Roy Keely grew up being told that college was the only path that mattered. The worst advice he ever got was to chase the traditional route at all costs, even when it didn’t fit. He tried to follow it. He tried to force it. It never worked. What did work was everything he learned outside the classroom. Roy built his career through experience, curiosity, and a willingness to step into the unknown. Today he is the founder of Firm Studio, where he helps companies reclaim their product strategies and build technology with intention instead of guesswork. In this episode, Roy talks about the moment he realized that the “safe path” was not actually safe at all, why doing the work beats talking about the work, and how he created a life and career that made sense for who he is instead of who he was expected to be. If you have ever questioned the traditional blueprint for success, Roy’s story will speak directly to you. Listen now on The Worst Advice I Ever Got.

Carla McCall spent years believing the worst advice she ever got: “Don’t laugh so much.” It came early in her career and it came from someone she thought she had to listen to. The message was simple. Fit in. Blend in. Tone it down. Carla did the opposite. Today she is the Managing Partner of AAFCPAs, a top firm known for innovation, inclusion, and a culture that actually values people for who they are. She has been recognized as one of the most powerful women in the accounting profession and has built a career by leading with authenticity instead of fear. In this episode, Carla shares how she learned to trust her voice, why humor became her superpower, and why shrinking yourself is never the path to real leadership. If you have ever felt pressure to tone yourself down or play it safe, this conversation will stay with you. Listen to Carla’s full story now on The Worst Advice I Ever Got.

When Ripley Rader was told to trust consultants and experts instead of her own instincts, she almost lost sight of what made her brand special. Instead, she doubled down on her vision—building her company from a $100 Shopify template into one of fashion’s fastest-growing names. In this episode, Ripley shares how trusting herself over “the pros” became her biggest competitive edge. She talks about the myth of the expert, the power of failure, and why every woman deserves a little “delusional self-confidence.” Hosted by Sean Taylor Produced by JBPresented by Smith + Howard

Mehrnush Saadat grew up with one message: to be somebody, you had to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. She followed that path into real estate law, even merging her firm with a larger one, but found herself burned out, in pain, and questioning everything. A herniated disc, a New Year’s Eve epiphany, and her passion for plant-based health led her to launch Sober ish, a cannabis and non-alcoholic bottle shop redefining what success looks like. In this episode, she shares how health, happiness, and authenticity matter more than any title

Joy Youell was told to ‘become an expert.’ Starting college at 14, she was pushed toward hyper-specialization and a life of academia. But a detour working with the UN in Sudan—and the realization that expertise alone can isolate rather than connect—changed her path. Joy shares how leaving the pursuit of being the expert opened the door to curiosity, leadership, and a life defined by usefulness, not titles.

Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, shares how the worst advice he ever got—‘separate work and family completely’—shaped years of overwork, ego, and missed moments. In this candid conversation, Sam reflects on burnout, regret, and the shift from compartmentalization to integration, showing why being a whole person matters more than playing separate roles.

Leroy Hite turned ‘fancy firewood’ from a laughable idea into a luxury brand. In this episode, he shares how faith, grit, and one bold decision—selling his house to save his business—transformed Cutting Edge Firewood into a national success.

Chris Cleveland, Head of School at Wesleyan, looks back on the worst advice he ever got: “Do what makes you happy.” On the surface, it sounds harmless—even good. But in this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Chris explains how chasing happiness alone can lead to shallow choices, and why purpose, responsibility, and faith create something deeper and more sustaining. It’s an honest conversation about leadership, values, and the difference between living for happiness and living for meaning.

Kyle followed that rule for years, becoming a decorated airline pilot by shutting his feelings down. But eventually he realized the truth: every decision we make, whether in the air or on the ground, is fueled by emotions. Suppressing them doesn’t make us stronger, it makes us weaker. In this episode, Kyle shares how unlearning that advice changed his career, his relationships, and his entire approach to leadership. We talk about emotional intelligence, stress as a superpower, why control is a myth, and why real leaders act more like lighthouses than tugboats. It’s a conversation for anyone who’s been told to “tough it out” or “leave feelings at the door.” Turns out, emotions aren’t the problem. They’re the key.

“The worst advice I ever got was, exercise more and eat less.” Sammy Williams shares how that advice, repeated over and over, became a damaging mantra that pushed him toward unhealthy extremes and left him battling shame around his body. What sounds simple on the surface was actually harmful, and it took years for him to unlearn it. In this episode, Sammy opens up about his journey to rebuild a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and himself, and why quick-fix advice can do more harm than good. It is a candid and powerful conversation about healing, self-acceptance, and finding balance beyond the scale. Hosted by Sean Taylor, produced by JB, and made possible by Smith + Howard.

What happens when the world tells you, “You don’t have to be smart if you’re pretty”? In this episode, Teresa Caro opens up about the dangerous advice she got early in her career—and how it fueled her drive to prove her worth beyond appearances. From shifting life stages to reinventing herself through every chapter, Teresa shares hard-earned wisdom on: Breaking free from superficial expectations Redefining success as you grow and evolve Building value that lasts longer than looks It’s an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about turning bad advice into good stories—and finding your own path forward. ️ Hosted by Sean Taylor, produced by JB, and made possible by Smith + Howard.

What happens when the person you admire most tells you you’re not good enough? For John Follis, it was a college professor who pulled him aside and said: “You suck at advertising. You should quit.” At 20 years old, chasing a new dream, those words almost knocked him off course. In this episode, John shares how he pushed past that moment, built resilience through setbacks—including getting fired four times—and eventually co-founded one of the hottest creative agencies on Madison Avenue. His work won awards, landed press in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, and made him a “secret weapon” for big brands.

In The Karate Kid, the bad advice was “show them who’s boss.” For Matthew Eyers, it wasn’t a movie—it was the real message he was given early on. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Matthew unpacks how that mindset shaped his choices, why it led to more harm than good, and what he’s learned about leading with something stronger than ego.

What if “time heals all wounds” was the worst advice you could take? Clarity consultant Kyle Smith breaks down why healing is an active process, not a waiting game, and shares practical steps to turn pain into personal power.

In this episode, Chris shares how avoiding conversations about salary, business finances, and expenses keeps us stuck — and how transparency, experience sharing, and breaking the link between money and self-worth can lead to clarity, better decisions, and deeper relationships.

This week, Michael Brody-Waite shares how that well-meaning message failed him—leading to homelessness, addiction, and hopelessness by age 23. But what happened next is extraordinary. Through a 12-step program, Michael not only recovered—he built a new life from the ground up. He went from sleeping on floors to building a company that grew 20,000%, making the Inc. 500 list, and delivering one of the most-watched TEDx talks of all time. In this episode, he opens up about: Why telling addicts to “just stop” isn’t enough The 3 principles that saved his life—and made him a better leader How addiction and executive burnout have more in common than you think What families should do when someone they love is struggling It’s one of the most powerful stories we’ve shared—raw, honest, and packed with insight for anyone facing discomfort, fear, or change.

When Tom Rebers was told to "charge the going rate," it sounded safe and reasonable. But playing it safe nearly cost him his business. In this episode of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, Tom shares how he learned to set his own value, stop following industry norms, and build a business that actually works for him. If you’ve ever underpriced yourself or felt stuck following “what everyone else does,” this one’s for you.

Zahra is a licensed therapist who now works with psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly ibogaine, a plant medicine with powerful anti-addiction effects. In this episode, she shares her journey from traditional treatment centers to becoming an advocate for spiritual, mental, and emotional healing through plant medicine. We talk about outdated recovery models, the stigma surrounding psychedelics, the role of spirituality in therapy, and why systems built on fear often fail the people who need help most. This one isn’t about promoting psychedelics—it’s about listening to a story that challenges assumptions and opens up a bigger conversation. If you’ve ever questioned the rules you were taught to follow, this episode is for you.

That’s the worst advice Jeremy Schneider ever got — and it’s everywhere. From the headlines to social media, we’re taught investing means timing markets, chasing trends, and hoping for quick wins. Jeremy says that’s exactly why most people stay broke. Jeremy is the founder of Personal Finance Club, a former tech entrepreneur who retired at 36, and now teaches simple, proven ways to build wealth. In this episode, he breaks down:✅ Why ‘boring’ index funds beat the hype✅ The two rules that actually make you rich✅ Why most millionaires just… set it and forget it✅ How to avoid the “speculation trap” that derails so many people If you’ve ever felt investing is too complicated or too risky — this episode is for you. Listen now and see why the most effective path to wealth is the least flashy.

In this episode, Joe Van Hoose talks about the messy reality of modern journalism: we need it more than ever, but the world we’ve built makes it harder than ever to do it well. Good reporting takes time, curiosity, and integrity — but today’s incentives scream: click fast, publish faster, aim later. It’s fire, ready, aim — and real journalists get burned in the process. If you care about how stories shape our world (and who gets to tell them), this conversation might frustrate you… and wake you up.