The Playbook With David Meltzer

In today’s episode, I sit down with Leonard Armato to talk about how the sports business has flipped from contract negotiation to full-on architecture. We get into why athletes now function as cultural magnets, how tech and venture opened the door to portfolios, production companies, and equity plays, and why the old agent model is shrinking fast. Leonard shares how he helped Shaq build intellectual property instead of chasing traditional endorsements, plus what it means to be an advisor in a NIL world where everything is public. We also talk core values, ecosystem, and why money amplifies character.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Alan Pavlosky, a longtime leader in sports, branding, and community building whose work spans athletes, executives, and families. We talk about gratitude as a daily discipline, why frequency matters more than raw talent, and how faith and humility shape sustainable success. I share the hard lessons that followed losing everything, the mindset that rebuilt my life, and why failure is the common thread behind lasting greatness. Alan and I also explore alignment, non negotiable behaviors, and how building real community creates wealth that lasts across generations.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Thomas Edwards, the entrepreneur behind Organic Gorilla, a grassroots brand redefining what functional food can be. We talk about why fueling the body is central to manifestation, performance, and self-mastery, and how clarity in ingredients cuts through a crowded, misleading food industry. Thomas shares his personal journey, including hard lessons, time spent rebuilding his life, and how those experiences shaped his standards for health, business, and relationships. We also unpack why Organic Gorilla bars deliver both clean nutrition and real flavor, challenging the idea that eating well has to feel like punishment.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Daniel Mac for a wide-ranging conversation on building wealth, investing with intention, and staying grounded as success scales. We talk about interviewing nearly 10,000 people, asking for help as a career shortcut, and why betting on people often matters more than betting on ideas. I share how I made my first million in nine months during the early internet days, what real estate, secured assets, and calculated risk look like now, and why technology from crypto to AI changes productivity without changing values. We also cover family, failure, gratitude, and making better decisions that actually last.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Sylvester Raymond, founder and CEO of Piñata Digital Marketing, to talk about a radical alternative to ads, pop-ups, and manipulative targeting. Sylvester explains how his patent-pending system monetizes natural buying behavior without interrupting games, apps, streaming, or content. We talk about why people are paying billions to avoid ads, how ethical marketing can actually increase trust and returns, and why closed ecosystems matter for creators, brands, and platforms. We also get into plug-and-play integration, white-label wallets, and what it takes to build something big without losing humility or patience along the way.

In this episode, I explain why your past isn’t holding you back—the meaning you give it is. I share six lessons that help you move from interference to alignment by auditing your influences, owning your energy, and reframing old stories into fuel for growth. When you replace blame with accountability, pressure with practice, and regret with learning, momentum returns. Your past becomes leverage when you let go of what drains you and commit to daily, aligned action. Change the meaning, and you change the future you’re creating. To join my next free Friday Training sessions, email me at david@dmeltzer.com

In today’s episode, I sit down with Shaan Rais, a high-integrity brand builder and event creator who understands how energy, intention, and consistency shape real influence. We talk about why brand is not a logo or a tagline, but the ability to capture your essence through skills, knowledge, and desire. I share how community is built through frequency, why 10 percent of people will love you and 10 percent will never align, and how that tension actually strengthens trust. We also cover non-negotiable behaviors, faith as a daily practice, sleep as a performance advantage, and how shortening resistance creates happiness, clarity, and sustainable success.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Fran Maier, a serial entrepreneur with three decades of experience and the founder and CEO of BabyQuip. After helping scale Match.com as its first general manager and co founder, Fran turned her attention to a new marketplace built around trust, safety, and real family needs. We talk about how BabyQuip grew from a simple vacation rental problem into a national platform, why empowering women operators matters, and how strong training drives five star experiences. Fran also shares lessons on perseverance, brand building, seasonality, and why customer love and a 90 net promoter score can define long term success.

In today’s episode I sit down with Richard Pink, second generation steward of the iconic Pink’s Hot Dogs, to talk about how a $50 push cart became an 85 year institution. We cover consistency over trends, building community beyond the counter, and creating experiences people remember long after the meal. Richard shares lessons on employee loyalty, bonuses that matter, word of mouth marketing, licensing without losing quality, and adapting to media shifts while keeping the recipe the same since 1939. It is a practical look at brand, culture, longevity, and leadership built one customer at a time.

In today’s episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and Ambigram founder Lee Brett, a creator turning language, identity, and emotion into wearable art. Lee shares how a brutal trademark battle and personal setbacks led him to build Ambigram, a fashion brand rooted in transformation and perspective. We talk about Ambigrams as design tools, the emotional power of sports branding, and how technology and AI could make personalized words and meanings scalable across industries. Lee also opens up about resilience, refusing to quit when the odds are overwhelming, and how belief, momentum, and purpose carried him through years of uncertainty while building something entirely new.