The Playbook With David Meltzer

In today’s episode, I share the lessons that shaped my entrepreneurial journey, from chasing financial success to losing everything and rebuilding with a completely different perspective. I explain why faith matters when the evidence seems to be working against you, how being more interested than interesting creates better opportunities, and why your self image can determine what you believe is possible. I also break down the...

In today’s episode, Rebecca Zung interviews me about rebuilding my life after losing over $100 million and recognizing how deeply I had tied my identity to money. I share how mentorship, faith, and listening to the people who loved me helped me change my thoughts, habits, and priorities. We also discuss my book, Don’t Do Business with Dicks, and the difference between people who intend harm and those who challenge us wi...

In today’s episode, I talk with entrepreneur and speaker Stephen Scoggins about building a successful business without losing yourself or neglecting the people you love. Stephen shares how his lion and lamb philosophy brings courage and compassion together, and why financial freedom alone left him feeling empty. We discuss being present with family, releasing control as a mentor, and learning from others before repeating thei...

In today’s episode, I share how losing everything changed my understanding of success and the daily practices that helped me rebuild. Drawing on lessons from my mom, I explain why receiving help makes us better givers and how gratitude, forgiveness, accountability, and faith shape our ability to move forward. I walk through five practices for becoming unstoppable, from knowing what we want and who can help us to prioritizing ...

In today’s episode, I sit down with UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin, a retired mixed martial artist and Vice President of Athlete Development at the UFC Performance Institute. Forrest shares how growing up with very little shaped his mindset, why struggle can build resilience, and how fighting became an unexpected path after football and college. We talk about the realities of building a career in the UFC, the role of perso...

In today’s episode, I answer questions from a live meetup about choosing the right people, asking uncomfortable questions, building shareholder value, and protecting your time and energy. I share how timing and risk tolerance can guide better decisions, why self image is shaped by the meaning we give our past, and how wisdom becomes more valuable as knowledge becomes easier to access. I also explain how to think about hiring ...

In today’s episode, I share how fear creates interference between us and our divine potential. I explain how to replace fear with faith, find the light, love, and lessons in every experience, and recognize that failure is simply feedback guiding us toward growth. Most importantly, I share how to remove the interference of ego, trust in the omniscient, all-powerful, and all-knowing, and take consistent, everyday action in alig...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Justin White to talk about the habits, mindset, and discipline that create lasting success. We discuss why contractors and entrepreneurs need to understand technology, perceived value, profitability, and the importance of knowing their bottom line. I share how daily non-negotiables around sleep, health, family, faith, finance, time, and meaning have shaped my life and business. We also talk...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Casey Jacox to talk about fatherhood, resilience, faith, and the lessons that have shaped the way I raise my four children. We discuss why kids watch what we do more than they listen to what we say, how failure can build strength, and why vulnerability creates stronger relationships. I also share the importance of non-negotiable time, prioritizing your own health, and learning from mistakes...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Shawn Jennings, CEO of Real House Inc., to talk about the journey from chasing financial success to building a life centered on faith, family, and purpose. Shawn shares how helping a childhood friend struggling with addiction ultimately inspired a recovery organization that has served people for more than 20 years. We discuss the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship, the failures an...

In today’s episode, I sit down with John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffman to talk about the lessons that came from losing everything, rebuilding my life, and learning to stop letting ego control my decisions. We discuss the difference between discipline and devotion, why repetition and honesty are essential to success, and how the meaning we assign to our past shapes our self image. I also share why receiving help is just as impor...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions, to talk about the realities of scaling a multibillion dollar company and finding renewed energy when business gets difficult. Matt shares why his greatest strength is knowing he can figure things out, how strategy and the right people have shaped his success, and why Crash Champions focuses on helping people in a time of need rather than simpl...

In today’s episode, I sit down with James Prendamano, founder of PreReal Investments, to talk about building wealth through real estate and the value of experience in navigating changing markets. James shares how his career grew from residential sales into commercial investing and why understanding taxes, market cycles, and risk is essential for long term success. We discuss the dangers of following advice without context, th...

In today’s episode, I share why relationship capital is one of the most valuable assets we can build to create passion, purpose, and profitability. I explain how to strengthen trust through faith, give value before asking for anything, and be more interested than interesting. Most importantly, I share how removing interference, consistently investing in meaningful relationships, and approaching every interaction with gratitud...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Colleen Joyce, CEO of Lawyer.com and children’s author, to talk about balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, creativity, and personal identity. Colleen shares how traveling for work inspired her to write a children’s book with her daughter and why the project became something meaningful they could build together. We also discuss the growing importance of personal brand, choosin...

In today’s episode, I sit down with James Maslow to talk about building EveryBody EveryDay, a supplement company inspired by his demanding life on the road. James shares how constant travel led him and his fiancée, Caitlin, to create a simple daily product focused on hydration, supplementation, and convenience. We discuss using AI during early product development, working with experienced scientists to refine the formula, and...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Lamè Kinikini, Founder and CEO of Elk Ridge Investments, to talk about how short term rentals can become a powerful tax strategy for high net worth investors. Lamè shares how Elk Ridge evolved from property management into an investment model built around maximizing the tax advantages available through real estate. We discuss the importance of understanding tax incentives, why traditional a...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Noelle Russell, founder of the AI Leadership Institute, bestselling author, and expert in responsible AI, to talk about what it takes to build AI systems that actually work for your business. Noelle explains why leaders need to take ownership of how AI operates, from defining the human role to creating clear instructions, examples, and constraints. We discuss why treating AI like a vending ...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Todd Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and co-founder of FreeSpoke, to talk about sports, technology, and the importance of informed conversation. Todd shares how his family approached rebuilding the Cubs around winning, preserving Wrigley Field, and supporting the Chicago community. We also discuss how FreeSpoke presents information from different political perspectives while prioriti...