The Playbook With David Meltzer

In today’s episode, I sit down with Romont Thomas, CEO of Want Italy Pasta & Go, whose vision is reshaping quick-service dining. After spending eight years in Italy sourcing food, wine, and fashion brands, Romont returned to the U.S. with an idea to bring authentic, high-quality pasta into a fast, flexible business model. He shares how his team delivers four-minute fresh pasta without sacrificing flavor, why using electricity instead of gas makes expansion easier, and how his approach to franchising and real estate keeps costs low. We also discuss his path from testing global brands to creating a scalable restaurant built for growth.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Ray Hespen, CEO and co-founder of Property Meld, to talk about how technology is transforming property management. Ray shares how community has become a driving force for growth, creating an environment where operators and residents benefit from shared energy and ease. We explore how preventative systems are replacing reactive maintenance, and how stable data and AI are reshaping the industry by turning complexity into clear, actionable insights. Ray also explains why trades remain vital, what homes might look like when they begin to “fix themselves,” and how the future of property management is moving toward ease, stability, and smarter outcomes.

In today’s episode, James Maslow and I sit down with NFL Hall of Fame kicker Nick Lowery for a conversation about resilience, preparation, and purpose. Nick shares how he balanced raw emotion with nerves of steel during high-pressure moments in front of 80,000 fans, and how consistency fueled his success across 18 years in the league. He opens up about a recent near-death experience during surgery that reshaped his perspective on gratitude and love, as well as the powerful mentors and moments that guided his journey. Together we explore how intention, preparation, and values create lasting impact both on and off the field.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Kien Vuu, a physician and longevity expert who once chased external validation through academic achievement and medical success before realizing it was costing him his health. We talk about the lessons he had to unlearn, from the myth that worthiness comes from achievement to the belief that medicine exists only outside of ourselves. He shares how choosing intentional energy, gratitude, and connection can transform health at the cellular level and unlock human potential. We also explore the emotional expense of unaligned priorities and why community may be the most powerful medicine of all.

In this week’s training, I shared the parenting advice I wish I had received earlier in life—10 lessons that can change the way we raise our children. I talked about why presence matters more than presents, why love can’t be outsourced, and why patience is the true superpower of parenting. I also shared how appreciating each child’s uniqueness, asking the right daily questions, and preparing them with values over control can create a launchpad for their future. Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about being purposeful, consistent, and present so our kids grow into confident, resilient leaders of their own lives. To join my next free Friday Training sessions, email me at david@dmeltzer.com

In today’s episode, I sit down with Metta World Peace, an NBA Champion who has reinvented himself as a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist. We talk about his decision to walk away from easy opportunities like reality TV and instead immerse himself in coding, digital marketing, and the fundamentals of building businesses. Metta shares how curiosity drove him from the court to classrooms, coffee shops, and coding sessions, where persistence and humility became his playbook. He opens up about mental health, the importance of language in shaping how we approach it, and why reinvention requires sacrifice, focus, and a willingness to start over.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Martha Montoya, the CEO and Founder of AgTools, a platform transforming the way agribusinesses manage supply chains. Martha shares how her grandmother’s entrepreneurial influence, her background in competitive tennis, and her relentless drive shaped her path. She explains how AgTools uses real-time global data to help farmers, distributors, and analysts make critical decisions in an industry defined by uncertainty. From building resilience during COVID to staying true to her mission of protecting farmers, Martha reveals how she creates certainty where others see chaos and why she believes every success begins with service to the grower.

In today’s episode, I sit down with my close friend Bucky O’Neill, an entrepreneur who mentors experts to design transformational events, retreats, and coaching programs that create real impact. We talk about the firewalk experience and how it strips away interference between who we are and who we can become. Bucky shares how these visceral challenges reveal our potential in ways that books or seminars alone cannot. We also explore the balance between teaching and practicing, the role of faith in daily life, and the ways spirituality connects us all. It’s a conversation about growth, alignment, and authentic expression.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk for a powerful conversation on confidence, leadership, and resilience. Marshall shares the story of losing the Heisman Trophy, the lesson his mother taught him that night, and how it shaped his character for life. We talk about his ability to ask boldly in service of others, the mindset that made him one of the smartest players in football, and the preparation that still drives him today. From inspiring young athletes at Colorado to showing up as a true friend, Marshall reveals what it takes to lead with authenticity and purpose.

In today’s episode, I share why time and energy are the true currencies of success and how our response to fear often cuts us off from their flow. By learning to clear interference, we can turn minutes into meaningful investments that reflect our values instead of our anxieties. I explain how aligning what we do, say, think, feel, and believe allows us to extend our purpose, protect our energy, and avoid the costly trap of avoidance. Through clarity, measurement, and integration, we can operate like time billionaires, compounding fulfillment, profitability, and joy over the course of our lives.