Education
**The Secret To Success with CJ, Karl, Jemal & Eric Thomas**

The Secret To Success Podcast is your weekly jolt of truth, strategy, and conviction from Eric Thomas (ET)—the world’s #1 motivational speaker—alongside CJ Quinney, Karl Phillips, and Jemal “9-to-5 Millionaire” King. No fluffy theory here. We talk mindset, money, relationships, leadership, faith, health, and execution—and we do it with straight talk, real stories, and proven playbooks you can run today.

From locker rooms and boardrooms to classrooms and living rooms, we break down how high performers actually win consistently—and how you can too. Expect hot seats, uncomfortable truths, practical frameworks, wild behind-the-scenes moments, and the accountability you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re ready to stop collecting information and start adopting the mindset that changes your life, you’re in the right room. Tap in, take notes, and let’s execute.

Latest Episodes:

You’re Doing the Work But Still Stuck — Here's the Problem Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

“Be honest — what’s something you’ve been consistent at… but haven’t seen results from yet?”
You can do the right things and still be headed in the wrong direction.
In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the conversation goes straight at a frustration many disciplined people quietly carry:
“I followed the rules. I showed up. I stayed consistent… so why isn’t it working?”
This isn’t a motivational episode. It’s an examination.

The team breaks down why effort alone doesn’t produce growth, how consistency without measurement becomes rehearsed failure, and why isolation — not laziness — is often the real reason progress stalls.
You’ll hear why pain is often proof of progress, why feedback is essential (even when it hurts), and how following the wrong formula can keep smart, hardworking people stuck for years.

If you’ve been doing the work but questioning the results, this episode will help you identify what needs to change — without throwing away everything you’ve built.
This conversation is about alignment, correction, and building with intention — not just grinding harder.

Chapters

00:00:00 Opening: Consistency Isn't Enough
00:01:26 Welcome and Team Introductions
00:06:55 How Do You Know When God Is Telling You to Move?
00:11:33 The Power of Making Decisions Over Waiting
00:13:23 Patterns Over Decisions: Learning God's Ways
00:15:57 Excellence Is God: Moving in the Spirit of Excellence
00:16:46 Consistency Without Quality Is Rehearsed Failure
00:21:37 The Sandpaper People: Why You Need Correction
00:24:18 Stop Working in Isolation: The Cage Mentality
00:34:39 Measuring Progress: Pain Equals Progress
00:38:04 Quick Evaluation: The Secret to Accelerated Growth
00:40:15 Being Coachable: ET's Jordan Brand Adjustment
00:43:09 Real Numbers, Real Accountability
00:57:52 Breaking Free from Your Cage: Changing Your Circle
01:02:07 Closing: Merry Christmas and Final Encouragement

Subscribe
If you’re serious about growth — not just motivation — subscribe to the channel.
New conversations drop weekly, focused on discipline, clarity, and building a life that actually works.

Join Our Patreon Community
If you want to go deeper than the podcast, join our Patreon community.
Patreon members get:
- Behind-the-scenes conversations
- Extended discussions and bonus content
- Direct access to the community shaping these ideas in real time
patreon.com/s2spodcast120

Share This Episode
If this episode made you uncomfortable — it’ll probably help someone you care about.
Share it with a friend who’s doing everything right but feels stuck.
Share this with someone who’s doing everything right but feels stuck

Feeling Stuck in a Dark Place? This Is Why Your Life Isn’t Changing | S2S 519 Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

If life feels heavy, confusing, or just stuck… you’re not broken. You’re not cursed. You’re not “falling behind.”
You’re in a phase nobody teaches you how to navigate: the dark season.

In today’s episode, the guys break down why your hardest moments keep repeating, why running from discomfort actually makes it worse, and the one shift that finally moves you forward. ET explains how every version of success he’s had was formed in moments nobody saw. Jamal talks about the darkness that exposed the real picture of his life and pushed him toward real estate. Karl breaks down how creativity, identity, and resilience are all born in the dark—never in comfort.

This conversation will change how you interpret struggle, setbacks, disappointment, and pressure. Because the truth is simple:
You don’t grow in the light. You grow in the hard stuff. And once you know how to face it, everything changes.

🔥 In This Episode You’ll Learn:

Why God prepares your table in the presence of your enemies—and why you keep praying them away
How darkness is not Satan's domain—it's where God forms everything
The difference between light (what's already formed) and dark (where you're being formed)
Why the Buffalo runs into the storm while everyone else gets stuck in it longer
Jamal's real story: sitting in that squad car at midnight, feeling like a failure—and how that darkness exposed the picture God was developing
How to do dark different: prepare before it comes, embrace it when it's here, and let it form you instead of break you
Why your prayers in the light are different than your prayers in the dark—and how that's costing you your breakthrough

🚀 JOIN THE 1% CHALLENGE

Surround yourself with people who won’t let you settle.
👉 ETOnePercent.com

🎥 JOIN THE PATREON FAMILY (LIVE RECORDINGS + EXCLUSIVE CONTENT)

Don’t just watch the podcast—experience it with us.
👉 Patreon.com/S2SPodcast120

📘 READ KARL’S BOOK — “Moving Past Potential”

A blueprint for breaking through fear, hesitation, and overthinking.
👉 MovingPastPotential.com

How Your Ego Is Killing Your Success | S2S 518 Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Most people don’t fail because they lack talent—
they fail because their ego keeps putting them in positions they’re not built for.

This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who keeps blowing opportunities, breaking alliances, sabotaging good teams, or confusing “control” with “calling.” We’re talking identity, roles, loyalty, humility, and the dangerous trend of chasing titles instead of mastering your assignment.

If you’ve ever walked away from the people who built you…
If you keep trying to lead when you’re meant to support…
If you think you want the spotlight but can’t handle the responsibility…
If you’re losing while insisting on being in charge…

…this conversation is going to sting, but it will straighten out your whole approach to success.

It’s time to tell the truth:
You can’t win the game when your ego won’t let you play your position.

And for the first time ever, we’re introducing two new segments designed to shift your mindset daily:
🔥 Kalm Down with Karl
🔥 Mal’s Millionaire Moment

Powerful clarity. Tactical mindset shifts. Zero excuses.

🚨 FREE 8-DAY ENCORE WITH ET — STARTS DECEMBER 8TH

Daily sessions. Real accountability. Serious breakthroughs.
If you’re stuck, drifting, or overwhelmed, don’t miss this.

👉 Sign up free: https://www.et1percent.com

🔒 JOIN THE S2S PATREON FAMILY

Watch the episodes LIVE, get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, bonus content, and connect with the community that grows WITH you.

👉 https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120

📌 CONNECT WITH US

Instagram: @s2spodcast
YouTube: S2S Podcast Channel
Website: s2spodcast.com

Exploited: The Real Price of Staying a Consumer Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

Life keeps bullying you because you keep handing over the power. Your habits, your phone, your job, your fears, your past — all of it is pushing you around while you stand there acting like you don’t have a choice.

This episode breaks that cycle wide open.
ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal dive into the truth nobody wants to admit:
you’re either the bully… or you’re getting bullied.
By your circumstances.
By your imagination (or lack of it).
By the systems built to turn you into a full-time consumer.

Inside the episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the picture in your head is more important than the reality in front of you
• How to stop giving your power away to fear, bills, people, and your own patterns
• Why consumers get exploited, and why producers win every single time
• How social media turns you into a victim without you noticing
• How intentionality separates the bullied from the unstoppable
• Why your gift — not your job — is the real source of your freedom
• How to bully the bully in your finances, marriage, career, and internal dialogue
• Why one property, one skill, or one shift can flip your entire life trajectory

This is one of those episodes you replay when you feel stuck.
It’s raw. It’s practical. It’s uncomfortable.
And it’s exactly what you need.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Show Intro
01:25 - ET on Bullying Awareness
05:09 - Bully the Bully Strategy
07:32 - Discovering Your Gifts
11:55 - Overcoming Inner Criticism
17:19 - The Reality of Fear
19:14 - Understanding Menopause
22:15 - The Nature of Bullying
25:29 - Utilizing Your Gifts
27:18 - Embrace Assertiveness
30:25 - Valuing Your Worth
33:25 - Work for Your Demands
35:55 - Embracing Change
38:30 - Be the Solution
44:10 - Next Level Conference Overview
46:16 - Future of EYL University
47:40 - Inside The Lab
49:45 - Join the BU Community
50:01 - Support This Podcast
👇 JOIN THE S2S PATREON (Exclusive content + BTS + Early access)
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👇 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL
Weekly episodes, clips, and access to the entire S2S ecosystem:
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👇 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@s2spodcast

If this hit you, share it with someone still letting life push them around.
The moment you stop being a consumer and start being a producer, everything changes.

Bully the Bully: Why You Keep Getting Pushed Around in Life | S2S 516 Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

You’re letting people with zero track record tell you how to run your life. And the wild part? Half of them couldn’t survive doing what YOU do for 24 hours.

In this episode of the Secret to Success Podcast, the guys break down the “Bully the Bully” mindset—why the world pushes you around if you don’t push back, why people in survival mode try to hijack what you’ve built, and why letting the wrong voices guide you is the fastest way back to the bottom.

ET, CJ, Karl, and Jemal unpack:

Why unqualified opinions keep you broke and stuck
The mentality difference between survivors and winners
Why you MUST protect what you’ve built
How the world “bullies” you financially if you’re not intentional
The exact mindset shift needed to take control of your life

This one is raw, hilarious, and heavy with truth—perfect for anyone tired of being pushed around by people who haven’t done the work.
Video Chapters
00:00 Opening: Don't Let Bullies Give You Advice
01:21 Welcome and Team Introductions
09:48 New York Trip and Expensive Breakfast Revelation
13:45 The $69 Breakfast: They're Bullying You
14:19 Introducing Bully the Bully Mentality
22:10 Mike Tyson and the Mental Game
28:29 Recognizing Opinion Boys vs. Authorities
43:15 Black Men and the Bully Dynamic
45:02 Stop Being a Consumer, Become a Producer
52:31 Your Gifts Shall Make Room for You
58:58 Closing: Concentrate on Your Opportunity

👇 JOIN THE S2S PATREON (BEHIND THE SCENES, EARLY ACCESS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT)
➡️ https://www.patreon.com/S2SPodcast120

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Weekly episodes, clips, and exclusive drops:
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1

👇 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@S2SPodcast

If this hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember:
Stop letting people who can’t do what you do tell you how to do it.
Bully the bully. Take back your power.

Stop Being Emotional—It’s Why You Keep Losing Money | 515 Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

If your feelings keep driving your finances, you’re paying an invisible tax. In this episode we break down how to regulate emotions, demand receipts (real due diligence), and replace motivation with rules so you stop bleeding time and money. Action over anxiety. Rules over mood. Results over excuses.
You’ll learn

How to stop emotional decision-making before it costs you
What real due diligence looks like (records over “trust me”)
The mindset shift from motivation to non-negotiable rules
Why KPIs and clear consequences end confusion and chaos
How to do “the real work” (and why thinking about it is harder than doing it)

Tap in with S2S

Subscribe for weekly breakthroughs: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
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Website: https://s2spodcast.com
Patreon (exclusive content & live recordings): https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120

Do this next (CTAs)

Comment: Drop “FIRE YOUR FEELINGS” if you’re done letting emotions run your money.
Share: Send this to a friend who keeps “investing” without receipts.
Review: If this helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—tell us your #1 takeaway.

What ET Told the Baltimore Ravens that Could Change Your Life | S2S 513 Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

The week the Ravens were 1–5 and about to face Chicago, ET walked into Baltimore’s locker room with a message—not hype, a standard.
Jemal, a lifelong Bears fan, wants to know why ET had to deliver that talk right before they played his team.
That friendly smoke sets the tone as we unpack the exact principles ET shared: why contracts beat feelings, how identity sets standards, standards drive behavior, and behavior produces results—on the field and in your life. We trace the arc from a losing record to a winning mindset, then translate it into practical moves you can use this week: building simple systems that work when your mood doesn’t, protecting momentum, and committing to one non-negotiable that changes the scoreboard at work and at home. By the end, Jemal makes his Bears case, ET makes the case for standards over vibes, and you’ll leave with a clear “12–5” plan—one covenant, seven days, real traction.

If this hits, subscribe and share it with someone who needs a standard, not a speech. Drop “12–5” in the comments with the one rule you’re locking in this week, and we’ll read a few on the next episode.

From Supporter to Slayer—Become the One Who Hunts Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Stop helping. Own the kill.
For years, helping felt noble—but that was Level 1. In this episode, Karl opens up about his shift from approval-seeking supporter to hunter: taking ownership, moving first, and letting execution—not permission—set the pace. We break down how that mindset change is transforming his leadership, family life, business, and even real estate strategy.

What you’ll get

Karl’s real transition: supporter → slayer (ownership over approval)
“Move first, figure it out later” — how hunters build momentum
Family & legacy: why your people need you leading from the front
Real estate lessons (1031s, opportunity zones, scale thinking) you can model
Simple systems to keep hunting when motivation dips

🔥 Viewer Challenge (comment to commit)
Drop “I’m hunting” + the ONE action you’ll take in the next 24 hours. We’ll shout out a few next episode.

✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@S2SPodcastChannel?sub_confirmation=1
🔁 Share with someone stuck in “helper mode.”
🎧 Get BTS + bonus on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/S2SPodcast120
🌐 More from S2S: s2spodcast.com
📲 IG: @s2spodcast

You Didn’t Play Big & Lose—You Played Small & Won | S2S 511 Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Drop your North Star in one sentence below. If you can’t say it in a line, you can’t live it in a year!
Are you doing everything and going nowhere? This episode is your wake-up call. We break down why scattered hustle kills credibility, how a single North Star changed our entire operation, and the exact mindset shift to align actions with the goals you keep talking about.

The guys get surgical: give up the stage for the mission, put businesses on autopilot (one at a time), value mastery over opinions, and stop letting anxiety grow in the gap between your words and your work. If you want receipts, we’ve got them—KPIs, standards, and the uncomfortable conversations required to level up.

510 - You can't win like this! Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Most people don’t lose because they’re not talented—they lose because they’re scattered. In this episode, the guys break down why doing nine things halfway will never beat doing one thing with ruthless focus. ET unpacks how people-pleasing drains your energy, CJ shows how a single North Star changed their whole brand, and Maul & Karl dive into legacy, parenting, and building skills that outlive you.

You’ll learn: