The Greatness Machine
The Greatness Machine is on a Quest to Maximize the Human Experience! Join Award Winning CEO and Author, Darius Mirshahzadeh (pron. Mer-shaw-za-day), as he interviews some of the greatest minds in the world―turning their wisdom and experience into learnings and advice you can use in your life so that you can level up and create greatness. Join Darius as he goes deep with guests like: Moby, Seth Godin, Gabby Reece, Amanda Knox, UFC Ring Announcer Bruce Buffer, Former FBI Negotiator Chris Voss, BJ Fogg, Former Spy and CIA Agent Andrew Bustamante, 1-800-Got-Junk CEO Brian Scudamore, NHL Hall of Famer Chris Pronger, and so many more! Our subject matter ranges from entrepreneurial and pro athlete underdog stories, world-class leadership development, and performance development, to wealth creation and more! If you are a learner who wants to level up in your life and learn from experts who have been there and done that, hit the subscribe button. The Greatness Machine is your ticket to create Greatness in your life! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Episodes
How do you turn a seemingly impossible situation into a win-win solution?
High stakes and intense pressure often accompany negotiation, making it feel like navigating a minefield. Whether you're haggling over a business contract, settling a dispute, or trying to make a major purchase, the ability to negotiate effectively is a crucial skill. Successful negotiations are based on the principles of collaboration and mutual gain. Und...
Mark as Played
January 23, 2026 • 25 mins
Sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs come not in moments of triumph, but in the quiet unraveling of everything we thought we had figured out.
In this powerful solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh takes us deep into a personal journey that reshaped his life. For the first time, Darius opens up about a transformative moment in the summer of 2022—when he confronted a lifelong battle with anxiety head-on durin...
Mark as Played
What happens when religion is used to divide rather than unite?
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh talks with comedian, actor, and political commentator John Fugelsang about his book “Separation of Church and Hate”. John shares how his progressive Catholic upbringing shaped his voice as a comedian and commentator and explores how fundamentalist movements have often twisted Christianity for power, far ...
Mark as Played
January 19, 2026 • 59 mins
How does one overcome the hurdles and misconceptions that follow a career in the adult film industry?
Candice Horbacz, also known as Eva Lovia, shares her story of resilience and transformation, discussing the unique challenges she faced as a former adult entertainment actress and how she overcame them. Despite her success in the adult industry, Candice had to deal with the difficulties of balancing a demanding career with perso...
Mark as Played
January 16, 2026 • 29 mins
Some stories shape your life before you are old enough to remember them.
In this solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh shares his Iranian origin story and how the Iranian Revolution changed the course of his family’s life. Born to a Persian father and Italian American mother, Darius reflects on his family’s forced exit from Iran, growing up disconnected from half of his identity, and the lasting impact that ...
Mark as Played
January 14, 2026 • 67 mins
What if love wasn’t just chemistry or chance but something you could actually measure?
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh sits down with author and data analyst Zoey Charif to explore how love, attraction, and long term compatibility can be understood through data, self awareness, and values. Zoey shares the story behind her book “Love Can, in Fact, Be Calculated” and explains how she developed a value...
Mark as Played
January 12, 2026 • 50 mins
Ivy Zelman, a renowned housing market analyst and CEO of Zelman & Associates, offers her unique perspective on the future of housing. With two decades of experience under her belt, she continues to provide invaluable insights and predictions that have helped shape the strategies of major investors and developers.
This episode of The Greatness Machine features Darius and our expert guest Ivy Zelman discussing how emerging techno...
Mark as Played
January 9, 2026 • 25 mins
When was the last time you truly connected with the highest version of yourself?
In this solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh kicks off the new year with a deeply personal reflection on embodiment, emotional sovereignty, and the practice of connecting with your higher self. He shares how a daily higher self meditation has helped him ground himself, access greater clarity, and show up more authentically in b...
Mark as Played
January 7, 2026 • 57 mins
What if letting go is the key to taking control of your life? In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Jason Shurka joins Darius to dive into the power of surrender and the freedom that comes from realizing you are not the driver, but the one being guided by a higher intelligence. They explore how becoming a vessel for creation transforms the way you direct your energy, form relationships, and live intentionally.
Jason explains...
Mark as Played
January 5, 2026 • 76 mins
How can you balance work and play while achieving unparalleled success? What are the keys to maximizing every moment of your life?
Balancing work and play while achieving unparalleled success is a delicate yet achievable feat, as demonstrated by Marko Gargenta's journey. Best known for his innovative ventures, he embodies the art of integrating work and play seamlessly into his life, highlighting several key strategies that anyo...
Mark as Played
January 1, 2026 • 61 mins
Ever find yourself stuck in drama, reacting before you think, or feeling powerless in situations you care about?
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Donna Zajonc dives deep into the Drama Triangle and its positive alternative, The Empowerment Dynamic (TED). She and Darius explore how cultivating awareness, clarifying intention, and practicing self-compassion can turn automatic reactivity into conscious leadership and pers...
Mark as Played
December 31, 2025 • 25 mins
What if the way you’ve been winning is actually costing you your freedom?
In this milestone 400th episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh goes solo to close out the year with a personal reflection on growth, self-worth, and alignment.
Darius shares his annual practice of choosing one word to guide the year ahead, reflecting on a year defined by challenge and revealing the word shaping how he’ll show up in 2026. ...
Mark as Played
December 29, 2025 • 62 mins
How does one go from financial struggle to creating a platform worth nearly $100 billion?
This question encapsulates the extraordinary journey of Shirl Penney, founder, president, and CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners. Beginning in rural Maine where financial stability was difficult to come by, his story is one of grit and determination.
Although Shirl had to overcome early hardships, his desire for education and self-impro...
Mark as Played
December 26, 2025 • 22 mins
What if the key to unlocking your biggest opportunities wasn’t in the size of your audience—but in the conversations you choose to have?
In this solo episode, Darius Mirshahzadeh pulls back the curtain on one of his best-kept secrets: how to use a podcast to build powerful relationships, expand your network, and land your dream clients—without chasing downloads or going viral. He shares the origin story of The Greatness Machine,...
Mark as Played
December 24, 2025 • 66 mins
Are you ready to confront the stories you tell yourself and step into your fullest potential?
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Preston Smiles shares his journey of personal growth, from navigating childhood challenges to becoming a world-renowned coach and thought leader. He opens up about the patterns he had to unlearn, including addictive behaviors, identity struggles, and emotional disconnection, and how he learned t...
Mark as Played
December 22, 2025 • 52 mins
In our pursuit of wealth, what lessons can we learn from stoicism?
Darius Foroux, an investor, entrepreneur, blogger, podcast host, and writer, examines how to achieve lasting wealth and personal fulfillment by exploring stoicism's timeless wisdom. His newest book, The Stoic Path to Wealth: Ancient Wisdom for Enduring Prosperity, serves as a practical guide for integrating stoic principles into financial strategies.
Rather th...
Mark as Played
December 19, 2025 • 29 mins
What if real strength isn’t about power or dominance, but about generosity, courage, and who you stand up for when no one’s watching?
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh continues his series on How to Be a Strong Person, focusing on two defining traits: giving more than you take and standing up for the little guy. Darius challenges scarcity thinking and outrage-driven culture, encouraging listeners to l...
Mark as Played
December 17, 2025 • 68 mins
What really drives people to succeed, and how can understanding it transform your teams and relationships?
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Jennifer Hill, author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of OptiMatch. Jennifer dives into the science of human motivation and connection, explaining how her OptiMatch system measures what drives people and how those motivators impact teamwork, business partnerships...
Mark as Played
December 15, 2025 • 46 mins
How do you go from corporate finance to the bright lights of America's Got Talent?
To make the leap from the structured corporate world to the dazzling stage of America's Got Talent, you must shift your mindset and pursue a passion relentlessly. In Oz Pearlman's case, the journey was more than abandoning spreadsheets and boardrooms; it was about embracing a calling rooted in enchanting audiences with mentalism's inexplicable eff...
Mark as Played
December 12, 2025 • 21 mins
What if the secret to a fulfilled life was as simple as following a set of care instructions — not for a product, but for yourself? In this solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh shares powerful reflections on what it means to care for yourself and live wholeheartedly. Inspired by a simple yet profound list of "care instructions for humans," Darius dives into the importance of self-love, growth, and surrounding ...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.