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.
65episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Prayed About It But Still Stuck? Here's Why | S2S 551
3d ago00:40:19Tap to summarizeYou prayed about it. You asked God for direction. You're waiting. You're believing. But you're still stuck. And the reason why isn't because God didn't answer. It's because you're not listening. Or worse, you're listening but you're not moving.This week ET and CJ break down why prayer without action is just noise. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: God's voice is clear. His directions are clear. The problem is your filters are messed up. You're so stuck in your own way of doing things, so locked into what you know, that you can't hear what God is trying to tell you. And even when you do hear it, you come back the next day asking the same question like y'all didn't just have that conversation yesterday.ET opens up about why he told 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. He breaks down the formula of prayer, the one he learned when he was homeless. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us as we forgive others. With thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. It's not just about asking. It's about listening. It's about doing what God tells you to do.What do you do when you feel like you didn't hear God clearly? What do you do when your mind is so cluttered with anxiety, stress, and worry that you can't process what God is saying? You can't get directions when you're moving. You have to stop. And once God gives you the directions, don't come back asking for the same directions again. Move.They also unpack why most people only see God as a provider instead of a relationship. Why your prayer life should be you and God just kicking it, reminiscing on the good old days, talking about what you're grateful for. Not just showing up with a list of demands. And why the people who get closest to God, like Enoch and Moses, are the ones who walked and talked with God until they literally glowed with his presence.This episode will challenge everything you think about prayer. Because prayer is not just talking. It's listening. It's doing. Stop asking God to bless the mess. Start doing what he told you to do. The pit stop only works if you stay in the car and let God do what only he can do. But you still got to drive.CHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: God's Got a Thousand Ways You Know Nothing About00:01:45 Welcome and the Prayer Controversy: Did ET Really Say Stop Praying?00:03:52 Prayer Is Not Your Only Tool: The Hammer and Wrench Analogy00:05:42 The Cell Phone Confession: Why Being Homeless Made ET's Prayer Life Stronger00:06:43 Prayer Is a GPS System: You Can't Get Directions While Moving00:07:53 Stop Coming Back to God Without Doing What He Told You00:09:48 You Know God's Voice Because You Talk Every Day00:11:24 It's Not That God Isn't Clear, Your Filters Are Messed Up00:13:19 The 3 AM Walk: Why ET Changed His Prayer Time to Avoid Distractions00:16:39 Reminisce With God: Talk About the Good Old Days00:19:42 Stop Putting God on Hold: Let Him Talk Back to You00:21:27 The Formula of Prayer: What ET Learned While Homeless00:23:47 Give Thanks Before You Get What You Want00:25:03 Moses, Jonah, and Ruth: Listen and Follow the Instructions00:25:48 Some Things You Have to Change, Not God00:26:31 Tithes and Offerings: The Windows of Heaven Principle00:28:02 Walking and Talking With God Is Not Just Religious Tradition00:29:25 Moses Spent 30 Days With God and Came Back Glowing00:31:47 I Never Came to Michigan to Stay: The Master's Degree Plan00:34:43 Prayer Is Your GPS System: You Have No Clue Where You're Going00:35:12 The NASCAR Pit Stop Revelation: Don't Wait Till the Wheels Fall Off00:37:12 God Tells You When to Pull Over Before You Even Know You Need It00:38:20 You Don't Have to Get Out the Car: Stay in and Let God Handle It00:38:42 Moses Died at 120 at Peak, Enoch Left Earth at Peak00:39:10 How a Small Group From Lansing Changed the World00:40:05 Closing: Going at Peak Is 52 Days, Not 52 YearsJOIN 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 PODCASTS2S is hosted by Eric Thomas, Karl Phillips, 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.
Transcribe →
You're Working Hard for the Wrong Reason, and It's Breaking You | S2S 550
1w ago01:10:08Tap to summarizeYou're working hard for the wrong reason, and it's breaking you. Not because you're lazy. Not because you're not talented. But because what's driving you isn't God. It's trauma. It's fear. It's pride. And until you deal with that, all the work in the world won't save you.This week the crew brings their wives to the table. Candis and Dede join CJ, ET, and Karl for one of the most transparent conversations about faith, work, and what it really means to let go and let God. Because here's the truth most people don't want to hear: you can have the title Christian, but the devil can still be driving you.Candis opens up about working herself into the ground at GE. Senior management, six figures, the whole dream. But she was miserable, burnt out, crying in the closet. When CJ told her to quit, she was ready to walk. But ET stepped in with something that changed everything: your job isn't to influence her, it's to get her to talk to God. So Candis went to a hotel for two days. Just her and God. And God told her three things: be still, have peace, be humble. Everything shifted. Not because she quit, but because she stopped letting fear drive her.Dede gets real about thinking she had the backup plan. The insurance, the retirement, all of it figured out. Until God started breaking the stuff off of her that was keeping her from trusting him. Because brokenness isn't God trying to destroy you. It's God breaking the trauma, the pride, the self reliance off of you so he can multiply you. And the multiplication only comes after the breaking.They also unpack the AI love letter. A man sent his wife a heartfelt message using ChatGPT. She loved it, until he admitted he used AI. Now she's upset because it wasn't really from him. Dede's response is priceless.This episode will challenge everything you think about work, faith, and trust. Because faith without works is dead. But works without faith is empty. Stop letting your backup plan replace God. Stop letting your job be your security. And stop thinking brokenness means you're broken. God isn't breaking you. He's breaking that stuff off of you.CHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: Which One Do You Want Sir - AI or the Real Thing00:01:20 Welcome and Introducing the Queens: Candis and Dede Join the Pod00:09:09 Fair or Foul: The ChatGPT Love Letter Debate00:11:45 Computer Love: When Your Heart Message Comes From a Machine00:17:29 The Real Question: Faith Without Works or Let Go and Let God00:19:33 Before You Work With God You Got to Know God00:22:26 Candis Revelation: The Only Work God Wants Is Belief00:25:16 Be Still Doesn't Mean Stand Still: Redefining Stillness00:29:03 How to Hear From God When You Don't Hear Audibly00:32:11 The Cheat Code Confession: When Your Spouse Has a Deeper Walk00:33:43 Don't Compare Storms: Your Hurricane Versus Someone Else's Rain00:34:55 Candis GE Breakdown: Working Crazy Hours and Missing Peace00:43:35 The Two-Day Hotel Revelation: When God Said Be Still, Be Humble, Have Peace00:46:46 CJ's Obedience Test: When Quitting Would Have Been Easier00:49:20 The Financial Security Idol: When Insurance Becomes Your God00:50:35 Dede's Confession: I Will Burn the Bridge to Prove I Can Swim00:54:01 The Mental Weight That's Breaking You: It's Not the Work, It's What's Driving It00:54:20 What's Driving You: When Trauma Becomes Your God00:55:27 The 3am Question: What's So Evil About You That You'd Rather Suffer01:04:24 Does God Get Glory From What You Do: The Jealousy of God01:06:00 Didi's MS Story: When God Has to Stop You From Your Disobedience00:58:31 Brokenness Isn't Breaking You: It's Breaking Stuff Off of You01:01:04 The Multiplication Comes After the Broken: Stop Running From It01:08:21 Closing: Join A Place to Change Ministry and Get CommunityJOIN 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: @s2spodcastA PLACE OF CHANGE MINISTRYJoin the women's ministry with Candace and Dede. Follow @apocministry on Instagram or visit www.aplacetochangeministry.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.
Transcribe →
You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth | S2S 549
2w ago01:02:17Tap to summarizeYou're getting paid exactly what you're worth. Not what you think you deserve. Not based on your degrees, your loyalty, or how hard you work. You're getting paid exactly what you believe about yourself. And until you deal with that, nothing changes.This week the crew breaks down why most people resist coaching even when they're losing. ET opens up about why he had his kids leave his company to go work under someone else. Not because he didn't want them around, but because he refused to insulate them from the growth they needed. Karl gets transparent about working out with a trainer who pushed him 14 more reps than he thought he had left, just by watching his muscle instead of listening to his excuses. Jemal brings the NBA Finals breakdown and why the Spurs lost a 29 point lead in the second half. Not because they weren't talented, but because they didn't have sustainable systems. And CJ delivers the truth about Kobe and Mike: 11 championships between them, zero without Phil Jackson.They also unpack why people follow relationships instead of truth. Why your grandma's way of doing things might not be God's way. Why Diddy told ET at 16 that she wasn't trying to win mother of the year, and how that one conversation set him free from trying to be everything to everybody. And why some of you are 60 years old still struggling with the same issues you had at 30 because you never submitted to coaching.The crew gets real about marriage, parenting, and why CJ and Candace went to Australia when their daughter was five months old. Not because they're bad parents, but because coaching taught them that a strong marriage creates the foundation for strong kids. They break down why ET got two kids in 14 years with zero accidents, and why that's not luck, it's coaching. And why Jemal told people in his circle they can't be around him without owning real estate.This episode will challenge everything you think about accountability, growth, and what it really takes to win. Because you can have all the talent in the world, but without the right coach, you're the Spurs blowing a 29 point lead. You're Kobe and Mike with zero rings. Stop resisting the coaching that's trying to save your life. You don't need more information. You need to apply what you already know. And if you're getting paid what you're worth right now and you don't like it, the problem isn't the market. The problem is you.CHAPTERSChapters00:00:00 Opening: Who Not How - The Tyranny of Trying to Figure Everything Out00:00:59 Welcome and the Age Realization: When You're Older Than Everyone00:06:37 The NBA Finals Lesson: How the Spurs Lost a 29-Point Lead00:13:50 Zero Championships Without Phil Jackson: Why You Need Elite Coaching00:15:04 Marriage Coaching Saved My Life: Chuck, Moni, Ian and Dede's Impact00:22:53 The Coaching Tree: How Great Coaches Create Great Coaches00:23:33 Australia at Five Months: Why We Left Our Baby for Two Weeks00:19:17 God, Marriage, Kids: The Order That Saves Your Family00:19:57 Separate the Piano From the Person: Stop Taking Feedback Personally00:20:53 F Them Kids: Dede's Line That Changed ET's Parenting00:22:11 Mike Brown vs Phil Jackson: Why Experience and Coaching Matters00:36:06 Two Kids in 14 Years: The Power of Intentional Family Planning00:27:28 Relationship Over Truth: Why You Follow Your Grandma Instead of God00:27:58 Pastor Willis Spoke My Vision Before I Had One00:46:07 Character Development Boot Camp: Why ET Made Us Pray All Day00:55:45 You're Getting Paid Exactly What You're Worth Right Now00:53:59 The Muscle Twitch Story: How Tommy Got 14 More Reps Out of CJ00:56:37 Maul the Builder: He Doesn't Just Build Houses, He Builds People00:51:52 The 12-Year Overnight Success: Maul's House Goes Viral Now00:59:31 Closing: Get in the Mastermind and Stop Making ExcusesJOIN 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.
Transcribe →
You're Doing the Work But Still Stuck, Here's Why | S2S 548
3w 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.
Transcribe →
You Think They Had Something You Don't. You're Wrong | S2S 547
Jun 2500:53:14Tap 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.
Transcribe →
He Chased Guys Like Him. Now They're Face to Face. (S2S 546)
Jun 1800:57:51Tap 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.
Transcribe →
You Can't Build the New You Without Tearing the Old One Down | S2S 545
Jun 1100:53:14Tap 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.
Transcribe →
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.
Transcribe →
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.
Transcribe →
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.
Transcribe →