Living Your Legacy - Rudy Mawer

Latest Episodes:

Tax Optimization Hacks Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Julia Carlson, the financial expert steering entrepreneurs toward success. From financial blunders to triumphs, Rudy and Julia delve deeply into common financial missteps of entrepreneurs and how to rectify them. They dissect crucial concepts such as separating personal and business finances, tax optimization, and effective team management under Julia's expert guidance.

Venturing beyond simple financial advice, this episode arms listeners with the tools to elevate their business growth from initial hurdles to scaling past the million-dollar mark. Julia highlights the significance of understanding the tax code, how to hire effectively, and why having a reliable second-in-command can be pivotal. The conversation transitions effortlessly into discussing work-life balance and establishing harmony, encapsulating the essence of a well-rounded entrepreneurial journey. Julia shares her personal story of entrepreneurial growth and family, imparting wisdom on achieving financial stability while forging an inspiring familial legacy.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Dual Income: Entrepreneurs are paid for both owning the business and their unique skillset, making it crucial to separate these facets for proper financial valuation.
Tax Optimization is Key: Learn about vital tax strategies, including S-Corp elections and family employment strategies, to minimize tax liabilities effectively.
Building a Resilient Team: The importance of delegating tasks and trusting a capable team is pivotal for business scale and personal freedom.
Handling Personal and Business Dynamics: Separating personal and business finances, including at the structural and transactional levels, to safeguard financial integrity and facilitate growth.
Legacy and Balance: Strive for a harmonious phase in life where business success complements personal fulfillment and family legacy-building.

Notable Quotes:

"You get paid twice… once as a business owner for taking on the risk… and then for your craft." – Julia Carlson
"The tax code was written for entrepreneurs and real estate investors… figure out how you can save some money in taxes." – Julia Carlson
"How important a number two is… as you build your business, you can't hold on to all aspects of the business." – Julia Carlson
"Walk down the road five, 10 years and if you want to sell this, like, you have to think about it as its own entity." – Julia Carlson
"When we get to harmony as visionaries, we actually go back to hustle because it's fun, and new businesses." – Julia Carlson

Resources:

Julia Carlson’s Website: TheJuliaCarlson.com

Social Media: Julia Carlson's Instagram: @thejuliacarlson

Everything Is Energy: Karissa’s Path to Healing and Higher Knowing Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Karissa Sherwood, a gifted intuitive healer, to discuss the power of energy healing and personal transformation. Karissa shares her remarkable journey from a childhood marked by trauma to becoming a beacon of spiritual insight, helping others realize their divine potential. Her story highlights how understanding and navigating through personal wounds can unlock profound wisdom. Karissa has a unique ability to help individuals see beyond their surface-level challenges, guiding them towards peace and clarity in just one session.

Throughout the discussion, Karissa delves into the concept of energy, addressing both skeptics and believers. She elaborates on how emotions like anger, sadness, joy, and bitterness are forms of energy that can be transformed for personal growth. Her journey into energy work began with yoga, sound healing, and Reiki, which eventually led her to mediumship. Karissa shares a poignant example of helping a non-verbal autistic child communicate needs through her intuitive abilities. The conversation also touches on her passion for empowering mothers, capturing the essence of her book "Mothering Marley: Wounds to Wisdom," where she details her experiences of raising a child with special needs and the profound personal healing it catalyzed.

Key Takeaways:

Karissa Sherwood specializes in intuitive healing and mediumship, helping others align with their deeper selves.
Personal pain and wounds can be gateways to profound wisdom and personal transformation.
Energy, while intangible, is a real and influential force that shapes emotions and can be optimized for personal growth.
Karissa's work emphasizes empowering mothers and demonstrating the transformative power of healing for better parenting.
Her book "Mothering Marley: Wounds to Wisdom" explores the challenges and victories of raising a child with special needs.

Notable Quotes:

"People identify so much with their external form, but that is not really the truth of every person."
"The wisdom is in the wound."
"The legacy I want to leave...is a mother that knows who the hell she is."
"Everything is energy. Anger is energy, sadness is energy, bitterness is energy, joy is energy."
"If I can transform all of that into all of this wisdom and higher knowing, then anybody can."

Resources:

WEBSITE - Themotheringmedium.com

BOOK - Mothering Marley

IG - Themotheringmedium

Using The Legacy of "Tater Tots" to Fight Child Abuse Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Leslie Grigg is the co-founder of the F. Neefy and Golden Grigg Legacy Foundation and a proud steward of the Tater Tots legacy—an iconic snack created by his family. Born in 1952, Leslie has deep roots with Ore-Ida Foods, which was founded by his grandfather’s brothers and brother-in-law. His father served as a longtime controller there, passing down the family’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Leslie’s professional path shifted in 1978 when he became a stockbroker, igniting a lasting passion for finance and markets. Today, he fuses his financial acumen with philanthropy through the Protect Your Tots campaign, a national initiative raising awareness about child abuse prevention. He also serves in leadership roles with the National Exchange Club, where he has dedicated decades to civic and community-focused work.

Episode Summary

In this inspiring episode, host Rudy sits down with Leslie Grigg to explore a remarkable story of family legacy, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Best known for carrying forward the story behind Tater Tots, Leslie is channeling that legacy into a greater purpose—protecting children from abuse.

Through the Protect Your Tots campaign and an upcoming documentary, Leslie is leveraging the cultural resonance of Tater Tots to drive national attention to child abuse prevention. The conversation dives into his journey from Wall Street to community leadership, showcasing how legacy, financial wisdom, and philanthropy can work hand-in-hand to create lasting change.

Rudy and Leslie also draw fascinating parallels between the stock market and life, as Leslie shares personal philosophies on disciplined trading, emotional control, and market psychology. His multi-decade work with the National Exchange Club further illustrates how civic engagement can be a powerful force for good.

🎯 Key Takeaways

Legacy Meets Philanthropy: Leslie’s campaign Protect Your Tots connects his family’s iconic invention with advocacy for child abuse prevention.
Market Wisdom: Leslie emphasizes that successful trading stems from discipline, patience, and having a consistent process.
A Lifelong Advocate: Through his role in the National Exchange Club, Leslie has worked tirelessly to support efforts around child abuse awareness and prevention.
Entrepreneurial Influence: Inspired by his family’s innovative roots, Leslie built a career in finance while preserving and reimagining his heritage.
Life Lessons from the Market: From price action to emotional intelligence, Leslie shares how market principles echo broader life truths.

💬 Notable Quotes

“I just had this dream that someday, if I ever had the time, I wanted to do something spectacular with this legacy.”

“There are so many different ways to be a successful trader… The key is having a disciplined, consistent process.”

“When markets function, everybody wins.”

“I think a legacy—it's an identifier of who I am.”

“Time in the market always has and I believe always will produce a winning result.”

Connect with Leslie:

Upcoming Documentary - Protect Your Tots

FB Page - The National Tater tot fan club

protectyourtots.com

Lessons from a Motorcycle Crash Survivor Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

From a devastating motorcycle accident in the jungles of Thailand that nearly claimed his life, Matt has rebuilt himself with fortitude and determination. He is now a celebrated author and real estate expert who has assisted over 30,000 investors. Through extensive travel, Matt identifies lucrative investment opportunities worldwide, helping individuals create passive income and lasting legacies with strategic real estate decisions.

Explore the fascinating insights Matt offers on global real estate investment opportunities. With his extensive expertise, Matt discusses key strategies and tips for those looking to venture into real estate. From fractional investments to identifying resilient properties with multiple revenue streams, Matt provides invaluable advice on how to build a robust investment portfolio. His philosophy is driven by a heartfelt commitment to helping others secure their financial futures, emphasizing the importance of insurance and preparedness in every venture. His story and insights make this episode a must-listen for aspiring investors and those interested in creating a meaningful legacy.

Key Takeaways:

Overcome Adversity: Matt's survival and recovery from a severe motorcycle accident underscore the importance of resilience and a positive mindset in facing life's challenges.
Smart Investing: Gain insights into strategic real estate investments, including the benefits of fractional investing and identifying properties with multiple revenue streams.
Insurance is Key: Matt emphasizes the critical role of comprehensive insurance in safeguarding against unforeseen events, sharing his personal experience with travel insurance.
Build a Legacy: Investing in real estate is not just about financial gain; it's about creating lasting legacies and providing opportunities for future generations.
Global Real Estate Insights: Discover Matt's approach to identifying investment hotspots worldwide, with a focus on property diversity and market resilience.

Notable Quotes:

"The real key is when you do come across a problem, it's not what's happening to you, it's how you deal with it."
"My legacy now is to encourage people and help them have a passive income in their life."
"I've always been involved in business and real estate, and it's my passion that truly set me up financially."
"Everything in life is about risk and return—calculated risk is key."
"If you think you don't need insurance, that's generally when you need it the most."

Connect with Matt Towner:

Positiveinvestments.com.au

Google name - Matt Towner

Mastering the Art of Multiplying Yourself Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Megan Carlisle. The founder of Platform Hair Extensions, a leading brand in the luxury hair extension market, Megan shares her journey from struggling hairstylist to successful entrepreneur. The episode delves into the challenges of beginning a career in the beauty sector, the entrepreneurial spirit required to overcome obstacles, and the story behind establishing her multimillion-dollar business. For Megan, creating a business wasn't just about earning more but about providing hairstylists with reliable products and helping them achieve financial freedom.

Megan talks about the importance of self-belief and resilience, attributes essential for any entrepreneur, regardless of industry. She emphasizes the necessity of identifying personal strengths, delegating tasks effectively, and crafting a premium client experience to stand out in a competitive market. The discussion highlights Megan's innovative approach to building a brand that not only offers products but reshapes the hairstyling profession into a respected, high-earning career path. With Rudy’s engaging interviewing style and Megan's compelling narrative, listeners are sure to find inspiring insights and practical advice for legacy-building and business success.

Key Takeaways:

Embrace Resilience: Megan underscores the need for resilience, citing her own experiences overcoming adversity and stress in building her business.
Learn to Multiply Yourself: Central to Megan’s business growth was the principle of teaching others and leveraging team skills to expand her company.
Price Strategically: Understanding how to price services correctly—considering time, market, and expenses—is critical and often overlooked in the beauty industry.
Create a Memorable Experience: To warrant premium pricing, Megan highlights the importance of delivering exceptional service and building a unique brand experience.
Invest in Continuous Learning: Education and business training are essential components of Megan’s business model, advocating for ongoing development to achieve sustained success.

Notable Quotes:

“The whole goal with the company was to help stylists behind the chair make more money, learn how to manage their time better.”
“If we’re going to do this, we need to start our own company.”
“Marketing has been really grassroots; we’ve built our company from the ground up with educators.”
“My dad taught me... learn how to multiply yourself.”
“People don’t get to put limits on you. You can create whatever future you want.”

Resources:

Instagram: @megmeghair

Websites:

How Ella Dean is Revolutionizing Haircare with Fruits & Veggies Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Nicole Rose, the innovative mind behind the hair care brand, Ella Dean. Nicole, a proactive entrepreneur inspired by her family's longstanding legacy in the beauty industry, shares her journey from launching her product line during the challenges of the COVID pandemic to achieving global recognition. The discussion revolves around the unique concept of using nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to nourish hair, delving into the significance of heritage, and detailing how Nicole's drive and passion have helped her navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.

Listeners are in for an insightful exploration of Nicole's entrepreneurial story, marked by humility and determination. She details how she tackled initial market challenges, including the transition from a corporate job to fully investing her energy into her brand. Through strategic marketing and innovative formulations, Ella Dean has attracted a global customer base by offering an alternative to mainstream hair care products that are dominated by ubiquitous ingredients like coconut oil. Throughout the episode, Nicole emphasizes the importance of creativity, passion, and staying true to one's roots to achieve success.

Key Takeaways:

Nicole Rose's inspiration for Ella Dean stems from her family's deep-rooted legacy in the beauty industry, allowing her to infuse heritage into her brand identity.
Ella Dean's unique selling proposition lies in its utilization of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to create distinctive and effective hair care products.
Transitioning from a corporate role to full-time entrepreneurship was a challenging but rewarding endeavor for Nicole, facilitated by the flexibility offered during the COVID pandemic.
With a focus on inclusivity and community, Nicole seeks to make Ella Dean's products easily accessible worldwide while maintaining a personal touch reminiscent of traditional salons.
Persistence and passion have been pivotal in overcoming skepticism and scaling the business to win over a diverse clientele.

Notable Quotes:

"Don't let anyone stop you from doing your brand. Now those people who doubted me are my customers."
"My journey has been very humbling because they don't teach you how to start your own brand in school."
"I want my products to be easily accessible to people. If that means being in a smaller store than Sephora, that's fine."
"Everyone was like, 'Oh, another business during COVID,' but I made $600 my first time selling Ella Dean."

CHAPTERS

1:50 - Legacy and Innovation in Hair Care with Nicole Rose

4:09 - Unique Hair Care Products Using Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs

5:51 - Entrepreneurship as the Best Teacher Over Formal Education

7:03 - Entrepreneurial Wins and Challenges in the Beauty Industry

9:20 - From Corporate Job to Entrepreneurial Success During COVID

10:24 - Building a Lasting Legacy Through Family and Community

11:56 - From Doubt to Success: Building a Hair Care Brand

14:57 - Building a Passionate Hair Care Brand with Nicole Rose

IG - Ella Dean Hair

WEBSITE - https://elladean.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooAVgEh8Y2jDLmo0MbK-8aAi8Ke8X9uBTrrXPERjWkF6rNbOqt0

Transforming Personal Stories into Powerful Marketing Tools Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Peter Grimes, a seasoned marketing strategist and storytelling maestro, discusses the process of transforming personal stories into powerful marketing tools. Rudy and Pete share a common goal: helping individuals use their personal journeys to inspire and initiate change in others' lives. This episode delves into the art of storytelling, highlighting its potential to influence, motivate, and build a lasting legacy. As Peter asserts, "Even if it helps just one person, would it be worth it? And most people I talked to said, even if I could help one person, it'd be worth it."

Throughout the episode, Peter shares his formula for turning ideas into books, emphasizing the importance of clarifying one’s message and mission. He further explains how the challenges of imposter syndrome and writers' block can be overcome, allowing individuals to "speak their book into existence." This discussion goes into how writing a book is not only a powerful authority piece for personal branding but also a vehicle for impact. Peter's approach to book writing is accessible, and his system is designed to overcome common hurdles, making it feasible for anyone with a story to tell. Rudy captures the essence of the episode perfectly: "If you spend enough energy and effort helping enough people, you'll never have to worry about yourself."

CHAPTERS

4:40 - Writing a Book: From Idea to Reality

9:00 - Balancing AI Assistance and Authenticity in Book Writing

10:15 - Overcoming Book Writing Fears and Embracing Personal Legacy

14:03 - Everyday Heroes and Life Lessons in San Francisco

15:26 - An Accidental Journey Into Motivational Speaking

16:49 - Building a Legacy Through Storytelling and Leadership

Key Takeaways:

Crafting Your Story: Learn how crafting and sharing your personal story can help inspire and motivate others, while building your own legacy.
Conquering Writing Challenges: Discover strategies for overcoming writer's block, analysis paralysis, and imposter syndrome to successfully author your book.
Importance of a Strong Outline: Understand how a meticulously crafted outline serves as the backbone of your book-writing process, making it simpler and more streamlined.
Book as a Marketing Tool: Explore how books can become cornerstone content pieces for personal branding and marketing, extending their impact beyond mere publication.
Ripple Effect of Legacy: Recognize the profound impact one can have on the world by simply sharing their story and how it helps fulfill a deeper sense of self-realization.

Notable Quotes:

"Most people have this amazing story inside them...they can share through their story lessons, motivation, inspiration, wisdom that can help other people."
"It's really simply, you have to clarify your message first, and then that message becomes your purpose, your why."
"Once you have the outline, you speak your book into existence. You know, the average book now could probably do in four to six hours."
"If you spend enough energy and effort helping enough people, you'll never have to worry about yourself."
"Legacy is about creating a ripple effect...how many people's lives can you impact positively?"

Resources:

Pete Grimes' Website: petegrimes.com
LinkedIn: Peter Grimes on LinkedIn

From Stockbroker to Dungeon Master: Rachel Dove's Quest to Build a Global D&D Empire Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Rachel Dove, a former stockbroker turned entrepreneur, shares her journey in building "Dungeons Not Dating," a platform connecting Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts. The episode delves into Rachel's transition from finance to creating safe, inclusive spaces for gamers. Rachel shares how social media catapulted her app into popularity and discusses the challenges of managing a startup. Discover how she's fostering community and what "legacy" means to her. Listen to learn about the growing impact of Dungeons and Dragons in community building and mental health.

CHAPTERS

01:53 - Introduction to Dungeons Not Dating

02:10 - Understanding Dungeons and Dragons

04:03 - The Impact of COVID on Gaming

05:22 - Building Community and Resources

07:29 - The Role of Social Media

09:23 - Investing in Yourself and Community

10:40 - Challenges of Entrepreneurship

11:09 - Facing Doubts and Skepticism

15:12 - Navigating the Ups and Downs

16:18 - Legacy and Community Impact

17:34 - Getting Started with D&D

17:10 - Finding the Right People to Play With

Key Takeaways:

Creating Inclusive Spaces: Rachel Dove's platform is dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment for Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts.

From Finance to Fantasy: Her transition from a stockbroker to an entrepreneur illustrates the power of following one's passion and filling an unmet market need.

Global Community Impact: The app aims to connect over 20 million D&D players worldwide, easing entry for newcomers and fostering shared adventures.

The Role of Social Media: Platforms like TikTok have significantly aided Rachel's outreach, transforming ideas into viral, community-driven projects.

Innovative Business Strategies: Rachel's vision includes broadening into therapeutic spaces and supporting craft marketplaces, showcasing the app's potential beyond gaming.

Notable Quotes:

"What it really is, is it's an investment in yourself and your community." – Rachel Dove
"A lot of that 20 million, they're already in a party. They already have friends they play with, but new folks who want to play, how do they start?" – Rachel Dove
"I thought it stood for dinner and drinks... and ended up becoming a tiefling wizard." – Rachel Dove
"I want my legacy to be that person who is and always will be an includer." – Rachel Dove
"Lean on those relationships. Lean on the support that I did have was just extremely important." – Rachel Dove

Resources:

Rachel Dove's Platform: Dungeons Not Dating

Social Media: TikTok - Dungeons Not Dating

Reinventing School: How Mindset is Revolutionizing Education Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Explore the transformative power of communication and mindset with Renee Vardouniotis, founder of The Edge Academy, as she shares her journey from speech language pathologist to mindset educator. The discussion involves improving communication skills, the limitations of the current education system, and the importance of personal development. Renee delves into her mission to empower individuals and break generational barriers, while Rudy reflects on how taking risks leads to personal fulfillment. Discover how these insights can help unlock potential and pave the way for a vibrant legacy.

CHAPTERS

1:50 The Pull Away: Feelings driving change in life.

4:37 Evolving Education: How teaching methods have changed.

6:46 Learning Gaps: Differences in generational learning styles.

10:19 Future Investment: Importance of funding education.

12:16 Bridging Skills: Connecting academics with real-life skills.

14:39 Mindset: The impact of mindset on growth.

15:24 Breaking Curses: Overcoming inherited limitations.

17:09 Community: Building supportive learning networks.

19:54 Risk & Success: Relationship between risk-taking and fulfillment.

20:02 Awareness: Importance of emotional health in communication.

23:03 Future Learning: Predictions for educational evolution.

24:21 Lasting Change: Strategies for meaningful reforms.

Connect with Renee:

IG - Renee_vee

From Books to Bottles: Rico Austin's Tequila Journey Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Rico Austin is a world-traveling author, entrepreneur, and tequila connoisseur. He is the founder of Bajariba Tequila, an award-winning brand known for its high-quality tequila crafted from 100% blue Weber agave. Rico holds a PhD in tequila making and has built a successful business with nationwide distribution. With a deep love of Baja, his tequila brand and its unique Baja Peninsula-shaped bottle are inspired by his adventures and storytelling prowess.

CHAPTERS

2:26 - Rico's Journey into Tequila

7:50 - Finding the Right Distillery

9:03 - Health Benefits of Tequila

10:09 - Bottle Design Challenges

12:27 - Importance of Vendors

15:01 - First Large Order Experience

20:39 - Defining Legacy

22:27 - Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Key Takeaways:

Overcoming Industry Challenges: Rico Austin discusses the hurdles of entering the alcohol industry, from monetary constraints to perfecting product designs and maintaining quality.
Combining Passion with Entrepreneurship: The episode highlights Rico's journey from being known as "the Tequila Guy" to founding Bajariba Tequila and the role of passion in driving business success.
Importance of Quality and Innovation: By ensuring Bajariba Tequila combines visually stunning packaging with authentically premium tequila, Rico demonstrates the importance of not compromising on product quality.
Role of Mentorship and Community: Rico emphasizes seeking mentorship and the power of giving back to the community as significant factors in personal and professional success.
Embracing Hard Work: The significance of perseverance and relentless hard work is underscored as key ingredients in turning dreams into reality and leaving a lasting legacy.

Notable Quotes:

"Give back to your community. Even if you can't do it financially, there's different ways you can give back." - Rico Austin
"I think one of the largest challenges is the monetary because it's very expensive to start with a Tequila company." - Rico Austin
"The harder I work, the luckier I get." - Rico Austin, quoting Henry Ford
"I hope it's always I had good morals, values, respect for others and for myself." - Rico Austin
"Books are a tremendous resource. Even after you learn when you think you know it all, there's still going to be 20 million things that have never even come to your mind." - Rico Austin