Justin Breen is living proof that writing a book can literally transform your entire existence. The co-founder and CEO of The Epic F.I.T. Network (named one of the top five masterminds on the planet) went from charging $500 for his PR services to commanding $30,000 a client—all thanks to the power of authorship.

His journey from journalist to bestselling author reads like a business fairy tale: after his salary was cut in half, he reached out to 5,000 people to find his first five clients, then documented the entire wild ride in his first book, Epic Life.

Breen describes the writing process as channeling divine inspiration while literally staring at the sun during his daily runs, resulting in what he calls a "complete ego death" that led to an amicable divorce and a total life overhaul.

Now he's floating between companies (including an AI music platform called Corvia.AI), unsure where he'll live next, but certain that his books have been manifesting his reality in ways he never expected—proving that sometimes the best business strategy is having no strategy at all.

Episode Highlights:

• Justin shares how writing his new book, Epic Journey, led to a complete personal and professional transformation, including an amicable divorce and new business ventures.
• Discussion of the themes in Epic Journey, including ego death, the merging of the divine masculine and feminine, and the impact the manuscript has had on early readers (including inspiring tattoos!).
• Insights into Justin’s previous books, the origins of the word “business,” and how writing has shaped his career and personal growth.
• The financial and reputational impact of publishing books: from charging $500 to $30,000 for his services, and how his books led to speaking engagements, media opportunities, and the creation of a global mastermind.
• The organic, non-strategic approach Justin takes to marketing and networking, and how authenticity and connection have driven his success.
• Reflections on the importance of storytelling, the challenges of writing, and why not everyone should write their own book.
• Justin’s thoughts on relationships, personal evolution, and the power of being understood through writing.
• A look ahead at future projects, including a potential book collaboration with Melissa Bernstein (of Melissa & Doug Toys) and his new company, CORV a.ai, focused on AI-generated music.

Key Takeaways:

• Writing can be a catalyst for profound life changes, both personally and professionally.
• Authenticity and vulnerability in storytelling resonate deeply with audiences.
• Success often comes from organic connections and following one’s purpose, rather than rigid strategy.
• Everyone has a story, but not everyone needs to write it themselves—sometimes it’s best to collaborate with skilled writers.
• The journey of authorship can lead to unexpected opportunities, relationships, and self-discovery.

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READ THE SUBSTACK STORY BASED ON THIS INTERVIEW HERE

Christos Garkinos has lived several lives—and nearly lost one along the way. From a lonely childhood as a gay Greek kid in Detroit to running marketing for Virgin Megastores, launching fashion lines on HSN and becoming Bravo’s “Robin Hood of Fashion,” Christos seemed unstoppable…until addiction, financial collapse and grief brought everything crashing down.

In this episode, Christos and I talk about what happens after you lose everything—and how rebuilding can become more powerful than the original dream.

We dive into the making and launch of his memoir Covet the Comeback, including how he orchestrated a book rollout that looked more like a rock tour than a traditional publishing plan: celebrity-filled dinners, sold-out events across the country, a five-month LA billboard that landed directly above an ATM from his darkest days and a community that showed up in ways he never imagined.

Christos opens up about sobriety, ego, surrender and the surprising emotional weight of being seen—by strangers, by longtime fans and by the people who once underestimated him. He shares how storytelling transformed not just his public image, but his business, his relationships and his sense of legacy.

Episode Highlights

· Why Christos refused a “normal” book launch and built his own rules

· The billboard moment that made him believe in something bigger than himself

· How sobriety reshaped his instincts, leadership and creativity

· What happens when your community turns your story into their own

· Why a book isn’t about sales—and what it actually gives you instead

Walter Clarke has spent more than 30 years advising wealthy families—and he’s seen firsthand how money can quietly destroy relationships, identity and mental health when people aren’t prepared for it. A former investment manager turned financial educator, Walter didn’t set out to write books to build a brand. He wrote them because he’d lived the consequences of not understanding risk.

In this episode, Walter and I talk about what happens when success arrives before education—and how one catastrophic business failure reshaped his philosophy on wealth, parenting and legacy.

We unpack his first book, The Big Risk, which chronicles a painful chapter involving regulatory action, bad advice and the moment Walter lost his firm—and why owning the narrative was the only way forward. He shares how writing the book transformed shame into authority and positioned him as someone who teaches from experience, not theory.

We also dive into his second book, 401Kid, and the radical idea that financial education should start at birth—not adulthood. Walter explains why kids lose their parents’ influence around age eleven, how money is actually a byproduct of value creation and why avoiding “entitlement” conversations does far more harm than good.

This conversation is part cautionary tale, part parenting guide and part roadmap for building wealth that lasts across generations. It’s about learning the hard way—and making sure the next generation doesn’t have to.

Episode Highlights

• Why sudden wealth is more dangerous than lack of money
• How writing The Big Risk helped Walter reclaim his story
• The moment that inspired 401Kid—and why the title just clicked
• Why money conversations must happen before age eleven
• How books elevated Walter’s authority and opened entirely new business doors