Long Shot Leaders with Michael Stein

Athena Brownson is redefining what it means to thrive in the real estate industry. A former professional skier who endured nine knee surgeries and two neck operations. Athena’s initial impression of real estate was far from positive, viewing REALTORS as dime-a-dozen salespeople. But a life-changing mentorship and her own unstoppable drive transformed her skepticism into passion. Over the last decade, Athena has risen to become one of Colorado’s most trusted and top-performing REALTORS, blending sharp market insight, unmatched negotiation skills, and a creative eye for design that unlocks the true potential of every property. What sets Athena apart isn’t just her professional expertise; it’s her remarkable story of resilience. After being diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, Athena faced debilitating challenges that could have ended her career. Instead, she turned adversity into her superpower, rebuilding her business with even greater focus and purpose.

Pav Lertjitbanjong is the founder of Layoff Ready, a program that helps people prepare for job loss before it happens. She guides professionals in building financial security, confidence, and peace of mind so they can face change without fear. After experiencing major shifts in her own career and life, Pav saw the importance of being prepared. She turned these lessons into a mission to help others turn layoffs into opportunities for growth. Through Layoff Ready, Pav shares simple tools and clear steps to manage money, stay resilient, and plan for the future. Her goal is to help people feel secure, confident, and truly ready for what comes next.

John Dwyer started his career in the retail marketing world, working with major brands and becoming a National Marketing Manager in his twenties. He later launched his own agency, where he built a name for creating bold, direct-response campaigns that delivered serious results. He’s now the founder of The Institute of Wow, best known for developing the Wow Strategy, a proven formula that helps businesses attract more customers using irresistible offers and clever incentives. His approach is all about cutting through the noise and getting real, measurable outcomes. Today, John helps business owners across industries grow fast with his plug-and-play marketing systems and “Wow Injection Packages,” giving even small businesses access to big-impact strategies without huge budgets.

Jack Landry is a former Division I athlete and software engineer turned men’s mindset and fitness coach. After working at companies like Fidelity and Amazon, he left the corporate world to pursue a more meaningful path—helping high-achieving men who feel unfulfilled create lives of purpose, discipline, and freedom. ⁣ Drawing from his own transformation through fitness, faith, and personal development, Jack now runs a thriving coaching business and creates inspiring content for his 70,000+ followers on Instagram. ⁣ His mission is to guide others in stepping into their God-given potential while building a strong foundation for their future—personally, spiritually, and professionally.

Amanda Olusanya is a conscious entrepreneur, speaker, and global traveler originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, now based in Vietnam. Her journey—from growing up with a single mother to selling everything at 40 and moving to Uganda—reflects a life shaped by curiosity, courage, and a deep desire for meaning. ⁣ With 15+ years of global travel under her belt, Amanda has built and exited multiple businesses, including a successful men’s salon, and now empowers other entrepreneurs through coaching focused on clarity, leadership, and exit strategies. ⁣ Her life philosophy centers around living in 90-day cycles, embracing adaptability, and redefining success beyond material wealth. Amanda’s work and lifestyle are grounded in values of personal growth, conscious living, and uplifting communities—especially across Africa. Through travel, entrepreneurship, and cultural immersion, she continues to inspire others to design purpose-driven lives rooted in simplicity, expansion, and impact.

Ricardo Viso is a resilience coach, speaker, and founder of the Joyful Living Lounge, a platform dedicated to helping people cultivate more joy in their daily lives. Born in Denver and raised in Mexico, Viso’s life took a transformative turn after the loss of his mother at age 10, and again decades later with a cancer diagnosis. Instead of surrendering to fear, he chose to reframe his challenges into opportunities for meaning and growth. ⁣ A former executive in retail and e-commerce, Viso now focuses on emotional well-being, mindset, and intentional living. He developed the R.I.C. method—Recognize, Identify, Consciously create joy—and promotes a practical, flexible approach to wellness. ⁣ Viso also co-leads two wellness startups: Wildflow, a fitness platform for men over 45, and a restaurant industry wellness app aimed at supporting underserved workers. Through coaching, workshops, and storytelling, Ricardo empowers others to embrace joy, presence, and purpose—even in the face of adversity.

Dr. Julie Wilson is a family physician and visionary healthcare entrepreneur based in British Columbia. Originally focused on building a small, traditional clinic, she was propelled into large-scale innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⁣ Faced with soaring patient demand and systemic challenges, Julie transformed her practice by prioritizing workplace culture, doctor autonomy, and people-centered leadership. ⁣ She embraced modern tools like AI to improve efficiency, while fostering a respectful, flexible environment that attracted top medical talent. Today, she leads the largest integrated clinic network in B.C., with a mission to ensure every resident has access to a family doctor within the next decade.

Mitchell Osmond is a leadership coach, speaker, and host of The Dad Nation Podcast (34K monthly listeners), helping high-performing men win at home, in health, and in mindset—without sacrificing career success. ⁣ With over 15 years in senior leadership, he equips executives and entrepreneurs with the tools to lead powerfully in both business and family life. ⁣ Through coaching, speaking, and courses, Mitchell’s mission is clear: to help men create unshakable confidence, thriving relationships, and a life worth imitating.

Jason Norris is the founder of YCAA, a boutique talent agency known for its hands-on, mentorship-driven approach to actor representation. Originally from Montreal and now based in Toronto, Jason began his career in advertising, crafting TV commercials for major brands. ⁣ Inspired by his daughter’s brief foray into acting and disillusioned by the impersonal nature of traditional talent agencies, he made a bold pivot into talent representation. With a background in film production and a passion for storytelling, Jason launched YCAA in 2019 to provide actors with the guidance, preparation, and personal connection he felt the industry lacked. ⁣ Under his leadership, YCAA focuses on quality over quantity—educating and supporting a curated roster of clients in one of North America’s most competitive acting markets. Looking ahead, Jason plans to expand YCAA’s reach into Los Angeles while continuing to champion Canadian talent and homegrown stories.

Al Kushner is a LinkedIn strategist and AI enthusiast with a background in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Originally from Coney Island, Brooklyn, he studied at the High School of Art and Design and NYU before starting his career in telephone sales. ⁣ Al has been an early adopter of digital tools, leveraging LinkedIn since 2005 to build meaningful professional connections, especially within niche markets like CPAs, attorneys, and financial planners. He uses AI tools like ChatGPT daily to create targeted, value-driven content that helps others grow their LinkedIn presence authentically. ⁣ Through his company LinkVantage, Al offers training, profile optimization, and speaking engagements, and is the author of The AI LinkedIn Advantage, guiding professionals on integrating AI strategically and ethically for lasting growth. Now based in Florida, he remains deeply connected to his New York roots and continues to advocate for genuine, high-quality networking in the digital age.

Chris Mirabile’s journey into health and longevity began with a preteen’s desire to impress girls during school fitness tests—but quickly evolved into something deeper. By age 12, Chris was reading Men’s Health, refining his diet, and obsessing over performance, though he later realized much of his early approach to health was misguided. At 16, his life took a dramatic turn when he suffered a seizure during a school field trip and was diagnosed with a large brain tumor. Emergency brain surgery saved his life, but the experience left a lasting impression, igniting a relentless drive to understand human biology and wellness. ⁣ Though he studied finance and entrepreneurship at NYU, Chris immersed himself in scientific research, especially in bio-gerontology—the biology of aging. Long before it was a buzzword, he was poring over PubMed studies, using genetic testing tools, and analyzing his own DNA to uncover predispositions that might have contributed to his tumor. After early success and eventual failure with a social media startup, Chris doubled down on his passion for health optimization. He founded Novos, a company dedicated to slowing the aging process through science-backed supplements and nutrition, collaborating with researchers from institutions like Harvard, MIT, and the Salk Institute. ⁣ Today, Chris combines rigorous science with real-world application. He launched NovoScore, a daily supplement targeting all 12 known mechanisms of aging, and developed a science-forward meal replacement bar that emphasizes longevity-promoting ingredients over trendy marketing. Through Novos and his personal platform SlowMyAge, Chris educates others on optimizing biological age, drawing from cutting-edge research in omics sciences and data-driven health tracking. With over 10 million supplement doses taken and partnerships expanding, Chris’s mission is clear: to empower people to live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives through informed, evidence-based choices.

G. Michael Hopf is a USA Today bestselling author and Marine Corps veteran whose diverse life experiences—ranging from combat service to work as a bodyguard and commercial diver—fuel his gripping post-apocalyptic and Western fiction. ⁣ Best known for The New World series, Hopf draws on themes of survival, resilience, and human nature, crafting stories that both entertain and inspire. ⁣ Now based in San Diego, he's also a devoted husband and father, committed to storytelling that explores the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Joseph Steinberg is a leading cybersecurity expert who has worked in the field since its early days, tracing his journey back to the pre-commercial internet of the 1980s and 90s. With a strong technical foundation and a master’s degree from NYU, he began his career in the mid-1990s, integrating security systems for financial institutions before moving into startups, writing, consulting, and eventually expert witness testimony. ⁣ Recognized for his ability to demystify complex digital evidence in court, Steinberg now helps legal teams navigate high-stakes cybersecurity litigation. His insights have shaped public understanding of cyber threats, from early online scams to today’s deepfake-powered fraud and nation-state attacks. A former Forbes columnist and author of Cybersecurity for Dummies, he emphasizes practical cyber hygiene, multi-factor authentication, and strong password habits. ⁣ Steinberg continues to raise awareness about digital risks and AI’s evolving role in cybercrime, advocating for personal responsibility and education in a world where attackers only need to succeed once—but defenders must be vigilant always.

Bert Terhart is an adventurer, sailor, and lifelong explorer who currently resides on a smaller island off Vancouver Island, Canada, a place with a surprisingly large population of 750,000. Originally from the prairies of Canada near Fargo, North Dakota, Bert grew up in a small, hardworking oil town, shaped by cold landscapes and a strong sense of community. His Dutch heritage, with a family background in the Merchant Marine, ignited his lifelong love of sailing. ⁣ Bert joined the Canadian Army at 17, attending the Canadian military college, the equivalent of West Point. He served in the Canadian Special Service Force, an elite unit trained alongside the U.S. military, and participated in intense Cold War-era training exercises. His military experience led him to reflect on the harsh realities of war, but he ultimately left the Army and pursued a career in oceanography after being disqualified from the Navy due to colorblindness. ⁣ A passion for the ocean, history, and exploration led Bert to retrace the routes of legendary explorers like Captain Cook and William Bligh, sailing over 50,000 nautical miles and navigating some of the most remote and challenging regions in the world, including the Arctic Circle and the Bering Sea. He is also known for his solo paddling expeditions across Canada and adventurous voyages in the Southern Ocean.

Matt Leta is a Polish-born entrepreneur, digital artist, and AI innovator. A gifted but rebellious student, he discovered his passion for coding at age 10 and later explored architecture and music. At 19, he founded Dropper, a mobile-first platform for artists, which grew to 250,000 users before securing seven-figure funding and moving to California. ⁣ Anticipating the remote work revolution, Matt launched multiple ventures, including Table, but faced challenges, including a hostile takeover. After stepping away, he traveled the world, founded Fukui Cool, a successful digital agency, and embraced a nomadic lifestyle. ⁣ In 2023, he pivoted to AI-driven professional services, building FutureWorks, which optimizes business operations through AI. His book, The Leap Guide, became a bestseller, and his upcoming release, 100x (April 2025), focuses on AI-driven scaling and efficiency. Matt continues to drive innovation, challenging traditional consulting models with AI-powered solutions.

Robert Jordan, raised in a small village in Upstate New York, grew up in a hardworking, blue-collar family with strong community ties. After high school, he farmed cattle for nine years before earning a degree from SUNY Albany. Inspired by the 1993 World Trade Center attack, he joined the Navy at age 34, intending to serve briefly before law school but instead committed to a long military career. Jordan served five tours in Afghanistan, rising from Chief Petty Officer to Chief Warrant Officer in elite special operations. Witnessing both the brutality of war and the resilience of the Afghan people, he dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts, assisting widows, orphans, and struggling communities. After retiring in 2019, he founded a nonprofit supporting Afghanistan’s poorest and continues advocating for veterans. Now an author, pastor, and philanthropist, Jordan has published books like Faith, Flag, and Family and The Warms of the Gospel series. He also co-authored a teen novella, Mackenzie's Good Fortune Through Misadventure, with his granddaughter. He hosts the Veterans Outlook podcast and leads Task Force Genesis, helping veterans heal through agriculture.

Amanda Pichardo is a beauty entrepreneur and inspiring storyteller who has transformed adversity into success. Overcoming a childhood marked by severe abuse in New York, she was removed from her home at age eight and later emancipated at 18, forcing her to navigate adulthood on her own. ⁣ Determined to build a better future, she worked various jobs before dedicating herself to the beauty industry, creating a thriving business that granted her financial independence. ⁣ Now a mother, Amanda prioritizes faith, personal growth, and inner peace, using her experiences to empower others. She shares her journey of resilience, entrepreneurship, and healing on Instagram.

Jay Conner is a real estate investor, speaker, and author specializing in private money lending. Raised in Eastern North Carolina, he grew up in the mobile home industry, working alongside his father, who was once the largest mobile home retailer in the U.S. After the market collapsed in the early 2000s, Jay pivoted to flipping single-family homes, eventually averaging two to three deals per month with $86,000 in profits per flip. ⁣ For years, Jay relied on traditional bank loans—until the 2008 financial crisis cut off his funding overnight. Determined to find a better way, he discovered private money lending, a strategy that allowed him to raise $250,000 in just 90 days without relying on banks. Since then, he has completed over 500 real estate deals and now teaches investors how to secure funding through private lenders and self-directed IRAs. ⁣ As the author of Where to Get the Money Now, Jay shares his expertise on raising private capital, scaling real estate investments, and building financial freedom. Through his mastermind and coaching programs, he empowers others to succeed in real estate without the limitations of traditional financing.

David Anderson is a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership strategist with a dynamic career spanning public relations, behavioral marketing, and executive coaching. Growing up in New Jersey, he developed an early passion for business while working at a country club surrounded by successful entrepreneurs. ⁣ After earning his degree from Arizona State University, David worked in Washington, D.C., serving under Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush before transitioning into public relations. ⁣ David is the author of Leader’s Not a Title and a sought-after executive coach. Through his work, he emphasizes adaptability, strategic growth, and customer engagement, helping businesses navigate evolving markets.

Keith Kong is a world-class mentalist who blends psychology, influence, and showmanship to create mind-bending experiences. Initially aspiring to be a hostage negotiator, he became fascinated with magic at age 10 and later discovered mentalism through his studies in psychology and criminal profiling. ⁣ After years of performing in Orlando’s entertainment scene—sometimes even underage—he turned his passion into a full-time career. His journey includes a triumphant return to Penn & Teller: Fool Us, where he successfully fooled the legendary duo. ⁣ Today, Kong captivates audiences at corporate and private events worldwide, using mentalism to explore the mysteries of human behavior. He’s currently expanding into keynote speaking and writing a book on situational psychology.