Podcast
The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas
Hosted by The Resonance Network · EN
The Secret To Success Podcast is your weekly jolt of truth, strategy, and conviction from Eric Thomas (ET)—the world’s #1 motivational speaker—alongside CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal “9-to-5 Millionaire” King. No fluffy theory here. We talk mindset, money, relationships, leadership, faith, health, and execution—and we do it with straight talk, real stories, and proven playbooks you can run today.
From locker rooms and boardrooms to classrooms and living rooms, we break down how high performers actually win consistently—and how you can too. Expect hot seats, uncomfortable truths, practical frameworks, wild behind-the-scenes moments, and the accountability you didn’t know you needed.
If you’re ready to stop collecting information and start adopting the mindset that changes your life, you’re in the right room. Tap in, take notes, and let’s execute.
59episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
You're Doing the Work But Still Stuck, Here's Why | S2S 548
2d ago00:55:47Tap to summarizeYou're doing the work. You're showing up. You're praying. You're trying. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't what you think it is.This week the crew breaks down the difference between working hard and working with God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: your faith is in your hands, not in God. You've been doing so much that you've made yourself an idol. And God is saying stop. Not because you're not capable. But because the work you're doing is getting in the way of what he's trying to do.ET opens up about why he's been telling people to stop praying. Not because prayer doesn't work, but because some people use prayer as a crutch. They pray for Peter to be released from jail while Peter is at the door knocking. They're so busy praying they can't see the answer is already here. Karl gets transparent about 3 weeks of waking up at 5:09 every morning and making one commitment: don't ask God for anything. Just be in his presence. And how in those 3 weeks, every area of his business got uncomfortable. Every direction he thought was the answer, God closed. Because the answer wasn't more work. The answer was stop.Jemal brings the 100 year plan. What are you building that your great great grandkids will benefit from? What seed are you planting that you'll never taste the fruit of? Because the person who plants the seed doesn't get to taste the fruit. But they're satisfied knowing what's coming. And CJ breaks down why most people quit right when the breakthrough is about to happen. Because they're measuring in their own strength instead of letting God be the structural engineer.They also unpack why your problems aren't problems, they're preparation. Because if you can't handle one rental property stressing you out, you can't handle 10. If you can't handle one difficult conversation, you can't handle the next level. God isn't punishing you. He's preparing you.This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and what it really means to let go. Because you can't build the next level version of yourself in your own strength. You've tried that. It didn't work. The 52 days don't start when you work harder. They start when you stop.CHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: Get a Scale and Stop Wearing Jogging Pants00:01:27 Before You Work With God, You Got to Know God00:02:05 The Rodent Story: Calling the Right People to Fix Your Problems00:04:52 Carl's Breakthrough: Stop Working, Start Walking With God00:07:37 Your Problems Are Your Preparation00:10:41 The Jesse Room Story: 52-Day Reframe in Action00:12:55 There's No Limits in God: The Sky Analogy00:14:11 The Tokyo Trip That Didn't Happen: When God Protects Your Plans00:16:49 ET's Transformation: From Flight Attendant to All Four Quadrants00:18:42 The Pace Ministry: Slowing Down to Reach More People00:19:22 Christ Put Me Around Better People00:20:44 Stop Praying Like Peter's at the Door00:21:23 Jamal's Testimony: God Already Said Yes to Little J00:25:31 Your Faith Is in Your Hands, Not in God00:26:15 Prayer Can Be an Idol: Get Up and Open the Door00:26:46 The Stress of Lying: Why Truth Sets You Free Immediately00:27:29 I'd Rather Fight the Bear Right Now00:29:40 The Pilot Wasn't in the Pilot Seat00:31:23 Dede Goes Public: When Your Partner Activates Your Calling00:33:38 Don't Bow Out, Level Up00:36:26 Stop Treating Life Like a Hobby00:39:20 The Economy Shift: Seven Streams of Income Aren't Optional00:41:11 Get on the Scale Every Day: The One Thing That Changes Everything00:43:07 Stop Wearing Jogging Pants in Your Real Life00:44:17 What Changed at 46: Carl's Shift Wasn't New Information00:47:25 It's Not God That Changed, It's Your Belief Level00:50:15 Do You Believe? The Question Before Every Miracle00:52:42 Write the Vision, Make It Plain: No More Emotional Conversations01:02:14 The 100-Year Plan: Mall's Millionaire Moment at 4901:04:31 Closing: Patreon, Bliss Conference, and Next WeekJOIN US LIVE ON PATREONNew audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DSUBSCRIBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN ANYWHEREApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15FOLLOWInstagram: @s2spodcastAPOC VIRTUAL CHURCHSaturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.orgABOUT THE PODCASTThe S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.
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You Think They Had Something You Don't. You're Wrong | S2S 547
1w ago00:53:14Tap to summarizeYou look at people who made it and you assume they started with something you didn't. A better childhood. More talent. Some edge you never got. ET spent his whole life proving that is a lie, and in this episode he takes the excuse away from you.The fellas get into what ET means when he says "I'm you." Not the polished version on the stage, the same flesh, the same doubts, the same fight. He breaks down why the only real difference between where you are and where you want to be is not talent or background, and why most people stay stuck holding onto an excuse that was never true.Jemal shares walking into the Obama Library opening, surrounded by billionaires and legends, and the question that hit him in that room about what he is actually building. CJ pushes on how you do the work and still get out of your own way.This one is a confrontation. The kind you need.JOIN US LIVE ON PATREONWe record live every week with our Patreon family. Come be in the room.https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120Watch the video version on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannelRATE AND REVIEWIf this one hit you, leave us a rating and review. It helps more people find the show.CHAPTERSPRE-ORDER WE IS GREATER THAN METhe new book from ET and CJ.https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DAPOC VIRTUAL CHURCHSaturdays 11am EST on YouTube.www.apocministry.orgABOUT THE PODCASTThe S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, to help you believe in your own potential and build a life that matters.
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He Chased Guys Like Him. Now They're Face to Face. (S2S 546)
2w ago00:57:51Tap to summarizeCJ and David sat down with Jemal King and Wall Street Trapper right after the One Percent stage, and what came out was bigger than money. Jemal spent his early years as a cop, putting on a vest every day. Trap came up on the corner. Two men who once lived on opposite sides of the law, now face to face, breaking down how they ended up with the exact same mindset about risk, discipline, and building wealth.Trap explains how the streets prepared him for capitalism. Jemal breaks down the seven streams of income and why you don't chase all seven at once. And the whole room gets honest about buffer room, the equity that decides whether one bad week wrecks you or barely moves you.This one is raw, it is real, and it might change how you look at every dollar you spend.LISTEN, FOLLOW, AND SHAREIf this episode hit, do three things. Follow the show so you never miss a drop. Rate and review us, it is the single biggest thing you can do to help more people find S2S. And share this one with someone who needs to hear it.Want the video version and the live recordings with the Patreon fam in the room? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120Watch the video version on YouTube and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15MORE FROM THE FAMPre-order "We Is Greater Than Me" by Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DJoin us for APOC Virtual Church, Saturdays at 11am EST: www.apocministry.orgCHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: Behind the Scenes Post-Stage Energy00:03:05 The Five Pillars: Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Freedom00:03:58 The Seven Streams of Income: Your Financial Blueprint00:08:41 Why Black Men Stay Behind Financially Despite Wanting Success00:09:45 Stop Eating, Start Walking: The Simple Truth About Losing Weight00:11:59 The Streets Prepared Me for Capitalism00:19:59 The Runaway Slave Mentality: Hustlers Are Chasing Freedom00:24:18 Control Risk vs Uncontrolled Risk: The Real Estate Formula00:44:20 The Police Mindset: Always Prepare for Worst Case Scenario00:45:56 Control Paper vs Uncontrolled Paper: The Passive Income Revelation00:48:27 Non-Negotiables: How to Make Discipline Automatic00:51:22 Simple Not Easy: Why Most People Can't Do What They Know They Should00:52:18 Buffer Room: The Real Secret to Handling Life's Curveballs00:58:21 When Your Father Has a Stroke: The Power of Being Prepared01:00:29 Closing: You Don't Look Like What You've Been ThroughABOUT THE PODCASTThe S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips (the Bajan Sensation), CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, to help you discover the secret to YOUR success. Real conversations on marriage, business, wealth-building, and personal development, with the radical transparency that built this show. New episodes every week.
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You Can't Build the New You Without Tearing the Old One Down | S2S 545
3w ago00:53:14Tap to summarizeYou can't build the new you without tearing the old one down. That's the truth most people don't want to hear. Because demolition is uncomfortable. It's messy. It's loud. And it doesn't look like progress when you're standing in the middle of it. But here's what you need to understand: demo is the first sign of progress.The crew goes deep on transformation in this episode, and they're not talking about surface level change. They're talking about gutting out the old wiring, the old walls, the old mindset that's been holding you back for years. ET breaks down why God doesn't design you where He has to come back and rewire you later. You're already wired for everything you're supposed to do. The problem is you've only been using one hand your whole life. Jemal opens up about becoming a millionaire by mistake, and the question that changed everything: if I could become a millionaire by mistake, what could I become on purpose? Karl gets transparent about being in the demo phase right now, crying in bed, asking God for clarity, and realizing that the discomfort is the process. And CJ brings the perspective on why you can't skip demo and go straight to the finished product.They also unpack why most people quit right when they start seeing results. Why you can't do demo alone. Why your marriage, your parenting, your career all need to be renovated, not just maintained. And why the people who knew you before your transformation are the ones most likely to keep you stuck. Because they're still measuring you by titles, not outcomes. They're still seeing the shell of who you used to be, not the person you're becoming.This episode will challenge everything you think about change. Because transformation isn't about adding more to your life. It's about tearing down what's no longer working and building something new from the foundation up. And if you're waiting for it to feel comfortable, you'll be waiting forever. The new you doesn't come without demolition. And the demolition doesn't stop. You're supposed to keep renewing, keep renovating, keep transforming. That's not the problem. That's the process.CHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: You're Already Wired for Greatness00:01:20 Stop Being Around People Who Won't Transform00:03:24 The 20,000 Square Foot Reality: When Success Changes Everything00:04:27 Jesus Said Who Is My Mother: Choosing Transformation Over Tradition00:04:56 You Help More People By Leaving Them Alone00:06:01 The Squad Car Story: When Your Partner Chooses Promotion Over Progress00:07:52 Title vs Outcome: Why Most People Stay Stuck at Good00:13:02 Demo Is the First Sign of Progress00:15:21 Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed By Renewing Your Mind00:19:49 The Uncomfortable Truth: You Will Be Unrecognizable00:22:38 Success Is Sequential Not Simultaneous00:41:10 You Don't Have to Demo Alone00:49:07 You're Already Wired - Stop Focusing on What You're Not00:54:45 Closing: God Is Willing and Able to Transform YouJOIN US LIVE ON PATREONNew audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DSUBSCRIBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN ANYWHEREApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15FOLLOWInstagram: @s2spodcastABOUT THE PODCASTThe S2S podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.
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They Won't Recognize the New You (And That's the Point) | S2S 544
Jun 400:48:39Tap to summarizeYou're changing. You're growing. You're stepping into who you were always meant to be. And the people closest to you don't recognize you anymore. They look at you funny. They treat you different. They make you feel like you're doing something wrong. But here's the truth: if they don't recognize the new you, you're doing it right.In Episode 544, the crew dives into one of the most uncomfortable truths about transformation. The people who knew you before your change are often the ones who resist it the most. Not because they don't love you. But because your growth exposes where they're still stuck. And instead of celebrating your elevation, they start acting awkward, distant, or downright hostile. ET breaks down the Harriet Tubman principle: she didn't carry a gun for her enemies. She carried it for the people she was trying to free. Because the ones closest to you are the ones most likely to snitch, sabotage, or talk you out of your destiny.Jemal opens up about how people who saw him build from the ground up didn't treat him differently until the world validated what he was doing. CJ shares how his wife is now experiencing what it's like to step into the light and have people who were once close suddenly act funny. Karl brings the perspective on why you can't stay around people who aren't building. And ET delivers the hard truth: you are supposed to change. People are not supposed to recognize you. That's not the problem. That's the proof.This episode will challenge everything you think about loyalty, relationships, and what it really means to transform. Because the higher you go, the more you expose where others are stuck. And if you're waiting for the people from your past to celebrate the person you're becoming, you'll be waiting forever. Stop dimming your light to make others comfortable. The new you is not for everyone. And that's exactly the point.CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPSChapters00:00:00 Opening: Vision Beyond the Demolition - Seeing What Others Can't00:01:27 Welcome and Team Introductions00:03:20 Fair or Foul: The Airplane Seat Swap Dilemma00:08:15 The Tip Jar Philosophy: Making Sure They See You Bless Them00:10:17 Harriet Tubman's Gun: Why She Carried It for Her Friends, Not Her Enemies00:12:47 They Won't Recognize You Anymore: When Transformation Makes You Unfamiliar00:14:40 The Proximity Problem: When Your Light Exposes Where Others Are At00:17:20 The Prophet Is Not Recognized in His Hometown: Jesus, ET, and the Title World00:21:30 The Four Stages People Go Through When You Change00:26:48 Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind00:42:21 The X-Men Analogy: Stop Trying to Be Understood by Regular People00:46:00 Closing: Concentrate on This Opportunity with All Your MightJOIN US LIVE ON PATREONNew audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam.https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DNEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCEJune 5 to 7, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Learn to start, grow, and monetize your speaking brand with ET, CJ, Jemal, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson, and Marco Kino.nextlevelspeakersconference.comSUBSCRIBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN ANYWHEREApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15FOLLOWInstagram: @s2spodcastABOUT THE PODCASTThe Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, the Hip Hop Preacher, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.
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Most People Wait Years for What Takes 52 Days | S2S 543
May 2801:10:39Tap to summarizeMost people stay stuck for years on something that could be done in weeks. This week the crew breaks down the story of one man who rebuilt what a whole city left broken for 140 years, and finished it in 52 days. The difference was ownership and urgency, not money or talent.JOIN US LIVE ON PATREONNew audio every Tuesday, video every Wednesday, plus live recordings with the S2S fam. This is where the real conversations keep going.https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME"The debut book from Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney.https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DENJOYING THE SHOW?If this episode hit you, take ten seconds to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. It helps more people find us.Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GrMsi1Cxj3nipnI9HR1QX?si=f057018bcba44c15CHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: 140 Years vs 52 Days - The Wall That Changed Everything00:02:33 Welcome and Team Introductions: Fresh Off the Plane Energy00:05:01 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: Your 52-Day Moment00:11:33 Fair or Foul: The Elderly Server Dilemma00:14:54 The Tipping Epidemic: From Drive-Throughs to 35 Percent Suggestions00:09:14 The Knicks Talk and Sports Banter: When Franchises Finally Break Through00:20:49 The Sermon Breakdown: Self-Accountability and the 52-Day Principle00:26:21 The Math That Will Blow Your Mind: 983 Opportunities Wasted00:28:41 ET's Bathroom Story: When Vision Meets Self-Accountability00:28:25 The Broken Comb Philosophy: Why DeDeThrows Things Away Immediately00:38:03 Vision, Urgency, and Miracle Territory: The Three Keys to 52 Days00:40:27 The Michael Jackson Warning: If You Don't Move, God Gives It to Prince00:44:19 Rachel's Transformation: From Basement to 1.3 Million in Softball00:45:47 The Hot Seat Moment: How 5,000 Dollars Changed Rachel's Life Forever00:48:03 Rachel Creates the Next Mastermind: When Students Become Teachers00:46:39 The Tithing Conversation: When Your Wife Gives 40 Percent01:06:14 Toby and Fat's 8,000 Square Foot Mansion: Real Estate Without the Degree01:06:14 Exposure Changes Everything: Why Most People Stay Broke01:04:41 The Callus Principle: Why the First Brick Hurts the Most01:10:15 Final Challenge: 140 Years or 52 Days - You ChooseKALM DOWN WITH KARLKarl on why the callus comes before the breakthrough. The first brick hurts, but there is a point where you stop feeling it and start building faster than everyone still waiting to begin.MAL'S MILLIONAIRE MOMENT FEATURING JEMAL KINGJemal on why most people are not broke because they are lazy. They are broke because they have not been exposed to more. Your level of exposure determines your level of success.NEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCEJune 5 to 7, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Learn to start, grow, and monetize your speaking brand.nextlevelspeakersconference.comAPOC VIRTUAL CHURCHSaturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.orgFOLLOWInstagram: @s2spodcastSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, the Hip Hop Preacher, Karl Phillips, the Bajan Sensation, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. Four friends, four journeys, one mission, real conversations on faith, family, business, and the work it takes to build a life that lasts. New episodes every Thursday.
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She Said No: What To Do When Your Feelings Lie To You | S2S 542
May 2101:07:24Tap to summarizeShe said no. You got down on one knee, opened the box, asked the question, and she said no. Not "I need time." Not "maybe later." She said no. So now what?In Episode 542, the crew tackles one of the most vulnerable questions a man can face: what do you do when your feelings are telling you one thing, but the data is telling you something completely different? A brother writes in after proposing to his girlfriend of several years, only to hear her say she's not ready. He's confused, hurt, and stuck between staying or walking away. ET, Karl, CJ, and Jemal break down why feelings will lie to you every single time, and why the data never does.ET gets raw about the moment Dede told him she didn't feel safe, not physically, but emotionally and mentally. How his ego wanted to defend what he'd built, but the data told him something else entirely. He shares how he got off the road for four months, gave her predictability, and watched their marriage transform because he stopped going with his feelings and started going with the facts. Karl brings the "what by when" accountability framework that keeps you honest. Jemal drops the vision about getting in front of your future, how he started his daughters' 529 plans when they were toddlers, and why Yani just graduated from Michigan State debt free.CJ tells the Slim Thug story, the moment he reached out to a Houston legend to help an artist he was mentoring, got ghosted, and realized the most important lesson of his career: stop asking people to do for you what you need to learn how to do yourself. They also break down why Joe Jackson energy isn't just for parenting, it's for every area of life where you're trying to build something real. From book covers to corporate stages to marriage, this episode will challenge you to stop letting your feelings run your life and start letting the data lead.If you've ever been rejected, corrected, or redirected and didn't know what to do next, this conversation is for you. Because your feelings will tell you to quit. The data will tell you to adjust. And the difference between the two is the difference between staying stuck and leveling up.Timestamps:🔒 This Is What Patreon Members Get...Unscripted conversations. Behind the scenes moments. Live Q&As. ET's speech streams. This is the version of S2S where nothing gets cut. If you want in:👉 Join the S2S Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1📲 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789🎤 Next Level Speakers Conference:June 5-7, Atlanta, Georgia. If you know you're supposed to be speaking, training, or elevating your personal brand, this is where you need to be. ET, CJ, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson and more. Tickets on sale now:https://nextlevelspeakersconference.comAbout the Secret to Success PodcastThe Secret to Success (S2S) Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development — not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results.Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there.Secret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.
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You're Looking for Validation, Not the Truth (Here's Why It's Killing You) | S2S 541
May 1401:09:18Tap to summarizeMost people say they want the truth, but the moment it shows up, they call the messenger a villain. This episode picks up where the Joe Jackson conversation left off and turns the mirror around. The real question isn't whether Joe was too hard on Michael. It's why we keep demonizing every coach, mentor, and visionary with the gift to push us toward what we say we want.DISCLAIMER: Our focus in this episode is not the Jackson family, and we are not endorsing or excusing abuse of any kind. Our focus is what happens when people push us because they see we are capable of more, and get demonized for it. The Jackson story is a starting point, not the subject.The guys dig into why visionaries always get villainized, why our relationship with trauma is broken, and the difference between feedback and validation. Karl shares the "Carlos" moment that changed how he receives criticism. ET tells the Mr. Gene swim instructor story that put this entire philosophy to the test with his own son.If you've ever fired the person trying to save you, this one is for you.In this episode: Why every visionary, from Moses to Joe Jackson, gets demonized during the process Why you can't receive help unless it comes wrapped exactly the way you want it The difference between looking for feedback and looking for validation How ET almost fired the swim instructor who taught his entire family to swim How to narrate your own story without playing the victimCHAPTERS: Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Karl OS - The New Operating System00:01:39 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Michael Jackson Movie Discussion00:03:24 Did Michael Jackson Play the Victim His Whole Life?00:04:15 Joe Jackson: Visionary or Villain?00:23:06 The Gary, Indiana Reality Check00:25:01 Feelings vs. Goals: Why Most People Stay Stuck00:28:35 The Mr. Jean Swimming Lesson Story00:37:12 Stop Looking for Validation, Start Looking for Feedback00:44:20 Karl's Transformation: From Soft to Strategic00:43:17 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement01:01:02 Kalm Down with Karl: Stop Living Your Life Like a Question01:01:50 Mal's Millionaire Moment: Your Pension is Dead01:04:02 The Secret Project Reveal: What Karl and Mal Are BuildingKALM DOWN WITH KARL: Stop living your life like a question and live like the answer that you are. God saw a problem on the planet and created you as the solution. Stop walking around uncertain. You are the answer.MAL'S MILLIONAIRE MOMENT: One pension is too close to no pension. Jemal breaks down how the average career span matches the average mortgage span, meaning you can have a property fully paid off by the time you retire from your day job. That's your second pension. He also shares how he turned his daughter's graduation gift into a down payment on her first property at 22.RATE AND REVIEW: If this episode hit you, take 30 seconds to rate and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the biggest way you help us reach the next person who needs to hear this.JOIN THE S2S PATREON: Early access, live recordings, behind-the-scenes content, Q&A, and ET speech streams. https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120PRE-ORDER "WE IS GREATER THAN ME" by Eric Thomas and CJ Quinney: https://www.amazon.com/We-Greater-Than-Me-Highest-ebook/dp/B0GPGXXD5DNEXT LEVEL SPEAKERS CONFERENCE: June 5-7, 2026 in Atlanta, GA. Featuring ET, CJ, Jemal, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson, and Marco Kino. Early bird tickets active now. www.nextlevelspeakersconference.comAPOC VIRTUAL CHURCH: Saturdays 11am EST on YouTube. www.apocministry.orgWATCH THE VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1CONNECT WITH S2S: Instagram: @s2spodcastABOUT THE PODCAST: The Secret to Success Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, CJ Quinney, Jemal King, and Karl "The Bajan Sensation" Phillips. The mission: show the authentic side of four men building businesses, marriages, wealth, and legacies in real time. No hype, no filters, just real conversations to help you believe in your own potential.
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We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology (Eric Thomas Goes Off) | S2S 540
May 700:49:19Tap to summarizeYour soft coaching is killing their future. And you think you're being kind.In Episode 540, ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal pull up to the table after watching the Michael Jackson movie and what follows is one of the most honest, uncomfortable, and necessary conversations this crew has ever had. About Joe Jackson. About tough love. About why we've been Catherine-ing people when we should have been Joe Jackson-ing them. And why the people closest to greatness are usually the ones being held back by feelings, comfort, and lies we call love.CJ gets cavity searched while ET watches in the distance…Then the crew dives into the Michael Jackson movie and what most people missed. Joe Jackson got them out of Gary, Indiana. From the steel mill to the charts. Six kids. Multiple number ones. And we've been dogging him out for decades without asking the hard question: would there even be a Michael Jackson without Joe Jackson?ET breaks down why he's been doing it wrong as a leader. Why caring about people's feelings has actually been holding them back. Why his mom kicked him out at 16 and it was the greatest gift she ever gave him. This episode will make you rethink every soft conversation you've had. Every time you coddled someone instead of challenging them. Every time you let someone stay comfortable when you knew they were capable of more. Because real love isn't making people feel good. Real love is helping them become who God called them to be.Timestamps:Chapters00:00:00 Opening: The Airport Security Story - When ET Left CJ Behind00:01:25 Welcome and Team Introductions: The Pastor's License00:02:25 Fair or Foul: ET Goes Through Security While CJ Gets Searched00:10:58 The Michael Jackson Movie: We Owe Joe Jackson an Apology00:12:28 From Gary Indiana to Greatness: Joe Jackson's Vision00:18:00 The Catherine vs Joe Jackson Debate: Love or Lies?00:21:34 Stop Catherine-ing People: Why Feelings Are Holding You Back00:19:37 The Candy Seller Revelation: When Compassion Becomes a Lie00:25:25 Real Leadership Requires Losing People: The Mom Story00:34:00 Joe Jackson Them: Holding People Accountable to Their Genius00:40:12 The Real Estate Lesson: When Mom Made ET Buy the Right House00:29:16 The Jalen and Jada Story: Taking Ownership of Your Part00:37:45 I Don't Have Any More Care Left: The Superpower of Not Caring00:28:30 The Trauma of Being Broke vs The Trauma of Success00:44:52 Next Level Speakers Conference Announcement: June 5-7 Atlanta00:45:58 Why AI Can't Replace Joe Jackson: You Still Need Humans00:46:50 Closing: Patreon Meetup and Final Thoughts on Tough Love🔒 This Is What Patreon Members Get...Unscripted conversations. Behind the scenes moments. Live Q&As. ET's speech streams. This is the version of S2S where nothing gets cut. If you want in:👉 Join the S2S Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120🎤 Next Level Speakers Conference | June 5-7, AtlantaIf you know you're called to speak, train, or elevate your personal brand, this is where you need to be. ET, CJ, Karl, Inky Johnson, Jeremy Anderson, and more. Plus a Patreon meetup. Early bird tickets available now:👉 nextlevelspeakersconference.com🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1📲 Follow us on Instagram: @s2spodcast🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secret-to-success/id123456789About the Secret to Success PodcastThe S2S Podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over a decade, S2S has been one of the most authentic voices in personal development, not because of polished scripts, but because of real stories, real conversations, and real results.Every episode pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth, sustain relationships, grow businesses, and become who you were created to be. No hype. No filters. Just four men who've lived it, telling the truth about how they got there.
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You Had Everything and Still Cried in the Closet (Here's Why) | S2S 539
Apr 3001:09:10Tap to summarizeMost people spend their whole lives chasing a version of success that looks right on paper and still leaves them empty. That is the conversation at the center of Episode 539, and it is one of the most honest hours this table has produced.Candis Quinney is back and she brings the moment that started everything. She was in her closet, stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out, with everything she had worked hard for, and still broke down. The house was there. The marriage was there. The kids were there. The pool was there. And none of it was enough. That moment did not break her. It built a movement. Candis is done watching women settle for a version of life that looks good from the outside and feels hollow on the inside, and she is calling everyone to a higher standard.ET picks up where Episode 538 left off, going deeper into what it actually felt like to release the need for control and what changed in his life and his marriage when he finally did. He also brings one of the most tender moments in recent S2S history, talking about going back to heal his mother and realizing she went through everything he blamed her for carrying.Karl's Kalm Down segment delivers one of the most practical frameworks this show has produced. Access and alignment are not the same thing. Just because something good comes to you does not mean it is yours. Make your decisions on alignment, not access.With Jemal away, CJ steps in with a sanctified session and does not hold back. God wants more for you than you want for yourself. Everything you do not have is because you are still operating below the level God designed for you. Stop shrinking.The episode also includes the announcement of ET and CJ's debut book "We Is Greater Than Me," now available for preorder on Amazon, and ET pulls out his GED on camera for the first time, earned February 9th, 1989, out of Lansing, Michigan. The certificate that started everything.If you are a woman who has ever smiled through something that was breaking you, Candis is building something for you. If you have ever felt like your life looks right but something is still off, this table sees you.In this Episode:Chapters00:00:00 Opening: Access Is Not the Same as Alignment00:00:57 The Shift: Letting Go of Control and Trusting God's Plan00:05:22 Breaking Generational Cycles: Understanding Your Parents' Pain00:07:54 The Yoke Up Revelation: What It Really Means to Partner with Christ00:12:33 Your Best Self Is for Hard Times, Not Good Times00:10:27 Letting Go of Titles and Traditions That Kill Us00:28:07 The Jada Story: When DD's Leadership Changed Everything00:19:55 From the East Side to Bliss: Candace's Transformation Journey00:21:47 Parenting Without Living Through Your Kids00:33:12 Book Reveal: We Is Greater Than Me00:43:17 Candace's Movement: From Crying in the Closet to Leading Women00:48:32 Closing Word: Grow Up and Open Your PackagesConnect with Candis: @justcandisquinney on Instagram APOC Ministry virtual church, Saturdays at 11:00 AM ET on YouTubeSubscribe so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@SecretToSuccess?sub_confirmation=1Join the S2S Patreon for early access every week: https://www.patreon.com/s2spodcastFollow us on Instagram: @s2spodcastListen on Apple Podcasts: Search "Secret to Success" on Apple Podcasts and SpotifySecret to Success is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King.About the Secret to Success PodcastThe Secret to Success podcast is hosted by Eric Thomas (ET, The Hip Hop Preacher), Karl Phillips, CJ Quinney, and Jemal King. For over two decades ET has been one of the most recognizable voices in personal development, motivation, and leadership. The Secret to Success podcast goes beyond the highlight reel to show the real conversations happening behind the work, covering marriage, business, wealth building, faith, and what it actually takes to build a life worth living. New episodes every Thursday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
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