Feeling stuck isn’t a lack of motivation,it’s a system failure.

In this powerful episode, Richard sits down with Todd Hagopian as the “Stagnation Assassin,” a business transformation expert who has helped generate billions in shareholder value, doubled and exited his own manufacturing company, and developed proven frameworks to eliminate what he calls Stagnation Syndrome.

Todd breaks down why comfort quietly kills momentum, how high performers get trapped by their own success, and the exact mindset and systems required to break free, whether you’re stuck in life, business, or purpose.

This conversation is raw, strategic, and packed with actionable insights that will help you move from stalled to unstoppable.

Subscribe, share this episode with someone who feels stuck, and visit VerticalMomentumPodcast.com to start building real momentum again.

#GetUnstuck

#BreakStagnation

#MindsetShift

From Navy SEAL to CEO

What does it take to transition from the elite world of Navy SEALs to becoming a successful CEO, without losing purpose, discipline, or identity?

In this powerful episode, Jeff L. Gonzales, former Navy SEAL, combat veteran, and founder & CEO of Trident Concepts, shares how the leadership, decision-making, and mental toughness forged in Special Operations became the foundation for building a thriving business.

From graduating BUD/S Class 155, serving with SEAL Team Four, and training future SEALs, to leading one of the most respected tactical training companies in the country, Jeff breaks down what actually transfers from the battlefield to the boardroom.

This conversation goes far beyond motivation.

Jeff delivers real-world lessons on leadership under pressure, accountability, standards, and winning in business when the stakes are high, lessons every veteran, entrepreneur, and leader needs to hear.

👉 Subscribe to the Vertical Momentum Podcast

👉 Share this episode with a battle buddy or business partner

👉 Visit VerticalMomentumPodcast.com to hear more conversations that help veterans and leaders turn experience into impact.

To Get In Touch With Jeff Click Here ➡️ http://www.tridentconcepts.com

Are you tired of being the “Nice Guy” who gets overlooked, under-appreciated, or stuck playing small?

In this powerful episode, host Richard Kaufman dives deep with men’s life coach and community leader McKenzie Beeby to expose the cultural forces that keep men trapped in people-pleasing habits and shame-based thinking, and how to break free for good.

Together, we unpack Nice Guy Syndrome, explore why too many men struggle with identity, purpose, and emotional honesty, and reveal actionable tools for building confidence, setting boundaries, and living a life of integrity, purpose, and connection

Listen now for courage-building insights that will shift how you see yourself, and how you show up in your relationships, career, and faith.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that transform lives.

📢 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear the truth.

To Get In Touch With McKenzie Click Here ➡️ www.McKenzieBeeby.com

How To Get Wealthy The Right Way (NIL & Athlete Wealth Edition)

Most college athletes are chasing NIL deals.

Very few are being taught how to turn NIL into real, lasting wealth.

In this powerful episode, Richard Kaufman sits down with Christopher Calvin, author, NIL coach, investor, and former championship-level coach, who now helps college athletes and their families navigate NIL the smart way.

Christopher breaks down how mindset, personal branding, financial literacy, and disciplined investing separate athletes who get quick money from those who build long-term freedom.

Drawing from his experience coaching elite athletes and mentoring investors, Christopher shares practical strategies to protect NIL income, avoid common traps, and build wealth that lasts long after the jersey comes off.

This is the conversation every athlete, parent, and coach needs to hear, but rarely does.

If you want to turn NIL opportunities into a legacy instead of a liability, hit subscribe, share this episode with a student-athlete who needs this message, and visit VerticalMomentumPodcast.com for more conversations that build purpose, power, and financial freedom.

In this game-changing episode, Richard sits down with Jerome Spearman Jr. , a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran, registered nurse, and VA-accredited claims agent who has dedicated his life to helping veterans finally receive the benefits they’ve earned.

Jerome breaks down exactly how to file a VA claim the right way, the hidden mistakes that keep veterans denied, and the strategic evidence steps he uses inside his company to win orthopedic and complex disability cases.

With decades of military and medical experience, Jerome delivers what every veteran deserves but rarely gets: clarity, confidence, and a path forward.

Whether you’re filing for the first time, fighting an appeal, or trying to understand your disability rating, this episode gives you the roadmap, straight from one of the most trusted experts in the field.

If you’re a veteran or love one, don’t miss this conversation.

Subscribe to the Vertical Momentum Podcast, share this episode with a battle buddy who needs it, and visit VerticalMomentumPodcast.com for more interviews that empower veterans to fight for their future and WIN.

To Get In Touch With Jerome Click Here https://www.spearmanappeals.com/

In this unforgettable episode, Richard Kaufman sits down with Chad Dunn, a man who went from nationally ranked BMX racer to convicted felon, federal inmate… and ultimately to CEO, author, and one of the most powerful examples of human transformation you’ll ever hear.

Chad opens up about the moment he hit rock bottom, the shame he carried, the identity he had to bury, and the ten unbreakable codes that helped him rebuild his life from ashes to purpose.

This isn’t just a comeback story, it’s a reminder that no matter how dark the valley, redemption is real, second chances are possible, and your future is still worth fighting for.

If Chad’s journey moves you the way it moved me, hit subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs hope today, and visit VerticalMomentumPodcast.com for more stories that prove your past does not get to be your prison.

To Get In Touch With Chad Click Here https://linktr.ee/Chad.Dunn

In this powerhouse episode, Sgt. Brian “Big Country” Conwell opens up about the accident that took his leg, the depression that nearly took his life, and the unstoppable warrior mindset that helped him rise again.

From being told he’d never walk to earning a Paralympic license, launching a healing nonprofit, and inspiring veterans through tattoo therapy and adaptive sports , Brian’s story is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, broken, or beaten down, this conversation will show you exactly how to overcome obstacles, reclaim your identity, and live like a champion no matter what you’ve faced.

👉 Subscribe now, share this episode with someone who needs hope today, and visit my website to join the mission of helping veterans rise stronger than ever.

To Get In Touch With Brian Click Here https://www.sgtbc.com/

In one of the most raw and important conversations we’ve ever recorded, I sit down with Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC , trauma survivor, integrative therapist, and co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, to ask a question that millions of veterans and trauma fighters are quietly wrestling with:

Can plant medicine truly help heal PTSD?

Keith doesn’t just speak as a clinician.

He speaks as someone who lived through complex PTSD, bipolar II, intrusive thoughts, insomnia, and chronic illness, and clawed his way back through a mix of traditional therapy, nervous-system work, and carefully guided psychedelic-assisted approaches.

From cannabis to ketamine, CBT to ayahuasca, Keith breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and what every survivor needs to understand before exploring these powerful tools.

This is not a hype conversation, it’s a hope conversation backed by real experience, deep science, and compassion for those who feel like they’ve tried everything.

If you or someone you love is battling PTSD, depression, anxiety, or trauma that just won’t let go…

this episode may shift the entire path forward.

👉 Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs real answers, and visit VerticalMomentumPodcast.com to join a community that refuses to suffer in silence and is fighting every day for healing, resilience, and purpose.

To Get In Touch With Keith…http://www.higherpractice.com