The Mel Robbins Podcast

Episode Summary: "You Have No Idea What You’re Capable of Until You Hear This"

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Mel Robbins
Guest: Wallace Peoples (Wallo267)

Episode Overview

This powerful, no-holds-barred episode features motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and podcast host Wallace Peoples—better known as Wallo267. Invited by Mel Robbins, Wallo shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Philadelphia, through 25 years in prison, to exploding as a force in media, advocacy, and personal growth. Wallo’s story is about radical self-accountability, breaking free from mental prisons, and discovering what’s possible when you stop letting the opinions (and expectations) of others dictate your life.
Theme: The only thing holding you back is you. This episode confronts self-sabotage, the power of choosing yourself, and how to cultivate an unbreakable mindset—even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cutting Through Self-Generated Problems

[07:01] Wallo:

• Most problems in life are self-made: “Stop making problems for yourself. Nobody make problems for us. We make problems for ourself.”
• Don’t give power to other people’s words: “If somebody don’t like you, that’s none of your business. That belong to them.”
• Live for your own mission—not for the attention or approval of others.

Memorable Quote:

“You gotta really be able to cut on that fuck it button.” — Wallo [08:14]

2. Leaving a Legacy Beyond Your Lifetime

[09:37] Wallo:

• His driving motivation is the future of people he’ll never meet: “The moves I make will secure the futures of the family members I won’t be living to meet.”
• Life isn’t about material things: “You can’t take it all with you. I’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.”

3. The Trap of Wanting to Be ‘Down’ and the Business of Incarceration

[13:45] Wallo:

• Growing up, criminality seemed like the only way to be respected; the glamorization of the ‘bad guy’ led to early crime and incarceration.
• The prison system is a business: “What business do you know that don’t want their customers to come back?”

4. Epiphany in Prison: The Dangers of Not Being Yourself

[19:50] Mel:

• Many people suffer from not living authentically; Wallo’s breaking point came in his cell:

“You in here doing all this time for being somebody you’re not. The power of wanting to be down with people that really don’t care about you can destroy your life.” — Wallo [18:06]

5. Practical Tools for Change: ‘The Book of Life’ & Vision

[22:07] Mel:

• While in prison, Wallo wrote down everything he wanted and planned—a crucial step in manifesting change.
• Reframed prison as a place of learning—“I’m not in jail, I’m in Yale”—consumed books, studied marketing, and found mentors through unexpected avenues (e.g., Anthony Bourdain via TV).

“Anthony Bourdain taught me in the cell that the world is your playground. Go play. He gave me a passport while I was sitting in the cell.” — Wallo [24:55]

6. Mental Incarceration: More Widespread Than Prison

[32:58] Wallo:

• On there being more people imprisoned in their own minds than in actual prisons.
• The ‘cell’ is fearing judgment, comparison, and refusing to be yourself.
• Social media amplifies conformity and distraction from your own desires.

7. The Mirror as a Tool for Radical Honesty

[37:00] Wallo:

• We use the mirror for vanity and others’ opinions rather than self-reflection.
• The mirror never lies: “The most important thing in your life will always tell you the truth... is the mirror.”
• The first act is choosing uncomfortable honesty over the status quo.

8. Self-Talk, Accountability, and The ‘Fuck It’ Button

[41:05] Wallo & Mel:

• The “fuck it” button isn’t about being reckless—it’s about choosing your own path, saying yes to yourself, and no to the internalized expectations of others.
• Practical exercise: “On the count of three, we’re going to say it together. One, two, three: fuck them.” [41:07]

9. You Are the Only One in Your Way

[53:57] Wallo:

• Excuses and hesitation are your own creation: “Nobody is going to get in your fucking way but you.”
• Most people sabotage themselves well before anyone else gets the chance.

10. Energy Management and Support Networks

[56:52] Wallo:

• Once free, focus only on supportive energy—strangers can be pivotal allies and supporters.
• “Strangers make you rich. Stop worrying about the people you know. Stop worrying about the people you went to school with.”

11. Visualizing and Living the Life You Want Before It’s Real

[59:07] Wallo:

• Adopted a ‘millionaire mindset’ before he had money: “I was a millionaire before I was a millionaire.”
• Acted, dressed, and inhabited spaces as if he already was who he wanted to become; visualization is not fantasy, but rehearsal for reality.

12. The Power and Process of Forgiveness

[68:43] Mel & Wallo:

• Wallo’s brother was murdered while he was in prison. He chose to forgive his brother’s killer—not for the killer’s sake, but for his own freedom and for his family.

“Forgiveness helped me breathe because I wanted to celebrate my brother.” — Wallo [72:10]

• Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing, but creating space for love and growth.

13. The Most Important Takeaway: Yes to You, No to Them

[78:55] Wallo:

• Stop waiting for permission. Stop sacrificing your needs and growth for others’ comfort or validation.
• The people who truly love you can handle it when you say “no.”

“You gotta choose you and let them go in order to grow, in order to glow, in order to go.” — Wallo [79:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [08:14] “You gotta really be able to cut on that fuck it button.” — Wallo
• [11:13] “I want music to be playing. Because I’m going to be left it all up here. I’m not gonna be crying, I’m not gonna be complaining in the graveyard.” — Wallo
• [21:11] “When you gonna say fuck the crowd and start accepting you?” — Wallo
• [24:55] “Anthony Bourdain taught me in the cell that the world is your playground. Go play.” — Wallo
• [37:00] “The mirror would never lie to you...you got all the answers there. You just keep running away from it.” — Wallo
• [43:44] “Don’t nobody give a fuck about what you’re doing. They don’t care as much as you think they care... a lot of this shit be mind.” — Wallo
• [53:59] “Nobody is going to get in your fucking way but you. Cause what happened is this is how it be. You be going to do your thing, right? You jump right in front of yourself...” — Wallo
• [72:10] “Forgiveness helped me breathe because I wanted to celebrate my brother...” — Wallo

Important Timestamps

• [07:01] Wallo’s explanation of self-created problems and detaching from others’ opinions
• [24:55] Discovering Anthony Bourdain and the power of broadening your worldview from anywhere
• [32:58] On mental incarceration and how more people are in prison in their minds
• [37:00] The mirror as an honest tool for self-accountability
• [41:05 – 41:08] “Fuck them” exercise and declaration on choosing yourself
• [53:57] You are the only person stopping your progress
• [59:04] Prepping for the life you want—living as your future self
• [68:43] How Wallo processed and reached forgiveness for his brother’s killer
• [78:55] Final takeaway: “Yes to you, no to them” philosophy

Actionable Takeaways

• Stop Making Problems for Yourself: Examine what you’re worrying about—is it really your business, or are you internalizing someone else’s baggage?
• Cut On the ‘Fuck It’ Button: Say “yes” to yourself, say “no” to others’ expectations. You only get this life once.
• Replace Excuses with Vision: Write down what you want. Plan intentionally, even in the hardest circumstances.
• Use the Mirror for Truth, Not Vanity: Ask yourself if you’re being honest about who you are and what you want.
• Pre-Live Your Dreams: Start acting, thinking, and moving as if you’re already the person you wish to become.
• Energy Management: Focus on supportive relationships, even if they’re not from your original circle.
• Forgive for You: Let go not for others, but to free yourself and the ones you love.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a passionate, occasionally raw, but deeply inspiring call to personal freedom. Mel and Wallo urge listeners to break out of mental prisons, recognize their own agency, and begin choosing themselves—urgently and unapologetically. If you’re feeling stuck, playing small, or prioritizing pleasing others, this is your wakeup call, full of hard truths, actionable steps, and contagious energy.

Listen If...

• You feel stuck and need a push to finally make a change
• You want to learn from someone who transformed unimaginable hardship into greatness
• You’re ready to stop caring what other people think and say yes to yourself

“Stop worrying about them and worry about you. Start loving you. Matter of fact, before you love, you got to start liking you. Then you got to start loving you. And that’s enough.” — Wallo [81:15]

(For more wisdom, connection, and support, follow Mel Robbins and Wallo267. And remember: “Yes to you, no to them.”)