The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex

Every entrepreneur faces obstacles while building a business—but the most dangerous one is often their own ego.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down what he calls the final boss of business: ego. The moment you start believing you already know everything is the moment you stop learning, adapting, and improving.

Many entrepreneurs fail not because of lack of talent or opportunity, but because their pride prevents them from listening to feedback, pivoting strategies, or learning from their team.

Paul explains how great leaders stay confident while re...

Most entrepreneurs believe growth comes from adding more—more services, more platforms, more projects.

But the truth is, real growth often comes from cutting what doesn’t matter.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down the concept of editing your reality—a powerful mindset rooted in essentialism and ruthless focus.

Just like a great film is made in the editing room, great businesses are built by trimming the distractions and focusing only on what truly drives results. When entrepreneurs try to do everything, they dilute their energy, slow their...

Massive goals are exciting… but they can also feel overwhelming.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down the hidden strategy high performers use to stay motivated while chasing long-term success: the power of the micro-win.

Most entrepreneurs burn out because they only celebrate the big milestones—six figures, seven figures, the huge exit. But the reality is that progress is built through small, consistent wins that trigger momentum and motivation.

Paul dives into the psychology behind motivation, explaining how your brain responds to progress and why stacking daily vict...

Every entrepreneur eventually faces it—a partner who breaks trust, a deal that goes sideways, or someone in business who betrays you.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex dives into a topic that silently holds many entrepreneurs back: unforgiveness in business.

Holding onto anger toward a former partner, vendor, or associate might feel justified—but in reality, it drains your focus, creativity, and ability to build what’s next. When your mental energy is stuck replaying the past, you’re not moving forward—and your competition is.

Paul breaks down how s...

Why do you feel mentally exhausted by the middle of the day—even when you haven’t done any physical work?

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down the hidden productivity killer most entrepreneurs ignore: decision fatigue.

Every choice you make throughout the day drains your mental battery. From what to eat, what to wear, and how to structure your schedule, small decisions quietly steal the focus you should be using for the high-level moves that actually grow your business.

Paul explains how high performers eliminate this problem by a...

🔥 Ever feel like you don’t belong in the room? Like you’re one mistake away from being “found out”? That’s imposter syndrome — and it quietly keeps entrepreneurs playing small.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down how to silence the voice that makes you question your worth, your pricing, and your position in business.

Paul Alex dives into the real truth about imposter syndrome — it’s not weakness. It’s growth. If you feel uncomfortable, it usually means you’ve stepped into a bigger arena. And that’s where expansion...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Paul sits down with David Royce, a founder who built one of the largest residential pest control companies in North America by focusing on systems, culture, and execution in an industry most people overlook.

David breaks down how a commission-only sales job in college became the foundation for scaling a pest control business that now generates over $500 million in annual revenue. Instead of chasing trends, he leaned into fundamentals—sales training, leadership development, and building a company that could scale without relying on the founder to do...

In this episode, Nick Ford breaks down the exact side hustles he used to leave law enforcement without risking his family’s stability. From building an ATM business and merchant services as passive income vehicles to transitioning into AI automation, Nick explains how small, strategic moves created real confidence—not just extra cash.

Nick shares why part-time effort can still produce life-changing results, how mindset matters more than money when making the leap, and why marketing and AI are the most valuable skills to learn heading into 2025. He also opens up about betting on himself with a youn...

Wall Street to Dubai isn’t just a headline — it’s the real-life journey of Tan Gera, a former investment banker who lost everything in the 2018 crypto crash… and then rebuilt from the ground up.

In this episode, Tan breaks down how he walked away from a traditional Wall Street career, turned $57,000 into millions, and went on to build a global crypto education company. He shares the hard lessons from losing seven figures, navigating bank shutdowns and payment processor freezes, and why most people misunderstand how real wealth is actually built in crypto.

Tan also explains...

Why do most businesses fail—even when founders are working nonstop and doing “everything right”? In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Eddie Hartman, co-founder of LegalZoom, to break down why 72% of businesses don’t make it and what separates sustainable companies from the rest.

Eddie explains why pricing is often misunderstood, how entrepreneurs confuse value with revenue, and why relying on a single growth engine eventually stalls most businesses. Drawing from his experience building LegalZoom and advising founders at every stage, he shares practical frameworks around perceived value, customer retention, negotiation, and profitable growth.

If you...

High performance doesn’t always equal fulfillment—and for many men, success at work hides chaos at home.

In this episode, Mitchell Osmond breaks down why so many driven, high-achieving men feel disconnected in their marriages, overwhelmed in their personal lives, and silently burned out despite outward success. Mitchell shares his raw journey from financial stress, addiction, and near divorce to rebuilding his mindset, body, marriage, and leadership from the inside out.

We dive deep into radical ownership, identity, unhealed childhood trauma, masculine purpose, and why discipline without inner work eventually collapses. Mitchell explains how men...

Most people don’t fail because of lack of effort, motivation, or discipline — they fail because of a belief they don’t even know they have.

In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Shelly Lefkoe, co-founder of the Lefkoe Institute and one of the world’s leading experts on eliminating limiting beliefs. With over 35 years of experience, Shelly breaks down how unconscious beliefs are formed, why positive thinking doesn’t work, and how the stories you absorbed early in life may still be controlling your success today.

You’ll hear real examples of how beliefs like...

Innovation doesn’t fail because companies lack ideas—it fails because leadership and culture aren’t built to support change. In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Bud Caddell, founder of NOBL (nobl.io), to break down what actually stops organizations from executing on bold ideas.

Bud shares real-world lessons from working with global brands and fast-growing companies, explaining how misaligned incentives, poor leadership behaviors, and broken decision-making systems quietly kill innovation. He also reveals what leaders must do differently to build cultures where change doesn’t just start—but actually sticks.

Whether you’re an entrep...

What if mastering a few simple AI skills could completely change your income in 2025? Today, Paul Alex brings on AI powerhouse Alicia Lyttle (@alicialyttle) to break it all down.

Alicia has spent more than 25 years in the online space, built multiple multi-million-dollar businesses, trained governments and universities worldwide, and became one of the top voices in AI literacy. Today, she reveals how anyone—from total beginners to seasoned entrepreneurs—can leverage AI to level up their income, productivity, and opportunities.

From shutting down her digital marketing agency overnight to going all-in on AI, Alicia shares the...

What happens when a career-ending injury becomes the catalyst for a completely new life? In today’s episode, Ted Stern (@fitresponder) shares how snapping his ankle on duty pushed him into the online world — and how that single moment transformed him from a frustrated first responder into a multiple 6-figure fitness entrepreneur.

Ted breaks down the exact steps he used to scale from making a few thousand a month to consistently hitting $100K+ months, why niching saved his business, how first responders sabotage their own potential, and what it really takes to build a winning culture and team...

From sleeping under bridges to building a 9-figure real estate empire, William Fonseca has lived through darkness most people never escape — addiction, homelessness, abuse, and complete loss. But instead of letting his past define him, William transformed his pain into a global mission: saving and educating children around the world through purpose-driven real estate and charitable work.

In this powerful and deeply emotional conversation, William breaks down the moment faith redirected his entire life, how he rebuilt from absolutely nothing, and why serving others became the center of his entrepreneurial success. His story is raw, unfiltered, and a...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Justin Colby (@thejustincolby) — a seasoned entrepreneur who reveals the unfiltered truth behind building wealth, surviving market disasters, and reinventing yourself when everything falls apart. 💥

Justin shares powerful stories from his early days knocking on doors to the multi-million-dollar real estate empire he eventually built. But beyond the highlight reel, he exposes the mental battles, identity crises, and hard resets entrepreneurs must face on the climb to success.

We dive into:
💡 The harsh lessons Justin learned after losing it all
💡 Ho...

In this powerful episode, Paul Alex sits down with health insurance powerhouse Mara Dorne (@maradorne) — a woman who went from losing six businesses, her home, and every sense of stability… to becoming one of the most respected leaders in the health insurance industry, generating over $1 billion in team production.

Mara breaks down the real truth behind health insurance sales — the part most people never see. She opens up about failing for six straight months, rebuilding her life as a young mother with no options, and the mindset shift that helped her turn everything around.

From naviga...

What happens when two world-class Latin dancers mix culture, community, and entrepreneurship?
You get Lee Edward Smith (@leeelgringuito) & Katherine Aguilar (@kataguilarsmith) — the power couple behind DCBX (@dcbxevents), Rhythm Investor, and one of the strongest relationship-driven networks in real estate today.

In this episode, we dive deep into how they transformed their passion for dance into a multi-industry empire built on connection, culture, and elite-level networking. 🌎✨

From hosting one of the largest Latin dance festivals in the world…
→ to building bridges with investors, entrepreneurs, and even billionaires…
→ to breaking into commercial real estate without coming...

In today’s episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I sit down with powerhouse entrepreneurs TereZa Lolli (@terezalolli) and Anthony Lolli (@anthonylolli) — a couple who turned their personal battles, health crises, and parenting challenges into a global blueprint for transformation.

From becoming a multi-millionaire at 22…
To ballooning to 315 lbs and nearly losing his life…
To rebuilding his body, mindset, and mission from the ground up…
Anthony shares the truth behind one of the most inspiring comebacks ever documented. 💥

TereZa opens up about overcoming diastasis recti, closing an 8-finger ab gap, regainin...

🔥 What do you do when no one believes in you? When people smile to your face but doubt you behind your back? In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we dive into how pressure can either break you — or build you into someone unstoppable.

Paul Alex shares the real story behind leaving law enforcement, walking away from a stable career, and building multiple companies despite the doubts, criticism, and silence from people who didn’t understand his vision. Confidence wasn’t handed to him. It was built in the dark, under pressure, and without a...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Brock McClelland (@thebrockmcclelland) shares the raw, unfiltered truth about overcoming addiction, surviving rock bottom, rebuilding his life through faith, and the mindset that took him from “nothing” to leading multiple successful companies.

This is more than a story about entrepreneurship—it’s a story about grit, discipline, spiritual alignment, and the belief that your past does NOT dictate your future. Brock breaks down the sacrifices, the 100-hour workweeks, the moment he decided to change his life forever, and the powerful role his wife played in pulling him out...

🔥 Rejection hurts — but it’s not a dead end. It’s a detour pulling you toward something better. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down how rejection becomes one of the most powerful tools for growth, clarity, and resilience in entrepreneurship.

Paul Alex shares how setbacks, ignored emails, closed doors, and lost deals redirected him toward the biggest wins of his life. From early ATM pitches to major partnerships, every “no” sharpened his mindset, improved his communication, and strengthened his discipline.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
💡 Why rejection buil...

What does it really take to reinvent your life?
To go from a career built on discipline and danger…
to becoming a multi-millionaire, global entrepreneur, and high-performance machine?

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Tomo Marjanovic breaks down the real blueprint behind confidence, discipline, pain, standards, and what it takes to join the top 1% of men.

Tomo isn’t just successful — he’s intentional.
From his early days in law enforcement, to bodybuilding, to building elite networks in Dubai, to mastering the balance between wealth, fitness, mindset, and fami...

When life forces you to start over, most people freeze.
Drew Lutzke built a business.

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Drew (@andrew_adltalentplug) breaks down how he went from sitting in his mom’s garage—unsure of his future—to launching ADL Search & Staffing, a faith-driven recruiting agency now expanding across major U.S. cities.

Drew shares how he:
🔥 Pivoted from college baseball coaching into recruiting
🔥 Built his entire agency virtually with zero funding
🔥 Leveraged LinkedIn, consistency, and storytelling to attract clients
🔥 Navigated massive life chang...

From battling addiction… to facing jail time… to becoming a multi-millionaire in high-ticket sales — Jon Briseno has lived a transformation most people wouldn’t believe.

In this episode, Jon opens up about the darkest chapters of his life, the moment everything collapsed, and how hitting rock bottom forced him to rebuild with discipline, sales skills, and relentless self-belief.
He went from having nothing — no money, no opportunities, no direction — to leading sales teams, closing massive deals, and changing his family’s future forever.

You’ll hear:

How addiction and jail shaped his mindset

What would you do if you earned $1.7 million before turning 21… and then lost every dollar?

Most people would crumble.
But today’s guest — Fareed Abedini — used that rock bottom moment as the catalyst for one of the greatest comebacks you’ll ever hear.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Fareed opens up about the brutal reality of losing millions through day trading, the shame of watching it all disappear, and the exact moment he realized he had to rebuild from nothing. What followed was a transformation fueled by mentorship, resilience...

🔥 The hardest step in success isn’t the tenth — it’s the first. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down the mindset that separates dreamers from doers — and why your first uncomfortable step matters more than any strategy.

Paul Alex opens up about the key decisions that changed his life, from leaving his 9-to-5 to launching multiple companies from scratch. None of it happened because he had the perfect plan — it happened because he moved before he felt ready.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
💡 Why successful entrepreneurs deci...

What if you could build $20K–$50K/month in passive income with no tech background, no prior sales experience, and just pure grit?

In today’s episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Seve Ortale (@seve_ortale_), a 25-year-old entrepreneur who went from 600 straight rejections to building a multi-six-figure residual income stream in payment processing — all in under two years.

🔥 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

How Seve failed his first business… and why that failure led him to the payment processing gold rush

The exact moment...

🔥 Everyone wants to win… until it takes longer than expected. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we break down why so many entrepreneurs quit before they ever see results — and how you can build the mental endurance to stay the course.

Paul Alex dives into the real reasons people fold early, from chasing hype instead of consistency to misunderstanding what success actually feels like. Launching a business isn’t glamorous in the beginning — it’s repetitive, quiet, and often lonely. But that’s exactly where winners are built.

In this episode, you’ll...

What if the lowest point of your life became the foundation of a multimillion-dollar career? In today’s episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Alex Ruiz (@iamrobertalexruiz) — a young entrepreneur who went from being homeless and lost at 21… to funding over $12 million in credit and business capital by the age of 25.

Alex opens up about the adversity he faced growing up with a single mother and nine siblings, how he battled internal doubt, and the exact moment he decided to stop living small and start leveling up. His journey takes us thr...

🔥 Fear isn’t your enemy—it’s your roadmap. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, discover how fear can actually become the fuel that drives your biggest breakthroughs.

Paul Alex shares how stepping into the unknown—whether launching CashSwipe, facing high-pressure moments as a detective, or making his first major business moves—revealed one truth:

👉 Fear shows up when you’re close to something important.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
💡 Why fear is often a green light for growth
💡 How to take action while afraid
💡 Why movement beats o...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we sit down with Kassie Kennaugh — Air Force veteran, mother of four, former firefighter, and the entrepreneur who built, scaled, and sold her own insurance agency before becoming President of a major insurance company.

Kassie’s journey is a raw, emotional blueprint of resilience. From facing trauma, depression, and self-doubt… to losing 150 pounds, rising through the ranks, taking on six-figure debt, scaling her agency 400%, and exiting successfully — her story is the definition of grit, purpose, and transformation.

Today, she breaks down:
🔥 How military di...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we’re tackling one of the biggest killers of progress—self-doubt. You know that voice that says, “You’re not ready,” or “You’ll embarrass yourself”? Paul has heard it too—especially when he left his secure detective career to chase entrepreneurship.

He shares the raw truth: confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s built—one uncomfortable day, one bold move, and one tough decision at a time.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Doubt grows in silence—speak your goals out loud. The moment you voice your visio...

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we tackle one of the most common killers of progress—overthinking. You plan, you research, you talk about it endlessly… but you never actually move.

Paul breaks down how overthinking is just fear in disguise—and how to replace hesitation with momentum through courage, clarity, and consistent action.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Overthinking is fear wearing a mask. You don’t need more time to plan—you need courage to start messy.

Motion creates confidence. Action builds belief faster than waiting for the “perfect...

Every entrepreneur hits walls—failed launches, tough losses, unexpected turns. The real test isn’t whether you fall; it’s how quickly you rise. The most successful people in business don’t escape failure—they elevate from it.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we dive into how setbacks can become your greatest source of strength and clarity.

You’ll discover:
💡 How to see setbacks as feedback, not defeat
🔄 Ways to pivot fast and stay focused when plans fall apart
⚡ Why discipline outlasts motivation when it comes to bouncing back
...

In business, everyone’s obsessed with moving faster—but speed without strategy is just spinning in circles. 🚀 In this solo episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, we unpack why the most successful entrepreneurs build clarity first and momentum second.

Here’s what you’ll take away:
🔑 How acting without clear strategy wastes more time than it saves
🏗️ Why defining your vision, offer, and team alignment sets the foundation for real momentum
🎯 The hidden power of clarity—it streamlines decisions, strengthens communication, and drives performance
⚡ The proven order that top entrepreneurs follow: clarity before spe...

💰 If your income rises and falls every month, you don’t have a business—you have a gamble. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I reveal how to transform your hustle into a predictable, scalable system that pays you consistently.

From building recurring income models to automating your sales pipeline and tracking the right numbers, this episode breaks down the exact blueprint I used to turn inconsistent cash flow into steady, reliable revenue.

Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, you’ll learn how to replace uncertainty with system...

Most entrepreneurs hustle nonstop chasing success—but at what cost? In this solo episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I reveal a powerful blueprint for creating real work-life balance without slowing down your momentum. 💡

You’ll learn:
✅ Why glorifying burnout is destroying your growth and creativity
✅ How to schedule your time around priorities that truly matter—family, fitness, and freedom
✅ The power of saying “NO” to protect your focus, energy, and peace
✅ Why success is about working smarter, not harder

If you’ve been stuck in grind mode and feeling drained, th...

From sleeping behind a McDonald’s at 16 to being featured on the cover of Forbes Canada, Tasha Antell (@iamtashaantell) is living proof that your past does not define your future.

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Tasha opens up about her incredible journey — escaping an abusive childhood, becoming a single mother of three, and transforming pain into power. Starting with one cleaning job that earned her $300, she went on to build multiple thriving companies across industries — including janitorial services, IT, marketing, biomedical, and chemical manufacturing.

You’ll learn:
🚀 How Tasha built...