The Pocket with Chris Griffin

Latest Episodes:

#85: Why Christian Guzman Never Walked Away - Even When He Should Have Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

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

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Andy Elliot: The Secret to Earning Respect from Anyone Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Andy Elliott’s story is pure grit. He’s been betrayed, hit rock bottom, and built it all back up not just once but over and over. Today he leads the largest sales training company in the world and still wakes up hungry every day.

We talk about building a self-belief that cannot be shaken, why suffering is the best teacher, how to lead yourself before anyone else, and why the right partner can be your biggest competitive edge. This one will light you up.

People hate on Andy, people told me not to interview Andy, but I make sure I make my judgments based on my experience, not everyone else’s projections. I enjoy my time with Andy, I’m fascinated by him and I think you will be too.

Key Discussion Points:
• Why comfort kills growth
• Loyalty you cannot put a price on
• How self-imposed hardship sharpens you
• Confidence vs ego and knowing the line
• Drawing the right people into your circle
• Building a team that feels like family
• How physical discipline hardens the mind
• Turning pain into permanent fuel
• Why your partner matters more than you think
• Playing for legacy and not just quick wins

Timestamps:

03:20–09:11 Pain, suffering, and the refiner’s fire

09:11–12:00 The curse of comfort and staying hungry

12:00–15:45 Confidence vs ego and being coachable

15:45–18:45 Why connection beats information

18:45–23:05 Loyalty, betrayal, and building trust

23:05–26:47 How Jackie changed Andy’s life forever

26:47–30:15 Building a team that feels like family

30:15–33:08 Discipline, self-respect, and physical fitness

33:08–36:20 Creating life-changing impact for others

36:20–39:37 Using pain and doubt as fuel

39:37–42:02 The boring work that builds empires

42:02–44:53 Why family alignment determines long-term success

44:53–48:10 Changing who you are and coming back stronger

48:10–50:42 Resilience, redemption, and becoming a legend

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#83: Supplement Expert: Why We’re All Nutrient Deficient Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Shawn Wells is known as the world’s top supplement formulator with over 40 patented ingredients, but behind the success is a story of trauma, depression, obesity, and suicidal thoughts. In this episode, we dive into Shawn’s raw personal journey, how pain shaped his purpose, and why he believes modern life is leaving us all dangerously nutrient deficient.

We talk about the lies we’ve been told about health, the war on our brains, the true cause of burnout, and why supplements are no longer just “nice to have.”

This is one of the most eye-opening convos we’ve had on the podcast.

Follow Shawn:

https://www.instagram.com/shawnwells/

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Check out our sponsor of the podcast: Dream Recovery. Use code GRIFFIN for 15% off your entire order:

https://dreamrecovery.io/

Get a free podcast playbook with everything you need to know to build a successful podcast:

https://thepodcastjungle.com/

Timestamps:

03:00–07:20 Supplements are no longer optional
07:20–11:35 Lifespan, healthspan, and youthspan
11:35–15:50 Escaping the system and ancient wisdom
15:50–18:22 How the food industry keeps us sick
18:22–22:05 The doctor who changed everything
22:05–26:00 Trauma, obesity, and internal war
26:00–30:04 Turning pain into purpose
30:04–34:30 Psychedelics and the second life
34:30–38:55 Loneliness, depression, and healing
38:55–43:20 Nightclubs, numbness, and real connection
43:20–47:00 Addiction, apathy, and burnout
47:00–52:00 Why caffeine makes you feel worse
52:00–58:04 Going viral with better energy
58:04–1:04:00 Kim Kardashian and Paraxanthine’s rise
1:04:00–1:09:45 Caffeine is not what you think
1:09:45–1:13:10 Understanding your bioindividuality
1:13:10–1:16:30 Smart supplementation for brain and sleep

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#82: Tom Baulch: Why Most Men Stay Stuck Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Tom Baulch (aka PrimeTrain) was stuck in the loop, partying every weekend, waking up with regret, and telling himself it was fine because everyone else was doing the same. But deep down, he knew he wasn’t proud of who he was becoming.

Seven months ago, he made a decision that changed everything. He gave up drinking, cleaned up his circle, and went all in on his potential. Since then, his business has hit six figures a month, his energy has shifted, and he’s finally living the life he used to just talk about.

In this raw and honest episode, we unpack what it really takes to change, why so many men stay stuck in the same cycles, and the brutal self-talk that finally pushed him to break free.

He’s not perfect. But he’s giving life a red hot crack. This convo was powerful.

Key Discussion Points:
– The drinking cycle most men can’t escape
– Self-sabotage, regret, and rock bottom
– How quitting alcohol unlocked his best self
– Business growth and inner confidence
– Why most people never change

Check out our sponsor of the podcast: Dream Recovery. Use code GRIFFIN for 15% off your entire order:

https://dreamrecovery.io/

Follow Tom:

https://www.instagram.com/tombaulch/

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Apply to join Chris’ Podcast School:

https://www.thepodcastjungle.com/

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#81: Zack Telander: We Don’t Need More Content, We Need More Humans. Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

This one hit different.

Zack Telander is a musician, father, and seasoned weightlifter, he’s also a man who calls out the fluff on social media. Especially in a world that rewards curated personas over real connection.

In this episode, we dove deep into the dark side of content, the addiction to documenting everything, the manipulation of the algorithm, and the pressure to always perform.

Zack opened up about fatherhood, anxiety, chasing authenticity, and why we’re more drawn to flaw than perfection.

We spoke about content, but we really spoke about life. It was a good one fam!

Follow Zack:

https://www.instagram.com/zack_telander/

Listen to Zacks music:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Pe957QMENAWMZF7ityC81?si=Yte3OKPTRDy_XIOzoGSPJw

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Check out our sponsor of the podcast: Dream Recovery. Use code GRIFFIN for 15% off your entire order:

https://dreamrecovery.io/

Key Discussion Points:

Why documenting everything ruins the moment
The danger of highlight reels and fake personas
Content before craft — and the cost of playing the game
Zack’s poem on burnout and modern life
Why we crave real human connection, not more content

00:00 - 03:45 Why content is cannibalizing itself

03:45 - 07:10 If everything is content, nothing is

07:10 - 11:00 Algorithms vs authenticity

11:00 - 15:25 Charlatans, fake personas, and funnels

15:25 - 19:40 Fatherhood and breaking OCD cycles

19:40 - 25:05 Why being broke taught him resilience

25:05 - 30:10 Zack’s poem “The Millennial”

30:10 - 35:40 Content before craft and the myth of potential

35:40 - 40:00 Outsourcing your voice and losing the soul

40:00 - 44:30 When content is systemized, humans disappear

44:30 - 48:20 Doomscrolling, manipulation, and influencer ethics

48:20 - 53:00 The culture of lines

53:00 - 58:00 Transaction vs transformation in coaching

58:00 - 60:45 Why connection matters more than content

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#80: He walked away from 2x million dollar businesses at 24 Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

From building two million-dollar businesses in his early twenties to walking away from it all for a life of freedom and meaning, Jai Howitt’s story is all about letting go of what feeds your ego so you can build what truly matters.

Key Discussion Points:

How growing up as one of seven kids shaped his drive
Building and losing businesses that looked good but felt empty
Letting go of ego and the need for validation
Designing a life you don’t want to escape from
How to fail fast, pivot, and keep moving forward

Follow Jai:

https://www.instagram.com/jai.journeys/

Art Of Mondays - get $500 off your annual membership:

https://www.artofmondays.com/chris

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Timestamps:

00:00 - 04:45 Building million-dollar businesses and burning it all

04:46 - 10:12 The shark story

10:13 - 17:30 Growing up one of seven with something to prove

17:31 - 24:50 Early struggles with validation

24:51 - 32:15 Family road trip

32:16 - 39:40 The warehouse, ego, and identity traps

39:41 - 48:05 Letting go

48:06 - 55:30 Chasing validation

55:31 - 1:07:20 Designing a life you don’t want to escape from

1:07:21 - 1:19:00 Purpose and failing fast

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#79: The Truth About Mateo’s Rough Start… (teosworld) Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Mateo Caputo’s life looked smooth on the outside, but the reality was anything but. From sleeping at bus stops to selling weed just to eat, he found his escape at the skatepark and that board ended up saving his life. Mateo opens up about homelessness, family addiction, finding fitness during lockdown, and why he’ll never play the victim card again.

This was a good one and highly requested!

Key Discussion Points:
- Growing up homeless
- When family addiction forced him to choose a different path
- The power of surrounding yourself with the right people
- Leaving the victim mindset
- How health, Hawaii, and a leg injury changed everything
- Building a brand by sharing the real, raw journey

Follow Mateo:

https://www.instagram.com/teosworld_/

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Check out our sponsor of the podcast: Dream Recovery. Use code GRIFFIN for 15% off your entire order:

https://dreamrecovery.io/

Timestamps:

1:30 - 8:00 - Mateo’s rough childhood and homelessness

8:00 - 14:00 - Skateboarding as survival and escape

14:00 - 20:00 - Family addiction and choosing a different path

20:00 - 26:00 - Healing relationships and seeing parents as humans

26:00 - 32:00 - Heroes vs villains and using pain

32:00 - 38:00 - Finding fitness during COVID and going all in

38:00 - 44:00 - Developing and overcoming an eating disorder

44:00 - 50:00 - Moving to Hawaii and the moped accident

50:00 - 56:00 - Building an authentic online presence

56:00 - End - The bigger message behind Mateo’s story

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#78: Leah Free: 80% Of People Hate Their Own Voice! Here’s Why… Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

80% of people hate the sound of their own voice, but what if your voice was actually made to heal you?

Todays guest is Leah Free and we dive deep into the idea of vocal liberation, why so many of us feel blocked or ashamed to speak up, and how learning to trust your own sound can unlock your most authentic self.

We talk about the hidden traumas that shut down our expression, how your voice is connected to your nervous system, and practical ways to start loving the sound that’s always been inside you.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever cringed hearing themselves talk, or felt too scared to say what they really feel.

Key Discussion Points:

Why so many people hate their own voice
How your voice heals your body
The link between vocal expression and authenticity
Why women especially fear being heard
How to reconnect to your true sound

Follow Leah:

https://www.instagram.com/leahlivefree/

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

Timestamps:

01:30 – 05:30 — Why we hate our voice

05:30 – 09:00 — The voice heals your body

09:00 – 13:00 — Pattern interrupts and breath

13:00 – 17:00 — Vocal liberation explained

17:00 – 21:00 — Finding your true sound

21:00 – 25:00 — Trusting instinctive sounds

25:00 – 29:00 — Why we’re scared to be heard

29:00 – 33:00 — Women and vocal fear

33:00 – 37:00 — Trauma stored in the voice

37:00 – 41:00 — Releasing subconscious blocks

41:00 – 45:00 — Purpose and authenticity

45:00 – 49:00 — Sound and trance states

49:00 – 53:00 — Leah’s personal journey

53:00 – 57:00 — Trusting life’s timing

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#77: Daniel Raphael: I’ve Spent My Whole Life Trying To Be Normal Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Daniel Raphael has been called a real-life wizard. But what makes this episode special is the raw journey of someone who was born feeling everything, then spent years trying to feel nothing just to fit in.

From reading minds and seeing people’s deepest insecurities as a child, to battling dissociation, depression, and suicidal thoughts after years of shutting himself down… Daniel opens up about the pain of being misunderstood, the journey back to self, and the power of energetic healing.

We talk about the “system” that keeps people stuck in loops of shame and smallness. We go deep into identity, energy, ownership, victimhood, and how healing your internal world changes everything outside of you.

This is a conversation about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.

Daniel’s lived it and he’s here to help others do the same.

Learn more from Daniel and use code GRIFFIN at checkout on his website:

https://www.dreamporting.com/training

Key Discussion Points
– What it means to be a real-life wizard
– Childhood gifts, trauma, and suppression
– Feeling like an alien in your own life
– Suicidal depression, meds, and the identity spiral
– Breaking the script and healing from the inside
– Why most people are stuck in a loop of false stories
– Taking radical ownership (and why it’s the most freeing thing you can do)
– The real meaning of success and authenticity
– Energy, timelines, and reprogramming your subconscious
– The moment everything shifted at a festival
– Why Daniel now focuses on being more human

Follow Daniel:

https://www.instagram.com/danielraphael1/

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/morechrisgriffin/

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#76: Cru Mahoney: What People Misunderstand About Discipline Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Cru Mahoney is a rare breed. And this is the second time I have interviewed him.

He’s never touched alcohol, caffeine, or drugs. He has ran every day for over 2500 days.

But this episode goes deep. Much more than just a ‘Stay HARD’ discipline ridden podcast that has two young men telling you how to live your life. We discussed some profound topics that made me ponder deeply.

We talk about the internal war most people avoid, the difference between emotional and physical survival, and why self-respect is built in the quiet moments of daily effort. We also dive into identity, loneliness, food freedom, and how so many people are chasing success while quietly hating themselves.

Key Discussion Points: