcMBqSpQNB1BQ_aem_-ABUXREAoPfDA4i99PpLtA) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora e 27 min
  • Travis Wester: The Ghost Facers Origin Story & Why They Were Supernatural's Longest Characters

    Travis Wester: The Ghost Facers Origin Story & Why They Were Supernatural's Longest Characters
    Oct 11 2026
    What happens when two actors who created one of the most beloved comedy duos in television history reunite to pull back the curtain on Ghost Facers, the show that almost was, and the friendship that changed everything? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Travis Wester, the actor who played Ed Zedmore on Supernatural and became AJ's comedic soulmate in what they call space docking, a chemistry so rare it only happens once in a lifetime. Travis opens up about meeting AJ at the Warner Brothers audition for Supernatural, rubbing his sides on the desk to get the nerves out, and the slow motion moment they locked eyes in the wardrobe trailer in Vancouver like the chariots of fire were playing. He shares the story of shooting their first scene together in knee deep mud with goggles on, the English director asking if they knew each other, and the instant realization that they had synced up like a double dock. Travis reflects on the rare gift of being granted authorship as guest stars, the freedom to improvise and riff, and why Phil Sgriccia was the champion who allowed them to play. AJ and Travis dive deep into the birth of Ghost Facers, the moment Travis got on the plane with Brittany Ishibashi and realized he hadn't read the script, the panic of turning every page and seeing his character on every single one, and the improv session with Austin Basis and Dustin Milligan where they answered Phil's questions and built out who these characters were. Travis talks about the magic of shooting eight or nine pages in one take with 15 cameras rolling, Phil planting surprises like rats and spider webs, and the day they finished shooting by lunch because the comedy was flowing so fast the crew went outside to play hockey. Then comes the story of the meeting at Warner Brothers where they thought they were getting a cease and desist order, walking into the conference room with Eric Kripke and six or seven executives, and being told we're thinking about building a show around you guys. Travis shares the surreal moment of crashing the Supernatural panel at Comic Con, the GMA ghost martial arts bit they came up with at Phil's house, and the Misha Collins video they shot with the whole squad at McG's office. He also opens up about the UK Facers trip to York, running around with no permits at three in the morning, and the moment he slipped on wet stone steps and went nipple deep into the river called the ooze while everyone stayed in character. AJ and Travis also open up about the final Ghost Facers episode, the director who told AJ his Hebrew tattoo about laying his father to rest on the rock of Calvary was wrong right after AJ's dad had just died, the combativeness that erupted on set, and the apology Travis had to give to the entire crew for a joke he made during rehearsal. They reflect on the heartbreak of how it ended, the new showrunner who didn't understand their characters, and why they were never invited back for the Supernatural finale. AJ gets emotional talking about wishing he could go back in a time machine and change that one experience, the gratitude for the fans who kept Ghost Facers alive, and why Ed Zedmore is one of his two favorite characters he's ever played. This conversation is raw, hilarious, nostalgic, and packed with wisdom about chemistry, comedy, friendship, loss, and what it means to create something magical with your best friend. If you grew up watching Ghost Facers, if you're an actor searching for your comedic partner, or if you just want to hear two brothers talk about the best years of their lives, this episode will make you laugh, cry, and believe in space docking. Follow Travis Wester Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/westerspace/?hl=en) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora
  • Dee Jay Silver: The 11 Minutes That Changed Everything & His Son's Room Next to the Vegas Shooter

    Dee Jay Silver: The 11 Minutes That Changed Everything & His Son's Room Next to the Vegas Shooter
    Oct 6 2026
    What happens when a DJ finishes one of the best sets of his life in Las Vegas and 11 minutes later finds himself in the middle of the most tragic mass shooting in American history with his one year old son in a hotel room next to the active shooter? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Dee Jay Silver (John Perdue), the DJ who played Route 91 Harvest Festival the night everything changed, whose story of survival, faith, and fatherhood will leave you shaken to your core. This story that will break you. John walks AJ through Route 91 Harvest Festival, the perfect weekend in Vegas, his wife Jenna and one year old son Wake coming to town, and the moment he walked off stage after playing one of the best sets of his life. He shares the relief of sitting down, the sound he thought was fireworks, and the 11 minutes that changed everything when the shooting started. John opens up about grabbing Jenna and Brittany Aldean and running, hiding under the bus that got shot 15 times, and the text message that said shooter 32nd floor, the same floor where his son Wake was sleeping in a room connected to the active shooter. John takes AJ through the chaos, the screaming, the helicopters and the ricochets off the ground. He shares the moment he told his wife the safest place was the hotel when he knew his son was five feet from the first window that was busted open, the evacuation of Mandalay Bay, and the terror of tearing through buses looking for his kid. John also opens up about the nanny who kept checking on Wake, the door that was left ajar, and the security guard who got shot responding to that door alarm and was dragged into her room. John also shares the four days of questioning, the Homeland Security interrogation, the pictures of him walking down the hall with the shooter, holding the elevator door, at the House of Blues, at Katsuya, and the realization that the shooter had followed him for three days. He talks about the notepad by the bed with his entire family's names and his schedule, the tick from Benghazi who told him he'd drop to the ground for the rest of his life, and the breakfast in Montana where he finally met Officer William Matchick, the man who saved his son. 00:00 Intro: The 11 Minutes That Changed Everything 01:35 Meeting DJ Silver: Nashville Life & The Bass Pro Connection 08:44 Growing Up in Church: Preachers, Pews & Star Wars Toys 10:07 The Man Who Raised Four Kids That Weren't His 12:27 Music, Barry Manilow & The Guitar That Connects Generations 13:09 Watching Your Heroes Decline: Parents & Health Struggles 15:20 Fatherhood: Secret Handshakes, Daddy Wakey Days & Being Present 32:41 Route 91 Festival: The Perfect Weekend Before Tragedy 36:22 The Shooting Starts: Fireworks or Gunfire? 37:30 My Son Is Next to the Shooter: The Text That Changed Everything 38:25 Chaos & Carnage: Hiding Under Buses & The Lady with Her Head Shot Off 39:55 Tearing Through Evacuation Buses: Every Parent's Worst Nightmare 45:04 The Door Alarm: How Wake Saved Thousands of Lives 46:29 The Interrogation: Pictures with the Shooter for Three Days 1:00:47 Meeting Officer William Matchick: The Man Who Saved Wake 1:06:40 Gratitude, Grace & Good Humans: Wake Up and Live Follow Dee Jay Silver Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deejaysilver1/?hl=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DeeJaySilver) Dee Jay Silver - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DeeJaySilver) Dee Jay Silver (https://www.deejaysilver.com/) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https:...
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    1 ora e 10 min
  • Untitled

    Untitled
    Oct 4 2026
    What happens when a two-division MMA champion who played Mark Coleman in The Smashing Machine sits down to talk about wrestling mindset, brutal weight cuts, and fighting Fedor twice? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Ryan "Darth" Bader, the former Bellator Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion whose journey from small-town Idaho to fighting legends in Japan is packed with wisdom about discipline, competition, and what it means to push through pain when everything is on the line. Ryan opens up about growing up in St. Mary's, Idaho, moving to Reno at a young age, and working construction with his dad and grandpa every summer starting at seven years old. He shares the story of his father's go go go mentality, never sitting still, always building something or hunting or fishing, and how that work ethic shaped everything he became. Ryan talks about falling into wrestling at seven years old, the love hate relationship with the sport, and why he loved that there was nobody to blame but yourself when you lost. AJ and Ryan dive deep into the wrestling mindset, the mental fortitude it takes to cut weight every single week in high school and college, and why that generation of wrestlers like Chad Mendes and Cain Velasquez came into MMA with a different type of grit. Ryan reflects on his time at Arizona State University, training alongside Cain Velasquez who was the heavyweight on the team, and watching four guys from that one squad end up in the UFC. He talks about Cain's unbelievable gas tank, the pressure he brought in every fight, and the heartbreaking story of what happened with his son and why Cain is still in prison fighting for parole. Ryan walks AJ through the moment after college when he realized he still needed competition, working a desk job for four months and knowing he couldn't do it, and the decision to start training MMA. He shares the story of his first fight on the res with Tommy Morrison as the main event, throwing punches and manhandling a guy at 185 pounds, and walking out thinking he was the greatest fighter in the world. Ryan also opens up about fighting in a bullfighting ring in Mexico, getting on The Ultimate Fighter with a video submission, and the moment CB Dalloway put in a good word that changed his life. Then comes the Fedor story. Ryan walks AJ through the pressure of fighting Fedor in the finals of the heavyweight Grand Prix, sitting in the cage for 10 minutes during the Russian and American national anthems, and the internal monologue he had to fight to not put the pussy on a pedestal. He talks about studying Fedor's fights, finding the line where Fedor would blitz with four punches, and the 34 second knockout that made him a two-division champion. Ryan also shares the pressure of fighting Fedor a second time when it was Fedor's retirement fight, the matchmaker joking that he better not lose, and why that fight had more pressure than the first one. Follow Ryan Bader Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ryanbader/?hl=en) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ryanbader/) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora e 25 min
  • Pixie Paula: The Striped Pig Story & Disrupting a Multi-Trillion Dollar Industry | AJ Buckley Show

    Pixie Paula: The Striped Pig Story & Disrupting a Multi-Trillion Dollar Industry | AJ Buckley Show
    Sep 29 2026
    What happens when a woman who once put ice in her red wine takes over a distillery at 58, wins Distillery of the Year, and disrupts a multi-trillion dollar industry? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Pixie Paula, the force behind Striped Pig Distillery, whose story reads like something out of a movie, except every single word of it is true. This conversation is raw, hilarious, and packed with wisdom about entrepreneurship, faith, manifestation, and what it means to turn water into wine in more ways than one. Pixie opens up about growing up with a father who lived under floorboards to survive, lied about his age to join the army just to have a bed, and gave her the greatest gift of all by never saying can't. She shares the story of sweeping hair at a salon for a nickel an hour, watching Avon ladies sell lipstick and make bank, and realizing at a young age that she wanted to be an entrepreneur, not someone doing manual labor for pennies. Pixie reflects on her mother being the first in her family to complete college, working as an old school telephone operator, and instilling in her the belief that she could reach for the stars no matter what. AJ and Pixie dive deep into the moment she walked into American Express pregnant, took the Series Seven exam while about to deliver baby number five, and peed in the chair because she refused to forfeit the test. She talks about becoming the first sexual harassment case for American Express, fighting for equal pay for equal work, and why she didn't even want the money but realized how important it was to be the example. Pixie also shares the story of redesigning American Express in 1994, getting the call from the CEO who said she didn't qualify for the job but loved her attitude, and becoming a top-rated trainer who changed lives across the country. Then comes the story of the dream that changed everything. Pixie walks AJ through the New Year's Eve dream where the entire sip and share model was revealed to her, the moment she realized she could leverage the bar that nobody was using at black tie fundraisers, and why turning water into wine was the first recorded miracle of Jesus for a reason. She talks about taking over Striped Pig Distillery when it was nearly insolvent, seeing bourbon as an asset class appreciating at 400% a year, and why the angel share, perfection under pressure, and aging bourbon taught her more about God than she ever learned in church. Pixie also opens up about her divorce, losing everything, taking a loan against her bourbon to survive, and the glorious moment she paid off the note the day before it was due and got her bourbon back. She shares the historic tale of the Striped Pig from 1838, the first viral drinking game, the first meme, and the first speakeasy before Prohibition, and why that story became the foundation of her brand. 00:00 Intro: The Striped Pig Story & Distillery of the Year 02:07 Childhood & The Power of Not Saying Can't 02:12 The Avon Lightbulb: First Lesson in Entrepreneurship 06:00 The Floorboards: A Father's Survival Story 13:31 Nine Lives & Medical Anomalies 16:50 Breaking Barriers: The American Express Story 19:45 Peeing in That Chair: The Series Seven Exam 24:08 Equal Pay for Equal Work: The First Case 26:51 Magic Powers & Tuned Into the Universe 30:52 Who Are You? The Forum & Finding Possibility 36:22 The Dream That Changed Everything 42:48 Turning Water Into Wine: The First Miracle 51:05 Sip and Share: Disrupting a Multi-Trillion Dollar Industry 53:12 The Bar Nobody's Leveraging 1:03:46 The Striped Pig Legend: 1838 Going Viral 1:05:02 Divorce Bourbon & Getting It Back 1:14:33 369: The Numbers & Master Path 1:28:58 Forrest Gump & Learning About Love 1:39:31 I Need the Key to Unlock My Feet 1:48:13 Get Me Out of My Own Way 1:54:30 Frequency Is What You Frequently See Follow Pixie Paula & Striped Pig Distillery Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pixiepaulaofficial/reels/) IG: https://www.instagram.com/stripedpigdistillery/ Website: https://www.stripedpigdistillery.com Ryah | Girl Mom 💗 (@ryahgirlmom) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@ryahgirlmom) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora e 58 min
  • Doug Ellin: Entourage, The Pitch That Changed Everything & Why He Left LA | AJ Buckley Show

    Doug Ellin: Entourage, The Pitch That Changed Everything & Why He Left LA | AJ Buckley Show
    Sep 27 2026
    What happens when the creator of one of the most iconic television shows of all time sits down to talk about bagels, pickleball, fires, fatherhood, and the pitch that changed everything? This week on The AJ Buckley Show, AJ sits down with Doug Ellin, the writer, director, and showrunner who created Entourage, the HBO series that defined a generation and changed television forever. This conversation is raw, hilarious, and packed with behind the scenes stories about Mark Wahlberg, Jeremy Piven, the Writer's Strike, and why Doug left Los Angeles for good. Doug opens up about meeting AJ at a Nashville bagel shop, his new life in Tennessee after fleeing the fires and crime of LA, selling his Manhattan Beach home, and what it's like raising a three year old daughter at 55 years old. He shares his thoughts on sugar, discipline, participation trophies, and why the younger generation isn't lazy but lacking real leadership. Doug reflects on growing up on Long Island, his father who passed away at 93, and the reversal of roles when the child becomes the parent. AJ and Doug dive deep into Doug's journey from stand up comedy to screenwriting, working in the mailroom at New Line Cinema, and the moment Mike DeLuca gave him 10 grand out of his own pocket to make a short film. Doug shares the story of almost directing The Parent Trap at 22 years old, bombing the meeting, and learning the brutal reality of Hollywood where you can go from hero to zero overnight. He talks about the lawyer who promised to be with him for 30 years and never called him back, the independent film that got released on 2200 screens and tanked his career, and the Curb Your Enthusiasm spec script he wrote in 45 minutes that saved everything. Then comes the story everyone wants to hear. Doug walks AJ through the birth of Entourage, the moment Mark Wahlberg and Lev Levinson pitched him the idea of following Mark's friends around with a camera, and why Doug thought it was the stupidest idea he'd ever heard. He shares the HBO pitch that felt like they owned Hollywood, the 50 thousand dollar script deal, and the two years of torture where HBO made him write 40 drafts including one insane note about Windtalkers that forced him to rewrite the entire script in a new dialect in Palm Springs in 120 degree heat. Doug also opens up about casting lightning in a bottle with Dylan McDermott, Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, and Jerry Ferrara, the moment he knew Jeremy Piven would kill it as Ari Gold, and why AJ's audition with the yo dog you didn't get me the Coke line was over the second he walked in the room. He reflects on Long Island energy, why authenticity matters, and the importance of showing up for people even when you're not super close. Doug and AJ also get into the Writer's Strike, why Doug was so anti strike after COVID, the crews who got wiped out, and why less writers are working now than before the strike. Doug breaks down the difference between problem solving and problem creating, why he hates most actors, and why the crew members who show up three hours early and stay three hours late deserve more credit than anyone in Hollywood. This conversation is packed with wisdom about gratitude, friendship, fatherhood, discipline, and what it means to build something that lasts. If you grew up watching Entourage, if you're a writer trying to navigate the industry, or if you just want to hear one of the greatest behind the scenes stories ever told, this episode will blow your mind. Follow Doug Ellin Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mrdougellin/?hl=en) Doug Ellin (@mrdougellin) / X (https://x.com/mrdougellin) Follow AJ Buckley IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckley/ Fb: https://www.facebook.com/AJBuckleyOfficialPage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Follow AJ Buckley Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajbuckleyshow/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ajbuckleyshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajbuckleyofficial Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aj-buckley-show/id1885802753 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Em0btYFt8QNKJPX2tFJhq https://www.ajbuckley.com Sponsors: http://www.ghostbed.com/buckley Code word Buckley for 10% off http://aj.purerx.co write "Time to shine" In notes http://www.bornofdiscipline.com http://www.coretrex.com
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    1 ora e 37 min