Total Disruption Podcast

A perfect schedule may sound productive, but entrepreneurship rarely unfolds in neat blocks. Clients need answers, systems fail, people require leadership, and priorities change—often before the workday has fully begun.

In this episode of Total Disruption, Michael Libercci and guest co-host Phil Masiello discuss how experienced leaders build structure without becoming trapped by it. They cover protected buffer time, short team check-ins, Slack communication, AI-assisted note-taking, quarterly goals, delegation, and the value of removing recurring sources of stress.

Phil explains why he focuses on two or three quarterly priorities and why...

Selling a business can create financial freedom, but it can also leave a founder without the work, structure, and purpose that defined everyday life.

In this episode of Total Disruption, Michael Libercci and guest co-host Phil Masiello examine what happens after a business exit. Phil shares how different sales affected him, why one successful exit left him feeling unexpectedly lost, and how helping Energizer with direct-to-consumer work eventually became a new agency and a new direction.

The conversation also covers the risks of reinvesting, the cash demands created by growth, and th...

More revenue is not the same as scale. A business truly scales when its systems, people, and processes make growth more efficient—and when the founder no longer has to perform every tactical task.

In this episode of Total Disruption, Michael Libercci and guest co-host Phil Masiello discuss the relationship between personal routines and operational performance. Phil explains why he protects the first part of his morning, how he manages a decentralized team through outcomes, and how repeatable systems allow him to focus on leadership, clients, and growth instead of controlling every hour of the wor...

Suggested Episode Title: Entrepreneurship Isn’t Glamorous: Systems, Stamina, and Scale |S4E6

Real entrepreneurship is rarely as polished as the story told afterward.

Michael Libercci and guest co-host Phil Masiello explore the connection between personal development and professional growth—while challenging the idea that mindset, hustle, or deprivation automatically produces business success. Phil shares how an early failure revealed gaps in his leadership, processes, and people development, and how honest self-reflection helped him become a stronger entrepreneur.

The conversation covers the limits of scaling alone, the importa...

Consistency can look restrictive, but it may be the very thing that creates freedom.

Michael Libercci and guest co-host Julie Ann Meyer discuss why entrepreneurs often spread themselves across too many tactics, platforms, and obligations—and why a smaller number of repeated, intentional actions can produce better results. They explore the difference between staying busy and moving something meaningful forward, building a business around the life you actually want, and choosing media strategies that fit your strengths.

The conversation also turns to authentic marketing, the importance of giving audiences a clear next step, live-video consistency, hu...

What if you could participate in real estate without owning the building or managing tenants?

Michael Libercci sits down with guest Fred Moskowitz to explain mortgage-note investing: purchasing the debt secured by real estate and stepping into the lender’s position. Fred shares why he began looking for income beyond his computer-engineering paycheck, how he discovered mortgage notes, and how a few early investments eventually expanded into a larger business.

They discuss how mortgages move through the secondary market, why financial institutions sell loans for liquidity, how individual investors can purchase smaller notes or packages, an...

Why are women still required to prove their credibility in situations where a man may be believed automatically?

Michael Libercci and guest co-host Julie Ann Meyer discuss gender bias in business, unequal trust, compensation, access to funding, and the frustration of being dismissed despite evidence and experience. Julie Ann shares how she has navigated a male-dominated industry, why she lets results speak for themselves, and how she sometimes turns being underestimated into an advantage.

The conversation expands into the emotional cost of addiction-recovery work, the limitations of success statistics, and the connection between business metrics...

What happens when a business outgrows the person who founded it—or the team that helped build its first stage?

Michael Libercci and guest co-host Julie Ann Meyer discuss founder bottlenecks, misplaced loyalty, difficult team changes, and the personal growth required to lead a scaling business. They explore why tough love can still be an act of care, how listening builds stronger relationships, why professional boundaries protect authority, and when going deeper may be smarter than expanding wider.

In this episode:
• Why founders must grow alongside their businesses
• When loyalty begins to work agains...

Showing up is more than joining a meeting or standing behind a counter. It means being prepared, paying attention, and respecting the person in front of you.

In this episode of Total Disruption, Michael Libercci and Dr. Jake Clendenning begin with a frustrating, distracted Zoom call and discuss the cost of wasting other people’s time. They connect that experience to customer service, professional preparation, everyday courtesy, and the value of being fully present.

The conversation then turns to healthy aging and sustainable change. Michael explains why routines need strategic variation and shares his practical 15% ru...

Productivity is not simply writing a longer to-do list or trying to move faster. In this episode of Total Disruption, Michael Libercci and Dr. Jake Clendenning explore how to capture competing responsibilities, identify the most important next action, and stay focused when progress feels slower than expected.

Michael explains how a handwritten notebook helps him unload mental clutter and organize work by project. Jake discusses the question that helps prioritize a crowded list: What is the one action that could make other tasks easier or unnecessary? Together, they connect that idea to learning new technology, moving from...

What happens when your public conversations become part of your permanent body of work?

Michael Libercci and Dr. Jake Clendenning discuss how podcasting can sharpen communication, build confidence, create accountability, and help people become more comfortable showing up as more than one professional identity. They explore why a body of work can become a lasting credential—and why the question “What do you do?” is often too small for a person with multiple roles, interests, and passions.

The conversation then turns to a personal health experience and a wider lesson about research. Rather than accepting the fi...

AI is moving fast—but are you actually using it to become more capable, or treating it like another search engine?

Michael Libercci and Dr. Jake Clendenning explore the connection between productivity habits, learning styles, and practical AI adoption. Michael shares how a simple legal pad and repeated daily review have helped him gain clarity and execute more consistently. Jake explains why tactile and visual systems can work so well, then offers ways to combine handwriting, digital notes, voice recording, and AI.

The discussion expands into automation, the future of work, AI-enabled professionals, and whether lo...

Think taking a day off means doing nothing? Think again. The highest performers don't lose momentum because they never stop—they reset with purpose. The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is confusing recovery with disengagement. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci dismantle the myth of the "shutdown day" and reveal why disciplined recovery is one of the greatest competitive advantages in business. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insig...

Think burnout is your biggest problem? It isn't. The real threat is losing control of your mind. Most entrepreneurs chase external fixes—more coffee, more productivity hacks, more hustle—while ignoring the one skill that separates elite performers from everyone else: mental agility. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci reveal why the ability to reset, refocus, and perform under pressure is the ultimate competitive advantage in business and life. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple P...

Think you're making poor decisions because you're overwhelmed? Think again. The real problem isn't time. It isn't burnout. And it definitely isn't a lack of motivation. It's your systems. In this episode Dr. Jake Clendenning, Michael Libercci expose why most entrepreneurs don't fail from working too hard—they fail because they don't have decision-making systems that hold up under pressure. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first...

Think your high standards are making you successful? They might actually be holding you back. Too many entrepreneurs mistake perfection for progress—spending countless hours polishing details that never move the business forward. In this episode Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci expose why perfectionism is one of the biggest hidden obstacles to execution—and why finishing the work always beats chasing flawless results. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which i...

Think you'll rise to the occasion when it matters most? Think again. The biggest myth in business, leadership, and performance is that pressure magically brings out your best. In reality, pressure exposes your preparation—and if you haven't put in the reps, you're already behind. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci reveal why elite performers never practice on game day—and why confidence is earned long before the spotlight turns on. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review...

Think pushing through exhaustion makes you stronger? Think again. The truth is, fatigue doesn't make you a hero—it makes you a liability. When you're mentally and physically drained, your judgment suffers, your leadership weakens, and the decisions you make can cost you clients, opportunities, and trust. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci expose why nonstop hustle is one of the biggest threats to high performance—and how elite leaders protect their decision-making before it becomes a problem. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take...

Think you're burned out? Maybe not. What if the real problem isn't that you're out of energy—but that you're leaking it everywhere? This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci challenge one of the most accepted narratives in business and personal development: burnout. They reveal why most entrepreneurs aren't exhausted from working too hard—they're drained by poor habits, fractured focus, and weak execution. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us whic...

Most leaders want results. What they don’t want is the discomfort required to get them. The moment you prioritize being liked over holding standards, mediocrity takes over. And the longer you avoid hard conversations, the more expensive the consequences become. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to G...

You’re not stuck because you lack ambition. You’re stuck because you keep giving the best hours of your day to someone else’s priorities. Checking email first thing in the morning might feel productive—but it’s one of the fastest ways to surrender control of your day before it even begins. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci expose the hidden time traps keeping entrepreneurs overwhelmed, distracted, and frustrated despite working harder than ever. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conv...

You’ve been sold a lie. The “next level” doesn’t exist. It’s a moving target designed to keep you chasing, buying, comparing, and questioning whether you’re ever enough. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci expose one of the biggest myths in business, coaching, and personal development—and reveal why true success begins the moment you stop playing by someone else’s scoreboard. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which i...

Everybody wants the next hack. The next AI tool. The next framework. The next shortcut. The next optimization. Meanwhile, the highest performers in the world are doing something radically different: They’re doubling down on the basics. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to Go Deeper? This is ju...

Everybody keeps telling you to learn more. Take more notes. Watch more content. Attend more events. Juggle more priorities. But here’s the brutal truth: The entrepreneurs winning right now are NOT the ones consuming the most information. They’re the ones executing on ONE thing with ruthless focus. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the...

Most leaders aren’t trapped by circumstance. They’re trapped by programming. Default habits. Unexamined beliefs. Automatic reactions. The same mental loops running day after day while they wonder why growth, influence, and fulfillment feel stuck. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci sit down with transformational leader and author Lucas Sherraden to expose the hidden “autopilot thinking” keeping entrepreneurs and high performers trapped—and how to finally break free. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcast...

Stop blaming “communication problems” for failure. The real issue? Distraction. Weak standards. Last-minute behavior. Excuse-making. Most entrepreneurs stay stuck because they keep rewarding the exact habits destroying their growth. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci deliver a brutal wake-up call on leadership, discipline, and why rescuing weak behavior guarantees mediocrity—in business and in life. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't j...

If you’re waiting to “feel confident” before you take action… you’re already behind. The world hands out lazy advice like “just believe in yourself,” but real confidence doesn’t come from motivation, affirmations, or wishful thinking. It’s earned. Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci dismantle the biggest myths around confidence, growth, and performance—and reveal why confidence only comes AFTER disciplined action, repetition, and uncomfortable feedback. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us...

You walk into the room, and your energy speaks before your mouth ever does. If you show up guarded, defensive, distracted, or uncertain… you’ve already lost most of the conversation before it even starts. This week, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci break down the powerful Blue-Orange-Red framework—and expose why most entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals sabotage their influence without realizing it. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight y...

In this latest episode of Total Disruption, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci sit down with award-winning sales leader Ben Wright to expose the truth most struggling entrepreneurs refuse to admit: Simplicity closes. Not flashy tactics. Not pressure. Not “sales hacks.” You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to Go...

In this explosive episode of Total Disruption, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci sit down with communications strategist Joshua Altman of Beltway Media to expose the brutal truth about authority, visibility, and why most founders stay stuck in amateur mode. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to Go De...

You are the problem. And that’s the best news you’ll hear all week. Because if you are the problem… you can also become the solution. In this raw episode of Total Disruption, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci sit down with iron-willed entrepreneur and Army veteran Scott Lackey to dismantle one of the biggest performance killers in modern life: 👉 Blame. Blame feels relieving in the moment. It gives you a villain. It protects ego. It explains failure. But it also keeps you powerless. Scott’s philosophy is blunt and liberating: When crisis hits, your first move is not to accuse. ...

Everyone wants an “extra gear.” Very few know how to access it without destroying themselves. In this high-performance episode of Total Disruption, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci dismantle mainstream productivity myths and expose why so many ambitious people burn out: They treat the day like it only has one beginning. Most people rely on one morning burst, then spend the rest of the day reacting, fading, forcing, and dragging themselves to the finish line. Jake and Michael argue for a different model: 👉 Build multiple mornings into one day. That means creating deliberate energy resets—physical, mental, nutritional, emotional—so you can pro...

You say you’re disciplined—but your mind is crowded with old fights, imaginary debates, replayed conversations, and unresolved emotional residue. That internal chaos becomes external mediocrity. In this sharp-edged episode of Total Disruption, Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci break down one of the most ignored performance killers in business and life: 👉 Mental noise. Most entrepreneurs think they’re losing because of market conditions, timing, competitors, or bad luck. In reality, many are losing because their attention is hijacked by loops that should have been closed months—or years—ago. This is not “mindset fluff.” It’s operational reality. Focus is finite. If...

Total Disruption Podcast, hosted by Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci, dismantles business self-deception and exposes what really separates high-performers from the herd. This episode is a gloves-off conversation on leadership, communication, and the real cost of defaulting to technology. Your team isn’t tuning you out because of technology—they’re tuning out weak communication and leadership. Discover how context, state, and discipline separate true entrepreneurs from the herd. Listen now—break free or get left behind. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Co...

Total Disruption is the no-BS business podcast hosted by Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci, built for entrepreneurs and high-performers ready to break free from average and build extraordinary. In this high-stakes episode, they destroy the myth of “alpha” personalities and expose what real leadership communication sounds like. Too many entrepreneurs kill execution by hiding behind weak, passive communication. This episode exposes the real cost of “I don’t care” leadership and reveals direct strategies to build trust, standards, and real leaders. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to tak...

Most entrepreneurs get burnout backwards—this episode exposes why your business falls apart when you ignore your Human Design. Learn to unlock real performance, avoid misalignment, and actually enjoy building again. Get the no-BS playbook from Dr. Jake Clendenning and Marissa Liesenfelt. Total Disruption, led by bestselling author and CEO Dr. Jake Clendenning, pulls back the curtain on the self-sabotage hiding in plain sight. Special guest Marissa Liesenfelt brings raw, field-tested wisdom on breaking free from business-as-usual. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The C...

Most entrepreneurs don’t lose because their product’s weak—they lose to bad conversations. This episode exposes the truth and arms you with the Curiosity Compass to transform results. Listen, get tactical, raise your standard. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to Go Deeper? This is just the be...

Garbage input, garbage output. We expose why most AI fails for entrepreneurs and reveal the discipline, standards, and oversight needed to finally get pro results. Rewrite your business playbook—Total Disruption style. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to Go Deeper? This is just the beginning. If you're...

Here’s the hard truth: 98% of entrepreneurs fail not because their strategy breaks, but because their psychology collapses. You don’t rise to the level of your game plan—you fall to the level of your discipline the minute life stops being predictable. If you’re sick of sabotaging your own momentum, listen up. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps...

Building your business around your own control is the fastest way to stall growth—and kill freedom. Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci expose how to escape the founder’s treadmill and build a business that stands without you. Total Disruption brings straight-cut truth for high-achieving entrepreneurs, hosted by Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci. Today’s conversation with seasoned founder-turned-author David Grau, Sr. demolishes the myth of founder-led success. The only way off the founder’s treadmill is to build a business that doesn’t depend on your presence or decisions. This requires a three to five-year campaign of documentin...