Episodi

  • John R. Miles: Being Needed Isn't the Same as Mattering

    John R. Miles: Being Needed Isn't the Same as Mattering
    Nov 5 2026
    You can keep showing up, delivering results, and supporting everyone around you while losing touch with yourself. John R. Miles joins Mick to explore the difference between being needed and knowing that your presence matters. John shares the calling behind his work, the experience he calls the slow fade, and the ideas discussed in The Mattering Effect. Together, they unpack how leaders can help people feel seen, known, valued, and able to make a difference, and why that work also has to begin within ourselves. You'll Hear • Why being useful to others can leave your own sense of significance unanswered. • How John describes the slow fade in high performers and caregivers. • Why a culture of mattering requires more than recognizing someone's job title. • The mattering needs pyramid and John's MATTER framework: meaning, autonomy, trust, time, energy, and reciprocity. • The turning points that led John toward a more intentional life. • How small, self-honoring choices can help rebuild belief. • The Unplugged 5: culture, personal growth, podcast conversations, and legacy. Chapters 00:00 Your presence makes a difference 00:12 Welcome to Mick Unplugged 02:04 The Because: a calling to serve 07:24 Recognizing the slow fade 11:18 The Unplugged Truth: seen, known, and valued 15:45 The mattering needs pyramid 21:21 The Hot Takes: The Mattering Effect 26:43 Meaning, autonomy, trust, time, energy, reciprocity 29:52 The Room: the turning points behind the mission 37:53 The mattering loop and self-honoring choices 42:14 The Unplugged 5 50:32 Final reflections and your because Connect & Discover John R. Miles: Website: https://johnrmiles.com/ The Mattering Effect: https://thematteringeffect.com/ Passion Struck: https://passionstruck.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrmiles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles/ Follow Mick Mick Hunt Official: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mickunplugged YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cUp7JRzkVqunYmD2ENe4g Buy Mick's book, How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Leader-When-Youve-Never/dp/1394357958 Your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. Content note: This conversation includes a home invasion, bereavement, suicide loss, and personal experiences with mental health.
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    56 min
  • Jeff Staple: Stop Pleasing Everyone. Build What You Believe In.

    Jeff Staple: Stop Pleasing Everyone. Build What You Believe In.
    Nov 2 2026
    40 min
  • Kordell Stewart: Reclaiming My Story | Mick Unplugged

    Kordell Stewart: Reclaiming My Story | Mick Unplugged
    Oct 31 2026
    What happens when the world talks about you for years before hearing your side? Kordell Stewart joins Mick Hunt for a candid conversation about silence, faith, and reclaiming his own story. The man known as “Slash” reflects on his path from receiver to starting quarterback, the personal cost of rumors, and why telling his story matters to the fans and young people who look up to him. Mick shares what Kordell’s example meant to his family, and Kordell closes with the priorities that have carried him: God, family, and career. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR Why Kordell wanted the opportunity to tell his story in his own words. How he describes the impact of years of rumors and public assumptions. What it took to move between wide receiver and quarterback. Why silence can be misunderstood and how he chooses to respond today. His gratitude toward the fans who stood by him and the young people he coaches. The Unplugged Five: New Orleans food, choosing Colorado, competition, music, and faith. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: the sound of silence 00:17 Welcome to Mick Unplugged 01:06 The Because: telling his own story 04:40 The origin and cost of rumors 14:18 Faith and handling adversity 17:11 Receiver, quarterback, and the work behind Slash 23:44 When silence becomes the story 27:14 Gratitude, grace, and reclaiming his voice 29:49 Giving Kordell his flowers 37:47 The Unplugged Five 42:52 God, family, career Kordell discusses the documentary featured in the interview, his relationship with Pittsburgh, and the responsibility he feels when speaking to the next generation. His recollections and views are presented in his own words. Mick and Kordell also discuss a possible fan gathering. No date, game, or registration details are confirmed in this episode. Connect & Discover Kordell Stewart: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kslash10/ X: https://x.com/KSlash10 KORDELL STEWART / SLASH & BURN is now available on HBO Max. FOLLOW MICK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 How to Be a Good Leader: https://howtobeagoodleader.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mickunplugged Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cUp7JRzkVqunYmD2ENe4g Mick Hunt Official: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Buy Mick’s book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Leader-When-Youve-Never/dp/1394357958 If this conversation speaks to you, subscribe to Mick Unplugged and share it with someone finding the courage to tell their own story. Your BECAUSE is your superpower. Go unleash it. #mickunplugged #kordellstewart #NFL #resilience
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    49 min
  • Daniel Nicholson: Idea. Intent. Action.-Turning Creativity Into a Business

    Daniel Nicholson: Idea. Intent. Action.-Turning Creativity Into a Business
    Oct 29 2026
    What happens when a creative outlet becomes the thing your family needs? Daniel Nicholson joins Mick Hunt for an in-person conversation about building custom bourbon barrels, finding focus through woodworking, and turning an idea into something real. Daniel shares how a first barrel, a small tool investment, and a change in his family's circumstances pushed him to keep creating. He talks about the value of working with his hands, the support of his wife, and the link between intention and action. The conversation goes deeper into his experience growing up biracial, the importance of honest conversations, and the relationships that opened doors in his career. Daniel and Mick close with mentorship, The Unplugged Five, and a spirited comparison of their favorite bourbons. YOU'LL HEAR Daniel's because: bringing an idea out of his head and into the physical world. How music and art helped him recognize his creative spark. Why woodworking became a personal outlet and then a business opportunity. How he and his wife responded when their family needed another source of income. His experience growing up biracial and why connection starts with conversation. How honesty and relationships helped him move beyond restaurant management. The quiet impact of mentorship, plus cooking questions and bourbon favorites. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Idea, intent, action 00:11 Meet Daniel and the bourbon barrel 03:29 The Because: turning ideas into reality 06:54 The Unplugged Truth: woodworking, family, and action 13:09 The Hot Takes: identity and honest conversations 20:42 The Room: honesty opens doors 25:00 The Unplugged 5: cooking, life, and bourbon 35:00 Connect with Daniel and closing CONNECT & DISCOVER DANIEL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbusbarrels/ Daniel recommends finding CBUS Barrels on Facebook for custom builds. FOLLOW MICK Mick Hunt Official: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mickunplugged YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cUp7JRzkVqunYmD2ENe4g Buy Mick's book: How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One https://www.amazon.com/Good-Leader-When-Youve-Never/dp/1394357958
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    39 min
  • Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special

    Rodney Peete: Seeing the World Through His Son's Eyes | HollyRod Special
    Oct 24 2026
    50 min
  • Landon McKinnis: From Rejection to Shark Tank, Why He Never Quit

    Landon McKinnis: From Rejection to Shark Tank, Why He Never Quit
    Oct 22 2026
    Landon McKinnis wanted his mom and his kids to be proud of the man he was becoming. That purpose kept him moving as he built GoNutz through rejection, grief, and the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. In this episode of Mick Unplugged, Landon joins me to talk about the because behind his work. He reflects on growing up in Shawnee, Kansas, facing racial discrimination, and finding his own identity. He also shares how faith helped him learn patience when things weren't happening on his timeline. We get into the business journey, too: the first shipment of inventory, a viral TikTok moment, slowing sales, and the Shark Tank email he initially thought was a joke. Landon explains how being prepared helped him respond to the opportunity, what it felt like to pitch the Sharks, and why listening to customers matters. YOU’LL HEAR - The family relationships behind Landon's purpose - How childhood experiences shaped his work ethic and sense of identity - The challenges that followed going viral - Why business records, numbers, and preparation mattered before Shark Tank - What customer feedback taught him about the product he was building - How he stays focused when competitors have bigger budgets and teams - A friendly Kansas City versus Carolina barbecue debate EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Faith, Patience, and Being Ready 00:16 Welcome to Landon McKinnis 01:12 The Because: Family, Purpose, and Making Them Proud 03:47 The Unplugged Truth: Identity, Setbacks, and Faith 09:18 The Hot Takes: Building GoNutz and the Shark Tank Journey 33:46 The Room: The Opportunity That Changed Everything 38:31 The Unplugged 5: Barbecue, Resourcefulness, and Running Your Own Race 43:14 Friendship, GoNutz, and Your Because Put it into practice: Choose one useful step you can take with the resources you have today. Keep your attention on the work in front of you and the people you're doing it for. Follow Mick Unplugged for more conversations about purpose, leadership, and the because behind the work. Connect & Discover Landon McKinnis GoNutz / ORBÉ: https://thegonutz.com/ Founder story: https://thegonutz.com/pages/orbe-story This conversation uses the GoNutz name. The company's current website introduces ORBÉ as its new primary brand. FOLLOW MICK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Website: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Book: How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One https://howtobeagoodleader.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cUp7JRzkVqunYmD2ENe4g Content note: Discussion of grief, racial discrimination, and personal grooming. #mickunplugged #landonmckinnis #gonutz #sharktank #entrepreneurship
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    49 min
  • Chef André Rush: Strength Through Service

    Chef André Rush: Strength Through Service
    Oct 19 2026
    This is a previously recorded conversation, returning as a Mick Unplugged re-release. References to upcoming projects reflect the time of recording. Chef André Rush's strength reaches far beyond the kitchen or the gym. In this conversation, the U.S. Army veteran, former White House chef, and mental health advocate shares the mission that keeps him serving others through grief, setbacks, and success. Mick and Chef Rush talk about checking in on the people you love, the stigma around asking for help, and why compassion belongs alongside discipline. Chef Rush reflects on September 11 at the Pentagon, a moment of connection at therapy, and the lessons his parents gave him about hard work and perseverance. The conversation also explores how cooking became his calling, the accountability required inside the White House, and the experiences behind his memoir, Call Me Chef, Dammit! It closes with four rapid-fire questions and an exchange about mentorship, gratitude, and making an impact. You'll Hear - Why a simple conversation can help people feel connected - Chef Rush's answer to “What is your because?” - How personal loss shaped his commitment to children and veterans - His experience of trauma and the difficulty of asking for support - Why encouragement, empathy, and perseverance matter - How military service led him toward a culinary career - Accountability, teamwork, and the White House kitchen - The story behind his memoir and four candid rapid-fire answers CHAPTERS 00:00 Check on each other: the cold open 00:20 Meet Chef André Rush 01:19 Why reaching out matters 03:24 Choosing service and refusing complacency 05:33 His father's lessons on hard work 07:19 The Because: a mission beyond yourself 10:22 Mick on friendship, loss, and connection 13:05 Turning remembrance into a cause 14:13 September 11, the Pentagon, and trauma 17:14 Asking for help and challenging stigma 20:12 A moment of connection at therapy 20:43 Keep going: encouragement and resilience 24:44 How cooking became his calling 32:17 Accountability inside the White House 35:35 The story behind Call Me Chef, Dammit! 40:50 Food, patience, and plans discussed in the recording 42:24 Four rapid-fire questions 44:40 Gratitude, mentorship, and farewell CONNECT & DISCOVER CHEF ANDRÉ RUSH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realchefrush/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChefRush TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefrush Website: https://chefrush.com/ Book discussed: Call Me Chef, Dammit! A Veteran's Journey from the Rural South to the White House FOLLOW MICK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ TikTok: @mickunplugged: https://www.tiktok.com/@mickunplugged Spotify, Mick Unplugged: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cUp7JRzkVqunYmD2ENe4g Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 Mick Hunt Official: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Buy Mick's book, How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Leader-When-Youve-Never/dp/1394357958 Content note: Discussion of suicide loss, grief, September 11, trauma, and mental health. Contains occasional strong language.
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    49 min
  • Adam Zeitsiff: Building Stronger Kids and Better Leaders

    Adam Zeitsiff: Building Stronger Kids and Better Leaders
    Oct 15 2026
    What happens when business experience becomes the foundation for a more personal mission? Adam Zeitsiff joins Mick Hunt to discuss youth fitness, purpose, and the leadership lessons behind building teams that can carry a mission forward. From technology to Gold's Gym and LA Fitness, Adam reflects on the experiences that led him to his work with the Dominique Dawes Academy. He explains why a child's gold medal moment might be learning a cartwheel, gaining confidence, or discovering the value of practice. The conversation also explores the shop-floor example his grandfather set, the importance of asking for help, and why hiring and listening to capable people can change a business. They close with mentorship, lessons Adam wishes he had learned earlier, and The Unplugged Five. YOU'LL HEAR - Why Adam's because is centered on creating better opportunities for children. - How his technology background shaped his work in the fitness industry. - The mission behind helping kids find their own gold medal moments. - What his grandfather taught him about caring for the people on your team. - Why entrepreneurs need to ask for help, listen, and hire strong specialists. - His perspective on AI, mentorship, and the legacy he wants to leave. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 The mission behind the work 00:33 Meet Adam Zeitsiff 01:34 The Because: a mission centered on children 05:45 Schools, parents, and physical activity 08:55 The Unplugged Truth: technology meets fitness 11:45 Leading at Gold's Gym 14:32 Two different fitness business models 16:05 Hot Takes: the Dominique Dawes Academy vision 20:43 AI and the human side of fitness 23:17 Finding a child's gold medal moments 25:57 The Room: a grandfather's leadership example 27:56 Asking for help and scaling a business 30:01 Hiring and compensating the right people 32:58 Mentorship and growing leaders from within 34:25 Connecting with the academy 35:11 Leadership lessons learned the hard way 36:46 The Unplugged Five 40:12 Legacy and making a difference CONNECT & DISCOVER Adam Zeitsiff: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-zeitsiff/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/zeitscameraaction/ Dominique Dawes Academy: https://www.dominiquedawesgymnasticsacademy.com/ Academy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dominique-dawes-academy/ Academy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawesgymnasticsacademy FOLLOW MICK Mick Hunt Official: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ TikTok: @mickunplugged https://www.tiktok.com/@mickunplugged YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 Spotify: Mick Unplugged https://open.spotify.com/show/2cUp7JRzkVqunYmD2ENe4g Buy Mick's book: How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One https://www.amazon.com/Good-Leader-When-Youve-Never/dp/1394357958 Your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. Content note: Contains occasional strong language. Business plans and expansion discussions reflect the time of recording. #mickunplugged #adamzeitsiff #kidsfitness #gymnastics
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    45 min