Brilliant Podcast

From 2021 to 2023, Tristan Ahumada captured the podcasting world’s attention with the Brilliant Thoughts podcast through SUCCESS Magazine, amassing a dedicated following. With over 100 episodes and glowing five-star reviews, it averaged more than 100,000 downloads per episode, becoming an essential listen for those eager to grow their life and business. Now, we’re narrowing the focus even further — Introducing Brilliant, a podcast dedicated to the books you should be reading, but aren’t. Join Tristan as he interviews some of the smartest minds on the planet—authors who have poured their genius into carefully crafted books that you should be reading. These thought leaders are shaping the future, and they’re sharing ideas that will help you think more critically, enhance your knowledge, and elevate your life and business. Each episode will take you through the key lessons from their work, offering insights that can inspire breakthroughs and drive real change. These aren’t just books—they’re transformative ideas that propel humanity forward, and Tristan will guide you through them. Subscribe now and discover the books and ideas that will change the way you think, transforming both your life and business. Brilliant is your new go-to for the stories and insights you didn’t know you needed.

Episodes

The Introvert Olympics: Goldie Chan Outs L.A.’s “Fake Extroverts”

December 16, 2025 • 53 mins

So I sat down with Goldie Chan, yes, the green-haired legend of LinkedIn, to talk about introverts, fake extroverts, and why L.A. somehow demands you be “on” all the time, even when you’re just trying to buy a latte. If you’ve ever had a conversation with someone in L.A. who sounds like they’re auditioning… this episode is for you. Goldie showed up with her brand-new book, Personal Branding for Introverts, and within five minutes I...

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The “Be Followable” Formula with Russ Laggan

November 18, 2025 • 50 mins

I sat down with Russ Laggan, yes, rhymes with Dragon, to talk about what it actually means to be followable in business and life. He’s not just the Chief Growth Officer at eXp Realty, he’s also a guy who forges metal, builds guitars, and has a refreshingly honest take on leadership and mindset. We get into why being followable starts with how you show up, how to stop overcomplicating connection, and why adding value first changes e...

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How Great Leaders Grow Themselves First: Margaret Andrews on the Art (and Pain) of Self-Understanding

October 21, 2025 • 48 mins

What really makes someone a great leader? Spoiler: it’s not a fancy title or your ability to quote Simon Sinek. In this episode, I sit down with Margaret Andrews, Harvard educator and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others, to talk about why leadership starts with, you guessed it, you. We get real about emotional awareness, personal stories, and how your inner world quietly dictates your outer leadership.

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Hyperbole, Habits & the Inner Voice with Jay Heinrichs

August 26, 2025 • 59 mins

This week, I'm discussing self-persuasion with Jay Heinrichs. We bridge Aristotle's teachings with contemporary challenges such as imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and small actions that really do sum to something big. You'll learn how hyperbole can be harnessed as motivation, how mood → mind → action → habit plays out in real life, and why what you say to yourself matters more than you realize.

It's...

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Blindspotting with Martin Dubin: Leading Through Self-Awareness

August 5, 2025 • 52 mins

In this episode of BRILLIANT, I sit down with Martin Dubin, author of Blindspotting: How To See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader. Martin shares how our deepest blindspots, emotional, personal, and generational, often become the very things that shape our leadership if we’re brave enough to face them. We unpack how storytelling, reflection, and honest conversations can help us lead with purpose and heal what’s unspoken. If you’re...

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How Storytelling Can Transform Your Business and Connections with Matthew Dicks

July 22, 2025 • 54 mins

On this episode of BRILLIANT Podcast, I’m joined by Matthew Dicks, the author of Stories Sell, as we talk about how the power of storytelling can reshape how we connect with others—whether in business, relationships, or daily life. Matthew shares his techniques for transforming data into engaging stories, why vulnerability is crucial in connecting with audiences, and how to create emotional resonance through storytelling. From his ...

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Behind the Scenes with Kass and Michael Lazerow on the Grit of Entrepreneurship

July 8, 2025 • 66 mins

In this episode of BRILLIANT Podcast, I talk with Kass and Michael Lazerow, co-authors of Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success. We dive into the reality of entrepreneurship—how it feels, why it’s worth it, and how to stay sane in the process. From giving Gary Vee his first office space to selling Buddy Media to Salesforce for $754M, they’ve lived it all. We cover how to decide when to pivot,...

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Anne Curzan on Funner, Kinder, and Reclaiming Language with Empathy

June 24, 2025 • 55 mins

In this episode of the BRILLIANT podcast, I sit down with linguist and award-winning author Anne Curzan to explore how language is changing in real time and what that means for how we communicate, connect, and lead. Anne and I dig into everything from grammar correction on social media to the word “funner,” why kids are the real influencers of language, and how we can become more empathetic communicators. We also talk about how A...

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Say It Well: Speechwriting, Storytelling, and Leading with Your Words with Terry Szuplat

June 10, 2025 • 59 mins

Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Terry Szuplat, former Special Assistant to the President and senior speechwriter for Barack Obama. He’s the author of Say It Well, a masterclass on writing and speaking with precision, empathy, and impact. Terry opens up about the behind-the-scenes process of presidential speechwriting, including how moments like the Boston Marathon bombing memorial were shaped by...

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A Green Beret's Guide to Resilience, Leadership, and Getting Big Stuff Done

May 27, 2025 • 54 mins

Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I talk with LTC Scott Mann, a retired Green Beret and author of Nobody Is Coming to Save You. We dive deep into the emotional and social challenges we’re all facing today, and how to lead through them with intention. Scott shares what it means to fight the real battle happening inside us and around us. We talked about storytelling as a healing tool, why social capital is more val...

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Brilliant Podcast

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Introvert Olympics: Goldie Chan Outs L.A.’s “Fake Extroverts”

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}The “Be Followable” Formula with Russ Laggan

How Great Leaders Grow Themselves First: Margaret Andrews on the Art (and Pain) of Self-Understanding

Hyperbole, Habits & the Inner Voice with Jay Heinrichs

Blindspotting with Martin Dubin: Leading Through Self-Awareness

How Storytelling Can Transform Your Business and Connections with Matthew Dicks

Behind the Scenes with Kass and Michael Lazerow on the Grit of Entrepreneurship

Anne Curzan on Funner, Kinder, and Reclaiming Language with Empathy

Say It Well: Speechwriting, Storytelling, and Leading with Your Words with Terry Szuplat

A Green Beret's Guide to Resilience, Leadership, and Getting Big Stuff Done

Popular Podcasts

The Introvert Olympics: Goldie Chan Outs L.A.’s “Fake Extroverts”

The “Be Followable” Formula with Russ Laggan