The Pocket with Chris Griffin

A different side of Ian Fonzian. From a kid hiding in his room with cystic acne to a man building businesses, running ultras, summiting Kilimanjaro and building a mammoth personal brand and following online. We talk about growing up feeling like a monster, how the military shaped him, and the massive decision to step away from Raw Dawg when it was at its peak. Ian opens up about loneliness, purpose, external validation, and what’s next with his gym and ice cream company. Key Discussion Points Growing up with extreme acne and the mental toll How solo travel skyrocketed his confidence The military experience and loneliness Building and leaving Raw Dawg at its peak Purpose, business pivots, and what’s next for Ian Follow Ian: https://www.instagram.com/fonzian/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Chapters: 0:04:09 Chasing harder challenges 0:06:13 Purpose from suffering 0:07:21 Real talk about consistency 0:08:11 Business pivot ice cream and gym 0:09:18 Why I left Raw Dawg 0:13:00 Protecting friendships and leaving 0:19:58 Transformation and desert upbringing 0:23:34 Cystic acne nightmare and Accutane 0:32:01 Lingering trauma and confidence 0:35:25 Military reality check 0:37:42 Loneliness and marriage incentives 0:41:17 Leadership and rank problems 0:51:28 Creative ruts and working without an agent 1:12:45 What drives me now and what’s next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I elaborate on a quote that changed my life. I share why fear is the ultimate price tag for everything you want, how I’ve learned to trust the unknown, and why clarity only comes after you take the leap. This one’s for anyone feeling stuck, overthinking their next move, or waiting for the “perfect time” to start. If you’ve been looking for a sign - this is it. Key Discussion Points Why uncertainty is the cost of all your dreams The Steve Jobs quote that shaped my life How to get out of your own way and stop overthinking Turning fear into fuel and risk into reward Why taking the leap before you’re ready is the only way forward Blow up your podcast and apply to work with Chris: https://thepodcastjungle.com/apply Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Chapters: 0:00 – The quote that shaped my life 2:40 – Why uncertainty is the price tag of your dreams 5:30 – Lessons from The Alchemist & discovering purpose 7:50 – Getting out of your own way 10:20 – The pressure of growth & building a team 12:30 – How trust creates calm in chaos 14:30 – Clearing noise to invite clarity 16:20 – Choosing what feels right, even in the dark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rory Sutherland, a renowned thinker in advertising and behavioral science, captivates listeners with his insights on consumer behavior. He discusses how illogical ideas, like the success of Red Bull, often drive innovation and profits. Sutherland explores the psychology behind frozen yogurt trends and the unexpected success of ventures like Airbnb. He emphasizes that emotion often outweighs logic in decision-making, leading to remarkable breakthroughs. With humor and wit, Rory highlights the quirks of human behavior that shape our choices.

Today’s guest is ex-CIA officer and founder of EveryDaySpy, Andrew Bustamante. We went deep on the truth about government, money, perception, persuasion, and what real success actually looks like. He revealed how spy training connects to everyday life, why the CIA isn’t what conspiracy theories claim, and how the systems around us are designed to keep us predictable. What stood out most is his blunt honesty: happiness is a slippery pursuit, financial success is the only objective success, and once you see how the world really works, you can never unsee it. Key Discussion Points: The truth about the CIA vs conspiracy theories Influence vs persuasion (and how you’re being steered daily) How the world really works vs how we’re taught it runs Why governments don’t care about you (and never did) A debate on money, success, and what truly matters Learn more about Andrew: Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4oEHBby Read Andrew’s CIA book ‘Shadow Cell’: https://geni.us/ShadowCellBook  Follow Andy on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/  Support Andy's sponsor Axolt Brain: https://axoltbrain.com/andy Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Chapters: 1:30 – CIA breathwork and field prep 6:40 – Debunking CIA conspiracies 11:20 – What the CIA actually does 16:45 – Influence vs persuasion explained 22:10 – How algorithms control your thinking 27:30 – The red pill: once you see it, you can’t unsee it 33:20 – How the world runs vs how the world works 38:50 – Governments don’t care about you 44:30 – Systems built to keep you predictable 50:40 – External validation vs real success 56:10 – Heated debate: what money really means 1:02:30 – Net worth and how it changes everything 1:08:00 – Curiosity vs commitment: why most stay stuck 1:13:10 – Raising kids with perspective outside the US 1:18:20 – Working for nothing vs working for something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Ash Dykes. When most people think of adventure, they picture travel, fun, maybe a little challenge. For Ash Dykes, it’s life or death. From pulling a 120kg trailer through the Gobi Desert with no backup, to hallucinating his way to survival on the brink of heatstroke, to being held at gunpoint and crossing crocodile-infested rivers. Ash has lived through it all. But this isn’t just about danger. It’s about why someone would willingly step into the unknown, where death is a real option, and what that teaches you about life, fear, and resilience. Ash shares how he went from a small coastal town in North Wales to setting world records in some of the most extreme places on Earth, and the mental discipline it takes to keep moving when everything in your body is screaming to stop. This conversation is raw, wild, and filled with lessons that go way beyond exploration. Key Discussion Points: Nearly dying of heatstroke in the Gobi Desert Training for world records with just a tire and sledgehammer The “third man syndrome” that saved his life Why fear is a package deal with growth Leading with kindness in life-or-death missions This one will make you rethink what’s really possible. Follow Ash: https://www.instagram.com/ash_dykes/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Timestamps: 03:00 Why Ash chases danger 09:40 Childhood dreams in North Wales 13:20 $10 bike across Vietnam 18:40 Illegal jungle crossings 24:50 Mongolia mission begins 31:00 Dragging 120kg through the Gobi 37:10 Heatstroke and hallucinations 42:00 The “third man” phenomenon 50:30 Wolves, bears, and crocs 58:20 Breaking down on the Yangtze 01:05:00 The weight of leadership 01:12:40 Survival in the Amazon 01:18:50 Love vs danger lessons 01:24:40 Next mission on the Yellow River 01:30:00 Chasing legacy and purpose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real talk… Jim Fortin changed my life as a young 17 year old. It is very full circle being able to sit down at his house for over 2 hours and have him on the show. Most people are living life backwards. They’re chasing more money, more success, more things… all while stuck in the same identity that keeps pulling them back. In this episode, Jim Fortin breaks down why 99.8% of people are working from the wrong place - behavior over identity, and how to flip it so transformation actually sticks. We unpack subconscious programming, the stories we tell ourselves, habits that shape our entire reality, and how to finally step into the identity of the person you want to become. Key Discussion Points • Why most people “work backwards” in life • How your subconscious identity sabotages change • The hidden role of habits and stories • Breaking free from scarcity and limitation • The real path to lasting transformation Thank you all for the support. This one is special. Very special for me. Learn more about working with Jim: www.jimfortin.com/chris Follow Jim: https://www.instagram.com/iamjimfortin/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Apply to work with Chris to help launch or grow your podcast: www.thepodcastjungle.com/apply Timestamps: 00:03:00 – Why 99.8% of people work backwards 00:07:00 – Growing up poor and breaking free from it 00:12:00 – The truth about identity vs behavior 00:16:30 – Oprah, habits, and why change doesn’t stick 00:21:00 – The power of stories we tell ourselves 00:26:00 – Reprogramming subconscious beliefs 00:31:00 – My own resistance to coaching 00:35:00 – Doubt as the doorway to transformation 00:39:30 – How people’s energy shapes your life 00:45:00 – Relationships, attachment, and emotional maturity 00:51:00 – Financial abuse and subconscious control 00:56:30 – Why providing isn’t enough in relationships 01:02:00 – Doing vs being: where real change happens 01:08:00 – How identity creates self-fulfilling prophecies 01:15:00 – Final lessons on stepping into who you truly are Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was raw and real. Straight from the heart filled with passion. Hopefully this can give you the nudge you need to take the leap. Apply to work with me to start or scale your podcast: http://www.thepodcastjungle.com/apply Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Savanna Faith Stone and she has absolutely blown up this year all over social media. At just 20 years old, she’s gone viral for saying things most people are too scared to even whisper. In this episode, she opens up about why she believes feminism was a CIA operation, why she’d gladly give up her right to vote for a more conservative country, and how her faith and marriage shape the way she sees the world. We dive into her transformation from a liberal high schooler and model to leaning into her feminine and becoming what people consider a “trad wife”, her battles with online hate, and why she refuses to tone down her message no matter how much backlash it brings. We also bring her husband on the show to get his perspective on the whole situation. This is raw, controversial, and guaranteed to make you think. Key Discussion Points: • Why Savanna says women shouldn’t vote • Her belief that feminism was designed as a psyop • The role of faith and trust in her marriage • The backlash she’s faced and how she handles hate • Why she calls corporate jobs “modern slavery” • The importance of speaking boldly in a cancel culture world ANDDDD so much more Follow Savanna: https://www.instagram.com/savannafaithstone/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ There will be no sponsorships in this episode, I doubt the controversy is something the lovely sponsors want to be apart of. I loved this conversation so much. If you enjoy it as much as I do share it on your socials and leave us a 5 start review and subscribe. Love you all. Timestamps: 00:03:00 – “Women shouldn’t vote” 00:08:40 – Facing hate online 00:14:50 – No separate bank accounts 00:19:20 – Fertility reality check 00:25:40 – Two paths for women 00:31:15 – Cancel culture & soul selling 00:36:50 – Christ at the center 00:42:30 – Corporate slavery 00:48:10 – Losing sponsors, gaining freedom 00:53:55 – Husband enters the chat 00:59:40 – Pain, stoicism, manhood 01:05:00 – Married young, no turning back 01:09:20 – Fame and isolation 01:11:00 – Too young to advise? 01:12:20 – Final verse to live by Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Smoak, a wellness expert and content creator, opens up about his transformative journey following the loss of his father. He discusses the importance of perspective, emphasizing how curiosity can evolve into competence. The conversation tackles the difference between confidence and ego and introduces the insightful table and plates analogy to illustrate self-sufficiency in relationships. Michael also highlights the power of ownership over victimhood, advocating for genuine communication and resilience during life's challenges.

Christian Guzman has built an empire in fitness but the road to Alphaland nearly broke him. In this episode Christian opens up about burning through $110k a month just to keep the lights on, taking a $1M loan that barely scratched the surface, and the relentless two-year grind that pushed him to his limits. We get into the chaos of building something permanent, the mistakes that cost millions, how ego can tank a healthy business, and why he is finally shifting his focus to balance, family, and the things that actually matter. This was a good one! Key Discussion Points: • The reality of running out of money mid dream • When ego makes business decisions for you • Building calm in the middle of absolute chaos • Why Christian refused to quit even when he should have • The role of family and relationships in building an empire • Knowing when to slow down after years of full speed grind Follow Christian: https://www.instagram.com/christianguzmanfitness/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/ Timestamps: 03:00–07:30 The property that made Alphaland possible 07:30–12:00 $110k a month to stay alive 12:00–16:30 The moment he thought he was done 16:30–21:00 Lessons from the wild twenties 21:00–25:30 Managing people without losing yourself 25:30–30:00 When ego wrecks a business 30:00–34:30 Choosing family over the grind 34:30–39:00 Making time before it runs out 39:00–43:30 Building a place people belong 43:30–48:00 What sacrifice really looks like 48:00–52:30 The loneliness of mastery 52:30–57:00 Why he never quits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices