Podcast Summary: The GaryVee Audio Experience
Episode: The Exact Strategy for Modern Business Growth and Marketing That Actually Works l Mick Unplugged Podcast
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Guest/Co-host: Mick
Overview
This episode is an in-depth, high-energy conversation between Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee) and Mick, centering on the new realities of business growth and marketing in 2025. GaryVee unpacks his latest philosophies on personal branding, interest media, accountability, and the tools and mindsets needed to thrive as an entrepreneur, creator, and business owner in a rapidly changing digital landscape. The duo also gets personal about entitlement, work ethic, and the impact of authenticity and intent in business and life.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Be Unapologetically Yourself: Authenticity as the Ultimate Niche
Timestamps: [00:00]; [30:37]; [31:17]
- Gary stresses that the only real niche left in an overcrowded internet is being 100% yourself:
“The only niche you have is you.” — GaryVee [00:00], [31:12]
- He highlights the risk of losing some listeners (due to, for example, cursing) but insists that “I have no other gear besides being me… The more you’re you, and I mean all the way you… that is your unfair advantage.” [00:00]; [30:37]
- Mick agrees, noting that personal branding is about showing up as your true self:
“Mick, you are the brand, correct? You’re the name brand people.” — Mick [30:55]
- Both recall advice from Daymond John: “Just be you. Just be the brand.” — Damon John, paraphrased by Mick [31:17]
2. The Shift from Social to Interest Media
Timestamps: [00:35]; [01:02]; [02:20]
- Mick states:
“There's nothing social about anything you're doing on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter... it's interest.” — Mick [00:35]
- Gary expands on this, explaining that algorithms now prioritize delivering content to those most interested—regardless of prior following:
“The content now is finding their audience... Followers are diminishing in your guaranteed to get views and awareness.” — Gary Vee [02:20]
- He illustrates how posting about niche passions (like spades or blueberries) can still go viral if it resonates—meaning “You are the niche… talk about what you love or you know.” — Gary Vee [04:35]
- Gary underscores the ongoing power of “social”—especially replying to comments:
“If everyone that wanted to grow actually replied to every comment on every Instagram post, you would grow a lot.” — Gary Vee [01:12]
3. Modern Tools for the Creator/Entrepreneur Economy
Timestamps: [05:15]; [06:31]
- Gary and Mick emphasize the rise of the “individual empire”—creators needing better tech stacks and platforms (like Stan Store) to succeed:
“This creator, entrepreneur, entrepreneur, creator economy... the reason so many of you are not there yet is you don’t have the tools to fully maximize it.” — Gary Vee [06:15]
4. Entitlement, Work Ethic, and Accountability in Business & Life
Timestamps: [07:18]; [08:16]; [09:30]
- They recount a viral moment where an employee complained about losing remote raises—Gary and Mick call out the entitlement and urge for a return to a scrappy, less materialistic mindset:
“Our grandmas would think about the work ethic of our children? Our great grandmothers would be rolling in their goddamn graves.” — Gary Vee [08:16]
- Gary illustrates the reality of living within one’s means:
“When I was growing up and money was tight, we looked poor, right? My homies had one pair of sneakers. So did I. For fucking three years.” — Gary Vee [10:18]
- He encourages brutal self-accountability:
“Everyone’s pointing fingers. Why don’t you point thumbs at yourself? If you don’t have the paper you want, if you don’t have the relationship you want, become accountable.” — Gary Vee [12:00]
- And on relationships:
“You’re in bad relationships. Stop fucking hooking up with fuck boys.” — Gary Vee [12:23]
5. Reducing Negativity & Curating Your Circle
Timestamps: [13:20]; [14:36]; [16:14]
- Limiting time with negative people (even family) to reset your energy and become resilient:
“If your dad is the most negative person on earth, maybe you don’t need to talk to him two times a day, maybe once a week.” — Gary Vee [13:20]
- Gary reframes distancing as a chance to “refill your cup,” later returning as a positive force:
“You reset your energy... and now you have the ability to go back into the lion’s den and try to pull those people out.” — Gary Vee [14:18]
- Mick’s test for your circle:
“Start winning and you’ll really see the people that were rooting for you and those that held you back.” — Mick [16:14]
6. Compassion When You Encounter Haters
Timestamps: [16:40]
- Gary’s advanced lesson:
“Let me tell you something about the people that boo you... They’re just hurt. When those people start booing you that you most thought were gonna cheer for you... Just remember… don’t be mad at them. Feel sad for them and... try to be compassionate and help them too.” — Gary Vee [16:40]
- He calls lifting up former haters “real winner shit.”
7. Gary Vee’s Purpose & Consistency
Timestamps: [18:39]; [21:54]; [22:28]; [23:57]
- Gary shares his underlying motivation:
“You know, when you’re full, you’re not really eating everyone’s food… when you’re full, you’re handing out food.” — Gary Vee [18:39]
- On gratitude, his roots, and why he gives advice for free:
“By the time I was 10, it was ingrained in me that money had no impact on happiness… when you’ve seen happiness and you’ve seen despair, you have clarity.” — Gary Vee [19:10]
- He’s proud of consistency through turbulent times:
“The thing I’m most proud of is I’m consistent... I haven’t been caught up when the left wanted me to left, and when the right wanted me to right, I’m just right here in the fucking middle. I got love for everyone.” — Gary Vee [21:54]
- Gary’s rule: he only preaches what he practices:
“If I’m going to pontificate about what to do, I don’t want to be a professor.” — Gary Vee [22:28]
- On intent:
“My intent has been, I’m gonna give y’ all everything I got... I do not expect anyone who extracts unbelievable value for my free shit to buy a VeeFriends trading card or a wine.” — Gary Vee [25:35]
8. The Power of Cultural Curiosity & Originality
Timestamps: [27:37]; [28:26]; [28:43]
- Gary’s process:
“Almost all of my time is spent listening, not talking… Almost all of my time is spent measuring 45 times, cutting once.” — Gary Vee [27:36]
- He sees around corners not by luck, but by being a student of culture:
“I'm not parroting someone else. I'm in my own feelings.” — Gary Vee [28:15]
- Encourages listeners to stay unique, drawing inspiration without imitation:
“The people that blew us away... stayed in their own pocket… They feel original because they are original.” — Gary Vee [28:43]
9. Real-World, Accessible Business Advice
Timestamps: [31:42]; [32:00]
- Gary started “Trash Talk” garage sale videos to help people with little money realize gains through flipping:
“I wanted to make content for people that have $99 to their name... There’s not a month that goes by that I don’t meet someone who shows me they have $59,000 in their eBay app because of you, bro… I don’t give a fuck if a billionaire thinks I’m a schlub because I’m going to a garage sale.” — Gary Vee [32:00]
10. VeeFriends: Building the Next Great Collectible Brand
Timestamps: [34:14]; [36:59]
- Gary calls his new project VeeFriends his “Muhammad Ali moment”:
“I am telling the world I’m building the next Marvel, the next Pokemon. It’s called VeeFriends. I’m doing it in everyone’s face.” — Gary Vee [34:20]
- Proud of creating culturally relevant collectibles: comics, cards, action figures, and more, with real-life lessons for kids and adults
- Encourages listeners to take the VeeFriends Quiz to find their character:
“Literally when you hang up right now I want you to go to vfriends.com/quiz… and at the end it will tell you which VeeFriend you are. I want you collecting that character.” — Gary Vee [37:20]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On radical self-accountability:
“Why don’t you point thumbs at yourself? ... If you don’t have the paper you want, if you don’t have the relationship you want, become accountable.” — Gary Vee [12:00]
- On being original:
“The more you’re you... The only niche you have is you.” — Gary Vee [00:00], [31:12]
- On compassion for haters:
“A scared dog bites. Yes, she’s biting. Don’t be mad at her. Don’t put her to sleep. Rebuild her. Bring her along. The thing I’m most proud of is the people I’ve brought along the most were the people that did the most wrong to me at first. That’s real strength.” — Gary Vee [17:07]
- On intent and giving:
“My intent has been, I’m gonna give y’ all everything I got… nothing I do is to then later get the thing.” — Gary Vee [25:35]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Intro & Being Yourself: [00:00]–[01:00]
- Interest Media vs. Social Media: [00:35]–[04:50]
- Modern Tools for Entrepreneurs (Stan Store): [05:15]–[06:40]
- Entitlement, Work Ethic, and Materialism: [06:40]–[12:23]
- Accountability & Mindset Shifts: [12:23]–[13:50]
- Limiting Negativity, Circle Curating: [13:50]–[16:14]
- Compassion for Haters: [16:40]–[18:19]
- Gary’s Purpose & Gratitude: [18:39]–[22:42]
- On Intent & Giving Value: [23:57]–[26:22]
- Originality & Cultural Observation: [27:37]–[28:43]
- Personal Brand as Niche: [31:17]–[31:42]
- Garage Sale/Trash Talk Advice: [31:42]–[33:44]
- VeeFriends and Collectibles Movement: [34:14]–[37:44]
Overall Tone and Takeaways
The conversation is candid, motivating, and loaded with actionable wisdom delivered in Gary Vee’s trademark style—blunt, passionate, and compassionate. The advice is oriented toward empowerment through self-awareness, radical authenticity, relentless curiosity, and real-life tactics. The episode closes with mutual appreciation and a focus on building community—both through new media and enduring values.
For More:
- Take the VeeFriends Quiz: vfriends.com/quiz
- Explore practical entrepreneurship with Gary’s content and platforms mentioned throughout, including Stan Store, and check out his work on live shopping and collectibles.